"Ask me to teach you martial arts?"
Zhou Yun suddenly remembered his promise to Liang Chengshi. Back then, he had only just broken through the Gate of Bright Force.
It seemed that with his Black Ape Movement Technique at minor mastery, he had narrowly beaten Liang Chengshi.
He had just broken through the Gate of Dark Force today, so he really ought to find someone to test himself against... But he had heard that Liang Chengshi was only at great mastery of Bright Force, so he should go easy on him.
Thinking this, Zhou Yun smiled and agreed. "Since Brother Liang has come all this way, you're more than welcome..."
"Since I'm welcome, we might as well do it today rather than put it off..."
Liang Chengshi's meaning was clear enough. He, too, silently prepared to hold back a little when they fought.
After all, he was already a Dark Force expert. Naturally, he had to go easy on a Bright Force martial artist.
"After you."
Zhou Yun cupped his hands in greeting but remained rooted to the spot.
"Hmm? Since Senior Brother Zhou is being so modest, I suppose I'll have to make the first move!"
Seeing that Zhou Yun didn't attack, Liang Chengshi instinctively assumed that his opponent had been cowed by his aura. A smile tugged at his lips.
As expected, breaking through the Gate of Dark Force really is different... I can even let my force leak faintly out through my skin. I, Liang Chengshi, really am a genius.
He did his best to draw his force back inside and bring his strength down to the Bright Force level, then darted toward Zhou Yun.
"Black Ape Fist!"
Liang Chengshi's movements shifted and flowed, his fists growing ever more fierce as he struck at Zhou Yun's abdomen.
His fists embodied part of the Black Ape True Intent, already showing signs of great mastery. He had reached a level beyond what Bright Force could achieve.
"Great mastery..."
Zhou Yun's eyes lit up slightly. With his own Black Ape True Intent at great mastery, he fixed his gaze on the incoming fist.
He turned his fist into a palm, caught the oncoming punch, and yanked it sharply backward.
"What?!"
Liang Chengshi suddenly lost his balance, his body pitching forward until he was on the verge of falling.
If a Dark Force expert like him fell flat on his face while sparring with a Bright Force martial artist, he'd probably be nailed to the pillar of shame for Dark Force experts.
Just as Liang Chengshi was about to hit the ground, he gritted his teeth and released a burst of force from his dantian, springing himself back up.
"Senior Brother Zhou has some real skill. You actually turned Black Ape Fist into a palm technique. Your martial arts attainments are truly impressive."
Liang Chengshi wiped away his sweat and cupped his hands. He'd meant to avoid releasing his force, but in the end, he couldn't help himself...
"Brother Liang, you're the impressive one. When did you break through the Gate of Dark Force? My techniques are only unorthodox tricks. A martial artist should focus on their body's qi and blood."
Zhou Yun replied modestly. He hadn't expected Liang Chengshi to have broken through the Gate of Dark Force as well. It seemed that everyone competing in the Three Halls Martial Tournament was a seedling from their respective martial hall.
With their four-shape or even five-shape roots, breaking through the Gate of Dark Force was as natural as water flowing downhill.
"Senior Brother Zhou forced me to use Dark Force. I'm truly impressed. Let's call it there for today..."
Liang Chengshi knew that his martial arts were far behind Zhou Yun's. He couldn't gain any advantage at the Bright Force level, and once he used Dark Force, the outcome had been just as clear.
So he decided to go back and keep training, but then he heard Zhou Yun's voice behind him.
"Brother Liang, wait. How about a few more rounds?"
Zhou Yun called out. It wasn't every day that a whetstone at the Dark Force level came along. How could he let him go so easily?
"Hmm? Senior Brother Zhou still wants to spar? I couldn't get the better of you at the Bright Force level. If we keep going, I'll have to use Dark Force..."
Liang Chengshi was surprised that Zhou Yun still wanted to spar, but he didn't refuse outright.
"Go all out, Brother Liang. I'd like to see how far my martial arts have come."
Zhou Yun smiled.
"Oh? Since you put it that way, I'll gladly oblige."
Liang Chengshi walked back to the center of the courtyard, feeling eager to get started.
It was true that he'd just broken through to Dark Force and would be bullying a Bright Force martial artist. But the man was his senior brother, so how could he refuse such a request...?
Perhaps Senior Brother Zhou's Black Ape Fist has already reached an even higher level?
But the gulf between Dark Force and Bright Force was like a chasm. Even the way they used their force was worlds apart.
"Senior Brother Zhou, be careful!"
Liang Chengshi charged again. This time, he held nothing back, unleashing all the strength of his Dark Force level.
His knuckles carried force that resonated with the force in his arm, generating tremendous power.
Layer upon layer of force made the strike far too powerful for an ordinary Bright Force martial artist to withstand.
But Zhou Yun was eager to test himself.
My Black Ape Fist has reached perfection. I wonder if I can stop this strike...
Zhou Yun again turned his fist into a palm, but this time was completely different. With his Black Ape True Intent at half-perfection, his eyes seemed to find the flaw in the punch.
He used the Black Ape Movement Technique at the same time, stepping back as he held out his palm to catch the blow.
Smack!
The fist slapped into his palm with a sharp sound, but it had nowhere near the expected force. It was as though a child were sparring with an adult.
"You caught it?!"
Liang Chengshi's pupils contracted. He instinctively tried to pull his fist back, only to find it stuck as if he'd punched into a mass of damp cotton.
No amount of strength or skill could let even a great-master-level Black Ape Fist pull off a change like that. Could Zhou Yun's martial arts attainments have reached perfection?
No, Senior Brother Zhou was only two years older than him. Surely he couldn't have reached perfection already?
After all, wasn't every person who mastered a martial art to perfection a renowned Transformation Force grandmaster?
Liang Chengshi gritted his teeth and used the force of the blow to spin in midair, swinging a whip kick at Zhou Yun's right shoulder.
He still used two layers of force in this kick, making it a strike not to be underestimated.
Bang!
Zhou Yun turned his other hand into a palm and caught Liang Chengshi's kick with a smack. Then he flipped both hands forcefully in midair.
In the next instant, Liang Chengshi flipped through the air and landed face-first on the ground, getting a mouthful of dirt.
"Brother Liang, are you all right?"
Zhou Yun hurried over. He'd thought Liang Chengshi would use Dark Force to get back up again, but the man had taken a solid face-plant.
"I'm fine. I'm fine..."
Liang Chengshi struggled to his feet and quickly refused Zhou Yun's help.
How embarrassing! A Dark Force expert had been beaten this badly by a Bright Force martial artist. If word got out, how could the young master of Black Stone Martial Hall ever save face?
In a couple of days, wouldn't all those ballads of his be recited in the Emerald Pavilion and Peach Blossom Pavilion across Black Stone County?
"Senior Brother Zhou, tell me honestly: has your Black Ape Fist reached perfection?"
Liang Chengshi's eyes shone as he stared at Zhou Yun.
"I just happened to break through..."
Zhou Yun felt awkward. It seemed his attempt to use someone as a whetstone had been exposed after all. It was difficult to keep his abilities hidden from martial artists who knew their stuff...
"Damn it, how old are you? Your martial arts attainments are so absurdly brilliant... Why didn't that old Liang Wanshan pick you for the Three Halls Martial Tournament?"
Liang Chengshi muttered under his breath, then suddenly seemed to think of something.
"By the way, Senior Brother Zhou, the Sea Whale Gang has returned to Black Stone County. They invited me to their banquet... I heard they've invited lots of top courtesans from Peach Blossom Pavilion, too. Do you want to come take a look?"
"The Sea Whale Gang is back?"
Zhou Yun froze. A name that had not appeared in his mind for a long time rose to the surface...
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