Chapter 202: Subverting Common Sense

Wang Qi inhaled deeply, his body suddenly resonating with continuous crackling sounds. These were the sounds of internal energy force coursing through him, activating his muscles and bones.

Having reached the level of Dark Force, Wang Qi could unleash this energy from any part of his body, controlling it as easily as moving his limbs. This exemplified the real power of a master at the Dark Force stage.

“I admit I underestimated you before, but now, you don’t stand a chance,” Wang Qi said coldly, his eyes bursting with a fierce killing intent. “Let me show you what true strength and terror are.”

A massive aura rose from Wang Qi, making him appear larger under its influence.

With a powerful stomp, the floor cracked and debris flew as he used the force to propel himself toward Lin Xiao with ferocious speed, delivering a mid-air kick aimed at Lin Xiao’s head.

The kick was lightning-fast.

But the speed wasn’t the key point. The real threat was the potent internal energy infused in Wang Qi’s foot.

Wang Qi was convinced that if his kick landed, no matter how strong Lin Xiao was, he would not survive.

Unfortunately, Wang Qi didn’t realize what he was facing.

“Is that so? Let’s test that,” Lin Xiao said, his eyes flashing with a cold light and his lips curling into a slight, chilling smile.

He wasn’t going to hold back this time.

Lin Xiao also took a deep breath, so long and deep it seemed as though he was drawing all the air in the room into his lungs before slowly exhaling it.

Between this inhale and exhale, thunder seemed to come from his body.

Wan Shixuan and the woman, who were watching the confrontation, heard the deep rumble of thunder.

Wan Shixuan didn’t know much about martial arts, so he didn’t grasp the significance of what was happening, but the woman beside him instantly paled.

Muscles and bones resonated with the roar of tigers and leopards, like thunder.

“How is this possible?!”

The woman bit her lower lip hard, her eyes wide with shock.

“This is something only a master at the peak of Dark Force, or even… even a master of Flowing Force could exhibit. How can this be?”

No wonder she was so astonished. Lin Xiao’s performance completely overturned what was known in the ancient martial arts world.

Typically, only a master at the peak of Dark Force could produce the phenomenon of “the sound of tigers and leopards” with every punch and kick.

This sound only occurred when the muscles and bones throughout the body had been tempered by internal energy, reaching a state where everything resonated harmoniously. But the human body was incredibly complex, akin to a miniature universe, and fully tempering it was no easy task, even for masters of Dark Force. Only those at the peak of Dark Force might fully temper their bodies and produce such phenomena.

Wang Qi, although a master of Dark Force and highly skilled within that stage, had not yet tempered even a third of his body’s muscles and bones and was far from achieving the sound of tigers and leopards.

Despite this, Wang Qi was considered an exceptionally rare master at his level, which was why Wan Shixuan had such confidence in him.

Wang Qi, now in his forties, was already considered a rare talent for his level of achievement.

But what about Lin Xiao?

He seemed to be in his twenties and had already completed the tempering of his body’s muscles and bones. Achieving the sound of tigers and leopards, he was an anomaly.

According to the woman’s understanding of the ancient martial arts world, reaching this stage at such a young age would classify someone as a prodigy, a true marvel, usually just beginning to break through the Dark Force stage.

Such a level of achievement was typically only seen in the disciples of powerful families, yet Lin Xiao was at least at the peak of Dark Force, or perhaps even…

As the woman reacted with shock, Wang Qi also heard the thunderous sound emanating from Lin Xiao’s body.

But it was too late to retreat. He had committed to his move and doubted Lin Xiao had mastered the sound of tigers and leopards. He didn’t alter his attack. Instead, he increased both speed and power.

Lin Xiao lowered his waist and dropped his shoulders, crouching slightly in a horse stance. He punched forward as fast as lightning, aiming to meet Wang Qi’s incoming kick.

Lin Xiao’s right fist collided with Wang Qi’s right foot. A thunderous noise vibrated the eardrums. The clash of their distinct energies was violent, causing Wang Qi’s shoes to explode into fragments that scattered around.

Wang Qi’s expression changed as he felt an overwhelming force from Lin Xiao’s fist, far exceeding his expectations. This force not only halted his advance but also sent him flying backward.

“Impossible!” Wang Qi couldn’t suppress his shock, exclaiming aloud, “How can your strength be so formidable!”

“Nothing is impossible.”

Lin Xiao, standing firm without retreating, his eyes intensely bright, stamped his foot down and surged forward. He moved like a fierce tiger darting through the underbrush, pouncing toward the airborne Wang Qi.

As he lunged, Lin Xiao’s hands shaped into eagle’s claws, targeting Wang Qi’s shoulders with such speed that they whistled through the air.

Eagle Claw Technique.

If his grip found its mark, even if Wang Qi’s shoulders were made of iron, Lin Xiao was confident he could rip open five holes.

Wang Qi, understanding the grave danger, finally demonstrated the true skill of a Dark Force master at his peak.

Rather than evading Lin Xiao’s onslaught, he chose to counterattack directly.

Wang Qi’s legs suddenly transformed into a series of afterimages. He unleashed over a dozen kicks in rapid succession, like a swift and violent storm enveloping Lin Xiao’s upper body.

A series of explosive sounds echoed throughout the hall, showing the immense force of each kick.

However, it proved futile. Lin Xiao dodged Wang Qi’s attacks with ease, as if he were strolling, while simultaneously closing the distance between them.

“Got you!”

Amid the flurry of attacks, Lin Xiao remained composed. His right hand shot out and firmly grasped Wang Qi’s right shoulder.

Without hesitation, Lin Xiao tightened his grip, his muscles tensed like iron. He channeled all his strength into his left arm and then slammed down.

Wang Qi knew he was in trouble as soon as Lin Xiao grabbed him. He desperately surged his internal energy into his right side, attempting to shake off Lin Xiao’s iron-like grip.

However, Lin Xiao’s hold was unbreakable. No matter how hard Wang Qi struggled, he couldn’t free himself.

With a thud, Wang Qi’s body smashed into the ground, shattering a large area of the floor. At the center of this shattered flooring, two deep palm prints appeared.

In a last-ditch effort, Wang Qi had managed to strike the ground with his hands, narrowly avoiding a devastating impact.

Though he avoided a direct collision with the floor, the immense force from Lin Xiao’s attack still dispersed the internal energy Wang Qi had spread throughout his body. It was like cracking open a turtle shell, plunging Wang Qi’s spirits to rock bottom.

Seizing the moment, Lin Xiao sprang up. He became a blurred shadow and delivered a fierce kick to Wang Qi’s torso.

Wang Qi’s body was sent flying, tumbling over seven or eight meters and overturning a sofa before he harshly crashed to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.