Fighting

Wang Ming began to regulate his breathing after defeating Huang Yaoshi.

His Innate Skill hadn't consumed much true energy; it was primarily the Indestructible Vajra Body that had depleted his reserves.

That Thousand Flowers Scatter Money attack had used all the true energy from his Indestructible Vajra Body, making it impossible for Huang Yaoshi to block.

As Wang Ming closed his eyes to recover his power, three loud laughs suddenly reached his ears.

"Hahaha, today I will become The First Under Heaven! Who among you will be my opponent?"

Opening his eyes, he saw it was Western Venom, Ouyang Feng.

"Old Poison, you're a bit late!" Hong Qigong stepped forward and said.

"Hmph!" Ouyang Feng had no intention of answering.

He surveyed the crowd present, then continued.

"Why aren't Emperor Duan and Zhou Botong at the Mount Hua Sword Debate? Where are the rest of you?"

"Emperor Duan has already become a monk and has no desire to contend for The First Under Heaven. Old Toad also has other matters and likely won't have the energy to come," Hong Qigong replied.

"Fine if they don't come! Who among you will go first?" Ouyang Feng's eyes swept over everyone present.

"I'll spar with you! They just finished a match," Hong Qigong said as he stepped down.

"Old beggar, are you here to fight me for victory today, or to fight to the death?"

Hong Qigong replied, "We're betting on victory and deciding life and death. Don't hold back."

Ouyang Feng said, "Good! Come on!"

His left hand, which had been behind his back, suddenly swung out. He held the Serpent Cane and struck at Hong Qigong.

Without much hesitation, Hong Qigong stepped down and engaged Ouyang Feng.

This time, because Wang Ming had pulled Hong Qigong and the others into the cave on Siguo Cliff, Ouyang Feng had not encountered them.

Since he hadn't been hit on the head by Hong Qigong's Dog Beating Staff, Ouyang Feng's mind was currently clear.

Huang Rong, worried about Hong Qigong, had previously given the Dog Beating Staff to him.

This was a battle between Hong Qigong's Dog Beating Staff Technique and Ouyang Feng's Spirit Snake Staff Technique.

The Dog Beating Staff Technique was a martial art only learned by successive sect leaders. While Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms could be taught to sect members here and there when the mood struck, one could imagine its extraordinary nature.

After only a few exchanges, those watching from afar noticed Ouyang Feng was clearly at a disadvantage.

Huang Rong and Guo Jing cheered them on, extremely excited.

"During the first Mount Hua Sword Debate, I saw the old beggar had a green staff at his waist, but he never used it. He truly has great patience," Huang Yaoshi muttered to himself as he observed the battle.

Huang Yaoshi also slowed his recovery speed at this moment, watching the fight and constantly deducing in his mind.

Ouyang Feng had fought Hong Qigong many times but had never seen him use the Dog Beating Staff technique. On that day, during their life-or-death struggle on the burning ship at sea, despite the dire situation, Hong Qigong had still not used it.

Ouyang Feng had seen Huang Rong use this staff technique before, and its moves were intricate and clever. He had long stopped underestimating it. Seeing Hong Qigong unleash two moves now, with the staff whistling through the air, he knew it was indeed extraordinary.

Does this mean the Dog Beating Staff Technique is more powerful than Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms?

Martial arts like the Dog Beating Staff Technique are strong and weak at the same time.

This is because this martial art cannot be exposed to light; if it is, it becomes useless.

This martial art primarily catches the enemy off guard, with intent against no intent.

It's like a classic quote from Saint Seiya: the same moves are useless against a Saint.

For a martial arts master, this type of martial art is also useless the second time around.

Ouyang Feng also had a martial art similar to the Dog Beating Staff. He created it while in seclusion at White Camel Mountain Villa, cultivating his Toad Skill, in preparation for the second Mount Hua Sword Debate to contend for The First Under Heaven.

That was the Spirit Snake Fist Technique. For Ouyang Ke's safety, he taught it to him, and Ouyang Ke used it once in front of Hong Qigong.

The first time he saw that fist technique, it had shocked him immensely.

After returning and thinking it over all night, he easily broke it.

Offensive martial arts are divided into two types: First, those that rely on moves, like the Dog Beating Staff; masters will find them useless after seeing them once. Second, those that rely on internal energy, like Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms; even if you know the moves, you can only confront them head-on.

Wang Ming's Five Peaks Swordplay is the same. His previous opponent was Hong Qigong, and he would have lost miserably because Hong Qigong had seen this swordplay.

Huang Laoxie gave him one day, and this swordplay would also be ineffective against him.

So, does it mean that if Hong Qigong uses the Dog Beating Staff, he is guaranteed to win? Not necessarily. Just because it can't be broken in a short time doesn't mean it can't be blocked.

Blocking means preventing the move from harming oneself, while breaking means directly hitting a vital point to kill.

As expected, on the field, Ouyang Feng's Serpent Cane struck left and right, aiming for Hong Qigong's vital points.

His Serpent Cane had been lost twice. The one he held now was the third one, newly made. The human heads carved on the staff were even more bizarre and terrifying. However, although the two strange snakes were equally poisonous, they had not been tamed for long and were not as familiar and agile in combat as the original two.

Relying on the Spirit Snake Staff Technique and the poisonous snakes within, Ouyang Feng gradually closed the initial gap.

Hong Qigong's back had been bitten by his strange snakes and struck by his powerful palm that day, nearly costing him his life. He had taken nearly two years to recover.

That was the greatest defeat and the most perilous encounter of his life.

Now, facing him again, he was extremely cautious.

Hong Qigong was about to strike Ouyang Feng on the head with a "Dog Beating" move, but Ouyang Feng blocked it with his Serpent Cane.

As Hong Qigong prepared to change his attack, two strange snakes emerged from the Serpent Cane, lunging at his face with extreme speed.

From afar, Hong Qigong could already smell the incredibly foul odor from the snakes' mouths. He recognized it; it was the same potent poison that had targeted him last time.

He immediately broke free and retreated, intending to dodge the attack.

But Ouyang Feng wouldn't let him escape so easily.

He released the Serpent Cane and, before it even hit the ground, unleashed his Toad Skill, striking at Hong Qigong.

Hong Qigong had no choice but to block the incoming palm strike with his Dog Beating Staff. The force of the palm strike allowed him to escape the two strange snakes' attack, but his Dog Beating Staff flew out of his hand.

Seeing this, Ouyang Feng didn't bother picking up his Serpent Cane.

Instead, he crouched down and assumed the starting stance for his Toad Skill.

He sent a palm strike flying towards Hong Qigong's direction.

This startled Hong Qigong, who quickly dodged it.

None of the Five Greats dared to directly block a fully charged Toad Skill from Ouyang Feng.

Toads, as creatures, hide in the earth for extended periods, accumulating energy. After emerging, they don't need much food. Toad Skill also emphasizes the principle of accumulating and storing power, making its internal energy cultivation incredibly difficult. Any slight mistake in practice could lead to severe injury or even death.

Toad Skill relies purely on stillness to counter movement. The practitioner stores and gathers energy within their body without releasing it. As soon as the opponent attacks, an incredibly fierce counter-force is unleashed.

It is not only powerful, mighty, and fierce, but also unpredictable and wondrous, capable of instantly killing the opponent with a single palm strike.