Chapter 10: Transformation
Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Transformation
Ending the Time Stop, the world resumed its flow.
Fang Chen actually felt as if a lifetime had passed.
The school uniform that had torn during his earlier martial arts practice had returned to its original state, and the craters he had smashed into the ground during training were also filled and smoothed over.
Fang Chen didn’t know how long he had stayed in the Time Stop Domain. Based solely on the number of times he had eaten, it was at least three years, maybe even five.
"It seems I’ll need to activate a clock first before going in from now on."
Fang Chen looked at his palm. The wound he had previously pierced with the key had long since healed, not even leaving a scar.
"In the future, if I get injured or exhausted in reality, I can simply enter the Time Stop Domain and wait for my body to recover to its peak state before fighting again!"
He subconsciously touched his own body; the noticeably more robust muscle lines felt incredibly real.
Testing it out, he threw a Rock-Breaking Fist at the empty air. Using only fifty percent of his strength, a crackling sound of his bones and tendons ringing in unison echoed from within his body—five rings!
Before entering the Time Stop Domain, he could punch out three rings at most.
"Sure enough, my cultivation base and physical fitness have all been brought out!"
But he still had one concern.
Fang Chen immediately summoned his status panel:
[Age: 18]
[Qi and Blood Value: 91/91]
[Physical Strength Value: 76/76]
[True Qi Value: 37/37]
[Mana Value: 3/3]
[Physical Attack Power: 13]
[Physical Defense: 9]
[Magic Attack Power: 0]
[Magic Defense: 2]
[Current Cultivation Base: Peak of True Martial Realm]
...
"I’m still eighteen! Excellent!"
"Why can I bring out the physical changes in my body, but my age was rolled back?"
"No, it wasn’t rolled back. It simply never changed in the Time Stop Domain in the first place," he muttered aloud.
"Age... Time... Is there some inevitable connection?"
He tried to find an explanation, but it was a bit beyond his grasp, so he stopped dwelling on it. In any case, it was a good thing.
"Class Monitor? Why are you just standing there?"
"Old Fang, what’s wrong with you?"
His classmates’ shouts pulled him back to reality from his thoughts.
"Right, I still have to demonstrate the Leg Technique."
Fang Chen had almost forgotten what he was supposed to do. He stepped forward, while the surrounding students began to whisper among themselves.
"Eh? Why do I feel like the Class Monitor is somehow different?"
"How is he different? He’s still just as handsome."
"It feels like he’s more solid. Look, his school uniform seems to be stretching a bit..."
"Is it? Hasn’t the Class Monitor always been like this?"
Teacher Liu also noticed that Fang Chen seemed a bit different, but he didn’t overthink it and said, "Oh, Fang Chen, your Rock-Breaking Fist has improved recently! Being able to produce five rings with one punch, it looks like you’re not far from Great Success."
"Come on, let’s begin."
"Yes, sir!"
Since it was a demonstration, he should keep a low profile.
Fang Chen responded, bowed to Teacher Liu, and immediately assumed the starting stance of the Twelve-Step Leg Springing Technique.
The moment his body moved, Teacher Liu sensed that something was off.
This stance... was far too textbook perfect!
Steady as a mountain and ready to strike, it was even more perfect than Liu Xiaochuan’s own master’s stance, faintly exuding the demeanor of a grandmaster.
"Is it an illusion?"
Before he could think carefully about it, Fang Chen had already moved!
"First Form: Spiritual Snake Emerges from the Cave!"
Fang Chen called out the move, and then his left leg shot out like lightning, performing a rapid feint. It was so fast it only left a blurry afterimage.
"Second Form: Gale Willow!"
...
Liu Xiaochuan’s eyes widened, and his mouth hung slightly agape. All the words of instruction he had prepared on the tip of his tongue were stuck in his throat.
This... this Leg Technique?!
The transitions were fluid, and the power delivery was precise. This level of proficiency was clearly approaching the realm of Minor Achievement!
Aside from the infusion of True Qi and muscle exertion having a slight rawness inherent to young people, he couldn’t find a single flaw to criticize!
All the students in the class were already dumbfounded. They didn’t watch as closely as Liu Xiaochuan, but they simply found it incredibly beautiful and fluid!
It was practically as picturesque as a painting!
They watched as Fang Chen’s body shifted and leaped, his legs alternating like spinning wheels.
"Third Form: Old Tree Rooting!"
"Fourth Form: Kuixing Kick!"
Every move and stance was full of Power, carrying a sense of rhythm where fierceness and agility coexisted.
When he pulled back his stance and stood still, his breathing steady, the entire venue fell into complete silence.
It wasn’t until a female student subconsciously clapped hard, breaking the silence, that deafening applause and cheers erupted!
"Wow! Class Monitor is too amazing!"
"Damn it! With a peerless genius of our generation like the Class Monitor, I, Luo Dong, am afraid I’ll have to keep a wide berth from now on!"
"You’ll be keeping a wide berth for a hundred years at this rate!"
"Boohoo, does the Class Monitor still need a partner? Don’t be so strict about gender!"
The boys cracked jokes unscrupulously, while the girls blushed with excitement and clapped wildly. Some excitedly jumped up and down in place, pounding on their companions’ shoulders like beating drums to vent their adoration.
Liu Xiaochuan forcefully suppressed the raging storm in his heart. He cleared his throat and put on a stern face.
"Ahem! Fang Chen, you did... quite well. Are you certain you haven’t practiced the Twelve-Step Leg Springing Technique before?"
"No, Teacher."
"That makes sense. This Leg Technique is only taught in the junior year. Practicing it too early isn’t very efficient indeed."
Teacher Liu nodded, trying his best to regain his dignity as a teacher.
"However, you shouldn’t be complacent! The movements are beautiful, but the details still need polishing.
"For example, the power generation from the waist and hips in the Third Form, ’Old Tree Rooting,’ wasn’t smooth enough. And the instantaneous explosive power in the Fifth Form, ’Chasing Wind and Lightning,’ was slightly lacking. All of these require tempering yourself through a thousand hardships, understood?"
Fang Chen respectfully replied, "Yes! Teacher Liu is right. I will definitely practice diligently and correct my shortcomings."
"Mhm, step down."
Teacher Liu waved his hand in satisfaction.
As Fang Chen returned to the ranks, Teacher Liu looked at the students, who were still in an excited state, and muttered in his heart:
"This isn’t right. The way Fang Chen performed it made the Leg Technique look as if it’s very easy to practice. This won’t do. I need to get another student up here to show everyone what a normal level looks like."
His gaze swept around before finally locking onto one boy:
"Luo Dong! Stop your hollering. Come up and try performing it exactly the way Fang Chen just did!"
Luo Dong, who had been singled out, instantly had his face fall.
"Huh? I... Teacher, I haven’t even memorized all the moves yet!"
...
The dismissal bell rang, leaving the sports field echoing with wails of agony.
"Class Monitor, I can’t do this anymore! I’m completely drained!"
"Yeah, Class Monitor. Can we not train so ruthlessly..."
"Boohoo, I feel like my bones are falling apart..."
The students complained incessantly as they supported each other up the stairs.
Fang Chen walked at the very front. Hearing this, he turned around, crossed his arms, and showed no sympathy:
"That won’t do. The martial arts exam is coming up soon. With your flimsy foundations, how are you going to pass?"
A short-haired girl named Yu Yao was the class representative for academic subjects.
At this moment, she hung her head listlessly:
"Spare me, Class Monitor... With my frail build, I probably won’t be able to get into the Martial Arts Academy anyway. Sigh, I might as well put more effort into the academic exam, find a stable job after graduation, and live out my life plainly and peacefully..."
"It never hurts to practice more." Fang Chen’s tone softened a bit. "Society isn’t peaceful nowadays, and the police can’t manage everything. Sweating more now is always better than bleeding in the future."
A tall girl nearby named Liu Rui immediately chimed in upon hearing this, bringing her face close to Fang Chen with a grin:
"I support the Class Monitor! The Class Monitor is doing it all for our own good, right?"
As a result, Fang Chen pressed a finger against her forehead and pushed her back.
He looked at Liu Rui and said, "Eh, Liu Rui, your legs..."
Liu Rui’s eyes lit up, carrying a hint of smugness. "Hehe, my legs are ninety-three centime—"
Fang Chen interrupted her showing off and commented, "They’re definitely good material for practicing Leg Techniques."
The smugness on Liu Rui’s face instantly turned into horror. "Ah? Class Monitor, you aren’t going to make me do extra training, are you?"
Her voice even carried a tremble.
"Extra training? That’s not a bad idea. But it’s too late today, so let’s do it another day."
But after walking a few steps, Fang Chen suddenly clapped his hands together, as if remembering something.
"What is it, Class Monitor?!"
The classmates in the corridor looked at him in terror, deeply afraid he might utter more ruthless words!
"Right! I forgot that we haven’t scheduled sparring practice today! Come on, every single one of you, come over and exchange a few moves with me!"
As soon as his voice fell, the classmates who had just been leaning against the wall and supporting each other instantly burst forth with astonishing speed. They sprinted back, screaming as they charged toward the school gate:
"No way—!"
"Class Monitor, you can practice by yourself! We’ll be leaving first!"
Fang Chen looked at their retreating backs and helplessly shouted out:
"Hey! You haven’t taken your things from the classroom yet!"
A few hurried responses echoed from afar:
"No need! We have to come back tomorrow anyway!"
"Thank you, Class Monitor!!! Love you!"
"Goodbye, Class Monitor!"
Fang Chen looked at the empty corridor, rubbed his nose, and felt a bit speechless. "Am I really that scary...?"
He shook his head and was just about to leave. When he looked up, however, he saw a person leaning against the staircase landing above, looking at him with a half-smile, her eyes full of teasing.
The newcomer mimicked the tone of the fleeing students just now, mockingly drawing out her voice:
"Oh my~ Thank you, Class Monitor— Love you—!"
It was none other than Xia Chu.