I Level Up By Making Enemies

The combat evaluation began with the heavy sound of a bronze gong. Enforcement disciples moved across the plaza, calling out names and directing disciples toward the temporary fighting platforms. There were four platforms in total, each large enough for a proper match and surrounded by faint protective formations. Elders watched from the raised pavilion, while the rest of the outer sect crowded around the edges for a good view.

Lin Feng stood with Lu Cang near the second platform, arms loosely crossed as he watched the first matches begin. The opening fights were about what he expected.

Some disciples charged in with loud shouts and clumsy techniques. Others tried to act mysterious and were immediately beaten. A few matches ended in less than ten breaths when the difference in strength was too obvious. Every time a fight finished, the winner’s name was recorded, and the loser walked off with either a dark face or a blank, defeated expression.

Lu Cang flinched every time someone was sent flying.

”These people are actually trying to cripple each other,” he whispered.

”Seems like the Elders enjoy it as well.” Lin Feng said.

His gaze moved across the platforms until it stopped on the third one. Gao Ren was stepping up.The young man looked the same as before. Calm and unremarkable at first glance. His opponent was a thicker outer disciple with a confident expression and a mid grade Qi Condensation aura that he released on purpose.

”Gao Ren, I’ve heard that you’re a quiet type.” the thicker disciple asked, cracking his neck. Let’s see if you can stay quiet after this.”

Gao Ren didn’t reply. He simply cupped his fists in a polite salute and waited.The match began.

The thicker disciple attacked first, stomping forward with a heavy fist technique that carried a faint earth yellow glow. It looked solid and practiced. Several watching disciples nodded, thinking the fight would end quickly.

Gao Ren moved only at the last moment. His step was small, almost casual, but it took him exactly outside the fist’s range. At the same time, his palm rose and struck the incoming wrist from an odd angle. There was a dull sound. The thicker disciple’s stance broke, and before he could recover, Gao Ren’s second palm landed cleanly on his chest.

The man flew backward and rolled across the platform, coughing hard. The entire exchange had lasted less than three breaths. The surrounding noise dipped for a moment.

Gao Ren’s movements had no wasted effort. His timing was precise, and his control of qi was clearly above the average outer disciple. He wasn’t flashy, but he was clean. On the platform, Gao Ren lowered his hand and looked at the referee disciple.

”I forfeit further aggression. He can no longer continue.”

The Enforcement disciple checked the downed fighter and announced the result.

”Winner: Gao Ren!”

A wave of murmurs passed through the nearby crowd.

”He’s strong.”

”I thought he was just another quiet one.”

”His foundation looks very stable...”

Lin Feng watched Gao Ren step down from the platform without celebrating. Their eyes met briefly across the distance. Gao Ren gave a small nod, then walked away to prepare for the next round.

Interesting. Lin Feng thought.

Before Lin Feng could think further, a loud voice called out from the second platform.

”Next match! Lin Feng of Block C versus Huang Fei of Block D!”

Lu Cang’s body went stiff.

”That’s your name. Why does it sound like a death sentence?”

Lin Feng patted his shoulder once and walked toward the platform. Huang Fei was already waiting above. He was a lean disciple with a confident posture, his cultivation sitting at the middle stage of Qi Condensation a bit higher than Lin Feng’s current level. When he saw Lin Feng climb up, his lips curled.

”So it’s you,” Huang Fei said, loud enough for the nearby spectators to hear. ”The one who only knows how to run his mouth and cause trouble. I’ll beat you and gain favor from the Tiger Claw clan ”

Lin Feng stopped a proper distance away and tilted his head.

”Well, aiming for high places aren’t you?” Lu Feng said

The Enforcement disciple raised his hand between them.

”Match begins on my signal. No killing and no intentional crippling. Begin!”

Huang Fei moved immediately. He stomped forward, qi wrapping around his fist as he threw a straight punch aimed at Lin Feng’s chest. The attack was fast and direct, the kind meant to overwhelm someone with lower cultivation in one exchange.

Lin Feng’s eyes sharpened. In that split second, he finally remembered the skill the system had forced into him on his very first day.

(Fleet Footed Coward Dash)

He activated it. His body suddenly became lighter. The ground seemed to push him sideways on its own as he slipped past the punch by a hair’s breadth, the fist cutting through empty air where his chest had been a moment earlier.

[System Notice]

[Host has finally remembered the existence of Fleet Footed Coward Dash]

[Congratulations on basic long term memory function]

Lin Feng almost laughed at the system notice,but he had no time. Huang Fei was already turning to follow up, face twisted with irritation at having missed. Lin Feng activated the Thin Face Amulet. A cool sensation spread over him.

”Your stance is too forward,” he said clearly. ”Are you that eager to impress the people watching? Or are you just afraid that if the fight lasts too long, everyone will notice your basics are average?”

The words, sharpened by the amulet, landed cleanly. Huang Fei’s face flushed with anger. His next attacks came harder and faster, but the rage made them slightly less controlled. Lin Feng kept using short bursts of Fleet Footed Coward Dash to stay just outside the worst of the strikes, his movements looking almost slippery. He blocked one heavy punch with his forearm, gritted his teeth against the numbness, and countered with a palm aimed at Huang Fei’s shoulder.

The hit connected. Huang Fei staggered half a step. The watching disciples made a low noise of surprise.

”He’s actually fighting.”

”I thought he would just talk.”

Huang Fei’s eyes turned sharper. ”Lucky hit!”

He roared and launched a more serious combination. Lin Feng was forced backward across the platform, his arms stinging from the impacts. Even with his recent gains, the difference in pure cultivation still existed.

But Huang Fei was getting angrier with every exchange that didn’t end the fight. Lin Feng saw the opening.

When Huang Fei overextended on a heavy right punch, Lin Feng triggered Fleet Footed Coward Dash once more. His body slid in low and fast. He ducked under the punch, stepped in, and drove his shoulder into the other disciple’s chest while sweeping at his front leg. It wasn’t a refined technique. It was simple and enough. Huang Fei lost his balance.

Lin Feng followed immediately, pushing him hard over the edge of the platform. Huang Fei’s body crossed the boundary line and hit the ground outside with a heavy thud.

For a moment, the area around the second platform was quiet. Then the Enforcement disciple’s voice rose.

”Winner: Lin Feng!”

[Huang Fei’s humiliation and anger are extreme]

[Huang wishes for your immediate demise]

[Progress : 8/10]

[Rage Value +185]

[Current Rage Points: 1,049]

Huang Fei scrambled up from the ground, face twisted between shock and fury. He pointed at Lin Feng with a shaking hand.

”You—! You only won because of a cheap trick!”

Lin Feng stood at the edge of the platform, looking down at him. Then he took out the Echo Mockery Bell and gave it a gentle shake.

A high-pitched, exaggerated version of Huang Fei’s voice rang out:

”You only won because of a cheap trick!”

”You only won because of a cheap trick!”

”You only won because of a cheap trick!”

Laughter burst from several places in the crowd. Huang Fei’s face went from red to purple. He looked like he wanted to climb back onto the platform, but the Enforcement disciple had already stepped between them.

Lin Feng put the bell away and stepped down calmly.Lu Cang rushed over, eyes wide.

”You actually won. You really won. And then you still mocked him. Why would you do that?!”

”Because he still had some anger left,” Lin Feng said simply.

As he walked back toward the waiting area, he could feel many eyes on him. Some were annoyed. Some were surprised. Across the plaza, Gao Ren was watching the platform with a thoughtful expression before turning away to prepare for his own next match.

Lin Feng glanced up at the bracket board as the Enforcement disciples began updating the results.His name had moved forward. Further up in the same section of the bracket, another familiar name was waiting for a possible later match.

Zhao Feng. Lin Feng’s smile widened just a little.