Chapter 19: A Formidable Opponent

Xiao Chen leisurely strolled through the streets of Qiufeng Town, completely unconcerned about those men coming back for revenge.

"Aren't you afraid they'll come back for revenge?" Xiao Baihu transmitted a message, finding Xiao Chen's lack of worry rather odd.

"Of course I'm afraid! But my cultivation is about to break through to the mid Heartbeat Stage, so I stayed here on purpose. If they come for revenge, I'll use the opportunity to break through. I need to quickly improve my cultivation to avenge Xiandao Sect and make the Yang family regret!" Xiao Chen said, his eyes flashing with both ferocity and determination.

"So that's your plan, to use the battle to make your breakthrough faster," Shanggu Baihu transmitted back, understanding Xiao Chen's intentions.

Xiao Chen shrugged and sneered, "I didn't want this, but they provoked me first."

Sure enough, barely an incense stick's worth of time after Xiao Chen left the tavern, the enemies showed up. A middle-aged man in his thirties, accompanied by a dozen burly men, approached Xiao Chen aggressively.

The cultivators on the street hurriedly avoided them, and those doing business quickly shut their doors. The street instantly became desolate.

Xiao Chen remained unfazed, calmly watching the dozen burly men approaching, his gaze fixed on the middle-aged man in the center.

"Boss, that's the brat!" The man who had been punched in the nose by Xiao Chen angrily pointed at him.

Their leader, the middle-aged man named Zhao Yun, was the boss of these thuggish men. He was tall and thin, dressed in black brocade, with disheveled hair. His cultivation had reached the late Heartbeat Stage.

Zhao Yun looked at Xiao Chen, seeing a boy around ten years old, and angrily berated his men, "You bunch of useless idiots! You can't even handle a little brat! Hmph!"

"Xiao Chen, that guy is at the late Heartbeat Stage, two levels stronger than you. Be careful!" Xiao Baihu transmitted, a bit worried for Xiao Chen.

"I know, I can see that. The stronger the opponent, the faster I can improve," Xiao Chen said, without a hint of worry on his face, only anticipation.

"Kid, are you Xiao Chen? Did you beat up my men?" Zhao Yun looked at Xiao Chen and coldly asked, not taking him seriously at all.

"I am Xiao Chen, and I did beat them up," Xiao Chen replied with a calm smile.

"Very good! Since you admitted it, I won't be polite! To beat them so easily, you must have reached the Heartbeat Stage!" Zhao Yun shouted, channeling his True Essence as he rushed towards Xiao Chen.

Facing a cultivator at the late Heartbeat Stage, Xiao Chen dared not be careless. He quickly activated his True Essence, his expression serious as he watched Zhao Yun rapidly approach.

Sensing Xiao Chen's aura, Zhao Yun sneered, "Indeed at the Heartbeat Stage, but unfortunately just the early stage. Kid, I'll teach you a lesson today and show you the consequences of offending me."

Zhao Yun's speed was incredibly fast. In a few blinks, he was upon Xiao Chen, his fist, imbued with tremendous power, slammed down towards Xiao Chen.

"Bang!"

Xiao Chen also punched back with full force, but on the first exchange, he was at a disadvantage. Zhao Yun's powerful punch sent him flying several meters away, skidding on the ground before stabilizing himself.

"As expected, he's strong! The late Heartbeat Stage is indeed formidable, much stronger than the mid stage!" Xiao Chen thought in shock. His full-strength punch had been overwhelmed, and his arm was now slightly aching.

"Xiao Chen, be careful. Don't clash head-on. His strength is far greater than yours," Xiao Baihu transmitted, worried after seeing Xiao Chen get knocked back.

Seeing that Xiao Chen was only pushed back and not injured, Zhao Yun was surprised but sneered, "Xiao Chen, not bad. You could withstand my punch. But let's see how many more you can take!"

As he finished speaking, Zhao Yun launched another attack, his eyes flashing with ferocity as he unleashed a barrage of strikes on Xiao Chen.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Zhao Yun's attacks were swift, giving Xiao Chen no chance to counter. Xiao Chen struggled to defend, continuously being suppressed by Zhao Yun. They fought from one street to another, and even with Xiao Chen's strong physique, it was hard to endure Zhao Yun's powerful blows.

Feeling superior, Zhao Yun sneered, "How about now, kid? Do you see my power?"

"If I can't break through, I can't defeat him!" Xiao Chen thought to himself, Zhao Yun's speed was almost too fast for him to see clearly. It was overwhelming.

"Boss! Beat that brat to a pulp!" cheered one of the thugs, feeling incredibly pleased.

"Yeah! Cripple him!" another thug shouted excitedly.

Zhao Yun, being at the late Heartbeat Stage, was two levels higher than Xiao Chen. His strength and speed surpassed Xiao Chen by a large margin, making it difficult for Xiao Chen to fight back. This was the gap in their abilities.

But Zhao Yun was shocked that Xiao Chen could last so long. He had never seen anyone withstand his attacks for so long, and even after being hit several times, Xiao Chen was only lightly injured.

"This kid has an incredibly strong physique!" Zhao Yun thought, his expression unchanged despite his astonishment.

"Just a little more! Just a little more and I can break through! I must hold on!" Xiao Chen thought, wiping the blood from his mouth. The last punch had made him spit blood, leaving him pale.

"Kid, can't hold on anymore?" Zhao Yun sneered, his eyes flashing with ruthlessness.

Xiao Chen wiped the blood away and sneered back, "You're seeing things."

"Oh? Let's see how long you can keep up this act," Zhao Yun sneered, channeling his True Essence again. He suddenly stomped the ground, his body shooting towards Xiao Chen.

Seeing Zhao Yun attacking again, Xiao Chen quickly drew his divine sword, infusing it with his True Essence as he gripped it with both hands and charged forward.

"Huh? What kind of weapon is that? It has such powerful energy!" Zhao Yun thought, puzzled by the strange aura of Xiao Chen's long sword.

"Ha!"

Xiao Chen was also fast. In a blink, they were close to each other. Xiao Chen shouted, gripping his divine sword tightly as he slashed towards Zhao Yun.

Zhao Yun's expression turned serious, abandoning his attack to dodge Xiao Chen's sword. As they passed each other, Zhao Yun quickly turned and rushed at Xiao Chen from behind.

"Xiao Chen, watch out!" Xiao Baihu transmitted urgently.