Reborn as Murong Fu: This Time I'm the Protagonist

Chapter 524

Although Xuanci and his companion felt this was inappropriate, at this point, there seemed to be no better solution. Most importantly, the other party's words and actions didn't seem malicious; could there truly be another hidden story?

Xuan Ci said, "Alright, since you say so, then so be it. We two will each spar with you a few times. But fists and feet have no eyes, so please be careful."

His hostility lessened slightly, and he became more polite. He figured that since the old man dared to act this way, he must have some extraordinary skills. However, he was confident in himself as a leading figure among the outstanding young disciples of Shaolin, so he wasn't too concerned.

Wang Jiantong always followed Xuanci's lead, so when Xuanci agreed to the other party's conditions, he naturally didn't say anything more.

Wang Jiantong clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Senior brother, please rest for a moment. Let me go forward and lead the charge for you."

"Brother Sword Beard's palm strike is divine! With Brother Sword Beard's help, we'll surely capture him in no time!" Xuan Ci said loudly, watching the duel between the two intently.

Wang Jiantong strode forward, stood in the center, and gestured for him to proceed. In the dim moonlight, a gray-robed beggar stood tall with sharp eyes, his long beard fluttering in the wind. Facing him was an old man with white hair and beard, his body as imposing as a mountain, exuding an aura of authority without anger. He possessed an innate heroic spirit simply by standing there.

Wang Jiantong exclaimed, "Since ancient times, Yan and Zhao have produced many heroic figures who sing songs of generosity and tragedy. Your character is also that of a hero among the Beggars' Sect, a rare sight in a century. Why do you willingly stoop to such lowliness and serve the barbarians? Why not join our Beggars' Sect, serve the country, report to the Emperor, bring peace to the common people, work together for a great cause, and become a hero of our time? Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Xiao Feng laughed heartily, his voice resounding through the valley like the roar of a tiger and the cry of a dragon, mixed with the sounds of wind and thunder. Before the first sound ended, another sound followed, until the entire valley was filled with the old man's laughter.

Wang Jiantong was shocked: This old man has amazing internal strength. If he intends to hurt people with his internal strength, I'm afraid that after laughing for a while, many people will have their heart meridians shaken.

Wang Jiantong was slightly annoyed, thinking that this person was deliberately showing off his internal strength in order to intimidate him before the battle even started, so as to subdue him without fighting.

"Your internal strength is truly exceptional, something I have never seen before. I just don't know what was so funny about my previous remarks that provoked you to such a reaction?"

Wang Jiantong said angrily, waiting for the other party to utter an unpleasant word so he could seize the opportunity to strike first and catch the other party off guard. Xiao Feng said, "Not so. It's just that I respect Chief Wang's heroic spirit and do not wish to compete with him. Speaking of which, I also have a deep connection with the Beggars' Clan, so logically, I should yield to Chief Wang in a fight. However, saying so would make me seem to be underestimating Chief Wang and would be impolite. How about this, the two of us will only have a contest of moves. Within fifty moves, if Chief Wang can win even one or two moves against me, then Chief Wang will be the winner, how about it?"

Wang Jiantong was initially furious, feeling that his opponent had underestimated him. However, he quickly reconsidered: the old man's internal energy cultivation was far superior to his own. Although he didn't know the details of the old man's techniques, he anticipated a fierce battle. Now that the old man had taken the initiative to challenge him to a contest of techniques, with a limit of fifty moves, he already had a significant advantage. Moreover, he was confident that no one in the world could break the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, created and improved by the successive leaders of the Beggars' Sect. In this way, he seemed to have an absolute chance of winning.

Wang Jiantong said, "Alright, since that's the case, let me see just how capable you really are."

Having said that, he didn't press forward. Instead, he stood still, slightly bent his left leg, and drew a half circle in the air with his right palm, suddenly pushing towards Xiao Feng with the starting stance of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, "The Dragon Regrets." However, he only made a gesture and didn't actually exert any force.

Xiao Feng thought to himself, "Good timing." The first move of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms seems simple, but its key lies in the word "regret." It uses all its strength, distributing three-tenths and concealing seven-tenths. The old strength is not exhausted, and new strength is generated. Just like the Qiantang River tide, wave after wave, continuous and incomparably powerful.

Although this move is simple, it is unavoidable. The only way to break it is to use skillful force to neutralize it at the critical juncture when its old strength is waning and its new strength has not yet emerged.

So Xiao Feng used a move from the Taizu Long Fist called "Charging into Battle to Slay the General," deliberately letting Wang Jiantong's palm strike pass. On the surface, it appeared to be a direct clash of fists, a head-on collision, but in reality, it was a ploy to lure the enemy in. He swiftly struck Wang Jiantong's Guanyuan acupoint, half an inch below his elbow, with his left hand. If Xiao Feng had landed that strike, Wang Jiantong's arm would have been crippled instantly. Although it was only a contest of techniques, not a test of strength, this would have been a defeat. If the Beggars' Clan's most prized martial art had been defeated in a single move, Wang Jiantong would likely have to kneel before the memorial tablets of the Beggars' Clan's past leaders and commit suicide upon returning home.

Wang Jiantong was shocked and quickly unleashed a "Divine Dragon Tail Swing" move. This move was intended to escape and was a self-rescue technique from the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms. It was traditionally only used to save one's life in critical moments. Unexpectedly, Wang Jiantong used it on his second move against Xiao Feng.

Seeing the opponent's approach, Xiao Feng used the "Hebei Establishing Authority" move from the Taizu Long Fist. Although he did not use internal force, its momentum was still incredibly powerful, effectively neutralizing the "Divine Dragon Sweeping Tail" move.

Wang Jiantong escaped in a single move, filled with shock, anger, and suspicion. He felt that today's events were truly bizarre. Although the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms dared not claim to be the best palm technique in the world, it was still one of the most powerful martial arts, refined and perfected by successive leaders of the Beggars' Clan. Even with his master's years of meticulous instruction, Wang Jiantong had only barely mastered the eighteen palms. As for the subtleties and profound mysteries within, he still lacked the necessary skill. Let alone achieving perfection, he was barely even at the level of mastery. How could this mysterious old man seem to know the weaknesses of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms?
Suddenly, a thought flashed through Wang Jiantong's mind, and a possibility immediately occurred to him. He was filled with both fear and doubt. He used the Flying Dragon in the Sky technique, feinting an attack to retreat, and stepped out of the battle, shouting, "Wait! I have a question for you. What is your relationship with the Murong family of Gusu, who use their own methods against others? Why do you know so much about the Beggars' Sect's unique skills?"

Xiao Feng was startled, then realized: he had immersed himself in the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms for many years, and his former master had once said that his mastery of this palm technique had long surpassed his own. Naturally, he was intimately familiar with the joints and weaknesses of his master's palm technique, which was why he had subconsciously used them. This kind of technique, wasn't it in line with the martial arts characteristics of the Murong clan of Gusu, who were well-versed in various schools of thought? No wonder his master had associated him with the Murong clan of Gusu.

Thinking of Murong Fu, Xiao Feng felt both admiration and nostalgia, and said, "I have some acquaintance with the Murong family of Gusu, but I am not a member of the Murong family. As for why I know about the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, that is indeed another matter of fate, and it is inconvenient to explain to Chief Wang."