Fifty Moves to Defeat Zhang Chong

Two days later, at Zuichun Pavilion.

In the largest private room.

Chen Mo arrived with Yin Tianqing, Yin Shanshan, and Wu Zhiai. By the time they got there, the room was already packed with people. The three of them found seats near the door.

The Anyang County dark-jin experts from the Xie Family, Qi Family, Black Tiger Hall, Zhao Family, Iron Palm Gang, and other factions had all gathered.

County Magistrate Lin sat in the center, gazing haughtily in every direction. Everyone his eyes fell upon felt a slight pressure.

He then spoke, his voice booming like a bell. "Thank you all for honoring me with your presence. I am grateful."

He cupped his fists briefly, then continued, "I'll get straight to the point. Today's martial gathering is for exchanging techniques, sparring, and strengthening the bonds between us."

"There are no fixed rules for sparring. As long as you invite someone to take the floor, and they agree, you can begin right away."

Several people furrowed their brows.

Even if you didn't want to honor someone with a match, you couldn't refuse County Magistrate Lin.

So the rule meant that you could challenge whomever you wanted.

Chen Mo's expression remained calm as he scanned the room from the corner of his eye.

Just then, Zhang Chong's gaze shifted toward him. Their eyes met across the room.

After nearly a month of recuperation, and with the Zhao Family constantly supplying him with medicinal tonics, Zhang Chong had recovered completely.

On top of that, Zhao Huayuan had personally sparred with him several times, and his real combat experience had improved somewhat.

He was certain that if he fought Chen Mo again, he would humiliate him in front of everyone.

A short while later,

Lin Chong finished speaking.

Chang Hao of the Iron Palm Gang sprang to his feet. His gaze swept across the room like lightning before settling on the Black Tiger Hall's deputy hall master.

"Hall Master Zheng, please."

Zheng Yao was slightly taken aback, but he wasn't intimidated. He rose at once to accept the challenge.

Zheng Yao was at the peak of dark jin and ranked among the top ten martial artists in Anyang County.

Chang Hao, meanwhile, had only one foot over the threshold of that level. That "one foot" alone showed the gap between them.

"Chang Hao really has the bearing of a king. He'll surely take over as the Iron Palm Gang's leader one day," someone nearby praised.

The match began at once. Chen Mo watched closely, hoping to gain insights through Mountain and Water Cultivation.

Chang Hao's Thunderbolt Palm was powerful and unrelenting, even stronger than it had been during the Martial Examination. Zheng Yao, on the other hand, practiced leg techniques that combined agility with devastating force.

The two darted and dodged, their palm and leg strikes clashing and crossing. Jin force burst through the air in every direction, whistling fiercely.

The surrounding tables and chairs shook again and again, and the crowd quickly cleared a larger space.

As Chen Mo observed the fight, he gained insights into their movement and footwork, improving his own footwork by the slightest degree.

On the twenty-sixth exchange, Zheng Yao landed a fierce kick and sent Chang Hao flying out of the ring. Cheers rang out around them.

As the match ended, Zhang Chong rose to his feet. He glanced at Chen Mo and said, "Chen Mo, I lost to you in the Martial Examination. Let's fight again today and put those rumors to rest."

Yin Tianqing, seated beside Chen Mo, wore a dark expression, while everyone around them watched with eager anticipation.

The hottest topic of this year's Martial Examination had been the fight between Chen Mo and Zhang Chong.

A green young man had beaten his treacherous senior apprentice brother until he was rolling in the dirt.

And now,

the senior apprentice brother had returned. Could the former junior apprentice brother defeat him again?

Under the crowd's many curious gazes, Chen Mo slowly rose without a word and stepped forward.

The two walked to the center of the room and faced each other, their gazes icy.

Zhang Chong assumed the opening stance of Baguazhang, stepping into the Bagua Formation Positions as he spread his palms to either side.

Chen Mo slowly raised his hands into the stance for Dragon-Capturing Jin and quietly gathered Tiemang Technique. His arms instantly hardened like iron.

The Qi Family head took a sip of fragrant tea. "Zhang Chong's Baguazhang is strong in both attack and defense. Every step lands exactly where it should. I'm curious to see how Chen Mo will respond."

Qi Sheng, beside him, said, "Zhang Chong plays it safe, while Chen Mo takes the unexpected route. They each have their strengths. It all comes down to who gets a little more luck."

In the blink of an eye,

Zhang Chong had stepped through more than a dozen Bagua Formation Positions. When he spotted a fleeting opening in Chen Mo's guard, he suddenly leaped into the air like a crane crying to the heavens, then chopped down with a palm, his attack sharp and ferocious.

Chen Mo used Luo Smoke Steps to retreat slightly and evade half the force of the blow. Then he launched his improved Sand-Raising Style, driving a fist skyward to block the other half.

Bang!

Zhang Chong was forced back four or five steps, while Chen Mo retreated only half a step.

"Hmm? Chen Mo's strength has improved quite a bit since last time," Qi Sheng remarked with a frown.

Zhang Chong pressed in again, jin force flaring between their palms and fists.

In the flash of a spark, Zhang Chong landed and shifted his footwork, changing from defense to offense as he struck out with both palms again and again.

Chen Mo alternated between Fuhu Fist and Dragon-Capturing Jin, supporting them with Luo Smoke Steps. One moment he moved with light, graceful agility; the next, with unrelenting force.

Then, a Tiger Roar Jin strike tore through the air, smashing through Zhang Chong's Baguazhang guard before driving a fist into his chest.

Chen Mo felt his fist sink between Zhang Chong's ribs, close to his organs.

If he put in even a little more force, he would likely destroy Zhang Chong's organs as well.

"Pfft!"

Zhang Chong spat out a mouthful of blood, staining the floor of polished wooden planks.

The entire room was stunned.

In fewer than five moves, Chen Mo had defeated Zhang Chong, who was in the late stage of dark jin. Judging by his condition, he wouldn't recover for at least half a year.

"In just over half a month, this young man has grown to such a degree..."

The people from the Qi and Xie Families all sighed in amazement, while those from the Iron Palm Gang and Hefeng Pawnshop watched in shock.

Chang Hao frowned slightly. Though he was straightforward and struck hard, he didn't think he was much stronger than Zhang Chong. If Zhang Chong couldn't last five moves against Chen Mo, then Chang Hao himself would surely lose to him too.

During the Martial Examination, Chen Mo had still been a green young man. How had he become so strong now...?

"Why... why?! Why?!"

Zhang Chong, sprawled on the floor, roared in a frenzy, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "What kind of technique are you practicing?! I don't believe it! I don't believe I could lose to you!"

Not a single spectator stepped forward to help him up.

At that moment, he looked like an abandoned dog.

Seeing this, Yin Shanshan's face eased into relief. Her gaze then shifted slightly toward Chen Mo, gratitude hidden in her eyes.

Just then, Zhao Huayuan abruptly stood up, his gaze cold as he stared at Chen Mo.

At his signal, Luo Hou immediately went over to help Zhang Chong up, then hurried out to call a doctor.

Chen Mo walked toward Yin Tianqing. He had only made it halfway when a figure suddenly blocked his path, moving so quickly that Chen Mo had no time to react.

"Young man from the Chen Family."

Zhao Huayuan, who had stopped him, addressed him differently than usual. "You've improved so quickly in just one month. Did you take some kind of forbidden drug?"

Yin Tianqing immediately stepped forward, but Zhao Huayuan's powerful jin force held him back, keeping him from getting even an inch closer.

Chen Mo felt his body grow difficult to move, as though the jin force inside him were being drawn out.

At that moment,

Wu Zhiai, standing not far away, shouted, "Family Head Zhao, injuries are part and parcel of sparring. Are you really going to bully someone younger than you?"

Everyone around them began to whisper among themselves.

Hearing this, Zhao Huayuan slightly withdrew his jin force, and Chen Mo immediately felt much less burdened.

Zhao Huayuan gave a cold snort, then said, "This boy's progress is unreasonable. If you want me to leave him alone, that's fine. He only has to take three moves from me."

A single move from a Hua Jin expert could be fatal.

Let alone three.

Xie Jinyou stepped forward. "There are countless people in the world who cultivate quickly. Does Family Head Zhao intend to question every one of them? Just because you can't do it doesn't mean no one else can."

Xie Jinyou's words won plenty of agreement from those around them.

"Then how about this?" Zhao Huayuan turned to Lin Chong, who sat in the central seat. "If County Magistrate Lin thinks I have the right to spar with Chen Mo, then don't object. If he thinks I shouldn't, I'll drop the matter here."

Xie Jinyou and Yin Tianqing exchanged a glance. They thought it over briefly, and since they had no better option, they could only agree. "Fine. We'll follow County Magistrate Lin's decision."

Lin Chong surveyed the room and slowly said, "Since I said from the start that anyone could issue a challenge, Family Head Zhao can do so as well. But you two are a whole major realm apart. To keep things fair, Family Head Zhao may only strike twice. We'll see whether Chen Mo can withstand them. How does that sound?"