Lin Mo Ran looked at Chen Tian with a solemn expression. He decided to go all out against the young man, realizing that he was no ordinary opponent.
Lin Mo Ran's aura surged, and Chen Tian sensed the increase in power. He signaled Lin Mo Ran to unleash his full strength.
Lin Mo Ran, angered by Chen Tian's perceived arrogance, stepped forward. A gust of wind carried him instantly before Chen Tian, and he threw a punch towards Chen Tian's face.
"Don't hit the face when you fight, don't you know that?" Chen Tian found Lin Mo Ran's punch to be incredibly slow. He casually raised his right hand and caught the incoming fist, holding it firmly.
Lin Mo Ran remained expressionless. He knew Chen Tian was strong, capable of pushing him back with a single blow. Yet, even with his full power, he was being suppressed. He kicked out with both legs towards Chen Tian's stomach. Chen Tian blocked with his left arm, but the shift in balance weakened his grip on Lin Mo Ran's fist. Lin Mo Ran seized the opportunity, throwing punches with both fists. Chen Tian met them with his own, fists clenched, and the two exchanged blows.
The ground shook from the impact, and both fighters retreated. Chen Tian nodded, feeling a slight improvement in his control over one percent of his strength.
"It's working," Chen Tian's eyes lit up as he looked at Lin Mo Ran, who felt an unsettling premonition.
Unaware that he had become Chen Tian's stepping stone, Lin Mo Ran was being stared at. Chen Tian stepped forward, the tables turned. His figure appeared before Lin Mo Ran silently. Lin Mo Ran was shocked by Chen Tian's speed, which was even greater than before. He crossed his arms, and a loud crash ensued as he was sent flying back, his arms trembling from the force.
Chen Tian pressed his advantage, his mastery of power growing as he gained the initiative. Lin Mo Ran, realizing the futility of defense against Chen Tian's overwhelming strength, decided to retaliate. He gathered his internal energy, forming it around his fist before unleashing a devastating blow that carried a gust of wind towards Chen Tian's incoming punch.
Chen Tian, sensing the change, increased his strength slightly. The collision caused trees in the park to fall. The fight between Grandmasters in a park was unfortunate for the park.
Both fighters retreated. Chen Tian noticed the flow of energy around Lin Mo Ran's fist and felt its threefold increase during their clash. "Is that internal energy? A martial artist? Interesting," Chen Tian mused. He was surprised to learn of the existence of martial artists on Earth, something he had previously considered confined to games and television. He wondered how his full strength compared to theirs.
However, Chen Tian remembered his sister's request to master one percent of his strength. Lin Mo Ran was stunned. His punch, infused with his full internal energy, had only resulted in a draw. Chen Tian had simply used his physical strength, without any internal energy, to match him.
Lin Mo Ran bowed respectfully. "Esteemed sir, a final move. If you can block it, you win. If not, I concede."
"Alright," Chen Tian agreed. A single move to decide the victor.
Lin Mo Ran's fists crackled with lightning as he unleashed his ultimate technique, a family heirloom called the Rushing Thunder Fist. The lightning-infused punches, sharp and fast, slammed towards Chen Tian. Chen Tian, feeling the surge in power, clenched his fists. A fiery red aura enveloped them as he unleashed his own counter, a clash of lightning and flame. A figure was sent flying, blood trickling from the corner of their mouth.
Lin Mo Ran couldn't believe it. The young man was not a Grandmaster, but at the peak of the Martial Master realm. He had sensed Chen Tian's aura during the clash, a peak Martial Master. How was this possible at such a young age?
Chen Tian looked at his fist and then at Lin Mo Ran, whom he gently placed on the ground. "My apologies. I accidentally lost control of my strength. I'm sorry!"
Lin Mo Ran was speechless. He felt his life's cultivation was wasted, surpassed by an eighteen-year-old.
Lin Xue rushed to her grandfather's side, scolding Chen Tian. "Do you know who my grandfather is? How dare you be so ruthless! If anything happens to him, I'll make you pay!"
"Cough, cough! Xue'er, be respectful!" Lin Mo Ran admonished his granddaughter before bowing to Chen Tian. "Respected Martial Master, please forgive my presumption and my granddaughter's disrespect."
"Huh?" Chen Tian was bewildered. "Martial Master? What's that?"
Seeing Lin Mo Ran's sincere bow, Chen Tian said, "Please rise. There's no need. I only sought a duel to familiarize myself with my strength." He added, "As for martial artists, I genuinely don't know. Can you tell me about them?"
Lin Mo Ran was taken aback by Chen Tian's genuine curiosity. He felt a blow to his pride, realizing he was inferior to someone completely ignorant of martial arts. He suppressed his despair and calmly explained the martial arts hierarchy in China: Outer, Inner, Dark,宗 (Zong), 大 (Da), 师 (Shi), 圣 (Sheng), 帝 (Di), 神 (Shen), 灵 (Ling). He described the stages, from physical training to the mastery of internal energy and beyond. He mentioned that he himself was stuck at the peak of the Grandmaster realm due to an injury.
Chen Tian finally understood the martial arts progression. Glancing at his watch, he realized he was late for class. "Old man, I can heal your injuries. Come to the middle school in front of here tonight, and I'll treat you."
"Ah! Time for class!" Chen Tian vanished in a gust of wind, leaving the Lin family stunned.
They couldn't even see him move. The park was in ruins, trees toppled, buildings shattered. Lin Xue stared, mouth agape. "Grandpa, was that the aura of a peak Martial Master?"
"No," Lin Mo Ran replied, his voice filled with awe. "That destructive aura was far more terrifying, perhaps even surpassing the Master realm. It might have been a Saint realm martial artist, or even higher."
Suddenly, a woman in white appeared. "My dear brother, you always stir up trouble." With a wave of her hands, the park was restored to its pristine condition. Lin Mo Ran and Lin Xue stared, unable to discern her face but amazed by her power.
"Do not lay a hand on my brother," she warned. "Even if you tried, it would be futile. But if I find out, your Lin family will face annihilation. Whether your family can fulfill your ancestors' wish, however, depends on how you seize this opportunity." A powerful pressure descended upon them before vanishing.
Lin Mo Ran immediately instructed Lin Xue, "Xue'er, return to the family and prepare all our assets and transfer documents by tonight."
Lin Xue was shocked, understanding her grandfather's intentions. Only Lin Mo Ran knew that the woman's words about their ancestors' wish had given him hope, a hope he saw in Chen Tian.