Seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune: Starting with death row inmates

Ten breaths had passed, and Shen Chen didn't waste any more energy, gently putting down the giant cauldron.

He looked around the arena and saw that most people were gathered in front of the cauldrons weighing between 800 and 1,000 jin, only five or six people could successfully challenge the 1,500 jin cauldron, and only two or three people were challenging the 2,000 jin cauldron.

No one could lift the 2,500-jin cauldron, and only Huang Sancai could lift the 3,000-jin cauldron from beginning to end. It can be said that the strength of the team was outstanding!

"Drink!" A young man in brocade robes shouted, wrapped his arms around the giant cauldron, exerted his strength in his waist, and suddenly lifted the two-thousand-pound bronze cauldron over his shoulder!

His true energy erupted, causing cracks to appear in the ground around him, demonstrating the power and purity of his true energy!

Shen Chen looked at the man and recognized him as Lu Feng, known as "Whirlwind Blade," a subordinate of Zhao Ying. He was a ruthless man who had managed to kill Liu Ming unscathed despite being protected by a group of government experts.

"Such powerful internal energy." Shen Chen observed Lu Feng, secretly shocked.

If we compare true qi to snow, Shen Chen is just a child who has just learned how to build a snowman, while Lu Feng is a proper craftsman who can make snow sculptures.

There are also differences between those at the True Qi Realm.

Also lifting the two-thousand-pound cauldron was Mo Yuancai's subordinate, Black Three, known as "Mysterious Iron Hand." He was a lean man with hands as white as iron, and his grip was so strong that it could leave a shallow finger mark on the cauldron's legs.

Observing Hei San's method of exerting force, Shen Chen suddenly realized: "Speaking of which, does practicing the [Thousand Cloud Hands] also require strong finger and wrist strength?"

He drew a fortune stick and immediately received the result: "Indeed, for a long time I have only focused on arm strength, but I have neglected the meaning represented by the 'hand' in the [Thousand Cloud Hand]!"

The moves of the Thousand Cloud Hands couldn't help but appear in his mind. He pondered and deduced them carefully, becoming more and more engrossed in them, and for a moment he entered a state of complete absorption.

Behind him, Huang Sancai glanced at the group of martial artists in the arena, a hint of disappointment flashing between his brows: "The quality of this competition is rather poor. I've been away from the village for a year, how come none of these scoundrels have improved?"

"Master Huang, you're truly amazing," the henchmen around him flattered.

Huang Sancai snorted coldly: "Hmph, someone like me is really mediocre. If I could be regarded as a genius in the village, it would be a bad thing for the village."

He unconsciously clenched his fist, muttering to himself, "The Living Dragon, Yuan Ying, my elder brother—this is the true genius!"

Seeing that no one had moved the two-thousand-pound cauldron and that only he could move the two-thousand-five-hundred-pound cauldron, he sighed helplessly and prepared to leave to rest.

Just then, Huang Sancai's gaze suddenly stopped in one direction: "Hiss... wait, this guy is interesting."

He was looking at a handsome young man who stood as straight as a pine tree, breathing naturally, just like a tree.

His face showed neither joy nor sorrow, and his eyes were as deep as an abyss.

"Mind's eye state".

Huang Sancai immediately realized that the young man was in an excellent state of mind to comprehend martial arts.

A martial artist in this state is immersed in the process of deducing martial arts techniques, and will unknowingly greatly improve their proficiency in martial arts, and will also greatly increase the speed of the flow of true qi in their body.

"That's interesting," Huang Sancai thought.

Just as a martial artist who has mastered true qi is different from an ordinary martial artist, a martial artist who has entered the state of mind's eye is also different from other martial artists.

Huang Sancai finally showed some interest. He pointed in Shen Chen's direction and asked his subordinate, "Who is that person?"

"Master Huang, that man's name is Shen Chen, nicknamed 'The Ghost Calculator'," the subordinate replied respectfully. "He's only been in the stronghold for six months, a newcomer, but his reputation is already quite considerable..."

Afterwards, Huang Sancai listened attentively to the story of Shen Chen, and finally a smile appeared on his face: "Good, good, this is the kind of outstanding person my village should have."

He lightly touched the ground with his toes and landed behind Shen Chen.

As Shen Chen was deducing the Thousand Cloud Hand technique, the hair on the back of his head suddenly stood on end.

He instinctively struck backward with his palm, but the force of the strike was extraordinary, creating a whooshing sound.

Huang Sancai praised, "Your momentum is good, but you should raise your palm a bit more. Your shoulders are too low, which reduces your power by at least 10%."

He also unleashed a palm strike: "Come on, watch my palm strike!"

When Huang Sancai struck out with his palm, it created a powerful gust of air that blew straight into Shen Chen's face. The muscles in Shen Chen's entire arm seemed to become a single unit at that moment, and the flow of blood and qi was incredibly regular and even.

Shen Chen's pupils contracted as a flash of inspiration struck him, as if he had been enlightened.

That's right, human muscles are divided into pieces, but true qi can unify them into one!

The deduction just now has finally been completed, and Shen Chen now feels how foolish and shallow he was before!

"Your comprehension is quite good." Huang Sancai smiled and nodded with satisfaction when he saw Shen Chen's sudden change in demeanor and his completely different temperament.

Shen Chen came to his senses and realized that the other party had just given him advice purely out of kindness. He cupped his hands in greeting and said, "I am Shen Chen, greetings to Master Huang."

"No need to call me Master Huang, just call me by my name." Huang Sancai patted Shen Chen on the shoulder.

He then took out a tiger-shaped waist token from his pocket and handed it to Shen Chen: "If you want to practice martial arts in the future, you can come to Huanghu Ridge to find me."

Shen Chen was slightly taken aback, and out of caution, he drew a fortune stick.

[Good fortune: You accepted Huang Sancai's kindness; auspicious.]

There was no ulterior motive; it was simply out of appreciation or admiration for his talent that he was given this badge.

Shen Chen swallowed hard, immediately accepted the waist token, and clasped his hands in a fist salute to him: "Thank you, Master Huang!"

Huang Sancai nodded to him: "Don't let me down."

Huang Sancai's actions attracted many eyes, which were fixed on Shen Chen, who was holding the tiger-head waist token, with various thoughts on their minds.

Mo Yuancai stared at Huang Sancai's retreating figure, thinking to himself, "Is Huang Sancai's attempt to win over Shen Chen at the behest of the second-in-command, Huang Ahu? Does he support Qin Pi continuing to sit in the seventh seat?"

Luo Xiong, standing nearby, also thought to himself, "Could it be that Huang Ahu was acting on the orders of the chieftain? That shouldn't be the case. In my opinion, the chieftain should have supported Mo Yuan in kicking Qin Pi out..."

At this moment, the chieftain Hu Muzhi stood up and announced loudly to the crowd below, "The first round is over. The second round of the competition officially begins!"

From both sides of the field, a series of powerful drumbeats resounded.

When the drumbeats stopped, the drawing of lots was over.

The loud-voiced referee called out the names of the opponents one by one.

"A three against B two".

"A6 against C7".

"B5 against C6".

Shen Chen looked down at his own fortune slip, which read "B2".

He jumped onto the ring, and his opponent was none other than Wang Er, the man who had taught him boxing.

Wang Er looked at Shen Chen opposite him, sighed deeply, and gave a wry smile: "Haha, good disciple, why not let your master have it?"