Fighting the Seventh Layer

"Steward Wang, I'll be back tomorrow," Zhou Qi said flatly.

Wang Tianfu froze.

Zhou Qi looked at him and said calmly, "When I come tomorrow, if you still refuse to hand it over, then we'll keep fighting until you do."

With that, he turned and left.

Yang Jinshan paused in surprise, then hurried after him.

"We're leaving already? I haven't had enough yet! Aren't we going to beat that old Wang?"

Zhou Qi did not stop walking. "We'll come back tomorrow."

Yang Jinshan glanced back at the Wang Family guards sprawled all over the ground, then at Wang Tianfu's livid face, and grinned.

"Fine, we'll come back tomorrow!"

The two swaggered away.

Wang Tianfu stood where he was, watching their backs, his eyes nearly spitting fire.

"Zhou Qi..."

He ground out the name word by word, as though he wanted to chew it to pieces.

The next day.

Zhou Qi pushed open the door and walked out. Yang Jinshan was already waiting by the courtyard gate.

Yang Jinshan's injuries had been treated and wrapped in bandages, but he seemed even more spirited than yesterday.

"Let me fight to my heart's content today!" He rubbed his fists together. "I'm going to beat that bastard Wang Tianfu into submission!"

The two headed one after the other toward the Wang Family Mine.

After crossing the ridge, they could see the Wang Family Mine from afar.

But the atmosphere today seemed somewhat off.

There were far fewer guards standing at the mine entrance than yesterday, only a scattered dozen or so.

Yet those guards did not look as nervous as they had yesterday. Instead, they wore expressions as if waiting to watch a good show.

Yang Jinshan frowned. "They're not afraid anymore?"

Zhou Qi slowed briefly without speaking, then continued forward.

When they reached the mine entrance, the dozen guards automatically made way for them without even trying to stop them.

Yang Jinshan grew even more puzzled.

Just then, a set of footsteps sounded from within the mine.

A man walked out.

He was in his forties, of average build, with a gloomy face and eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

He wore a gray robe. His footsteps made not the slightest sound, and a faint pressure emanated from his entire body.

Zhou Qi's gaze sharpened.

Qi Refining, Seventh Layer!

Wang Tianfu followed behind him, a smug smile on his face. He cupped his hands toward the man. "Brother Wang Tong, it's these two."

Wang Tong nodded, his gaze sweeping over Yang Jinshan before finally settling on Zhou Qi.

"You're Zhou Qi?" he asked, his voice hoarse and low. "I heard you're quite good at fighting?"

Zhou Qi said nothing as the System Panel appeared:

[Name: Wang Tong]

[Realm: peak seventh-layer Qi Refining]

[Techniques: Broken Heart Palm (Major Mastery), Ghost Shadow Step (Major Mastery)]

[Weaknesses: Arrogant, careless in defense]

Yang Jinshan had long since lost his patience. He stepped forward and pointed at Wang Tong. "Who are you? A helper the Wang Family hired?"

Wang Tong shot him a glance and said indifferently, "A mere Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement dares to yap in front of me?"

Yang Jinshan's expression changed. Without another word, he lunged forward.

Zhou Qi frowned and shouted in a deep voice, "Don't go!"

But it was already too late.

Army-Breaking Fist—the wind from his fist howled as it shot straight for Wang Tong's face.

Wang Tong did not move at all.

Only when the fist was about to smash into his face did he shift slightly aside, effortlessly dodging it as he struck out with his palm at the same time.

Broken Heart Palm.

Bang!

The palm struck Yang Jinshan squarely in the chest.

Yang Jinshan flew backward and crashed down three zhang away. He coughed up blood in great mouthfuls, struggling several times but unable to get back up.

"Fifth Elder!"

Zhou Qi's face changed as he hurried over to help him up.

Yang Jinshan's face was white as paper. A hole had been blasted through the clothing over his chest, exposing the skin beneath, where a pitch-black palm print stood out clearly.

"Don't... don't mind me..." He gritted his teeth and tried to stand again. "I can still fight..."

Zhou Qi held him down and said sternly, "Don't move."

Yang Jinshan still wanted to say something, but a sharp pain tore through his chest, leaving him unable to utter a word.

Beside them, Wang Tianfu threw back his head and laughed wildly.

"Yang Jinshan! Weren't you arrogant? Didn't you want to fight? Get up, then!"

Wang Tong stood where he was with his hands behind his back, looking at Zhou Qi with a mocking smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Zhou Qi, I heard you're quite good at fighting?" he said. "Come. Let me see just how good you are."

Zhou Qi slowly rose to his feet, helped Yang Jinshan to the side to lean against something, then turned and walked toward Wang Tong step by step.

Wang Tong watched him approach, amusement flashing through his eyes.

"Peak of the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement. You do have some skill," he said. "But that's all there is to it."

Zhou Qi said nothing, stopping three paces in front of him.

He crooked a finger. "Come!"

"Putting on airs!" Wang Tong raised a brow. He stopped wasting words and struck out with his palm.

Broken Heart Palm, powerful and heavy, its palm wind fierce.

Zhou Qi twisted aside to evade it, then countered with an Army-Breaking Fist.

Wang Tong snorted coldly. He neither dodged nor retreated, instead meeting it with his palm.

Fist and palm collided.

Bang!

Zhou Qi staggered back three steps, while Wang Tong also retreated one step.

Wang Tong's expression shifted slightly.

This brat was stronger than expected.

He no longer underestimated his opponent and attacked with all his strength.

The two clashed.

Broken Heart Palm against Army-Breaking Fist, Ghost Shadow Step against Gale Step.

Fists and palms flashed, their force spilling in every direction.

Ten exchanges.

Twenty exchanges.

Thirty exchanges.

Zhou Qi found the fight increasingly difficult.

After being knocked back several more steps, Zhou Qi stood still and considered.

There was no way around exposing his strength. He had been suppressing his cultivation at the Peak of the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement, barely holding on with two martial techniques at perfect mastery.

But Wang Tong was a genuine peak seventh-layer Qi Refining cultivator, and his combat experience was extensive.

Once Zhou Qi made up his mind, the aura suppressed within his Dantian began to release. In an instant, his strength rose to peak seventh-layer Qi Refining.

Wang Tong had been fighting with great satisfaction. After several dozen exchanges, he had already clearly sensed his opponent's losing momentum.

His confidence rose along with it, and the speed of his palms increased by several degrees.

He struck out with another palm. Seeing it, Zhou Qi inwardly thought, Perfect timing.

His aura surged upward. He drew back his right hand to gather strength, then hurled out an Army-Breaking Fist cultivated to great perfection, carrying the spiritual energy of peak seventh-layer Qi Refining straight into Wang Tong's palm.

Poor Wang Tong had not noticed the instant shift in Zhou Qi's strength and still used an ordinary palm strike.

Fist and palm collided.

A stream of seventh-layer Qi Refining spiritual energy, purer than his own, rode in with the force of his opponent's fist. Wang Tong had no time to switch techniques to respond and was blasted backward more than ten steps by the overwhelming force and spiritual energy.

A thread of blood spilled from his mouth.

Zhou Qi slowly withdrew his fist and stood straight. "Who told you... I was at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement?"

His aura erupted, a presence far stronger than Wang Tong's spreading through the field.

The situation had changed. Wang Tianfu's expression stiffened; anyone with eyes could see that Wang Tong was already showing signs of defeat.

The look on Wang Tong's face changed slightly as well, but he still gave a low shout and charged forward again.

Zhou Qi suddenly changed moves. He feinted with an Army-Breaking Fist while his Gale Step halted beneath his feet. His body spun, and from another angle, he swept a whip kick toward Wang Tong's lower body.

Caught off guard, Wang Tong was struck by the kick and lost his balance.

Zhou Qi seized the chance and drove a fist into his chest.

Bang!

Wang Tong flew backward and crashed down three zhang away, spraying out a mouthful of blood.

The entire scene fell silent.

Zhou Qi dusted off his hands and fixed his gaze on Wang Tianfu.

"Steward Wang." His voice was not loud, yet it entered every ear with crystal clarity. "I'll be back tomorrow."

With that, Zhou Qi went to help Yang Jinshan, who stood nearby with his mouth hanging open in astonishment.

Yang Jinshan's face was pale, but his eyes shone brilliantly.

"You... you won?" he muttered, as if he had seen a ghost.

"You... you're at the Seventh Layer of Qi Refinement?"

Zhou Qi did not answer. He supported him as they walked away.

Back at their residence, Zhou Qi helped Yang Jinshan onto the bed and gave him a Rejuvenation Pill.

Yang Jinshan lay on the bed, his face still pale, though he looked somewhat more energetic.

He looked at Zhou Qi with a complicated expression.

"You... just what level are you?"

Zhou Qi did not answer. He merely said, "Recover from your injuries. Don't talk."

Yang Jinshan opened his mouth, but ultimately did not ask again.

Zhou Qi walked out of the room and stood in the courtyard.

The night wind blew past, carrying a chill.

He looked up at the night sky, his brows slightly furrowed.

Though he had won today, he could not feel happy about it.

Wang Tong's appearance was a signal.

The Wang Family had not backed down.

They could hire someone at the Seventh Layer today; tomorrow, they could hire someone at the Eighth Layer.

It was not realistic for him to reveal even more of his strength.

What did that mean?

It meant that with Wang Tiannan backing him, Wang Tianfu was not afraid.

This snake had not been struck at its vital seven inches.

Zhou Qi walked to the table, spread out a sheet of paper, and dipped his brush in ink.

The letter was for Yang Zhenshan, and it contained only one sentence:

"The dispute over the mine is like two armies at war: one must seize victory in a single burst of momentum; a second burst weakens it, and a third exhausts it. Though we won today, the Wang Family has already sought outside aid. Without thunderous methods, I fear unforeseen changes may arise."

After writing it, he folded the letter, tucked it into an envelope, and handed it to Yang Hong.