Chapter 2: Raise Your Eyebrows!

As dawn broke, Dustin Li opened his eyes. He had cultivated throughout the night, yet instead of exhaustion, he felt an unprecedented surge of energy.

For the past three years, his progress had been sluggish, his body starved of true strength. But now, after merging with the Pearl of Life and Death, everything had changed. His physique, once ordinary, was undergoing a transformation—an evolution dictated by the forces of life and death themselves.

Pushing open the door, he stepped into the Martial Hall's training ground. The morning air was filled with the sounds of students honing their skills, their gazes turning toward him with a mixture of surprise and disdain.

"Didn't Joshua Zhang beat him unconscious yesterday?"

"Heh, I heard this fool tried to play the hero for Emery Liu and got what he deserved."

"A nobody like him? He should take a look at himself in a mirror—thinking he could win over Emery Liu, the daughter of the prestigious Liu family!"

The whispers and jeers followed Dustin as he walked, but he remained silent. Rage burned within him, but he knew the truth—yesterday, he had been too weak to resist. That would not be the case today.

He found a secluded corner of the training field and took a deep breath. If his cultivation technique could evolve, could his martial arts improve as well?

Dustin Li steadied his stance and launched into a set of fist a first-rank martial technique. His movements were powerful yet fluid, fists slicing through the air with newfound force.

The Life Vein Diagram emerged in his mind, mapping out every flaw, every inefficiency in his form. He realized—just like his cultivation, his martial arts could evolve as well.

He took another step forward. Boom!

His fists struck a wooden training dummy, splintering it apart. The Martial Hall's dummies were made of black ironwood, a material that could withstand the strikes of a third-level Body Refining disciple.

Dustin Li was only at the second level.

Yet the destruction he caused… was the work of someone at the fourth level.

A spark of excitement ignited in his chest. If his strength had risen this much in a single night, what would he become in the days to come?

Just then, a loud, arrogant voice echoed across the training ground.

"Out of the way, you blind fools! Joshua Zhang is coming!"

A group of well-dressed young men swaggered forward, their presence met with immediate submission. Students lowered their heads, unwilling to provoke the influential scion of the Zhang family.

Dustin Li clenched his fists as his eyes locked onto the one at the center—Joshua Zhang.

"Well, well, if it isn't the lowly Dustin Li," Joshua sneered. "Didn't you learn your lesson yesterday?"

Laughter erupted around him.

"If you know what's good for you, beg for mercy now," Joshua continued. "Maybe then, I'll be generous enough to spare you."

Dustin remained silent, his mind calculating. Joshua Zhang is at the fourth level of Body Refinement… Can I defeat him?

A follower of Joshua stepped forward—Juan, one of the lackeys who had joined in yesterday's beating.

"Young Master Zhang is talking to you, trash!" Juan sneered, raising his hand to slap Dustin across the face.

But before the strike could land—

Snap!

Dustin's hand shot up, catching Juan's wrist in an iron grip.

"You—!"

Juan's insult was cut short as Dustin twisted his arm sharply. Crack! The sickening sound of bones shifting unnaturally filled the air.

"AAAHHH!"

Juan let out a pig-like squeal as Dustin kicked him aside. He collapsed to the ground, clutching his dislocated arm in agony.

The crowd gasped. No one had expected Dustin to fight back—let alone overpower one of Joshua Zhang's men.

Joshua's face darkened. "You think you can stand against me?"

"Why don't we find out?" Dustin stepped forward, eyes cold and unwavering.

One of Joshua's lackeys, a sharp-faced youth named Amari, sneered.

"Young Master Zhang, there's no need for you to dirty your hands. Allow me."

Joshua smirked. "Fine. Just don't be as useless as Juan."

Amari stepped forward, confidence oozing from his stance.

"I'm at the third level of Body Refinement," he declared. "I recently mastered a second-rank martial art. A lowlife like you—"

His body blurred as he launched his attack.

Violent Wind Palm!

A sharp wind howled as Amari's palm strike shot toward Dustin's head.

The crowd gasped. Second-rank martial arts were costly treasures, reserved for those with wealth or talent. Against a mere first-rank ferocious ox Fist, there should have been no contest.

Yet…

Boom!

Amari's body suddenly flew backward, crashing heavily onto the ground. He gasped, clutching his chest, his expression frozen in shock.

The spectators fell silent.

Joshua Zhang's smirk disappeared. He had assumed Dustin was still the weakling from yesterday. But now…

Dustin Li cracked his knuckles and took a step forward.

"Your turn, Zhang."

Joshua's eyes flickered with rage. "You think you can take me on?"

He lunged forward, fingers curling into Iron Eagle Claw, a third-rank martial technique known for its lethal strikes. The air around his claws shimmered with condensed energy.

Dustin met him head-on.

Boom!

The moment their attacks clashed, the sound of shattering bones rang out.

A scream followed.

Joshua Zhang stumbled back, his right hand hanging limply—all five fingers broken.

Silence.

The crowd stared in stunned disbelief.

Joshua Zhang, one of the most feared bullies of the Martial Hall… had just been crippled by Dustin Li.