Zhang Xiaoqiang, standing nearby, grew grim as he observed the situation.
With a single glance at Chen Yanqing, he drew his sword and attacked without hesitation. It was a fatal strike aimed directly at the throat, which would have left any ordinary disciple bleeding out on the spot. His decisive action and vicious moves were uncharacteristic for someone his age.
Chen Yanqing wiped the fresh blood from his cheek, drew his dagger, and his expression darkened. "I was careless just now. This is only the beginning..."
Before Chen Yanqing could finish speaking, Zhou Fu attacked again with his sword. The sect leader had said that once they strike, they must incapacitate or kill, leaving no room for the opponent to breathe.
Seeing this, Chen Yanqing raised his dagger to meet the incoming blow.
*Clang!*
The crisp sound of cold steel clashing echoed throughout the resting hall. Chen Yanqing's expression turned slightly grim as he cursed inwardly. How could this guy be so strong!
The moment Zhou Fu pushed Chen Yanqing back, he immediately followed up with a sweeping leg kick aimed at Chen Yanqing's lower body. Chen Yanqing stumbled backward, narrowly avoiding the sweep. Zhou Fu leaped up and swung his Zhenhun Stone short sword again. Seeing this, Chen Yanqing could only raise his dagger to block.
Zhou Fu's attacks were all aimed at vital points, his moves extremely vicious, as if intending to kill with a single blow. Chen Yanqing dared not be careless; a single slip-up would mean his immediate demise.
The onlookers, witnessing Zhou Fu's decisive attacks, felt a slight chill. His moves were sharp, each one designed to be a killing blow. Ruthless, venomous, and with lethal intent.
Zhang Xiaoqiang remained silent, but his eyes were fixed on Zhou Fu. Where did this kid come from? Every move was aimed at ending a life. In terms of pure martial arts, Chen Yanqing was no match for him. The only way to win was to rely on spells, to create distance and fight with magic.
Seeing his senior brother at a disadvantage, Peng Chu Zheng reached for his dagger, ready to intervene. "Hmph!" Zhang Xiaoqiang glared fiercely at Peng Chu Zheng. Startled, Peng Chu Zheng abandoned the thought, certain it was his master's final warning.
Chen Yanqing also sensed the situation. He knew he was no match for Zhou Fu in hand-to-hand combat and intended to create distance to fight with spells. Zhou Fu, understanding his advantage in close combat, pressed forward with the Zhenhun Stone short sword, giving Chen Yanqing no opportunity.
Zhou Fu's offensive grew faster, and Chen Yanqing began to struggle, narrowly avoiding several fatal blows. Chen Yanqing's formation was in disarray. He stomped his foot on the ground and retreated, a smirk appearing on his lips. "Now it's my turn to counterattack."
As Chen Yanqing spoke, he was about to form hand seals to cast a spell. Suddenly, Zhou Fu's finger traced the Zhenhun Stone short sword, igniting it with fierce flames. He then slashed towards Chen Yanqing, letting out a low roar, "Huo Li Zhan!"
"What!" The crowd erupted in astonishment. This was a fire technique from the Five Elements arts, Huo Li Zhan. This kid was Yu Ye's true disciple!
Zhang Xiaoqiang's face turned extremely grim. He hadn't expected Yu Daohen to teach the Five Elements arts to this kid. The flaming sword energy slashed towards Chen Yanqing, who stood in shock.
Seeing the flame sword energy already upon him, Chen Yanqing quickly pulled out a copper coin and shot it out. The flaming sword energy struck the coin and instantly vanished, melting away like snow in hot water. Simultaneously, the coin shattered into pieces and fell to the ground.
Chen Yanqing breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the Qiankun Copper Coin his master had given him, capable of blocking a fatal blow. At the same time, Chen Yanqing's face contorted with anger. This was something he needed for his future travels and survival, and it had been used here. He vowed to kill this guy today!
Just as Chen Yanqing was about to cast a spell, Zhou Fu, who had appeared before him without anyone noticing, swung his sword in a throat-slitting strike.
"What!" Chen Yanqing's face filled with terror. In his panic, he forgot about his dagger and raised his left hand, extending two fingers to use the Yuan Consumption Finger.
*Swish!*
The Zhenhun Stone short sword sliced through, severing Chen Yanqing's outstretched two fingers. Blood gushed out, drenching his entire arm. Chen Yanqing looked down at his severed fingers on the ground, and a searing pain engulfed his body. It had all happened too suddenly, leaving him no time to react; by the time he realized it, his fingers were already on the ground.
"Ah… ah… ah… ah…" A heart-wrenching scream erupted. Chen Yanqing cried out in pain, "My fingers, my fingers!"
The onlookers shivered at the sight. This kid was truly decisive and ruthless. It would be best not to provoke him in the future.
Without hesitation, Zhou Fu swung the Zhenhun Stone short sword again, aiming for Chen Yanqing's throat, intending to finish him with a fatal blow. Seeing this, Chen Yanqing cried out in fear, "Master, save me! Master, save me!"
At this critical moment, a figure suddenly appeared and blocked Chen Yanqing, grabbing Zhou Fu's arm. Killing intent flared in his eyes. "Kid, that's enough. You're young, don't harbor so much killing intent, or you'll die young."
Zhou Fu looked at the figure who had suddenly intervened, his expression turning grim. "You should ask who started this." Zhou Fu knew this person was Zhang Xiaoqiang, an old acquaintance of the sect leader. And that arrogant fellow was his disciple.
Seeing that Zhou Fu showed no fear of him, Zhang Xiaoqiang's expression grew even more somber, his voice turning cold. "Today, I will discipline you properly in place of your master."
Zhou Fu, unfazed, swung the Zhenhun Stone short sword and thrust it towards Zhang Xiaoqiang. Zhang Xiaoqiang released Zhou Fu's arm, dodged to the side with ease, and then threw a punch. Seeing this, Zhou Fu crossed his arms and met Zhang Xiaoqiang's punch head-on.
*Boom!*
With a dull thud, Zhou Fu was forced back several meters before he could stabilize himself. He stared at the murderous Zhang Xiaoqiang with a grim expression, his hands trembling uncontrollably. Damn it, just blocking one punch had made his arm feel like it was breaking, throbbing with intense pain. What would have happened if he hadn't blocked that punch? If that punch had landed on his face, he would have been half-crippled, if not dead.
"You've got some skill, but it's not enough!" Zhang Xiaoqiang chuckled. As he spoke, he stomped his foot on the ground and swung his fist again.
Zhou Fu knew he couldn't dodge this punch. The only thing he could do was to swing the Zhenhun Stone short sword and slash him fiercely as the fist hit him. He would bite him, even if it meant death. He wasn't afraid of death, but he regretted not becoming the sect leader's disciple. If he had five more years, he could have exchanged his life for Zhang Xiaoqiang's.
Zhou Fu assumed a posture of facing death. Just as Zhang Xiaoqiang's fist was less than half a meter away from him, a figure suddenly emerged from the side, moving with ghostly speed, and blocked in front of Zhou Fu, grabbing Zhang Xiaoqiang's incoming fist. Zhang Xiaoqiang naturally knew who this figure was and sneered inwardly. This arrival was quite timely.