Promise!

Chapter 167, Victory

"Leg techniques for killing?!"

Zhuang Jin stared intently, her expression grave.

Black Fiend Palm is a palm-based killing martial art, and naturally there is also a leg-based killing martial art. Because leg techniques have longer meridian routes and involve more acupoints, the latter is more powerful than the former at the same level of proficiency!
Many martial artists do not cultivate leg techniques for killing because they prioritize their cultivation level. Cultivating another killing technique would be a waste of time. Besides, one Black Fiend Palm technique is usually sufficient. Cultivating another leg technique for killing would only have limited effect. Only martial artists who have been stuck at a bottleneck for many years would consider it.

Furthermore, one can cultivate the Black Fiend Palm as soon as one enters the realm of cultivation and become more familiar with it, while one can only cultivate leg techniques and killing skills after reaching the seventh level. It is said that leg techniques are superior to palm techniques and body techniques at the same level, but one must reach the same level to do so.

For example, when martial artists at the Meridian Opening Realm like Zhuang Jin and Qiu Yizhi fight, the advanced level of leg techniques is useless. Instead, it is easy for them to find weaknesses and become passive. Only the perfect level of leg techniques can be used... Since Qiu Yizhi dared to speak, it is clear that his Thunder Kick has reached the perfect level.

Swish swish!
Qiu Yizhi bent down and swept his hands in a spinning motion. The bluestone slabs on the ground were scraped off like tofu, and rolled back like curtains.

"What a trick!"

Zhuang Jin flashed into the gaps, cutting through them like a skilled butcher dissecting an ox, dodging the gaps with ease. He swept away the few scattered bluestone slabs that he couldn't avoid, shattering them all as they spun around.

As the two chased and dodged, the bluestone slabs flew through the air like goose feathers, and the ground of the entire execution ground looked as if it had been plowed.

……

The onlookers were completely stunned by what they saw.

The previous commotion subsided, replaced by complete silence. At this moment, everyone was like geese with their necks being choked, their mouths agape and their eyes wide with disbelief.

They knew martial artists were powerful, but they never imagined that their destructive power could reach this level.

This is something that high-level martial artists rarely did in the past, let alone in front of the general public.

……

The elders of the three main culprits brought by Fu Shousong and Qiu Yizhi were discussing the battle on the field.

"Zhuang Gongfeng has such high talent. He broke through to the Meridian Opening Realm in just two months, yet he can fight against a veteran Meridian Opening Realm martial artist like Qiu Gongfeng without being at a disadvantage!"

"Yes, but after all, Elder Qiu is a veteran martial artist who has opened the meridians. Once he unleashed the Thunder Kick, a powerful leg technique, he clearly gained the upper hand and suppressed Elder Zhuang!"

"I'm afraid that's not entirely true. You must know that strength cannot last forever! Qiu Gongfeng's advantage lies in completing the accumulation of a lineage's realm and his leg technique, the Thunder Kick. Zhuang Gongfeng's advantage lies in his youth, strength, vigorous blood and energy, strong endurance, and slightly faster internal energy recovery... If this drags on, Qiu Gongfeng's situation will be dire!"

……

"I believe that Master Qiu has his own reasons."

As Fu Shousong spoke these words to them, he secretly admired his old friend for his tact and discretion.

Zhuang Jin is in his early twenties, in his prime, with his energy and blood surging like the rising sun; on the other hand, Qiu Yi is nearing sixty. Although he is not yet at the point where "the village children bully me because I am old and weak," he is getting older, his energy and blood are declining, and his internal energy is not as good as before... To lose reasonably, one must use one's own weaknesses to counter the opponent's strengths.

For example, at this moment: Qiu Yizhi used his leg techniques to kill, but he was not directly targeting Zhuang Jin. Instead, he was scraping the ground. It looked incredibly destructive and powerful, and extremely intimidating. In reality, however, it posed a very limited threat to Zhuang Jin.

This was more for show; with such a grand spectacle and immense expenditure of energy, it would be "reasonable" for him to lose to Zhuang Jin later due to exhaustion of his internal energy.

One moment Fu Shousong was praising his old friend's ingenious ideas and realistic acting, the next he suddenly saw a shocking change on the scene, and his heart skipped a beat: 'Oh no, what is my old friend... doing?!'

……

Watching Zhuang Jin and Qiu Yizhi fight on the execution ground, witnessing the immense destructive power, Shen Xuchen felt a pang of envy. He secretly resolved that once this matter was resolved, he would return to his secluded cultivation and vow not to leave until he broke through to the Meridian Opening Realm. He wasn't worried about the fight itself, knowing it was just a show, a contest of teamwork. However, when he saw the unexpected change in the arena, his pupils constricted sharply.

……

In the execution ground, Qiu Yizhi suddenly stopped, his whole body spinning rapidly, his hands and feet moving simultaneously, sweeping and slapping. Countless bluestone slabs gathered under the airflow, forming two tornadoes about ten feet high on the left and right, rushing towards Zhuang Jin with lightning speed.

"Ah!"

Zhuang Jin chuckled upon seeing this. Although the two bluestone tornadoes seemed extremely dangerous, he could actually dodge them with his agility, though it would be a bit more dangerous and embarrassing.

'Qiu Yizhi is still lucid and hasn't lost his mind. He's testing my strength during the fight, which is why he used this move... He probably knows he can lose, but he also wants me to lose face and be humiliated, to save face for himself?'

'However, my true strength is far more than that!'

Zhuang Jin sighed inwardly. With a wave of his hand, the invisible aura around him pulled the chaotic bluestone slabs together into a torrent. With the ability to perceive the weaknesses of the perfected level Black Fiend Palm and the ability to sense airflow with the perfected Swift Wind Step, he directly hit the weak point in the center of the two bluestone slab tornadoes.

Boom, boom, boom!
With minimal effort, he used his own strength to manipulate the power of Qiu Yizhi's two slab tornadoes, causing them to collide and explode with a deafening roar. Amidst the thunderous explosions, the slabs within were completely shattered, turning into dust and smoke that filled the air.

Amidst the rising dust and smoke, Zhuang Jin passed through and pressed down on Qiu Yizhi with his palm.

Startled, Qiu Yizhi hastily raised his hand to receive the greeting.

boom!
The surging energy collided and annihilated each other. This process was outlined by dust in the air, and a shock wave in the shape of a Tai Chi symbol exploded, rising into the sky and penetrating directly into the ground by a foot.

Zhuang Jin gracefully withdrew.

Qiu Yizhi, having already exhausted his internal energy during the previous exertion, was caught off guard by the hasty response. His face turned pale, and he stumbled and fell off the execution ground.

"You flatter me!" Zhuang Jin clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"It was Master Zhuang who won." Qiu Yizhi probably felt ashamed. He had already lost, but he hadn't even managed to embarrass Zhuang Jin. He clasped his hands in a fist salute and turned to leave.

"Congratulations, Venerable Zhuang." Fu Shousong's attitude was more solemn at this moment. He congratulated Zhuang Jin and then followed Qiu Yizhi.

He realized that Zhuang Jin's palm strike against the two tornadoes on the bluestone slabs had already reached the pinnacle of the first level of the Black Fiend Palm, and was only a matter of cultivation level away from the second level of mastery and the development of a deadly technique. In terms of Black Fiend Palm alone, he was even more powerful than him... Zhuang Jin had been able to do so in such a short time, and it was only a matter of time before he surpassed him. Naturally, his attitude towards such a person changed.

"How is this possible?! Master Qiu! Master Fu... Alas!"

The elders of the three culprits were still filled with disbelief, unable to believe that Qiu Yizhi had lost. In their eyes, Qiu Yizhi had done his best, even using such powerful moves, yet he still lost... Seeing the two leave, they hurriedly called out, but naturally could not stop them. They knew that the deaths of their three juniors were inevitable. With a sigh, they did not leave with them, waiting to collect the bodies later.

"Master Zhuang's talent is astonishing! Just now... he really gave me a cold sweat!" Shen Xuchen also stepped forward and congratulated him with a smile.

"It was indeed dangerous just now, and I was lucky."

Zhuang Jin spoke modestly, glancing at the departing figures of Qiu Yizhi and the other man, a look of caution and apprehension appearing on his face.

"Throughout the battle, this man remained clear-headed and restrained, understanding that his presence was merely an act, a facade of striving and effort... Even with his son as the stake in the duel, he remained unmoved. Now, he doesn't even leave to collect the body, demonstrating his resolute and ruthless nature."

What Zhuang Jin didn't know was that Fu Shousong's evaluation of his old friend included the phrase "ruthless and vicious." Qiu Yizhi was indeed a cold-hearted person. Besides, he had more than one son, and compared to others, he himself was more important.

……

(End of this chapter)