59, 60: Sword Finger, Inch of Gleam, Easily Defeating Ouyang

Seeing Lu Chen challenge Ouyang Ke, everyone immediately turned to look at Ouyang Ke in unison, their eyes full of schadenfreude.

Ouyang Ke had an impressive background and put on quite a show. Though he appeared refined and amiable, deep down he did not think much of rough jianghu men like Sha Tongtian, and now and then, he could not help letting a trace of contempt show.

But aside from Reverend Lingzhi, whose confidence came from seeing only the world at the bottom of a well, everyone else knew exactly what sort of figure Ouyang Ke's uncle was.

Thus, though they had endured Ouyang Ke's disdain, they dared be angry but not speak of it, and even had to smile along with him. Yet in their hearts, every one of them hoped to see Ouyang Ke suffer a crushing loss.

"Young Master Ouyang is the Young Master of White Camel Mountain, and his skills are truly astonishing. Though young friend Lu has yet to make a name for himself in the jianghu, I believe that at this moment, no one would dare doubt his Martial Arts. If the two of them can exchange pointers, we shall truly feast our eyes!"

Peng Lianhu said with a beaming smile.

At first hearing, those words seemed harmless enough, but beneath the surface, he was needling Ouyang Ke by comparing him with Lu Chen—

You are the Young Master of White Camel Mountain, born of a famous school, while he is merely an unknown youngster. Yet his Martial Arts have already won the recognition of everyone present. Young Master Ouyang, do you dare accept his challenge?

"Indeed. Every one of us has heard Young Master Ouyang's uncle's great name like thunder in our ears. Though we have not been fortunate enough to witness Mr. Ouyang's peerless divine skills, being able to see Young Master Ouyang make a move and thereby catch a glimpse of Mr. Ouyang's divine might is already a great blessing for us."

Sha Tongtian chimed in with Peng Lianhu.

Liang Zi'ong, however, said nothing.

Though he too disliked Ouyang Ke's arrogance, he was the only fortunate soul present who had been beaten senseless by one of the Five Greats. He knew best just how terrifying the Five Greats were, and did not dare fan the flames here lest Ouyang Ke bear a grudge against him.

Moreover, compared with Ouyang Ke, whose birth was lofty and whose backing was iron-hard, Liang Zi'ong was even less willing to see Lu Chen and Huang Rong, two unknown young nobodies, rise later and surpass those who came before.

As the oldest retainer of the prince's manor, Liang Zi'ong instinctively resisted—and even hated—young geniuses.

Though he was not as aggressive and overbearing as Reverend Lingzhi on the surface, and even seemed somewhat kindly, deep down he had long begun plotting how to target and suppress Lu Chen and Huang Rong.

Hou Tonghai, meanwhile, shook his head and said:

"I don't think Young Master Ouyang can do it. Lu brat's Movement Technique is superb—he keeps darting about until your eyes go dizzy. And his finger force is even more formidable. Those two fingers are like iron awls; they even smashed Reverend Lingzhi's Great Mudra head-on. If they jab someone, wouldn't they leave a bloody hole with every strike? I reckon Young Master Ouyang probably can't beat him."

This fool was not being sarcastic. He simply had none of those complicated thoughts. True to his one-track mind, he merely said whatever was on his mind.

Yet it was precisely this "upright sincerity" that was most lethal.

Ouyang Ke had already been squeezed into an awkward position by Peng Lianhu and Sha Tongtian. After Hou Tonghai said that as well, what room did he have left to retreat?

As the nephew of the Five Greats Grandmaster, the Western Venom, if he did not even dare accept the challenge of an unknown junior like Lu Chen—if he did not even dare fight—then it would not merely be Ouyang Ke's own face that he lost. He would drag his uncle's face down with him.

Besides, Lu Chen's footwork was indeed exquisite, but Ouyang Ke considered his family's Instantaneous Thousand Li to be an ultimate Movement Technique as well, no less than Lu Chen's.

As for Lu Chen's so-called Formless Sword Finger, which had forcibly broken the Great Mudra, Ouyang Ke believed it had merely gained the advantage of striking unexpectedly.

A "sword finger" was, after all, only a finger.

Not only was its reach far inferior to that of a real sword, it also lacked a true sword's resilience. It could not, like a real blade, combine hardness and softness, flick and tremble through endless transformations. Nor did it possess the twin edges of a real sword. Only the single point of the fingertip held killing power, severely restricting its techniques; it could not display anywhere near the variety of a true sword.

And since he had already seen Lu Chen use the Formless Sword Finger and understood its secrets, he merely needed to guard against the sharp point of Lu Chen's fingertip. There was no need for excessive fear.

After swiftly calculating matters in his mind, Ouyang Ke found his confidence.

With a swish, he snapped his folding fan shut and gave a cold laugh.

"Good. Then I shall witness young friend Lu's brilliant skills!"

As he spoke, his figure flashed. In an elegant, drifting posture, he swept into the courtyard and faced Lu Chen from across it.

He had wanted to give Lu Chen a harsh lesson during the day, to show off his abilities before Huang Rong, but that fool Hou Tonghai had spoiled things, leaving him no choice but to depart in frustration.

Now he could defeat Lu Chen before the crowd, win face before Wanyan Honglie, make Sha Tongtian and the others submit to his methods, and incidentally make Lu Chen lose every shred of face before Huang Rong.

With that thought, Ouyang Ke did not stand on ceremony. He called out to Lu Chen:

"Be careful, young friend Lu!"

His figure flashed and swept forward. Like the wind, he closed on Lu Chen, both palms weaving layer upon layer of palm shadows that shrouded him.

What he used was White Camel Mountain's supreme art, the Divine Camel Snow Mountain Palm.

Ouyang Ke's Divine Camel Snow Mountain Palm followed a path entirely different from Reverend Lingzhi's Great Mudra.

Reverend Lingzhi's palm techniques opened and closed with grand force, fierce and domineering, but their moves were relatively simple, with few complicated variations.

Ouyang Ke's palm art, on the other hand, was graceful and intricate, its transformations unpredictable and its feints countless.

Once the palm force rose, the sky filled with palm shadows like a blizzard of falling snow, throwing the eye into confusion. Yet amid those complicated feints that dazzled the vision lurked vicious, razor-sharp solid strikes of tremendous killing power. Whether feint or real attack, their momentum appeared identical, making them impossible to read.

For this palm art to stand as one of the Western Venom's supreme skills, its might was naturally immense.

Yet Lu Chen had experienced the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, whose moves were plain and unadorned but nearly flawless; he had also witnessed Hong Qigong's endlessly varied fist and foot techniques, as well as the Falling Blossom Divine Sword Palm and the Ancient Tomb Sect's Heavenly Net Formation, both renowned for their complex transformations and unfathomable blend of feint and substance. His experience in dealing with such palm arts was already extraordinarily rich.

With his current experience and inner power, even without a sword in hand, he had ways to deal with it. As Ouyang Ke's dense palm force, like a swirling snowstorm, came at him, he rapidly shifted and evaded while using his fingers as a sword to counterattack through openings.

Of course, just as Ouyang Ke had expected, a sword finger was ultimately not a real sword. Lu Chen had not trained his entire finger to be as sharp as a sword blade; its killing force was indeed limited to the single point of his fingertip, and its range was too short. His exquisite sword techniques could not be unleashed to their fullest.

But the most lethal application of swordsmanship lay in one word: thrust.

So long as Lu Chen used his sword finger to execute all manner of thrusting techniques, posing as if he sought to collide with Ouyang Ke's palms, Ouyang Ke would be deeply wary. He did not dare make many of his palm techniques solid, and could only keep probing with feints, seeking flaws in Lu Chen's defense.

But with Lu Chen's experience against palm arts, how could he reveal a flaw so easily?

Not only was his defense watertight, he even occasionally unleashed a Treading Frost Breaking Ice Palm, using the pressure of Ouyang Ke's palm art to temper this palm technique, in which he had not yet put much hard work.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

Amid the sound of sleeves tearing through the air, white-clad Ouyang Ke employed his family's Instantaneous Thousand Li Movement Technique as he and black-clad Lu Chen roamed throughout the courtyard. One white, one black—the two figures sprang up like hares and swooped like falcons, constantly shifting, leaping, and changing positions, while fingers and palms flew as they rapidly exchanged move after move.

In the blink of an eye, the two had already exchanged over a hundred moves.

The longer Ouyang Ke fought, the more alarmed he became.

He had thought he had already rated Lu Chen as highly as possible, but only after truly facing him in battle did he realize that he had still underestimated Lu Chen's abilities.

He was thirty-six this year and had trained in martial arts under his uncle since childhood. Though Toad Style was far too profound and carried considerable risks in cultivation, so that he had not dared practice his uncle's proudest art, he had received the true transmission of all his uncle's other martial arts. He believed that, in all the world, beneath the Five Greats, he could call himself first.

Yet who could have imagined that this Little Sword Demon, who had appeared from who knew where and looked not even twenty, possessed martial arts so formidable? Under the fierce assault of the Divine Camel Snow Mountain Palm, the technique Ouyang Ke knew best, Lu Chen revealed not the slightest flaw and could even counterattack again and again with sword fingers and palm techniques.

He was already this formidable empty-handed—how terrifying would he be if he held a sword?

Wary, Ouyang Ke grew increasingly cautious with every move.

Not only did he repeatedly withdraw his palm midway rather than clash with Lu Chen's sword fingers, even when Lu Chen used that still-unfamiliar Treading Frost Breaking Ice Palm, Ouyang Ke would not compete with him in palm force. He feared Lu Chen might be baiting him, suddenly changing his palm into fingers and dealing him a vicious blow.

Of course.

Though Ouyang Ke fought with extreme care and was even inwardly startled by Lu Chen's skills, he still felt the advantage was his.

He did not believe that, at Lu Chen's age, his inner power could be stronger than Ouyang Ke's.

For two people like them to roam, dart, evade, wheel, and shift without pause while rapidly exchanging moves placed immense demands on their inner power, stamina, and mental strength.

Ouyang Ke prided himself on his deep inner power and great endurance, yet after only several dozen moves, he already felt his strength draining considerably. How much more so Lu Chen, who was seventeen or eighteen years younger?

One had to know that Lu Chen had just evaded over a hundred moves beneath Reverend Lingzhi's frenzied assault, darting about with an exceedingly swift movement technique. His inner power must have been depleted greatly.

Now that he was engaged in such intense combat with Ouyang Ke, how much longer could he endure?

Thus, in Ouyang Ke's view, Lu Chen might presently be able to fight him to a standstill on the strength of a young swordsman's sharp spirit, but if he only dragged things out a while longer, then once Lu Chen's edge had worn away and his inner power and stamina had been overly exhausted, Ouyang Ke would surely seize the upper hand and claim a resounding victory in the end.

Certain of victory and with a plan in his heart, Ouyang Ke patiently circled and fought with Lu Chen. He had no intention of using the Spirit Snake Fist Technique either.

The Spirit Snake Fist Technique was a secret art newly created by his uncle, intended for use at the next Mount Hua Sword Conference to catch the other Five Greats off guard.

Therefore, unless forced to the utmost limit, Ouyang Ke did not wish to reveal this secret art.

Ouyang Ke intended to wear Lu Chen down with his profound inner power, unaware that after these hundred-odd exchanged moves, Lu Chen had gradually become familiar with his movement technique and palm techniques. Lu Chen no longer intended to drag this out; he was going to end the duel.

Thus, just as Ouyang Ke once again withdrew his palm midway before Lu Chen's sword fingers and leaped backward, Lu Chen charged forward fiercely, his sword fingers shooting toward Ouyang Ke's throat.

This time, what he used was One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones from Quanzhen Swordplay.

The three thrusts of One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones relied upon the sword blade's supple resilience. With a flick of the wrist, the blade trembled, its tip rapidly springing and quivering to either side, allowing the Sword Light to split into three.

Using fingers in place of a sword naturally made it impossible to divide the Sword Light in such a manner. Therefore, Lu Chen's One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones took only the central thrust. As his body sped forward, he thrust again and again, one sword with each step; as soon as one thrust was delivered, another followed, his sword fingers launching an unceasing chain of thrusts toward Ouyang Ke.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Amid fierce, piercing sounds tearing through the air, Lu Chen completed the sequence in one fluid motion, stabbing eighteen times in succession.

Ouyang Ke did not dare meet those sword fingers head-on. He exerted his movement technique to the utmost, flying backward and dodging.

After great difficulty, he evaded Lu Chen's eighteen consecutive sword thrusts. Then Ouyang Ke suddenly noticed that Lu Chen's wildly advancing body had paused ever so slightly, while the sword fingers that had been thrusting in succession also stalled for an instant.

This discovery immediately made Ouyang Ke's eyes light up. He believed that Lu Chen's eighteen consecutive sword thrusts had been too fierce and consumed too much strength, leaving him finally unable to sustain the follow-up.

"Still, he is young and impatient! Before establishing the winning advantage, before forcing me into a disadvantage and gaining the opportunity to decide the battle, he launched his killing move on a whim. He has needlessly spent all his sharp spirit, and now his reserves can no longer keep up!"

Delighted, Ouyang Ke felt that he had seized Lu Chen's weakness. Without the slightest hesitation, he grasped this excellent opportunity and unleashed his family's movement technique, Instantaneous Thousand Li, with all his strength. In an instant, he changed from flying backward to charging forward, flashing ahead like lightning. His five fingers spread and curled into claws as he seized at Lu Chen's sword fingers with a grappling technique, intending to snap his fingers alive and cripple his Formless Sword Finger in one stroke!

Just as Ouyang Ke's grappling hand was about to seize Lu Chen's two fingers, a trace of smug satisfaction surfaced in his eyes.

Lu Chen's lips suddenly curved upward slightly, revealing an odd smile.

At the same time, his sword fingers lightly flicked upward. Clearly, they had not touched Ouyang Ke's palm, yet with a sharp shhk, the little finger and ring finger of Ouyang Ke's right hand were severed at the root!

Ouyang Ke's expression changed. He sprang backward, and after steadying himself, looked at his bloody right hand. The severed ends were perfectly smooth; the two fingers looked as though they had been cut off by an incomparably sharp weapon.

Shocked and enraged, Ouyang Ke gritted his teeth and demanded, "What kind of martial art is this?"

Lu Chen flicked his fingernails and said indifferently, "Formless Sword Finger."

When Sword Light was invoked with a true sword, it produced a pale blue aura visible to the naked eye.

But when Sword Light was invoked through sword fingers, it became shadowless and formless—an invisible sword aura that could not be seen with the naked eye.

The name Formless Sword Finger was entirely fitting.

"Formless Sword Finger..." Ouyang Ke nodded. "Good. What a Formless Sword Finger! I'll remember it!"

Having said that, he did not even pick up his severed fingers. He merely cupped his hands to Wanyan Honglie, then swept his sleeve and departed.

Even Ouyang Ke had had two fingers severed by Lu Chen. Naturally, none of the experts present questioned whether Lu Chen and Huang Rong were qualified to stand on equal footing with them.

Well, not everyone was convinced.

Reverend Lingzhi firmly believed Lu Chen had used "sorcery," muttering without end, "Lu boy's fingers clearly never touched Young Master Ouyang's fingers, yet Young Master Ouyang's fingers were severed. If that isn't sorcery, what is? My lord, this Lu boy is a demon! You must not let him deceive you!"

Wanyan Honglie was speechless.

At this moment, his heart was a tangled mix of joy and worry.

Little White Dragon Huang Rong was a true master, and Little Sword Demon Lu Chen had defeated even Reverend Lingzhi and Ouyang Ke without drawing his sword!

Moreover, Huang Rong and Lu Chen were both so young. Their current Martial Arts attainments were far from their limits; they would surely make even greater progress in the future and become stronger still.

To gain the aid of two young masters with such boundless prospects was naturally a tremendous blessing for Wanyan Honglie.

But the problem was that Lu Chen had injured Ouyang Ke, severing two of his fingers and forging no small enmity. Ouyang Ke's uncle, Ouyang Feng, was one of the Five Greats of the World.

If Ouyang Feng sought vengeance for his nephew and came into conflict with Lu Chen and Huang Rong, how would that end?

Wanyan Honglie was caught between joy and worry, his head aching terribly, yet naturally he did not dare slight Lu Chen.

In a low voice, he instructed a maidservant to gather Ouyang Ke's two severed fingers and deliver them to Young Master Ouyang. Then he laughed heartily and lavishly praised Lu Chen:

"A young hero! Young Hero Lu truly is an extraordinary young hero! Come, come, Young Hero Lu, please enter the banquet hall. This prince shall toast you with three cups!"

The evening banquet resumed.

This time, Lu Chen and Huang Rong became the center of attention.

Whether it was Sha Tongtian and Peng Lianhu, who feared the two of them, or Liang Zi'ong, who harbored dark thoughts and pondered how best to suppress them, all wore beaming smiles on the surface. Together with Wanyan Honglie, they heaped praise upon the pair and toasted them without pause.

Only the blunt-hearted Hou Tonghai wore his feelings on his face. Although Lu Chen's defeat of Ouyang Ke had won Old Hou his wager and enhanced his standing, he also felt that the two had stolen the limelight from him and his martial brothers and taken the prince's favor. Throughout the banquet, he gave Lu Chen and Huang Rong no pleasant looks.

More than half an hour later, the feast ended, with host and guests alike thoroughly satisfied.

Putting on a half-drunken act, Lu Chen supported Huang Rong, whose pretty face was flushed red, as they made their way back to Winter Plum Courtyard under Steward Jian and Tang Zude's escort.

After Steward Jian and Tang Zude left, Lu Chen rubbed his face, and the haze in his drunken eyes instantly gave way to bright vigor.

Huang Rong, who had likewise been pretending to be half drunk, patted her cheeks and sobered up. Both delighted and worried, she said:

"Why did you cut off Ouyang Ke's fingers?"

Lu Chen smiled. "I said I'd teach him a lesson, so naturally I had to keep my word."

"But..."

"No buts."

Lu Chen gently placed both hands on Huang Rong's shoulders, looked into her eyes, and smiled.

"Ouyang Ke was not only full of ill intent toward me—he had even more improper designs on you. Of course I had to teach him a lesson painful enough."

"But Ouyang Feng..."

Huang Rong herself was not worried about Ouyang Feng causing trouble, but she truly feared that Ouyang Feng would strike viciously at Lu Chen.

"It's fine."

Lu Chen smiled with complete confidence.

"A treasure will soon fall into our hands tonight. Once we obtain it, not only will our inner power advance greatly, we will also become immune to all poisons. By then, even if the Western Venom came in person, he might not be able to do anything to me!"

"Mm."

Huang Rong nodded slightly, then suddenly felt as though something was off.

Recalling the domineering, decisive tone with which Lu Chen had cut her off twice just now, then seeing how he was pressing both hands on her shoulders and looking down at her from above by virtue of his height, Huang Rong puffed out her rosy cheeks. Raising her head to look at Lu Chen, she said reproachfully:

"Lu Chen, how rude of you. Now that your Martial Arts have improved and your wings have hardened, are you going to betray your master, Master Rong?"

Lu Chen laughed despite himself. Seeing her adorable little face flushed crimson, her brows and eyes tinged with reproach, his heart stirred. He lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead.

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