Final Move: Mountain Suppression! The Sky Patrol Guard!

"Hiss—"

With a slight stir of thought, the silver radiance in Zhang Chu's palm surged. He gave the courtyard a gentle push!

"Bang!"

A massive palm print appeared in the courtyard, driving the blue bricks more than three feet into the ground.

Zhang Chu stood several yards away from the courtyard.

Yet with his Gang Qi released outward, that single palm had utterly pulverized the bricks beneath the palm print, as though they had been struck by a heavy hammer!

"So strong! Driven by Hidden Force, the second move of the True Martial Palm—Armor Shatter—could truly smash through anything!"

Zhang Chu clicked his tongue repeatedly at the sight.

The second move of the True Martial Palm, combined with the outward release of Gang Qi in the Dark Strength Realm, was like a tiger that had grown wings!

"No wonder master chose these two martial arts as the temple's inheritance. He must have known that when Yellow Court Inner Strength and the True Martial Palm were combined, the result would be greater than two!"

The old man had truly gone to great pains.

If Zhang Chu had not reached the Dark Strength Realm, he might never have seen through such a profound arrangement in his entire life.

What a pity. The Dark Strength Realm could be encountered but not sought; countless heroes of the Martial World cultivated bitterly for sixty years without attaining it.

Who knew when Senior Brother and the others would understand.

"Since I've already mastered the second move, I might as well completely master this palm technique and drastically increase my strength!"

The Boat Gang's Gang Leader cultivated a Demonic Cult martial art.

It was incomparably sinister.

Zhang Chu had ruined the other party's plans. He did not believe the man would remain indifferent, so he had to prepare in advance.

"I wonder if I have enough Merit Points."

With a thought, Zhang Chu summoned the System Panel.

[Merit Points: 1200]

Looking at the Merit Points on the panel, Zhang Chu made his arrangements. Twelve hundred Merit Points should be enough.

As for the Bitter Gourd Palm, which he had not even begun to learn, it seemed he could only cultivate it later once he had earned enough Merit Points.

"Continue strengthening the True Martial Palm!"

[Strengthening the True Martial Palm to the third layer requires 1200 Merit Points. Confirmed. Strengthening in progress!]

Sure enough, the third strengthening doubled the cost again. Fortunately, Zhang Chu had estimated it beforehand, and he still had enough Merit Points.

Whew! This time, the system's strengthening was very fast.

Scenes began appearing in Zhang Chu's mind.

They contained every essence of the True Martial Palm.

They fused together the creator's painstaking efforts from countless years.

From the first move, to the second move, and finally onward to the last move, everything flowed as naturally as clouds and water!

As if countless years had passed, Zhang Chu grasped every essence of the True Martial Palm. His understanding of the palm technique had risen to an entirely new level!

"Final move of the True Martial Palm—Mountain Suppression!"

Zhang Chu involuntarily unleashed the palm technique.

"Rumble—!"

A horrifying sight unfolded.

Zhang Chu's palm was swift as lightning and heavy as Mount Tai, smashing down from above with crushing force.

It actually sank a five-meter-square patch of ground outside the courtyard nearly three meters deep, sending dust and smoke billowing into the air.

The vast Inner Strength and Gang Qi startled every bird and beast around Lu Daoist Temple into flight, none daring to linger for even an instant.

Even the fish in the river seemed to sense an apocalyptic pressure and fled through the water in panic.

Fast and fierce! Suppressing mountains, subduing peaks!

It was impossible to imagine what the result would be if such a palm landed on a person.

"This combination is truly wondrous beyond compare!"

He did not know how master had discovered the immense power produced by combining the two, but judging from the results before him, this path was undoubtedly a great road leading to the heavens.

Excitement appeared on Zhang Chu's face.

After strengthening Yellow Court Inner Strength to the Fifth Layer, he had already stood alone in the Dark Strength Realm, with few who could match him.

Now, with the three moves of the True Martial Palm added to the mix, his strength was no longer what it had once been—it had doubled!

"If I strengthen Yellow Court Inner Strength to the Sixth Layer, wouldn't I be able to say that I'm invincible in the Dark Strength Realm?"

Zhang Chu was somewhat astonished by his own strength. Whether it was Yellow Court Inner Strength or the True Martial Palm, others would need a lifetime of bitter cultivation to reach such a level.

Yet he could already wield them as easily as he wished.

If he could continue strengthening his Internal Skill, his power would certainly become even greater. The speed at which his Inner Strength transformed into Gang Qi would also increase, perhaps even allowing it all to be transformed!

"But beautiful as the idea is—"

"My Merit Points are no longer enough."

After strengthening Yellow Court Inner Strength and the True Martial Palm in succession, his Merit Points had been emptied out. Not a single drop remained.

"Looks like I need to earn Merit Points quickly. There are quite a few evil forces around Linjiang County. Time to clean them out."

In the past, the three brothers had worried about offending people.

They had turned a blind eye to many things.

Without master to back them up, they had been extremely cautious while serving as Patrol Guards, only able to deal with some bandit troubles.

They feared getting entangled in Jianghu disputes.

But now, Zhang Chu only wanted to offend more people!

"Junior Brother, run! The earth dragon has turned over—there's an earthquake!"

At that moment, Senior Brother Li Minghuai came rushing over from the temple's side courtyard, supporting Junior Brother Wang Yuan.

The two were disheveled. Clearly, they had only just lain down when the tremendous rumbling woke them.

Seeing their bedraggled state,

Zhang Chu felt a little embarrassed.

"Senior Brother, it wasn't an earthquake. I was practicing just now, and the commotion was a bit too big. I didn't control my strength well."

It seemed that in the future, he should practice in the mountains whenever possible. Otherwise, one day he might demolish the temple himself. This was the old man's only legacy, and it was a manor of sorts.

Li Minghuai also saw the scene in the courtyard at that moment.

He jumped into the deep pit, then jumped back out.

Then he looked at Zhang Chu. "Junior Brother, you're saying this several-meter-deep pit was caused by your practice?"

"Mm. I got carried away for a moment and failed to control the palm technique. Don't worry, Senior Brother. I'll find someone to fill it in tomorrow."

"What? Second Senior Brother, you made this with one palm strike? Then wouldn't you... be even stronger than master?!"

Wang Yuan suddenly sprang out, his expression as though he had seen a ghost. He stared at the huge pit in the courtyard in shock.

Master's realm was naturally profound, but Wang Yuan knew that master definitely did not possess such power.

Li Minghuai realized something at that moment.

He glared at Wang Yuan. "Enough! This must never be mentioned again. Junior Brother, remember this: if anyone asks about Xiao Chu in the future, you must not tell them even if it kills you!"

Rare anger appeared on Li Minghuai's face. This was the first time in many years that he had lost his temper with Wang Yuan.

Though Wang Yuan was young, he was no fool. Once his senior brother shouted at him, he immediately understood the stakes.

How old was Second Senior Brother?

Only one year older than him—just eighteen.

At eighteen, he already possessed such power. If the outside world found out, how could their temple ever know peace again?

Within the Martial World, many people would do anything to improve their martial cultivation!

"Senior Brother's lesson is right. I was too careless. Don't worry, Senior Brother. I will keep this absolutely secret."

This grave atmosphere made Zhang Chu shake his head.

He had increased his strength not to make his brothers live in fear, but to protect the temple.

"Senior Brother, there's no need to be so nervous. With my current strength, even if someone with ill intentions comes, they won't leave this temple. There's no need to deliberately hide it."

"Besides, what our True Martial Temple has lost must be taken back. Sooner or later, it will be exposed."

Zhang Chu revealed his plans for the future.

Li Minghuai still could not quite set his mind at ease.

Worried, he asked, "Xiao Chu, tell your Senior Brother the truth. What realm has your strength reached now?"

"Not weaker than master," Zhang Chu said calmly.

Even that was an understatement, because he feared frightening them.

"Hiss..." Li Minghuai froze for a moment. He had known that his junior brother was exceptionally gifted, but he had not expected him to be this strong.

Not weaker than master? Did that not mean the Dark Strength Realm!

His junior brother had actually become a Lesser Grandmaster!

Li Minghuai and Wang Yuan both felt their heads buzzing, unable to react for a moment.

Once they came back to their senses,

the two of them realized together that Zhang Chu had already become a Lesser Grandmaster, so what were they still being so cautious about?

Tomorrow, they would open their doors wide to welcome worshippers!

"Good! Junior Brother, focus on cultivating without worry. Third Junior Brother and I will handle the temple's affairs."

"Yes, yes, we'll handle them!..."

Li Minghuai was filled with drive at that moment. Beside him, Wang Yuan, whose injuries had yet to heal, nodded again and again.

Ever since their master had died violently in Mobei, True Martial Temple had not seen such a relaxed and carefree scene in a long time.

Yet just as the three of them relaxed,

the temple gates beneath the night curtain were suddenly knocked upon!

"Bang, bang, bang...!" The temple's heavy gates gave off dull echoes in the silent night.

Then the visitor outside called, "Sky Patrol Guard Jin Mu is here to pay a visit. May I ask whether Daoist Priest Zhang is present?"