Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

Li Furong finally snapped out of her daze. She couldn’t help but wave at Li Chang’an and shout, ”Bro! You’re amazing! You’re so—so amazing! I had no idea you’d gotten this strong! Why didn’t you tell me?”

Li Chang’an looked at her with a smile. ”Tell you what? I’m in a competition, aren’t I? I wanted to give you a surprise!”

”A surprise? This is more like a shock!” Li Furong stomped her foot, her face beaming with excitement. ”Bro, you were great! But don’t make the next one so fast, let me get a good look!”

”Alright, alright, I’ll go a bit slower next time!” Li Chang’an replied with a laugh.

”You better not be lying! I’m waiting to see you knock all those guys down!” Li Furong pouted, her face full of anticipation.

Nearby, Li Yan clapped Li Chang’an on the shoulder, a gratified smile on his face. ”Well done, Chang’an.

Your mother and I really didn’t come here for nothing. Let’s watch your next match carefully!”

Su Manyu nodded in agreement. ”That’s right, Chang’an. Your father is right. We’re all watching, so you have to keep it up! Don’t let anyone look down on you!”

Li Chang’an nodded with a smile. ”Don’t worry, Dad, Mom. I will!”

As they were talking, preparations for the next round of matches were already beginning on the other side of the arena.

Li Chang’an had just walked back to his spot when he noticed a commotion in the center of the arena. People were pointing and chattering amongst themselves.

He followed their gazes and saw a tall, smug-looking man slowly ascending the fighting ring, flanked by a group of menacing-looking followers. He had an incredibly powerful presence.

”Who’s that? Why the huge entourage?” Li Furong muttered, squeezed into the audience stands and craning her neck on her tiptoes to get a better view of the ring.

A spectator next to her replied excitedly, ”You don’t know? That’s Chen Feng, the ace of Sarma Martial Arts Academy! His Qi and Blood Value surpassed 9 points long ago! He’s a seeded contestant for this tournament! I heard he’s already been pre-selected by several universities in the Interstellar Martial Arts Alliance. He’s just here today as a formality!”

”A Qi and Blood Value of 9?” Li Furong sucked in a sharp breath, her expression changing instantly. ”Isn’t that even stronger than my brother? What’s he going to do?”

Su Manyu also frowned and said in a low voice, ”Chang’an is facing such an opponent this time... This is really going to be tricky!”

Li Yan glanced at Chen Feng on the stage, then back at Li Chang’an standing below. He was a little worried too, but he didn’t say anything, just sighed silently.

On the ring, Chen Feng was clearly full of confidence. He stood in the center, arms crossed over his chest, a contemptuous smile playing on his lips. His gaze swept over all the contestants before finally landing on Li Chang’an.

He raised an eyebrow, a look of disdain on his face.

”Hey, you’re that kid, what’s-his-name, Li Chang’an, right?” Chen Feng shouted, his tone filled with unconcealed contempt and ridicule. ”I heard you’re pretty capable. Just threw Stone Sculpture off the stage? Tsk tsk, how impressive.

But, let me give you some advice: don’t get ahead of yourself. You’re just a little runt whose Qi and Blood Value is barely over 3. Do you really think you can beat me?”

Standing below the stage, Li Chang’an just gave him a cool glance upon hearing his words and said nothing.

”What? Not talking? Are you scared?” Chen Feng laughed smugly. His followers chimed in, jeering, ”Hahaha! The kid probably knows he’s in deep trouble now. He’s chickening out, isn’t he?”

”Young Master Chen, you should be careful! This little guy gave Stone Sculpture a good thrashing. If he turns out to be a dark horse and pulls off an upset, that would be a real shocker!” another follower said, deliberately taunting, his tone full of mockery.

Chen Feng burst out laughing and shook his head disdainfully. ”Him? A dark horse pulling an upset? You’re giving him way too much credit! He’s just some guy who got here on luck. I’ll give him a three-move handicap. I’ll let you all see just how ’dark’ this horse really is!”

Li Chang’an finally looked up, his gaze sweeping coolly over Chen Feng. His voice was calm. ”Are you sure you want to give me a three-move handicap? I’m afraid you’ll regret it.”

Chen Feng’s laughter grew even more arrogant, as if he’d just heard the biggest joke in the world. ”Regret it? I think you’re the one who doesn’t understand the situation. You’re just a little runt with a Qi and Blood Value barely at 3, and you think you can make me regret it? Fine! I’ll give you a chance today. You make your move! I’ll stand right here and let you hit me three times!”

Hearing this, the crowd in the stands erupted in laughter, amused by Chen Feng’s arrogance.

”This kid’s got a big mouth! A three-move handicap? Does he think he’s invincible?”

”Hahaha! I think this Li Chang’an is out of luck. Chen Feng is the ace of Sarma Martial Arts Academy. How could a guy like him possibly deal with that!”

”If that kid knows what’s good for him, he’ll just give up now and not humiliate himself!”

Hearing all the talk, Li Furong’s face grew tense. She couldn’t help but grip her father’s arm. ”Dad, Mom, can my brother really win this time? That Chen Feng looks so strong!”

Li Yan’s expression was grave. He didn’t speak. Su Manyu just sighed silently, her eyes full of worry.

However, Li Chang’an, now standing on the fighting ring, appeared exceptionally calm. There was even the hint of a smile playing on his lips.

”You really won’t regret this?” Li Chang’an asked again, his voice still calm.

”Regret it? Hahaha!” Chen Feng roared with laughter. ”Come on! Enough talk. Three moves! I’m a man of my word!”

Li Chang’an nodded slightly. Suddenly, in a flash, his figure vanished from its spot like a phantom.

The next second, he reappeared in front of Chen Feng, his right fist smashing toward Chen Feng’s chest.

A trace of surprise flashed in Chen Feng’s eyes, but he didn’t dodge. A smug smile remained on his face, as if he were waiting for Li Chang’an’s fist to land.

However, Li Chang’an’s punch was incredibly fast, carrying a powerful gust of wind as it slammed viciously into Chen Feng’s chest.

The instant the fist made contact, Chen Feng’s expression changed abruptly. The smile on his face froze. He felt an immense force travel through his chest, and he stumbled back several steps involuntarily, his face instantly turning pale.

The entire arena fell silent.

”Th-this... How is this possible?” Chen Feng was stunned. He never imagined Li Chang’an’s punch would be so heavy; that last blow had almost knocked the wind out of him.

Li Chang’an stood his ground, hands in his pockets, a faint smile on his face. His tone remained calm. ”That’s one move.”

Chen Feng’s expression turned ugly. He had originally thought Li Chang’an was a weakling who would go down in one hit, but his opponent’s strength far exceeded his expectations.

”Hmph! A little interesting!” Chen Feng gritted his teeth, struggling to steady himself. He said coldly, ”But that’s not enough! Come on, keep going! You still have two moves left!”

Li Chang’an smiled faintly. With a single stride, he once again closed the distance to Chen Feng like a bolt of Lightning. This time, he didn’t use his fist, but instead kicked out viciously with his right foot toward Chen Feng’s abdomen.

This time, Chen Feng didn’t try to take the hit head-on. His body instinctively tried to dodge, but he was a half-step too slow. Li Chang’an’s foot had already slammed hard into his abdomen.

The powerful impact sent Chen Feng flying like a kite with a snapped string. He crashed heavily onto the edge of the ring, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

The arena once again fell into a deathly silence.

”That’s two moves,” Li Chang’an said, still standing in the same spot. His voice was as calm as if he were discussing the weather.

Chen Feng struggled to his feet, his face pale, his eyes filled with terror and rage.

He couldn’t believe he was being beaten so helplessly by a kid with a Qi and Blood Value of just 3.

The surrounding spectators were all wide-eyed. Those who had been mocking Li Chang’an just moments ago had all fallen silent, staring dumbfounded at the scene on the ring, as if they couldn’t believe their eyes.

”This... How is this kid so strong?”

”Chen Feng... is actually getting beaten like this?”

”This is just unbelievable!”