A Fist's Inch, Larger Than Heaven

Before this battle, Shopkeeper Lin's thoughts were simply that his old wife at home was making a fuss, forcing him to make this trip out of necessity.

He had originally planned to casually take Liang Qisheng's life, pluck his head, and consider the matter settled.

But the moment they exchanged blows, a single move from a master told all.

Once he clashed with Liang Qisheng, his killing intent became real and fierce, and he began to take the fight seriously.

"I've done a rough check on your background—you're nothing but a mountain hunter with no real origins!"

Shopkeeper Lin's blood energy calmed, his tone shifting as he drawled on.

"So I'll give you one more chance. If you join Nine Harmonies Hall and willingly submit as a servant, I can spare your life today."

"My Nine Harmonies Hall, with its first-rate nine halls, holds overwhelming resources, and the backer behind it is no ordinary figure. Entering the hall could be an opportunity for you—future glory and riches, something countless others would kill for..."

In truth, Shopkeeper Lin was silently cursing his dead brother-in-law in his heart.

Thankfully the man was already dead; if he were still alive and standing before him, he'd want to slap him to death all over again.

For Nine Harmonies Hall, once someone becomes an enemy, only a dead genius is a good genius.

"After all that talk, you still just want me to be a slave or servant?"

"Then say no more. If you want to kill me, you'll have to pay the price."

Liang Qisheng straightened his body.

The Black Tiger Fist stance had already sunk deep into his bones.

Though slightly injured, his fierce aura only grew more savage with the fight.

Like a mountain tiger, wild and proud.

He stared at his opponent, each word ringing out sharp and clear.

Before him was undoubtedly a massive crisis—a Tendon Refining martial artist had set his sights on him.

And it was clear he had no intention of giving him a way out; he wanted him dead.

Since that was the case, even if he died, he'd take a bite out of the bastard.

Still, his mind was searching for an opening. In that lightning-fast exchange just now, Liang Qisheng had been looking for one too.

After this single clash, he felt that all was not lost.

Liang Qisheng even stole a glance at the data in his mind.

After that fierce bout, Black Tiger Fist had improved by another 1%, a decent gain.

Black Tiger Fist was deepening day by day, soaking into his very marrow.

Afterward, Liang Qisheng gradually gained a clearer understanding of martial cultivation.

The further these techniques were trained, the harder the progress became.

Even with Merit Points transforming them, if he couldn't fully integrate and comprehend them himself, he couldn't elevate Black Tiger Fist to a higher level.

But facing this life-or-death crisis, squeezing out his potential, Liang Qisheng's mind churned, and this fist technique actually broke through again.

Under the shadow of life and death lay great terror, and this forced him to fully merge the technique into his body movements, as if the entire Black Tiger Fist had gained a spirit.

The stance seemed alive; practicing the fist felt like wielding a god.

Liang Qisheng was no reckless fool who wouldn't turn back until he hit a wall.

This Shopkeeper Lin wouldn't let him off easily.

Even if he agreed to be a slave or servant, his life would still be clutched in the other's hands.

If the man went back on his word, he'd be dead for sure. Even if he compromised for now, the man likely had ways to finish him off.

Decades of experience from his past life had taught him that sometimes kneeling didn't guarantee survival, and standing didn't mean there was no way out.

They say a fist can deflect a thousand pounds with four ounces, but there's also the saying: a fist fears the young and strong.

How many years had Shopkeeper Lin been training? And he himself had only cultivated for a little over three years.

The man was older, his blood energy starting to decline, while he himself was in the prime of vigor.

"Good, good, good. It seems you're the type who'd rather die than bend. I admire that."

"Then—die!"

Before Liang Qisheng could make his decision, Shopkeeper Lin's face turned cold once more.

Gone was his earlier gentle demeanor; he became a shadow in the night, like a roc spreading its wings, leaping through the air.

His bare palms tore through space, transforming into iron hooks and sharp claws, flashing with cold light as they plunged downward.

Bang!

Though Liang Qisheng had been speaking with him, his nerves were taut, ready to respond at any moment.

There was no way he'd be swayed by any of the man's attitudes.

As Shopkeeper Lin launched his attack, Liang Qisheng had already set his Black Tiger Fist stance.

Their forces collided midair.

Liang Qisheng was sent flying backward directly, hurtling dozens of meters away.

His body snapped two large trees in half before crashing into a patch of shadow.

The sudden turn of events startled Shopkeeper Lin.

Murderous intent surged within him as he pushed his Great Eagle Claw Technique to its peak.

But after exchanging dozens of moves with Liang Qisheng earlier, he had already figured out the other's patterns.

He knew that in a brief moment, he couldn't take the man down.

Still, he hadn't expected the seemingly simple strike to carry such overwhelming force.

"Something's off... How dare you—"

This realization made Shopkeeper Lin feel that the fierce opponent he'd been fighting moments ago was not the same person before him now.

His follow-up attack, launched on instinct, struck nothing but air, leaving him frozen in place.

But he snapped back in an instant, fury turning to a bitter laugh as his body blurred like a shadow, charging straight into the dense forest.

Whoosh!

Yet fast as he was, Liang Qisheng—already prepared—was faster.

The moment Shopkeeper Lin hesitated, Liang Qisheng, who had tumbled into the shadows, shot upright. Using both hands and feet, he pushed his speed to the limit, transforming into a tiger bursting through the woods as he charged deep into the distant forest.

"Damn brat, I underestimated you!"

This sudden move made Shopkeeper Lin's expression shift.

Earlier, Liang Qisheng's Black Tiger Fist stance and overwhelming, unyielding aura had given him the impression of a man who would rather die than submit—leading to his misjudgment.

But now he had clearly grasped the other's intent. Liang Qisheng's shameless retreat was merely part of a calculated plan.

Taking advantage of Shopkeeper Lin's momentary lapse, he had bolted straight into the thick forest.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Shopkeeper Lin was fast, but Liang Qisheng, a mountain hunter who had braved wind and rain in these woods for three years, was in his element.

Now transformed into a tiger weaving through the forest, his body was agile. With each leap and bound, he covered dozens of meters.

Meanwhile, Shopkeeper Lin, burning with rage and murderous intent, gave relentless chase.

"This old bastard..."

Liang Qisheng raced forward, constantly glancing back at the sky behind him.

A dark shadow swept toward him, stepping on branches like a soaring eagle, tracking his every move.

"Old bastard, the mountain paths are long and treacherous. Let's see how long you can keep up!"

Liang Qisheng entered the deep wilderness as if stepping into his own backyard, driven by near-instinctual familiarity and wildness.

His frantic escape was no spur-of-the-moment decision but a carefully thought-out plan.

Now, he was like a loach slipping into water, his figure weaving constantly through the dense forest.

No matter how fast Shopkeeper Lin was, the countless trees, rocky cliffs, and the increasingly thick, layered foliage obstructed his view.

And in the patches of shadow, it was even easier for Liang Qisheng to conceal himself.