Chapter 53: The Collapse of Bai Xun

“What in the world…”

Everyone exchanged glances, completely bewildered. This was Grandmaster Lu Chen, a revered Imperial Tutor. Who would dare lay a hand on him? And beat him up like this? Besides, weren't they just in the study? How did they return... looking like this? Could it be they didn't go to the study to read, but to... fight? Did the refined Grandmaster Lu Chen enjoy such activities?

“I’m fine…” Grandmaster Lu Chen waved his hand awkwardly. He couldn't possibly say that Zhang Xuan had broken through, lost control of his strength, and accidentally caused this, could he?

Knowing any explanation would be futile, Grandmaster Lu Chen walked a few steps to the main seat and turned to Butler Cheng. “Ah Cheng, please fetch a power-testing stone pillar!” He was a master of calligraphy and painting, not a martial artist, so a power-testing stone pillar wouldn't normally be in the living room. However, since it was related to cultivation, he did have one in the house, and bringing just one would suffice.

“Yes!” Butler Cheng didn't know what his master intended, but he nodded and exited.

“Grandmaster Zhang, has your strength truly reached the peak of Fighter 5-dan?” Seeing the room quiet down, Bai Xun couldn't help but step forward, his face filled with excitement.

“Mm!” It wasn't convenient to say at the academy, but here, it wasn't a secret. Zhang Xuan had nothing to hide.

“I also possess that level of strength. Could I perhaps learn a few moves from you?” Hearing the young man's confirmation, excitement blazed in Bai Xun's eyes.

“Bai Xun, what are you doing? Don't you see where we are…” Huang Yu was speechless and quickly said. Grandmaster Lu Chen was a refined person who detested arguments and fights. Challenging someone in his living room was surely a joke?

As Huang Yu said, Lu Chen indeed disliked others brandishing weapons or fighting in front of him. However, since the power-testing stone pillar hadn't arrived yet, Bai Xun was indeed the best way to verify if Zhang Xuan had truly improved. He also knew that Bai Xun had reached the peak of Fighter 5-dan. With similar cultivation, he should be able to discern whether Zhang Xuan's strength had truly surged!

Thinking this, he looked up and instructed, “If it's a normal spar, I have no objection, but it must be controlled.”

“Alright!” Bai Xun had expected Grandmaster Lu Chen to refuse, so when he agreed, he was so excited he almost jumped. A triumphant look appeared in his eyes. He took two steps to the center of the living room, gestured to Zhang Xuan, and adopted a cool stance. “Please!”

“Okay!” Zhang Xuan had just finished cultivating the Heaven's Path Golden Body and also wanted to see how far his strength had progressed. He didn't refuse the challenge and moved to the center.

“My punching power is immense, be careful!” His eyes narrowed, Bai Xun lost his previous gentlemanly demeanor, replaced by an incomparably powerful aura. Both at the peak of Fighter 5-dan, yet in terms of raw strength, he was actually a notch above Shang Bin!

*Whoosh!* With his aura fully condensed, Bai Xun stepped forward, his fist-wind like a blade, his power like a sword, chopping directly towards Zhang Xuan.

To test his cultivation, Zhang Xuan didn't check for flaws revealed by the Heaven's Path Library. Instead, he met the attack with a backhanded punch.

*Whoosh!* The two fists met in the air, and Zhang Xuan frowned. “Why is his punching power so weak? Is he not at the peak of Fighter 5-dan?”

Against the opponent's fist, Zhang Xuan's strength didn't falter in the slightest. It pressed straight forward, crushing it like a stone encountering foam, utterly defenceless. Sensing this, Zhang Xuan thought the other party wasn't ready or hadn't exerted his full strength, so he quickly withdrew more than half of his power. Even so, Bai Xun's expression still changed. Like a rubber ball struck hard, he *whooshed* through the air, his back slamming violently into a pillar before he finally stopped.

“Why didn't you use your full strength?” Zhang Xuan retracted his fist, approached, and extended a hand to pull the latter up.

“No…” Seeing this scene, Grandmaster Lu Chen's pupils contracted. He wanted to stop it, but it was already too late.

*Whoosh!* Pulled by the young man, Bai Xun shot out like a kite released, whistling through the air.

*Splat!* He flew dozens of meters, his face plastered against a wall, blood gushing from his nose and mouth.

“Wuwuwu…” Bai Xun almost cried. “Big Brother, I know I can't beat you, but you don't have to be this ruthless! My handsome face, my face…”

“How could you…” Seeing Bai Xun also fly out after a single pull, Zhang Xuan scratched his head, looking completely innocent. What's going on? First Grandmaster Lu Chen, now Bai Xun. Is it really okay for you two to keep bouncing around like this? If the two of them knew what he was thinking, they would surely vomit blood in frustration on the spot.

*You* are bouncing around... *we* were thrown out by you!

“This fellow…” Huang Yu, standing to the side, also had twitching eyebrows, on the verge of going mad. Bai Xun was definitely among the best of their young generation; aside from a select few, almost no one could defeat him. It was precisely this fact that cultivated his competitive and unyielding nature. He had expected Zhang Xuan to be no match for him in a fight, never dreaming that he would be sent flying with a single punch. Such a complete defeat! This guy seemed unassuming, how could he possess such immense strength?

“Are you alright?” Unaware of what everyone was thinking, Zhang Xuan approached Bai Xun with an apologetic expression.

“I'm fine…” Struggling to his feet, Bai Xun patted the dust off his clothes. After undergoing the Skin-and-Bone Realm's refinement at Fighter 5-dan, minor injuries weren't a big deal.

“That's good. I saw you weren't using your full strength just now. How about this, let's fight again, but you use your full power this time…” Zhang Xuan's face was earnest.

“Again?” Bai Xun's face twitched. He nearly burst into tears. If they fought again, he might die here… He immediately waved his hands repeatedly. “No need, Grandmaster. Your strength is far superior to mine. I don't think we should fight anymore…”

“Don't be polite. We're just sparring, there's no need to be so reserved. And please, don't call me 'Grandmaster'; it sounds too formal…” Zhang Xuan thought the other party was holding back due to his status as Grandmaster Lu Chen's peer, which made him appear so weak, so he quickly explained. When he had first reached the peak of Fighter 5-dan, he had sparred with Yao Han. Although Yao Han's strength was slightly higher than Bai Xun's, he had exerted immense pressure and possessed formidable power. Since Bai Xun wasn't far off in cultivation, he should be similar. Being sent flying with one punch, Zhang Xuan continuously assumed Bai Xun hadn't used his full strength. Otherwise, he only possessed eight *ding* of strength; even if he held back, it would be impossible to send a Fighter 5-dan peak practitioner with four *ding* flying with a single punch, right?

“Sparring?” Bai Xun shuddered. Was this f***ing sparring? One punch from you, and I almost died, you know that?! Also, you're peers with Grandfather Lu Chen. If I don't call you Grandmaster, what should I call you? His face twitched. Remembering something, he was on the verge of tears. “You say 'Grandmaster' sounds too formal... you're not going to make me call you 'Grandpa,' are you? Grandpa Zhang, I was wrong, okay? I shouldn't have targeted you just now. Please... don't spar with me anymore!”

“The power-testing stone pillar is here!” Just then, a shout announced Butler Cheng's arrival. He walked in, then saw the scene before him and heard Bai Xun's cries. He froze on the spot, utterly petrified. “Gah?”