Volume One: First Signs of Brilliance Chapter Seventy: The Shameless Wang Jue

What exactly is a "subtle-level footwork"? What does it mean to achieve such a degree of mastery? In essence, it is the result of meticulous observation, allowing one to anticipate an opponent’s attack trajectory in advance and use the most minimal and optimal movement to evade with precision.

Once this level of movement is attained, even when beset by a group of foes of equal strength, one can handle the onslaught with ease. Such mastery allows one to pass unscathed through a thousand perils, emerging without a single mark.

Let alone a single punch from this muscle-bound man before him—even if he unleashed a barrage of relentless strikes, Wang Jue could effortlessly evade them all.

As Wang Jue sidestepped the punch, he immediately launched a counterattack. With a sudden surge of power, he threw a punch at point-blank range, aiming straight for the muscleman’s chest. In that instant, all his strength was gathered and released like a bullet, the blow tearing through the air with formidable force.

It is a well-known fact: with equal force, the smaller the area of impact, the greater the damage. One could well imagine the devastation wrought by Wang Jue’s unrestrained punch—it was truly terrifying.

Moreover, Wang Jue’s strength now rivaled that of a first-tier Martial Artist of the Spirit-Nurturing Realm.

As Wang Jue’s fist crashed down like a furious dragon bursting from the sea, the muscleman’s chest caved inward as if struck by a sledgehammer. His entire body was sent flying like a severed kite, slamming hard against the wall with tremendous force.

A thunderous bang reverberated through the gravity chamber, making the room tremble. One could easily imagine how violent that blow was.

Fortunately, the muscleman’s body was naturally tough, and Wang Jue had held back a fraction of his strength at the last moment. Otherwise, had he taken the full force of Wang Jue’s attack, he would have been crippled, if not killed.

“What the hell? When did Peaceful Town get such a freak?” At that moment, the muscleman, embedded in the wall, was completely stunned.

Born with extraordinary talent, he had always relied on his superior physique to dominate the youths of his hometown. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come to Peaceful Town to stir up trouble right before the exams. He had expected to sweep through his peers here, just as he had defeated Lin Zifeng—the renowned genius of the town.

He had believed there would be no one in Peaceful Town who could rival him.

Yet the outcome? Wang Jue had defeated him with a single casual punch!

Recalling the force of that punch, the muscleman’s eyes were filled with terror, and his body trembled uncontrollably. His face turned a ghastly shade, for he vividly remembered how he had arrogantly challenged Wang Jue moments ago, taunting, “I’m right here—come on, try and beat me if you can!”

Now, thinking back, the muscleman felt his scalp tingle, as if foreseeing something dreadful.

Alas, Wang Jue’s attention was not on him at all, nor did he notice the series of changes on the muscleman’s face. His gaze was fixed on two experience orbs that had just appeared.

[Experience +10]
[Experience +10]

“Huh… Why is this even less than what I got from the previous ones?” Wang Jue fell into contemplation. “Could it be that the more severely injured the opponent, the more experience is gained?”

“To test this theory, does that mean my next blows should be even harsher?”

At this thought, a mischievous smile crept over Wang Jue’s lips. He glanced at the muscleman, who was struggling to free himself from the wall, and mused with a playful glint in his eye, “Let’s hope this fellow can last a bit longer—such a good experience farm is rare indeed…”

Sensing Wang Jue’s ill-meaning gaze, the muscleman shuddered and pleaded repeatedly, “Wait, I’m no match for you—I surrender!”

“Surrender?” Wang Jue’s expression froze, but he had no intention of letting this “experience treasure” off so easily. Shamelessly, he said, “No, we were evenly matched just now—why would you surrender?”

“Who said you could give up?”

“Come on, be a man! Let’s go another round and see who’s better!”

The muscleman: “…”

Hearing Wang Jue’s shameless words, the muscleman could only grit his teeth and face him once more.

Bang!

The outcome was never in doubt.

Moments later, the muscleman was slammed into the wall yet again. This time, he was in a far worse state—his right arm fractured in multiple places.

“Brother, I really can’t beat you—please, can I surrender?” Clutching his broken arm, the muscleman begged for mercy.

“That last round was another draw—we’re still even!” Picking up four orbs dropped by the muscleman, Wang Jue shamelessly insisted, “Come on, let’s keep going—we need to settle this today!”

Damn it! I’m the one getting beaten to a pulp here, how is this a draw?

The muscleman felt a despair beyond words.

How is this a draw at all?

Wang Jue, of course, had no idea what the muscleman was thinking. As soon as his words fell, he threw another unreasonable punch.

The muscleman had no choice but to struggle to his feet for yet another round.

Ten seconds later.

After another wild barrage, the muscleman’s face was visibly swollen, his misery plain for all to see.

“I give up! I surrender!” he cried out desperately from the ground.

“Don’t be like that! We’re clearly evenly matched—I just don’t understand why you insist on giving up.” Wang Jue pursed his lips and shamelessly pressed on, “If you’re a real man, get up and fight again! Let’s really go at it today!”

At these words, the muscleman: “…”

He began to question the very meaning of existence.

…

As the old saying goes, an arm cannot wrestle a thigh.

About half an hour later, after being beaten by Wang Jue who knows how many times, the muscleman could no longer even stand.

He lay on the ground, swollen to nearly twice his original size, muttering over and over, “Why is it so hard just to surrender?”

Wang Jue seemed not to hear him. Instead, his gaze swept over the field of transparent orbs scattered across the floor.

“Tsk, tsk—what a haul!”

With a smile tugging at his lips, Wang Jue cheerfully began collecting experience.

“And this is only the beginning.”

After gathering the orbs and seeing his experience points climb from over forty thousand to over fifty thousand on his panel, Wang Jue felt no particular excitement. Instead, he reminded himself, “Steady now—don’t get cocky. Compared to true geniuses, my current strength is nothing. I have no right to be arrogant.”

Then, with a glance at the dozen or so people sprawled haphazardly on the gravity chamber floor, he turned and walked out, returning to where Luoshui and the others were waiting.

“My god, he’s unscathed?”

“Are my eyes playing tricks on me?”

“No way—he walked out on his own instead of being thrown out?”

“That can’t be right—those guys inside aren’t exactly friendly.”

“Something must have happened in there.”

…

Seeing Wang Jue emerge with not a scratch on him, the crowd wondered if they were hallucinating.

Even Lin Zifeng, renowned as a genius, had lost to those people.

No one could comprehend how Wang Jue had come out of the gravity chamber completely unharmed.

“Is he stronger than Lin Zifeng? Or did he single-handedly beat up that whole group?”

As this thought appeared in everyone’s mind, they couldn’t help but gasp.

Once they realized it might actually be possible, they looked at Wang Jue with newfound awe.

“Little Jue, what’s going on?” Luoshui hurried to Wang Jue, curiosity brimming in her eyes. “Those people inside didn’t lay a finger on you?”

“Nonsense—they absolutely did,” Wang Jue replied calmly, “But it was a draw between us.”

“A draw? Little Jue, are you kidding? There’s a guy in there stronger than Lin Zifeng—a first-tier Spirit-Nurturing Martial Artist!” Luoshui’s beautiful eyes widened in disbelief. “You held them to a draw? How is that possible? I know your level better than anyone. It’s only been a few days—did you suddenly leap several tiers?”

Just as Wang Jue was about to reply, a few people in the crowd, eager to confirm their suspicions, pushed open the gravity chamber door.

What they saw left everyone dumbstruck.

Inside, the group of musclemen were sprawled across the floor, groaning and wailing in pain.

For a moment, everyone at the door stood frozen, their expressions more exaggerated than if they’d seen a ghost in broad daylight.

“Holy crap—is he a Spirit-Nurturing Martial Artist?”

“Must be—otherwise, he couldn’t have crushed those guys so easily.”

“So he’s even stronger than Lin Zifeng?”

“Obviously! Isn’t it clear?”

“He’s too strong! He took on over a dozen people by himself!”

“Our school’s top genius is nothing compared to him!”

…

While the crowd buzzed with discussion, Luoshui looked at Wang Jue as if she were staring at a prehistoric beast.

Her expression seemed to say, “Little Jue, is this your idea of a draw?”

At that moment, Luoshui felt as though her childhood companion was a stranger—almost as if he had become someone entirely different. Were it not for his unchanged appearance, she might have suspected he was an imposter.

After all, the Wang Jue she remembered was a good-for-nothing, not a genius!

“Hey, Tyrannosaurus.”

Seemingly unfazed by the gazes around him, Wang Jue affectionately ruffled Luoshui’s hair. “Didn’t you want to use the gravity chamber? Why are you still standing there? Just get some people to carry those guys out and there’ll be plenty of space.”

Only Wang Jue could call Luoshui a tyrannosaurus to her face without fear of reprisal.

Snapped back to her senses, Luoshui grinned, “You’re right, Jue—securing a spot is the real priority!”

With that, she dashed off toward the gravity chamber.

Watching her disappear, Wang Jue stretched lazily and left the scene.

The gravity chamber might be useful for others, but it was of little value to him now.

Besides, his goal was to visit the other training halls and continue reaping his ill-gotten gains.