Playing with fantasy beasts in the martial arts world

Chapter 188 You Have Divine Skills, I Have Mystic Beasts (A Long Chapter of 7,000 Words)
Dressed in white with a full head of silver hair, if Xiaoyuer didn't speak or make any expression at this moment, he would indeed have the air of a grandmaster.

"What do you think?" Cha Nan asked Yang Guo.

Yang Guo shook his head: "The Zhang Sanfeng I know doesn't look like this!"

"Is there anything lacking in terms of momentum?" Cha Nan asked Yang Guo.

Yang Guo did not answer. If he were ten or twenty years younger, he would have been happy to play these kinds of games, but now... he was no longer in the mood for them.

“Alright, let’s do it this way! Let Liang Xiao follow him and secretly help him complete the disguise. We don’t need to really fool many people, we just need to prevent those guys who were just here for the fun from kicking him while he’s down!” Cha Nan said.

It's clear that Liu Xi's collusion with Cao Zhengchun couldn't be limited to just one person. The Boundary Gate has been open for ten years, and with Liu Xi's methods, who knows how many skilled fighters he has recruited.

Grandmasters cannot be easily subdued, but there are likely quite a few first-rate and second-rate martial artists, as well as masters at the innate level.

Of course, Cha Nan and Yang Guo are no ordinary people either. Using their influence to call for more helpers is not a problem at all.

The problem is that if handled this way, the situation will be amplified and could easily escalate into a chaotic battle between the 'invaders' and the 'defenders'.

By then, the original reasons for starting the war were no longer important!

Importantly, with two outsiders leading a group of outsiders openly opposing the local court, ambitious people from all over the country would be forced to rally under Liu Xi's command to resist the 'invasion'.

To put it bluntly, when things really come to that point, right and wrong are not important; what matters is the responsibility to defend our territory and to ensure that the interests of our world are not taken away by outsiders.

The heavens are interconnected, and there are special organizations such as the God of Wealth Society that exchange goods and resources, work together, and plunder wealth and resources. Naturally, some local forces will also form factions to resist invasion.

These are two opposing forces that exist objectively and are independent of individual will.

······
Night fell, the stars and moon were obscured, and the group set off in batches. Yang Guo and Cha Nan led the way, followed closely by the Murong family, while Liang Xiao brought Xiao Yu'er in last.

The Eastern Depot's prison was heavily guarded. Even the guards at the gate had considerable martial arts skills, their eyes gleaming with a sharp light, clearly indicating that they had achieved some success in internal strength.

Yang Guo, wielding the Xuan Tie Heavy Sword, charged forward alone. With a sweep of his sword energy, the guards at the gate were cleaved in two, and even those protected by armor could not escape death.

The Xuan Tie Heavy Sword is a heavy weapon, which can easily overpower armored soldiers. Moreover, Yang Guo has been "enhanced" by Cha Nan several times, making his internal energy even stronger.

"you again!"

"I can't believe you dared to come!"

"Perfect timing! Now that you're here... don't even think about leaving!" Liu Xi appeared out of nowhere, his eyes lighting up the moment he saw Yang Guo.

He had absorbed a trace of true energy from Yang Guo during their last encounter. After digesting it, he felt much better. Even a long-damaged area showed faint signs of regeneration. As a result, he began to covet Yang Guo.

In order to lure Yang Guo out, he even went so far as to 'waste' a precious medicine, pulling the South Sea Divine Nun back from the brink of death.

Without wasting words, Yang Guo slashed fiercely with his sword.

Liu Xi unleashed a palm strike to block Yang Guo's Xuan Tie Heavy Sword, then closed in, forcing Yang Guo to exchange blows with him.

At this time, his absorption technique was not yet fully mastered, and he could not absorb power from a distance. Even if he absorbed power through a weapon, he would still be somewhat powerless, and he would not be able to succeed against a strong opponent.

Yang Guo seemed to be somewhat wary, always using his movement techniques to avoid close combat with Liu Xi, instead keeping his distance and using the Xuan Tie Heavy Sword to carry his sword energy.

The two fought fiercely, their energy surging wildly, their power transforming into a gust of wind that knocked down many of the Eastern Depot agents who had surrounded them.

Ignoring Yang Guo's gradual entrapment of Liu Xi, Cha Nan transformed into a gust of wind and blew into the dungeon.

The dungeon passageway was very narrow, barely allowing one person to squeeze through sideways. This cramped environment was actually very disadvantageous for Cha Nan, but he did not hesitate and continued to push his way in.

Soon they saw rows of prison cells, where most of the prisoners were chained up, their hair disheveled, barely breathing.

Many of them had their collarbones pierced and were suspended in mid-air, clearly indicating that these people possessed martial arts skills and were quite proficient.

Upon seeing Cha Nan burst in alone, the prisoners all reacted, calling out for Cha Nan.

But Cha Nan ignored it, because an opponent had appeared directly in front of him.

In the still somewhat narrow passageway, a young eunuch dressed in a flying fish robe sat there with an air of authority, glancing sideways at Cha Nan.

"Another one who's not afraid of death has arrived!" the eunuch said in a high-pitched voice.

In fact, most eunuchs do not have much difference in their voices compared to ordinary people. However, because they lack an penis, some eunuchs specialize in practicing sinister and wicked internal energy techniques, which leads to an excess of yin energy in their bodies, causing their voices and physical forms to gradually become deformed.

"You don't look like a nobody. State your name!" Cha Nan secretly gathered strength in his palm, and at the same time, he exerted force with his toes. The moment he spoke, he immediately attacked.

The so-called questions are only meant to confuse the enemy to a certain extent.

The leg wind was swift, fast, and fierce.

The young eunuch sitting in the chair threw punches to block the attack. His cold, icy internal energy collided with Cha Nan's powerful internal energy, producing a dull sound like the beating of a large drum.

Cha Nan kicked twenty-seven times in a row, but each kick was perfectly blocked by the young eunuch.

Although the space was narrow and Cha Nan's leg techniques were difficult to execute, the fact that the young man was able to defend against all of Cha Nan's attacks so flawlessly shows that his skills had reached a level of consummate mastery.

Now, Cha Nan was genuinely curious about his identity.

"What amazing legwork! But... I'll break one of your legs, let's see how you run then!" The young eunuch's face was pale, but his attack was ruthless. When Cha Nan kicked again, he suddenly stood up and, following the path of Cha Nan's kick, looked up and grabbed Cha Nan's knee with his claw. If he got a firm grip, Cha Nan's kneecap would definitely be crushed.

Roar!
With a resounding roar, Cha Nan unleashed his Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms.

Such a narrow space was not suitable for using the Wind and Cloud Divine Leg technique. Cha Nan had not originally intended to use leg techniques to defend against enemies, but rather to use them as a transition to buy time for the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms to build up power.

Cha Nan's skill is now formidable, and he has entered the Innate Realm. The power of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms has finally increased. Although his understanding of the spirit of the palm technique is still not thorough enough, his skill is profound. Even his wild punches have considerable power, let alone the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms.
Amidst the roar of a dragon, a dragon shadow swept past, heading straight for the young eunuch's chest and abdomen.

The young eunuch hurriedly stopped his clawing attack, retreating repeatedly, smashing the chair behind him. He pressed down with both palms, leaned forward slightly, and pretended to hold down the raging dragon's head. His feet slid on the ground, and he was forcibly knocked back several meters by the force of the palm strike.

When he finally stopped, blood was still involuntarily trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"The Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms... truly domineering and fierce!"

"Are you Guo Jing or Qiao Feng?" the young eunuch asked Cha Nan.

"I am Wang Xiaolong!" Cha Nan replied, and then immediately followed up with a palm strike, striking with both hands in quick succession, creating streaks of dragon shadows that bombarded the young eunuch relentlessly.

If it were Guo Jing, he could easily combine two completely different moves of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms and use them together to achieve a synergistic effect greater than the sum of its parts, because he knew Zhou Botong's Ambidextrous Fighting Technique. However, Cha Nan could not learn this technique because his mind was too cluttered and not pure enough.

Therefore, Cha Nan's ambidextrous attack actually utilized the same palm technique. He struck with both palms in quick succession, combining their power to fiercely press down on the young eunuch.

If you're going to use your power to intimidate others, then go all the way.

The burst of power accumulated over sixty years caused his meridians to throb, but under the fierce force of Cha Nan's palm strike, the young eunuch was forced into a corner, his cheeks twisted and deformed by the pressure of Cha Nan's palm strike.

"Get out of my way!" The young eunuch shuddered and was about to reverse his inner energy to fight Cha Nan to the death.

However, at that very moment, a hand as white as jade, resembling the delicate hand of a young girl, emerged from the wall and sealed several of the young eunuch's vital points.

Then an old eunuch dressed in purple robes broke through the wall and struck out with a palm, shattering the surging palm force that Cha Nan had accumulated.

A muffled hissing sound came from the air, and then Cha Nan flipped in mid-air, staggering back several steps, his face turning pale and bluish.

If it weren't for the Heavenly Water Divine Skill combined with the Formless Divine Skill, it would indeed be incredibly powerful. The old eunuch's palm strike had already caused him considerable internal injuries.

"Shaoqin! Don't always think about risking your life. You're so young, you should save your life for yourself. You have a long life ahead of you!" the old eunuch said to the young eunuch.

"Yes! I understand, Godfather!" the young eunuch said, bowing his head.

Then the old eunuch looked at Cha Nan with a smile and said very politely, "This young hero has powerful palm strikes and uses the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms, a unique palm technique. Although he lacks some of the shrewdness of seasoned veterans, his skill is indeed profound. I wonder what his relationship is with Chief Qiao and Chief Hong of the Beggars' Sect?"

"It's alright, my name is Wang Xiaolong, and the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms is a family tradition!" Cha Nan had already read the random reply and was also speculating about the identities of the two eunuchs, one old and one young, in front of her.

The older one is Cao Zhengchun from "The World's Finest". Although he is ruthless and framed loyal officials, he is a polite eunuch.

As for the young eunuch, he might be Cao Shaoqin from Dragon Inn, the head of the Eastern Depot. He was skilled in martial arts, but not unparalleled in the martial arts world. He was naturally much inferior to Yu Huatian, the eunuch who came later.

"Young hero, with such a family tradition and such a promising talent, why bother getting involved with those bandits and outlaws?"

"How about joining our Eastern Depot?"

"Our Eastern Depot needs talents like you!" Cao Zhengchun pointed at Cha Nan, smiling kindly as he spoke.

“No problem! But I have a big enemy. If you can help me get rid of him, I’ll join the Eastern Depot and be its head!” Cha Nan continued to speak freely, emphasizing his free-spiritedness.

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhengchun's smile widened: "The martial world isn't just about fighting and killing; it's about human relationships and social interactions. If it's not some irreconcilable feud, I can step in and mediate for you."

“That won’t do. He’s better at showing off than me. I can’t stand that!” Cha Nan said.

"Are you playing games with us?" Cao Zhengchun's eyes changed completely. Although the smile on his face was still there, his eyes were now extremely cold.

No matter how gentle and polite he may appear on the surface, he is cold-blooded and ruthless at heart.

"You tricked me first!"

"Who would choose to be a eunuch instead of a perfectly good man?" Cha Nan sneered.

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhengchun's expression froze for a moment, then he coldly explained, "The Eastern Depot... is not just composed of eunuchs!"

"Huh?" Cha Nan was slightly taken aback. Although he had read a lot of martial arts novels, he hadn't paid much attention to this aspect. He had thought that everyone in the Eastern Depot was a eunuch!
"Moreover... even if you were cut, you wouldn't have the fortune to enter the palace and serve the Emperor!" Cao Zhengchun continued.

You should enjoy this good fortune yourself!

"You can't enjoy it all by yourself; your descendants will all enjoy it together."

"Oh! Sorry, I forgot... You have no descendants, so what use is a godson who's a eunuch?"

Cha Nan continued speaking, and Cao Zhengchun's face darkened completely.

He had to admit that before today, the person he hated most was Zhu Wushi, the Iron-Blooded Marquis, but now this guy in front of him who called himself 'Wang Xiaolong' could be ranked second.

"Sharp-tongued... I'll pull out all your teeth and see if you can still speak so recklessly!" Before the words were finished, Cao Zhengchun had already made his move.

The Heavenly Gang Boy Skill is a legitimate Taoist martial art. It uses pure Yang energy to protect the body, with a protective aura surrounding the body. Even if one has not reached the level of a Grandmaster, this protective aura can rival that of a Grandmaster, making it unparalleled in defense.

Of course, its attack power is also quite astonishing.

When Cao Zhengchun struck with his palm, Cha Nan felt as if a mountain of energy was pressing down on him, and his breathing became sluggish instantly.

He exerted all his strength to strike, but it felt like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Keglitz!

A giant beetle-like phantom suddenly appeared in front of Cha Nan, blocking 99% of Cao Zhengchun's palm strike.

The heavy palm strike landed on Caglius, but failed to break through its thick layer of natural armor.

Even with some of the penetrating force, it did not damage Cagliari's internal organs.

It is a mythical beast, not a human, and its ability to withstand impact is far beyond imagination.

"What is that?" Cao Zhengchun looked at Cagliari, who was blocking Cha Nan's way, in surprise. "A divine beast!"

"Its inner core is a treasure; it can bring the dead back to life, heal flesh and bone, and regenerate severed limbs..." Cha Nan spouted nonsense, mainly spouting rubbish.

It has to be said that after unlocking the Overturning Sea Dragon, he has indeed become more and more unrestrained.

The reason he was still somewhat cowardly back then was because although he had an immortal body, his strength was insufficient. If he stood out too much, he would live a life that was both frustrating and unfulfilling.

Now that his own strength has increased and his magical beasts have reached a high level, why is he still keeping a low profile?
Then all his efforts were in vain?

"Really?" Cao Zhengchun looked at Keglis with bright eyes, without saying whether he believed it or not.

However, it is clear that for eunuchs... especially those who wield great power, the method of growing three inches below the navel is no less tempting to emperors than the prospect of immortality.

They would rather arrest the wrong person than let one go.

At this moment, even someone as shrewd and calculating as Cao Zhengchun could not resist the temptation.

Even though he was quite certain that Cha Nan was lying to him, what if...?
There are indeed strange beasts in this world, and the inner cores of these beasts do indeed possess many incredible effects.

"Go!" Chanan pointed, and Cagliari flapped its wings and flew toward the dungeon fork.

Cao Zhengchun hesitated for less than a second before immediately following.

Watching the figures of the insect and the person disappear around the corner, Cha Nan tilted her head and looked at Cao Shaoqin: "Aren't you going? Maybe you'll get a share!"

Cao Shaoqin was clearly tempted, but he stubbornly insisted, "My godfather might be deceived by you, but I won't..."

"Really? If your godfather suddenly had a biological son, do you think he would still care about you?" Cha Nan asked.

Cao Shaoqin was clearly in a state of utter confusion, but his face remained completely expressionless.

However, being distracted is already a major taboo on the battlefield.

Cha Nan and he are not friends, and she will not hold back.

In a flash, Cha Nan drew a longsword from his backpack and thrust it out swiftly from an unbelievable angle.

Cao Shaoqin only had time to turn slightly to the side, but Cha Nan still seized the opportunity and pierced his chest with a sword, pinning him firmly to the wall.

Draw your sword and deliver the finishing blow!

Cao Shaoqin only had time to widen his eyes before he hurriedly covered his bleeding throat with both hands.

After being trained by Ximen Chuixue, Cha Nan's swordsmanship, while not necessarily having mastered the three key principles of "fast, ruthless, and accurate" to the core, was at least on par with Ximen Chuixue's.

His swordsmanship has surpassed that of 80% of the so-called famous swordsmen in the martial arts world.

After luring Cao Zhengchun away and killing Cao Shaoqin, Cha Nan continued to delve deeper into the dungeon, searching for the whereabouts of the South Sea Divine Nun.

Of course, there couldn't have been only two eunuchs in the dungeon; there were also some agents under Liu Xi's command of the Eastern Depot and some Imperial Guards who had defected to him.

Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard was the emperor's personal guard, if the emperor did not trust them or take charge of their affairs, they could only gradually evolve into eunuch guards.

In many martial arts worlds set in the Ming Dynasty, the Embroidered Uniform Guards are essentially the lackeys of eunuchs.

Fighting their way through, in the deepest part of the dungeon, Cha Nan saw the South Sea Goddess, who was also hanging in mid-air.

This was an elderly nun who looked quite old, and her breathing was slightly weak, but even in such a desperate situation, she remained calm.

"Could you please stop looking and let me down first?" Cha Nan looked at the old nun, and the old nun looked at Cha Nan as well. Their eyes met for a moment.

“Okay!” Cha Nan cleaved the lock with a single sword stroke, then swung his sword to cut the iron chain that was suspending the old nun.

Because the old nun was seriously injured and on the verge of death, she wasn't pierced through the collarbone, clearly because they were afraid of torturing her to death.

After Cha Nan put her down, he took out a pill of Impermanence and a bottle of mysterious water produced by the little elephant, and handed them to the old nun so that she could drink it herself.

Of course, there are still treatment potions available, but they shouldn't be given out easily, otherwise it will seem cheap and won't fetch a good price later.

Besides, Yang Guo still had questions to ask this old nun, so the half-dead old nun was actually a good nun.

If she fully recovers and doesn't want to answer Yang Guo's question, she might turn around and run away. With the old nun's skill, she might not be able to stop her.

Cha Nan has never been one to assume things with a certain degree of malice.

Moreover, even without malicious intent, some people may still make unwise decisions due to certain considerations.

"Can you walk?" Cha Nan asked the old nun who had taken the pill and was slightly adjusting her breathing.

"Your pills and medicines are very good. They have suppressed most of my internal injuries. As for the external injuries... they are fine, I can walk!" After saying this, the South Sea Divine Nun swayed as she got up and followed Cha Nan out of the cell.

When they came out, more people locked in the cells were shouting for Cha Nan and the other person to be released.

Without hesitation, Cha Nan swung his sword and cleaved open the prison door with simple, brutal force, then cut the iron chains, releasing the imprisoned martial arts practitioners one by one.

Most of these people were captured by Liu Xi to practice martial arts.

Before Liu Xi mastered his Absorption Technique, the amount of internal energy he could absorb and the upper limit of his absorption power were not high. Therefore, many martial arts practitioners with good skills and profound internal energy were captured by him as "reserve food" and temporarily imprisoned until he mastered the divine skill and then absorbed them all.

These people have suffered a lot of torment. Although they were originally quite skilled in martial arts, it is not worth expecting them to become a strong fighting force at this moment.

The only hope is that they can cause some trouble and distract Liu Xi's ambush troops.

As expected, the dungeon was brightly lit, and a large number of soldiers had surrounded the dungeon exit in layers.

Meanwhile, Yang Guo and Liu Xi were still locked in combat.

Upon seeing Cha Nan bring out the South Sea Divine Nun, Yang Guo immediately created an opening and exchanged blows with Liu Xi.

In a split second, Liu Xi instinctively sensed something was wrong, but his body reacted faster than his brain. The moment their palms touched, the Absorption Technique naturally activated, beginning to draw upon Yang Guo's internal energy.

Boom!

A thunderous roar erupted, like a bolt from the blue!

Yang Guo actively channeled a large amount of internal energy into Liu Xi's body, and the moment Liu Xi absorbed this internal energy, he was struck by lightning.

The internal force imbued with lightning attributes was simply too domineering, too violent, and too ferocious; it was a force that no ordinary person's body could withstand.

In the martial arts world, not to mention internal energy with lightning attributes, even martial arts techniques with a certain lightning attack effect are extremely rare.

However, Liu Xi's eyes were opened today!
He was stunned by the electric shock!
Electric arcs surged wildly within his body, and the strange true energy, imbued with the aura of lightning, was like a tyrant, churning the waters within him, yet he was utterly powerless against it.

The Absorption Technique simply cannot counteract such a powerful force.

Suddenly, a surge of intense firepower came crashing down on Yang Guo.

The attack came suddenly, but it was extremely domineering and powerful. Yang Guo couldn't dodge it in time and could only take it head-on with his palm.

In mid-air, lightning and fire collided and tore at each other, creating shockwaves that blasted everything around them into chaos, causing the surrounding soldiers to fall to their deaths.

Yang Guo took a few steps back and returned to Cha Nan's side. Although his face was normal, Cha Nan saw that his right palm behind his back was completely red.

If it weren't for the healing properties of herbs in Yang Guo's internal energy, his arm would probably have been permanently crippled.

Yang Guo's right hand was, after all, his weak hand. Although it had grown back, it had not undergone long-term training and tempering. His power was insufficient in an instant, and he suffered a silent loss when exchanging blows with others.

The one who suddenly attacked Yang Guo was a handsome man in white with white hair. He had large, bright eyes, but they were not righteous; instead, they carried a hint of evil and a barely concealed madness.

"I'll cover your retreat. You take the nun and ride the deer away quickly!" Yang Guo whispered to Cha Nan.

He knew, of course, how fast Cha Nan's Cloud Sea Deer was; once it started running, almost no one in the world could catch it.

"Is this person difficult to deal with?" Cha Nan asked.

Yang Guo nodded slightly: "He gives me... a very strange feeling!"

"It's as if a volcano is hidden inside him."

"In terms of internal strength, I am far from being his match."

Upon hearing this, Cha Nan was slightly startled.

Although Yang Guo was not known for his internal strength, his internal skills were never weak.

Not to mention the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra and the Nine Yin Manual he practiced, both of which are considered top-tier internal martial arts, the gallbladders of the Bodhi Snake fed to him by the Divine Condor also greatly increased his strength and internal power.

Despite his profound knowledge and experience, Yang Guo actually said that the white-robed, white-haired man with big eyes was far more skilled than him.

Who is this?
"Young Master Chu! Stop them for us! We absolutely cannot let them get away!" Liu Xi finally caught his breath and spoke while exhaling black smoke.

Yang Guo's lightning-attribute internal energy tore his body to pieces. It was already remarkable that he could suppress the enormous internal energy within his body without taking action in a short period of time.

"Don't worry, Eunuch Liu, I will definitely keep my promise to you," Young Master Chu said with a smile, brushing a strand of fine white hair that had fallen from his temples.

After he finished speaking, he walked step by step toward Cha Nan and the others. Wherever he passed, the firelight flickered, as if the energy of a volcano about to erupt was gathering.

Without hesitation, Cha Nan chose to release the dragon.

Although this is not the open sea, it is the home ground of the Overturning Sea Dragon.

However, the base stats of the Overturning Sea Dragon are there, and even without any boosts, it is comparable to a Grandmaster. Moreover, mythical beasts also have their unique advantages.

Roar!
The Overturning Dragon suddenly appeared and let out a dragon roar that seemed to tear the heavens and earth apart.

Young Master Chu stopped and looked at the Overturning Sea Dragon released by Cha Nan, his big eyes shining even brighter.

"dragon?"

"And it's a water dragon?"

"Good! Good! Good!" He was extremely excited and couldn't wait to pounce on Fu Hailong, leaving Cha Nan and the other two behind.

At the same time, the image of Keglitz in Cha Nan's team finally went dark.

It was responsible for drawing Cao Zhengchun's firepower and held him back for so long before being killed, which already shows that this phantom beast has extremely strong resistance to damage.

The door was blown open completely, and Cao Zhengchun rushed out in a fit of rage.

"Boy! How dare you deceive us?" Cao Zhengchun's anger erupted as he glanced around and saw Cha Nan. He unleashed his protective aura and charged towards Cha Nan.

"stop!"

"Gentlemen, why not give this old Taoist priest some face and let this matter rest?" A voice came from the moonlight and stopped on a treetop not far away, its ethereal form swaying slightly with the gentle movement of the leaves.

(End of this chapter)