“What's wrong with the principal? This is making life unbearable for all of us!” Fuda couldn't help but complain.

A few days ago, the principal had suddenly issued a strict order: if the school failed to achieve good results at the Xingfeng Martial Arts Conference this year, all holidays for the next two years would be canceled. This decree applied to both students and teachers alike.

The principal's authority at Tianjing Academy was unmatched; no one doubted the enforceability of his orders. Anyone who had spent time at Tianjing knew that the principal's word was never to be taken lightly.

Chaos erupted at Tianjing Academy.

All the teachers, like wind-up toys, worked tirelessly day and night, adding classes and various forms of special training, engaging in relentless practical drills.

The students felt overwhelmed. Forget about skipping class; even being late could lead to severe punishment under this immense pressure. In the past, a little bribery could ensure a carefree existence, but now that tactic was useless. The teachers were like wolves with blood in their eyes, showing no mercy.

Every class was affected, and the corridors filled with students facing punishment.

Today, Fuda was one of the unfortunate ones.

“It’s all because of those three guys,” his friend whispered, familiar with the situation. “Do you remember those three country bumpkins? The moment I saw them at our school, I sensed trouble. I never expected it would escalate to this!”

“Are you talking about those three bumpkins?” Fuda was taken aback; he had seen them too but hadn’t connected the dots.

“The old man is the principal of Shaqima Academy, and the other two are Amori and Tang Tian. You must have heard about them; they’ve been quite the sensation lately!”

Fuda nodded vigorously. “I’ve heard! The Wild Bull Amori transferred here. But what do they have to do with the principal? Did they offend him somehow?”

“I’m not sure of the details, but I heard they had a heated argument in the principal's office. And then this mess happened!” his friend continued revealing the gossip.

“No way,” Fuda scoffed, disbelief etched on his face, as if he had just heard the most absurd joke. “What could there possibly be to argue about with a school as insignificant as Shaqima Academy? Does he really think they can compete with us at the Xingfeng Martial Arts Conference? Has he lost his mind?”

He wasn't just boasting; Tianjing Academy was the top school in Xingfeng City, while Shaqima Academy ranked near the bottom. In fact, Fuda had never even heard of Shaqima until this transfer incident.

“There are always delusional people in this world,” his friend shrugged, looking exasperated. “They’re the ones with their heads in the clouds, and we’re the ones getting dragged down by it!”

“Absolutely!” Fuda exclaimed, his jaw dropping in astonishment.

“It’s true,” his friend said, his expression grim.

Fuda felt a surge of anger rising within him. “These idiots, if they can’t think straight, that’s on them, but they shouldn’t drag us down with them! This can't be left as is.”

“What are you planning to do?” his friend perked up, intrigued.

Fuda smirked, “They think they can compare with Tianjing at the Xingfeng Martial Arts Conference? They should take a good look in the mirror! Who do they think they are? It’s ridiculous! I’ll make sure they realize reality isn’t as amusing as they think.”

“Do you mean…” his friend’s eyes lit up.

“Hey, we don’t even need to wait for the Xingfeng Conference! Let’s gather some people and give them a beating. They want to participate in the conference? Then let’s make sure they can’t!” Fuda's eyes grew cold and mocking. “Do they think just because they have the Wild Bull Amori, they can act so arrogantly? The Beast Academy doesn’t dare challenge us; what can a mere Amori do? We’ll wipe the floor with them!”

“Right! Let’s gather a few people! Damn it, we have to vent this frustration!”

Before long, Fuda's proposal received enthusiastic support from many students. The thought of their current hellish existence fueled their anger.

Fuda hadn’t expected so many to rally behind him.

However, to avoid drawing the teachers' attention and facing punishment, they ultimately chose the two strongest students to confront them while the rest provided cover.

Shen Yuan, a third-year student ranked ninth at Tianjing Academy.

Yang Yong, a second-year student ranked twenty-second.

The two disappeared from sight.

Unbeknownst to them, due to his training in the Crane Form, Tang Tian felt no fatigue during this round of intense practice. His flick punch had reached perfection; he could execute it in any manner he desired.

After meditating for an hour, any weariness vanished, and his recovery speed had greatly improved since mastering the Crane Form.

According to the insights from the soul card, the Crane Form was merely an introduction to the Crane Qi Formula, not its conclusion. What Tang Tian had achieved was just a rudimentary version; he needed to activate more fine meridians to strengthen it. A fully developed Crane Form would become vivid and immensely powerful.

At higher levels, with just a thought, the Crane Form would take shape, causing true energy to surge and explode, transforming softness into unyielding strength, becoming invincible.

Tang Tian felt incredibly fortunate.

The Crane Qi Formula was perfectly suited for rigorous training, allowing not only martial skills but also significant advances in true energy.

All he needed to do was practice repeatedly, enduring cycle after cycle of hard training.

What could be simpler than that?

Filled with anticipation for the future, Tang Tian wondered what it would be like to master the Crane Form to its fullest.

He laughed heartily, leaping from the floor and rushing out the door, eager to find Amori and test his skills.

Amori was in the training ground, drenched in sweat, wielding a colossal wooden sword nearly his size, shouting commands while Old Wei was nowhere to be seen.

For some reason, Tang Tian had the impression that Amori seemed even more focused and diligent than before. Though Amori had always been hardworking, the sight of him now stirred this thought in Tang Tian’s mind.

Hmm, probably just an illusion.

Tang Tian shook his head, dismissing the random thought, concentrating instead as he infused true energy into his legs, propelling himself like a cannonball toward Amori, who was deep in his training.

“Here comes the Wild Bull! Take that!”

Tang Tian shouted mid-air as he twisted his body to throw a punch.

Amori had sensed Tang Tian approaching long before, and with a swift rotation of his massive wooden sword, he transformed his bulk with surprising agility.

“Basic Tang! Show me your recent progress!”

Amori laughed heartily, meeting Tang Tian's mid-air attack with a powerful downward slash.

The colossal wooden sword carved through the air with a dark, heavy blade shadow, accompanied by a mournful wind, aimed straight at Tang Tian.

Amori didn’t channel any true energy, yet the weight of his attack felt like a mountain pressing down, imposing a sense of unavoidable dread. With his innate strength, that wooden sword, made from dense mountain wood, weighed over two hundred pounds—like a door slab.

Such a heavy strike was terrifying!

Amori could clearly feel his improvement; this slash felt effortless, a qualitative leap in his technique.

However, to his surprise, Tang Tian in mid-air showed no intention of dodging.

Has Basic Tang lost his mind?

Amori was puzzled. Basic Tang had excellent physical attributes, yet he couldn’t possibly withstand this strike. Even Amori himself wouldn’t dare take it on empty-handed.

Tang Tian suddenly unleashed his punch!

In that instant, it vanished from sight.

Flick Punch!

Amori’s spirits lifted. The last time, Tang Tian had suppressed him thoroughly with that technique, and it had haunted him ever since. Though Tang Tian had been in a frenzied state then, Amori believed that was no excuse for his defeat.

Let’s see how your flick punch has improved!

Amori felt a clarity wash over him as he merged with the momentum of his attack; the dark blade shadow seemed to become one with his iron-like body.

The ominous wind vanished, and the heavy momentum became lighter. No matter from which angle Tang Tian’s flick punch emerged, it would collide with his strike.

Tang Tian’s fist suddenly pierced through the air.

Wait!

Amori’s gaze sharpened, and his concentration shattered as he stared at Tang Tian’s fist.

A faint white glow enveloped his hand.

Punch Glow!

Impossible! The first thought that flashed through Amori's mind was that very word. How could a flick punch produce a punch glow? It was inconceivable!

Flick Punch was a second-tier technique…

Yet the glow on Tang Tian’s fist was undeniably real, though faint.

Amori snapped back to reality, shaking off his shock.

At that moment, the massive wooden sword clashed with the glowing fist.

Clang!

The sound was like metal striking stone, and Amori felt a tremendous force surge through his hand, the heat radiating from his palm almost causing him to drop the giant sword.

Punch Glow!

It was a genuine punch glow!

At that moment, all doubts vanished from Amori’s mind; the glow from Tang Tian’s fist was indeed a punch glow!

Basic Tang…

After his astonishment, a fierce fighting spirit ignited within him. Basic Tang, I won’t lose to you. With the strength of a mountain, he swiftly grounded himself, raising his giant wooden sword.

“Basic Tang, you’ve actually cultivated a punch glow! Haha, now I can finally fight you with my full strength! Come on, Basic Tang, let’s see my Earthshatter Slash!”

Amori’s strike was powerful; although Tang Tian’s fist was protected by the punch glow, he still stumbled back several steps, his arm aching.

This bull’s strength is insane!

Hearing Amori’s passionate challenge, Tang Tian suddenly withdrew his fist, displaying a harmless smile as he waved his hand. “Aha, Wild Bull, I was just saying hello. Now that the greeting is done, well, I have things to do, so you enjoy yourself…”

Before he could finish, he slipped away.

Amori stood there, stunned, watching Tang Tian’s retreating figure disappear, his fighting spirit feeling as though it had struck a cotton pillow, nearly causing him to spit blood.

Moments later, a furious roar erupted from the woods.

“Basic Tang! You jerk!”

Tang Tian laughed heartily, striding away.