Under One Person: Dressed as Lü Liang, with vests all over

Chapter 170 Lü Liang: Zhang Lingyu, is that all?
"call out--"

The golden energy ball that shot out from Zhang Lingyu's hand suddenly grew larger as it approached Lü Liang, transforming into an enormous fist that slammed towards Lü Liang with a whistling wind.

Rong Shan, who was watching from the sidelines, couldn't contain his excitement and shouted "Bravo!"

"Hehe, Junior Brother Lingyu's use of Qi to transform form is really good, better than mine!"

While he applauded, he also turned to Wang Ye beside him and explained in detail:

"See that? That golden ball of energy looks like it's shooting straight out, but actually, it's still closely connected to Lingyu's palm!"

"When you're about to get close to your opponent, manipulate the Qi ball to grow bigger and deform. At that point, even if your opponent wants to dodge, it will be too late. Hehe."

Wang Ye had originally been full of confidence in Lü Liang, but after hearing Rong Shan's interpretation, he couldn't help but feel a little worried for Lü Liang.

Even though Lü Liang's healing abilities are amazing, if this punch lands, it will definitely hurt.

But the next moment, something completely unexpected happened.

Just as the enormous golden fist was about to touch Lü Liang, Lü Liang's figure swayed slightly, as if he was knocked off his feet by the force of the punch.

Strangely, he not only did not fall, but also miraculously dodged the attack.

The golden fist whistled past Lü Liang's side and slammed heavily into the open ground behind him, instantly creating a large, uneven crater.

Seeing that Lü Liang had easily dodged the attack, Zhang Lingyu breathed a slight sigh of relief, while at the same time, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.

Although he considered that Lü Liang was not good at fighting, he only used five-tenths of his strength when he made his move.

But he really didn't expect that Lü Liang could dodge the attack so easily.

Was that quick movement achieved through some special technique, or was it just luck?
Zhang Lingyu's expression became more serious. He looked at Lü Liang and said solemnly:

"Fellow Daoist Lü, I will increase the pace of my attacks next, so please be careful."

……

"Bang! Bang! Bang bang bang!"

One after another, golden energy clusters formed from the Golden Light Mantra shot out from Zhang Lingyu's palms, with both speed and power greatly increased compared to before.

In an instant, the Qi surged and the wind howled across the open space.

Faced with this fierce attack that was as swift and relentless as a storm, Lü Liang's figure swayed once again.

Each time, those powerful fists seemed poised to strike him, but each time, at the last second, he managed to dodge them.

Rong Shan's cheers, which he was about to shout, were abruptly cut off, and his eyes widened even further.

In the open space, Zhang Lingyu's brows furrowed slightly, and the cinnabar dot between his brows trembled gently with his movements.

If at first he still harbored a glimmer of hope, thinking that Lü Liang's success was merely due to luck, then at this moment he was certain that Lü Liang was relying on an extremely peculiar movement technique.

This movement technique appears to have no discernible pattern at first glance, just like a lone boat on a vast ocean, drifting with the current yet always remaining steady and stable.

It's as if you're walking on the wind, moving through the forest, yet not a single leaf clings to you.

Seeing Lü Liang's actions, the old Celestial Master narrowed his eyes, a hint of interest flashing in his gaze:
"The Wind-Embracing Step?"

"Master, what did you say?"

Rong Shan didn't hear what the old Celestial Master said clearly, so he quickly turned his gaze to the old Celestial Master and asked with clear eyes.

The old celestial master glanced at him sideways and said irritably:

"Can't you see for yourself?"

Rongshan quickly turned his attention back to the fierce battle on the open ground.

He stared wide-eyed, completely absorbed, muttering to himself:

"I've never heard of the Lü family having any impressive movement techniques?"

Lu Liang keenly sensed the gaze cast by the old Celestial Master and instantly understood that the old Celestial Master had recognized the origin of his movement technique.

The technique he was using at this moment was the "Wind-Embracing Step," which he had obtained from the innkeeper's memories when he went to the Jianghu Inn to steal information.

As a small inn that has been established in the world of supernatural beings for many years by relying on intelligence trading, their movement skills are among the best in the entire world of supernatural beings.

"Progress is like the wind that drives away the fog, retreat is like the movement of clouds at lightning speed, twisting and turning is like a snake crawling along the grass, and swiftly turning is like a swallow flying over the eaves..."

This footwork appears casual and unrestrained, but in reality, every step is full of hidden tricks and is extremely cunning.

Whether it's a 90-degree right-angle turn or a near-limit emergency stop and restart, it can be completed in an instant.

This "Wind-Embracing Step" is indeed extremely useful in actual combat.

……

With his Wind-Catching Steps, Lü Liang was able to dodge Zhang Lingyu's dense attacks with ease.

He even had time to be distracted and carefully observe Zhang Lingyu's reaction.

From the start of the battle, Zhang Lingyu only used one move, which was the Golden Light Spell.

There might be an element of feeling too weak involved, but there must also be another reason—Zhang Lingyu has not yet accepted him using Yin Five Thunder.

And this is precisely the purpose for which the Old Celestial Master arranged this battle.

Wang Ye's Tai Chi uses softness to overcome hardness, and Feng Hou Qi Men is flexible and unpredictable. For Rong Shan, he is an opponent who can make him realize the limitations of his own fighting style.

The reason he was chosen was probably because the old master realized that he had more than one supernatural ability.

There is no superior or inferior skill; the best approach is to make the most of what you have.

This is Lü Liang's battle strategy, and it's also what the Old Master wanted Zhang Lingyu to learn.

Since the Celestial Master wants Zhang Lingyu to overcome his inner limitations after his setbacks, then I'll do the Celestial Master a favor.

Thinking of this, Lü Liang stopped dodging and instead switched from defense to offense.

His pupils changed color instantly, quickly turning into a deep, inky black.

"Possession!"

Lu Liang gently raised his right hand, and in an instant, dozens of red Qi bullets appeared out of thin air, surrounding him.

The next second, the Qi bullet shot towards Zhang Lingyu with the speed and force of an arrow.

"Now, it's my turn to do it!"

……

Before those marble-sized red Qi bullets even got close, Zhang Lingyu already felt an overwhelming heat and immense pressure.

This sense of danger set off alarm bells in his mind.

At this moment, Zhang Lingyu had no time to ponder why Lü Liang possessed such a special ability. He instinctively mobilized the golden light around his body to block it with all his might.

However, he still seriously underestimated the terrifying power of the simultaneous explosion of these high-pressure, high-heat Qi bombs.

The golden light protecting his body was shaken violently, and then, starting from his chest, which was the most severely affected area, the golden light shattered like a broken mirror.

"cough!"

Zhang Lingyu ultimately couldn't withstand the powerful impact. Blood spilled from the corner of her mouth, and her body swayed slightly from the force of the impact.

As more and more red Qi bullets swept in like a surging tide, Zhang Lingyu finally slowly raised his left hand.

"Thunder in the Palm!"

He pushed his palm forward, and black lightning shot out from his palm at lightning speed, nimbly weaving and darting among the dense array of Qi bullets.

"Kakaka!"

"Boom boom boom!"

The red Qi bullets floating in the air were struck by lightning one after another, detonating prematurely.

The sharp sound of lightning slicing through the air mingled with the deafening roar of the exploding Qi bombs, creating a continuous din.

The air itself seemed to vibrate.

In an instant, dust flew everywhere, leaves scattered, and the figures of Lü Liang and Zhang Lingyu inside the arena became blurred due to the huge commotion and the pervasive dust.

Upon seeing this, Rong Shan, who was watching from the sidelines, was dumbfounded. He stared wide-eyed in astonishment and exclaimed:

"Aren't all the doctors at Jishetang? How come they're so fierce when they fight?"

Neither the old master nor Wang Ye answered the question, their gazes remaining focused on the battle ahead.

As the dust settled, the outcome of the fierce battle finally became clear.

The originally powerful black lightning was blasted apart, and blood was dripping from Zhang Lingyu's palm.

"Huh? Lingyu's lightning technique isn't working right, is it? This is the palm lightning technique of Yang Five Thunder, isn't it?"

"Using it like this won't bring out the true effect of Yin Five Thunder!"

Rong Shan, his face filled with anxiety, shouted loudly at the center of the open space, "Ling Yu, don't do anything foolish!"

Hearing his senior brother's call, Zhang Lingyu looked down at his hands, his eyes flickered, and he murmured:

"As expected, I still prefer the upright and honorable Yang Wu Lei..."

"Unfortunately, no matter how deliberately one imitates, Yin is still Yin. Deliberate imitation can only capture the form, not the essence..."

With a sigh, the black Qi flowing from Zhang Lingyu's palm began to change.

Turbid and viscous... like a sticky black stream of water, it slowly flows down, which is quite fitting for its name "Dirty Water Thunder".

As soon as the Water-Dirty Thunder was unleashed, Zhang Lingyu's entire demeanor underwent a subtle yet significant change. If the Zhang Lingyu of before was a refined and otherworldly disciple of the Celestial Master's Mansion, then at this moment he was more like a down-on-his-luck rogue cultivator who had fallen into the mortal world, exuding a gloomy and even self-destructive aura.

Lu Liang noticed that, unlike the thick and sinister black Qi flow from Zhang Lingyu's palm, the black Qi flow surging from Zhang Lingyu's palm appeared particularly sticky and oppressive.

At this moment, Zhang Lingyu's sleeve trembled slightly, and the black Qi flowed with it, dripping down like a trickle of dirty water.

The sticky Qi flowed along the ground, wriggling and slowly approaching Lü Liang's feet.

Wherever it went, the ground seemed to be stained with a suffocating dark color.

"Cangtan in the Northern Territory!"

……

Zhang Lingyu slightly raised her eyes and said to Lü Liang:

"This is the Yin Thunder Water Digestion... It sucks bones and extracts marrow, corrupts the heart and erodes the will..."

"Anyone who steps into the Northern Azure Pool will have their power weakened."

"If it weren't for the fact that my cultivation level was far superior to his, most defenses would have been penetrated by this black lightning..."

Even without Zhang Lingyu's reminder, Lü Liang had already truly felt the power of this Yin Thunder Water Dirt.

When he tried to use the Wind-Gathering Step again, he clearly felt his speed decrease sharply. Every movement was as if he were bound by invisible shackles, becoming slow and heavy.

Lü Liang's scope of action was greatly reduced.

"Wandering Earthworm Thunder!"

Seeing that Lü Liang's movements had slowed down, Zhang Lingyu immediately released several thin, black streams of Qi from her fingertips, which surrounded Lü Liang from all sides.

These streams of Qi, like wriggling earthworms, wrapped around Lü Liang's limbs, tightly connecting them, and then exerted force to pull, attempting to forcibly drag Lü Liang's body towards Zhang Lingyu's direction.

The instant he was touched by the worm-like thunder, Lü Liang felt a strong discomfort sweep over his entire body—wet, sticky, as if it were melting away every inch of his bones.

However, just as this unpleasant sensation came, Lü Liang's eyes suddenly lit up.

Because the moment Zhang Lingyu unleashed the Wandering Earthworm Thunder, he keenly sensed the intense emotions emanating from Zhang Lingyu—

Self-loathing, self-abandonment... all sorts of negative emotions intertwined, so intense that they almost became tangible.

Such a person is simply the perfect target for Blue Hand's attacks.

Led by the worm-like thunder, Lü Liang's figure drew closer and closer to Zhang Lingyu.

Seeing this, Zhang Lingyu slowly raised his other hand, his palm surging with Qi, and murmured softly:
"it's over--"

However, before he could finish speaking, an unexpected event occurred.

Lu Liang suddenly activated the Wind-Gathering Step again. This time, with the help of the pulling force of the Wandering Earthworm Thunder, he instantly closed the distance between himself and Zhang Lingyu.

Immediately afterwards, the blue Qi transformed into countless tiny blue hands that eagerly darted towards Zhang Lingyu's brow.

Zhang Lingyu immediately mobilized his mental energy to resist. However, just as he was concentrating on resisting the invasion of the blue hand, he heard Lü Liang whisper two words in his ear – “Yuan Yang”.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lingyu's body jolted, and in that moment of distraction, the blue hand surged in.

A sharp, intense pain instantly erupted deep within Zhang Lingyu's soul.

The pain was intense and sudden. Under the impact of this excruciating pain, Zhang Lingyu was unable to stand up for a moment and her body fell forward uncontrollably to the ground.

At the same time, the flow of Qi within his body suddenly stagnated due to this unexpected change, and the water-dirty thunder that had enveloped the surroundings instantly lost its source of power and dissipated.

……

Thus, the outcome of this fierce battle has been decided.

Lu Liang stood aside, raising his hand to gently rub his sore wrist. Although the competition just now was short, it was quite intense.

Moreover, although he defeated Zhang Lingyu, the victory was not decisive enough, as direct confrontation is not his forte.

The best ability to deal with someone like Zhang Lingyu is probably Tu Junfang's.

If we can lure out Zhang Lingyu's three corpses, we can almost win this match without a fight.

While Lü Liang was pondering, Rong Shan, who was watching from the outside of the open space, finally realized what was happening.

He hurried forward and helped Zhang Lingyu up from the ground.

Zhang Lingyu stood up with Rong Shan's help.

At this moment, the excruciating pain in his mind had completely dissipated, but he was in a daze.

A thought kept swirling in his mind—"I lost? I lost after giving it my all?"

Zhang Lingyu immediately felt her face burning hot.

Just now, he shamelessly boasted that he was afraid of hurting others, but in the end, he couldn't beat them at all.

Especially after he unleashed the Yin Five Thunders... he still lost.

Zhang Lingyu felt increasingly embarrassed as he thought about it, secretly wondering how his fellow disciples would view him if word got out...

……

Seeing Zhang Lingyu's distraught and bewildered state, the old celestial master couldn't help but show a look of disappointment and frustration.

He stepped forward, raised his hand and patted Zhang Lingyu's shoulder heavily, looked directly at Zhang Lingyu, and asked:
"Lingyu, haven't you already mastered the Heavenly Scroll? Why didn't you use it just now?"

Zhang Lingyu looked up at the old Celestial Master, and after a moment, he understood the old Celestial Master's question. He explained:
"That's not from the Celestial Master's Mansion..."

"Who says you can only use the techniques from the Celestial Master's Mansion?"

Before Zhang Lingyu could finish speaking, the old celestial master interrupted him impatiently.

Zhang Lingyu continued to try to explain:
“Master, didn’t you say you were going to show Fellow Daoist Lü our Celestial Master’s Mansion…”

"Ha! Now you know to listen to me. Did you use your full strength right from the start, as I told you to?"

The old celestial master looked at Zhang Lingyu and became more and more excited as he spoke:
"At first you were only willing to use the Golden Light Mantra. When you finally managed to use thunder magic, you insisted on imitating the moves of Yang Wu Lei."

"Heh, if you had decisively covered the entire field with dirty water mines from the beginning, his footwork would have been completely useless."

"If you really listen to your master and use your full strength, even if you can't beat that little guy from the Lü family in the end, at least you won't be completely suppressed by him from beginning to end."

……

Hearing her master's reprimand, Zhang Lingyu lowered her head slightly, her lips pressed tightly together, her face full of dejection.

Seeing this, the old celestial master sighed softly, and his tone softened considerably:
"Lingyu, this feeling of defeat is unpleasant, isn't it? Do you know where you went wrong?"

"You don't accept yourself!"

Whatever the reason for your current situation, that's who you are now!

"Only by fully accepting yourself can you unleash your full potential without reservation, and only in this way can you prevent it from becoming an obstacle on your path of cultivation."

Zhang Lingyu's lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but she swallowed it back, looking hesitant and unsure of what to say.

The Celestial Master continued earnestly:
"Lingyu, you are a good child in every way, except that you are too simple-minded."

"In battle, any technique is acceptable as long as you can win."

As he spoke, the old Celestial Master pointed at Wang Ye and Lü Liang:

“Look at Wang Ye, when he was fighting with your senior brother Rongshan, he didn’t insist on using Tai Chi.”

"And then there's the young man from the Lü family. He's practically 'gathered' the strengths of everyone and uses them with a clear conscience!"

"Not to mention that grandson of a big-eared guy, Zhang Chulan. As long as he can win, he'll throw away all face, even his own interests, without hesitation!"

"But Master..."

Zhang Lingyu's expression was conflicted, clearly unconvinced by these words.

Seeing Zhang Lingyu's awkward appearance, the old master angrily blew his beard.

"Heh, in terms of cultivation, I don't think I'm any worse than my junior brother Zhang Huaiyi, but when it comes to choosing a successor, I'm definitely outmatched."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lingyu was struck dumb, her entire body instantly freezing.

He stared blankly up at the old master, "Master, I..."

The old Celestial Master didn't look at him again, but instead turned his gaze to Lü Liang and Wang Ye beside him, and said:

"You two little ones came all the way to Longhu Mountain this time to ask about Zhang Huaiyi, right?"

"Master, how could you have guessed that?"

"Heh, if I couldn't even see through the little tricks of you little rascals, wouldn't all these years of my life have been wasted?"

The old Celestial Master chuckled softly, glanced in the direction of Tian Jinzhong's courtyard, then slowly stroked his beard and said unhurriedly:
"You can ask Lao Tian if you want, but you can't use any extreme methods. If you find out the answer, that's your skill, and I won't interfere."

“I could even chat with you for a bit.”

Upon hearing this, Lü Liang and Wang Ye's faces instantly lit up with joy.

"If the old Celestial Master is willing to talk to us, that would be wonderful."

Although limited by his Celestial Master status, the Old Celestial Master may not be able to directly reveal information related to the Eight Extraordinary Techniques.

However, the Celestial Master must have a lot of information about Zhang Huaiyi and the Jia Shen Rebellion of that year. If the Celestial Master is willing to share, that would definitely be a good thing.

Just as Lü Liang and Wang Ye were eager to try, the old Celestial Master changed the subject and continued:

"However, I have one condition."

(End of this chapter)