Top Five (4)

Fourth Match

Yuan Mingzhi, a disciple from the first branch of Prajna Hall.

Versus

Qu Qingsheng, a disciple from the seventh branch of Prajna Hall.

Yuan Mingzhi truly hadn't expected to directly face someone who made his heart palpitate. He could only brace himself and engage in a martial arts exchange to see what made this person so remarkable.

Yuan Mingzhi's face was solemn as he slowly stepped onto the arena. "Please, enlighten me!"

Qu Qingsheng, with a cheerful smile, leisurely ascended the stage. "It was a wise choice not to challenge me directly at first. Seeing how sensible you are, I'll hold back a bit so you don't lose too badly!"

Yuan Mingzhi was instantly enraged upon hearing this. "Arrogant! I'll see what you're really capable of!"

With that, Yuan Mingzhi furiously attacked, his entire body erupting with True Qi. He unleashed the first stance of the Shaolin Cotton Palm, "Continuous," streams of True Qi ceaselessly gathering in his palms before he abruptly unleashed a flurry of palm strikes.

Using twenty-five years of Inner Force, amplified by his martial skill, he delivered a force of 1,950 pounds, aiming for Qu Qingsheng's chest.

Qu Qingsheng chuckled upon seeing this, his entire body bursting with True Qi. He employed the movement technique, Free and Unfettered Steps. His movements were unrestrained, his footwork elusive. All that could be seen on the stage were afterimages as he dodged the rain of palm strikes.

Bang! Bang! Bang!...

The forceful, continuous palm strikes missed repeatedly, impacting the ground and leaving twenty-foot-wide palm prints. The ground was instantly ravaged, dust billowing everywhere. Then, Yuan Mingzhi shook his entire body, dispersing the dust around him. Qu Qingsheng's figure immediately appeared, a smile on his face, without a single injury.

Yuan Mingzhi's expression was unsightly. He had just unleashed a furious barrage, yet it had all been evaded, wasting a good deal of his True Qi.

"What kind of footwork is that! Shaolin has never had such a movement technique!"

"Hehe! This is indeed not a Shaolin technique. I acquired it through a fortunate encounter!"

Abbot Hongchen frowned slightly. "That lightness skill resembles the movement technique of the reclusive Free and Unfettered Sect! How does this kid know it!"

At that moment, a Subduing Tiger Hall elder stepped forward and said, "Abbot Hongchen! This boy is fated to be with me. He's a disciple I just accepted."

"Is that so! Is this the Shaolin disciple who unintentionally saved you from the mysterious cave where you were trapped?"

"Indeed! It's this very boy! That's why I took him as my disciple!"

"I see! I heard he also obtained several fortuitous encounters in the secret realm. It seems that the mysterious cave was created by a peerless expert from the Free and Unfettered Sect!"

At this moment, Qu Qingsheng chuckled. "Brother Yuan! Do you have any more moves? I wasn't quite satisfied with my dodging earlier!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Mingzhi angrily shouted, "If you have the guts, don't dodge! Dare to fight me head-on?"

"Hehe! Although that taunt is quite common, I accept. Take this!"

With that, Qu Qingsheng directly attacked, his entire body erupting with True Qi. The aura of a second-rate expert slowly spread out. He unleashed the first stance of the Shaolin Cotton Palm, "Continuous," streams of True Qi ceaselessly gathering in his palms before he abruptly unleashed a flurry of palm strikes.

Using twenty-five years of Inner Force, he delivered a force of 1,950 pounds, aiming for Qu Qingsheng's chest.

"What! You also know the Shaolin Cotton Palm!"

Yuan Mingzhi was slightly surprised to see Qu Qingsheng also use the Shaolin Cotton Palm. He then erupted with True Qi, using the second stance of the Shaolin Cotton Palm, "Mighty." Streams of mighty and forceful True Qi slowly gathered in his palms, then he swept his palms to form a mighty and forceful defensive millstone.

Using twenty-five years of Inner Force, he created a defensive millstone capable of withstanding 2,200 pounds of force, directly receiving the forceful, continuous palm strikes.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Only a series of muffled, low explosions could be heard. Qu Qingsheng's forceful, continuous palm strikes relentlessly struck Yuan Mingzhi's defensive millstone. Qu Qingsheng only felt a powerful rebounding force that made him retreat two steps, his palms slightly numb, which he then dispersed with True Qi!

"What a defensive millstone! It even has rebounding force! Not bad, not bad!"

"Hmph! Asking the obvious! It's my turn to attack this time!"

Yuan Mingzhi exerted all of his True Qi, striving to unleash the third stance of the Shaolin Cotton Palm, "Relentless Force." Streams of mighty and forceful True Qi slowly gathered in his palms, his palms instantly erupting with waves of power.

Using twenty-five years of Inner Force, he delivered a force of 2,500 pounds, aiming for Qu Qingsheng's chest.

Qu Qingsheng's eyes narrowed slightly upon seeing this. He erupted with True Qi, using the second stance of the Shaolin Cotton Palm, "Mighty." Streams of mighty and forceful True Qi slowly gathered in his palms, then he swept his palms to form a mighty and forceful defensive millstone.

Using twenty-seven years of Inner Force, he created a defensive millstone capable of withstanding 2,500 pounds of force, directly receiving the forceful, continuous palm strikes.

Bang!

The forceful and relentless palm force slammed into Yuan Mingzhi's defensive millstone, emitting a muffled, low explosive sound. Although the two forces were equal, Qu Qingsheng's Inner Force was slightly more profound. Yuan Mingzhi's defensive millstone was violently shattered by the relentless palm force.

Yuan Mingzhi was shaken back three or four steps by the remaining palm force, a trace of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, sustaining some injuries. He then retreated two zhang, looking at Qu Qingsheng with a grave expression.

"You were hiding your strength!"

"Hehe! Of course! Otherwise, defeating you right at the start wouldn't be any fun!"

Abbot Hongchen frowned. "Senior Monk Yuankong! Did you teach him the Shaolin Cotton Palm? It seems a bit different! No! This isn't the Shaolin Cotton Palm!"

"Hehe! Abbot Hongchen is right. This is indeed not the Shaolin Cotton Palm, but rather the technique he obtained in the cave, the Little Phaseless Skill!"

"What! It's the Free and Unfettered Sect's peerless technique, the Little Phaseless Skill! This technique can imitate all martial arts under the heavens. As long as he exchanges blows with someone, he can completely imitate the martial skill they've learned. It's truly ingenious!"

"You're right! Just now, this child Qingsheng deliberately feigned weakness to steal the other's martial arts. I bet that disciple doesn't even know he's being played!"

"Hehe! Your disciple has quite the deep fortune! However, although this technique is good, it's ultimately a trick of the trade. Using it too much will lead to being broad but not refined. Most peerless experts focus on practicing a single technique, refining it to perfection, making their strength terrifying!"

"Hehe! Of course I understand that principle. I'll slowly teach him later. After all, our Shaolin's martial arts are the orthodox way under the heavens, so of course I'll have him learn it properly!"

At this moment, Qu Qingsheng chuckled, "Brother Yuan! Got any more moves? I'm not done playing yet!"

Yuan Mingzhi forced a smile. "Brother Qu! To think you possessed such strength, why bother toying with me? I concede!"

"Hehe! Actually, I wasn't exactly toying with you. I just wanted to verify a few things!"

Just then, the Martial Arts Elder slowly walked out and said calmly, "In this match, Qu Qingsheng is the victor!"