Smashing Faces

Zhang Tingfei's face twisted into an unfiltered mask of contempt as he watched Zhang Haoyun fold his hands into a fist, signaling his readiness to fight.

The audacity of the gesture was staggering. The Zhang Haoyun he knew—or thought he knew—was assertive but cautious, always careful not to overstep his bounds.

This version of Zhang Haoyun, however, was something else entirely. Unhinged, unpredictable, and radiating a confidence that bordered on arrogance, he seemed ready to dismantle Zhang Tingfei without a second thought.

"Pfft! Zhang Haoyun, what do you think you're up to?" Zhang Tingfei sneered, his voice dripping with cold mockery.

He couldn't believe the sheer gall of the youth standing before him.

Was this some kind of joke? A desperate attempt to save face? Whatever it was, Zhang Tingfei was determined to put an end to it.

"I wouldn't know…" Zhang Haoyun replied, his tone laced with a contemptuous sneer. "...kicking butts, obviously."

The casual arrogance in his voice was infuriating. Zhang Tingfei's nostrils flared as he let out a derisive snort.

"Hmph!"

He shifted into a fighting stance, his body coiled like a spring, ready to unleash the full force of his cultivation. If Zhang Haoyun wanted a fight, he would give him one—and he would make sure it was a lesson the fool would never forget.

"Flaming Fist!" Zhang Tingfei bellowed, his voice echoing across the training grounds.

He thrust his fist forward, and a massive shadow of a flaming fist materialized in the air, hurtling toward Zhang Haoyun with terrifying speed.

The attack was accompanied by a wave of scorching heat, the air itself seeming to ignite as the flame-attribute energy surged forth.

The Flaming Fist was a common grade-two martial art technique, typically used by beginners at the first level of the Qi Condensation stage.

It was a basic move, one that Zhang Tingfei had mastered long ago. In the past, this very technique had been a source of trauma for the previous owner of Zhang Haoyun's body.

Back then, Zhang Tingfei's Sixth Level Qi Condensation energy had made the attack feel like a direct confrontation with Yama, the King of Hell.

The sheer force and brutality had left Zhang Haoyun battered and broken, both physically and mentally.

But now, things were different.

Zhang Haoyun stood his ground, his expression unreadable. To the untrained eye, he appeared completely emotionless, his eyes betraying nothing but indifference.

Yet, beneath the surface, his mind was working at lightning speed, analyzing every detail of the incoming attack. He remained rooted in place, his body relaxed, as if the flaming fist hurtling toward him was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

The attack was mere inches away from pulverizing his shoulder when Zhang Haoyun finally moved.

With a grace that defied logic, he arched his body and executed a light backflip, narrowly evading the flaming fist.

The timing was impeccable, the precision flawless. The attack whizzed past him, dissipating harmlessly into the air.

"Impossible!" Zhang Tingfei screamed, his eyes wide with disbelief.

He wasn't the only one stunned. The spectators who had followed him to the scene were equally shocked, their faces a mixture of amazement and disbelief.

The Flaming Fist, a technique they had seen Zhang Tingfei use countless times, had been effortlessly dodged by someone three realms below him.

Zhang Haoyun landed lightly on his feet, his expression unchanged.

"Tsk! Impossible? That attack earlier isn't even a fair one. But you struck first anyways, so spare me the privilege to return a blow of mine," he said, his tone dripping with mockery.

The words hit Zhang Tingfei like a slap to the face, and he gritted his teeth in frustration.

"Hmph!" Zhang Tingfei managed to snort, though his confidence was visibly shaken.

He shifted into a defensive stance, his earlier bravado replaced by a cautious wariness. He wasn't sure what to make of this new Zhang Haoyun, but he wasn't about to let his guard down.

Zhang Haoyun smirked, his eyes glinting with a dangerous light. He had no intention of holding back.

Zhang Tingfei had chosen to challenge him, and now he would face the consequences. This was more than just a fight; it was a statement.

Zhang Haoyun was no longer the weakling they had once mocked. He was a reincarnated deity, and it was time they understood the difference.

"Flaming Fist!" Zhang Haoyun shouted, repeating Zhang Tingfei's earlier attack.

The move was deliberate, a calculated taunt designed to provoke his opponent. Zhang Tingfei's lips curled into a sneer, though there was a flicker of unease in his eyes.

He couldn't believe Zhang Haoyun was using the same technique against him. It was a move reserved for beginners, and Zhang Haoyun was three realms below him.

Only an idiot would attempt such a thing.

But Zhang Haoyun was no idiot!

He relaxed his muscles, his body and mind achieving a temporary unity that maximized his output strength.

He channeled his spiritual energy with intent, his movements swift and precise. In less than thirty seconds, he was standing right in front of Zhang Tingfei, his fist poised to strike.

"Eat my fist!" Zhang Haoyun sneered, his voice cold and merciless.

He threw his fist forward with maximum force, the impact resonating with a sickening crack.

CRACK!

The sound was unmistakable. Zhang Tingfei's nose bore the brunt of the blow, the force of the attack sending him flying through the air.

He landed hard on the ground several meters away, his body convulsing uncontrollably before finally going still. The spectators watched in stunned silence as Zhang Tingfei lay motionless, his face a bloody mess.

"What's going on?"

"This is impossible! What happened to Zhang Tingfei? Is that really true?"

"My goodness, I can't believe my eyes. Zhang Haoyun actually beat Zhang Tingfei!"

The murmurs of disbelief grew louder as the spectators tried to process what they had just witnessed. One of them rushed forward to check on Zhang Tingfei, tilting his head slightly to assess the damage. However, what he saw made his blood run cold.

Zhang Tingfei's nose was completely flattened, the skin around it scorched and blackened. The damage was severe, far beyond what anyone would expect from a mere level-one technique.

The fact that Zhang Haoyun, who was three realms below Zhang Tingfei, managed to inflict such damage was nothing short of astonishing.

Zhang Haoyun watched the scene unfold with a wickedly subtle smile. He had left a branding mark on Zhang Tingfei's face, a reminder to everyone who dared to challenge him.

He had held back at the last moment, but even so, the force of his attack had been devastating. By unifying his body and mind, he had turned a basic technique into something far more powerful.

The spectators began to bow to Zhang Haoyun, their expressions a mix of fear and respect. They had witnessed something extraordinary, a display of skill and power that defied all logic.

The Flaming Fist, a technique they had always looked down on, had been used to defeat an opponent far stronger. It was a lesson they wouldn't hurriedly forget.

Zhang Haoyun flicked his sleeves and left the scene quietly, his mind already reflecting on the fight.

There was an oddity that bothered him, though. Despite the intensity of his attack, his body showed no signs of strain or damage. It was as if the power he had unleashed had come from somewhere else entirely.

As he entered his residence, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

The fight had been a victory, but it had also raised questions—questions he would need to answer if he was to fully understand the limits of his new body.