New workout alert! "Marvel: The Infinite Crown" - because our library needs a superhero upgrade!
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{Chapter: 131 Chi Qian concedes defeat! Divine-level fighting skill!}
However, Lin Yuan's waist and Chi Qian's shoulders continued to endure increasing strain, accumulating pain with each passing second. Their bodies were locked in a battle of endurance, neither willing to give in easily. The tension between them had built up to the point where even the smallest shift in movement felt like a test of willpower.
Both of them had been holding on for quite some time now, their muscles taut with resistance. The air between them was thick with unspoken determination, each of them waiting for the other to falter.
After all, Lin Yuan was still a novice in hand-to-hand combat. While he had learned a considerable amount in a short period, he was far from mastering the art of close-quarters fighting. His foundation was strong, and his physical capabilities were above average, but that alone wasn't enough to match someone who had spent years honing their craft.
Chi Qian, on the other hand, was not the type to accept defeat without putting up a real fight. Her pride as a martial artist and her years of relentless training wouldn't allow it. Losing, especially in a fair match, wasn't something she could easily accept—not even to Lin Yuan.
From the very start, she had been fighting with her full strength, exerting herself in ways she usually didn't against ordinary opponents. She didn't hold back. She didn't underestimate him. Her strikes were precise, her footwork impeccable, and her stance unshakable.
Yet, as the seconds dragged on, she could feel the strain creeping into her body.
Her shoulders, which had been supporting her weight and balance throughout the match, were beginning to ache with a dull, throbbing pain. Each small movement sent subtle jolts of discomfort through her nerves, reminding her that she was pushing herself harder than usual.
Despite that, she refused to back down.
Lin Yuan, however, wasn't oblivious to her condition. He had sharp instincts, and his ability to read people was exceptional. He could see it—the slight hesitation in her movements, the almost imperceptible tensing of her muscles whenever she exerted force.
She was nearing her limit.
Before Chi Qian could reach the point where her pain became unbearable, Lin Yuan suddenly and unexpectedly let go.
It wasn't because he had lost. It wasn't because he had reached his limit. He had made a conscious choice to surrender.
Chi Qian, caught completely off guard by his sudden release, was unable to react in time. The force she had been exerting against him suddenly had no resistance to counterbalance it, and her body instinctively followed through with her movement.
The result was immediate—Lin Yuan was thrown forcefully to the ground.
The impact was sharp but not particularly painful, thanks to the thick, cushioned mats covering the private training room's floor. Nonetheless, the way he had hit the ground was not the expected outcome of the match.
Chi Qian stood frozen for a moment, processing what had just happened.
It was similar to two cars blocking each other on a narrow road, both trying to advance but neither able to move forward. Then, just as one driver finally decided to yield and step aside, the other, caught off balance, surged forward too forcefully.
Lin Yuan had yielded first, allowing Chi Qian to "pass."
However, rather than feeling triumphant, Chi Qian felt embarrassed.
She hadn't won through sheer skill or dominance. She had won because Lin Yuan had allowed her to.
She stared at him in silence, her brows slightly furrowed.
A hint of guilt surfaced in her heart.
"It's okay. I lost," Lin Yuan said casually, breaking the silence. His voice was relaxed, completely unfazed by the outcome.
Reaching out, he grasped Chi Qian's soft, slender hand, using it for support as he pulled himself back up. His grip was firm yet gentle, and the warmth of his palm sent a strange sensation through Chi Qian's skin.
She hesitated for a brief second before helping him up.
Because the private training room was well-equipped with thick mats designed to absorb impact, the fall hadn't caused Lin Yuan any real harm. He simply dusted himself off, his usual composed expression never faltering.
Chi Qian watched him closely, a flicker of something unexplainable flashing through her eyes.
In the past, she had always viewed Lin Yuan as someone distant—an attractive and intelligent man, but one who never seemed to take anything too seriously. He was charming, confident, and always in control of his surroundings.
But at this moment, looking at his relaxed expression and unwavering demeanor, something shifted inside her.
Lin Yuan had clearly been in a position where he could have won. He had the opportunity to secure victory, yet at the last moment, he had chosen to let go.
It was a deliberate choice, one that disregarded the outcome entirely.
Why?
Chi Qian wasn't naïve. She understood that true combat wasn't about meaningless victories. She had seen and fought against many skilled opponents before, but none had ever willingly surrendered just to spare her from discomfort.
This realization stirred something within her.
Her heart, which had always been steady and composed, suddenly felt a little… off balance.
She could feel the rhythm of her heartbeat changing ever so slightly, as if something had nudged it out of sync.
Was it admiration? Respect? Or was it something else?
Before she could figure it out, Lin Yuan's voice pulled her back to reality.
"No… No, I lost," she admitted softly, a faint hint of embarrassment in her voice.
Sometimes, the one who concedes first is the true winner.
[Ding! Chi Qian's Favorability +2! Reward: 1000 Counterattack Points!]
The sudden system prompt echoed in Lin Yuan's mind.
Reading Chi Qian's expression, he immediately understood what she was thinking.
With a teasing smirk, he said, "Since you've said so, then that means you lost, Master Chi. Wait, no, I should say—the expert is the master. Miss Chi, I won."
"Pfft!"
Chi Qian couldn't help but laugh, her pretty face lighting up with amusement.
"You sure changed your stance quickly! So, you're not going to acknowledge me as your master anymore?" she joked, raising an eyebrow. "Let's just call it a tie, or I'm afraid you'll get too arrogant."
Chi Qian had fought many skilled opponents before. She had always relied on her speed, agility, and reflexes to give her an edge. To her, Lin Yuan's actions had been more of a fluke than an actual display of superior skill.
"Fine, we'll call it a tie," Lin Yuan said with a smirk.
However, deep inside, he had something else in mind.
This fight had given him a deeper understanding of his own capabilities.
While his skills had improved greatly, he was still far from reaching the pinnacle of combat mastery.
Chi Qian was strong. Perhaps she was even on the same level as Ye Feng, the so-called "King of Soldiers." However, Chi Qian's raw strength and endurance were still inferior to Ye Feng's.
If Lin Yuan truly wanted to surpass them both, he had to push beyond his current limits.
And so, he made his decision.
Upgrading his fighting skill to the divine level was not without cost.
The moment Lin Yuan initiated the upgrade, a sharp, searing pain coursed through his body, as if his very muscles were being reforged in fire. It wasn't just a mental shift—it was a transformation at the deepest level of his muscle memory, instincts, and reflexes.
To achieve this breakthrough, he needed 5,000 counterattack points.
The recent bout with Chi Qian had earned him 2,000 points, a decent gain, but he still lacked 3,000 more to complete the upgrade.
There was no hesitation. Lin Yuan instantly recharged 300 million yuan, converting it into the remaining 3,000 counterattack points required to transcend mortal limitations.
And then—it happened.
The moment the final points were spent, Lin Yuan felt an immeasurable force surge within him. His understanding of combat exploded, elevating his skills to a realm beyond human comprehension.
Every technique he had ever learned, every stance, every movement—it all merged seamlessly into a single, flawless fighting style.
His transformation wasn't just theoretical; it was visceral. His body instinctively knew how to execute every martial technique with absolute perfection. There was no wasted movement, no reliance on unnecessary tricks or flashy maneuvers.
Everything was stripped down to the purest, most efficient form of combat.
His punches and kicks now held immeasurable force, yet they seemed almost effortless. A single strike could carry the weight of a mountain or the speed of lightning, depending on his intent.
Lin Yuan had transcended the concept of combat styles altogether.
Sanda, Judo, Taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, Muay Thai—none of them mattered anymore.
He no longer followed martial arts techniques; he embodied them.
Even Ye Feng, the so-called King of Soldiers, was nothing more than a stronger version of Chi Qian in comparison. No matter how many life-or-death battles Ye Feng had survived, he had definitely not reached this level yet.
And as for Chi Qian herself?
She had no idea that Lin Yuan had just stepped into a realm she could only dream of.
Unaware of Lin Yuan's sudden rebirth as a true combat god, Chi Qian continued explaining fighting theory with a calm, serious tone.
"The fundamental purpose of combat is to dominate—controlling an opponent's life in your hands."
Her voice was steady, her expression serene, but there was a flicker of something deeper in her eyes—a glimpse of her relentless pursuit of mastery.
She continued, "I've trained in martial arts for years, but my skills are far from being the most powerful. At best, I can be considered a Grandmaster."
Her words carried humility, but Lin Yuan knew she wasn't exaggerating.
Chi Qian's talent was undeniable—her speed, precision, and technique surpassed most professional fighters.
Yet, she had not reached the peak.
She elaborated further.
"Beyond the Grandmaster level, there exists an even higher stage—Great Perfection."
Lin Yuan remained silent, but inside, he was intrigued.
"I've only heard about it in theory," Chi Qian admitted, her voice tinged with curiosity. "At that stage, every punch and kick looks deceptively simple—nothing flashy, nothing excessive."
She gestured subtly, mimicking a straight punch in the air.
"But in reality, a single blow at this level is like thunder crashing through the sky—swift as the wind, heavy as a mountain, and completely unavoidable. Just one strike is enough to render an opponent completely helpless."
Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
She was describing exactly what he had just achieved.
Chi Qian continued, her tone thoughtful.
"There are many martial arts—Sanda, Judo, Taekwondo, Wing Chun…"
She sighed, as if weighing the burden of endless training.
"But I've heard that when one reaches the stage of Great Perfection, techniques no longer matter. Everything becomes instinctual—refined into a single, unstoppable force. Maybe that's what they call… 'victory without effort,'" she mused.
She let out a quiet breath, her gaze momentarily distant.
Then, she added, almost wistfully, "I don't know if I'll ever reach that level in my lifetime."
There was a faint trace of frustration in her voice, an almost imperceptible flicker of regret.
To devote oneself to martial arts—to train relentlessly for years—only to know that true mastery might always remain out of reach…
Lin Yuan smiled.
She was wrong.
She had no idea that someone had already surpassed that realm right in front of her.
And so, with a smirk, he spoke.
"Actually… I think I just reached that level."
Chi Qian's head snapped toward him.
"Huh?"
Lin Yuan's expression remained completely serious.
"After defeating you just now, I felt something change inside me. My meridians suddenly opened up. I've reached the stage of Great Perfection you just described."
For a second, there was complete silence.
Then—
"Pfft—!"
Chi Qian burst into laughter, her shoulders shaking as she immediately covered her mouth.
She couldn't help it. The way he had said it, with such an unshakable expression, was too much.
Still laughing, she wiped the corner of her eye and smirked.
"If you have already learned that, then you are Master Lin" Chi Qian smiled. (T/N: Master = shifu)
Her voice carried a teasing note, but there was an undeniable warmth in her eyes.
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New workout alert! "Marvel: The Infinite Crown" - because our library needs a superhero upgrade!