Chapter 5: Not Even as Good as a “Waste”!

Jiang Chen's faint, mocking voice sent a jolt through the entire square.

Gasps echoed as if a bomb had gone off.

"Did I hear that right? Jiang Chen… actually challenged Jiang Yunhong?!"

"Is he insane?! Yunhong broke through to Body Tempering Level Five months ago! That trash is barely Level Two—how is this even a fight?"

"Heh, this isn't a challenge. It's suicide."

Disciples exchanged stunned glances, their expressions a mix of pity and schadenfreude.

Even Jiang Yunhong himself froze for a moment, stunned by the audacity.

"...You really want to fight me?" he finally asked, his voice low, dangerous.

He hadn't forgotten—just last night, he'd beaten Jiang Chen bloody with a single punch, leaving him like a dead dog on the ground.

And now, one night later… this "waste" was provoking him?

Jiang Chen's smirk widened. "Enough nonsense. Do it. My things aren't something any stray cat or dog can take."

That single line made blood rush to Jiang Yunhong's face, his rage boiling over.

"A mere piece of trash dares talk like that?!" Jiang Yunhong roared, his body trembling with fury. "Fine! Since you want to die so badly, I'll grant your wish!"

With a furious howl, he lunged forward, his fist arcing toward Jiang Chen's head with crushing force.

The watching disciples held their breath.

"The difference between Level Two and Level Five… it's over."

"He's going to get flattened."

They could already imagine Jiang Chen lying in a pool of blood.

But—

Whoosh!

Jiang Chen's figure blurred like smoke. His Meteor Step activated, and in an instant, he had slipped past the punch, his movement effortless, graceful.

"I—what the hell?!"

The crowd's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets.

Did that waste… just dodge Jiang Yunhong's full-force punch?!

Even Jiang Yunhong was caught off guard.

Impossible. That had to be luck.

But before he could gather his thoughts—

"Your punch was flashy, but too slow," Jiang Chen's calm, mocking voice came from his side. "At that level, no wonder Lingyun Wufu didn't want you."

It was like slapping salt onto an open wound.

"You bastard!"

Jiang Yunhong roared, his face twisting with rage. This time, he channeled every ounce of strength in his body.

Bang!

He struck out with lightning speed, aiming to obliterate Jiang Chen with a blow too fast to dodge.

But—

Snap!

Jiang Chen didn't even step back. His hand lashed out like a whip and casually intercepted the punch mid-air.

"Hmm. Speed's better this time," Jiang Chen said lightly, his eyes full of mockery. "But strength? Still too weak."

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping so only Jiang Yunhong could hear:

"You called me a waste, but you're not even as good as one. Tell me—what qualifications do you have to enter Lingyun Wufu?"

The square erupted.

"What did he just say?!"

"He caught Jiang Yunhong's punch… like nothing?!"

Jiang Yunhong's blood ran cold.

This wasn't luck.

This… was real.

Panic and disbelief mixed in his eyes. How? How could this trash suddenly become so strong?!

His face contorted with humiliation.

"Enough! I'll crush you—Huang-rank Beginner Martial Art: Tiger Howl Fist!"

He bellowed like a raging beast. Fierce energy swirled around his fist, forming the shadow of a roaring tiger as he lunged at Jiang Chen like a predator pouncing on its prey.