Battle the Iron Thread, Kill the Body Tempering

Before the words had even faded, the ground beneath Yang Ning exploded!

His figure shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, or perhaps a tiger pouncing on its prey, crossing five paces in an instant!

His right fist erupted from his waist, devoid of any fancy tricks, striking straight toward Wang Teng's face!

"Whoosh—"

The wind from his fist tore through the air, emitting a dull, tiger-like roar. The scorching and fierce power of his blood energy condensed at his knuckles; this punch was heavy and imposing!

"Well done!"

Wang Teng roared with laughter, neither dodging nor retreating. His right arm swung up like a steel whip, the muscles in his forearm instantly bulging like iron, and he collided head-on with Yang Ning's fist.

Iron Wire Fist—Iron Arm Across the River.

"BOOM—!!!"

As fist and arm met, it erupted with a thunderous sound akin to metal clashing against metal!

When the two fists struck, a visible shockwave exploded from the center of their collision, blowing nearby tables and chairs flying and causing the nearby diners to scream and scramble backward.

Yang Ning felt a massive, overwhelming force surge into him, accompanied by a sharp, needle-like piercing energy.

He felt a searing pain in his fist, and his body slid back three paces, leaving two deep furrows in the ground.

Is this the strength of someone at the same Body Tempering stage? That piercing force is... internal energy?

Wang Teng also swayed, his right arm slightly numb, and the look of surprise in his eyes deepened.

"What a hard fist! What tyrannical blood energy!

Your Tiger Fist has some real substance to it!"

He shook his arm, a more ferocious grin spreading across his face.

"But, it's still not enough!

Let me show you what true, unyielding force looks like!"

Wang Teng stepped forward violently, shattering the floor tiles! His fists, like cannons, fired in rapid succession!

Every punch seemed to expend immense strength, moving in straight, simple lines without any flair, yet they were as fast as lightning, covering every vital point on Yang Ning's body!

The whistling of his fists even carried a faint sound of tearing leather; it was the strange noise produced by blood energy being pushed to its limit and rubbing violently against the air!

Iron Wire Fist killing move—Cannon Fist.

I absolutely cannot take this head-on!

Yang Ning's eyes were grave; he dared not meet the full brunt of the assault.

His footwork shifted, moving like a tiger circling a ravine—agile and swift—dodging several punches by a hair's breadth.

At the same time, spotting an opening, he turned his palm into a claw and struck like lightning toward the wrist joint where Wang Teng's old force had been spent and his new force had yet to arise!

Tiger Soul Fist—Tiger Claw Grab!

Wang Teng reacted with incredible speed, his arm shaking and snapping like a boneless, flexible whip, skillfully deflecting the grab and taking the opportunity to smash a fist toward Yang Ning's ribs!

The two were instantly locked in a chaotic brawl!

Their figures intertwined, the sound of fists and feet colliding like a torrential downpour on roof tiles, continuous and unending!

The roar of the tiger and the humming of the iron wire intertwined, causing the entire restaurant hall to vibrate with a low drone.

Yang Ning's Tiger Soul Fist was fierce and tyrannical, yet it contained subtle, fluid changes; at times, it was like a tiger pouncing on its prey, unstoppable.

At other times, it was like a nimble cat playing with a mouse, dodging and weaving, focusing solely on vital joints.

As his blood energy circulated, a faint tiger-like aura manifested, carrying an astonishing momentum.

Wang Teng's Iron Wire Fist, however, pushed the concept of "unyielding force" to its absolute limit!

His arms were truly like two red-hot iron wires, sweeping and chopping, attacking and advancing relentlessly; he relied entirely on brute force to suppress his opponent, breaking finesse with sheer power!

His blood energy was more robust, his stamina astonishing, and every punch carried the weight of a thousand catties, forcing Yang Ning to expend more blood energy to dodge or block.

"Bang!"

Yang Ning's whip kick swept into Wang Teng's side, but it felt like kicking an iron pillar; the recoil made his lower leg go numb.

"Snap!"

Wang Teng's fist grazed Yang Ning's shoulder, the wind of the punch tearing his clothes and leaving a bloody welt on his skin.

The two suddenly separated after a brief clash, each retreating a few paces, breathing slightly heavily as they stared intently at one another.

Wang Teng rubbed his side, where a dull ache lingered, and he grinned.

"Good lad, you haven't been in Body Tempering for long, have you?

To be able to condense your blood energy to this level, and your fist technique is quite potent!

It's a pity your experience is too shallow, your internal energy hasn't fully formed, and your power is still a notch below mine!"

Yang Ning steadied his churning blood energy, his gaze beneath the White Jade Mask remaining calm.

He admitted it; Wang Teng was right.

The opponent had been immersed in the Body Tempering realm for a long time; his total blood energy and explosive power were indeed a cut above his own. At the same time, he had already generated internal force, was not far from the Tendon Changing realm, and possessed seasoned, ruthless combat experience.

If not for the augmentation of his Destiny System, which granted him astonishing recovery, stamina, and keen senses, along with the White Jade Mask to calm his mind and focus his spirit, he would likely have been defeated long ago.

However, it was not as if he had no chance of victory.

Under the enhancement of the White Jade Mask, he observed keenly:

Although Wang Teng's Iron Wire Fist was peerlessly fierce, it pursued force too aggressively, making its movements appear slightly rigid. Furthermore, after every full-power eruption, there was an extremely brief gap in his recovery.

It was just that this gap was fleeting, something an ordinary person could never hope to capture or exploit.

"Warm-up over."

Wang Teng twisted his neck, producing a cracking sound, his eyes turning incomparably ferocious:

"The next move will send you on your way!"

He took a deep breath, and his already burly frame seemed to expand by another circle. The blood energy around him surged violently like boiling water, and his skin took on an unnatural, dark red hue.

He crossed his arms over his chest, his muscles tensed to the limit, emitting a teeth-grinding "creak."

The next strike would condense all his blood energy and power, enough to shatter boulders!

A terrifying sense of oppression blanketed the entire hall, and everyone held their breath.

Qin Yurong closed her eyes, He Xiang collapsed to the ground in despair, and Yang An and his wife hugged Xiao Hua tightly, their hearts in their throats.

Just as Wang Teng's momentum climbed to its peak and he was on the verge of erupting.

Yang Ning moved!

He did not retreat, nor did he dodge; instead, he stepped forward to meet that towering, murderous flame!

This step was like a fierce tiger descending from the mountain, resolute and fearless!

All his insights into this fist technique, all the experience accumulated in battle, and all the correct directions bestowed by Heaven Rewards Diligence fused together at this moment!

His spine swayed like a great dragon, thunderous sounds echoing from every joint!

He pulled his right fist back to his waist, twisting his entire body's strength into a single rope, pouring it all into this one punch.

Beneath the White Jade Mask, his eyes shone as bright as stars.

The punch was thrown!

There was no brilliance, no earth-shattering release of momentum, only a fist shadow condensed to the extreme, resembling a tiger's roar.

It was as if he had seen through everything about Wang Teng, striking first by arriving later.

In that imperceptible "gap" before Wang Teng's fists could erupt, he struck with pinpoint accuracy, landing right in the center of Wang Teng's crossed arms.

That was also the core of his blood energy circulation, and simultaneously, its most vulnerable node!

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

Wang Teng's ferocious smile stiffened on his face, his eyes filled first with astonishment, then transforming into boundless horror.

He felt a sharp, overbearing, and destructive fist intent, like a red-hot iron nail, arrogantly piercing through the Iron Wire defense he took such pride in.

It drilled fiercely into his body!

It felt as if a sharp blade had pierced his heart!

"Pfft—!"

Wang Teng's massive frame shuddered violently as if struck by lightning, then his knees went weak, and he crashed to the ground!

He opened his mouth, but could not make a sound; only large mouthfuls of dark blood mixed with fragments of his internal organs sprayed out!

From his arms, which were still crossed over his chest, came a dense sound of bone fractures like popping beans, and they hung down powerlessly.

The boiling blood energy around his body dissipated instantly, like a punctured balloon.

He raised his head, staring fixedly at the pale, jade-like mask before him, his eyes filled with unwillingness, anger, and a trace of unbelievable confusion.

"You... you... I... Yang... Ning..."

He seemed to want to say something, but in the end, he could not get it out. His massive body tipped forward, slamming heavily onto the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

Wang Teng, dead!

Everything settled.

Inside the hall, there was a deathly silence.

Only the sound of Yang Ning's slightly rapid breathing remained, along with his slowly retracting, still-clenched fist.

He had won.

As someone who had just entered the Body Tempering realm, he had defeated Wang Teng of the Blood Ape Gang—a man with a fierce reputation who was in the late stage of Body Tempering and had already generated internal force—in a head-on clash!

He slowly removed the White Jade Mask, revealing the calm yet slightly pale young face beneath.

He glanced at Wang Teng, who lay on the ground, life or death unknown, then turned and walked toward his family in the corner.

Passing by He Xiang, who was slumped on the ground with a bloodless face, he did not stop his pace, nor did he even lower his head to look at her, as if she were merely dust on the side of the road.

He Xiang opened her mouth, looking at the "country bumpkin" suitor she had once looked down upon and mocked.

That back, which could have been her husband's, yet was severed by her own hand, now stood as straight and imposing as a mountain.

Boundless regret and shame gnawed at her heart like vipers; her vision went black, and she actually fainted.

Supported by her guards, Qin Yurong steadied herself, her gaze fixed on Yang Ning, filled with complex and unspeakable emotions:

Shock, gratitude, curiosity, and a trace of imperceptible heat.

She pushed the guards aside, stepped forward, and bowed gracefully toward Yang Ning's back, her voice soft yet clear:

"Qin Yurong of the Qin Family thanks Young Master Yang for saving my life. The Qin Family will never forget this kindness."

Yang Ning paused for a moment, but he did not turn around, merely waving his hand.

He walked slowly to his brother and sister-in-law, took Xiao Hua, who was holding back tears, and gave her a gentle hug.

"It's alright now."

He whispered, his voice tinged with exhaustion but exceptionally reassuring.

Yang An patted his younger brother's shoulder heavily, while Liu Ying wept silently, unable to speak.

Yang Ning did not let his guard down; there were still dozens of Blood Ape Gang members outside eyeing them like tigers, mostly young and fierce, though few were true martial artists, he had to be prepared for anything.

Just as he focused his mind, waiting for the Blood Ape Gang members outside to rush in, a rapid and rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed from outside the restaurant, accompanied by the clanging of swords and blades.

"I am Patrol Chief Qian of the East Third Street Patrol Bureau!

The Patrol Bureau is on official business! Everyone inside, do not move!"

Yang Ning breathed a slight sigh of relief; it seemed the Blood Ape Gang members outside had already been driven away by the Patrol Bureau.

The "Patrol Bureau," as the name suggests, is primarily responsible for daily patrols within the city.

However, in this border region, far from the reach of imperial power and rife with chaos, the Patrol Bureau had become a mere decoration, infiltrated like a sieve by the various factions and powerful clans within the city.

Yet, no matter how weak or criticized it might be, it remained the official force of the Great Yue Dynasty in Kuishan County.

As long as Kuishan County had not completely broken away from the Great Yue, every faction in the county had to maintain the facade of the Patrol Bureau.

But due to the entanglement and balancing of interests among the various factions in the city, this crumbling "public instrument" actually appeared to have some utility.

It could not touch any truly significant figures, but it proved somewhat effective against "small fry" or the "stray dogs" kept by wealthy families.

The Patrol Bureau is divided into: Trainee Patrolman, Patrolman, Patrol Chief, Patrol Commander, and the highest commander of the Patrol Bureau, the County Magistrate.

Patrol Chief Qian Zhong, dressed in soft armor, filed in with his men, looking around with a tense expression.

A stench of blood filled his nostrils, causing his face to tighten, but as he looked up, the scene before him was not what he had expected:

Having received a report at the bureau that the Blood Ape Gang was surrounding Chunyuan Restaurant, led by that madman Wang Teng of the Blood Ape Gang, he had expected to arrive at the restaurant and witness another human tragedy.

But the expected carnage and tragedy had not occurred.

There was only a giant of a man, built like an iron tower, lying in the center of the restaurant, already dead.

He caught sight of the corpse in the center of the hall, his tense expression slowly turning to one of dullness, then surprise, and finally, a sense of absurdity.

"This is... is this Wang Teng of the Blood Ape Gang?

The one who died is actually Wang Teng, ranked ninety-seventh on the Top Hundred Ranking?"