A palm defeats a prodigy, the Five Thunders first reveal their might

A great wind rose atop the mountain, cutting off the wind and rain.

An invisible aura surged around Xuanming and Chu Yunfei. Wind could not enter, and rain could not fall within it. The curtain of rain hung suspended before sliding off to either side. Though less imposing than the black-clad man's display earlier, its might was equally terrifying, making Xuan Tong and Xuan Yu pale and retreat step after step.

The two Daoists exchanged helpless looks. What could they do? They were the weakest of the lot, fit only to watch.

The two auras clashed.

Chu Yunfei attacked, while Xuanming defended.

The former was hard and forceful; the latter, soft and yielding.

As time passed, Chu Yunfei's expression grew increasingly complicated, mingling solemnity with excitement.

He was solemn because the old Daoist was stronger than him.

No matter how his aura surged like a rainbow, transforming into invisible fist force that battered his opponent, it was like an ox of clay entering the sea, stirring not a single ripple.

He was excited for the very same reason.

It had been a long time since he had met such a formidable opponent at his own level. Braving the rain and danger to come here had been worth it.

The stronger his opponent, the more excited he became.

Only defeating an opponent like this would bring a greater sense of accomplishment and hone him all the more.

His blood and fighting spirit blazed anew.

His aura gathered like pooling water, growing ever greater.

Facing Chu Yunfei's terrifying aura, Xuanming remained composed. Let the winds blow from north, south, east, and west; he stood steadfast and unmoving.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths...

When the wind and rain finally fell again, the first drop landed on the tip of his shoe. He stamped down, sinking the ground three feet, and Chu Yunfei finally moved. Without a word, he silently raised his arm and punched. The wind of his fist howled, bringing forth once more the punch he had prepared for his desperate battle against the black-clad man.

The punch was fierce and incomparably domineering, carrying wind and rain with it. Even the water pooled on the ground charged forward with that punch, surging and roaring through the mountain woods.

The gale whipped up Xuanming's beard and hair, and his robes snapped in the wind. Yet he remained utterly composed and motionless, allowing Chu Yunfei to unleash his strength.

Xuan Tong's and Xuan Yu's hearts leaped into their throats, but he still did not move, merely watching the punch in silence.

Whether fist wind, fist intent, fist aura, spiritual energy, or wind and rain, everything parted of its own accord before him. Like a mighty river meeting a towering mountain it could not erode, it could only flow helplessly to either side.

Only when the fist reached him did Xuanming move, raising his hand to strike with his palm. Though he moved second, he arrived first.

The instant fist and palm met, radiance bloomed in his palm. Thunder flashed forth, lightning crackled, and blue light dazzled the eyes.

It was even more forceful, even more domineering than that punch.

After only a brief deadlock, the wind and rain vanished, and the gathered water fell to the ground. Fist aura, fist intent, fist force, and fist momentum all shattered. The wind and rain atop the mountain hung suspended in midair once more, unable to fall for a time.

The five thunders roared, their remaining power charging straight toward Chu Yunfei with overwhelming force. Xuanming flicked his sleeve and withdrew in time, dispersing the lightning.

His control of the five thunders had long since become effortless, allowing him to unleash or withdraw them at will without any stray power spilling out. Thus, though the wind from the palm struck Chu Yunfei's face and he lost, he remained completely unhurt.

For a time, silence reigned atop the mountain.

Chu Yunfei was stunned. He had never expected to lose so utterly, crushed outright.

Xuan Tong and Xuan Yu were stunned as well. They had never imagined that Senior Brother Xuanming was this terrifying, strong enough to sweep Chu Yunfei aside.

His reputation for being invincible with a single punch among his peers was no empty boast. He had earned that fame through battle and deserved every bit of it. Among Fengyang Commandery's essence-refining cultivators, he ranked at the very top, never falling outside the first three.

They had expected a clash of dragon and tiger, and this was all they got?!

A moment later, all three came to their senses, each reacting differently.

Chu Yunfei quickly accepted his defeat. His eyes shone as he looked at Xuanming, his gaze brimming with fighting spirit, but also reverence.

Xuan Tong puffed out his chest and raised his head, pride written all over his face, as though he had been the victor.

A radiant smile spread across Xuan Yu's usually stern face, and his gaze burned with particular fervor as he looked at Xuanming.

Chu Yunfei cupped his fists and bowed.

"Beyond one mountain stands another taller still; among the strong, there is always someone stronger. I thought your excellence lay only in the sword, True Person. I never imagined you were also a master of thunder arts, with such profound attainments and unfathomable strength. I concede wholeheartedly."

"I will keep my promise and guard your secret, True Person. Once I break through in the future, I will seek your guidance again, Senior."

Seeing how readily Chu Yunfei accepted both victory and defeat, displaying all the bearing of an Aristocratic Clan heir, Xuanming's eyes revealed a trace of appreciation. He nodded slightly in return. "You give me too much credit, young friend. We both possess superior Dao foundations. This old Daoist merely had the advantage of already entering the True Person realm, granting me a deeper understanding of the Five Thunders Art. That was how I managed a fortunate victory."

"One punch dominates Heaven, dimming wind and rain alike. Your Chu Household's fists strike awe throughout Fengyang Commandery and beyond. Once you enter qi refinement and deepen your mastery of this punch, young friend, this old Daoist may well be no match for you."

An ornate sedan chair needed everyone to lift it.

Chu Yunfei was courteous, and Xuanming knew how to speak graciously in turn.

His explanation was half true and half false.

The Conquering Fist was a superior martial technique.

The Five Thunders Art was a superior Daoist art.

His understanding of superior protective techniques was indeed deeper.

He could hardly reveal his own secrets by saying that this old Daoist had achieved perfect Foundation Establishment.

Chu Yunfei knew that True Person Xuanming was preserving his dignity. He cupped his fists in thanks and laughed heartily.

Just then, something whistled through the air.

A figure hurried over.

When his features came into view, he proved to be a middle-aged man.

He had a full beard and an unremarkable build, but Xuanming knew that immense strength lay within the middle-aged man's seven-foot frame. He was like a volcano poised to erupt; once he struck, he would surely shatter stone and startle Heaven.

For he was a martial expert of the innate realm.

He held a corpse in his hand, dressed exactly like the black-clad man. Judging by its lingering aura, it too had been an innate-realm expert.

Seeing the middle-aged man safe and sound, Chu Yunfei felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He greeted him happily with a bow. "Eldest Uncle."

The man nodded, tossed the corpse aside, and cupped his fists toward Xuanming. "Chu Dong greets you, True Person. That scoundrel lured me away earlier, and I fell for his scheme to lure the tiger from its mountain. Thank you for lending your aid and keeping Yunfei safe. The Chu will surely reward you generously."

He was precisely the support that had emboldened Chu Yunfei to risk himself.

Neither had expected the mastermind to be so calculating, lying in wait with two assassins working together.

At the thought, Chu Dong felt all the more grateful to Xuanming.

Without him, he might have had to collect Yunfei's corpse today. Had that happened, a rift would have formed between him and his third brother, damaging their decades of brotherly affection, and the Lineage would have suffered as well.

Xuanming returned the greeting with a Daoist bow. "You are too kind, Layman Chu. Since young friend Chu came to Floating Cloud Mountain, our Truth-Seeking Abbey was duty-bound to keep him safe. I have already told him everything that transpired. You may have him explain it to you afterward."

Chu Yunfei interjected, "Eldest Uncle, were the attackers really assassins from the Draped Robe Tower?"

Chu Dong confirmed gravely, "Almost certainly."

Both were decisive men who acted with the speed of thunder and wind. They did not linger to disturb him any further. Cupping their fists toward Xuanming once more, they left the Truth-Seeking Abbey and headed straight down Floating Cloud Mountain.

Before leaving, they made sure to take both black-clad men's corpses. If the secret was to be kept, the two assassins could only have died at Chu Dong's hands alone.

Besides, the Chu intended to put this waste to use.

Atop the mountain, the wind and rain fell once more.

Xuanming sat cross-legged and continued contemplating the Dao.

Soon, he was once again drenched like a chicken fallen into soup, bedraggled and disheveled, as though the old Daoist who had so casually wounded a qi-refining cultivator and defeated a prodigy had merely been an illusion.

The man he was now was his true self.

Two figures hurried up the mountain, soon returning after their departure. They were none other than Xuan Tong and Xuan Yu.

Once they stopped, they offered Daoist bows. Looking at the old Daoist's back, Xuan Tong spoke first:

Thanks to Useless Whiteboard, Picking a Name Is Really Too Hard, Just a Boor from Central Hunan, Original Aspiration, Eldest Young Master of the Wen-Dao Liu Household, and 2023...7402 for one monthly ticket each; thanks to Mousse_CA, loveTime_Ac, and Taibai Invites the Moon, Immortal Amid Wine for two monthly tickets each; thanks to Cool Dawn Wants Candy for three monthly tickets; thanks to Martial Emperor Azure Lotus for four monthly tickets.