Chapter 31: Blackmailing Lin Chen

Dragon Jade Hand?

Lin Chen’s brows arched, a flicker of excitement igniting in his eyes. Everything Tun Tun had bestowed upon him thus far, from the Myriad Wood Zenith Physique to the first volume of the Emperor’s Arts, had been immensely precious. It stood to reason that this Dragon Jade Hand would be no exception.

The complete cultivation method for the Dragon Jade Hand was already imprinted within his mind. There was no need for obscure or arduous study; a mere thought was enough to bring the entire technique to his fingertips, ready to be mastered!

*Whoosh!*

Lin Chen channeled his spiritual energy, gradually condensing it into his right hand. The defining characteristic of the Dragon Jade Hand was that once mastered, the entire arm would become as hard as diamond. Whether delivering a punch or a palm strike, the force would be extraordinary and boundless. Most crucially, at the pinnacle of its mastery, it could even unleash a trace of draconic might—the very soul that truly gave the Dragon Jade Hand its power.

"Come, let me demonstrate it for you!"

Tun Tun hopped down from Lin Chen’s shoulder with a smug air. Pointing to a bronze statue in the training room, he chuckled, "The essence of the Dragon Jade Hand lies in its rigidity. By saturating your palm with spiritual energy, you temper it as if through a thousand strikes, making it incredibly hard. Once you reach this level, the impact of your strike will be capable of shattering mountains and pulverizing stone. It is truly hyperbolic!"

Lin Chen’s gaze rested on Tun Tun, his eyes analytical. He had indeed mastered the theory, but knowledge from a book often felt shallow. Seeing Tun Tun demonstrate it in person would provide much deeper insight.

Tun Tun transformed his wooden vine-like arm. As spiritual energy gathered, the limb was suddenly cloaked in a faint, jade-like luster. Initially translucent, it transformed into a deep, vivid green as the energy fully saturated it. It looked just like a piece of perfect, polished jade, radiating a soft glow.

"Hah!"

Tun Tun swung his arm out with force, smashing it into the bronze statue. His strike was not only swift but relentless. It landed squarely on the crown of the statue’s head.

*Crack!*

A sharp, crisp sound echoed through the room. The incredibly durable bronze statue cracked instantly at the point of impact. Then, fractures raced across its entire frame until it shattered into pieces.

Tun Tun retracted his arm and smiled faintly, "That is the Dragon Jade Hand!"

Lin Chen took it all in, his pupils constricting. Having watched the entire process, he realized that the power of this technique was indeed tyrannical. The shockwave released in that moment seemed to resonate with the very fabric of the world, carrying with it the aura of a true dragon—fierce, heavy, and indomitable, as if a great dragon had manifested from the heavens to shatter mountains with a single strike.

"No wonder it is called the Dragon Jade Hand; as fierce as a dragon, as hard as jade!" Lin Chen drew a deep breath, a surge of longing rising in his heart. If he could master this, his combat prowess would surely skyrocket.

"Tun Tun, demonstrate it for me one more time!" Lin Chen felt a surge of motivation and took a step forward, his voice brimming with excitement.

Tun Tun initially shook his head, then grinned, "If you want to learn, that’s fine, but first, give me three three-striped spirit jades!" He had learned his lesson this time and didn't start with an outrageous demand, fearing that if he scared Lin Chen off, he would end up with nothing.

"Three, is it? Here!" Lin Chen flicked his finger, and three three-striped spirit jades flew into Tun Tun’s grasp.

*Crunch! Crunch!*

Without a word, Tun Tun tossed them into his mouth. He chewed them with a crisp sound, and once he had swallowed them, he exhaled a breath of spiritual energy and laughed, "I'll show you again, watch closely!"

As Tun Tun once again manifested the Dragon Jade Hand and threw a punch, Lin Chen watched with even greater focus. As expected, he perceived far more profound details this time. He realized that the most important element of the strike was not just the force, but the *intent*. The technique was called the Dragon Jade Hand because it carried draconic might. One had to unleash that might to its fullest extent the very moment the strike was launched, imbuing every movement with the presence of a true dragon—violent, powerful, and majestic.

"I know you won't be able to learn it," Tun Tun said smugly, feeling he had Lin Chen right where he wanted him. "No matter how gifted you are, you can't learn this just by watching twice. Come, give me ten three-striped spirit jades, and I will teach you hand-in-hand until you are proficient!"

In his eyes, no matter how talented Lin Chen was, he couldn't possibly master the Dragon Jade Hand in such a short time. He could use this opportunity to extort him. *Kid, trying to outsmart me? I can trick you out of all your spirit jades with just a little scheme.*

"No need," Lin Chen replied, catching him off guard. He turned away and began to practice on his own.

"Hey, if you try to figure this out by yourself, you'll never get it right!" Tun Tun glanced over, pretending to be indifferent. "Anyway, I'm not in a hurry; you're the one who should be. My price is set—if you want to learn, I'll do it for... ah, no, seven three-striped spirit jades. I guarantee you'll learn it!"

He subtly lowered his price. A reasonable price made for an easier deal, after all! He assumed Lin Chen was just playing hard to get—he had seen this routine many times.

But to his astonishment, Lin Chen walked to the side, faced the bronze statue, and began to practice. He channeled his spiritual energy according to the mental formula, integrating it into his arm and attempting to condense his strength.

A few moments later, his arm began to glow with a faint, jade-like hue!

Tun Tun’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. *This... this shouldn't be happening!* The Dragon Jade Hand was an incredibly profound martial art; even with the method inscribed in one's mind, it was nearly impossible to grasp in such a short time. That was exactly why Tun Tun dared to "extort" him. And yet, Lin Chen had already completed the first step!

"Is it like this?"

Lin Chen felt his arm become incredibly heavy, as if he were wielding a giant hammer. The weight almost bent his arm, and while his movement was slow, it was imbued with a dense, heavy force. As he moved, it felt as if a true dragon had merged into his limb.

"Hah!"

With a low shout, Lin Chen accelerated his arm and slammed it into the bronze statue. A burst of power resonated through the air! The violent force, as heavy as a mountain, struck the target, and the statue was sent flying dozens of meters, crashing into the wall.

"Such a powerful boost!" A look of excitement flashed in Lin Chen’s eyes. While he hadn't yet reached the pinnacle of the Dragon Jade Hand, he had certainly mastered the basics.

Tun Tun was left completely stunned, stammering, "That’s... that’s impossible. You kid, this..."

"No trouble needed," Lin Chen said with a confident smile, flashing his white teeth. "I've already mastered the basics myself."