Playing with fantasy beasts in the martial arts world

Chapter 214 Taking a Step with Ease, Amidst the Rise and Fall of the Storm
However, the quantitative equality cannot mask the essential qualitative difference.

The moment the two forces collided, the dragon shadow that Cha Nan had condensed quickly dissipated, while the golden light broke through the barrier and crushed in with an even more domineering and powerful posture.

Cha Nan knew very well that the difference between him and a grandmaster was not in skill or the level of martial arts, but in the fact that his attacks did not contain 'will'.

Martial arts techniques refined and executed with willpower as the core, and internal energy released from the body, are not considered to have completely lost control.

Such differences become particularly apparent in high-intensity matches.

With so many grandmasters under his command, Cha Nan had naturally already sparred with many of them and knew how troublesome and terrifying they were.

However, when his subordinates fought against him, even though he had been instructed beforehand not to hold back, they always lacked a certain respect for the masters, resulting in insufficient pressure.

This isn't a problem with the masters under his command, but rather that Cha Nan himself hasn't fully adjusted his mindset. He tried self-suggestion, but it didn't have much effect.

Therefore, even if someone is killed on the spot, it is difficult for them to gain any specific insights after being resurrected.

As the number of sparring sessions increases, the daily progress in martial arts skill becomes almost nonexistent.

What he needs is a battle where he truly gives his all, a contest of wits and strength, not a friendly sparring match where the outcome is already known.

More precisely, what he needs is not meaningless failure, but success against the odds.

The defeat of being crushed by a grandmaster could no longer provide him with motivation.

But right now... it seems like an opportunity.

Shangguan Jin Hong is a very good opponent. He is very strong... but not strong enough to be out of reach, or so strong that Cha Nan cannot touch him.

Perhaps under his pressure, Cha Nan can truly internalize the Wind and Cloud Divine Leg technique and comprehend its meaning.

No sooner said than done, in the blink of an eye, Cha Nan, who had already made his judgment, transformed into a whirlwind and swept away. At this moment, he naturally had to use the martial arts that were most suitable for him and that he was most proficient in to fight his enemy.

The Wind and Cloud Divine Leg Technique is a perfect combination of lightness skill, leg techniques, and body movements. When Cha Nan uses it now, it is like a whirlwind sweeping snowflakes and clouds stretching to the horizon. The leg techniques are both ethereal and elegant, and like a sudden blizzard, seemingly affecting the celestial phenomena.

Such leg techniques are indeed very intimidating.

But he couldn't frighten Shangguan Jin Hong. He remained seated in the sedan chair, not moving an inch. Only the two golden rings converged in the air, making a crisp clanging sound.

As the sound of the collision echoed, the frost and snow melted, the clouds dispersed and the wind stopped... Upon closer inspection, there was no change in the weather or the sudden appearance of frost and snow; it was all just a visual illusion created by Cha Nan's internal energy impacting the air.

Interfering with celestial phenomena with internal energy to create external scenes is a realm that even grandmasters find difficult to reach; one must at least be a great grandmaster.

At this moment, despite being defeated in one move, Cha Nan was not discouraged. Her legs rained down like a torrential downpour, her kicks were as fierce as a whirlwind, and her moves were as unpredictable as clouds.

When the legs and feet move, one can vaguely hear the sounds of dragons and tigers in the wind and clouds.

Cha Nan has begun to try to incorporate some of the secrets of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms into his leg techniques.

He couldn't do it before because his skill level was too low, and his understanding of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms and the Wind and Cloud Divine Leg was not deep enough.

And now... although it's still a long shot, it's no longer absolutely impossible.

Bang!
Cha Nan kicked Shangguan Jin Hong's Dragon and Phoenix Rings with both legs, one to the left and one to the right.

The powerful explosive force sent Cha Nan flying through the air.

If he hadn't repeatedly stomped on the air to dissipate the force, his internal organs would likely have been severely impacted and damaged upon landing.

A roar erupted from Cha Nan's mouth, and his body soared into the air, like a dragon dancing, with overwhelming power and boundless ferocity.

Those legs, like two angry dragons in the clouds, descended from above towards the sedan chair with immense force.

This move has exceeded the limitations of the 'Wind and Cloud Divine Leg' technique that Liang Xiao and others created for him. The Wind and Cloud Divine Leg is a customized martial art based on the Wind and Cloud Martial Body.

But at this moment, the amplification that Cha Nan has gained due to various bonds is far more than just the Wind and Cloud Martial Body.
In short, the original design is no longer able to keep up with the rapid growth of Cha Nan.

This constant adjustment in details is the process by which Cha Nan mastered the "Wind and Cloud Divine Leg" technique and made it his own.

There is never any martial art that is 100% suitable for any one person.

The reason why they can be 100% compatible is because martial arts practitioners constantly summarize and adjust their skills during training and combat, and absorb the essence of other martial arts, thus integrating them into their own style until they reach a state of perfection.

Cha Nan had a lot of help, so some of the processes were simplified, but there are still areas where he needs to hone his skills.

At this moment, Shangguan Jin Hong, who was sitting in the sedan chair, was no longer expressionless.

But he still didn't get up, instead continuing to manipulate the Dragon and Phoenix Mother-Child Rings to fight against Xiang Cha Nan.

His eyes were fixed on Cha Nan, and he had come to regard her as an opponent, not an ant that could be crushed at will.

The wind whipped up the sedan curtain, tearing it to shreds.

A cold wind blew into the sedan chair, allowing Cha Nan to see clearly that Shangguan Jin Hong's lower garments were empty... she actually had no legs.

No wonder someone like Shangguan Jin Hong, who is used to walking and doesn't ride horses or carriages, and only trusts his own two feet, would actually ride in a sedan chair.

Because now he either sits in a wheelchair or in a sedan chair, and for a proud person like him, a sedan chair is always more dignified.

Seeing Shangguan Jin Hong's current condition, he did not stop his powerful shot.

With the infusion of a large amount of true qi and internal force, the wind beneath Cha Nan's feet seemed to take on a physical form, being blasted out one by one, transforming into explosive air masses that crashed towards the surroundings of the sedan chair, rather than Shangguan Jin Hong himself.

Throughout history, duels in the martial arts world have always focused on striking the opponent's weak points.

The vast majority of duels that emphasize so-called 'fairness' are merely people's imaginations.

Shangguan Jin Hong attacked Cha Nan without holding back, despite being of a higher cultivation level.

How could Cha Nan possibly hold back just because Shangguan Jin Hong has lost her legs?
In an instant, gray grass filled the sky, the wind howled like thunder, strong winds blew in all directions, and the roar was incessant.

Despite Shangguan Jin Hong's intervention to stop Cha Nan's violent demolition, the ebony sedan chair inevitably broke apart, leaving only the metal base inside.

Shangguan Jin Hong sat there, the wind constantly blowing against his limp clothes, but his back remained straight.

"So he's a cripple!" Cha Nan sneered frivolously, his words dripping with sarcasm and utterly lacking in manners.

Shangguan Jin Hong remained silent, but her gaze toward Cha Nan was filled with anger.

Jing Wuming abandoned Tang Xiaolan and intended to rush forward to hunt down Cha Nan first.

But he only moved a few steps before retreating to continue his entanglement with Tang Xiaolan.

It wasn't that he was completely unable to get rid of Tang Xiaolan, but rather that Jing Wuming was very clear about Shangguan Jin Hong's personality.

The shame he bears can only be washed away by his own actions.

Of course, Jing Wuming paid the price for these steps. Tang Xiaolan stabbed him in the left shoulder, and blood immediately stained his entire arm.

The dragon and phoenix rings buzzed in the air, intertwining and crashing down fiercely towards Cha Nan once more.

Perhaps because he lost his legs, Shangguan Jin Hong almost completely abandoned close combat, only controlling the twin rings and using his profound internal energy to make them indestructible.

Although Cha Nan suspected there was a trap, the opportunity had arrived, and there was no time to hesitate. He suddenly rushed forward, using his legs as knives, and flipped in mid-air to kick away the Dragon and Phoenix Mother-Child Rings. Then he struck Shangguan Jin Hong with a palm.

Splash!
The sound of machinery turning rang out, and a long, metal-jointed whip flew out from Shangguan Jin Hong's sleeve. The whip swept out, slicing towards Cha Nan's agile and powerful legs.

"There's actually a second weapon!" Cha Nan was shocked. She already knew that Shangguan Jin Hong, despite losing both legs, might not have become weaker; he might even have become stronger.

Cha Nan used the Thousand-Pound Drop technique to land instantly, then executed a bridge maneuver to dodge the lashing metal whip. With both feet firmly on the ground, the companion skill of Anubis' Shadow activated once more.

With his feet firmly planted on the ground, Cha Nan's attack, defense, and evasion were all significantly enhanced.

Therefore, even when Shangguan Jin Hong combined the metal whip in his hand with the dragon and phoenix rings to create a net, Cha Nan could still move freely and easily within it.

Occasionally, Shangguan Jin Hong would use her cunning to set traps and lure Cha Nan into them, intending to kill him with a single blow. However, Cha Nan would cleverly dodge these traps in the moments before death, instead revealing many of Shangguan Jin Hong's weaknesses and bringing the actual distance between the two to within five meters.

Five meters is just one step for a master like Cha Nan, who is known for his speed.

One more step, and I can get into close combat with Shangguan Jin Hong.

No matter what trump cards Shangguan Jin Hong still holds, the loss of his legs always puts him at a natural disadvantage.

However, this step is fraught with danger.

Leaving aside the metal bone whip that has transformed into a net of light, the dragon and phoenix twin rings, in close proximity, collide and push against each other, resulting in bizarre ejections, rotations, and flights that defy many cognitive and mechanical principles.

Once a living person like Cha Nan plunges in, it's like a live fish jumping into a pot of boiling oil, inevitably triggering a huge chain reaction.

Therefore, this one step difference... feels like an insurmountable chasm.

Tap tap tap...!
The metal bone whip was already trembling like waves.

The splashing energy, like countless tiny blades, filled the air, covering all areas of sight.

······
In Xifeng City, Wuqing and Zhuge Zheng have already reunited.

“Teacher, Shi Long is definitely not in Xifeng City!” Wuqing said to Zhuge Zhengwo.

Zhuge Zhengwo sat alone in the empty hall, eating hot pot. He gestured for Wuqing to have a bite, but Wuqing refused.

Zhuge Zhengwo poured a plate of offal into the hot pot, stirred the broth, and calmly said, "I know!"

"Then what will we use to explain ourselves?" Wuqing asked.

"Hasn't someone already provided a solution?" Zhuge Zhengwo said.

"It's just an internal cultivation method that influences the physical body through tempering the spirit. We can produce it ourselves," Zhuge Zhengwo said confidently. His realm was only one step away from becoming a Grandmaster, and his martial arts skills had long reached their peak. Compared to a Grandmaster, he was only lacking an opportunity.

Wuqing paused for a moment before saying, "You did this on purpose!"

“You gave up on the deal with him and even wanted to watch him be killed by the God of Wealth Society.”

Zhuge Zhengwo paused, chopsticks in his hand, then asked without changing his expression, "Why would you think that?"

"Teacher, I can't read your mind!"

"But I'm not stupid!" Wuqing said, turning his wheelchair around to take the people back.

She put aside her affairs in Kyushu Prefecture and was led to Xifeng City, not because the God of Wealth Society's feint attack was so perfect, but because Zhuge Zhengwo invited her by letter, and she had no choice but to come.

Xifeng City is about two hundred miles away from Jiuzhou Prefecture as the crow flies. If she uses some means, she can get back within one or two hours.

"His plan is excellent!"

"But he himself is a weakness! We can't take the risk."

“If he harbors malicious intentions, from now on, he will have all our weaknesses under his control, and we can do whatever we want with him!” Zhuge Zhengwo put down his chopsticks and said.

He turned back without hesitation, and the look in his eyes as he looked at Zhuge Zhengwo seemed very unfamiliar.

"Teacher... In that case, how are we any different from Cai Jing and those treacherous officials who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals?" Wuqing sneered.

Zhuge Zhengwo remained silent for a moment before saying, "We have already contacted the Tang family father and son, and Qi Shaoshang should be able to arrive just in time."

"Why?" Wuqing wondered, unable to see through her teacher's schemes.

They chose to abandon Cha Nan, letting him fall into the trap of the God of Wealth Society, yet they tacitly allowed Qi Shaoshang to contact the Tang family father and son, providing Cha Nan with some assistance.

This is really too contradictory.

However, this time Zhuge Zhengwo did not explain, and only the bubbling sound of the hot pot cooking remained in the hall.

······
Outside Kyushu Prefecture, dawn was breaking but the stars and moon in the sky had already dimmed.

Cha Nan still hasn't taken that step. If he continues to delay, he will be pushed further away, and all the favorable conditions he created with his previous actions will be lost.

A powerful master like Shangguan Jin Hong would never give him the same chance a second time.

He has to make a choice!

He took a deep breath, expelling a large amount of internal energy, which transformed into swirling wind and ethereal mist that enveloped his body.

Empty your mind of all thoughts, stop scheming and calculating, and release the instincts that have been suppressed by reason.

With each step, his movements and agility were pushed to limits unimaginable to ordinary people in the martial arts world.

Is it fast?

It's not just about being fast!

It's more like a person vanishing into nothingness in an instant.

The colliding and overlapping dragon and phoenix rings, along with the impact of the whip that resembled golden waves, all struck Cha Nan's 'body', but without causing him any substantial harm.

He seemed to have truly transformed into the wind, losing his fixed form; he transformed into the clouds, losing his permanent shape.

What appears to be a calm step, if examined closely, is actually a rapid, brief, and swift back-and-forth leap and flash in a very short instant.

The truth deceived the eyes, penetrating the impenetrable walls of defense.

Just like even the sturdiest prison cell can't stop the wind from getting in.

At this moment, Cha Nan's Wind and Cloud Divine Leg technique finally reached a state of complete mastery, merging with the artistic conception and becoming his own.

He is no longer just a porter.

The Wind and Cloud Divine Leg... truly possessed the power of 'divine'.

After walking one step, Cha Nan and Shangguan Jin Hong were almost face to face.

Just then, Shangguan Jin Hong smiled slightly, a strange, seemingly hearty smile appearing on his usually cold and hard face.

That smile left Cha Nan momentarily stunned.

Then, a strange cold sweat broke out all over my back.

Shangguan Jin Hong took the initiative to pull open the metal base beneath her.

A dense array of metal pipes, stacked like a honeycomb, were revealed, and countless tiny needles burst open, shooting towards Cha Nan, who was standing nearby.

wind!
Cha Nan didn't even have time to move her legs before her hands retreated forward. But she no longer used the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms; instead, she used the power of the wind, the rhythm of the wind, and the breath of the wind!

(End of this chapter)