Republic of China: From Street Performer to War God in a Chaotic Era

"Clang—"

The broadsword struck the corpse demon's nape hard, like hitting raw iron, sending sparks flying.

The Corpse Demon didn't even break its skin. With a backhand swift move, its dark blue claws tore through the wind and snow, directly sweeping the strong martial artist wielding a broadsword away, sword and all.

"Hold on, attack its lower body!" Zhao Linchuan roared.

His body's Qi and blood, which had reached the pinnacle of Ming Jin, had been pushed to their limit.

But in the face of those three hundred-year-old living corpses, the resistance of the group became increasingly futile.

These monsters have been nurtured underground for countless years, their skin and flesh tightly attached to their bones, transforming them into "copper skin and iron bones." Ordinary swords and spears cannot penetrate their defenses.

"No, Senior Brother Zhao, this beast is impossible to kill."

Another disciple of Liuhe Martial Arts School screamed and fell to the ground, his thigh flesh torn off.

The barely maintained formation was on the verge of collapse under the relentless onslaught of the Yin Sha.

The number of casualties increased sharply, and the smell of blood only fueled the ferocity of the corpse demons.

Just when everyone was in despair, the Ming Jin martial artist wielding the nine-ringed saber suddenly awoke from his daze.

He stared intently at the three monsters attacking the area where their vital energy was most abundant, and roared.

"Scatter, all of you scatter."

"These brainless idiots are searching for people by following their vital energy; us gathered together are like torches in the darkness!"

A word to awaken the dreamer.

"Yes, spread them out to buy time. The incense is almost burned out; we should save as many as we can!"

The martial arts students, who were already on the verge of collapse, seemed to have grasped at the last straw. They no longer cared about their formation and scattered like bees from a disturbed nest.

However, the crowd scattered in an instant.

The rampaging three-headed corpse demons paused simultaneously.

Those pairs of pupils without whites all turned towards the corner of the elite formation in the training ground.

There stood a thin boy wearing a faded cotton-padded jacket.

After the crowd dispersed, Lu Guan's vital energy, which had been built to its limit by "Dragon Tendons and Tiger Bones" and top-grade old medicine, shone like a dazzling sun in the icy and snowy landscape.

"roar--"

The three-headed corpse demon let out a roar, abandoning its remaining troops, and transformed into three bluish-black afterimages, rushing towards Lu Guan in a triangular formation.

"Lu Guan, be careful."

Su Ruoxue, who was not far away, exclaimed in surprise.

Faced with the encirclement of three "copper-skinned and iron-boned" monsters, Lu Guan slowly pulled his hands out of his sleeves.

He took a deep breath, his chest bulged, and his spine made a snapping sound like a bowstring breaking.

Just as the claws were about to touch his face, Lu Guan moved.

He took a step forward, bracing himself against the nauseating stench of death.

"boom."

A deep crater was blasted open in the frozen ground beneath our feet.

A powerful, unyielding, and relentless force of pure Yang tiger fist erupted from Lu Guan's body.

In everyone's sight, the boy seemed to instantly transform into a fierce-eyed, white-browed blood tiger leaping out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood.

The Eight Extremes Single-Style Killing Move, reaching its pinnacle... like a fierce tiger climbing a mountain.

Lu Guan's right fist, accompanied by a piercing whistling sound as it tore through the air, slammed into the iron armor on the Corpse Fiend's chest.

"Bang."

A loud bang.

That copper-skinned, iron-boned body, strong enough to shatter a hundred-times-refined steel blade, was as fragile as a biscuit before Lu Guan's punch, which was imbued with fist intent and top-grade Ming Jin.

The armor of the Qing dynasty burst open, the sternum caved inward, and the skin and flesh on his back suddenly exploded, spraying out black blood.

Using the momentum of his forward charge, Lu Guan's elbow struck the corpse demon's chin from below like a heavy hammer.

"Pfft."

The hard skull was smashed to pieces by an elbow strike.

The headless corpse flew backward seven or eight zhang (approximately 33-40 meters) and crashed heavily onto the edge of the command platform, whereupon it fell silent.

One move, instantly killing the century-old corpse demon.

The entire room fell silent.

"Aren't you going to make a move?"

Lu Guan's cold, sharp voice snapped the stunned crowd out of their daze.

"Strike while the iron is hot and kill it."

Zhao Linchuan and several other disciples who had reached the peak of Ming Jin skill realized what was happening, and their morale soared.

Since Lu Guan was able to break through the tortoise shell, the monster is not invincible.

The crowd surged forward, unleashing their ultimate techniques.

Combined with Lu Guan's invincible fist intent, the remaining two corpse demons were completely suppressed.

Before long, it was completely dismantled into countless pieces of bone.

"when--"

A gong sounded.

On the platform, the incense stick used for timing had just burned out its last embers.

"Time's up."

The captain, the examiner, announced loudly.

The fifty or sixty martial arts school disciples who survived collapsed in the muddy snow, panting heavily.

Many people looked at Lu Guan with not only awe but also deep gratitude.

They knew that if Lu Guan hadn't swiftly killed a corpse demon and broken the stalemate, more than a dozen more lives would have been lost on the training ground before the incense burned out.

Thanks to Lu Guan's intervention, the chances of being selected as an external martial arts master have been significantly increased.

"Okay, okay, okay."

On the platform, Feng Changshan called out three times and strode down the steps.

He patted Lu Guan's shoulder with his purplish-red iron palms, his eyes full of admiration.

"As expected of a promising talent who has mastered the essence of boxing, this Bajiquan technique is unparalleled in its power and ferocity, and has deeply grasped the essence of the art."

"From this day forward, all those who survive the third battle will be hired as martial arts instructors by the Military Equipment Department's Special Investigation Division."

After saying that, he took a black iron waist tag that exuded a chilling aura from the adjutant's tray and handed it to Lu Guan.

"Lu Guan, from this moment on, you belong to the Governor's Mansion. If any fool dares to touch you, they are disrespecting the Military Affairs Department!"

Upon hearing this, a collective gasp of astonishment rippled through the surrounding area.

This is tantamount to Governor Feng giving Lu Guan a get-out-of-jail-free card in public.

As soon as the plaque presentation ceremony ended, a group of elderly people flocked to the perimeter of the training ground.

"Young Brother Lu, I am the master of the Tai Chi Sect. If you are willing to become my disciple, I am willing to impart all my knowledge and skills to you."

"The soft and yielding Tai Chi is no match for a fierce tiger like you. Young friend Lu, come to my Iron Sand Sect. I'll reserve a place for you as a direct disciple right now."

These renowned old owners of restaurants in Nanshi surrounded Lu Guantuan like they were grabbing cabbages at a market.

The martial arts instructors hired by the Military Governor's Office's Bureau of Extraordinary Skills were highly sought after, especially since Lu Guan was a peerless genius who had grasped the essence of boxing and had a promising future.

Faced with the olive branch extended to him, Lu Guan remained expressionless and slightly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Thank you all for your kindness. I'm used to a carefree life, and I'm more comfortable staying in the old opera box of the Fuju Troupe. Please don't mention joining the troupe again."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked regretful, but dared not insist on it in front of Feng Changshan, and could only retreat.

……

An hour later, in the west wing of the governor's mansion.

This is the Military Equipment Bureau's Investigation Department, which strikes fear into the hearts of both the underworld and the legitimate world of Tianjin.

Lu Guan followed behind Feng Changshan, stepping into this place for the first time.

As soon as he entered the room, Lu Guan raised an eyebrow slightly.

The layout here exudes a strange and conflicting feeling, making it a monstrous "half-official, half-shaman".

The left half represents the Western style of the new generation during the Republic of China era.

The gleaming terrazzo floor, rows of brand-new wooden tables and chairs, brass telephones hanging on the wall, and several civilian staff members in military uniforms busily searching through the high-ceilinged filing cabinets.

However, the right side seems to have stepped into a gloomy Taoist temple.