The Eternal Heart

Chapter 33: Coming Up Strong

"Chen Yu! W-What… what do you want?"

Wang Lingyun trembled vigorously.

The sight of Chen Yu ferociously destroying those five great Connective Meridian experts in succession was still lingering in his mind.

Now, as he saw Chen Yu coming over with an unkind expression, the idea of running away for his life came into Wang Lingyun's heart.

Unfortunately, Wang Lingyun couldn't let his face down and run away in front of so many people. If he did this, how would he have the face to stand in this society?

More importantly, he still had someone powerful to rely on by his side.

Eh?

The short-haired youngster by Wang Lingyun's side was staring blankly as he watched Chen Yu press on toward Wang Lingyun.

He vaguely felt a sense of familiarity toward Chen Yu.

"Chen Yu, are you going to…?"

Chen Yu's actions terrified Ding Jiuhui.

Wang Lingyun wasn not an issue as he was almost at the same level as Ding Jiuhui, but the short-haired youngster next to him was an exceptional individual.

"Brother Wang, our previous 'exchange' in the countryside was not enough for me. I'm here for another round today." Chen Yu smiled in a calm manner.

He was making a slight analogy to the previous battle in the countryside, and was now openly suggesting an exchange of skills.

"Younger Brother Chen truly is making me laugh. We're so close, I'm sure there'll be more opportunities for exchanges. Let's leave it for today…"

Wang Lingyun forced a smile out with difficulty as his body subconsciously retreated backwards.

This scene shocked some of the experienced disciples nearby.

Everyone was aware of Wang Lingyun since his relations with other people were quite good in the community. Not only that, his combat strength was also pretty good.

Looking at the current situation, it seemed that Wang Lingyun was quite apprehensive toward Chen Yu. In fact, he was slightly afraid of accepting the challenge.

"Indeed, there is more opportunities ahead! But you know, I want to be even 'closer' with you right now. Elder Brother, just receive three of my attacks." Chen Yu had a strange smile on his face. He then attacked all of a sudden after that.

Hu!

He was only ten feet away, but Chen Yu pressed against Wang Lingyun's body in the blink of an eye. His fist's stifling hiss was like thunder as he oppressed him.

Wang Lingyun could only feel the oppressive and violent force of the fist, which made breathing for him difficult.

Even if he was fully guarded against it, he could not escape from Chen Yu's body movements, which were abnormally fast.

Metal Cloud Claw!

Wang Lingyun could only clench his teeth as he retaliated. He used all of his powers to produce a terrifying and prickling claw. A 'peng-pa' sound resonated soon after from the attacks of the two colliding.

Fists were exchanged in the air as the melancholic sounds that resounded shook people's hearts.

In an instant, the attention of the majority of those in the courtyard were drawn to the two people.

Sss!

Wang Lingyun groaned and felt his arm grow stiff. He almost lost his intuition as his body fell back a couple steps.

Bronze Fist!

For Chen Yu's second punch, his entire fist glistened a deep bronze lustre. His fist was slightly inflated, its power and speed reaching a new level as well.

Wow!

Wang Lingyun found it even harder to establish a foothold after that. At the instant the fist collided with his body, he spat out a mouthful of blood as the vigorous punch sent him flying.

Bang bang!

Wang Lingyun's body collided with the walls of the courtyard. His face was deathly pale. There was no doubt that he was incomparably startled. 

He had only discovered the other's fearsome qualities while exchanging blows with Chen Yu, but compared to last time, Chen Yu's strength had increased not just by one level.

"When did Chen Yu become so…"

Ding Jiuhui showed a marvelled expression.

He had witnessed Chen Yu's impressiveness back in the battle against the Bear King, and had already rated him highly.

But never did he think that Chen Yu would end up becoming this strong.

Two punches and he had already sent Wang Lingyun, who was like-levelled with him, flying and spitting blood.

Nor far away, the two guarding outer sect disciples were now palpitating with lingering fear after seeing what happened.

To think that a while ago they were still jeering about Chen Yu being a pretty boy living off of women.

"I have one more attack."

Chen Yu breathed on his fist, somewhat toying with him as he slowly pressed toward Wang Lingyun.

Two punches had already made Wang Lingyun spit out blood. One could easily figure out that he would need to rest for a fortnight after taking another punch.

Hu!

A harsh glimmer flashed in his eyes. The third fist he was brewing was going to be more powerful than the second fist.

"Young fellow! It looks like you really don't think that I exist."

A low yet forceful voice suddenly came through from the other side.

Chen Yu felt an overbearing energy surging toward him, bringing an invisible and biting cold sharpness.

He casted sidelong glances.

He saw the short-haired youngster, who was with Wang Lingyun, brandishing his silver gun. His cold, domineering energy lingered on the gun.

"Younger Brother Chen, this is Elder Brother Yang Fan. In the last great tournament, he placed ninth. You guys don't have any grievances with each other, so there's no need to make a big fuss, isn't that right?"

Ding Jiuhui gave a hollow laugh and rushed over, trying to dissuade them.

Those who could enter the top ten of Yunyue Sect's outer sect were simply extraordinary individuals. Each were like-levelled geniuses.

"Hehe, of course, a big fuss is not needed. But…Younger Brother Chen Yu needs to take three attacks from me as well. Ah no, two attacks will do."

The short-haired youngster Yang Fan had frigidness engraved on his mouth.

Ding Jiuhui's complexion turned to that of embarrassment immediately.

This man simply wasn't buying his deal, being adamant to help Wang Lingyun strike back.

"Hum, indeed."

In the other corner, a shady glint passed through Wang Lingyun's eyes. "Originally, Yang Fan was pursuing Mu Xueqing. Now that I remember, I told him all of Chen Yu's vile acts as of late."

Yang Fan was one of the individuals he relied upon, but Chen Yu was not scared by his reputation as the 'outer sect's top ten'.

"Alright, I also wanted to experience the power of the outer sect's top ten anyway."

A desire to fight sprung up in Chen Yu's body.

His target was to be an inner sect disciple!

If he couldn't step over the lowest threshold of the outer sect's top ten, then how could he contend against the top three, and even the top one?

"First off, take one of my shots."

Yang Fan laughed coldly. He suddenly shook the silver gun he held as a fuzzy silhouette of the gun shot toward Chen Yu.

Pop chi!

The biting cold energy on the gun's body enveloped Chen Yu.

This powerful gun gave Chen Yu the misperception that he was facing the 'Great Fiend' Chu Lifeng once again.

"Go!"

Chen Yu yelled in a roaring manner. His clenched fist expanded as a layer of metallic, dark copper luster emerged. Fiendish and domineering Inner Breath burst out from his body.

Those in the vicinity misperceived it to be a ferocious beast howling by their ears.

The Inner Breath bubbling from his fist emanated an invisible yet terrifying might. It even suppressed part of Yang Fan's origin spirit, blood, and qi.

"Ah?"

Nangong Li had an indifferent expression near a corner from the beginning of the fight, but this expression had a change soon after.

Cheng weng~

The two overpowering forces clashed against each other in the air, creating a strange buzzing sound. It resembled the sudden ring of a copper bell.

"So strong!"

Those nearby disciples, whose cultivations were lower than late Connective Meridian stage, felt their eardrums ache while their blood and qi became unstable.

Hu!

Around two fighting individuals, dust rose up from their collision.

In the horizon, the gun and the fist freeze-framed in midair. These two people were like two statues, joining together to form one.

"This fellow's might is quite valiant!"

Yang Fan's icy face seemed to be startled.

His opponent's tyrannical power gave him the illusion that he was facing the seventh-ranked Fatty Huang.

Not only this, but Chen Yu's fist also brought a bizarre fiendish might, which could even vaguely stifle his spirit and qi to a certain degree.

Dong!

Chen Yu's bronze hand rose up and shook Yang Fan's gun.

Following this, his figure turned around gracefully and threw several uninterrupted punches at Yang Fan.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

In an instant, Chen Yu's thunderstorm boxing technique collided with Yang Fan's body dozens of times.

If he was an ordinary late Connective Meridian stage expert, he would've already suffered a defeat from Chen Yu's tyrannical power.

Hu hu chi!

Unfortunately for Chen Yu, Yang Fan's silver gun flipped up and down, its silhouette in accompaniment, whistling terrifyingly. He was overbearing and fierce, yet he was still agile, attacking, and defending with ease.

"How could this be…"

On the ground, Wang Lingyun was in utter disbelief.

When had Chen Yu become this tyrannical? He was actually fighting on an equal level against Yang Fan, who was one of the 'outer sect's top ten'!

In the courtyard, some of the other experienced disciples' views toward Chen Yu changed as well.

He was this strong?

Ding Jiuhui appeared bewildered and undecided.

After all, Fang Yan of the outer sect's top ten was someone he couldn't beat at all, and usually, he respected him greatly as an expert.

"This is the fellow who managed to pick up Mu Xueqing? He's not as weak as I had imagined."

A hint of amusement showed on Huang Yuan's round face, who was ranked seventh.

"The two of you should stop."

The gentle voice of a youngster sounded. It came from the other side.

It was unknown when, but a smart young man with long, flowing hair appeared between the two people, easily passing through the crack between their attacks.

This kind of body movement technique shocked everyone in the courtyard.

Chen Yu could only feel how familiar this voice was, quickly figuring out his identity.

"Le Feng?"

The silver gun in Yang Fan's hand paused as he stopped attacking.

The approacher was Le Feng.

He was calm and composed now, with more grace than ever before.

One could see how alarming his growth was when he unhurriedly passed through the two people's attacks.

"Has he perfected [Towering Cloud Step]?"

Chen Yu took a brief glance to confirm the mastery of Le Feng's body movement techniques. His were higher than his own.

That aside, after acquiring the 'Gall of the Bear King' that day, Le Feng's cultivation had already entered late Connective Meridian stage, making up for his one and only shortage.

"Younger Brother Le, you've come at just the right time."

Ding Jiuhui heaved a sigh of relief. His strained heartstrings could finally relax.

"Le Feng, you sure like to meddle in other people's business. Let's find the order of our abilities after the Great Outer Sect Tournament is over."

Yang Fan snorted slightly, then departed after putting his gun away.

This, however, surprised Chen Yu.

From the looks of it, Yang Fan was very fearful of Le Feng.

"Hehe, Younger Brother Chen, you weren't aware of this. Younger Brother Le's martial arts had finally advanced to another level after he proceeded to the later stages of the Connective Meridian stage. A couple days ago, he defeated the ninth-ranking Yang Fan, the seventh-ranking Huang Yuan, as well as many others."

Ding Jiuhui walked toward him, smiling as he explained this.

Chen Yu couldn't help but feel a bit anxious.

As it turned out, while Chen Yu had returned home, Le Feng rose up powerfully throughout the outer sect!

Now, Le Feng was already a tremendous genius within the outer sect. In fact, he was already a popular contestant to become one of the top three.

"Elder Brother Chen's improvement is what's truly breathtaking. I am ashamed of being inferior."

Le Feng smiled meekly and looked toward Chen Yu, seemingly with a deeper meaning.

To think that at first, Chen Yu was only at the peak of the Body Tempering stage, an outsider to the outer sect. Yet today, Chen Yu could already compete against the elite top ten of the outer sect.

They exchanged some pleasantries before entering the pavilion one by one.

Aside from learning from one another, as well as interacting, the Outer Sect Social Gathering involved some transactional activities as well.

At this moment, there were already dozens of people gathered inside the pavilion. They were all cultivated to the Connective Meridian stage, most of them reaching the middle stage.

Because the 'Great Outer Sect Tournament' was getting closer and closer, everyone in this social gathering desperately needed resources.

Several outer sect disciples were already in the transactional process.

"Elder Brother Chen, since you came to this social gathering, you probably want to exchange something as well, right?" Le Feng asked with a smile on his face.

Inside the pavilion, the crowd of disciples was split into several groups. Those acquainted with each other were grouped into groups of threes and fives.

Le Feng was the center of Chen Yu's group, and together with Ding Jiuhui, they had a group of five to six.

"I need the 'Barbaric Cow Marrow' and 'Constituent Grass'."

Chen Yu did not hide the reason why he was here at the social gathering.

"Barbaric Cow Marrow?"

Next to Le Feng, a female disciple with a delicate appearance responded.