Chapter 162: Clash!

Facing the crisis, Zhou Chenguang suddenly sucked in his breath and moved his body back a few inches in the nick of time. At the same time, his other hand, which had been held back, now clenched into a fist and smashed down toward Han Lin’s head.

Zhou Chenguang knew he couldn’t dodge, so he simply didn’t try to, opting to exchange blows.

If Han Lin managed to land a hit on his abdomen, then Zhou Chenguang would ensure Han Lin’s head would be crushed in return.

With life hanging in the balance, Han Lin dared not trade blow for blow with Zhou Chenguang. He contracted his body suddenly and, with the agility of lightning, leaped to land two meters away.

Seizing the moment, Zhou Chenguang pressed on relentlessly. Digging his toes into the ground, he surged forward like a gust of wind, unleashing a barrage of fierce attacks on Han Lin.

Han Lin, nimble and quick, managed to hold his ground despite being momentarily overwhelmed. He quickly counteracted, turning the tide of the battle.

In just a matter of seconds, they exchanged dozens of blows, each seemingly on the brink of mutual destruction, keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats.

Lin Xiao watched with keen interest, completely engrossed in the battle.

Both Zhou Chenguang and Han Lin, though not as advanced in their cultivation as Lin Xiao, demonstrated the prowess of seasoned warriors. Fully committed, their exchange was a spectacle of masterful techniques, providing great inspiration to Lin Xiao.

He absorbed every detail voraciously, like a sponge soaking up water.

Han Lin’s mastery of the Mantis Fist and Zhou Chenguang’s expertise in Bajiquan were evident. Their profound understanding of their respective martial arts made the duel intensely fierce. Even was Lin Xiao was unable to predict the outcome.

A sudden, explosive sound of palms colliding echoed across the arena as Zhou Chenguang and Han Lin, previously locked in combat, abruptly separated, their gazes locked fiercely on each other.

Both fighters were visibly exhausted, gasping for breath, their stamina significantly drained.

In the recent clash, Zhou Chenguang received a vicious scratch from Han Lin, which tore through his clothing and left five deep gashes across his chest, from which blood steadily flowed.

Han Lin, too, didn’t emerge unscathed. A palm strike from Zhou Chenguang caught his shoulder. Fortunately, it missed his heart, or he might have been down.

Despite this, Han Lin’s agility was significantly diminished, hampering his ability to strike effectively.

At this moment, Elder Chen interjected, “Gentlemen, your martial skills are evenly matched. Continuing this duel seems unlikely to produce a clear victor. How about declaring the first round a draw?”

Turning to Jiang Linfeng for a brief consultation and seeing his nod of approval, Han Lin responded with a rasp, “I have no objections.”

Zhou Chenguang was somewhat unwilling in his heart. He had gained a slight advantage, having incapacitated one of Han Lin’s arms. A continued fight would almost certainly end in his favor.

Yet, he recognized the danger of pressing a cornered opponent; a wounded beast fights most ferociously. Winning might come at an unacceptable cost.

After a moment’s consideration, he conceded, “I agree as well.”

After all, their fight, though intense, was not a battle to the death. There was no deep-seated enmity between them. Neither was inclined to pay the ultimate price over a mere rivalry. Both fighters retreated to their corners, leaving the audience buzzing with excitement. The thrilling display had opened their eyes to the heights martial prowess could reach.

“That was astounding. Are these the experts on the cusp of transitioning from Clear to Dark Force? Their movements were a blur, I barely caught any of their exchanges!”

“It’s incredible how fast a human can move.”

“I thought that young fellow earlier was quick, but these two are in a completely different league.”

“Well, of course. They’re on the verge of entering Dark Force. They’re no ordinary fighters.”

“Indeed…”

Zhou Chenguang, unmoved by the surrounding chatter, offered his apologies to Elder Chen, “Elder Chen, forgive me, I didn’t secure a victory in the first match.”

Elder Chen offered a reassuring smile and said, “Brother Zhou, though you didn’t win, you didn’t lose either. You even gained the upper hand and suppressed the opponent’s arrogant momentum, which is enough.”

“The opponent is indeed strong. Despite giving my all, I only secured a slight advantage. Who would win if the fight continued is still unknown. Even if I could win, it would have been bitterly won,” Zhou Chenguang responded, shaking his head.

“That’s also why I stopped you from continuing the fight. Since you can’t determine a winner for the moment, there’s no need to continue.”

Elder Chen, with a thoughtful look, continued, “Today’s matter is merely a grudge between the Chen’s Martial Arts Hall and Jiang Linfeng. I’m already very grateful that you stepped in, Brother Zhou.”

“Elder Brother Chen, your words are too kind,” Zhou Chenguang replied.

At that moment, a student approached with a first aid kit. After acknowledging Elder Chen with a nod, Zhou Chenguang allowed himself to be led away for medical attention.

“Now, Yuanji, the responsibility falls to you,” Elder Chen turned to address Yang Yuanji.

“Rest assured, Uncle Chen. I’ll give it my all,” Yang Yuanji declared with determination.

Yang Yuanji, more closely connected to the Chen family than Zhou Chenguang, was committed to doing his utmost no matter what.

As Yang Yuanji stepped into the arena, Elder Chen glanced over at Lin Xiao. He was aware that even if Yang Yuanji succeeded, there remained four martial artists of comparable skill to face, including one adept in the Dark Force.

All hopes of Chen’s Martial Arts Hall now rested on Lin Xiao.

Yet, Lin Xiao appeared distant, his gaze empty, seemingly lost in thought and detached from his surroundings.

Deciding not to disturb him, Elder Chen looked away.

In Lin Xiao’s mind, the exchange between Zhou Chenguang and Han Lin replayed like scenes from a film, each movement analyzed in slow motion, dissected, and studied to understand the flow of internal energy.

Though brief, their encounter was fraught with peril and showcased a series of masterful techniques, particularly Zhou Chenguang’s martial arts, from which Lin Xiao gained significant insight.

Zhou Chenguang specialized in Bajiquan, also known as the Eight-Level Palm, while Lin Xiao’s training was in the Thunderbolt Decree. However, the techniques he employed included Military Boxing, used by the army, and the exclusive Thunderbolt Fist from the Thunderbolt Decree.

Setting aside the Thunderbolt Fist for a moment, the Military Boxing technique encompassed the essence of both the Eight-Level Palm and the Bagua Palm. Therefore, Lin Xiao greatly benefited from witnessing Zhou Chenguang’s masterful execution of the Eight-Level Palm.

Time seemed to blur for Lin Xiao, lost in his observations. When he returned to the present, he noticed Yang Yuanji had already taken the stage, engaging Chu Tao and clearly dominating the match.

Yang Yuanji, inherently a prodigy, contrasted with the elder Zhou Chenguang, was at the peak of his prowess. Additionally, Chu Tao did not present the formidable challenge that Han Lin had.

Yang Yuanji’s methodical approach forced Chu Tao into a relentless retreat, enduring until he had no choice but to concede defeat.

“I yield!”

Without further aggression, Yang Yuanji gracefully acknowledged the concession with a traditional bow.

“I am defeated,” Chu Tao admitted, head bowed in respect. “The esteemed reputation of Jiangnan’s four major martial arts schools is truly deserved. My defeat is certain.”

With that, Chu Tao retreated to Jiang Linfeng’s side.

Yang Yuanji stood firm, turning his attention to Jiang Linfeng.

Jiang Linfeng, catching Yang Yuanji’s look, responded with a cold laugh, “Mr. Yang, I respect your courage. But do you really believe you alone can stand against us all? A wise man knows when to adapt. It would be prudent for you to sever ties with Chen’s Martial Arts Hall sooner rather than later.”

“My affairs are not your concern,” Yang Yuanji replied with serene confidence, glancing briefly at Lin Xiao nearby.

He was acutely aware of the current disadvantage faced by Chen’s Martial Arts Hall, but also recognized that not all hope was lost. Lin Xiao, who made a great impact on him, had the cultivation of Dark Force.

Jiang Linfeng, following Yang Yuanji’s gaze to Lin Xiao, who was deeply engrossed in analyzing techniques, couldn’t help but scoff derisively.

“Mr. Yang, you’re not suggesting that your hopes rest with this young man, are you? Wei Chengxue has briefed me on him. He’s merely at the late stage of Bright Force, his cultivation level might be on par with yours at best. Do you truly believe you stand a chance?”

“Whether we have a chance or not is not for you to say. Enough talk, let’s continue,” Yang Yuanji countered.

“Well, if you’re insistent on learning the hard way, I won’t hold back,” Jiang Linfeng retorted with a chilling tone. “I’m not one to dally, so I’ll be the one to face you.”

With those words, he flashed a grin brimming with killing intent, cracked his neck, and strode forward with determination.

Jiang Linfeng’s readiness to engage captured the undivided attention of all present. Spectators watched, unblinking, anticipating an electrifying showdown.

Without a doubt, this match was a decisive moment for the future of Chen’s Martial Arts Hall.

Rumors had circulated about Jiang Linfeng’s potential mastery of Dark Fore, yet these remained unconfirmed.

Unlike Lin Xiao, who did not specifically conceal his cultivation, Jiang Linfeng seemed to have practiced a secret method to hide his cultivation. Despite earlier intel suggesting Jiang Linfeng might have achieved Dark Force, his current concealment left even the most discerning observers in doubt about his actual breakthrough.

Yang Yuanji was recognized as the most formidable practitioner among the leaders of the four major martial arts schools, embodying the pinnacle of Jiangnan’s ancient martial traditions.

The clash between them was bound to be monumental.

Victory for Yang Yuanji not only meant survival for Chen’s Martial Arts Hall but also the preservation of its century-old legacy. Failure, however, spelled its doom.

As for Lin Xiao, no one took him seriously. Despite his acknowledged genius and victory over Xu Huiba, who could only be considered a junior, he was largely dismissed. After all, an undeveloped genius was still just that, a genius.