Chapter 55: Straining Every Nerve

Among the disciples of the Mu family gathered around, many placed their hopes on Chu Feng, but there were just as many who doubted him.

The Cloudbreaking Stone Eagle, meanwhile, seemed utterly indifferent to Chu Feng’s aggressive stance. Its massive talons raked the ground, carving deep furrows into the blue-grey stone, exuding an air of absolute arrogance.

Even as Chu Feng stood atop its back, the eagle regarded him as one might a mere ant, completely unthreatened by his presence.

“What an arrogant beast. I wonder how long you can keep up this swagger?” Chu Feng sneered coldly, then summoned his strength and pressed down upon the eagle with all his might.

With just a slight exertion, three thousand pounds of force surged from Chu Feng’s feet onto the eagle’s back.

When the eagle did not so much as flinch, Chu Feng doubled his power. Six thousand pounds crashed down.

Still, the Stone Eagle remained unphased.

Nine thousand pounds.

Ten thousand.

Twelve thousand.

Fifteen thousand!

On his fifth attempt, Chu Feng’s force reached fifteen thousand pounds.

Only then did the eagle finally sense the pressure. It drew in its talons, ceasing its idle scratching, and straightened its broad back, bracing itself against Chu Feng’s might.

Fifteen thousand pounds—the weight of a fully grown male Vajra Battle Rhino. Judging by the current situation, if a beast of such mass were placed upon the eagle’s back, not only would the Stone Eagle remain unbowed, it could likely carry the rhino with ease.

“A beast famed for its strength, indeed. I’ve brought the full weight of a Vajra Battle Rhino to bear, yet I’ve only made it feel a hint of pressure!” Chu Feng was inwardly stunned.

Witnessing this, the disciples around him began murmuring in excitement.

“Master Chu is truly formidable! He’s finally forced the Stone Eagle to feel his strength—look, it’s braced itself and can no longer ignore him!”

“Indeed! But if Master Chu cannot draw out more power, he might not be able to best the Stone Eagle after all.”

“From his bearing, it doesn’t seem like Master Chu has exhausted himself yet. But perhaps there’s not much left to give? A contest of strength between man and eagle—who can truly say which will prevail!”

At this, a handsome young disciple named Chen Jun spoke up with confidence, “Friends, I mean no disrespect to Master Chu, but I’ll wager fifty gold he’s taken on more than he can handle! Within twenty breaths, the Stone Eagle’s strength will throw him off!”

Without hesitation, Xiao Dao stepped forward, declaring, “I don’t believe my brother Feng will lose to that eagle! I may not have fifty gold, but I’ll still take your bet! Even if I have to borrow, I’ll pay you if I lose!”

“Oh? Very well—let’s see how this plays out. If Master Chu is defeated, I hope you’ll accept it in good faith, no hard feelings,” Chen Jun replied with a self-assured smile, clearly believing Chu Feng’s defeat inevitable.

The disciples broke into heated discussion, opinions divided. Even among the elders—Mu Zhendong, Han Mo, and others renowned for their martial prowess—eyes widened in anticipation as they watched the contest.

Hearing the wager, Chu Feng kept silent, but inwardly, his resolve burned—he would not yield to the Cloudbreaking Stone Eagle. He would make the beast bow before his strength.

He pressed down harder.

This time, Chu Feng unleashed the entirety of his power. The ferocious force of the Battle Python surged within him, pouring down upon the eagle’s back in an overwhelming tide.

His body coiled like a giant serpent, contorting and then straightening, generating thousands more pounds of crushing force.

Sixteen thousand pounds.

Eighteen thousand.

Twenty thousand!

In the span of two breaths, the pressure from Chu Feng reached twenty thousand pounds.

Under such force, even the hardest stone would be ground to dust, and most beasts’ bones and flesh would be crushed to pulp.

Yet, as everyone noticed, the ground beneath the eagle’s talons remained unbroken—no cracks, no sign of collapse.

This was because Chu Feng, even as he wielded brute force, also applied precise skill, directing all his power into the eagle’s body while sparing the ground below. All the pressure was borne by the eagle’s flesh alone.

Even during his second stage of body refinement, Chu Feng could leave deep footprints in stone without disturbing the rock itself.

“Xinlian, look! The Stone Eagle’s back has sunk—it’s down by an inch!” Though Xiaoli had no martial strength, her eyes were sharp. For such a massive beast to lower its back just an inch was barely noticeable, yet she caught it.

“Brother, you can do it!” Chu Xinlian clenched her fists, silently cheering him on.

“What? Incredible! The Stone Eagle’s body is actually being forced down!” someone exclaimed.

“From the look of things, the eagle may not be able to withstand Master Chu’s crushing power! An inch or two now—soon it could be a whole foot!”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Chen Jun shook his head. “The Stone Eagle may be using this posture to gather its strength—it could turn the tables and throw Master Chu at any moment!”

“Just wait and see, Chen. My brother Feng always prevails—this eagle won’t best him!” Xiao Dao retorted, emboldened by Chu Feng’s advantage.

The Stone Eagle’s broad back, once as immovable as a mountain ridge even under fifteen thousand pounds, now began to sink with Chu Feng’s escalating power, reaching twenty thousand pounds. The eagle’s body was finally forced closer to the earth.

Seizing the momentum, Chu Feng denied the eagle any chance to recover or gather strength, pouring every ounce of his violent energy into the relentless assault.

Twenty-three thousand pounds.

Twenty-six thousand.

Thirty thousand!

As Chu Feng’s force soared, the eagle’s resistance grew visibly weaker.

An inch.

Two inches.

A foot.

Two feet!

Under thirty thousand pounds, the Stone Eagle struggled even to brace itself, let alone mount a counterattack.

All its strength was spent resisting Chu Feng’s crushing might, yet it could not halt the mounting pressure.

“Cloudbreaking Stone Eagle! You are a mighty beast, worthy of pride and dignity. But you dared to scorn me—so now I, Chu Feng, will humble your arrogance! You will learn that the dignity of a martial artist surpasses that of any beast!”

As Chu Feng unleashed his power, he cried these words aloud for all to hear.