Waking up, Chen Jiuyang didn't receive any calls from Zhang Xiuzhen or Chen Yating. It seemed the assassins sent by the Wang family last night had been dealt with by Qingzhu Xian.
After getting up, Chen Jiuyang began practicing his skills. Although the effect of the first ray of purple qi from heaven and earth had weakened considerably, morning practice was still necessary.
Finding a spacious square by the river, Chen Jiuyang prepared to start his cultivation.
However, a group of people in martial robes suddenly surrounded him.
Leading them was a middle-aged man, robust and brimming with vitality. He stared at Chen Jiuyang and said in a deep voice, "You've finally arrived."
Chen Jiuyang was taken aback and asked, "Do you know me?"
The middle-aged man walked up to Chen Jiuyang and said, "Although I've heard of your reputation, I didn't expect you to be so young."
Chen Jiuyang raised an eyebrow. Had he mistaken him for someone else?
Before he could speak, the middle-aged man slowly assumed a stance, white energy emanating from him, ready to attack. "Wang Quan Guan requests your guidance."
Chen Jiuyang's eyes lit up with interest. This middle-aged man's external martial arts were excellent, his vital energy reaching its peak, and he practiced Xing Yi. Chen Jiuyang slowly stood up and said calmly,
"Then let's spar."
As Chen Jiuyang's voice fell, the middle-aged man moved. A flying kick aimed at Chen Jiuyang's head, moving so fast it whistled through the air.
"Twelve Tan Leg, impressive!"
Chen Jiuyang's eyes brightened slightly. He casually raised a hand and blocked the attack.
Since the opponent held no grudge against him, Chen Jiuyang didn't use his true qi to overpower him, opting to counter with skill alone.
After blocking the attack with one hand, Chen Jiuyang extended his other hand and gently slapped the middle-aged man's chest.
The middle-aged man recoiled, staggering back more than ten steps, his eyes filled with shock. "Striking like hanging a painting, controlling power with such ease!"
"A fine technique, let's go again!" The middle-aged man's fighting spirit flared, and he charged at Chen Jiuyang. This time, he didn't use his legs. He clasped his hands together, raised them above his head with fierce momentum, and then slammed them down: "Sitting Mountain Collapse!"
Chen Jiuyang stood his ground and slowly kicked out a leg, forcing the middle-aged man to abandon his attack and switch to a defensive posture to resist Chen Jiuyang's kick.
Chen Jiuyang frowned slightly. "There's no need to continue. Your lower body is stable, but your upper body has been injured, resulting in insufficient power. You cannot defeat me."
The middle-aged man's eyes widened in astonishment. "You can even see the weakness of my injured upper body?"
Chen Jiuyang nodded. "Furthermore, there's a slight issue with your external martial arts path. With an injured upper body, you shouldn't use techniques like Sitting Mountain Collapse, as it will worsen your internal injuries. Forget it. You could switch to internal martial arts. With your vital energy, you should be able to cultivate true qi and enter the Yellow Realm."
The middle-aged man's expression turned cold, and he shouted, "Don't push your luck! How can our Xing Yi Martial Hall abandon its roots? Xing Yi is the foundation of our existence!"
"Don't think that just because you're a master of internal arts, you can humiliate our Xing Yi martial arts world!"
Chen Jiuyang found it amusing. "If I intended to humiliate you, I would have defeated you with my true qi long ago. I just woke up and came here to practice. Did you surround me to spar?"
The middle-aged man blinked. "You're not Liu Taichong?"
"Who is Liu Taichong?" Chen Jiuyang asked. "My name is Chen Jiuyang."
"Ah?" The middle-aged man's face flushed with embarrassment. He then cupped his fists and said, "Mr. Chen, I apologize. I mistook you for Liu Taichong, who was supposed to challenge our Xing Yi Hall."
Chen Jiuyang replied, "Next time, ask who you're dealing with before you attack. Not everyone is as good-tempered as I am."
The middle-aged man was extremely embarrassed and apologized repeatedly, then invited Chen Jiuyang to sit down for tea and a chat.
After some pleasantries, Chen Jiuyang learned that the middle-aged man was named Hong Wu, the master of the Fengcheng Xing Yi Martial Hall. Three days ago, someone who had defeated everyone in the Xing Yi world of Feng Province had challenged the hall to a duel for this morning.
Chen Jiuyang smiled. "It seems my arrival was at the wrong place and time."
Hong Wu remarked, "Young Brother Chen, you look unfamiliar. With your strength, you shouldn't be unknown in Fengcheng."
Chen Jiuyang said, "I only recently returned to Fengcheng, so it's normal that you don't know me."
Hong Wu sighed. "It's truly a case of 'not knowing each other until you fight.' Young Brother Chen, your understanding of martial arts far surpasses mine. I wish I could chat with you for three days and three nights, but I have a formidable opponent to face today."
"If I lose, the Xing Yi world of Feng Province will be utterly disgraced, and I won't be able to face my elders."
"No worries, we can exchange insights again next time we have the chance," Chen Jiuyang said with a smile.
Just then, a voice filled with arrogance rang out, "Where is Hong Wu of Xing Yi Martial Hall? Come out and face your death!"
Hong Wu immediately stood up and walked towards the source of the sound. Chen Jiuyang also rose to observe the situation.
A man in martial robes, tall and slender yet powerfully built, stood there with a detached expression, exuding an air of arrogance.
He was a master of internal arts, with the body trained externally and qi cultivated internally. His physique and muscles indicated his specialization.
"I am here. You must be Liu Taichong," Hong Wu said coldly.
Liu Taichong cupped his fists, his right thumb pointing upwards. "We are all from the martial world. I have come today to seek Master Hong, to decide not just victory, but also life and death!"
"Presumptuous!" Hong Wu's face turned cold. "Do you truly think Xing Yi has no one?"
Liu Taichong sneered, "If I can't kill you within three moves, I'll commit suicide!"
"Then fight!" Hong Wu roared, charging forward without fear. He immediately unleashed the Snake Style True Intent Palm, directly attacking Liu Taichong's lower ribs.
As Hong Wu made his move, Chen Jiuyang's brow furrowed. While Hong Wu's Xing Yi was proficient, he hadn't yet entered the realm, and was no match for someone in the Yellow Realm.
As expected, Liu Taichong deflected Hong Wu's force with one hand and struck Hong Wu's arm with a palm strike. Hong Wu grunted, and his right arm went limp.
Clearly, his right arm was broken.
Liu Taichong then kicked Hong Wu away. Hong Wu fell to the ground, incapacitated.
However, Liu Taichong was not finished. He leaped into the air, extended one leg, then bent it, intending to strike Hong Wu's head with his knee.
If this blow landed, Hong Wu's skull would likely shatter, and he would die on the spot.
"Stop!"
Chen Jiuyang's cold shout echoed, and he extended a hand, blocking the attack for Hong Wu.
Yet, Liu Taichong refused to yield. He turned his target to Chen Jiuyang, forming fists with both hands in the air and attacking Chen Jiuyang's head, clearly intending to kill the meddler.
Chen Jiuyang frowned. This Liu Taichong was truly arrogant, did he think Chen Jiuyang was a pushover?
He extended two fingers of his other hand, and a stream of true qi shot out.
"Pfft!!"
Liu Taichong immediately felt a sharp pain in his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood.