Forge a path to success

Fan De burst out laughing on the spot, and even Chu Hengkong couldn't help but let out a disdainful twitch of the Divine Slash within its sheath.

At this moment, the masked man's flamboyant performance attracted a crowd of mercenaries. Chu Hengkong, not wanting to cause trouble, directly refused, saying, "I will not sell any of my weapons, nor will I exchange them for anything. Please leave."

"I won't covet the knife, but I'm determined to get the prosthetic arm!"

The masked man sprang to his feet, raising his fan-like hand: "We are both martial arts practitioners. Since the deal can't go through, why not resolve this through martial arts? Let's wager this as a duel and settle our dispute with a victory or defeat, how about it?"

Chu Hengkong had already turned and left: "I won't fight."

"How can you be so lacking in passion, young man! Hey, don't actually leave! I'll make a corresponding bet too. I have a lot of powerful relics!"

"No need."

Seeing Chu Hengkong walk several meters away, the masked man pondered for a while, then seemed to remember something and suddenly sighed.

"Sigh... I thought he would at least have some heroic spirit, but I never expected Ji Qiufeng's disciple to be such a boring man."

Ji Huaisu, who had been enjoying the spectacle, immediately covered her face upon hearing this. Li Ke, watching from the sidelines, exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, really? This level of provocation..."

"It will happen," Ji Huaisu said helplessly.

Chu Hengkong stopped, turned around, and suddenly smiled.

"What weapon are you using to bet on my prosthetic arm?"

The masked man patted his chest and laughed, "I can't produce any level 7 ones, but you can choose whatever you have!"

"I'm in need of a good gun."

"Okay~!"

The masked man spun around on the spot, conjuring a large spear in his hand as he turned. The spear was about three and a half meters long, entirely silver, and engraved with dragon patterns. These dragon patterns spiraled along the spear shaft, culminating in a silver head sculpture at the top, its eyes radiating golden light, and a sharp spear blade protruding from its mouth. Its aura was extremely powerful and unstoppable.

Chu Hengkong's eyes lit up. The masked man planted the large spear in the ground like a flag and said smugly, "The spear is named 'Kanglong Qianzhen'. It was forged by the former Palace Master of Chenjun Palace with the remains of an ancient dragon, with the intention of unwavering determination and no return."

This gun has the essence of a level 6 weapon, but its output is reduced to level 5. It comes from a reputable manufacturer and has absolutely no hidden dangers. It's far more reliable than your prosthetic arm, which you dare not use often!

The mercenaries watching gasped in amazement. These were all seasoned veterans, their eyes gleaming at the sight of fine weapons more intensely than at the sight of beautiful women. Chu Hengkong readily nodded: "How will the competition proceed?"

The masked man stomped his foot, and the ground in the center of the exhibition rose up, forming a fighting ring. He leaped onto the ring, smugly saying, "We are both martial artists. When fellow practitioners spar, we should not kill or harm anyone. Why don't we have a match according to the rules of sumo wrestling?"

Chu Hengkong couldn't hold back for a moment: "What? Sumo wrestling?"

Vande explained, "This is a traditional ritual on Shura Island. In the past, the earliest group of Remnant Souls hunted the Cataclysm, fearing that its elemental form would transform and take their place in death. So they asked strong and powerful men to trample on the Cataclysm's corpse, forcing its power into the soil with their willpower. This served two purposes: first, to reduce the Cataclysm to ashes, preventing its resurrection; and second, to nourish Dust Island and promote a bountiful harvest."

This ritual of trampling demons is called "Yoku," and the one who performs the trampling is called a "wrestler." In modern times, wrestlers also engage in friendly strength contests in a ring, with the loser being the one who falls or exits the ring—this is the "Grand Sumo," a prestigious sport on Shura Island.

"Falling or going out of bounds means failure!" the masked man added. "I won't take advantage of you. You're a martial artist with a mass level of 3, and I'll only suppress all my power output techniques to level 3. How about that, is that fair?"

Chu Hengkong leisurely stepped onto the arena and casually tossed Fan De to Ji Huaisu: "Why don't you raise the mass point 4 before you fight me?"

"Heh heh heh, young man, don't be too arrogant." The masked man laughed and lowered his body. "Then, let's wager our cherished weapons—and settle this once and for all!"

Ji Huaisu made an ice whistle and blew it forcefully. At the same time the whistle blew, the audience below the stage saw a blur, and the masked man flashed to the opposite side of the stage with unbelievable speed, his fan-like palm strike hitting Chu Hengkong directly in the chest!

The force of that palm strike must have been immense, yet no loud thud was heard; Chu Hengkong was simply seen flying backward. Li Ke gasped, her teeth aching. From that single blow, she knew her opponent's martial arts were extremely high, because this meant all the impact had been channeled into Chu Hengkong's body, not a single ounce of force wasted. Taking such a blow head-on would be incredibly painful.

Chu Hengkong staggered backward, nearly falling off the stage, but managed to stop just at the edge. At the same moment, the masked man suddenly leaped, and the spot where he had been standing collapsed, sending a colorless torrent of water surging upwards. Ji Huaisu quickly erected an ice wall, otherwise the onlookers would have been blown away on the spot.

"Is this the Free Wind?" "A hidden weapon?" The mercenaries discussed among themselves.

“It’s deflecting the force.” Lico clicked her tongue. “That guy directly deflected the force of the impact into the ground, using it as a landmine attack… Both sides are the same kind of monster.”

The masked man's posture was flawless as he exclaimed, "Young man, your physique is even stronger than I expected."

"You're quite strong." Chu Hengkong cracked his neck. "Are you sure you want to use this for exertion? Or should we increase it a bit?"

"Hehehe, why bother with strength? The essence of martial arts in Dragon Township lies in technique!"

The burly man strode forward, the assassin charged ahead, and both rushed towards the center of the arena simultaneously. One threw a punch, the other clapped his hands. The speed of their attacks instantly increased, and the wind from their punches and palm strikes spread out like a storm. The spectators below were dazzled and couldn't tell what kind of martial arts were being used. They only felt that the power in the arena was terrifying, and that if they accidentally entered, they would die within moments.

The mercenaries knew that this exchange was merely a warm-up and a test for the two. Every martial artist who came out of seclusion possessed a secret technique, and these two hadn't even used a single one of their secret techniques, so they were far from being serious.

As expected, the two exchanged blows for less than half a minute before separating again, this time to demonstrate their true martial arts skills. The masked man flicked his hand, and a piece of white paper between his fingers magically produced bright red ink, transforming into a talisman. He slapped the talisman onto his arm and laughed, "Behold, the talisman of a solidified steel body!"

A cheer erupted from the audience, with even Li Ke and Ji Huaisu clapping. This move was a true display of skill that experienced practitioners could recognize; he was showcasing the talismanic techniques that the martial arts practitioners of Dragon Township were so proud of.

Martial arts talismans, powered by qi and blood, may lack the raw offensive power of elemental magic, but they offer a variety of benefits such as strengthening the body, training soldiers, and exorcising demons. For those on the Unification Path who lack offensive capabilities, this is an extremely useful skill. It should be noted that many relics from the Floating Light and Supreme Paths are only usable by those who have progressed to the corresponding path, and among mercenaries, the Unification Path is the most numerous, making these qi and blood-powered talismans the best auxiliary relics.

Drawing talismans is laborious and requires rare materials. Ordinary martial arts practitioners often have to set aside half a day to draw just a few talismans, and even then, they are hard to come by. A talisman like this Steel Body Talisman can only be drawn by a Heart Sword cultivator, which is why cultivators like Wu He who are skilled at making talismans are so popular.

This masked martial artist transformed his fists into a brush, his battles into paintings, infusing the principles of talismans into his very being, turning the act of fighting into a process of "drawing talismans." At the end of each exchange, the talismans were perfectly formed, embodying the essence of Longquan Township's dual cultivation of martial arts and literature, and its principle of using battle to sustain battle. This was undeniable, genuine skill, leaving the mercenaries no choice but to applaud.

The crowd below the stage looked on with anticipation, eager to see what skills Detective Chu would use to counter them.

Chu Hengkong didn't stand on ceremony. He transformed his wicked wrist into a long blade and stabbed himself right through the heart. Finally, he waved his hand and said, "Please."

The masked man slowly tilted his head, a large question mark appearing on his mask: "?"

Chu Hengkong was also confused: ?

Chapter 294 What Kind of Martial Cultivator Are You?

The masked man was focused and cautious, wondering what kind of tactic this was, as he had no recollection of it. Could it be that Ji Qiufeng had developed some powerful new talisman that required self-mutilation and bloodletting to activate?

Thinking of this, he immediately perked up and said with great interest, "It seems you have your own plans as well. Let me see them!"

Having said that, the masked man stood still, intending to use the power of the Steel Body Talisman for a defensive strategy. Chu Hengkong pointed his fingers, aiming directly at the mask's eye socket. The masked man nodded sharply, smashing the finger strike with his headbutt, and said smugly, "Young man, you used the orthodox and unorthodox methods to break the Steel Body Talisman, your thinking is orthodox but too rigid. You should know that my physique is abnormal from birth, and your unorthodox sealing method cannot strike my acupoints."

Upon hearing this, Chu Hengkong laughed and said, "I haven't learned this."

"...?" The masked man was taken aback. "Then what are you doing?"

Chu Hengkong pointed his fingers and drew a line, and a ten-meter-long blood-red blade of light suddenly burst open above the arena.

"We agreed not to use weapons, but to use our fingers instead of knives." He vibrated the air to make his voice ring out.

The masked man was breaking out in a cold sweat: "You... why did you use such a vicious method during a mere sparring session... oh, dangerous!"

He immediately stood at attention, dramatically leaping to the side to avoid the crescent-shaped slash. The masked man angrily waved his hand: "You reckless brat, don't blame me for teaching you a lesson! Drink up!"

The masked man swung his right arm, his thick arm sweeping down like a tree trunk. Chu Hengkong parried with a finger-blade, then took a half-step back before abruptly switching from defense to offense, unleashing a powerful strike aimed directly at his opponent's shoulder. The masked man charged straight at the blade's edge, a flash of red light appearing on his shoulder, but the blade's edge vanished in an instant as a fleeting spark.

Using the firelight as leverage, he sprang back and kicked out, but deftly deflected Chu Hengkong's counter-attack with a masterful counter-attack. The move was heavy but not fast, clearly visible even to onlookers; he was obviously intent on teaching Chu Hengkong a lesson. Chu Hengkong, however, was delighted, and braced himself against the kick, retreating to the side.

The masked man landed and immediately launched a kick, swift as the wind. Chu Hengkong stood firm, his shoulder striking the blow, but he was strangely sent flying to the side, retaliating with a hand chop. A spark-like flash appeared on his shoulder—the very technique the masked man had used earlier!

The masked man snorted and also struck to his side with a chop to intercept Chu Hengkong's attack. He deliberately created distance and said, "This Burning Night's Sparkling Style is barely passable. How did Ji Qiufeng teach it to be like this?"

"I didn't teach you." Chu Hengkong shrugged. "I learned it from you."

"Heh heh heh, your mouth is tougher than your fist. Then let's see what you're really made of." The masked man didn't believe him at all, and with a flick of his wrist, he revealed another talisman.

The talisman was entirely golden, depicting pebbles placed in a fire. He deliberately held it up to the audience below, proudly proclaiming, "Behold, the talisman of immense power!"

The mercenaries cheered again, their eyes practically filled with admiration. The Si Chen Wan Jun Talisman could establish contact with the enemy to prevent their escape and also greatly weaken their attacks. It was one of the strongest talismans at low quality, truly a symbol of the true teachings of the Chen Jun Palace.

This kind of talisman is a life-saving relic kept at the bottom of the chest on the battlefield. Even experienced Heart Sword cultivators, after preparing all the materials, would need to go into seclusion for several days to draw such a talisman. This person, however, drew it easily using the method of unifying spirit and energy. In the eyes of the mercenaries, he was simply a big shot who could mass-produce trump cards.

Everyone looked at Chu Hengkong again, thinking that even if this martial arts master was hiding his skills, he should at least show some real skill.

Chu Hengkong didn't waste any words and stabbed himself twice more: "Let's continue."

"Alright, let's begin round three..." The masked man slapped the talisman onto himself. "Hey, what are you doing?!"

Chu Hengkong was utterly bewildered: "I'm gathering Qi for a thousand autumns, what are you doing?"

“One Qi Through the Ages, ah, so that’s how it is…” The masked man took a deep breath. “This is a friendly sparring match, you idiot! Do you use One Qi Through the Ages when sparring with your fellow disciples?!”

"Use it?" Chu Hengkong was completely confused. "I use this when I fight with my girlfriend."

Ji Huaisu shouted from below the stage: "Hey uncle, don't cause trouble, okay? What do martial arts practitioners use to fight if they don't use the 'One Qi for a Thousand Autumns' technique?"

The mercenaries looked like they'd seen a ghost. The masked man covered his forehead with one hand, his voice hesitant: "This... doesn't make sense... I just went to the front lines last week. I shouldn't be out of touch with the times..."

He rallied his spirits and demanded, "No! You almost misled me. Where did your talisman go?"

Chu Hengkong remained calm: "I can't draw."

"Are there any martial artists who can't draw talismans? Why would Ji Qiufeng, a master of both talismans and halberds, teach a disciple like you?!"

"The city lord said that the most important thing for martial arts practitioners is still the 'martial arts' of fists, feet, and weapons. As for 'skills,' mastering the four secret techniques of One Qi for a Thousand Autumns, Burning Night, True Profound Qi Armor, and Undying and Undying Technique is basically enough. The rest can be adapted to the situation." Chu Hengkong spoke the truth.

Upon hearing this, the mercenaries were so shocked that they lost all expression. The masked man covered his face and sighed, "It's my fault... I shouldn't have tried to reason with that idiot who was crammed into a classroom... You, you, sigh!"

He angrily tossed his head and shouted in despair, "You'd better take this first!!"

Chu Hengkong decisively threw a punch, intending to test the power of the talisman first. The masked man allowed the punch to hit him, but the energy in the punch dissipated upon contact with his body, flying back and scattering like water droplets around the arena. Chu Hengkong saw it clearly; this was not a secret technique from Longquan Township, but the effect of the Sichen Wanjun Talisman.

He instantly accelerated, unleashing three hundred strikes in a flash, a small portion of which utilized the True Mechanism's Netherworld Annihilation Force Field. Yet, only fragments flew across the arena, all attacks deflected by the talismans. The masked man laughed loudly, his aura suddenly spreading out, shattering the numerous tiny needles hidden in the air. Chu Hengkong secretly transformed the ejected aura into "needles" to trigger the chaotic stars, but this counter-strategy was immediately seen through by the masked man!

"Come, come, come..."

The masked man made a grasping motion in the air, and the power deflected by the talisman coalesced in his palm, forming a golden rope. The other end of this rope connected directly to Chu Hengkong, causing him to feel a long-lost weakness. The masked man suddenly pulled on the rope formed by the Wan Jun talisman, and blood-red energy burned fiercely in his other hand, forming a blazing giant fist.

"Since you're so fond of secret techniques, then join me!" the masked man laughed. "Burning Night, Rise!"

A flash of golden light appeared on the rope, freezing Chu Hengkong instantly. He only had time to extend his prosthetic hand forward. The masked man's massive fist, brimming with power, slammed out with the force to split mountains and shatter rocks. Its power increased with his aura, expanding in an instant to engulf the entire arena. Li Ke and Ji Huaisu acted simultaneously, creating a barrier in the center of the arena using dust and trees. However, the barrier was shattered by the aftershock of the massive fist, which, like a scorching sunrise, swallowed the assassin whole.

"Holy crap, this is going to be bad!" Lico exclaimed.

"It's alright." Ji Huaisu relaxed instead. "This is the kind of thing he's least afraid of."

At that moment, the people in the exhibition saw a glimpse of blood.

A strange "dot" rose from the fiery aura, like the single eye of a cold, bloodthirsty demon. Then, the aura swirled like a vortex, and the giant fist shrank at an unbelievable speed. In a mere instant, the blood-red demonic eye devoured everything. The many strange phenomena in the arena vanished, leaving only the unharmed assassin and his steel-like fist!

"——The secret technique of Canxin's anti-soul."

"This is...?!" the masked man exclaimed.

Chu Hengkong strode forward, delivering a solid punch to his opponent's chest. All the power absorbed through his secret technique erupted in this single strike, its terrifying force completely engulfing the masked man's massive body. Caught off guard, the masked man was blasted off the edge of the arena, while the small animals scrambled to make way for the impending onslaught…

But a terrible crushing accident didn't happen! Just before he was about to go out of bounds, the masked man hooked his toes around the edge of the ring, stabilizing himself with a single-leg balance bridge-like maneuver! Even the large package behind him remained slightly off the ground. The mercenaries applauded! Impressive skill!

"Huff...huff...this secret technique...is truly amazing." The masked man panted heavily. "I've never seen such a wondrous skill before. I was careless earlier...but this concerns my precious weapon, so I cannot easily admit defeat in this battle. Wait for me to get up, and we'll have another three hundred rounds!"

Chu Hengkong also clapped and said sincerely, "Your fist techniques and talisman skills are indeed superb. Please be sure to have a serious match with me when you have time in the future. But today's sparring is a loss for you."

The masked man was slightly annoyed by this, but deliberately maintained a high level of difficulty to highlight his skill: "Take a closer look, what makes you say that?!"

"Because the ring couldn't hold up anymore."

"Ah." The masked man was taken aback. "Wait, wait, wait—!"

With a click, an ominous sound came from the masked man's foot. After the chaotic struggle and supporting the masked man's massive body on its own, the small stone could no longer bear such an unbearable weight and finally shattered into dust—causing the man, who had been deliberately maintaining a difficult posture, to lie on the ground in a position like a sleeping baby.

"..." The masked man remained motionless.

Chu Hengkong couldn't help but laugh.

"How could this be?! Hey, this doesn't count! Everyone saw it, right? This, this has nothing to do with martial arts, it can't be included!!"

A burst of laughter erupted from the audience; both the small animals and the mercenaries laughed heartily, filling the exhibition with a lively atmosphere. The masked man rolled to his feet and, like a model student, raised his hand, shouting, "An accident! I demand a rematch! I demand a rematch!"

Trek appeared out of nowhere behind him, pressing one hand on the package: "Okay, okay, we can talk about it when we get to the detention center..."

"Let me go! I'm not having it!"

"You dare to 'disagree' after betting and showing off with kids?"

"No, honestly, I'm worried about the gun. Can I fire it one more time? Just one more round—"

The animal team members drove up in a rather large police car, and the dutiful Captain Trek escorted the mysterious masked man into the vehicle. Chu Hengkong picked up the long gun, weighed it in his hand, and slung it over his shoulder with great satisfaction: "What a fine gun."

Ji Huaisu shaded his eyes and looked into the distance, exclaiming in amazement, "So this is what ordinary martial arts practitioners are like..."

“No, whether it’s martial arts or not is another matter, but I don’t think it has anything to do with ‘ordinary’,” Vande said.

Chapter 295 People Returning to a Foreign Land

【Kanglong Qianzhen Spear】

[Rating: 5 (6)]

【Origin: Chenjun Palace, Longquan Township】

【Effect:

1. Flying dragon in the abyss

With this spear, the first strike can break through all methods in the second abyss.

2. Qian Zhen Wu Jiu (乾贞无咎)