From a tuberculosis patient to a martial arts master

"Okay, then there's no need to beat around the bush."

Zhang Chengyou sneered, slamming his heavy horse-slaying saber into the ground, the blade sinking more than three inches into the frozen soil.

He had already crushed the incense stick; now he only needed to stall the boy until Zhao Biao and the others arrived, then they would be trapped like turtles in a jar. "You're right, we are indeed here for you." His tone shifted, revealing his murderous intent:

"Today, you must either bind yourself and atone for your sins."

"Or else, don't blame me for wielding this cleaver without mercy!"

Before he could finish speaking, he was met with a flash of cold light.

With a clear, resonant clang, Zhu Hong drew his goose-feather saber from his waist. He moved with the blade, the saber riding the wind, a lightning-fast flash slashing straight at Zhang Chengyou's face. He coldly uttered only two words:

"Tongue-talking."

"What an arrogant brat!"

Zhang Chengyou's face turned ashen, and he roared fiercely, "Today, I will use your dog's head to appease the souls of my brothers who perished in my martial arts school!"

Before his shout had even finished, he suddenly exerted force with his feet, sending several clumps of frozen earth flying. Like a beastman suddenly unleashed, he dragged his thick-backed, door-wide halberd and charged straight forward with a thunderous roar.

There were no fancy tricks or frills.

The opening move was the Zhenyuan Martial Arts School's trump card, the "Broken Mountain Saber" killing move:

A devastating blow!

Although he was merely a mortal, he had already mastered it to an extraordinary degree.

The blade's wind was fierce, carrying immense force as it pressed down upon people. The powerful wind stung their skin, and not only flesh and blood, but even the jagged rocks ten feet high in front of them would be cleaved into flying stone chips by this blade.

Zhu Hong's pupils narrowed slightly.

Its sheer power surpassed Lin Jizhi's.

Although both were at the Lesser Completion stage of the Body Refining realm, Zhang Chengyou had clearly been immersed in this realm for longer. His brute strength had been honed to a solid and substantial level, and he had mastered the ferocity of the "Mountain-Breaking Saber" to its extreme. An ordinary martial artist who had just entered the Body Refining realm would likely be cleaved in two along with the saber if he received a blow from him.

But there was not a trace of fear on his face.

In martial arts competitions, it's never just about the level of skill; it's also about techniques, moves, weaponry, and the ruthlessness in the face of an enemy. With his current strength, which is close to the minor mastery of body refinement, combined with the "Mountain Tiger Fist," he might even be able to fight a martial artist who has reached the major mastery of body refinement, let alone an old martial artist who has been stuck at the minor mastery level for many years.

Now is the perfect time to prove its truth.

"Clang—"

The blades grazed each other, the sound sending shivers down one's spine.

Zhu Hong felt a tingling numbness throughout his right arm, and a dull pain in the web of his hand. His thin goose-feather knife almost slipped from his grasp and flew out of his hand.

No wonder he can hold his position as the head instructor of a martial arts school.

This blow from the mountain-breaking blade was forcibly swung with nearly the force of three stones, and was only inches away from the Great Master Martial Artist.

"Hey kid, where are you looking!"

Before he could catch his breath, Zhang Chengyou's blade, still sharp, swept across again.

Just as the sword was about to strike him.

Zhu Hong suddenly ducked, the blade grazing his scalp, the force of the wind stinging his cheek.

Boom!

The saber cleaved the ground, scattering snow and mud everywhere.

"hide?"

Zhang Chengyou's strike missed, but he immediately flipped his wrist, using the recoil to swing his broadsword horizontally. "Let's see how long you can dodge!"

The blade was broad and carried the force of thunder, severing Zhu Hong's waist and ribs.

There is no way to avoid it.

Zhu Hong stomped his foot, and with a backhand flick of his goose-feather saber, the blade gleaming white, "Draw...sword—slash!"

A cold glint flashed.

It collided violently with the thick, dark blade of the horse-slaying sword.

"clang!"

Where the two blades met, sparks shone on their faces, casting flickering light.

Zhu Hong felt an overwhelming force travel along the blade straight into his arm, his tiger's mouth trembled and went numb, the goose feather knife almost flew out of his hand, and his body involuntarily slid back more than three feet.

"With brute strength, he can suppress anyone he deems 'suppressed'."

He felt a chill run down his spine.

"good!"

Having gained the upper hand, Zhang Chengyou's spirits soared. With a roar, he charged forward, shouting, "Take another strike!"

With a surge of energy from his waist, he swung the saber in his hand like a wheel, creating a dense barrage of blade shadows that enveloped the area of ​​about ten feet around Zhu Hong.

"Five Ding Opened the Mountain".

Before the blade even arrived, the biting wind from it already stung the skin.

Zhu Hong's pupils contracted slightly, and he quickly shifted his feet, retreating repeatedly to barely avoid the blade's edge.

"They do run fast."

A hint of surprise flashed in Zhang Chengyou's eyes, followed by a cold laugh: "Unfortunately, constantly dodging will only prolong your life." With that, he swept his sword horizontally, like a surging sea, cleaving through bamboo diagonally and thrusting straight through the rainbow.

Each move is more urgent than the last, each style faster than the last.

The wind howled.

Like a sudden storm.

The wind from the blade was fierce, and Zhu Hong's footwork became somewhat erratic. He was forced to keep blocking and retreated three or five steps in succession, unable to stop himself.

"really……"

A slight ripple appeared in his eyes, but he did not panic. He simply said, "Relying solely on drawing your sword to fight is still insufficient to defend against the enemy, let alone subdue them."

In the blink of an eye.

He would occasionally thrust out his goose-feather saber, either to parry or to counterattack.

Despite being at a disadvantage, they did not lose their composure.

Like a bamboo stalk in a strong wind, no matter how hard you blow, I will sway and not fall.

"Clang, clang—"

The two had already exchanged dozens of moves.

Zhang Chengyou fought with increasing ferocity, his swordsmanship becoming ever more ruthless, while Zhu Hong remained mostly on the defensive, retreating step by step until he was forced to the edge of a jumble of rocks.

"Kid, you're stuck here, aren't you!"

Zhang Chengyou grinned maliciously, raised his broadsword high, and delivered another heavy blow to the head: "Today is your death anniversary."

Zhu Hong's eyes sharpened, and he stopped joking around.

Testing the knife must be done with moderation.

He took a deep breath, his blood and qi surging like a tide, and with a flick of his goose-feather saber, he sheathed it.

He was completely still and calm.

One foot!

The sword fell.

Zhu Hong moved, his body suddenly lunging forward to meet the descending blade head-on.

Draw your sword.

The goose-feather saber was raised, and its blade clashed with the horse-slaying saber once more.

A tremendous force surged forth, and Zhu Hong almost lost all feeling in his right arm. The goose-feather saber flew out of his hand and landed with a clang three zhang away.

Just as Zhang Chengyou was beaming with joy.

Taking advantage of the moment when the power of the horse-slaying sword diminished, he stepped forward, twisted his body, and rushed into the center gate. With his left hand spread wide, carrying a powerful force, he slammed it hard into Zhang Chengyou's chest.

"Tiger Leaps Over the Ravine!"

Zhang Chengyou was immediately shocked, sensing the ferocity of that punch.

If one were to take the hit head-on, one would surely die.

He dodged to the side with all his might, the fist grazing his chest. Though it didn't hit a vital spot, the force of the blow made him feel a tightness in his chest and his blood surge. He staggered back seven or eight steps, his face filled with horror.

"Where...where did you learn your martial arts?!"

Zhu Hong did not answer.

He merely raised his eyes to look at Zhang Chengyou and said coldly:

"Come!"

Before he finished speaking, he pounced on Zhang Chengyou like a tiger descending a mountain.

Zhang Chengyou was filled with shock and anger. He hastily swung his saber, trying to force the man back, but the fist master used speed to exchange for power, like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey. Zhang Chengyou had difficulty reacting and could only swing his saber for half a crescent before the man arrived.

"Bang!"

A punch landed squarely on Zhang Chengyou's shoulder.

Zhang Chengyou groaned and slumped to one side, nearly falling over.