Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Even a Clay Figurine Has Three Points of Anger
Translator: 549690339
Zhou Heng and Kong Chengshun both ascended the platform.
These two were originally not supposed to compete on the same stage.
After all, Zhou Heng was originally just an apprentice at a small martial arts gym, and even now, he’s only a Ninth Grade Trainer.
On the other hand, Kong Chengshun was already renowned across the land, a young prodigy who had made his name on the ranking list of warriors.
They simply weren’t on the same level.
Yet, this martial arts test brought them together.
Although it was just a test, this competition still attracted a lot of people.
Two or three thousand people crowded the road in front of the Wu Bureau so tightly that not even water could seep through, all fixing their gaze intently on the situation on the platform.
Seeing that the time was about right, Tian Chong called over one of his aides to issue orders to the bailiffs and explain the rules of this test.
Once the rules were announced, many people began discussing amongst themselves.
“Exciting! Raw, physical combat is a man’s battle! It should be hand-to-hand fight!”
“What hand-to-hand fight? Didn’t you hear clearly? It’s unlikely Zhou Heng could even land ahit on Young Master Kong; the gap is too wide.”
“The difference between the Ninth Rank and Eighth Rank isn’t that big, and Zhou Heng is quite strong as well.”
“But Zhou Heng seems to excel in saber technique, and now without his saber, it will probably be difficult for him to force Kong Chengshun to block three times before exhausting his strength.”
People generally weren’t optimistic about Zhou Heng.
After all, many here only knew of Zhou Heng through rumors, aware that he was a seventeen-year-old genius at Ninth Rank.
Some who had seen the martial contest between Zhou Heng and Sun Zhengping also knew that he was adept at saber technique and was capable of contending with Ninth Rank warriors even before reaching Entry Rank, with a decent martial arts talent.
But after all, talent ultimately requires time to transform into real strength.
Compared with Kong Chengshun, who was listed on the rankings and belonged to the strongest group among the younger generation, Zhou Heng still had quite the distance to go.
On the high platform.
Huang Jingfu, Hong Kang, and Lei Xiuyan sat side by side.
“Director Lei, do you think Zhou Heng will succeed?” Huang Jingfu asked Lei Xiuyan with a smile.
“There’s definitely no problem,” Lei Xiuyan said in a deep voice.
“Hahaha!” Huang Jingfu started laughing and said, “Director Lei is still so confident. Renyi, you should really learn from Director Lei, hahaha.”
The Renyi he was referring to was a young man standing behind him, who appeared to be in his twenties and had quite handsome features. This was his grandson, Huang Renyi.
“I understand,” Huang Renyi laughed and looked towards the direction of the platform, “But sometimes, overly apparent confidence is actually a cover-up for one’s insecurity.
“To be honest, I don’t quite believe that this Zhou Heng could break through to Ninth Rank at the age of seventeen. His foundation must be damaged,” he said. “Nonsense!” LeiXiuyan’s eyes bulged, and he stood up ready to scold.
“Ah, Director Lei, stay calm,” Hong Kang intervened with a smile. “The test is about to start now, and whether his foundation is damaged or not, we’ll soon find out.”
“Hypocrites!” Lei Xiuyan felt sick to his stomach looking at the faces of these people.
At this moment, on the platform.
Zhou Heng watched Kong Chengshun standing not far away, noticing that Kong had a long, bar-shaped object wrapped in black cloth on his back, which looked like a longsword.
Kong Chengshun, noting Zhou Heng’s gaze, frowned and said sternly, “What are you looking at? Rest assured, I won’t use weapons. Even if you do manage to force me to block, I will only use my hands.”
“Good.” Zhou Heng nodded, his expression unchanged, but his heart was indeed stirred.
Because on that long, bar-shaped object wrapped in black cloth, he sensed the existence of a mysterious energy.
Although it was very faint, and somewhat ambiguous, it was indeed that energy, hmm, to be precise, it was like that energy mixed with some other kind of aura.
Very strange.
Seeing Zhou Heng still fixated on the sword on his back, Kong Chengshun’s eyes squinted and he said, “Let’s begin. Don’t continue wasting time; come at me with all you’ve got.”
“Then, Young Master Kong, be careful,” Zhou Heng shouted lowly, and then his feet suddenly shook!
Bang!
The loud noise was like thunderclaps bursting as Zhou Heng’s foot unleashed tremendous force, causing the stone slab-built platform to tremble slightly!
Mighty Strength +2!
Great power can equally produce explosive speed!
At that moment, he was like an arrow released from the bowstring, almost instantaneously rushing to Kong Chengshun’s front!
At the same time, his palm turned into a blade, chopping down with force!
Godlike Strength – Eighteenth Form!
Deity Wielding the Saber!
Everyone present was shocked by this move, and Huang Jingfu on the high platform even stood up all of a sudden, looking at Zhou Heng in the ring with disbelief.
So fast!
How could he be so fast!
Is this still the speed of a Ninth Rank Warrior?
Kong Chengshun was also startled by Zhou Heng’s speed but, having an abundance of combat experience and a solid ranking based on real fights on the combatants’ list, he wasn’t a pushover.
Thus, when Zhou Heng’s “blow” came slashing down, he immediately bent his waist and retreated while rapidly changing his footwork, swiftly creating a distance of three zhang from Zhou Heng.
Seeing this scene, Huang Jingfu on the high platform breathed a sigh of relief.
Lei Xiuyan, on the other hand, felt quite regretful.
The spectators watching the fight were also getting tense, drawn into the intensely fierce battle right from the start.
Yu He, Yun Xiu, Pei Luoling, and others felt pity for Zhou Heng.
It would have been great if that attack just now had been effective.
Eighth Rank Warriors, when compared to Ninth Rank, still have too many advantages. Whether it’s stamina, speed, strength, or the level of mastery over martial arts, they are almost comprehensively superior!
“Not a bad attack,” Kong Chengshun said with a light laugh after creating some distance, “But alas, it’s not enough to make me defend.”
But before his words could fade…
Zhou Heng, like a gust of wind, charged to his front once again.
Agility +1!
Mighty Strength +2!
The terrifying enhancements brought by his foundational attributes allowed his speed to far surpass that of any Ninth Rank Warrior!
Simultaneously!
His inner qi gathered in the palm of his hands, and with the momentum of moving mountains, he powerfully pushed toward Kong Chengshun’s chest. Godlike Strength – Eighteenth Form!
Deity Pushing the Mountain!
Insight +1!
This allowed Zhou Heng to see through Kong Chengshun’s weaknesses.
He didn’t use the Six Paths Plum Folding Hand from the very beginning.
Because that could have likely caused Kong Chengshun severe injury within one or two moves.
He wanted to verify the level of strength he possesses when using Ninth Rank martial arts.
After all, this competition was to continue until one was exhausted.
The Authentic Internal Energy Heart Method prioritizes a strong foundation, and the breath is long-lasting, Zhou Heng’s stamina far exceeds that of an average Ninth Rank Warrior, and he wouldn’t be exhausted in a short time.
Kong Chengshun would make for a perfect live target.
“Damn it, how can he be so quick!” Kong Chengshun, in a state of shock and uncertainty, felt that Zhou Heng’s strength greatly surpassed his expectations, particularly the proficiency level of his palm technique.
This is not someone who has practiced the palm technique for just a few days; this is clearly the Godlike Strength – Eighteenth Form that has reached the mastery level!
Misleading information has doomed me!!
This youngster has not only mastered the twelve Cleaving Mountain Sword Techniques to mastery level but also this set of palm techniques!
How can such a thing be possible!?
How did he train!?
Kong Chengshun’s heart was filled with shock, and at the same time, he found Zhou Heng’s palm strike was targeting his chest’s weak spot, and the speed was extremely fast; he simply had no way to dodge it!
Bang!
He raised his fist to parry!
“Back off!” Kong Chengshun wanted to take advantage of this parry to covertly employ his inner qi and launch a punch, aiming to repel Zhou Heng.
But before his punch could burst forth, he felt a terrifying force coming through his fists, as if two huge mountains were pressing down!
Bang bang bang!!
Kong Chengshun successively stomped on the ground, the immense power making him crack the floor tiles, and he retreated more than two zhang before barely managing to come to a stop.
This scene immediately caused an uproar in the crowd.
The thousands of people present all widened their eyes, watching the events on the stage with disbelief, their faces filled with utter shock!
Kong Chengshun actually raised his hand to parry!
Zhou Heng had only attacked with his second move, and Kong Chengshun had to parry with his hands, and moreover was sent staggering back in disarray!?
My god!
This can’t be real!
Many people rubbed their eyes, unable to believe what had just happened right before them!
This was truly unbelievable!
A celebrated fighter like Kong Chengshun, with Eighth Rank in the Martial Path, a true disciple of his sect, was actually driven back several zhang by Zhou Heng, a youth who had recently advanced to Ninth Grade and came from a martial arts hall!
“How is this possible!?” Huang Jingfu’s eyes bulged out, his eyeballs nearly popping.
“No, no way, how could he be so powerful!?” Hong Kang was dumbfounded as well.
“Is this really a Ninth Rank!?” Huang Renyi gasped with a wide-open mouth.
“Hahaha! Well done!” Lei Xiuyan, true to his character, couldn’t hold back his applause and cheers.
Not far away on another high platform, Tian Chong was also stunned, suddenly feeling that his own scheming wasn’t so secure anymore.
Damn it!
How could Zhou Heng be this powerful!?
At the top of a high-rise building.
Pei Luoling was cheering happily, saying, “So amazing, Zhou Heng is so amazing! Uncle Zhantu, don’t you agree?”
Pei Zhantu stood beside her, nodding in agreement, marveling, “To think such a young age could practice a Ninth Grade martial arts to the transformation level, truly rare, and it seems he also possesses innate divine strength, a prodigy rarely seen.”
At this moment, on the stage.
Kong Chengshun’s face was terribly gloomy, never had he imagined that in front of an audience, he would be repelled by a kid who had just broken through to Ninth Rank a few days ago!
This was simply a stain on his life!
If word got out, it might even affect his master’s contest for the position of sect leader!
This Zhou Heng!
Damn it!
“Continue!” he roared in a low voice!
Now, he had resolved to make Zhou Heng lose the fight on the second parry, expend his strength, and completely lose any chance!
“Here I come!” Zhou Heng chuckled lightly, his figure closing the distance in an instant.
The sound of palm wind howled!
It was still the Almighty Eighteen Forms!
“Seeking death!”
Kong Chengshun sneered coldly, this time he didn’t dodge, but raised his hand to parry with a fist.
However, although he seemed to be making a fist, his thumbs were actually hiding inner strength.
When Zhou Heng’s palm approached, inner qi surged into his two fingers, exerting force and targeting Zhou Heng’s wrist’s acupoint with a hidden angle.
Atop the high-rise building.
Pei Zhantu’s expression subtly changed as he spoke in a deep voice, “Not good, this is a technique of acupoint sealing and vein intercepting! Kong Chengshun wants to cut off Zhou Heng’s meridians, interrupt the flow of his inner qi and force, and forcibly put him in a state of complete exhaustion!”
“Ah!?” Pei Luoling’s face drained of color upon hearing this, “What should we do!?”
The technique of acupoint sealing and vein intercepting is extremely malicious.
Not only can it leave a person utterly depleted and weak in a short time but also damage the foundations of their meridians, affecting their future prospects in the martial path.
It was almost tantamount to delivering a killing blow!
“Don’t panic.” Pei Zhantu raised his palm, trying to solidify the void and rescue Zhou Heng.
But as soon as he raised his hand, he discovered that Zhou Heng had already taken action.
So he temporarily stopped what he was doing, yet confusion rose in his heart, “Has Kong Chengshun been blinded by lard, to use such a venomous method in plain view of everyone?”
At that moment, Zhou Heng was already furious.
With his insight +1 attribute bonus, how could he not notice Kong Chengshun’s treacherous attack?
First, there was that inexplicable attack in the night!
Now, in a mere sparring test, you aim to ruin my martial foundation?
Even a clay buddha has three parts anger!
Do you really think I would let you manipulate me so easily?
“You’re asking for it!”
Zhou Heng’s techniques in his palm suddenly changed!
At the moment when Kong Chengshun’s two fingers were about to jab at him.
One of Zhou Heng’s palms curled into a claw and instantly captured one of Kong Chengshun’s arms, stopping one of his fingers from continuing the attack.
Plumbing Blossom Hand!
Grasping!
Simultaneously, Zhou Heng’s other hand formed a sword finger, executing swordsmanship with the Plumbing Blossom Hand!!
Dugu Nine Swords!
Disruption!
Splshhh!
Like the sound of a sword piercing the air, gusts of wind whistled across the platform suddenly!
With this finger thrust, Zhou Heng immediately collapsed the inner qi concentrated on Kong Chengshun’s finger, and the sword momentum, following the dissipated qi, directly rushed into Kong Chengshun’s arm.
As easy as breaking dead branches, tearing apart the meridians!
This Disruption move instantly rendered useless Kong Chengshun’s arm.
In a sparring competition on the platform, employing a sneak attack with the intention to harm someone’s foundation, even getting killed would be justified!
It was a universally accepted rule!
“Damn it! How is he so powerful, what martial arts, what kind of finger technique is this!?” Kong Chengshun seemed to have lost his mind, his emotions bordering on madness.
Despite such agony, he actually endured the intense pain, raised one foot, and kicked at Zhou Heng.
At the same time, he moved his body, trying to break free from the other arm that Zhou Heng had captured.
But a target seized by the Plumbing Blossom Hand, how easy would it be to break free?
Zhou Heng merely redirected the force with a clever twist, opposed to the direction of Kong Chengshun’s body movement, and lightly tugged!!
Crack!
A bone-chilling sound of bone breaking echoed!
Kong Chengshun’s arm twisted and broke on the spot, and his body thudded down onto his knees!
“Ah!!”
A harrowing scream tore through the air.
And unbeknownst to everyone, the ancient sword wrapped in black cloth on Kong Chengshun’s back was trembling slightly.