Wuxia: Start with max-level Nine Yang Divine Skill

Chapter 175 Zheng Shaoqing: "Run! Don't hold onto any more illusions." (4k4)

Zhang Hengbo was considered a top expert in the martial arts world, but seeing the two fighting, he didn't even dare to lend a hand and could only retreat repeatedly.

He was terrified that if he made a move, he would be walking right into Li Fu's trap and be captured and killed by Li Fu in just a few moves.

"This martial art is called the White Rainbow Palm Force."

Li Fu rarely boasted about his martial arts skills, but he did speak to Zheng Shaoqing, raising an eyebrow as he spoke.

"Your skill is indeed profound; you're almost on par with me!"

"Among the three leaders of the northern bandits, Tong Qianjin and Yin Siniang combined are no match for you alone. It's a bit of an insult to compare your martial arts skills with theirs."

He was indeed surprised that Zheng Shaoqing, at around thirty years old, could possess such profound internal strength cultivation; it was truly an anomaly.

Zheng Shaoqing struggled to resist Li Fu's attacks and received praise, but he felt no joy at all. Instead, he was inwardly groaning.

His Innate Limitless Skill was passed down from his master before his death through the initiation method. After more than ten years of hard training, his internal strength is so profound and pure that many senior masters who have been famous in the martial arts world for decades may not be able to match him.

However, faced with Li Fu's boundless and seemingly inexhaustible power, he could only barely resist and was even slightly at a disadvantage.

"It's a pity that compared to your profound skill, your martial arts techniques are not very good," Li Fu added.

Although Zheng Shaoqing's martial arts moves, palm techniques, and body movements are clearly exquisite, his astonishing mastery of internal energy seems rather mismatched.

It's like a young man holding a peerless divine weapon that can cut through iron like mud. Although he can rely on the sharpness of the sword to injure his enemies, he will ultimately find it difficult to unleash the full power of the divine weapon.

The moves lacked the smooth, seasoned, and effortless style that matched the profound inner strength required.

Zheng Shaoqing's martial arts skills were only at the entry level, far from reaching the pinnacle or the pinnacle.

This resulted in him being constantly restrained and having frequent openings when fighting against masters like Li Fu, whose internal strength and techniques were both at a high level, even though the difference in internal strength was not significant. He could only rely on his pure and profound Wuji internal energy to barely hold on, and he could only defend more than attack.

The two moved with lightning speed, swift as ghosts, darting and exchanging blows in a small space.

The palm strike whistled through the air, its powerful energy scattering and causing the sand and gravel on the ground to roll, while the remaining vegetation around it collapsed and broke.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged more than twenty blows.

Zheng Shaoqing single-handedly resisted the white rainbow palm force that came from all directions. It was as if he was being attacked by several people. Fine beads of sweat had seeped out of his forehead, his breathing gradually became heavy, a trickle of blood quietly spilled from the corner of his mouth, and his body began to stagger slightly.

He had been struck by a palm earlier, and his internal organs had been injured by Li Fu's palm strike, which combined both strength and gentleness. He was already at a significant disadvantage, but he still fought to the death and refused to retreat.

Li Fu's attacks did not stop at all. Bai Hong's palm force was like a series of living snakes, drawing arcs in the air as he attacked.

At the same time, his gaze held a hint of scrutiny and strangeness as he looked at Zheng Shaoqing, who was seriously injured but still desperately shielding him, and sighed slightly.

"In the martial world, I've seen plenty of people who fight to the death just to survive."

"But someone like you, possessing astonishing martial arts skills, could have easily escaped and fled, protecting yourself, yet you willingly risked your life to protect others, fighting to the death without retreating—"

This is truly the first time I've ever seen anything like it.

Zheng Shaoqing coughed up blood, but his palm technique became even more ferocious. He turned to offense instead of defense, trying to force Li Fu back half a step and buy Zhang Hengbo a little more time.

He was panting, but his eyes were unusually firm.

"Does Constable Li think that what Zheng said earlier about seeking a wise ruler to pacify the world and save the people from suffering was just empty talk?"

In this world, there are indeed many hypocrites and fame-seekers—but I, Zheng Shaoqing, am absolutely not one of them!

His palms whistled as he struggled to maintain his balance.

"My Innate Limitless Sect was founded more than a hundred years ago. At that time, the land was in turmoil, and the chaos had lasted for nearly eighty years. The world was divided, small countries stood side by side, and they fought each other endlessly. The people were born in the flames of war and died in hunger and cold. Three generations of people had never seen a day of peace!"

My late master founded this sect not to dominate the martial world, but to cultivate disciples and followers, to seek out the true dragon, and to assist him in ending the chaos and restoring peace to the world!

"Later, Emperor Taizu of Zhao, Song Yuanlang, emerged out of nowhere, unified the country, and was indeed a great ruler of his time."

Seeing that the world was at peace, the elders of our sect laid down their arms and returned to their fields, hiding in the mountains and forests.

Although I did not directly offer assistance, I was gratified to see peace descend upon us, thinking—thinking that a golden age had finally arrived, and that I was not alone in my path—”

During the exchange, a fierce and brutal atmosphere permeated the air. Zheng Shaoqing subtly revealed his innermost thoughts: "Who would have thought—the founding emperor of the Great Zhao Dynasty died suddenly not long after establishing his dynasty, and his younger brother Song Yuanyi succeeded him. The founding emperor of the Great Zhao Dynasty possessed unparalleled martial arts skills; his Emperor Dragon Fist and Kuangtian Staff were invincible throughout the land, and he was also a man of great talent and ambition—"

However, after Emperor Guangwu ascended the throne, he favored treacherous officials, and the government deteriorated day by day. Although the country seemed to be unified, it had already begun to decay internally and would collapse sooner or later.

My sect, the Innate Limitless Sect, has been preparing for the future. Unable to bear seeing the prosperous age crumble and the people plunge into suffering again, we have no choice but to leave the mountains once more to seek out someone who can support the nation and cleanse the court.

Therefore, he angered the imperial court and was regarded as a major threat, and was brutally hunted down!

Disciples and followers—mostly dead or wounded, scattered like clouds in the wind.

My master—was the previous leader of the Innate Limitless Sect.

Li Fu deflected Bai Shaoqing's attack with a palm strike, his eyes narrowing as he slowed his movements, saying, "In that case, you can be considered to have inherited the legacy of our sect's predecessors."

"Your internal energy doesn't seem to come from your own training. Where did it come from?"

Even though Li Fu began to show mercy, Zheng Shaoqing could no longer withstand his palm strike and was knocked back several steps, coughing up blood.

"I—I am actually a scholar from Jiangnan with a decent background. Since childhood, I have only known how to bury myself in my studies, hoping to pass the imperial examinations and advance in the civil service. I have never heard of anything outside the window—and my temperament—I am even somewhat cowardly."

That year, the imperial court was in a great hurry to suppress the Xiantian Wuji Sect.

One night, an old man covered in blood staggered into the woodshed in my backyard.

When I got up in the middle of the night, I found him severely injured and on the verge of death. I couldn't bear it, so I secretly gave him some food and water and let him rest in my woodshed to recover.

He—was my teacher.

"At first, I could tell he was being chased, but seeing that he was old and pitiful, I thought I was just helping an old man in distress."

It wasn't until the next day, when they saw his wanted poster on a street bulletin board, that they learned he was a top-priority criminal of the imperial court and the leader of a rebellious party.

The document states that anyone who harbors or conceals such a criminal will be treated as an accomplice and their entire family will be executed!

Zheng Shaoqing could barely stand. Recalling the past, guilt welled up in his eyes.

"I—I'm scared!"

Thinking of my grandparents and parents at home—I felt restless and, after much deliberation—I finally told my parents about it.

The parents were also terrified—we—we finally chose to report it to the government.

"The imperial court's experts and soldiers arrived quickly and took him away, still recovering from his serious injuries."

That night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

But then—that very night—my master—returned, bearing even more severe injuries, clearly having escaped a fierce battle.

"I thought he was here for revenge—I was so scared I almost lost my mind, and all I could do was kill me and spare my parents."

But my master just looked at me, sighed, and said that I was not a bad person by nature and had a kind heart, otherwise he would not have saved him.

He also saw the reluctance and hesitation in my eyes when the soldiers came and arrested me—he said that was good, because in this chaotic world, kind-hearted people are few and far between.

"Then—despite his own exhaustion, he passed on all the power of his lifelong cultivation of the Innate Limitless Skill to me through the method of initiation!"

He then asked me if I would be willing to become his disciple and inherit the lineage and legacy of the Innate Limitless Sect.

Zheng Shaoqing's eyes were filled with tears.

"How could I refuse? So I knelt down and begged to become your disciple."

After passing on his power, my master was on his deathbed, leaving only one sentence for me: "Don't confine yourself to your study any longer."

Go out and see the world—see how ordinary people live.

If I read this and my heart remains unmoved, then so be it—I will return to my studies, ignoring everything else, and let the Xiantian Wuji Sect, with its dwindling number of disciples, simply disappear.

If I—if I still have a sliver of passion in my heart—and want to do something, this power can help me. The reconstruction of the Innate Limitless Sect depends on me.

"Master has passed away."

Zheng Shaoqing took a deep breath, suppressing his surging blood and emotions.

"After burying my master, I left home and Jiangnan as instructed—only then did I truly see what it meant to have the rich feasting while the poor freeze to death on the road!"

What does it mean to say that oppressive government is more ferocious than a tiger?

What does it mean to exchange children for food and to cook by breaking up bones?

When I read the classics, they all said that the people are the most important, but I never knew that the people could actually be so despised!

For a few bushels of tax grain, people sold their children; for a rare stone, they suffered a tragic fate, their families destroyed and their lives ruined.

In this vast world, how few ordinary people can afford a peaceful meal?

"From that time on, I made sure my household was settled—and then I abandoned my literary pursuits for martial arts, joining the ranks of outlaws."

I will use the power passed down to me by my master, and in the way I can, to inherit the legacy of the Innate Limitless Sect, to find a wise ruler and help him rebuild the world.

"King Tieliu is the wise ruler I have found, so I cannot allow you to kill him under any circumstances!"

Zheng Shaoqing tried his best to make a move.

These words, spoken haltingly, were sincere and heartfelt.

Many outlaws in the north had only heard that Chief Zheng, the Jade-Faced Wuji, seemed to have come from a scholarly family in Jiangnan in his early years, but they did not know why he abandoned his studies to become a martial artist and fall into the life of an outlaw.

No one knows about this past event.

Hearing this, Li Fu unconsciously slowed his attack by three points, and his brows furrowed slightly.

This person has a peculiar background and a firm will. His words and actions seem to be truly for the greater good, rather than for personal desires.

"This sense of righteousness may be somewhat naive, somewhat stubborn, and may even be entrusted to the wrong person, but the person himself can truly be called a righteous man."

He was not arrogant or complacent because of his extraordinary martial arts skills, and he was able to abandon his comfortable life and resolutely throw himself into danger for the greater good in his heart.

Under his fierce attack, he coughed up blood but did not retreat. He was willing to die to protect Zhang Hengbo and was willing to sacrifice his own life. This sense of righteousness and perseverance is truly rare.

Admittedly, he felt that Zheng Shaoqing might have been trying to buy time by recounting this bizarre experience.

But Li Fu didn't care.

"Unfortunately, haven't you heard that if you make the wrong choice, the harder you try, the more wrong you become?"

How can you be so sure that Zhang Hengbo is the enlightened ruler you're looking for?

As Li Fu spoke, he kept his hands tactful, his mind racing.

Zheng Shaoqing struck again with a desperate palm strike. Although the force was strong, it was already scattered. He no longer met the blow head-on. He used the Qiankun Great Shift technique with his left palm to guide the opponent's palm force, and Bai Hong's palm force gently struck Zheng Shaoqing's shoulder.

This palm strike used a gentle force, and Zheng Shaoqing felt a surge of great power. He was involuntarily thrown backward and crashed into a pile of rocks several feet away. Although the shock caused his blood to churn and his internal organs to feel like they were about to rupture, he did not suffer a fatal injury.

He knew that Li Fu was showing mercy, and struggled to get up again, but he also realized that he could never be a match for Li Fu.

"I can still risk my life to block a few more moves from Officer Li."

Zheng Shaoqing clutched his chest and shouted hoarsely behind him.

"Iron Stream King, run!"

We have no chance of lasting even a stick of incense!

Officer Li's martial arts skills are divine, almost beyond human capability. Do not hesitate any longer, and do not harbor any illusions.

"Brother Zheng, I'm entrusting everything to you."

Zhang Hengbo was already terrified. Chang Linchuan, the Mountain-Shaking Spear he relied on as his right-hand man, was knocked away by Li Fu's palm and his fate was unknown. The resourceful strategist Xu Daofu coughed up blood and fell to the ground, unable to fight anymore.

Hundreds of elite soldiers who knew formations and martial arts were almost completely routed by Li Fu's single charge, like clay chickens and earthen dogs.

Zheng Shaoqing, whose martial arts skills were unparalleled and who was considered the number one outlaw in the north, also suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Li Fu.

He had lost all his previous heroic spirit and dared not hesitate for a moment. Under the protection of several loyal guards, he turned around in a panic and stumbled away into the depths of the dense forest behind him.

"Everyone, cover Iron Stream King's retreat."

Zheng Shaoqing shouted and suddenly swung his palm to strike.

But Li Fu ignored Zheng Shaoqing and used the Lingbo Weibu technique, easily passing him with a twist of his body, and rushed straight towards Zhang Hengbo with lightning speed.

At this moment, Xu Daofu struggled to his feet and, seeing the situation, cried out hoarsely, "Quickly, protect our lord!"

He staggered and blocked the road, then attacked Li Fu.

Chang Linchuan, the master of the Mountain-Shaking Spear, also staggered to his feet, coughing up blood, yet still roaring as he raised his bent spear in a final attempt to block the attack.

"Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot."

Li Fu snorted coldly, his figure moving without stopping. He waved his sleeve to knock away the remaining soldiers who tried to block his charge, and then casually made a move to strike the two of them.

Several palm strikes, condensed and almost tangible, shot out, tracing several arcs. Some bypassed Chang Linchuan's frontal spear shadow to attack his ribs, while others curved downwards from above Xu Daofu's head to strike.

Xu Daofu and Chang Linchuan were already seriously injured, so how could they withstand his White Rainbow Palm?

Before he could even delay Li Fu's progress, he was beaten and sent flying, bleeding profusely.

Xu Daofu, barely breathing, crashed heavily onto the rocks, blood spurting from his mouth and nose. Seeing Li Fu rushing straight for the panicked Zhang Hengbo, he mustered his last breath and charged at Yang Jiu, who was in Li Fu's path, with a hoarse roar.

Yang Jiu!

What are you waiting for?!

Why aren't you making a move?

Cough cough————

These words were like a thunderclap!

Luo Jiugao, Luo Wei, Madam Zhong, and others were locked in fierce combat with the remaining elite soldiers.

Although these men were remnants of the army, they were all fierce, and although their formation was scattered, they still covered each other in groups of three or five, making it difficult to take them all down in a short time.

Upon hearing Xu Daofu's roar, everyone's hearts trembled violently!

Yang Jiu?

Their eyes instinctively swept towards the figure in the midst of the battle, who was skillfully maneuvering and using exquisite acupressure techniques to subdue the enemy.

Upon hearing the roar, Yang Jiu visibly froze. His already sickly and sallow face became even more unsightly, turning red and blue. A struggle and anger flashed in his eyes, which ultimately turned into a fierce and resolute expression!

"Yang Jiu, you—!"

Ma Shixiong's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed in shock. Lu Bo and the others also stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

Yang Jiu gritted his teeth and abandoned the enemy in front of him. With a light touch of his toes, he darted out diagonally like a ghost, his target being Li Fu, who was rushing towards Zhang Hengbo!

He held his right index and middle fingers together like a sword, with a faint bluish-black tinge at the fingertips, a signature move known as the Bone-Piercing Acupoint Strike.

"Yang Jiu, you bastard! You secretly let Zhang Hengbo go! What benefits did you receive from them?!"

Ma Shixiong was incredulous and enraged. He raised his iron spear and was about to charge, but was held back by more than a dozen fierce soldiers.

Lu Bo and Shen Tie also shouted angrily.

"The traitor did indeed reveal himself."

A gust of wind swept past him, and Li Fu turned his head, his gaze fixed on Yang Jiu.

"So it was you!"