**Chapter 4: The First Battle**
The hushed whispers of disbelief still lingered in the air as Shen Liang stepped out of the sparring ring. His pulse thrummed with exhilaration, his fingers tingling with the remnants of the Sky Piercing Technique's power. He had felt it—the undeniable rush of Qi coursing through his veins. It was intoxicating.
But now, he had drawn attention.
From the corner of his eye, he caught Bai Cheng's furious glare. The young master of the Silver Moon Sect stood rigid, his hands clenched into fists. To the disciples, Bai Cheng was untouchable—a prodigy destined for greatness. And yet, a so-called cripple had just demonstrated a technique that should have been beyond him.
"Shen Liang," Bai Cheng called, his voice razor-sharp. The crowd parted as he strode forward, his robes billowing. "I don't know what trick you just pulled, but you dare to make a mockery of my sect's technique?"
Shen Liang smiled, a slow and deliberate expression. "Mockery? I merely followed the teachings of the sect—to grow stronger."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Bai Cheng's eyes darkened. "Then let's test your newfound 'strength.'"
A challenge.
Shen Liang had expected this. He had drawn a line in the sand, and Bai Cheng would not let it go unanswered.
A sect elder, drawn by the commotion, stepped forward. "Very well," he said. "An official sparring match." He turned his gaze to Shen Liang. "Do you accept?"
Shen Liang's pulse quickened. The old him would have backed down, but that version of him had died in the rain.
"I accept."
The disciples erupted in a mixture of cheers and laughter. Most believed it would be a quick and humiliating defeat. Shen Liang ignored them, stepping into the ring once more.
Bai Cheng followed, his stance rigid, his Qi already pulsing around him. "I'll remind you of your place, cripple."
The elder raised his hand. "Begin!"
Bai Cheng moved first, his body blurring as he surged forward. His palm, wreathed in golden Qi, shot toward Shen Liang's chest. A move designed to shatter bones.
But Shen Liang was ready.
Drawing upon his stolen knowledge, he shifted his stance. The Sky Piercing Technique guided his movements, and he twisted at the last moment, dodging the strike by a hair's breadth. The air cracked where Bai Cheng's attack missed.
Gasps rang out. No one had expected him to evade.
Bai Cheng's surprise lasted only a moment before it twisted into rage. He launched another barrage of strikes, each more forceful than the last. But Shen Liang moved like water, flowing between attacks with newfound precision.
Then, he saw his opening.
With a surge of energy, Shen Liang struck. His fist, now wreathed in Qi, slammed into Bai Cheng's abdomen. A forceful shockwave erupted upon impact, sending the prodigy stumbling backward.
Silence.
Bai Cheng, the untouchable, had been struck.
Shen Liang exhaled, steadying himself. He had proven something today—not just to Bai Cheng, but to the entire sect.
He was no longer powerless.
And this was only the beginning.
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