Quickly conquer the martial arts world, and let your fists dominate the heavens!
Chapter 408 Seven Star Steps, Stepping on the Dipper and Stomping on the Heavenly Gang
He held two revolvers in his hands, one in each, the muzzles pointed at Chen Zhan, and laughed:
"I heard that a gunshot rang out once in the black and white pawnshop, but none of the people in the pawnshop had any gunshot wounds. I wonder if it was because Mr. Chen was exceptionally skilled, or if the foreigners' muskets were simply inaccurate?"
Ma Liu smiled as he slowly took a few steps forward, but still maintained a safe distance.
Even with a loaded pistol in his hand, he dared not easily close the distance with Chen Zhan.
Inside the main room, Ma Liu's gaze towards Chen Zhan held a newfound certainty; he was already mostly convinced.
The man in front of me is most likely a remnant of the Boxer Rebellion, and not a low-ranking one at that.
Twenty years ago, the Boxers caused a huge uproar in Tianjin, their influence was overwhelming.
The folk song, "Raise yellow paper, offer incense, invite the true immortals from each cave. Immortals emerge from the caves, gods descend from the mountains, possessing human bodies to pass on the fist techniques," is still passed down among the older generation in Tianjin.
Back then, the Boxers claimed that after invoking a god, they would become invulnerable to swords and spears.
At first, everyone thought it was a joke, that it was just a gimmick by a con artist, and no one took it seriously.
But later, there were indeed masters of the Boxer Rebellion who, wielding broadswords, rushed into the foreign concessions and watched as the foreign musketeers hacked and slashed. They actually used their flesh and blood to block the bullets from the foreign guns, truly becoming invulnerable to swords and spears.
In one major battle, the Boxer Rebellion masters killed hundreds of foreigners. When the news spread, the entire city of Tianjin was shaken.
Even the Qing government panicked and immediately dispatched a large army to suppress the Boxers.
The two sides were vastly outnumbered. Although the Boxer Rebellion disciples were fearless, they were ultimately outnumbered and suffered heavy casualties. The remaining forces had to lie low and no longer dared to operate openly.
Back then, the three most ruthless fighters on the battlefield were known as the Three Immortals of the Boxer Rebellion.
Two men and one woman, with superb martial arts skills, moved through the encirclement of Qing troops and foreigners as if they were in an empty field, killing so many that the enemy was terrified.
In the end, the Boxer Rebellion collapsed, and the remaining disciples went their separate ways. However, the bodies of the three immortals were never found, becoming an unsolved mystery in the Tianjin martial arts world.
Ma Liu stared intently at Chen Zhan, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Twenty years have passed since that incident. Back then, he was just a young lad and naturally had never seen what the Three Immortals of the Boxer Rebellion looked like.
Looking at Chen Zhan's age, he looks to be only in his early thirties, which doesn't match the age of the Three Immortals back then, and he doesn't seem to be one of the Three Immortals who survived.
Thinking this way, Ma Liu felt more confident, a sinister smile appearing on his face. He brandished the two revolvers in his hands and spoke calmly:
"I wonder if my Weberley revolver with six bullets is enough? Is it enough to deal with your invulnerability?"
But Chen Zhan simply smiled faintly, his expression calm and composed, showing no fear whatsoever.
Surrounded.
Outside the gate, dozens or even hundreds of thugs dressed in black, wielding machetes, surrounded the entire courtyard with murderous intent.
Inside the room, two masters of internal strength, wielding the Battle Body Blade and the Sun and Moon Universe Blade, glared menacingly, their auras sharp and menacing.
Ma Liu stood to the side, holding two revolvers, ready to launch a sneak attack at any moment.
Such a scene would terrify any martial arts master, even one at the peak of internal strength, leaving them helpless.
But for him, it was nothing.
He caused a great disturbance in Tokyo back then, and was besieged by thousands of Japanese samurai. He fought his way up to the Emperor's Palace, leaving Japanese soldiers dead everywhere.
He was able to escape unscathed from such a desperate situation, so what is this little bit of trouble now?
"You think I'm a member of the Boxers?" Chen Zhan asked slowly, his tone devoid of any emotion.
"Isn't that right?"
Ma Liu raised an eyebrow, his tone confident; he had great faith in his judgment.
Aside from the Boxers, no one would be so reckless as to disrupt the situation in Tianjin, make enemies of foreigners, and oppose the Qing government.
Chen Zhan came to Tianjin not to establish a business or open a museum, nor to seek a livelihood.
Everything he did was aimed at creating chaos in Tianjin; there was absolutely no reason behind it.
"Then let's say that."
Chen Zhan smiled, his gaze sweeping over the two experts of internal strength in the room, his tone carrying a hint of appreciation, "Your subordinates are quite good. I heard you have a few more experts. Why don't you call them all in and let them attack together to see if they can capture me? What do you say?"
He originally came only to kill Ma Liu, but he didn't expect to have such a pleasant surprise.
These people who came from the Shenji Camp do have some merits.
Back then, the Shenji Battalion of the Qing Dynasty was the most well-equipped and most powerful fighting force among all the Qing army units.
Those who could emerge from the Divine Machine Battalion not only possessed excellent martial arts skills but were also proficient in the use of various firearms, advancing and retreating in an orderly manner, and adept at coordinated attacks. This would be extremely useful for what he was about to do.
Upon hearing this, Ma Liu's eyes widened, and the smile on his face instantly froze.
Chen Zhan was too flamboyant and arrogant.
He pondered for a moment, his eyes turning sinister, and he sternly ordered the burly man holding the battle sword: "Old Cheng, go and call men, call all your brothers here, ten of you surround him, I want to see how he survives!"
Back then, the Shenji Battalion was divided into more than a dozen battalions. Among them, the rattan shield battalion was made up of Han Chinese brothers. After the battle was overrun, many soldiers were unwilling to risk their lives for the Manchus and fled back to their hometowns to live in anonymity.
Ma Liu only took in three defeated soldiers from the Shenji Battalion: Lao Cheng, Lao San, and another brother.
In recent years, as Ma Liu's power has continued to grow, he has discovered that these guys who used to be soldiers are not only skilled in martial arts, but also daring and cooperative, making them much more useful than ordinary thugs.
They began to gather and recruit soldiers from all directions, gradually assembling more than a dozen defeated soldiers from the Shenji Battalion.
These men were brothers who had gone through thick and thin together in the past. They trusted each other, cooperated seamlessly, were highly skilled in martial arts, and were also proficient in firearms and battlefield tactics.
The reason why Ma Liu was able to become a major force on the Tianjin land route in just a few years, only half a step behind the Weibei Canal Gang, was because of the dozen or so experts from the Shenji Battalion.
Ma Liu asked Lao Cheng to call for help, but Lao Cheng stood still, not daring to move, his eyes subconsciously glancing at Chen Zhan, his expression hesitant.
He had already seen the blow to the third brother's chest and estimated that he was likely in grave danger.
Chen Zhan's strength was too terrifying; he feared that if he turned around, Chen Zhan would immediately make a move.
Chen Zhan smiled faintly, turned around and sat back down on the black wooden chair, his demeanor composed: "Go ahead and do it. I said I would call for help, and I won't go back on my word. To be frank, today I not only want to kill Ma Liu, but also to subdue you all and make you my servants."
These words were spoken directly to his face, in a calm tone, showing that he didn't take Ma Liu seriously at all.
Ma Liu was immediately enraged, his face turning ashen, his finger gripping the trigger tightly, almost firing directly.
But he held back, knowing that at that distance he might not be able to hit his target and could even injure his own brother.
Moreover, he has never mistreated his subordinates over the years, especially these dozen or so brothers from the Divine Machine Battalion. It's impossible for Chen Zhan to sow discord among them with just a few words.
Old Cheng hesitated for a moment, then slowly took two steps back, the battle sword in his hand dragging on the ground with a "clattering" sound. He walked to the door and whistled a long whistle.
As soon as the whistle ended, eight men dressed in black short-sleeved shirts walked in from outside.
Each of them was tall and imposing, exuding a sharp aura. They held different unusual weapons in their hands, including hook-and-sickle spears, three-section staffs, and nine-ringed sabers. Their expressions were vigilant, and their steps were steady. It was clear at a glance that they were seasoned experts who had been through many battles.
The once spacious main room suddenly felt cramped, and the oppressive atmosphere in the air became even more intense.
The Shenji Battalion consisted of thirteen brothers, who usually addressed each other as brothers.
The three assassins sent to kill Chen Zhan were all injured, with the third one being the most seriously wounded and still receiving treatment in the back hall. Now there are ten left.
Ten experts, wielding unusual weapons, formed a semi-circle around Chen Zhan, their eyes wary, ready to strike at any moment.
Ma Liu slowly retreated to the doorway of the side room, his two revolvers still aimed at Chen Zhan, waiting for an opportunity to launch a sneak attack, not daring to be careless in the slightest.
"Is everyone here?" "Okay, let's begin."
After speaking, Chen Zhan drank the last cup of tea on the table in one gulp, and then slowly stood up.
The ten experts didn't take Chen Zhan's words about subduing them to heart at all.
They exchanged a glance, and without the slightest hesitation, the five of them attacked simultaneously. Swords, spears, halberds, and all sorts of weapons, accompanied by whistling winds, came at Chen Zhan, each move deadly, showing no mercy.
Chen Zhan remained calm and showed no sign of panic. He slightly crouched down, and the Qi and Blood Divine Tiger within his dantian was unable to move.
However, he had already formed his Qi into a Dantian. With the squatting motion, the energy within his body was compressed again and gathered in his Dantian, ready to be unleashed.
The next second, he suddenly stood up, his blood and qi returned to his body, and his strength burst forth.
Take a step, stomp your feet.
"boom!"
With a dull thud, a deep crack instantly appeared on the bluestone pavement beneath Chen Zhan's feet, spreading out along the ground.
Ma Liu's house then shook violently, the roof beams swayed slightly, and dust fell in clumps, but it did not collapse immediately.
But this is only the force of one step.
Without pausing, Chen Zhan took a second and a third step.
Seven Star Steps, stepping on the Dipper and treading the Heavenly Gang.
Each step he took carried immense force.
He did not dodge, but instead went straight forward to meet the oncoming axes, halberds, hooks, and forks.
But those sharp weapons, which were about to fall on him, suddenly veered off course and lost their aim.
The skilled fighters, wielding weapons, staggered and instinctively touched the ground with their weapons to steady themselves, their faces filled with astonishment.
"Boom—!"
A loud bang, even more violent than the previous stomping sound.
Chen Zhan's three steps not only cracked the ground, but also directly crushed the brick and mud structure of the bungalow!
The roof beams snapped and collapsed with a crash, the walls crumbled, and rubble and debris flew everywhere. Dust instantly filled the air, obscuring everyone's view, and the entire courtyard descended into chaos.
Don't let him leave!
Ma Liu stood at the door of the side room, farther away from Chen Zhan, giving him more time to react.
As he quickly retreated from the danger zone, he shouted sternly at the Shenji Battalion experts amidst the chaos, his revolver already pointed in the direction of the billowing dust, ready to fire at any moment.
"Walk?"
"Who's leaving?"
A calm voice came from the dust, like a demonic chant, clearly reaching everyone's ears, carrying an irresistible pressure.
Ma Liu felt a chill run down his spine, a cold sensation instantly shooting from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
Without a second thought, he instinctively pulled the trigger. Two bullets, whistling through the air, flew towards the direction from which the sound came.
In fact, he didn't see Chen Zhan at all. His vision was mostly obscured by dust, so he relied entirely on the sound to determine the location and fired randomly, hoping to hit the other party by sheer luck.
"Don't hit the wrong person."
The sound rang out again, closer and clearer than before, as if it were right next to my ear.
Just as Ma Liu was about to load his revolver and prepare to fire again, a figure appeared in front of him.
Chen Zhan reached out with both hands and accurately grabbed the two revolvers in Ma Liu's hands.
"Boom!"
Two gunshots rang out again, the sound piercing.
"what--!"
A piercing scream echoed throughout the courtyard, but the one who screamed was not Chen Zhan, but Ma Liu.
The instant Ma Liu pulled the trigger, Chen Zhan's fingertips exerted force, kneading the barrels of the two revolvers into a ball as if crushing a piece of tofu.
But it was too late for the Malibu to stop; the gunpowder exploded inside the barrel, causing it to burst open.
Hot gunpowder fragments splattered onto Ma Liu's hands, instantly turning them into a bloody mess with exposed bones, causing him excruciating pain.
Ma Liu is also a formidable character. He was once a master of internal strength. Although he has been living a life of luxury in recent years and his skills have declined, his foundation is still there.
Ignoring the excruciating pain in his hands, he suddenly squatted down, his arms outstretched like a monkey trying to catch the moon, his fists, dripping with blood, aimed straight at Chen Zhan's face and then slammed into Chen Zhan's lower abdomen.
His moves were ruthless and his angles were tricky, instantly showcasing the skill of a master of internal strength, far surpassing that of Yinmian Liu.
Unfortunately, he was facing Chen Zhan, who had attained the highest level of cultivation.
Chen Zhan did not dodge, did not flinch, and did not even pay attention to the two punches that came his way.
He slapped Ma Liu across the face.
This slap, which may seem like a simple slap to the face or an insulting move, is actually incredibly fierce.
Before the slap could land on his face, a sharp gust of wind howled in, making a whooshing sound, as if a blizzard had swept up snow, carrying a biting chill that enveloped Ma Liu completely.
This move, called "Wind Stirring Snow," may seem like a mind-controlling feint, but it actually harbors deadly intent.
With a slap, the fingers moved rapidly, the force spreading outwards like a blizzard, blinding people and making it impossible to see the move.
What followed immediately was a vicious trick – “planting a corpse in the snow”.
That was a ruthless move involving a throat lock and a slam to the ground. The arm would wrap around the neck, gripping it tightly, then flip the person over and slam them headfirst to the ground. At best, it would break bones; at worst, it would kill them on the spot.
However, Ma Liu is not worthy of Chen Zhan resorting to such underhanded tactics.
He couldn't take that slap alone.
Ma Liu sensed the strong wind coming and instinctively pulled back his arms to block it.
But Chen Zhan's slap was too powerful, like a large fan, directly swatting away his arms without giving him any chance to block.
"Snapped--!"
A crisp sound rang out, echoing throughout the courtyard, even clearer and louder than the gunshot from before.
Ma Liu's body was struck as if by a heavy hammer, and he was sent flying backward for four or five meters before crashing heavily to the ground, where he remained motionless.
That slap broke his neck bone, and he stopped breathing instantly.
Ma Liu is dead.
-
P.S.: (It's almost the end of the month, please vote for me! I haven't asked in a long time, I'm too embarrassed to ask haha) (End of Chapter)
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