Atlas of Heaven and Man

The spectators couldn't help but sigh, a unified sound of regret seeming to coalesce in the arena.

But there was no helping it. The situation was crystal clear. His hand was on Ren Qiao's neck, a critical point. If Chen Chuan applied any force, he could instantly snap Ren Qiao's cervical vertebrae.

This was a genuine defeat.

They were all somewhat exasperated. In the first two rounds, they had at least seen some real exchanges. What was that just now? There wasn't even any contact!

Your fundamentals are so solid. We always praise you as a steady fighter. How could you make such a basic mistake?

And that Chen student, the move he used at the end seemed like grappling? If you said you knew wrestling or swordsmanship, that would be understandable, since you have to train in both unarmed combat and weaponry. But how do you know grappling too?

They were a bit confused.

Chen Chuan had refused Cheng Shang's offer of information on the others. Naturally, his information wouldn't be revealed to them either. Both sides' understanding of each other was shrouded in mystery.

However, the Zhou Yuan Force technique wasn't very well-known. Only those who had truly practiced it knew how to use it. Outsiders were separated by a layer of ignorance, and even if explained, they wouldn't necessarily understand.

Chen Chuan watched Ren Qiao's dejected figure leave the arena. What he had used just now was actually a method that Teacher Zheng had demonstrated to him not long ago: guiding the opponent's attack to misdirect their own power.

If Ren Qiao hadn't had so little combat experience, and hadn't been so wary of him, carrying such a heavy burden in his mind, there definitely wouldn't have been such an effect just now.

In fact, if he had fought more relaxed, he might not have been taken down in one move.

The short-haired woman was very helpless at this moment. The interface flickered, and she transferred two hundred yuan to Ni Qianqian's account, then threw the silver coin she had won back, saying helplessly, "I'll have to be frugal again this month."

Ni Qianqian rolled her eyes. "Come on, Sister Bai, wouldn't teaching just one more student cover that?"

Sister Bai shook her head and said, "I don't teach just any student."

Because Ren Qiao lost again, most people realized that Chen Chuan was not simple. Dealing with such an opponent required a strategy, not just a surge of adrenaline and a rash decision. If it were an unexpected encounter, there would be no choice, but now that they had time to think, they would naturally use it. So, for a while, no one was in a hurry to step up.

At this moment, outside the martial arts arena, many people were gradually walking in.

Because it was just an internal exchange, there was no fixed time, and in order to save everyone's face, outsiders were not invited. Everyone who came today was an acquaintance from the inherited lineages.

The ties between these people were not based on blood, but only on the method of inheritance. Therefore, even if they were father and son, as long as their beliefs clashed or they were deemed to lack talent, they would be directly abandoned, and the opportunity would be given to others, to those disciples who were more in line with the ideals and more talented.

A car stopped in the square outside. The brother and sister that Chen Chuan had encountered at the Haijing arena last time got out of the car. The man looked at his watch and then looked inside.

"Xiao Jing, it seems we're still a bit late. The exchange competition inside has already started. Let's go in."

"Mm!"

The man led the little girl in and happened to see Ren Qiao sitting dejectedly on the side, surrounded by several acquaintances who were saying something to him. Next to him were two people sitting there, just catching their breath. It was obvious that they had lost.

He looked at his watch again. No, he remembered the time correctly. He was only a few minutes late. You've already had several matches?

"Brother, that…"

Xiao Jing tugged at the man, pointed at Chen Chuan standing in the arena, "That big brother is the one we met at the Haijing arena that day."

The man nodded. He had recognized him when he came in just now, and said with a sigh, "The Central City is so big, to run into each other twice. It really is fate."

However…

He looked at Chen Chuan, who was wearing a Wuyi school uniform, and the winner was this one. Is this big brother so strong? It looks like he has defeated several people in a row?

Ni Qianqian then said, "Little Brother Chen, it seems you don't need a rest yet?"

Chen Chuan thought, if I say I'm tired and want to rest now, wouldn't that be even more presumptuous? So he nodded and said, "I should still be able to continue."

But even though he said it relatively euphemistically, the young people around him still felt like they were being looked down upon, and looked at him with a mixture of helplessness and displeasure.

Ni Qianqian looked to the side, "Who's next?"

Liu Yin thought for a moment, then stood up and said, "I'll go." As he walked out, the noise in the arena couldn't help but subside.

Xiao Jing's eyes lit up and said, "It's Brother Liu Yin."

The man said, "Oh? Liu Yin is going on so quickly? It seems this big brother is putting a lot of pressure on them."

The man pondered for a moment and said, "There is no guaranteed victory in a duel. Fundamentals, mentality, and on-the-spot performance are all essential. The person who wins today may not necessarily win tomorrow."

He looked ahead, "The gap between fighters like them is actually very small, so it's hard to say who will win or lose. Sometimes, it may even depend on a little luck."

"Luck?"

"Yes, like positioning." The man smiled. "There's a superstitious saying that sometimes the person standing on the west side, that is, on our left hand side, is more likely to lose."

"But Brother Liu Yin is standing on the west side now."

"So it's just a superstitious saying, haha."

After Liu Yin stood in front of Chen Chuan, he said, "Student Chen, me going on now is actually taking advantage of you. I hope you don't mind."

No matter how short a time Chen Chuan took to end the battle, he had seen it now and had some understanding of his opponent. This was a clear advantage for him. Strictly speaking, it was indeed unfair.

He hoped for a fair fight; otherwise, victory would be meaningless. So, he said, "I specialize in Sanshou for hand-to-hand combat. I have a keen sense of danger and can always find vulnerabilities in my opponents. I hope you'll be careful."

The short-haired woman said, "Besides his solid fundamentals, Liu Yin can always seize the right opportunities. No one else can compare to him in that regard."

Ni Qianqian joked, "Sister Bai, don't jinx Liu Yin with your praise."

The short-haired woman glared at her but then fell silent.

Suddenly, Ni Qianqian frowned and walked aside, seemingly receiving a message.

Chen Chuan noticed that after this woman stepped forward, everyone else fell silent, indicating she was the most outstanding among these disciples.

He carefully assessed Liu Yin, who possessed a strong will and mentality, with coordinated movements and hardly any obvious flaws or weaknesses. He wasn't someone who could be defeated with a single move, like those he had faced before.

After exchanging respectful greetings, they both stepped back slightly. Liu Yin stood still, not out of fear or hesitation, but to show that he didn't want to take advantage of Chen Chuan.

Since he was being modest, Chen Chuan didn't stand on ceremony. He slowly approached, and once within range, he immediately accelerated, throwing a punch at Liu Yin's face.

Liu Yin didn't block the attack. Instead, he shifted his feet, leaned back slightly, and dodged to the side. His movements were quick, and his balance was excellent. Although he hadn't actually engaged, his hands were already positioned for a counterattack.

The crowd breathed a sigh of relief, and someone shouted "Good!" because Liu Yin hadn't been defeated with a single blow. They were starting to feel the pressure.

Chen Chuan glanced at him. Liu Yin's movements were natural and cautious. To win under these circumstances, he would have to find openings and opportunities in motion. It seemed he would have to maneuver for a while.

Just as he was thinking this, a message came from Ni Qianqian on the boundary device, "Brother Chen, something's come up at the Bureau. If you can resolve this quickly, please do so."

Upon hearing this, Chen Chuan raised an eyebrow. This meant he had to change his original strategy. He instantly released the restraint on the alienized tissue, and his forward step suddenly quickened.

This sudden change in pace was something most people couldn't adapt to. They would likely be caught off guard and flustered. However, Liu Yin was different. He remained calm. Instead of dodging, he raised his arms, arched forward, and actively closed the distance.

Seeing this, Sister Bai couldn't help but praise, "That's the right choice! Dodging is useless. Can you be faster than someone charging at you? In this situation, you're more likely to be knocked down."

"By taking the initiative, you can use the impact to suppress Chen Chuan's speed. Chen Chuan's sudden acceleration must come at a cost, requiring the participation of most of his alienized tissue. So, there's no need to fear grappling or takedowns. It's useless to avoid the opponent; sometimes, closing in and striking from close range is more effective."

As expected, Chen Chuan didn't change his move. In an instant, their arms and shoulders collided. Because both were charging forward with force, there was a loud bang. The sound made the crowd's chests feel tight.

Liu Yin predicted that this collision would cause both of them to pause momentarily due to the force of impact. However, he had trained in a focused power technique, which allowed him to adjust and coordinate faster than others. This would allow him to regain his balance first and seize the advantage.

However, he didn't expect that after being knocked back two steps by the force, Chen Chuan would remain standing in place, without moving an inch. Then, as if unaffected, he reached out and grabbed Liu Yin's wrist with a snap.

Liu Yin's eyes narrowed, knowing that his opponent was skilled in grappling and takedowns. If the force seeped in, it would be over. With no other option, he could only guide the force and use the opponent's likely pull to close in again.

However, Chen Chuan didn't use the expected technique. Instead, he gathered his strength and charged forward again, resulting in another dull thud.

Chen Chuan stood there like a rock, unmoved. Liu Yin, on the other hand, felt a tightness in his chest, his limbs trembling, and his footing becoming unsteady.

Before he could recover, Chen Chuan's figure suddenly loomed larger, and his shoulder slammed into Liu Yin's chest with a bang. This time, Liu Yin flew backward, landing on the floor and sliding a distance before being caught by the crowd amidst gasps of surprise.

Chen Chuan slowly straightened up and looked forward, cupping his fist towards the direction where Liu Yin had fallen, and said, "I concede."

The arena was silent.

After a few breaths, Ni Qianqian came out and clapped her hands, saying, "Alright, that's all for today. Brother Chen has something to take care of and needs to leave. We'll find another opportunity next time." She gestured to Chen Chuan and walked out first.

Everyone present was silent. Liu Yin was recognized as the strongest among them, but even he had been defeated. There seemed to be no point in continuing the competition today.

Chen Chuan straightened his clothes, nodded to the crowd, and went to the door. He picked up the Snow Monarch Saber and was about to walk out when a voice came from behind, asking, "Young man, who taught you your martial arts?"

Chen Chuan stopped, turned his head, and saw that the person asking was the man he had met once before. He looked back at everyone inside and slowly said, "It was Cheng Zitong from Yangzhi Wuyi, Teacher Cheng."

After saying that, he turned around and walked towards the door. Soon, the sound of a sports car speeding away could be heard from outside.

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