Iron Thread Grappling Hand

Chen Chong stepped forward and said to Liu Xiaolou, "Liu Xiaolou, the appointment was Wang Firm's shopkeeper's decision. If you don't accept it, go argue with Shopkeeper Wang yourself. What does it have to do with my Junior Brother Lu?"

"Don't mistake us at Hidden Dragon Martial Hall for easy prey. If you want to fight, I'll accompany you to the end!"

Liu Xiaolou had broken through to Blood Moving long ago, and his accumulated qi and blood far surpassed Lu Chen's. He was plainly trying to bully Lu Chen, and Chen Chong would not let him have his way.

Liu Xiaolou snorted coldly. "I think your Hidden Dragon Martial Hall should rename itself the 'Hidden Turtle Martial Hall'!"

"You're all turtles hiding in your shells!"

He swept his gaze over the crowd watching the commotion and deliberately raised his voice.

"Scarlet Cloud County has always valued rules. When martial artists seek appointments, they rely on their fists, not their tongues. Since Lu Chen replaced me, he ought to prove that he's stronger than I am."

"If he wins, I, Liu Xiaolou, will turn around and leave, never to bring this up again."

"If he loses, he'll personally go to Wang's Ginseng Shop and give up the appointment!"

The Mighty Far Hall disciples immediately began to egg things on.

"That's right! If you've got the guts, fight!"

"Hidden Dragon Martial Hall, are you martial artists or not? If you are, come out and face us!"

"If you're scared, then admit defeat obediently and hand over the appointment!"

Their voices grew louder and louder, deliberately shouting toward the martial hall's gates as though they wanted the entire street to hear.

On Hidden Dragon Martial Hall's side, the outer court disciples all flushed red with anger.

Chen Chong's face was also filled with fury.

Mighty Far Hall was clearly trying to bully Lu Chen, a newcomer.

Lu Chen swept a glance over the shouting Mighty Far Hall disciples.

He knew perfectly well that if he refused the challenge today, these people would never let it rest. They would also spread the word everywhere that everyone in Hidden Dragon Martial Hall was a coward, a turtle hiding in its shell, ruining the martial hall's reputation.

"If you want a fight, then you'll have one!"

Lu Chen stepped forward, his words striking the ground like iron.

He did not go looking for trouble, but neither was he afraid of it.

Seeing Lu Chen step out, Liu Xiaolou bared his teeth in a cold smile. "So you do have some courage."

Lu Chen said, "But the appointment isn't something that can be decided by a fight between you and me. Whom Wang Firm hires is up to Shopkeeper Wang, not you."

Liu Xiaolou's face darkened, and he sneered. "Afraid of losing?"

Lu Chen shook his head. "I'm only making things clear."

His mind sank, and the thread of qi and blood within him began to circulate slowly, like a line of fire flowing from his chest into both arms. "If you want a martial duel, I accept."

"But if I win, take your Mighty Far Hall people and get lost at once."

Liu Xiaolou's gaze turned vicious as he pressed half a step closer. "And if you lose?"

Lu Chen replied calmly, "I won't lose."

The Mighty Far Hall disciples froze for a moment, then burst into uproarious laughter.

"Hahaha! What an arrogant brat!"

"Senior Brother Liu, get up there and teach him a proper lesson!"

The sneer on Liu Xiaolou's face deepened.

He rolled his wrists, his joints cracking sharply, while ruthless light filled his eyes.

"Once I beat you until you're crawling around with your teeth scattered across the floor, Wang Firm's appointment will naturally be mine again. I won't even need you to give it up!"

Chen Chong was quick-witted and did not let the two start fighting at the martial hall entrance.

There were too many people there. If Lu Chen truly lost, it would not only be Lu Chen's face that was disgraced, but Hidden Dragon Martial Hall's as well.

The two groups quickly arrived at the outer court Martial Practice Yard.

As word spread, outer court disciples gathered one after another. Even people from the inner court heard the commotion and came to watch.

Song Tieshan stood beneath the eaves with his arms folded. Liu Qingping sat by the railing, watching the scene with great interest, while Shi Hao stood beside her.

In the center of the Martial Practice Yard, Lu Chen and Liu Xiaolou faced each other.

"Please instruct me." Lu Chen cupped his fists.

"Hmph, instruct my ass!"

A vicious gleam flashed through Liu Xiaolou's eyes. "Take this!"

Before his words had faded, he kicked off the ground and lunged forward like a starving wolf.

His hands stretched out one before the other, fingers slightly curled, arms taut and straight as two drawn iron wires.

It was Mighty Far Hall's signature martial art, Iron Thread Grappling Hand.

This technique did not excel through fierce punching force. Instead, it targeted vital joints and weak points—the wrists, elbows, shoulders, throat, knees, and more. Once caught in its coils, one could suffer dislocation at best and broken bones at worst.

The moment Liu Xiaolou struck, he went straight for Lu Chen's wrist.

Lu Chen raised an arm to block. The instant they made contact, he felt the other man's fingers hook onto him like iron claws.

Lu Chen's eyes narrowed slightly. He immediately sank his shoulder and dropped his elbow, his right arm winding like a dragon and serpent as he used Azure Dragon Coiling Body from the Azure Dragon Through-the-Arms Fist to deflect Liu Xiaolou's grappling force.

Smack!

Their arms crossed, producing a crisp crack.

Liu Xiaolou failed to gain the upper hand, and his expression darkened slightly.

This brat really does have some skill. Otherwise, Shopkeeper Wang wouldn't think so highly of him...

A solemn look emerged on his face.

This martial duel concerned both his future and his reputation. He had gambled nearly everything on it, and he absolutely could not lose.

Then he shifted his steps and closed in again.

This time, his moves were even faster.

His left hand feinted, while his right hand slipped in from below, five fingers reaching directly for the crook of Lu Chen's elbow. If Lu Chen were caught, his entire arm would likely be twisted behind his back.

Lu Chen retreated a step and used Azure Dragon Claw, striking straight at Liu Xiaolou's face.

Liu Xiaolou snorted. With a twist of his wrist, he caught the back of Lu Chen's fist with two fingers and pulled, diverting the punch aside.

At the same time, his left hand swept across like an iron thread, cutting directly toward Lu Chen's throat.

Lu Chen leaned backward to evade it all, retreating two more steps.

The watching outer court disciples immediately grew tense.

"Liu Xiaolou's grappling hand is so sinister!"

"Is Lu Chen getting suppressed?"

"He only broke through three days ago. His qi and blood are weaker than Liu Xiaolou's. He'll definitely suffer if he clashes head-on."

The Mighty Far Hall disciples, meanwhile, cheered one after another.

"Senior Brother Liu, take his arm!"

"Let this brat see how powerful our Mighty Far Hall's Iron Thread Grappling Hand is!"

Chen Chong stood at the edge of the field, his brow faintly furrowed.

Liu Xiaolou's Iron Thread Grappling Hand was no ordinary routine—it was Mighty Far Hall's signature martial art.

This technique was extremely difficult to deal with. It was like strands of fine iron wire wrapping around one's limbs, winding in bit by bit along the joints.

Lu Chen was a newly advanced martial artist who had barely exchanged blows with people from other martial halls. He lacked experience. Faced with such a troublesome technique, he might not be able to withstand it.

In the arena, Lu Chen was forced back several more steps by Liu Xiaolou.

Yet no one noticed that there was no panic in his eyes. Instead, they grew increasingly calm.

For as Liu Xiaolou performed the Iron Thread Grappling Hand, the transparent light screen before Lu Chen was recording every move and variation he observed.

This was the second martial art he had encountered, one completely different from the Azure Dragon Through-the-Arms Fist.

The Azure Dragon Through-the-Arms Fist emphasized extension, change, and the union of hardness and softness.

Iron Thread Grappling Hand, however, relied on wrapping, locking, and seizing. Its essence was to break another's punching rhythm, seize their weak points, and force them into a dead end.

Lu Chen was in no hurry to fight Liu Xiaolou to the death. He wanted to secretly learn this grappling technique first.

In the arena, he deliberately slowed by half a beat, using the Azure Dragon Through-the-Arms Fist to dismantle Liu Xiaolou's moves and give him continual chances to attack.

Liu Xiaolou knew none of this.

Seeing Lu Chen retreat again and again, he assumed he had gained the advantage, and a savage grin spread across his face.

"What's wrong? Weren't you acting quite arrogant just now?"

His fingers curled like hooks as they suddenly seized toward Lu Chen's shoulder.

"Now you know fear?"

Lu Chen sidestepped the attack and swept out with his right arm, forcing Liu Xiaolou to change moves.

Liu Xiaolou pressed down and wound around with the motion, his palm sliding along Lu Chen's forearm.

Lu Chen's eyes flickered.

The Iron Thread Grappling Hand assembled by the transparent light screen was still incomplete.

Looks like I need to push him a little.

Make him reveal all his trump cards.

As the thought fell, Lu Chen planted his foot, and his retreating body suddenly came to a halt.

Liu Xiaolou was about to continue his pursuit when Lu Chen's right arm shot out like an azure dragon. No longer merely evading, his fist drove straight at Liu Xiaolou's chest.

Azure Dragon Emerges from the Abyss!

The punch came without warning.

The force of the fist rushed at his face, making Liu Xiaolou's expression change.

He had not expected Lu Chen, who had been steadily retreating, to still have the strength to counterattack.

Liu Xiaolou hurriedly crossed his hands, his ten fingers hooked like claws as they fiercely wound toward Lu Chen's wrist.

"You want to counterattack?"

He sneered. "Too late!"

Double Threads Lock the Wrist!

His hands moved one before the other, like two iron threads simultaneously wrapping around Lu Chen's arm. One hand seized the wrist pulse, while the other pressed down on the elbow joint. With a twist, he could snap Lu Chen's entire right arm backward.

A sharp light flashed in Lu Chen's eyes.

This move was vicious indeed.

He sank his shoulder, his arm twisting like a dragon and serpent, and narrowly slipped free from between the other man's fingers.

The watching disciples only saw Lu Chen's arm jerk under pressure and thought he had suffered another setback.

The Mighty Far Hall side immediately erupted in loud cheers.

"Good!"

"Senior Brother Liu, get him!"

"Don't give him a chance to catch his breath!"

Hearing them, Liu Xiaolou's blood surged with excitement, and his attacks became increasingly vicious.

He felt that Lu Chen was about to collapse.

So he no longer held back. He stamped his foot and surged in close, both hands thrusting out in rapid succession. A faint sound of tearing wind rose between his palms and fingers.

Coiling Snake Enters the Bone!

His fingers slid up along Lu Chen's forearm like a venomous snake slipping through cracks, specifically hooking into the gaps between joints. If Lu Chen retreated half a step too slowly, his shoulder's tendons and bones would be caught.

Instead of retreating, Lu Chen advanced. He swept his left arm across and deliberately exposed an opening beneath his ribs.

Liu Xiaolou took the bait at once, vicious light flashing in his eyes.

"You're courting death!"

He suddenly lowered his body. His right hand shot toward Lu Chen's ribs, while his left hand reached down from above for Lu Chen's throat.

Lock the throat above, seize the ribs below.

One feint, one real attack—sinister to the extreme.

It was the ultimate move of Iron Thread Grappling Hand, Lock the Throat, Break the Ribs!

At that moment, the light screen before Lu Chen flashed:

[Iron Thread Grappling Hand: Not Yet Initiated]

[Progress: 0/100]

Done!

Lu Chen's heart settled.

Almost the instant the Iron Thread Grappling Hand was fully recorded, every variation of Liu Xiaolou's Lock the Throat, Break the Ribs became crystal clear in Lu Chen's mind.

In that instant, Liu Xiaolou's centerline was completely exposed.

Lu Chen no longer held back.

A cold gleam flashed through his eyes. The qi and blood within him suddenly surged, and he drove the strength of his entire body forward. With the force of a minor accomplishment in fist techniques, his right arm punched straight ahead like a dragon plunging through the yellow spring.

Dragon's Roar Pierces the Sun!

The speed and force of this punch far exceeded anything before.

Before Liu Xiaolou could seize Lu Chen, Lu Chen's right fist had already slammed solidly into Liu Xiaolou's chest.

Several hundred pounds of force poured forth.

Liu Xiaolou was smashed to the ground on the spot, blood spraying wildly from his mouth.

"Thanks for letting me win!"

Lu Chen withdrew his fist and looked down at Liu Xiaolou, who could no longer rise.

In an instant, the Hidden Dragon Martial Hall side exploded in cheers.

"He won!"

"Lu Chen won!"

"One punch flattened that Mighty Far Hall trash! Hahaha!"

The Mighty Far Hall disciples all looked awful. The few who had shouted most fiercely before now seemed as if their throats had been seized, unable to utter a single word.

Chen Chong let out a breath of relief and applauded Lu Chen on the spot. At the same time, he secretly praised himself: My judgment really is excellent. Junior Brother Lu didn't disappoint me!

Beneath the eaves, Liu Qingping narrowed her eyes and smiled softly. "Our Junior Brother Lu fought quite well!"

Shi Hao, standing beside her, looked disdainful. "Hmph. He dawdled for so long. If it were me, I'd have ended it with one punch."