Unexpected Encounter, Battle with Deathstroke

Holding the sword aloft in one hand, Guan Heng could not help letting out a long howl that made the stone walls tremble slightly. The blade was roughly a palm-width wide and about two and a half feet long, while the hilt could be gripped with both hands.

After absorbing the Dragon Heart Flame, the sword bloomed with an unusual radiance. It suddenly gave off a suction force, instantly drawing dust and stone fragments from the surrounding air onto its blade, forming a layer of stone sheath. Guan Heng stared in astonishment, but he did make out the two characters inscribed on the blade: Cheng Ying. The inscription was in ancient seal script. Fortunately, Guan Heng had read quite a few Taoist classics and knew how to draw talismans, so he could barely recognize it.

"Chengying Sword..." Guan Heng muttered. "I think I've heard of it, but I can't really remember." He reached out to pull the sword from the stone case again, only to find that it would not budge. Gritting his teeth, a layer of golden light suddenly appeared over his hand, greatly increasing his strength. A grinding creak sounded, yet he still could not pull it free.

"Guan Heng!" Rand called from the entrance. "I heard the sound of you passing the trial. Why aren't you coming out yet?"

Hearing the call, Guan Heng had no choice but to give up. He stopped trying to pull out the sword and quickly walked out of the cave. Daniel Rand embraced him. "Congratulations, brother! You're now the newest generation of Iron Fist! Huh? What's that sword in your hand?"

Guan Heng gave a dry laugh. "I just picked it up in the cave." Becoming a Superhero wasn't all that difficult after all.

Rand had little interest in the sword and went on to explain the origin of the dragon Guan Heng had encountered. "Its name is Shou-Lao. Everyone attempting the trial encounters it, but the dragon takes a different form each time because it reflects the imagined enemy within one's heart."

As a Demon Exorcist, Guan Heng's strongest imagined enemy was naturally a zombie.

After leaving the secret realm chamber, Rand said, "Brother, because of the mind and time chamber, you trained inside for a year, while only twenty-four hours passed in the outside world. This is Kunlun City's greatest secret. As the successor to Iron Fist, I hope you can keep it confidential."

Rand raised his Fists. In an instant, scorching heat enveloped them. "See? You can use this ability freely as well. From wrapping it around your Fists to covering your entire body, this is the use of qi. You can manipulate this qi at any time, greatly raising your already extraordinary abilities to another level."

He threw two punches with a whoosh, and the wind from his Fists tore streaks through the air. Guan Heng nodded in satisfaction.

Iron Fist continued, "Your strength, speed, stamina, endurance, agility, neural responses, and senses will all receive unprecedented enhancement through the circulation of qi. This makes your already formidable martial arts even more powerful. The ultimate technique is to concentrate the superhuman power within your body into your Two Hands. Your clenched Fists emit supernatural heat, concentrated like steel, allowing you to smash your target to pieces without your Fists hurting or being injured. However, one such punch will leave you exhausted for some time, so use it carefully."

Before he had even finished speaking, Guan Heng's heat-wreathed Iron Fist had already smashed several huge boulders with a swing. Guan Heng cried excitedly, "Smashing rocks really doesn't hurt my hand at all!"

Rand stared in astonishment. How could he know that Guan Heng also had the Super Soldier Serum? His stamina and recovery speed had reached a level ordinary people could never comprehend. He would probably still have strength left after throwing dozens of punches in a row.

When leaving Kunlun City, Guan Heng had originally had no idea where to go. Rand gave him a case containing a plane ticket and some travel money, telling him to go to New York City and find Tony Stark.

Hearing that, Guan Heng merely shrugged indifferently and said nothing. He simply gave Rand a warm embrace in farewell.

And so began his aimless journey. To be honest, he did not want to see Iron Man. He had already been somewhat unwilling when the other man had half-forcibly brought him into this world. Still, he would go to New York City first and decide what to do afterward. For now, Guan Heng did not want to belong to any faction. He wanted to be free and unrestrained.

He had thought that he could sleep after boarding the plane and arrive in New York City when he opened his eyes, but fate had other plans.

The plane encountered Strong Airflow midway through the flight. The violent shaking woke the groggy Guan Heng. "Damn it, what's going on?"

"I'm sorry, sir," a blonde flight attendant hurriedly said beside him. "We've encountered Strong Airflow outside. The plane may need to make an emergency landing. Please fasten your seat belt."

"Why does every unlucky thing happen to me?" Guan Heng complained as he fastened his seat belt. Seeing the apologetic expression on the flight attendant's face, he added, "Don't be so nervous. Why are your legs shaking?"

Twenty minutes later, the plane was forced to land at an airport in a small city. After leaving the terminal, Guan Heng hailed a taxi. "Take me to a motel. A cheap one will do."

The driver muttered under his breath and slowly started the car. They had not gone far when police cars screamed past nearby, their sirens blaring.

Guan Heng turned to look out the window. Before he could figure out what was happening, the radio near the driver's seat sounded. "Fifteen minutes ago, a professional mercenary squad led by S-class wanted criminal Deathstroke robbed an armored truck. Citizens are advised to be vigilant when traveling or returning home."

Guan Heng's eyes lit up, and he grew rather excited. "Deathstroke? He's a major villain. I wonder if he's the same as in the TV shows." With that thought, he gently patted the long bundle in front of him. The Chengying Sword lay quietly inside.

The taxi moved forward like an old ox pulling a plow, swaying sluggishly along. Guan Heng was complaining about its speed when he suddenly heard gunfire nearby.

Rat-a-tat-tat! The sounds of all kinds of firearms erupted. Deathstroke, wearing a yellow-and-black mask, directed his men. "Take the cash case and wait at the usual place. I'll teach these cops a little lesson." As he spoke, he drew the twin swords from his back and charged straight at the officers opposite him.

With a click, a brown-haired officer was loading his weapon when he failed to notice a crescent-shaped blade flash past. The gun in his hand was instantly cut in half. Deathstroke's other blade swept horizontally, about to slice open the officer's throat.

At the critical moment, a long bundle appeared From the Side and struck the katana away with a bang. Its owner then followed up with a flying kick that landed squarely on Deathstroke's chest.

"What sharp kicking technique!" Deathstroke grunted in pain and staggered back four or five steps. Looking closely, he saw that his opponent was a sturdy young man of around twenty, with black hair, black eyes, and an Eastern face wearing a faint smile.

Spinning his twin swords twice in his hands, Deathstroke said sharply, "Good kid, you dare meddle in my business? I'll make you pay!" He lunged forward, his blade techniques fierce as he repeatedly slashed at Guan Heng's chest.

Guan Heng swung the long cloth bundle sideways, blocking and locking both blades in place. He shouted, "Deathstroke, you really do have some skill. But since you ran into me, I can only ring your death knell for you!"

As he spoke, fragments of the long cloth bundle scattered away, revealing the Chengying Sword within its Stone Sheath. Roar! Guan Heng let out a fierce shout, deliberately testing the extent of his strength. Qi instantly surged throughout his body, and blazing light appeared. Guan Heng viciously smashed the sword down onto the twin blades. Deathstroke could not hold on with both hands, and one katana was knocked flying. Reeling back in pain, he exclaimed, "What incredible strength! You have superpowers?"

"Deathstroke, you're surrounded! Drop your weapons and surrender immediately, or we'll open fire!" More than a dozen officers raised their guns and shouted. They had quietly surrounded the two while they were fighting.

"Damn it, brat! I'll find another chance to fight you next time!" Fearing that escape would become difficult if he were fully surrounded, Deathstroke suddenly bent down and rammed an officer at the edge of the encirclement away. With a few swift leaps, he vanished without a trace.

"And you! Put your hands up immediately, you dangerous individual!" The officers' dark gun barrels turned toward Guan Heng. Wearing a miserable expression, he raised his Two Hands. "What the hell? I'm one of the good guys!"