Chapter 273 144: Measuring Up (Part 2)

Losing the initiative is a huge disadvantage when facing an opponent of similar strength.

"Two grown men, acting like a bunch of sissies. Get on with it!"

On the stage, Zhu Qian's gruff, deep voice suddenly broke the silence.

As the crowd turned to look at her, she was already walking steadily off the stage.

"I'm not a Secret Martial Artist, so I'm no match for you two. I'm giving up the stage. Come on up, both of you."

Seeing this,

Pang Shixun chuckled, his eyes filled with approval. "Now that's what I call decisive."

"Indeed. She has a good Heart Nature," Hong Jinhai nodded.

Even Li Zhenyue, who had been silent the whole time, praised her in a deep voice, "To be like this at seventeen... Flame Wind Hall has a worthy successor."

Zhu Qian stepped off the stage, but instead of rushing back to her own side, she made her way over to Dragon Mountain Hall.

"Senior Sister Zhuang, long time no see."

Zhu Qian grinned, her dark tan skin making her two rows of teeth seem exceptionally white and bright.

"Junior Sister, it's good to see you're well."

Zhuang Zhen stood and took two steps to greet her, a smile like the warm sun of early spring appearing on her gentle, beautiful face.

Dragon Mountain Hall and Flame Wind Hall had always been on good terms, and the two of them had known each other for a long time.

Furthermore, Zhuang Zhen had mentioned before that she had held Zhu Qian as a child. This implied that beyond the friendly relations between their Martial Arts Halls, the two of them shared a deeper, more personal bond.

After the two exchanged a few pleasantries, Zhu Qian's gaze fell upon Chen Cheng.

"Is this the young genius from your Dragon Mountain Hall who's been making a name for himself this year?" Zhu Qian asked.

"Yes."

Zhuang Zhen glanced to the side. Chen Cheng stood up at the right moment and gave a slight nod in greeting.

"This is Chen Cheng. He's sixteen and has already formed his Six Pillars of Blood Qi. He's the fastest-progressing disciple under eighteen that Dragon Mountain Hall has seen in recent years."

As Zhuang Zhen spoke, the smile on her face grew even wider.

"Sixteen?"

Zhu Qian looked Chen Cheng up and down, then praised him in her deep voice:

"That's truly impressive. Your rate of progress is even faster than mine! Your Root Bone and Comprehension must both be of the highest grade!"

She paused, her brow furrowing slightly.

"It's just... you look so fair and delicate, and rather thin... I wonder, could you take a punch from me?"

"Don't mess around."

Zhuang Zhen shifted half a step, as if she were truly afraid Zhu Qian would suddenly strike Chen Cheng. That half-step was a clear move to protect him.

"Junior Sister, you have innate divine strength, and you've been training in Upper Grade Martial Arts since you were a child. Among non-Secret Martial Artists below the Transforming Force realm, who could possibly take a punch from you? At least, I've never heard of anyone."

"...That's true."

Zhu Qian looked at Zhuang Zhen, then back at Chen Cheng.

A mischievous, knowing smile flashed across her rough-hewn features, and her wide grin revealed even more of her two rows of white teeth.

"It's not out of the question."

Just then, Chen Cheng also took half a step to the side, moving out from behind Zhuang Zhen's protection. His tone was calm as he said:

"The physical characteristics of a Martial Artist after training their Martial Arts vary from person to person. Build and complexion don't determine strength."

"Heh, interesting."

Zhu Qian laughed.

"Since you're so confident, how about we test the waters with one punch?"

"Absolutely not!"

Zhuang Zhen's smile vanished. She tried to dissuade them with a stern expression.

"A proper spar can be stopped at the first touch, but deciding a match with a single punch makes it extremely difficult to control one's power! What if Junior Brother Chen gets hurt... I can't let either of you get hurt!"

"...Stop this nonsense."

Cao Miao finally opened his eyes. His breathing was very weak, but his tone was solemn.

「Meanwhile.」

Qin Zhao and Huang Tao had both stepped onto the stage.

In Cao Miao's presence, Zhu Qian restrained herself. After a cupped-fist salute, she retreated to the Flame Wind Hall's area.

After a simple salute on stage, the two advanced and attacked at almost the same instant.

Huang Tao dropped low, his five fingers slightly bent, the tips forming a pale, bluish-white arc as he slashed upward toward Qin Zhao's abdomen.

The sharp claws tore through the air with a piercing whistle, like a falcon swooping through a silent sky. The sheer force of the move alone was enough to startle many in the crowd.

Qin Zhao twisted his body slightly, avoiding the claw strike with an extremely subtle movement.

Although there was no physical contact, the force of the wind from the attack had already torn three gashes in Qin Zhao's expensive brocade robe.

Qin Zhao paid it no mind. Pivoting on his left foot, he swept his right leg out. The wind from his kick was heavy and muffled, as if an iron pillar were swinging at waist-height. The fierce, domineering force crushed the air, causing it to groan and sending out a violent shockwave.

Huang Tao didn't retract his claw. His other hand shot out, its five fingers clamping down on Qin Zhao's calf like iron pincers.

Leg and claw met.

Huang Tao's fingers tightened, his knuckles cracking. He unleashed the power of his claw technique; had it been an ordinary person, he would have torn their calf in two.

But Blood Qi surged through Qin Zhao's leg, reinforced by Dark Force. His skin was like a layer of Iron Skin, and Huang Tao's claws couldn't dig in at all. Instead, the force of the sweep sent Huang Tao's body staggering sideways.

Huang Tao made a split-second decision. He let go and retreated, simultaneously weaving his claws in a crisscross pattern to create a net of afterimages in front of him. Each strike was faster and more powerful than the last, yet the piercing whistle of claws tearing through air had vanished.

Instead of retreating, Qin Zhao advanced. He took a step forward and suddenly swept his right leg upward, forcing a slight pause in Huang Tao's rhythm. Then, his raised right leg came chopping down viciously from above, his heel smashing into the net of claw afterimages like a mountain-splitting axe.

The force of the claws sliced through his pant leg and left several white marks on his skin. But Qin Zhao seemed to feel no pain. The downward chop of his leg was completely unaffected, forcibly breaking through the net of claws as his heel aimed straight for the crown of Huang Tao's head.

Seeing this, the old man in the main seat on the Huang Family's side shot to his feet, looking as if he were about to rush the stage to save him.

However, Huang Tao was no weakling. His title as the number one youth of East City was not just for show.