On the arena stage, Xiao Yufan locked eyes with his opponent, his momentum unwavering. Such a formidable foe was once someone he could only admire from afar, but now he possessed the strength to challenge him directly.
“Give me three more months. In three months, I will defeat you openly and decisively—life and death shall be determined by fate…”
This sentence struck a nerve with Xiao Yufan. Perhaps provoked by the other’s contemptuous expression, Xiao Yufan’s voice turned colder. He understood there was still a significant gap between them, so he chose to restrain himself.
“I’ll see it through to the end!” The other’s expression remained unchanged. Clearly, Xiao Yufan’s words had not stirred the slightest ripple in his heart. Even if he was surprised by the sudden confidence Xiao Yufan had seemingly pulled from nowhere, he still didn’t believe the latter could defeat him.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the underground arena, beside Old Master Situ, stood the true leader of the Tian Group—the very instructor who had taught Xiao Yufan how to handle firearms. The two silently observed the scene unfolding on the stage.
“Master Yufan is growing stronger by the day. In just two short months, his strength has nearly matched that of the Tian Group’s elite commandos. Remember, each of them has undergone the strictest training since childhood!”
The middle-aged man beside Old Master Situ spoke with deep reverence. This instructor, who Xiao Yufan had always seen as stubborn and unyielding, now stood like a loyal subordinate before Situ.
“He still has a long way to go. Compared to the Tian Group or even other commandos, he likely still falls short. However, I believe that my grandson Situ Lingyu will only grow stronger through hardship.”
“Master Yufan’s resilience and extraordinary talent are rare indeed. Combined with the cultivation of ancient martial arts, his physical abilities—even without intense training—can easily handle several ordinary opponents without danger.”
The middle-aged man gazed at Xiao Yufan with admiration in his eyes. He wasn’t flattering; Xiao Yufan truly had the potential to stand above the crowd.
“Ye Tu, do you really think the people he’ll face in the future will be ordinary men?”
Old Master Situ sighed softly, a flash of light flickering in his eyes. As a member of the Situ family, he knew all too well that if Xiao Yufan’s existence were ever fully exposed, the storm that followed would be beyond anyone’s imagination.
Ye Tu paused for a moment before falling silent. The status of the Situ heir was indeed noble, but so too were the responsibilities—burdens few could bear.
“I believe Master Yufan will not disappoint you. One day, he will stand at the pinnacle—an unmatched peak that no one has ever reached…”
Looking at the plainly dressed Old Master Situ, Ye Tu felt a surge of emotion. Perhaps only that young man could stir the heart of this old man who held such immense power in both the military and political spheres.
“I’m waiting for that day, and I believe it won’t be far off…”
Situ Lingyu, a venerable figure revered in both military and political circles, could shake the entire nation with a single sneeze. Yet before Xiao Yufan, he was simply a grandfather.
Of course, Xiao Yufan, standing on the arena, hadn’t noticed that hidden corner. The soldier who had been there moments ago had already left, leaving Xiao Yufan alone in the vast space.
“His power is strong, but only because he has experienced far more than you. If you had appeared here earlier, you would have already reached that level. So there’s no need to feel discouraged!”
Despite his confidence, Xiao Yufan still felt a slight blow to his pride. Just as his thoughts drifted, a voice as light as a spirit’s whisper reached his ears.
“And what about you? From what he said, your strength must be even greater than his…”
Xiao Yufan didn’t turn around. Tian Xuan’s voice was the most familiar sound he had encountered since arriving here. After being tormented by this beauty for two whole months, he could recognize not only her voice but even the sound of her footsteps.
“My strength? At the very least, three of him wouldn’t even be worth my attention!”
Tian Xuan’s delicate brows arched slightly as she casually played with her long, flowing hair tied loosely with a purple ribbon. Her beauty was as gentle as the bright moon, yet Xiao Yufan knew all too well that beneath that soft exterior lay a ruthless killer’s heart.
He inhaled sharply. He wasn’t arrogant enough to think that just because he had managed to match that opponent in a single move, he was anywhere near his level. If that opponent were to seriously attack, he wouldn’t last ten moves. Just how terrifying was Tian Xuan’s strength?
“Starting today, I want to intensify my training!”
His eyes gleamed with determination. After a brief hesitation, Xiao Yufan murmured almost hypnotically. He wanted greater power—and to obtain it, he would have to work even harder.
“Are you sure this isn’t just a momentary impulse? Your rest time has already been squeezed to the limit. If you push yourself any harder, your body might not hold up!”
Tian Xuan’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She hesitated for a moment, half-convinced that Xiao Yufan must have been knocked senseless during his fight to be saying such things.
“Can’t handle it? Or are you finally starting to feel a little sympathy for me? If that’s the case, maybe we can cancel our daily sparring sessions…”
A playful smirk curled his lips. Xiao Yufan never missed an opportunity to tease Tian Xuan. Facing such a beauty and not taking advantage would be completely against his lecherous nature.
“As if I’d ever feel sorry for you! Since you’re so eager to intensify your training, how can I possibly disappoint you? We’ll extend our sparring sessions by half an hour each day, and increase your physical training as well. Let’s see how long you can last!”
A faint blush crept onto her flawless face. Unable to meet Xiao Yufan’s provocatively intense gaze, she looked away. If anyone from the Tian Group saw her like this, they would be utterly stunned.
“Damn it…”
Upon hearing that Tian Xuan intended to extend their sparring time, a thousand curses stormed through Xiao Yufan’s mind. He cursed himself for being too talkative—otherwise, she wouldn’t have taken him so literally.
Tian Xuan remained completely unmoved. Seeing Xiao Yufan’s horrified expression, she couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. But once she made a decision, she never changed it. If Xiao Yufan wanted to intensify his training, sparring was the quickest way to do so.
“Fine! Who’s afraid? I won’t back down. I still believe that with a few more months, I will surpass you…”
Putting on a show of bravado, Xiao Yufan stood tall and defiant. But he had yet to realize just how blissful the past two months had actually been…
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