Free Web NovelChapter 175: Chapter 122: Crushing
The surface of the Golden Bell shimmered with iridescent light. Faint runes could be seen flowing across it, emanating a heavy, indestructible aura.
"DONG—!!!"
The fist and bell collided, releasing a heavy toll that reverberated for miles.
The sound wave spread as if it were tangible, causing the ears of nearby spectators to ring. A visible shockwave radiated outward from the two fighters.
Xiong Lie bore the brunt of the impact. He felt his ears ring as his long hair was instantly blasted back, and a piercing pain shot through his right fist.
But he had long since heard of this protective technique of Chen Sheng’s. When his strike failed to connect, he immediately used the rebound force to retreat. His body traced an arc through the air, giving his opponent no opening to exploit.
Yet he couldn’t hide the astonishment in his eyes. ’My fully-charged strike didn’t even budge that phantom Golden Bell?!’
Down in the crowd, the expressions of several Martial Monks from the Golden Spring Temple changed in unison, and they exchanged solemn glances.
The old monk in the lead muttered a Buddhist chant and said in a low voice, "It’s undoubtedly the Six Extremes Golden Bell Technique. It seems Shanxin’s disappearance is indeed related to this man. Moreover, for this young man to have cultivated this technique to such a level is truly extraordinary."
In mid-air, Xiong Lie retreated after a single strike. Not only was there no fear in his eyes, but his will to fight burned even brighter. He leveled his gaze at Chen Sheng and declared loudly:
"Very good. You are worthy of being my opponent!"
"Come, let’s fight again!!"
With a thunderous roar, Xiong Lie shot forward again, his body a blur of earth-yellow as he lunged straight for Chen Sheng.
This time, he held nothing back. He unleashed a chain of punches, each one carrying the power to shatter mountains and crack stone. A flurry of fist-shadows enveloped Chen Sheng, targeting all of his vital points.
This time, Chen Sheng did not remain on the defensive.
The very instant Xiong Lie moved, he stepped forward in sync.
"HUM—"
The phantom Golden Bell moved with his every step. A faint golden sheen flowed around Chen Sheng’s body as he channeled immense True Qi into his arms. He chose to clash head-on with Xiong Lie. His fists were like lightning, precisely meeting each of Xiong Lie’s attacks, blow for blow, without giving an inch.
"BAM! BAM! BAM!"
Their fists collided, unleashing a series of booms like rolling thunder.
The two figures crisscrossed rapidly in the air. Each collision kicked up a powerful shockwave that sent their robes flapping wildly.
The more Xiong Lie fought, the more alarmed he became.
His Rock True Qi was famous for its immensity and weight, rarely meeting its match among peers of the same rank. But Chen Sheng’s True Qi was not only incredibly condensed; it also carried an incomparably sharp, penetrating force. Every clash sent his own qi and blood into turmoil.
What shocked him even more was that Chen Sheng’s physical strength was in no way inferior to his own.
’He was born with Divine Power and had even tempered his body with the Iron Sword Sect’s Secret Technique! He could overwhelm peers of the same rank with his physical body alone, yet every one of Chen Sheng’s punches felt as heavy as a mountain, making his arms go numb.’
"How is this possible?!"
Xiong Lie was aghast. ’How long has it been since he broke through to the Innate realm? Even with an Earth Core Lotus Seed, he shouldn’t be this strong!’ freёwebnovel.com
After several more exchanges, Xiong Lie was forced to admit the truth: in this all-out clash, not only was Chen Sheng showing no signs of losing, but he was actually starting to overpower him.
Seeing this, Xiong Lie dared not be careless any longer. The fire of battle blazed in his eyes as he roared and threw another Heavy Fist.
He put one hundred and twenty percent of his power into this punch. The force of the blow tore through the air, whistling sharply as it aimed straight for Chen Sheng’s heart.
But this time, Chen Sheng didn’t meet it head-on.
Instead, he changed his fist into a palm. True Qi flowed between his fingers, creating a strange suction that allowed him to grab Xiong Lie’s wrist. He twisted with the momentum while simultaneously sweeping his left leg toward his opponent’s head like a steel whip.
The change in tactics was as fast as lightning. To the crowd below, it was just a blur, and Xiong Lie was already restrained.
"What exquisite technique!"
An elder from the Danxia Sect couldn’t help but exclaim in praise, "Changing fist to palm, grappling and locking... a move like that is impossible to master without at least ten years of hard work!"
Xiong Lie was, after all, a top True Inheritor meticulously groomed by the Iron Sword Sect, and his combat experience was vast. The instant Chen Sheng changed his move, Xiong Lie fiercely twisted his waist, barely managing to dispel the grappling force and narrowly avoid the vicious leg sweep.
However, this was only the beginning of him being forced onto the defensive.
Although Chen Sheng hadn’t drawn a blade, he had already cultivated the Basic Knife Technique to a state of near-perfection. At this moment, using his arms as blades and his legs as knives, every one of his moves contained the ultimate principles of the Sword Skill.
Almost at the same instant Xiong Lie reacted, Chen Sheng had already predicted his opponent’s next move.
With his right hand still gripping Xiong Lie’s right wrist, Chen Sheng’s left leg swept out like lightning again, this time landing solidly on the center of Xiong Lie’s back.
"THUD!"
The kick sent Xiong Lie staggering, his Protective True Qi fluctuating violently. He felt as if his back had been struck by a sledgehammer, the impact shaking his very organs.
How could Chen Sheng let such a golden opportunity go?
He immediately stepped forward and lashed out with both fists, which became a sky-full of golden fist-shadows that rained down like a torrential storm. Each punch accurately hammered Xiong Lie’s vital points, the furious assault too fast for the eye to follow.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
Faced with such a ferocious offensive, Xiong Lie was barely able to parry at first.
But as Chen Sheng’s punches grew faster and heavier, Xiong Lie soon fell behind the terrifying rhythm. It was as if Chen Sheng’s fists had eyes, always finding the weakest point in his defense and forcing him to retreat again and again.
The crowd below was dumbfounded.
They had expected a battle between titans, but in the blink of an eye, Xiong Lie was completely suppressed!
"This Chen Sheng’s strength is just too terrifying!"
A spectating Loose Cultivator muttered, "But Xiong Lie is supposed to be the number one expert in the Iron Sword Sect below the Earth Fiends!"
"It seems we all misjudged."
Another older, more experienced Martial Artist sighed, "No wonder the Jingwu Bureau arranged for the one-month agreement. It must have been for him."
The fight continued, and Xiong Lie’s expression grew uglier by the second. If not for his Protective True Qi, the terrifying Fist Force would have long since penetrated his body.
Yet even when he successfully blocked the blows, the clashes still left his arms aching, numb, and stinging, his qi and blood nearly stagnant. If his bones and sinews weren’t far tougher than an ordinary person’s, his arms would have already been shattered by the force. freewēbnoveℓ.com
In the space of a few breaths, Xiong Lie had been completely suppressed. He was forced to switch from offense to defense, crossing his arms to protect his vital points and gathering all his True Qi before him in a desperate struggle to hold on.
Teeth clenched and veins bulging on his forehead, Xiong Lie had clearly reached his limit.
And this was exactly what Chen Sheng had been waiting for.
He immediately held nothing back. His fists struck like dragons, each blow heavier than the last, hammering viciously against Xiong Lie’s Protective Qi Shield. Every punch carried the force to sunder mountains, the howling wind from the blows making the very air tremble.
"BAM! BAM! BAM!"
Just three punches!
With a crisp crack like shattering glass, the Protective True Qi around Xiong Lie’s body disintegrated.
Seeing this, Xiong Lie’s expression changed drastically. He never imagined Chen Sheng could be this powerful. He scrambled to change his tactics, but it was too late.
Chen Sheng’s assault was now like a bursting dam, completely unimpeded.
Streaks of condensed golden Fist Gang rained down on Xiong Lie! Each punch landed solidly on his flesh, producing a series of sickening thuds.
"THWACK! THWACK!"
Blood sprayed into the air.
Xiong Lie’s True Inheritor robe was instantly blasted to shreds. Like a punching bag, he was knocked back and forth in mid-air by Chen Sheng, completely unable to fight back.
Blood streamed from his mouth, drawing arcs in the air.
All of this took time to describe, but in reality, only ten-odd seconds had passed since the fight began.
In the eyes of the spectators below, the two had seemed evenly matched for the first few exchanges. But in the blink of an eye, Xiong Lie had been forced onto the defensive, and then completely crushed.
"BOOM—!!!"
Chen Sheng threw another Heavy Fist, which shot precisely through the gap between Xiong Lie’s arms and smashed viciously into his left shoulder blade.
The sound of cracking bone was clearly audible!
Before Xiong Lie could even cry out in pain, Chen Sheng’s stance shifted. His qi, blood, and True Qi erupted as he unleashed a Heavy Fist he had been charging, which shot like a meteor straight for his opponent’s chest!
"THUMP!"
Xiong Lie violently spat out a mouthful of blood as his body, like a kite with a broken string, plummeted from mid-air. He smashed heavily onto the bluestone ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The entire arena fell silent.
Every spectator was dumbfounded, barely able to believe what they were seeing.
The Iron Sword Sect disciples shot to their feet, their faces masks of horror.
In the private booth, the teacup in Li Xuanche’s hand fell to the floor with a crash, shattering to pieces. He didn’t even seem to notice, his eyes fixed on the proud, lone figure standing in the arena, filled with utter disbelief.
At that moment, only a single thought echoed in his mind:
’Senior Brother Xiong Lie... was completely crushed?!’
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