The outer yard was quieter than usual.
But beneath that calm surface, something was brewing.
Ever since the clash with Ye Lin, the atmosphere had changed.
More eyes were watching.
More whispers were spreading.
And at the center of it all—
Was Ye Feng.
Crack!
The sound of splitting wood echoed once again.
Ye Feng stood by the woodpile, his movements steady, his expression calm.
But his mind was focused.
Not on the wood.
On something else.
The system.
[Daily Mission]
Defeat an opponent in a fair fight
Reward: Unknown
"A fair fight…"
Ye Feng muttered softly.
He knew what that meant.
No sneak attacks.
No tricks.
A direct confrontation.
Just as he was thinking—
A voice suddenly rang out.
"So it's true."
Ye Feng looked up.
A tall figure was walking toward him.
Unlike Ye Lin, this person didn't look arrogant.
But his presence was solid.
Steady.
"I heard what happened yesterday."
The man stopped a few steps away.
"I want to see it myself."
The surrounding disciples immediately became alert.
"It's him…"
"Liu Ming…"
"He's not weak."
Whispers spread quickly.
Ye Feng narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Another one…"
Liu Ming crossed his arms.
"Don't misunderstand."
"I'm not here to bully you."
He paused, then added:
"I just want a fair match."
The moment he said those words—
Ye Feng's system flickered.
[Mission Condition Triggered]
A faint smile appeared on Ye Feng's lips.
"Perfect timing."
He set down the axe.
"Alright."
"I accept."
The courtyard instantly became lively.
"He agreed!"
"This is going to be interesting…"
Even Zhao Chen, standing at a distance, was watching closely.
"This will show everything…"
Liu Ming nodded.
"Good."
He stepped back slightly, creating space.
"Let's begin."
No one interfered.
No one spoke.
The entire outer yard fell silent.
Then—
Liu Ming moved.
Fast.
His steps were firm as he closed the distance quickly, his fist striking forward with controlled power.
Not reckless.
Not careless.
A clean attack.
Ye Feng's eyes sharpened.
This was different from Ye Lin.
More stable.
More experienced.
But—
That didn't matter.
At the last moment—
Ye Feng shifted.
A precise step.
A slight tilt of the body.
The attack missed.
"Hmm?"
Liu Ming's expression changed slightly.
But he didn't panic.
Instead, he adjusted immediately and followed up with another strike.
Faster.
Sharper.
But Ye Feng—
Moved again.
Step.
Turn.
Dodge.
Everything flowed smoothly.
As if he had seen it all before.
"What…?"
The surrounding disciples were stunned.
"Again?!"
"His reaction speed is insane!"
Liu Ming's eyes narrowed.
"Not bad."
His attacks became faster.
More aggressive.
But Ye Feng remained calm.
Each movement—
Accurate.
Minimal.
No wasted motion.
And then—
An opening appeared.
For just a fraction of a second.
Ye Feng stepped in.
His fist shot forward.
Bang!
The hit landed cleanly.
Liu Ming was pushed back.
Not far—
But enough.
The crowd erupted.
"He hit him!"
"He actually forced Liu Ming back!"
Liu Ming steadied himself.
This time, his expression turned serious.
"Looks like the rumors were true."
He took a deep breath.
Then—
His aura rose slightly.
"Let's end this properly."
He charged again.
This time—
Faster than before.
Stronger than before.
The pressure increased.
But Ye Feng didn't retreat.
His focus sharpened.
His body reacted instinctively.
Dodge.
Step.
Turn.
Everything aligned perfectly.
And then—
He struck.
Not once.
But twice.
Bang!
Bang!
Two consecutive hits.
Liu Ming's body shook.
He staggered back several steps.
His balance broke.
And finally—
He stopped.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Liu Ming looked at Ye Feng.
Then—
He slowly exhaled.
"I lost."
Three simple words.
But they shocked everyone.
"He admitted it…"
"Liu Ming… lost?"
"No way…"
The courtyard exploded with noise.
No one could believe it.
Ye Feng stood there, breathing slightly heavier.
But his eyes were bright.
He had done it.
A real victory.
At that moment—
The system appeared again.
[Mission Completed]
Reward Granted
A surge of energy flowed through his body.
Stronger than before.
More stable.
[Reward: Combat Mastery Lv.1]
Effect: Improves overall combat efficiency
Ye Feng clenched his fist.
He could feel it.
He was stronger.
Not just in strength—
But in control.
In battle sense.
Everything had improved.
"This…"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"This is just the beginning."
Not far away, Zhao Chen watched silently.
A hint of interest flashed in his eyes.
"Interesting…"
"Very interesting…"
The name "Ye Feng"—
Was no longer something people could ignore.