"Mu Gang almost lost!"
In the main seat, Clan Head Mu Tao's expression turned extremely serious:
"What was that attack from Zi? Such power is comparable to a third-rank martial art, isn't it?"
The elder, narrowing her eyes, exclaimed:
"How is that possible!"
Everyone looked at her, and she continued:
"Although young lady Mu seems to have delivered a single blow, upon closer observation, it's clear that she unleashed four or five fists in an instant."
"That special clap of the 'Nine Claps' fist was already incredibly strong. But the repeated stacking of blows elevated its power to a new level."
"But is that even possible? Such an effect requires frightening control over a martial art. Can someone at the Body Tempering level do that?"
Upon hearing the elder's words, the attendees exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock.
On the arena, Mu Gang, barely maintaining his balance, stared at Mu Zi in astonishment. During the collision of fist and palm, the immense force transferred to his arm had nearly thrown him back.
"Use a martial art, or you'll lose!" she said.
In his eyes, the image of the beautiful girl was reflected, and Mu Gang realized she was speaking sincerely.
"Young lady's strength is truly astonishing. I will use a martial art. Please be careful!" Mu Gang said, involuntarily adopting a respectful tone.
"Falling Stone Fist!"
He lunged forward, using a first-rank martial art.
Mu Zi felt a gust of wind on her face and realized that this blow was much more powerful than the previous ones. Daring not to underestimate its strength, she brought her "Nine Claps" fist to perfection.
"Boom!"
A deafening roar, tearing through the air, resounded. Listening closely, one could distinguish six different claps. Under her flawless control, six consecutive blows crashed down on the opposing fist.
"Bang!"
Mu Gang trembled slightly but stayed on his feet, not taking a single step back. Mu Zi, on the other hand, was sent flying backward.
Mu Tao clenched his fists. Would the miracle not happen? Wiping the sweat from his palms, he sighed heavily.
Suddenly, astonished shouts erupted from the stands. Mu Tao hastily looked at the arena.
Mu Zi, like a phantom, suddenly became weightless. Her feet moved in a strange rhythm, her body seemed not to obey the force of the blow. Abruptly turning, she rushed toward Mu Gang, who had just held his ground.
"Falling Stone Fist!"
In the new collision, Mu Zi was sent flying back again, but, to the crowd's astonishment, this time Mu Gang took a step back.
"What..."
The unexpected turn of events stunned Mu Tao and the others. They turned their gazes to the elder, whose face was trembling with excitement, her wrinkles twitching.
"If I'm not mistaken, the young lady is using a powerful movement art," she said. "Thanks to it, she was able to dissipate the force of the blow while retreating."
"No, it's not just dissipation," she corrected herself. "She went further—she borrowed the strength!"
"Borrowed the strength?" Mu Tao asked thoughtfully.
"Exactly, she uses the force of her opponent's blow to amplify her own next strike," the elder confirmed.
"She's hitting the opponent with their own strength! What a powerful martial art, what incredible control!"
Mu Tao and the others were stunned. No wonder Mu Gang had to retreat—she had used his strength for her own purposes.
Performing such a maneuver requires an incredible amount of body control. At the thought of the difficulty of this art, the crowd trembled with admiration.
But this exquisite mastery was happening right before their eyes.
"A monster!" Mu Tao exhaled, completely subdued.
The elder added:
"Didn't you notice? This movement art seems familiar."
"What?" the crowd froze, deep in thought.
Mu Yun tentatively suggested:
"Gliding Steps?"
"Yes," the elder nodded, her voice trembling with excitement. "First the 'Nine Claps' fist, now the Gliding Steps. I have a guess: perhaps all the unfamiliar techniques the young lady is using are her own improvements!"
"What?" the crowd gasped in amazement. "How is that possible?"
"Why not?" the elder exclaimed, trembling with excitement. "I've heard that some people are born with a special gift for martial arts. They master techniques twice as fast and are considered martial arts geniuses. For such a genius, this is no surprise."
A martial arts genius!
Everyone exchanged glances, unable to believe it. Did Mu Zi possess this legendary gift?
"Little sister really did master martial arts quickly," Mu Lingsha murmured.
First dabbling in martial arts, Mu Zi had mastered the "Nine Claps" fist in just two attempts, already producing claps. That's not just quick—it's unbelievable!
Upon hearing this, Mu Tao and the others involuntarily winced, clutching their chests and breathing heavily. Was a monstrous genius truly being born in the Mu clan?
In the original story, Lin Dong, after perfecting the Marvelous Seal with the help of the stone talisman, was also called a martial arts genius. However, Mu Zi, compared to him, deserved the title even more.
The elder, with bitterness in her eyes, admitted hoarsely:
"I was blind! With such talent, the young lady is the future of our clan!"
On the arena, after being thrown back by a blow, Mu Zi skillfully turned in mid-air, taking mysterious steps, and rushed toward her opponent again, her fist still carrying residual force.
Another collision—and Mu Gang once again took a step back.
In the ongoing fight, the examiner, who had reached the ninth level of Body Tempering, found himself at the very edge of the arena. The spectators in the hall couldn't hold back their astonished shouts.
"Just a little more, and I'll lose," Mu Gang thought with anxiety.
On the one hand, Mu Zi had already demonstrated her strength. It would be enough for him to let her throw him off the arena, and the test would be over. However, deep down, Mu Gang felt disappointed. Winning a fight against a higher-level opponent usually makes the audience happy, but being defeated is always bitter.
Mu Gang made a decision and stopped holding back. His palm curved into a claw, surrounded by a bright glow of Yuan Li.
"Second-rank martial art: Wind-Tearing Claws!"
Feeling the powerful gust, Mu Zi didn't meet the blow but used the Wave Steps to evade.
When the crowd saw Mu Gang use a second-rank art, they erupted in jeers. A ninth level against a seventh, and with full power at that—could he be so shameless?
Mu Gang, his pride wounded, resolutely rushed at Mu Zi.
"Wind-Tearing Claws!" he exclaimed.
Facing a second-rank martial art, Mu Zi didn't accept the blow but used the Wave Steps to evade. Her movements were so fast that Mu Gang's attacks didn't even touch the edge of her clothes.
Completely focused on evasion, she demonstrated the full power of the Wave Steps. Even a ninth-level Body Tempering master couldn't touch her.
On the arena, to the sound of air being sliced, Mu Gang's attacks came one after another. But Mu Zi remained impassively graceful, her silhouette flitting around her opponent, and his blows always passed within a hair's breadth of her, just glancing by.
At this moment, Mu Zi's movements, dancing and fluid, exuded a mesmerizing, almost fantastical beauty. It seemed she wasn't fighting a formidable opponent but performing a brilliant show.
Stopping at a certain distance, they stood facing each other, both slightly out of breath.
Mu Gang said:
"Young lady, your movement art is truly superb; I am in awe! However, it seems this technique takes a lot of your energy. A prolonged fight could be a difficult task for you."
"Why don't we call it a draw?"
Mu Zi understood that the Wave Steps consumed as much energy as a second-rank martial art. A long fight was not to her advantage.
After all, a movement art is limited on an arena. In normal conditions, a ninth-level opponent would only watch her actions from the side.
But who said this was the limit of her abilities?
With a slight smile on her lips, Mu Zi extended a slender white finger.
...
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