Chapter 26: The Duel!

**Location: West City, Battle Technique Hall, Testing Room**

"Ha!" 

With a loud shout, Chu Xun thrust his right foot firmly into the ground. The powerful force from his kick caused the entire floor to tremble slightly. 

Using the recoil from the earth, Chu Xun's body shifted slightly. His waist and hips suddenly unleashed tremendous power, combining the shockwave from the ground with his own strength, passing it step by step, channeling it into his right arm. 

Then, Chu Xun's fist shot forward like an arrow released from a taut bowstring, leaving behind a blur of motion and a deafening sonic boom, crashing heavily into the punching target in front of him. 

*Bang!* 

With a thunderous roar, the punching target caved in as if struck by a cannonball, shaking violently. The sound of metal grinding and parts being shredded could be heard from the force measuring device, indicating that something inside had suffered serious damage. 

At the same time, a terrifying number appeared on the device's screen. 

**3790 kg!**

"Not bad!" 

Looking at the vastly improved result compared to seven days ago, Chu Xun's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. 

Though the training over the past seven days had been grueling, it had undoubtedly allowed his strength to leap forward! 

"Not bad!" 

Seeing Chu Xun standing, fists still clenched, Chu Kuangren stroked his chin with approval in his eyes. "You remembered to maintain your balance when you struck. That was spot-on. Otherwise, if you only pursued raw power and ignored your balance, your punch would indeed have more force, but you'd be signing your own death warrant. After all, your enemy won't just stand there waiting to get hit." 

"I have to thank you, Master, for your careful guidance." 

Chu Xun, however, did not appear proud. Instead, he nodded humbly. After seven days of training with Chu Kuangren, he had come to truly understand how formidable his teacher was. He realized that his current achievements were still nothing compared to this strong man. 

He still had no idea what Chu Kuangren's special abilities were!

"Don't thank me. Thank yourself!" 

Chu Kuangren shook his head and smiled, his tone filled with admiration. "To master the three key elements—'stand', 'move', 'gather'—in just seven days... this kind of progress is truly a first for me!" 

Then, his expression grew serious, and he stared intently at Chu Xun, asking, "But I really want to know, what kind of motivation pushed you to work so desperately? Don't tell me it's just for the student evaluation!" 

This question had been bothering Chu Kuangren for quite some time. 

In his eyes, Chu Xun was almost the perfect student. Not only did he possess extraordinary talent, but his determination was also enough to impress even Chu Kuangren. 

In the past seven days of intense training, Chu Xun had practically trained for around twenty hours a day, leaving only four hours for rest. Even with his superior physical condition, he often found himself exhausted, unable to move, and on the verge of collapse. 

But despite all that, like an indestructible cockroach, he would rest briefly and then immediately resume his training. His total training volume soon exceeded Chu Kuangren's original expectations. It was this relentless attitude that allowed him to grasp in seven days what others would need at least three to six months to learn. 

And those "others" were top-tier enhanced ability users! If an ordinary person were in his position, it would take ten times as long. 

"Because I want to become stronger, and I don't want to die!" 

Without any hesitation, Chu Xun gave his answer. 

"Want to become stronger, don't want to die?" 

Hearing this, Chu Kuangren suddenly burst into laughter. "Good reason! Really good reason. That's exactly how it should be in this damned world. The stronger you are, the less likely you are to die!" 

Then, his expression suddenly became serious. "Now that you've grasped the three key elements—'stand', 'move', and 'gather'—while you haven't yet mastered them perfectly, it's only a matter of time before you do. This means I can teach you the next step—combat techniques!" 

"Combat techniques?" 

Chu Xun was slightly taken aback by the term. 

"'Stand', 'move', and 'gather' teach you how to position yourself, how to walk, and how to gather power. If you master these, you can unleash your strength more perfectly. This is why we usually refer to these three as 'training methods'!" 

Chu Kuangren took a deep breath and became serious. "Once you've learned the training methods, you can move on to the next step—combat techniques, or 'strike'!" 

"Please teach me, Master!" 

Recalling the brief sparring session with Chu Kuangren, Chu Xun nodded resolutely. 

Chu Kuangren was right. Once he mastered the training methods, he would be able to unleash his strength more perfectly, doubling his punching power. But without mastering real combat skills, all his power would still be useless, as shown in his previous fight where he was easily overwhelmed. 

"Training methods need to be practiced, I'm sure you've already realized that." 

Chu Kuangren narrowed his eyes and spoke seriously. "Combat techniques need to be tested in real situations. With only seven days left before the student evaluation, there's only one way for you to master the basics of combat techniques." 

"What method?" 

The student evaluation was a matter of life and death for Chu Xun. His face became grim as he asked. 

"Only true life-or-death combat can fully unleash a person's potential. Only what you learn from life-or-death combat can truly become part of you," Chu Kuangren grinned, his expression dark and malicious. "So, in these final seven days, I'll take you to experience real life-and-death battles!" 

"Life-and-death combat? Is this another practical training session?" 

Chu Xun furrowed his brow. 

"Indeed, but this time, I won't be your opponent!" 

Chu Kuangren smiled even more broadly. "Let's go. We'll leave the city. There are plenty of enemies outside the city for you to practice on!" 

"Leave the city? Isn't the city locked down?" 

Chu Xun was momentarily stunned, a bad feeling creeping into his mind. 

It seemed that this so-called life-and-death battle was going to be far more brutal than the previous training sessions. 

"Heh, the lockdown is for ordinary people. For true powerhouses, the lockdown is just a joke," Chu Kuangren grinned. "What's the matter? You're not afraid, are you?" 

"Afraid of what!" 

However, hearing Chu Kuangren's words, Chu Xun's heart actually brightened. 

If they were leaving the city, he'd welcome it! 

"Not afraid? Then come with me!" 

Chu Kuangren shrugged and walked confidently toward the Battle Technique Hall's exit. Chu Xun didn't hesitate for a second and followed right behind him. 

But just as Chu Xun was about to leave, a familiar figure appeared before him. 

"Chu Jie?" 

Seeing the familiar figure of Chu Jie, followed by a few of his underlings, Chu Xun's eyes turned cold. 

He wasn't the type of person to forgive and forget. The grudge over the assassination attempt by Chu Jie's men was still fresh in his mind! 

"Chu Xun!" 

Seeing Chu Xun, Chu Jie's eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over. 

"This should be interesting…" 

Seeing the potential conflict between the two, Chu Kuangren didn't try to intervene. Instead, he grinned and stepped back, saying, "Chu Xun, you handle your business first. We'll get back to training afterward." 

"Yes, Master!" 

Chu Xun nodded, his gaze cold as he silently observed Chu Jie, saying nothing. 

He was curious what this brat would try next! 

"Fortunately, that martial fanatic doesn't seem to have a good relationship with Chu Xun…" 

Noticing that Chu Kuangren stepped back, seemingly unconcerned, Chu Jie's heart relaxed a little. 

If anyone in Chu City dared to defy his father's authority, it would be the bald, reckless man and the bespectacled man from the Battle Technique Hall. 

"You're looking for me?" 

Looking at Chu Jie as he approached, Chu Xun's gaze grew even colder. 

"I should've figured it out. If you hadn't awakened, how could Qing Yi have died at your hands?" 

Seeing the ice-cold look in Chu Xun's eyes, Chu Jie's brow furrowed slightly, and he said coldly, "I'm here to challenge you to a duel!" 

"A duel?" 

Hearing the words, Chu Xun's lips curled into a faint smile, but his eyes became even colder. 

In order to increase the competitiveness of the younger generation, the Chu family not only allowed but also encouraged internal strife, with the only rule being that no one was allowed to kill their opponent. 

As for injuries, with the current technology and various abilities, as long as someone didn't die, it was not a big deal. They could recover in a short time. 

Now, it seemed that Chu Jie wanted to injure him severely enough that he wouldn't be able to participate in the student evaluation and thus