Withered Wood vs. Mountain-Calming, Xiang Cang the Little Bronze Man

"Tu Zhenyue, you've gone too far."

"Since you insist on fighting, then our Withered Wood Fist Hall will accept!"

Chen Wang was furious.

They had come right to his door to bully them, and even after being given face, they still wanted to stomp all over them.

If he did not accept, then there would be no point in keeping the Withered Wood Fist Hall open.

"Now that's more like it!"

"I heard Master Chen recently took in two disciples with decent talent. I just wonder how they compare to the disciples of our Mountain-Calming Martial Hall."

Tu Zhenyue's gaze swept over Su Yu and Lin Ruoxue.

His eyes carried a scrutinizing look.

It was as though he suspected these two newly recruited genius disciples were nothing more than boasts spread by the Withered Wood Fist Hall.

With a wave of Tu Zhenyue's hand, two disciples stepped out from behind him.

The one on the left was named He He. He was skinny as a monkey, his shifty eyes rolling constantly, carrying an air of cleverness. He was in the First-Rank Upper Realm.

The one on the right was named Xiang Cang. Nearly two meters tall, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, he stood like an iron tower. Though only a Second-Rank Lower Realm martial artist, he possessed inborn divine strength, and his body-hardening skills rivaled those of a Second-Rank Middle Realm Flesh Tempering martial artist.

These two were also Tu Zhenyue's most prized disciples in the martial hall at present.

"He He, you'll take the first match."

Tu Zhenyue offered no explanation.

He directly sent his disciple into the ring.

"Tu Zhenyue, I'd like to know why you're being so aggressive today."

It seemed there was no avoiding today's challenge.

Still, Chen Wang wanted to know the reason.

Tu Zhenyue's smile vanished, and his gaze turned cold. "Why? One of your Withered Wood Fist Hall brats injured Wan Songbai from our Mountain-Calming Martial Hall. We came today to demand an explanation."

"Wan Songbai? One of our hall's people injured him?"

Chen Wang was somewhat puzzled.

Clearly, he had never heard that name before.

"Master, Wan Songbai is a First-Rank Upper Realm martial artist," You Tai explained.

First-Rank Upper Realm?

Among his disciples, apart from those who had already graduated—

Other than Eldest Senior Brother You Tai, who had reached the Second-Rank Lower Realm, no one remaining in the hall had that kind of strength.

Could You Tai have injured him?

Chen Wang turned to look at You Tai, but You Tai shook his head.

"Wan Songbai provoked us first in Green Mountain Village, then secretly hid a dagger and launched a sneak attack. I was the one who injured him. Since I caused this trouble, I'll accept this challenge."

Just as everyone was perplexed, Lu Yuan stepped out from the crowd, his tone calm.

The entire place erupted.

The disciples of the Withered Wood Fist Hall stared at Lu Yuan in disbelief.

How long had he even been here?

He had actually injured a First-Rank Upper Realm martial artist?

"Talking big and showing off?"

Su Yu thought Lu Yuan was simply trying to steal the spotlight.

"Good kid. You've got guts."

"Master Chen, as long as you hand this brat over to me, we can let today's matter slide."

Tu Zhenyue narrowed his eyes as he assessed Lu Yuan.

"Impossible."

Chen Wang refused outright.

Though he did not think highly of Lu Yuan and believed the kid was boasting, as long as Lu Yuan was still in his fist hall, he was one of his people.

How could Chen Wang hand over his own disciple to be slaughtered at another's whim?

"My disciple has only been Grinding Force for a short while."

"Your disciple Wan Songbai took the initiative to provoke him, was far higher in realm, and in the end got injured because his skills fell short. What is there to say?"

"Is this all the backbone your Mountain-Calming Martial Hall has?"

Chen Wang shot back.

That made Tu Zhenyue's face look even worse.

"Fine, fine, fine! Then let's see what abilities your Withered Wood Fist Hall possesses."

Tu Zhenyue burned with rage.

He He glared at Lu Yuan, his tone unfriendly. "Senior Brother Wan was merely injured beforehand, which was why he stumbled and fell. Kid, since you've stepped forward, I'll have to experience your brilliant moves for myself."

"Junior Brother, step back. I'll take this one."

You Tai stepped forward, shielding Lu Yuan behind him.

"Since it's you, then I'll play with you."

Xiang Cang spoke in a deep, muffled voice.

With just one step forward, he radiated a powerful aura.

Seeing Xiang Cang, You Tai's expression changed slightly.

He had heard Xiang Cang's name. His nickname was Little Bronze Man, and that slab-like flesh, nearly impossible to break through, was no empty reputation.

Just as both sides stood with swords drawn and bows bent, Su Yu suddenly stepped forward.

It was not because he wanted to help Lu Yuan. He simply felt that if Lu Yuan, a newcomer who had only just begun Grinding Force, fought a First-Rank Upper Realm martial artist and lost too miserably, it would bring shame upon the Withered Wood Fist Hall.

Of course, he also wanted to use this opportunity to test his practical combat ability after Grade Entry.

"I'll take this match."

Su Yu stared intensely at He He.

Chen Wang frowned tightly and advised in a low voice, "Don't force yourself. Your opponent is a First-Rank Upper Realm martial artist, while you're still just a sliver away from breaking through to the First-Rank Middle Realm. Your talent may be extraordinary, but the gap in realm is considerable. You could easily suffer."

"True gold must also be tempered in fire. Don't worry, Master."

Su Yu confidently walked to the center of the courtyard and assumed the opening stance of the Withered Wood Fist.

"You ignorant brat who knows neither the height of heaven nor the depth of earth."

He He's figure flashed. Like a nimble wildcat, he closed in instantly.

The battle erupted in an instant.

He He's footwork was exceptionally agile. His fists and kicks came like the wind, specializing in attacks on Su Yu's lower body and joints, his moves vicious and swift.

Yet Su Yu stood like an ancient tree rooted in stone.

"Looks like he has already grasped the first layer of the Withered Wood Fist's essence."

Seeing this, Chen Wang nodded.

Su Yu's stance was extraordinarily steady, without the slightest unnecessary opening.

Facing He He's storm-like onslaught, Su Yu neither dodged nor retreated. His arms blocked with the steadiness of withered wood, excelling at using stillness to control movement and clumsiness to break ingenuity.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sounds of fists striking flesh rang out without pause.

He He threw more than a dozen moves, yet failed to tear through Su Yu's defense. Instead, Su Yu seized an opening and drove him back again and again with a heavy, powerful straight punch.

"You've got some skill."

A trace of irritation flashed through He He's eyes. He suddenly changed moves, twisting his body impossibly in midair to evade Su Yu's frontal counterattack.

Then, the full eight hundred pounds of force from the First-Rank Upper Realm erupted.

He broke skill with force.

His foot slammed viciously into Su Yu's chest.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Su Yu gave a muffled grunt and staggered back five steps, a thread of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

The gap in realm was too great.

It was still difficult to bridge.

Su Yu had lost, but only narrowly.

First-Rank Lower Realm against First-Rank Upper Realm.

Though defeated, he emerged with honor. Everyone present had witnessed his terrifying martial talent.

After Su Yu stepped down.

You Tai took a deep breath and strode into the center of the grounds.

Seeing this, He He gave a strange laugh and wanted to continue, only to be shoved behind by a large palm like a cattail fan.

"You step back."

Xiang Cang spoke in his deep, muffled voice, like rolling thunder.

Tu Zhenyue also motioned for He He to retreat. "The Second-Grade Realm is the Muscle Tempering Realm. Blood and qi flow like mercury, and the muscles throughout the body begin to gather force and take shape. This is not something a First-Rank Skin Tempering martial artist can contend against."

You Tai's expression was solemn as he assumed the opening stance of the Withered Wood Fist. "Please instruct me."

"Too weak."

Xiang Cang shook his head, not even assuming an opening stance.

Then he strode toward You Tai in great sweeping steps.

Though both were Second-Rank Lower Realm martial artists, You Tai felt as if he were facing a savage bull.