Translator: AnubisTL
The Raging Wind School's Martial Hall Master, Hong Zhentian, truly lived up to his name.
In his prime, his Flood Fist had dominated the entire Martial Arts World, leaving all other schools in the dust. Like Li Qing, his Martial Art followed a path of fierce, overbearing strength—a single powerful blow could overcome ten weaker ones!
At his peak, everyone believed Hong Zhentian was destined to reach the Grandmaster Realm.
But then, for reasons unknown, he underwent a sudden transformation, abandoning his fiery spirit and plummeting into decline.
In desperation, he founded the Raging Wind School in the Imperial Capital, and gradually, the legends surrounding him faded from the Jianghu.
While the three great Martial Halls were said to be evenly matched, Hong Zhentian was widely considered to be slightly superior to the other two Hall Masters.
At this moment, the Raging Wind School was filled with solemn disciples, their faces grim and tense.
"Trouble's brewing," one disciple murmured softly.
In recent days, a rumor had spread through Shengtian's Jianghu: Headmaster Zeng Jinbao of the Golden Armor School had been defeated by a young man.
This young man's Martial Art was incredibly fierce and overbearing, his form and spirit resembling a ferocious tiger. Even Zeng Jinbao, renowned for his defensive prowess, had been unable to withstand the young man's devastating fists.
At first, no one believed the rumors. But when someone went to ask the disciples of the Golden Armor School, their evasive answers became rather intriguing.
The rumors were likely true. Otherwise, why wouldn't the Golden Armor School have come forward to dispel them?
Sure enough, today a young man arrived at the Raging Wind School, leading a mature tiger. It was clear at a glance that he wasn't here to seek mentorship.
"Roar!"
A tiger's roar shook the entire Raging Wind School as a tall, straight figure strolled in leisurely.
It was Li Qing. As soon as he entered, he clasped his hands in a salute to the crowd. "I've come to challenge your Martial Hall Master. Please inform him."
Unlike at the Golden Armor School, none of the other disciples dared to step forward and accept the challenge. Instead, they responded respectfully, "Please wait. Someone has already gone to notify our Master."
Li Qing nodded, not wanting to make things difficult for them. He stood quietly with his hands clasped behind his back, observing the disciples of the Martial Hall.
Their burly, muscular physiques clearly indicated that they practiced a fierce and domineering Martial Art.
He didn't have to wait long. Soon, heavy footsteps echoed from behind the Martial Hall.
"So you're Li Qing, the one who defeated Zeng Jinbao?"
Hong Zhentian's face was weathered, and he was powerfully built but not tall. He resembled a crab, his body growing horizontally.
Even so, his entrance exuded a strong sense of pressure, especially from his fists, which were as thick as cooking pots.
The moment he entered, Hong Zhentian's gaze locked onto Li Qing.
Li Qing, in turn, was radiating his full potential. His aura resembled a sword drawn from its sheath, seeking someone to hone its edge.
"This one is Li Qing, and I was fortunate enough to win by two moves against Headmaster Zeng," Li Qing said, bowing respectfully to Hong Zhentian with a smile. "I heard from Headmaster Zeng that Hall Master Hong's Flood Fist once dominated the entire Martial Arts World in your youth."
"Today, I'm curious to learn from you."
Hong Zhentian let out a wild laugh. "Hahaha! That was all in my youth. Let's cut the formalities and get straight to it!"
As his words faded, Hong Zhentian began to move his body. The muscles in his arms coiled like ancient tree roots, clearly indicating formidable strength.
Bang!
As usual, Li Qing unfastened the Peerless Hammer from his back and placed it on the ground.
Then, he immediately adopted the Tiger Form stance, his fingers twisted into ferocious, rigid claws like those of a real tiger.
Combined with the fierce tiger lying beside Li Qing, the disciples of the Raging Wind School felt as if they were truly witnessing two tigers!
"Please, show me your skill!" Li Qing's gaze sharpened.
Boom!
Hong Zhentian didn't speak. Instead, he launched a direct attack, charging forward with surging Vital Energy.
At forty or fifty years old, to still possess such vigorous Vital Energy was truly remarkable.
"Excellent!"
With that, Li Qing unleashed his own Vital Energy, vast and powerful like a great river!
Strength, strength—the word "strength" comes before "Vital Energy."
The power of a Martial Artist ultimately hinges on their own Vital Energy. Li Qing, young and full of vigor, clearly held the advantage in terms of raw strength.
In an instant, the two were locked in fierce combat.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Due to their martial arts styles, both fought with brutal, domineering force. Initially, neither even bothered to defend, each punch thrown with deadly intent!
Flesh met flesh, blow for blow, each exchange growing more perilous than the last.
"Roar!"
Li Qing roared, clenching his five ferocious fingers into a fist and unleashing a thunderous punch.
"Hmph!" Hong Zhentian snorted coldly, transforming his fist into a palm and retaliating without hesitation.
Bang!
Their ferocious Internal Strength clashed, both men being Inner Strength experts, and both tasted the bitter consequences immediately.
They each retreated several steps. From the very beginning of the fight, their clothes had been completely shredded, revealing their grotesque, exaggerated muscles.
"Good kid, you've got some real skill. No wonder you beat Zeng Jinbao," Hong Zhentian licked his lips, offering unreserved praise. "But now, I'm going to get serious!"
As his words faded, Hong Zhentian clenched his fists, his elbows pressed tightly against his waist—the stance of a killer move from Flood Fist.
Li Qing didn't dare to be careless. He also assumed the stance of the Golden Body Technique.
His robust Vital Energy surged through his skin, and soon his flesh was reinforced by the second layer of the Golden Body Technique.
Li Qing's body grew even more rigid. Then, his stance shifted again. He lowered his body, resembling a tiger poised to pounce.
Both men were clearly aiming for a decisive blow, even the disciples watching from the sidelines could see it.
"Roar!"
Li Qing lunged forward first, his movements open and powerful, his entire body radiating peak strength. Using the momentum of his downward charge, he unleashed a punch brimming with essence, energy, and spirit!
Hong Zhentian remained unfazed. Facing Li Qing's attack, he thrust out the two fists at his waist.
Twin Dragons Emerging from the Sea!
Boom!
Their fists collided once more, the terrifying, exaggerated force exploding between them in an instant, twisting the muscles in their arms.
Internal Strength poured out uncontrollably, even cracking the wooden floor beneath them.
In the blink of an eye, Li Qing's superior strength prevailed.
Hong Zhentian's body was sent flying backward uncontrollably, crashing sideways into the Martial Hall's wall.
Bang! Bang!
Two muffled thuds echoed as Hong Zhentian finally landed on the ground.
"Cough... cough... Good kid! Cough!"
Hong Zhentian rolled over, clutching the fist that had clashed with Li Qing's, coughing violently. A trace of blood trickled from his lips.
"I concede!" Li Qing wasn't faring well either. His hand trembled slightly, but he was clearly in far better condition than Hong Zhentian.
"What's there to concede? Even in my youth, I doubt I could have defeated you," Hong Zhentian said bluntly, completely disregarding formalities. Defeat was defeat, and there was no point in making excuses.
Li Qing replied respectfully, "Hall Master Hong is too kind. If you were a decade younger, even if I were to win today, it would likely be a narrow victory."
Hong Zhentian didn't argue with this. After all, his age had taken its toll, and his strength had inevitably waned.
"Ah, one must accept the inevitability of aging. The Jianghu now belongs to you young ones," he sighed, his gaze suddenly drifting into a wistful haze. "Are you planning to challenge Song Yunting next?"
Li Qing nodded without denying it.
"That old fox's footwork is exquisite, and his Lightness Technique is peerless. He's as slippery as an eel—even if you win, you'll gain nothing but wasted effort," Hong Zhentian advised, unlike Zeng Jinbao, who had tried to drag others down with him after his own defeat.
Li Qing smiled. "Hall Master Hong, do you have any recommendations for my next opponent?"
Hong Zhentian paused, his expression turning bitter:
"While Inner Strength experts aren't abundant in the world, they're not exactly rare either," Hall Master Hong said. "Consider the Wu Li Army's chiliarchs, the Nine Lotus Sect's Lotus Protectors, Qingzhou's top fist, top blade, and top sword practitioners, and, oh yes, the Maple Guard's commanders. They're all formidable individuals."
"Back then, I lost to the Nine Lotus Sect's Yellow Lotus Protector. I wonder if the Yellow Lotus position has changed hands since then."
At these words, the other disciples were deeply shaken. They finally understood why their Master had fallen into such a slump in his youth.
It was because he had lost to a Lotus Protector of the Nine Lotus Sect. That made perfect sense.
Speaking of the Nine Lotus Sect, Li Qing immediately recalled the purple-robed girl he had met in Qingzhou. To become a Lotus Protector at such a young age was truly remarkable.
"So that's how it is. Thank you for sharing this, Hall Master Hong. It's very helpful," Li Qing said with gratitude.
After challenging the Three Great Martial Hall Masters, he hadn't known where to find his next opponent. He had even considered asking Commander Qian Hong for help, using up the favor that she owed him.
But now, he had a new target!
(End of the Chapter)
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