"Cut the crap—what's the use of talking? Start fighting already!""Yeah, fight!"
Amidst the rising clamor, the crowd of martial heroes roared with excitement, unwilling to quiet down. The atmosphere bristled with tension—combat was now inevitable.
Daoist Chongxu stood in the center of the arena. With a cold laugh and a cutting tone, he said,"Defeated men dare to boast of courage? This is nothing but a struggle for face—what else is there to say?"
His gaze, sharp as a blade, locked onto Zhu Feng of Huashan Sect.
Zhu Feng's expression darkened. He gave a cold snort and declared firmly,"At this point, we can hardly deny the wishes of all our comrades here. Since everyone is so eager, let's settle this with a duel!"
Even before his words had faded, his stance was set, his aura commanding, inner energy surging quietly.
The onlookers instinctively backed away, clearing a wide open space. Daoist Chongxu cupped his fists calmly and replied,"As you wish!"
On the vast plaza, the two figures faced off. A murderous aura hung in the air; the cold wind whipped their robes, adding to the heavy tension. The audience fell silent, holding their breath in anticipation of this inner-sect clash.
Hidden at the edge of the crowd, Wu Tong pulled Li Qian close and whispered,"Let's just watch for now—don't act rashly."
Zhu Feng's eyes glittered coldly as he mocked,"Senior brother, you cling to the sect leader's seat like a madman. Any chance you see, you scheme for it!"
Chongxu ground his teeth, furious."I compete for the position openly and honorably! Unlike you—hypocritical, scheming in the shadows. Zhu Feng, do you truly believe you deserve to sit in that seat?"
Zhu Feng, tall and imposing, stood in the arena with a dignified bearing. His flowing sleeves and upright stance made him appear almost radiant. He sneered inwardly at Chongxu's words, then declared loudly,"In all matters under heaven, reason reigns supreme! Grandmaster Zhenchang long ago decreed that I would take the sect leadership. It is the trend of fate—no one can alter it!"If today you rely on outsiders to seize it by force, won't you become the laughingstock of the martial world?"
His solemn manner inspired awe, but Chongxu was incensed, retorting bitterly,"You spout righteous words, but in truth, your deeds are foul. Many within Huashan know what kind of man you really are!"
Indeed, Zhu Feng was infamous for his many lovers outside the sect—hardly a secret on the jianghu. Fearing Chongxu would reveal more of his scandals, Zhu Feng hastily cut him off,"Enough! Let us settle this like gentlemen—with our fists!"
Their heated debate went on, but the restless crowd grew impatient.
"What's the point of all this nonsense?""Start fighting already!""Too much talk!"
The heroes jeered, while the Huashan disciples murmured angrily, dissatisfied with Chongxu's conduct. The two senior brothers, already sworn rivals, were pushed over the edge. Egged on by the onlookers, their feud ignited like dry tinder meeting flame.
Chongxu's eyes turned icy."Enough talk—let's prove it with our hands!"
At that instant, the two masters sprang into motion!
Zhu Feng let out a sky-piercing shout as his ferocious techniques swept forth. Chongxu, filled with rage and unwilling to submit, thought of Zhu Feng taking the leadership while he himself would live forever under his shadow. Grinding his teeth, he channeled his qi, stepped forward, and unleashed his full inner strength in a furious palm strike.
The duel was dazzling—Chongxu wielded the Subduing Tiger Palm, Zhu Feng countered with the Primordial Harmony Palm. Their movements were sharp and fluid, attacking high with fists, striking low with legs, grappling, throwing—sometimes separating, sometimes clashing, a brilliant display of Huashan's famed techniques.
The audience was enthralled, cheering and applauding again and again.
The battle raged past a hundred moves, fast and fierce, the two figures entangled, attack and defense indistinguishable.
Then suddenly, Zhu Feng lunged in close, knee striking, fists hammering toward Chongxu's chest, arm swinging in a vicious palm. Chongxu's eyes lit up—this was the very move that had defeated Zhu Feng countless times before. Stepping back, he prepared the counter he had relied on for years.
The crowd expected Zhu Feng's certain defeat.
But Zhu Feng had schemed for this moment. He spun sharply aside—Chongxu's counter missed entirely! His chance gone, Chongxu knew it was over. Zhu Feng surged forward, palm crashing against his chest with a thunderous crack.
Chongxu flew backward, landing hard, blood spraying black from his mouth—gravely wounded.
He could hardly believe it. In the most crucial duel of his life, his years of victories over Zhu Feng had ended. He realized bitterly that in calculation, in cunning, even in technique, he had been outmatched all along. Another mouthful of blood burst forth.
At that moment, the True God Palace elders Qin Wei and Wang Tao rushed to support Zhu Feng. Qin Wei spat coldly,"A false gentleman, a true scoundrel!"
Wang Tao bellowed,"Black-Eater King! Our brother has been beaten half to death by his own sect. What are we to do?"
At once, Black-Eater King Sima Lun strode into the arena, laughing harshly."For a Huashan sect leader to strike his own senior brother so mercilessly—let me, Black-Eater King, test your skill myself! Otherwise, our brother is left broken while you seize the seat of power!"
The gathered heroes murmured in agreement. Such cruelty toward one's own kin was shameful.
Friends of Chongxu's, outraged, shouted,"Enough words—avenge him!""Teach him a lesson!""Beast in human form!""And he dares call himself leader of Huashan!"
As Chongxu was carried aside to meditate and tend his wounds, Zhu Feng raised his voice:"This is Huashan's internal affair. No need for outsiders to interfere. I ask you all to depart!"
But Sima Lun laughed aloud."Who sits as your sect leader is none of our concern. But since you struck your own brother so ruthlessly, I, Black-Eater King, cannot let this pass. I must test you myself!"
At his words, Zhu Feng's heart tightened. The Black-Eater King's reputation for martial prowess was fearsome. Quickly, Zhu Feng bowed slightly and said,"If my words have offended senior in any way, I sincerely beg forgiveness."
Yet Chongxu's loyal friends would not be silenced. Again they roared:"Enough talk—avenge him!""Teach him a lesson!""Beast in human form!""And he dares call himself Huashan's leader!"