Chapter 8: At Last, a Formidable Foe—Swift Blade Qi Liu!

Chapter 8: Finally Facing a Formidable Opponent, Quick Blade Qi Liu!

As the level of “Regret of the Soaring Dragon” rose, not only did Zhang Fang’s mastery and the move’s power increase dramatically, but even his fundamental attributes saw further enhancement beyond their original state.

Under these circumstances, although Zhang Fang felt a bit more pressure facing Tian Meng compared to his previous three opponents, it was still within his capacity to endure.

Tian Meng’s attacks were indeed much stronger than the earlier three, but thanks to Zhang Fang’s slightly improved base attributes, he could dodge them one by one; those that couldn’t be avoided were blocked by the Heavenly Gang Shield Technique.

The exchange lasted several rounds—thrilling but without danger.

Seeing this, Tian Meng unleashed the true qualities of a master of fists and feet, launching a fierce close-range assault. After more than ten moves, he cleverly employed a restraining technique from the Tongbi Fist style to grab the edge of Zhang Fang’s round shield, wrenching it aside and exposing Zhang Fang’s defense.

Then, Tian Meng threw a punch as Zhang Fang struck out with his palm; the two forces collided fiercely.

This clash was the result of mutual anticipation and effort, so it unfolded exceptionally smoothly.

Zhang Fang had no hesitation in going all out, while Tian Meng, having observed Zhang Fang’s previous three battles, had roughly assessed the strength of his palm strikes. His final judgment was that Zhang Fang’s palm power was fierce and sharp, even surpassing his own fist strength. Still, such force was not unbearable.

Moreover, judging from Zhang Fang’s earlier fights, this palm technique was clearly not something he wielded casually—it required time to gather energy and prepare.

But his Tongbi Fist was different!

Therefore, as long as Tian Meng could withstand one palm strike from Zhang Fang without allowing him to create distance, he could leverage his close-combat advantage to swiftly secure victory in close quarters.

After all, if Zhang Fang could blast the previous three opponents back with a single palm, and Tian Meng could not only face this head-on but also triumph, it naturally underscored how outstanding Tian Meng’s strength truly was. Wasn’t it?

Then…

A piercing immature dragon’s roar rang out, louder than before.

Facing Zhang Fang’s palm head-on, Tian Meng suddenly felt a sharp pain in his arm. The next moment, he was blasted flying like a kite with a severed string, crashing to the ground with a heavy thud more than three meters beyond the battle circle’s edge.

Poor Tian Meng, no matter how much he calculated, never imagined that Zhang Fang’s “Regret of the Soaring Dragon” would level up during their fight!

Isn’t that infuriating?

Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Doctor Xue—who had just confidently vouched for Tian Meng, claiming “this round is secured”—felt his face flush with embarrassment.

The speed of this slap in the face… was a bit overwhelming!

However, as a renowned healer devoted to saving lives, Doctor Xue bore no resentment toward Tian Meng. Instead, he rushed over immediately after Tian Meng’s defeat and injury to examine his wounds, trying to ease the awkwardness of being proven wrong.

Inside the main hall, after watching four successive bouts, Xuan Ji couldn’t help but speak again to Xuan Nan: “Senior Brother, I’ve watched it over and over. The palm technique used by You Tanzhi looks, no matter how you see it, remarkably like the…”

He stopped himself mid-sentence.

After all, the “Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms” is the secret legacy of the Beggar’s Sect—so rare that outsiders hardly ever witness it, let alone inherit it. If those five words were overheard, it could cause serious misunderstandings.

Better to remain silent.

Xuan Nan furrowed his brows; as one of the few who had actually seen the “Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms,” he and Xuan Ji were qualified to comment.

Yet, regarding You Tanzhi’s “Regret of the Soaring Dragon,” Xuan Nan shook his head and said, “It only resembles it. This cannot be the palm technique we’re thinking of. That true palm technique, when unleashed, is magnificent and upright—not as sly and underhanded as this.”

Xuan Ji agreed; it made sense.

He had witnessed the Beggar’s Sect’s “Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms” firsthand through Wang Jiantong and even exchanged a palm strike with Qiao Feng recently, so he had some authority on the matter.

In his memory, that style felt like a soaring dragon in the sky, exuding an overwhelming pride and dominance—not like You Tanzhi here, who, like a turtle, spent most of the time holding up his shield defensively, only occasionally striking out in a repulsively sly manner.

Then Xuan Nan added, “The martial world is vast and profound. Even if we spend our lives wandering it, we might never see even a tenth of its secrets. It’s entirely possible that one or two moves might resemble that famed technique. We should just watch quietly and say nothing.”

As he spoke, Zhang Fang faced his final opponent.

If he defeated this last rival, he would earn the right to go out and gather intelligence, leaving the Gathering Virtuous Manor with official sanction. He would also receive 200 points for a solo victory and 1,000 points for clearing the stage, totaling 1,200 points.

A critical hit would double that to a full 2,400 points!

Adding it to his existing surplus would be enough to upgrade both “Regret of the Soaring Dragon” and the “Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Shield Techniques” by one level each.

So this battle, he had to win!

But winning this final fight would not be easy—it would be far more difficult than the previous four.

Zhang Fang’s last opponent was Qi Liu, the sixth son at home, known in the martial world as “Quick Blade Qi Liu,” a well-known hero from the Guanzhong region. His swift blade was famous throughout the Jianghu, and in aspects of agility, swordsmanship, strength, and reputation, he was far superior to Tian Meng.

Xue Muhua’s decision to assign him as Zhang Fang’s last adversary revealed how determined he and the You family’s two heroes were to prevent You Tanzhi from leaving the manor.

As soon as they engaged, Zhang Fang immediately felt the pressure double.

Qi Liu’s fast blade was impenetrable, his speed dizzying to the eyes.

Although Zhang Fang’s perception and reflexes, enhanced by the “Longevity Sacred Qi,” allowed him to clearly track every slash and strike, his physical condition—only comparable to Wang Liu’s—and his still unfamiliar “Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Shield Techniques” were insufficient to fully capitalize on his sensory advantages and smoothly fend off Qi Liu’s attacks.

Simply put:

Brain: I’ve got this!

Hands: No, you don’t!

It was fortunate that You Tanzhi’s primary weapon was the shield, which, compared to common weapons like swords, spears, or staves, offered innate defensive advantages.

A slight turn of the shield could protect most of his body.

Combined with his extraordinary perception and reflexes, this allowed him, amid Qi Liu’s relentless storm of swift blade strikes, to barely maintain a steady defense without losing ground.

Yet, to any onlookers, this scene appeared as if Zhang Fang was flustered under Qi Liu’s furious sword assault, like a fragile boat tossed by raging rapids, risking capsizing at any moment.

(End of chapter)