pertwk Chapter 84 Fist Overwhelms Zhang Lingyu
Chapter 84 Fist Overwhelms Zhang Lingyu
Chapter 84 Fist Overwhelms Zhang Lingyu
"It's just... just like the domineering presence of male protagonists in novels!" The refined man pushed up his glasses and muttered to himself, his tone carrying a hint of infectious excitement.
"What imposing presence! What arrogance!" Xiao Huohuo's eyes widened, her breathing quickened, as if she were seeing the image of a powerful figure she had always imagined. "Is this the demeanor of a true powerhouse?"
"We—we and him are on completely different levels!" The burly man subconsciously took a small step back, his anger replaced by a sense of self-conscious bewilderment.
Zhang Chulan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze continuing to sweep over the three wavering figures with disdain. His tone shifted to a profound, lecturing tone: "Even if you are as weak as you are, you still have the courage to face the strong and strive forward! That is the awareness to find a glimmer of hope for becoming stronger even in dire straits! But you—" He shook his head, his tone filled with regret and disdain, "From the moment you chose to band together for warmth and bully the weak with numbers, you already abandoned your dignity and potential as cultivators!"
He extended his right hand, palm up, and beckoned to the three of them with a finger, his gesture filled with utter contempt: "Come on! Since you're willing to be ants, then crawl over here with us!"
"I will give you—the most pathetic defeat befitting your ant-like status!"
The burly man, his face flushed with rage from these words, growled, "What do we do! Let's go! We can't let him continue to be so arrogant!"
The refined-looking man's eyes flickered, clearly he was also weighing his options, but he said aloud, "You—you go first! I'll provide backup!"
Just as the two were hesitating and shifting blame to each other...
"Wait!" Xiao Huohuo suddenly shouted, stretching out his arms to block the two of them!
"What are you doing?!" The burly man and the refined man were both taken aback and looked at him in confusion.
Ignoring them, Xiao Huohuo turned around and stared intently at Zhang Chulan, who still maintained his superior demeanor. His chest heaved, and a mixture of excitement, shame, and determination appeared on his face: "Zhang Chulan! Thank you! You've woken me up!"
He turned abruptly and solemnly addressed his two temporary "allies": "Excuse me, gentlemen! Please allow me—to challenge Zhang Chulan one-on-one!"
""
"What?!" The two were stunned.
Xiao Huohuo took a deep breath, his voice booming as if declaring to the entire audience: "I came to participate in this Luo Tian Grand Ceremony not for some vague and unattainable victory! But to prove! To prove the insurmountable gap between myself and the truly strong!"
He clenched his fists, his eyes resolute: "Therefore, I must uphold my dignity as a challenger! To outnumber someone is an dishonorable victory! Even in defeat, I must lose with honor!"
"Challenger?" Zhang Chulan raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying just the right amount of amusement and skepticism. "Such a glorious identity—can it be obtained without paying any price, just by talking?"
He snorted coldly, then suddenly sat cross-legged on the ground and closed his eyes.
"He actually sat down!" the burly man exclaimed in surprise.
"Completely—completely disregarding us!" The refined man's expression also turned ugly.
Zhang Chulan's voice came calmly, yet carried an undeniable sense of authority: "If you want to challenge me—then first prove that you are the strongest among the three of you!"
Go prove yourself!
"Go prove yourself—that you deserve to face the source stream!"
He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping over the three people in turn. His voice suddenly rose: "It's you?"
"Is it you?"
"Still you?"
"Let me know—who among you is it!"
"Who is worthy to fight me to the death!"
"Who—is worthy to receive the baptism of the Body Source Stream?!"
The last two sentences struck the hearts of the three men like the resounding beat of war drums.
My blood boiled instantly!
"It's me!!" The burly man was the first to shout, his muscles bulging and his aura surging!
"No! It's me!!" Xiao Huohuo refused to back down, his eyes burning with fighting spirit!
"Hmph! The path of the strong is not for you to monopolize!" The refined man also abandoned his reserve, and his gaze behind his glasses became sharp!
"Bang!" "Crack!" "Boom!"
Without the slightest hesitation, the three instantly abandoned their temporary alliance against Zhang Chulan and roared as they engaged in a chaotic battle!
The force of punches and kicks was intense, and the scene was quite "intense".
Feng Baobao in the spectator area next door: "————" (Still expressionless)
Lu Linglong: "————" (Covering her mouth, her shoulders shaking)
Lu Lin: "————"
(His lips twitched slightly, and he remained silent for a moment.)
Feng Xingtong rubbed his forehead and muttered under his breath, "This guy—it's such a waste of his talent that he's not a pyramid scheme leader or a self-help lecturer."
The three engaged in a fierce battle, creating quite a spectacle. In the end, perhaps driven by a more stubborn belief, or perhaps having been thoroughly fooled, Xiao Huohuo, after paying the price of a bruised and battered face, managed to knock both the burly man and the refined gentleman out of the arena!
He was panting heavily, his body covered in bruises, but he forced himself to stand upright, his gaze burning as he looked at Zhang Chulan, who remained seated with his eyes closed. His voice was hoarse with excitement and exhaustion: "Zhang Chulan! I did it! I've earned the qualification to be a challenger!"
He took a deep breath and assumed his most serious starting stance: "Come on! This is my respect for the predecessor who created that astonishing technique! This is my sincerity! Let me experience your Body Source Flow!"
Zhang Chulan finally opened his eyes and looked at his wounded but bright-eyed opponent, a profound and approving expression on his face.
"Sit down," he commanded calmly.
"Huh?" Xiao Huohuo was taken aback.
"Calm down the turbulent energy within you and get yourself back to your best condition." Zhang Chulan's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority. "Right now, your energy is agitated and your stamina is insufficient. I will not make a move. That would be an insult to the 'Qi Body Source Flow' and a disregard for your challenger's spirit."
Xiao Huohuo was stunned. Then, a huge wave of emotion and the warmth of being "respected" surged into his heart, making his eyes well up with tears.
He nodded vigorously, said no more, immediately sat down cross-legged, and began to focus all his energy on regulating his breathing to calm his turbulent blood and disordered breath.
"Zhang Chulan—" he murmured, his voice filled with sincere admiration as he circulated his internal energy. "Hehe—victory or defeat is no longer important. To be able to compete with an opponent like you is already an honor. Zhang Chulan—thank you!"
He was completely immersed in a sublime feeling of "meeting a kindred spirit/a worthy opponent," and relaxed both physically and mentally to fully recover.
However, just as his breathing gradually calmed down and his mind was at its most vulnerable, Zhang Chulan made a move.
He slowly took off the tattered cloak that looked like a ghost, tossed it aside, then stood up and dusted off his trousers.
Under Xiao Huohuo's astonished gaze, Zhang Chulan strolled leisurely to him.
Then, Zhang Chulan raised his head, gave the referee from Longhu Mountain, whose mouth was already twitching on the platform, an extremely "innocent" smile, and asked loudly, "Referee, may I ask—if I hit him now, is it a foul?"
The referee from Longhushan looked at him expressionlessly, remained silent for two seconds, and then squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth: "No foul."
.
He paused, then added, his voice tinged with an barely suppressed urge to intervene personally: "However, Zhang Chulan, I must tell you—right now, I want to slap you."
Zhang Chulan seemed not to have heard the second half of the sentence, nodded in satisfaction, and turned his gaze back to Xiao Huohuo, who was completely dumbfounded.
The emotion and relief on Xiao Huohuo's face froze instantly, turning into incredulous horror: "Huh?! Wait! Zhang Chulan! You—you said you'd wait until I recovered before making your move? What you just said—"
The dignity of the strong, the respect of the opponents —
Zhang Chulan rubbed his wrist, and the "innocent" smile on his face gradually turned into a roguish one. He bent down, leaned close to Xiao Huohuo, and said with a chuckle in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "The dignity of the strong? How much is that stuff worth per pound? It's just a bunch of guys who worship violence and are obsessed with saving face, using fancy words to glorify themselves."
He straightened up, cracked his fists, stretched his neck, and his voice returned to normal volume, yet carried a cynical clarity: "True dignity has nothing to do with strength or weakness. That's something far more precious, and it wouldn't be flaunted in such a cheap setting."
As soon as the words fell—
"Bang! Bang! Thud! Smack! Ouch!"
Zhang Chulan's fists and feet rained down on Xiao Huohuo, who was powerless to resist and hadn't even recovered from this shocking reversal.
The atmosphere was at one point very "friendly".
"Zhang Chulan! You son of a bitch! **! **!" Xiao Huohuo let out a final roar, a mixture of pain, anger, and immense frustration, before everything went black and he was swiftly and decisively "sent" off the field.
"By the White Tiger Group, Zhang Chulan is the winner—" The referee announced the result almost through gritted teeth, his voice filled with complex emotions.
After a brief silence, various sounds erupted from the stands.
"Pah! What a piece of crap! **!"
"Holy crap! This even works?!"
"Hahaha! That's great! Zhang Chulan! Shameless enough! I like it!"
"This is incredible—I'm impressed!"
Disdainful, instigating, gossiping, and even somewhat appreciative cheers mingled together, creating a deafening uproar.
"Hahahahaha—!!!"
Next door, Lu Linglong was doubled over with laughter, pounding Feng Xingtong's shoulder. Feng Xingtong was also laughing hysterically, tears welling in her eyes: "I can't take it anymore! My stomach hurts! That Chu Lan—hahahaha! How did he come up with this?!"
Amidst the commotion, Zhang Chulan casually straightened his clothes and strolled back to the spectator area, his signature, slightly irritating smile still on his face.
"Chu Lan," Lu Linglong finally managed to stop laughing, wiping her eyes as she gave him a thumbs up, "I'm impressed! I'm truly impressed!"
"Hey," Zhang Chulan scratched his head, giving a look that said, "I'm forced into this situation too," and lowered his voice, "I can't help it. Look at those three—their size and their eyes. If they ganged up on me, I'd definitely be beaten to a pulp. I can only—"
"They've resorted to this desperate measure."
He spoke frankly, showing no trace of the "arrogant, domineering, cool, and cocky" demeanor he displayed on the field just now, as if the guy who had just tricked his opponent and then easily picked up the scraps was not him at all.
Lu Linglong looked at him, laughed again, and shook her head. This Luo Tian Grand Ceremony was indeed much more interesting than she had imagined. And Zhang Chulan's reputation as a "shameless fool" would probably be firmly established from today onwards.
While everyone was still laughing and joking about Zhang Chulan's "shocking" way of winning, Feng Baobao, who had been standing quietly to the side, suddenly took out her old-fashioned cell phone from her pocket.
The screen lit up and started vibrating.
She answered the phone, listened for a moment with a blank expression, and only replied with one word: "Hmm."
After hanging up the phone, she looked at Zhang Chulan and Lu Linglong and announced in a flat tone, "Xu San wants us to come over."
After saying that, he turned and walked in a certain direction, clearly assuming that the two would follow.
Zhang Chulan shrugged and lifted his foot to follow.
only-
"Wait." A hand with distinct knuckles, steady and strong, gently pressed on Lu Linglong's shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.
Lu Linglong turned around and met Lu Lin's unquestionable eyes.
"Where else do you want to go?" Lu Lin's tone was calm, but carried the unique, unyielding authority of an older brother.
He turned to look at Feng Baobao, who had stopped and was looking back, and said simply, "I'll take her with me. You can do as you please."
Feng Baobao glanced at Lu Lin, then at Lu Linglong, made no comment, simply nodded, and continued walking forward.
Zhang Chulan gave Lu Linglong a "good luck" look and quickly followed Feng Baobao.
Helpless, Lu Linglong could only call out to their retreating figures, "Baby, Chu Lan! You two go first! I'll come find you later!"
The group then dispersed temporarily.
Led by Lu Lin, Lu Linglong walked through the bustling crowd and headed straight for a viewing platform on the back mountain with a high elevation and a wide view.
That was also where the Ten Elders and the high-ranking officials of the Celestial Master's Mansion rested and overlooked the entire scene.
At that moment, Lu Jin was standing by the railing of the high platform with Zhang Zhiwei and several other members of the Ten Elders who had arrived. They were looking down at the intense competition in the various venues below and talking in hushed tones.
His gaze was originally fixed on the distance, but as if sensing something, he turned his head slightly and caught sight of Lu Lin walking towards him from afar, and—Lu Linglong beside him.
A clear look of surprise flashed across Lu Jin's eyes; she obviously hadn't expected to see her great-granddaughter here.
He immediately turned around and apologized to Zhang Zhiwei and the other Ten Elders beside him, saying, "Master, gentlemen, please excuse me for a moment."
Zhang Zhiwei followed his gaze and saw the two approaching. His long, snow-white eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly before he resumed his gentle smile: "Brother Lu, please go ahead. Business is important."
Lu Jin said no more, but gave Lu Lin a wink, signaling him to take Lu Linglong and follow.
Instead of returning to the high platform, the three of them walked to a more secluded corner behind the viewing platform, hidden by rocks.
After stopping, Lu Jin's gaze first fell on Lu Linglong. His brows furrowed slightly, and his tone carried a mixture of confusion and barely perceptible concern: "Linglong, what are you doing here?"
Lu Linglong was prepared. She blinked and gave a well-behaved yet slightly smug smile: "Grandpa, I only recently—well, by chance—came into this circle. I heard there was such a lively event here, so I thought I'd come and broaden my horizons and join in the fun."
"A coincidence?" Lu Jin repeated the word, his eyes sharpening. "Which sect did you join? Who was your master? When did you begin your cultivation?"
"This—" Lu Linglong hesitated slightly, then, recalling what she had told Wang Ye and the others, she repeated, "My master—he calls himself the Recluse of Penglai," a wandering hermit. About a year ago—he instructed me on some rudimentary methods of cultivation."
"A year ago? After that family gathering?" Lu Jin immediately made the connection.
Lu Linglong nodded.
"Great-Grandpa," Lu Lin spoke up at the right moment, with a hint of reminder, "Linglong—she's at the North China branch of Dudu Tong now."
"It's not exactly official employment," Lu Linglong quickly added, waving her hand. "I'm just given a nominal position, like an unofficial employee. Uncle Xu and my third and fourth brothers have been quite kind to me, so I'm kind of—well, a senior temporary worker?"
Lu Jin remained silent for a moment, the seriousness on his face not completely gone, but the sharpness in his eyes softened slightly.
He said slowly, "It's alright. Since you're not a disciple of my Three Truths School, as long as you don't get too involved and follow the rules, the company shouldn't deliberately cause you trouble."
He looked at Lu Lin and instructed, "Lu Lin, take good care of Linglong these next few days. Swords and blades have no eyes during the competition; don't let her get really hurt. As for the rest—"
His gaze returned to Lu Linglong. "It's not too late to talk about it after this Luo Tian Grand Ceremony is over."
He paused, then added, his tone leaving no room for argument: "Linglong, when you return, be sure to tell your master, the Hermit of Penglai, that I, Lu Jin, wish to meet him. It's nothing more than a personal thank you for his guidance, and also—to ask him a few questions. Please ask him to make time to meet with me."
Lu Linglong felt a little flustered, but she obediently replied, "Yes, Great-Grandpa, I've got it."
"Go." Lu Jin waved his hand, his expression returning to its usual calm, though a complex thought still lingered deep in his eyes. "The Luo Tian Grand Ceremony is indeed a rare and grand event; it's good to see more of it. Just remember to act within your capabilities and don't be overconfident or competitive."
"I understand, Great-Grandpa." Lu Linglong nodded earnestly.
Emerging from the secluded spot, Lu Linglong parted ways with Lu Lin and headed alone in the direction she had agreed upon with Feng Baobao and the others.
When she returned to the area, the first round of the chaotic selection was nearing its end.
On the sidelines, the disciples of Longhu Mountain were busy tallying the results and gathering the winning contestants back together.
Soon, the thirty-one contestants who had stood out from their respective groups were gathered in an open space.
An old Taoist priest with white hair and beard and a solemn expression stood in front of him, with a new wooden box covered with talismans in front of him.
"The first round of selection is over. Congratulations on advancing!" The old Taoist's voice boomed. "Next, the formal one-on-one matches will be held tomorrow. The rules are largely the same as before: losers are eliminated, and winners advance, until the final winner is determined. Now, please come forward and draw lots to determine your opponents."
The finalists stepped forward in turn, each with a different expression: some were excited, some were solemn, and some were expressionless.
Lu Linglong followed the group to the wooden crate, reached inside, and her fingertips touched the cold paper.
She randomly picked out a card, held it up to her eyes, and unfolded it to reveal a blank page.
"Huh?" She paused for a moment, then subconsciously flipped it over to look at the back, which was still completely blank.
The Longhu Mountain disciple in charge of registration peeked at the slip of paper in her hand, a hint of surprise on his face. He then explained in a businesslike manner, "Congratulations, junior sister, you've drawn a bye. You don't need to participate in this round of competition; you'll proceed directly to the next round."
"Huh?" Lu Linglong blinked, somewhat taken aback. She'd advanced directly? Was her luck that good?
Meanwhile, Zhang Chulan, who had just finished drawing lots, was looking down at the slip of paper in his hand, on which a name and a venue number were clearly written.
His expression instantly became quite interesting, a mixture of surprise, headache, and a hint of "I knew it" helplessness.
He looked up and met Lu Linglong's gaze. He waved the note in his hand, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, and silently mouthed, "Shan, Shi, Tong."
Seeing this, Lu Linglong couldn't help but smile.
That evening, the guesthouse arranged by Longhushan for the participants and related visitors was quiet and peaceful.
The mountain night breeze, carrying a chill, drifted through the corridors, emitting a soft whistling sound.
Lu Linglong and Feng Baobao were assigned to the same guest room.
After a long day of running around and competing, Lu Linglong was already exhausted. After washing up, she fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow, her breathing even and long.
It was late at night.
Lu Linglong, half asleep, vaguely sensed a very slight rustling sound coming from the bed next to her, as well as the subtle rustling of fabric.
She struggled to open her heavy eyelids and, by the dim moonlight streaming in from the window, saw that Feng Baobao was already dressed and even had her ever-present baseball cap properly on.
"Baby? You—?" Lu Linglong mumbled, still not completely awake.
Feng Baobao turned her head at the sound. Her face was expressionless in the moonlight, but her eyes were so clear that she didn't seem to have just woken up from a dream.
She walked to Lu Linglong's bedside, reached out and gently pulled up the thin blanket that Lu Linglong had unconsciously kicked off, carefully covering the corners of the blanket. The mountain breeze carried a chill.
"I have something to do, I need to go out for a bit," Feng Baobao said in her flat, low voice. "You can continue sleeping."
After saying that, she didn't linger and turned to walk to the window of the room. The window was an old-fashioned wooden lattice window, which was not completely locked.
She reached out and gently pushed open a crack, her figure sliding out silently like a weightless shadow. Then, she closed the window again from the outside, the whole process so fast that it was almost silent.
Lu Linglong propped herself up, looked at the window that had returned to silence, blinked, and her lingering sleepiness was replaced by curiosity.
What's Bao'er doing all this late at night, all mysterious?
However, considering that Feng Baobao's actions were always unpredictable and that the other party clearly did not intend to call her, Lu Linglong did not think too much about it, lay down again, wrapped herself tightly in the quilt, and soon fell asleep again.
Until late at night, she couldn't say exactly what time it was, on the verge of falling asleep, she vaguely felt a very slight movement coming from the direction of the window, followed by a familiar scent approaching, and then the almost negligible sound of someone lying down on another bed.
the next day.
The competition proceeded as scheduled.
When it was Zhang Chulan's turn to face Shan Shitong, to everyone's surprise, Shan Shitong was absent!
After the referee called out repeatedly without response, he ruled that Zhang Chulan had won, in accordance with the rules!
The audience erupted in uproar, with all sorts of speculations and discussions going on.
Shan Shitong is a well-known and skilled fighter among the younger generation, so why would he retreat without a fight?
Only Zhang Chulan stood in the center of the room, his expression calm as he faced the doubtful or disdainful gazes of the crowd.
Lu Linglong then realized what Bao'er had been doing last night. She really had gone to bury someone. Lu Linglong had previously thought that Bao'er's repeated claims of "I went to bury someone" were just a joke.
Afterwards, Zhang Chulan was summoned by Tian Jinzhong, the advisor of the Celestial Master's Mansion, to meet his relatives and have a chat. He also experienced the absurd incident of being chased by a group of overly curious supernatural beings who wanted to see his "virginity mark" and penis. After getting drunk, he "stole his bird" under the moonlight to prove his innocence.
Day three.
As dawn broke, the group, still hungover, managed to muster their energy in the fresh air of Longhu Mountain and gradually arrived at the competition venue.
After the first two rounds of selection, there were not many contestants left, and the atmosphere became increasingly tense.
Just as they reached the vicinity of the venue entrance, the sharp-eyed Feng Xingtong pointed ahead and exclaimed, "Look over there!"
On the smooth, gray-white wall to one side of the entrance, a striking red paper was prominently displayed, with the matchup of the sixteen advancing contestants written in neat calligraphy!
The crowd immediately gathered around, their eyes quickly scanning the names.
Zhang Chulan – Tang Wenlong; Lu Linglong – Zhang Lingyu; Wang Ye – Lu Lin; Feng Baobao – Zhuge Qing. "Good heavens!" Xu Si, cigarette dangling from his lips, squinted for a moment, then exhaled a smoke ring. "This matchup—was it decided by those Ten Elders yesterday through a draw? Haha, all tough battles! None of them are easy to deal with!"
The first match began quickly, with Zhang Chulan facing off against Tang Wenlong from the Tang Clan of Sichuan.
Contrary to many people's expectations, Zhang Chulan did not use any "underhanded tactics" in this match.
Faced with the Tang Clan's exquisite hidden weapons and poison skills, he displayed a solid and sharp true strength that was completely different from his previous "clown" image!
With lightning-fast movements and precise timing, he cleanly and decisively knocked Tang Wenlong out of the arena with a series of fluid and powerful attacks in just one minute, securing a clean victory!
The audience was shocked!
It was only at this point that many people realized the truth.
"This guy—he's incredibly good at hiding!"
"Was it all an act before?"
Moreover, it turns out that Shan Shitong's avoidance of battle that day was not because Zhang Chulan had some trick up his sleeve, but because earlier, Zhang Chulan had already defeated Shan Shitong with his own strength on a night when no one knew about it!
The other party naturally had no face left to go on stage and humiliate themselves.
Next up is the second highlight of the day—
Zhang Lingyu versus Lu Linglong!
Once the match schedule was released, almost everyone thought it would be a one-sided affair.
On one side is Zhang Lingyu, the most outstanding young talent of Longhu Mountain, a master who personally passed down his high-level skills, and whose cultivation is unfathomable.
On the other side was Lu Linglong, an unknown player who only advanced to the next round by luck.
Aside from Zhang Lingyu's easy victory, people really couldn't think of any other possibility.
On the high platform.
Zhang Zhiwei stroked his long beard, his gaze falling on Lu Linglong as she slowly walked into the arena. He turned to Lu Jin beside him and smiled, "Old Lu, is that little girl down there your child? She looks unfamiliar."
"Yes," Lu Jin nodded calmly, "Her name is Linglong, she's my great-granddaughter. She's new to this industry and has a lively personality. She came here with her company to broaden her horizons. Unexpectedly, she had some bad luck and ran into Lingyu." His tone was devoid of much emotion.
"Hahaha," Zhang Zhiwei chuckled, "It's alright, it's good for young people to have more experience. I've already told Lingyu to be careful and not to hurt Linglong."
Upon hearing this, Lu Jin glanced at Zhang Zhiwei and snorted irritably, "That's good. I'll also tell Lu Lin to go easy on Ling Yu tomorrow."
"Please don't, let Lingyu see that there are always people more capable than you." Zhang Zhiwei's smile remained unchanged.
Upon hearing this, Lu Lin, who was standing behind Lu Jin, stepped forward half a step, bowed slightly, and said in a humble yet steady tone: "Master is too kind. Master Lingyu's cultivation is profound, and I was only fortunate enough not to encounter any strong opponents in the first two rounds. If I were to truly face Master Lingyu, the outcome would be very close, and I have no absolute certainty of victory."
Zhang Zhiwei's gaze lingered on Lu Lin for a moment, a glint of unfathomable light flashing in his seemingly cloudy old eyes. He then chuckled and said, "Is that so? Perhaps my eyes are failing me. I'm getting old, and I can't even judge people properly anymore."
The other side of the stands.
Zhang Chulan, Xu San, Xu Si, Feng Xingtong, Feng Baobao, and others also gathered together.
"Third Brother, Fourth Brother," Zhang Chulan looked at the two who had already taken their positions in the arena and couldn't help but ask, "Do you think—Linglong can win?"
Although he had heard that Lu Linglong had knocked out Hu Jie with one punch, his opponent was Zhang Lingyu after all! The face of the younger generation of Longhu Mountain!
Before Xu San and Xu Si could answer, Feng Xingtong next to them shook his head repeatedly: "How could they possibly win? That's Master Lingyu!"
She's widely recognized as a top figure among the younger generation! Although Linglong is—well, a bit special—she's still far behind Master Lingyu!
Xu Si raised his hand and lightly patted Feng Xingtong on the back of the head, laughing and scolding, "You little brat, what do you know! Just watch. Forget about real or fake people, in front of this young lady, dragons have to coil up, and tigers have to lie low!"
"Huh?" Feng Xingtong covered her head, looking incredulous. "Fourth Brother, are you kidding me?"
"Are you kidding me?" Xu Si said, a cigarette dangling from his lips, but his eyes were full of confidence. "This round is a sure win."
Feng Baobao, who had been silent until now, suddenly nodded and echoed in her flat tone, "Yeah, super steady."
Zhang Chulan was taken aback. He glanced at Xu Si, then at Feng Baobao, a question forming in his mind. Linglong—is she really that strong? Even Baobao said so?
In the field.
The two stood facing each other.
Zhang Lingyu, dressed in an elegant Taoist robe, possessed a refined and otherworldly air, like a celestial being banished from the moon.
He nodded slightly to Lu Linglong, his tone calm and even: "Miss Lu, please."
He paused, seemingly remembering his master's instructions, and added, "My master told me that, out of respect for Master Lu, I will be careful not to hurt you."
Lu Linglong: "————"
She was speechless for a moment.
Zhang Lingyu spoke with utmost seriousness, entirely out of good intentions and to obey his master's orders, but to the ear, it sounded so—so blunt that it was both laughable and pathetic.
This low-EQ "consideration" really fits his "aloof" persona.
She let out a soft breath, her expression turning serious. She cupped her hands towards Zhang Lingyu and said, "Master Lingyu, there's no need for that. I will take this battle seriously and give it my all. If Master Lingyu holds back and loses the match due to carelessness, then it will be my fault."
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Zhang Lingyu's clear eyes, which then turned into pure seriousness.
He nodded: "I see. Since Miss Lu is so sincere in offering her guidance, then Lingyu will naturally do her best to show respect."
"That's good."
Lu Linglong's gaze was clear and focused as she looked at Zhang Lingyu opposite her. Her clear voice rang out in the room: "Greetings."
Under the watchful eyes of everyone.
The moment she finished speaking, she moved.
There was no fancy opening move, no explosive surge, he simply took a step and walked towards Zhang Lingyu.
One step, two steps — the steps were steady and even.
Immediately afterwards, her speed increased dramatically!
From walking to running, and then from running to rushing forward, it became a streak of speed that almost left a trail of afterimages!
The pink umbrella's shadow swept past her, tearing the air apart with a short, sharp whistle!
On the other side, although Zhang Lingyu had given up the idea of "showing mercy" because of Lu Linglong's words, deep down, he still had a sense of common sense about this unknown Lu family girl—she might have some talent, but her cultivation was still young, and she should be good at skills or tricks.
He was slightly surprised to see that his opponent had chosen such a direct and straightforward frontal attack, but his hands did not slow down at all.
"The profound origin of heaven and earth, the root of all vital energy—"
A cool incantation flowed from his lips, and the pure and mellow innate energy within his body responded in response. In an instant, a dazzling, solid, amber-like golden light emanated from his body and quickly covered his entire body!
The Golden Light Mantra, the fundamental protective technique of Longhu Mountain, when wielded by him, truly resembled a golden casting or jade carving, its brilliance restrained yet indestructible, making him appear like a golden-armored deity, with a solemn and dignified appearance.
However, just as the Golden Light Mantra was formed and completely protected Zhang Lingyu, Lu Linglong's figure appeared in front of him like a ghost, passing through the short distance between them!
Her right fist, however, was like a cannonball fired from a gun, carrying a savage, unreasonable, and pure sense of power, and without any fancy moves, it slammed solidly into the layer of golden light on Zhang Lingyu's chest!
"boom-!!!"
A deafening roar, as deep as a thunderclap, resounded like two iron mountains colliding! A violent shockwave erupted from the point of contact between the fist and the golden light, whipping up dust that surged outwards!
Zhang Lingyu, who had been calm and even relaxed, suddenly changed his expression the moment they made contact!
No! This feel—this force—is completely wrong!
The anticipated scene of "metal and stone clashing, the opponent being forced back by the recoil" did not occur.
What came from the fist was not the "hard resistance" that ordinary superhumans felt when attacking the Golden Light Spell, but a heavy, condensed, and seemingly powerful force containing some unique "spell-breaking" attribute!
The power did not disperse and impact, but rather concentrated at a single point, drilling and chiseling wildly, and even carrying a strange vibration that caused his internal energy to stagnate slightly!
"Hmm!"
Zhang Lingyu groaned, feeling as if an invisible hammer had struck her chest!
The protective golden light, at seventy percent of its power, cracked under the weight of this punch, though the sound was faint, it was clearly audible!
He was uncontrollably pushed backward by this enormous force!
Despite pressing their feet firmly against the ground, they were still unable to completely release the force, leaving two deep grooves several meters long in the hard, specially made stone slabs!
Gravel flew everywhere!
Caught off guard, he suffered a real loss!
When he finally managed to steady himself and looked down at his chest, his pupils constricted slightly.
On the golden light protective layer that was originally radiant, perfectly round, and like solid amber, a fine, spiderweb-like crack suddenly spread out from the point where the fist had landed!
Although the golden light was not completely shattered and was still slowly circulating and repairing itself, this sight was enough to make those who knew Zhang Lingyu's strength gasp in shock!
Lu Linglong struck successfully but did not pursue.
She stood with her fist clenched, her breathing steady, as if that earth-shattering punch had been delivered casually.
She looked up at Zhang Lingyu, whose expression had changed drastically, and calmly reminded him, "Master Lingyu, next time, I won't hold back."
These words shocked the entire audience!
Feng Xingtong and Zhang Chulan were both stunned. Who was the real challenger?!
After a brief silence, exclamations and discussions erupted like boiling oil in a frying pan!
"How could this be?!"
"My God! What did I just see? That Lu Linglong—she shattered Lingyu Zhenren's Golden Light Mantra with a single punch?!"
"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible! Master Lingyu's Golden Light Mantra is incredibly powerful! He must have been careless and didn't unleash his full power!"
On the high platform.
Zhang Zhiwei, who had been stroking his beard and watching the battle, had a glint of light flash in his seemingly dim old eyes.
He slowly lowered his hand from his beard, tilted his head slightly, glanced at Lu Jin beside him whose expression seemed calm but whose lips twitched slightly, and let out a meaningful "whoosh," drawing out the words: "Old Lu, you really are—a man of few words."
Lu Jin: "————"
He remained outwardly calm, but his heart was in turmoil.
Although Linglong's punch seemed insignificant to him, don't forget that Lu Linglong has only been practicing cultivation for less than a year... Reaching this level in just one year... Who exactly is that Penglai Hermit?
He suddenly realized that his earlier request to "please make time to meet" might have been too polite.
This "recluse of Penglai" is probably far more than just an ordinary hermit. And just how many secrets does my great-granddaughter still hold?
He looked at Lu Lin, only to see that Lu Lin also looked shocked and shook her head at him.
In the arena, Zhang Lingyu took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the surging blood and qi in his chest.
He glanced down at the golden light on his chest, which was slowly being repaired but whose cracks were still clearly visible. When he looked up at Lu Linglong, who was calm and composed, the last trace of indifference and care in his eyes had completely disappeared. In its place was an unprecedented solemnity.
He slowly raised his hands, and tiny arcs of black lightning began to leap and converge at his fingertips, sending a faint, tingling tremor through the air.
"Miss Lu—impressive skills." Zhang Lingyu's voice remained cold, yet carried a metallic edge. "I was overconfident. Now, please be careful; I will give it my all!"
"Miss Lu—impressive." Zhang Lingyu's voice remained cool, yet at this moment it carried a metallic, resonant quality, each word seeming to fall heavily. "It was Lingyu's overconfidence earlier that led her to underestimate the heroes of the world. From now on, I will hold nothing back. Please be careful—I will go all out!"
Before he finished speaking, the golden light that had been slowly flowing around him, repairing the cracks, suddenly receded, not dissipating, but rather converging back into his body like rivers flowing into the sea.
Immediately afterwards, a completely different, more violent, and more primal aura rose from his tall and imposing body!
He slowly raised his right hand, his five fingers slightly spread, palm facing upward.
At first, only a faint, ominous black dot of light appeared beneath the skin of the palm, like a slit of an abyss eye opening.
Immediately, a series of fine, chilling crackling sounds began to leap and spread through the air!
Sizzle—!
A jet-black electric snake suddenly shot out from his palm!
They are not the silvery, dazzling lightning of nature, but rather as dark as ink and as deep as night. As they intertwine and twist, they exude a contradictory aura of oppression, destruction, yet grandeur and righteousness!
This is the Yin Five Thunder, a secret technique passed down by the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain, which can only be used by those with a certain level of refined cultivation!
Black lightning gathered and expanded in his palm, transforming into a constantly pulsating, pitch-black ball of lightning containing destructive energy. The surrounding air was ionized, emitting a scorching smell, and even the light seemed to be swallowed and distorted by that deep blackness.
"Palm Thunder!!!"
Zhang Lingyu shouted and suddenly flicked his wrist!
The ball of jet-black lightning, condensed to its maximum, was like a meteor from the netherworld. It was released from his hand, tearing through the air with a deafening roar and a destructive force, and hurtled toward Lu Linglong, who was not far away!
Wherever it passed, the scattered lightning energy plowed a scorched, shallow mark into the ground!
"Is this the Thunder Magic of the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain?" Lu Linglong stood there, seemingly captivated by the unprecedented black lightning. Her first reaction was not to dodge, but to slightly tilt her head, her clear eyes reflecting the rapidly approaching destructive lightning, as if she were carefully observing and appreciating the power of heaven and earth and the profound principles contained within it.
Until the pitch-black lightning, accompanied by a deafening roar, had already struck her within a foot of her, the scorching, tingling, and destructive force of the lightning almost brushing against her hair and her figure, she suddenly swayed.
There was no loud sonic boom, no blurry afterimages, and not even a noticeable starting motion.
Like a wisp of smoke blown away by the wind, or a reflection in the water broken by a pebble, her figure left behind a faint, almost lifelike shadow, with even the angle of her clothes fluttering exactly the same.
The black palm lightning, containing Zhang Lingyu's solemn strike and possessing unparalleled power, pierced through "Lu Linglong" without any hindrance!
"BOOM—!!!"
Thunder exploded at the phantom, black electric snakes darted wildly, blasting a small, scorched, smoking crater into the ground in that area, scattering debris and leaving the lightning trails long afterward.
It was just an afterimage.
Even thunder couldn't catch a glimpse of her.
The real Lu Linglong had appeared a few feet to the side, at some unknown time and in some unknown way.
She still carried the light pink paper umbrella on her back, her figure light and graceful, her breathing not even disturbed in the slightest, as if the thunderous strike that could have seriously injured or even killed an ordinary superhuman had nothing to do with her, but was just a breeze that brushed past her.
This is divine speed.
Please vote with your monthly tickets and give me a reward!
These cards are indeed a bit weak, so let's skip directly to the battle mode.
I'll update again tomorrow.
I'm quite good at writing action sequences, especially the fight scenes. It's the slice-of-life scenes that I find so difficult to write.
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