Just as Chen Hao left the exhibition area with his rough stone, the hook-nosed man named Lodi lowered his head and strode toward him.
The qi-tracing ability of the Heavenly Eye Art immediately revealed the flow of qi within the man, putting Chen Hao on his guard.
The instant Lodi reached Chen Hao, the other man suddenly struck, driving an elbow straight at him.
Already prepared, Chen Hao narrowed his eyes and reacted swiftly, blocking with his left hand before pushing, intending to shove him away.
But Lodi was clearly an expert too. Chen Hao's push failed to budge him.
They held that position for barely half a second before Lodi moved first, clenching his other hand into a fist and punching at Chen Hao.
Unfazed, Chen Hao raised his fist to strike back.
Over the next five seconds, they exchanged more than a dozen punches, neither gaining the upper hand.
Nearby, Lü Qingzhou stared intently in Chen Hao's direction, his expression shifting.
After repeated attacks failed to give him an advantage, Lodi snorted coldly and reached toward his waistband. A throwing blade appeared in his right hand.
The throwing blade gleamed menacingly as it traced a cold arc through the air, then stabbed toward Chen Hao's abdomen.
The move was blisteringly fast, clearly one of his specialties.
In barely half a breath, the blade was already at Chen Hao's belly.
Startled, Chen Hao instinctively raised the rough stone in his hand and smashed it toward Lodi's arm.
Just before the stone struck his arm, Lodi's lips curled into a wicked smile. Qi flowed across his body, instantly forming a thin, pale green film over the point of impact.
"Qi Armor!"
Chen Hao had seen this Qi Armor during his earlier fight with Luo Tian. Without the Golden Cudgel's help,