Chapter 206: Finger Flicking Divine Skill Shows Its Might
“Jiangxi’s ‘Short Lion’ Lei Meng requests your esteemed guidance.”
A resonant voice sounded from Zhou Yan’s side. The man who had previously vowed to slaughter the golden dogs stood up and quickly walked towards the high platform. As he approached, he surged forward and with a swish, leaped onto the platform.
Zhou Yan smiled and said to Zhang Wangyue, “When I was in Western Hunan, I encountered this person, Xiaoxiangzi. He wanted to steal the ‘Night-Shining Jade Lion.’ His weapon was an iron rod resembling a mourning stick, which concealed poison.”
Zhang Wangyue said, “So he is a treacherous individual. Lei Meng is a spirited fellow. It’s a pity he couldn’t see the Mongol Great Khan’s true intentions. His defeat is a good thing, preventing him from being exploited by Huo Du.”
“Indeed.”
“However, this is also a rare opportunity to witness the martial arts of various sects and schools. With your exceptional comprehension, you will surely gain something.”
“It is indeed a good opportunity for observation.”
While the two were talking, Xiaoxiangzi and Lei Meng suddenly engaged in combat. Lei Meng, nicknamed ‘Short Lion,’ employed the Five Elements Fist and the Yuanyang Chain Leg techniques. His fists rained down like a storm, and his legs kicked like a surging tide, wave after wave. Attacking from above and kicking from below, he made it impossible to defend against. However, he was facing Xiaoxiangzi, one of the ‘Three Heroes of Mongolia’ from the Divine Condor world.
The difference in their cultivation realms was vast. Xiaoxiangzi deliberately showed off. His figure flickered and moved with incredible speed. What was remarkable was his Lightness Skill. Although his movements appeared stiff, they were incredibly swift. He weaved through Lei Meng’s punches and kicks as if strolling in a leisurely garden.
Huo Du’s eyes lit up. This Xiaoxiangzi was an expert, and he definitely wanted to recruit him. The Heroes’ Banquet had just begun, and it was already so spectacular. After these martial arts competitions, wouldn’t all the heroes under heaven fall into my hands?
“Yowza, if you have the guts, don’t dodge!” Lei Meng’s fists and kicks missed their targets repeatedly, and his hair bristled with rage.
Xiaoxiangzi chuckled in a low voice, “Good!”
Lei Meng pushed off the ground with his right foot and lunged forward. A collapsing punch shot out like an arrow from a bowstring, aimed directly at Xiaoxiangzi’s abdomen. Xiaoxiangzi’s right hand flashed out like lightning, seizing Lei Meng’s wrist with a Seize and Capture technique. He then used the momentum to spin Lei Meng halfway around. Simultaneously, he stepped on Lei Meng’s knee, followed by a knee strike to the abdomen. This series of swift and vicious attacks sent Lei Meng’s short, sturdy body soaring into the air and crashing heavily onto the ground.
“My apologies!”
Lei Meng felt as if his internal organs were shifting from the impact of the knee strike. “Ugh!” He spat out a mouthful of blood.
He was also a resolute man. He flipped over, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, clasped his fists and said, “I am impressed,” then turned and leaped off the high platform. Without returning to his seat, he squeezed into the surrounding crowd.
“Spirited!” Huyan Lei praised.
“Indeed.”
Zhou Yan, Zhang Wangyue, and the others nodded.
“Xiaoxiangzi has won one match. Which hero will ascend the stage next?”
“Shanxi’s ‘Soul Chaser Spear’ Wang Luoning!”
A man wielding a spear rushed onto the high platform. Xiaoxiangzi and his opponent quickly engaged. The spear thrust forward with increasing intensity, each strike chasing the previous one. Xiaoxiangzi dodged like a hopping zombie. When the opponent delivered his tenth thrust, Xiaoxiangzi suddenly grabbed the spear shaft and, with his bare hands, bent the iron spear until it deformed. He then locked his grip around the opponent’s throat and, with a boom, slammed him onto the high platform.
“Hiss…” A gasp of shock rippled through the crowd.
The man who wielded the spear, named Wang Luoning, got up in disarray, grabbed his spear, and leaped off the high platform. Like Lei Meng, he disappeared into the crowd.
“If Xiaoxiangzi wins one more match, he will earn a seat at the Heroes’ Table. Which hero will ascend the stage?” Huo Du’s attendant asked.
Zhou Yan, Zhang Wangyue, and the others withdrew their gaze from the high platform. Zhang Wangyue, who was skilled in all eighteen types of weapons and possessed excellent hand techniques, said, “That Seize and Capture move Xiaoxiangzi used was the ‘Great Seize and Capture Hand,’ but it had a few more follow-up moves than the common techniques.”
Zhou Yan said, “Grabbing the wrist of the spearman at the ‘Elderly Care Acupoint’ is quite similar to the methods within Eagle Claw techniques.”
“Hmm, good eyesight.” Zhang Wangyue pondered for a moment and praised him.
Huyan Lei chuckled, “I think it’s just zombie claws.”
Zhou Yan let out a laugh, “Old Brother, you are humorous.”
“If no more experts ascend the stage, Xiaoxiangzi will secure a seat,” Yang Tiexin said.
As soon as he finished speaking, a dark-complexioned man rapidly ascended the stage.
Before the man could speak, the crowd below erupted in laughter.
Climbing wooden steps to the stage, what ability could he possess?
Xiaoxiangzi said sinisterly, “May I know your esteemed surname?”
The burly man grinned and replied, “Shi Bowei.”
Zhou Yan was taken aback.
He had a recollection. In the Jianghu of Legend of the Condor Heroes and Divine Condor, there were many eccentric individuals who roamed the wilderness. Among those who left a deep impression were the Shi Family’s Five Brothers from Ten Thousand Beasts Manor. They raised tigers, lions, and elephants, and all five possessed extraordinary abilities. Not only were their beast-taming skills superb, but they also derived martial arts techniques from the leaping and pouncing movements of fierce beasts.
The eldest of the Shi Family’s Five Brothers was Shi Bowei.
Zhou Yan looked at the man’s age, around twenty-five or twenty-six. He smiled to himself. The Shi Family’s Five Brothers might not have all been born yet. Shi Bowei was an eccentric individual, and it would be good to befriend him.
As he thought this, his gaze shifted to the stage.
Xiaoxiangzi had never heard of Shi Bowei. He cupped his fists, and the two immediately engaged. Xiaoxiangzi’s movements were still like a hopping motion, while Shi Bowei rapidly circled around Xiaoxiangzi.
Huyan Lei’s eyes lit up and he said, “This is interesting.”
“Indeed,” Zhou Yan and Zhang Wangyue nodded.
Shi Bowei’s circling became increasingly swift. In just a few breaths, he leaned forward, accelerating like a gust of wind. From a distance, his movements resembled a leopard darting through the woods or a tiger pouncing on its prey.
“Brother Zhou, can you tell what Agility technique this is?” Huyan Lei asked.
Zhou Yan said, “It seems to be a leaping technique derived from observing wild beasts in the mountains and fields.”
“Now that you mention it, it does seem a bit like that.”
Shi Bowei circled without attacking. Xiaoxiangzi, who only needed one more win to secure a seat at the Feast of Heroes, grew impatient and suddenly lunged forward.
The two figures collided. Shi Bowei suddenly leaped like a tiger jumping across a ravine, grabbing Xiaoxiangzi’s neck. Two thuds were heard as they each landed a knee strike on the other. Xiaoxiangzi countered by hooking his hands towards Shi Bowei. However, the latter suddenly contracted his body, rolled out from the ground, performed a Kite Turns Over, landed on his feet, and with his left hand, shot out from under Xiaoxiangzi’s left armpit, forcefully pulling down on his nape.
Xiaoxiangzi’s right hand suddenly struck backward.
Shi Bowei immediately withdrew his right hand from Xiaoxiangzi’s throat, leaned back, and his right hand shot up again, passing under Xiaoxiangzi’s right ribcage, pulling down on his nape. He let out a fierce roar, interlaced his hands, and simultaneously exerted force to pull down.
“Excellent!” Cheers erupted like thunder.
Zhou Yan’s eyes lit up.
Among the martial arts in the world, some are inspired by the force generation of animals and objects, while others are derived from comprehending natural phenomena. For example, ‘Eagle Claw techniques,’ Liang Zi Weng’s ‘Wild Fox Fist,’ and ‘Monkey Fist’ belong to the former category, while the swordplay of the Hengshan Sect belongs to the latter.
It was clear that Shi Bowei’s set of Cultivation Techniques was inspired by the hunting methods of leopards and tigers. Its ingenious aspect was the integration of wrestling techniques, giving it a flavor of free combat that was truly eye-opening.
Zhou Yan couldn’t help but demonstrate a few movements.
Xiaoxiangzi, being restrained, was inwardly terrified. However, he managed to think quickly in his desperation. He stomped his feet hard on the ground.
With a sharp “chi” sound, he actually leaped up, carrying Shi Bowei with him.
Amidst the crowd’s exclamations, the two bodies crashed onto the wooden floor with a “peng” sound.
Shi Bowei felt dizzy and his bones seemed about to fall apart. Xiaoxiangzi seized the opportunity to counterattack, his arm bursting forth to break the lock, and he leaped up.
Xiaoxiangzi’s face turned Ferocious, and he stomped his foot towards Shi Bowei’s chest.
“My life is in danger. How can he be so vicious?” Shi Bowei couldn’t dodge in time and thought to himself.
“Chi…”
As Xiaoxiangzi’s right foot descended, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his ribs. He was greatly alarmed and leaped away with a swish.
With a “pa” sound, a silver ingot fell to the ground.
Shi Bowei seized the opportunity to leap up.
From the viewing stands, Zhang Wangyue and Huyan Lei both looked at Zhou Yan and said, “Brother Zhou, excellent technique.”
Zhou Yan secretly thought he was lucky. If he hadn’t known the ‘Finger Flicking Divine Skill,’ which involved two methods of channeling force, Shi Bowei’s life would have been in danger.
Huang Rong saw it clearly and let out a soft chuckle. The Head Escort’s ‘Finger Flicking Divine Skill’ had greatly improved since he first learned it in Hundred Herbs Valley in Western Hunan. He was truly a person who constantly surprised everyone.
Xiaoxiangzi looked at the silver ingot on the ground, inwardly startled. The closest row of seats to the stage was more than two zhang away. The martial arts of the person hidden among the spectators who obstructed him could not be underestimated.
Shi Bowei picked up the silver ingot from the ground, clasped his fists, and said, “Many thanks to the esteemed expert for saving my life. I will never forget this great kindness.”
As he finished speaking, he turned and glared at Xiaoxiangzi, saying, “If it weren’t for the esteemed expert’s rescue, I would have met my end. I will remember this enmity.”
Xiaoxiangzi smiled sinisterly, “Good!”
Shi Bowei turned and leaped off the high platform. He wanted to see if the expert who saved his life would appear, so he did not leave and returned to his original seat.
On the viewing platform, Huo Du leaned over and asked Darba, “Senior Brother, did you see who did it?”
“No.”
“Please inform Master to keep an eye on the situation. If this person can be recruited, it would be like adding wings to a tiger.”
Darba nodded, turned, and descended the stage towards the Golden Wheel Law King’s tent.
Huo Du stood up and stepped forward, smiling, “Great Hero Xiao, your martial arts are extraordinary. I am impressed.”
“Little Prince, you are too polite.”
“Please take a seat.”
“Thank you, Little Prince.” Xiaoxiangzi leaped off the viewing platform and sat in a front-row chair, looking quite pleased.
Behind him, Ouyang Ke swished open his folding fan and waved it a couple of times, inwardly praising Yang Kang’s wisdom.
Killing two birds with one stone, one plan was already in motion. All that remained was to wait for the opportune moment to disrupt the Heroes’ Banquet.
The show had just begun!
