Chapter 107: Chapter 107: One Punch to Subdue
"You!"
Hearing what Zhang Chi said, the Lower Sect disciples grew furious. They immediately spread out, leaving a clear space in the center.
A few even ran off to keep watch, to prevent Junior Martial Uncle Hong from arriving unexpectedly without them realizing it.
The Lower Sect disciple who had stepped forward remained in the clearing. He took out a black Beast Bone Shield the size of a door panel and a black, man-sized Wolf Fang Club, holding them ready.
Evidently, he was a Cultivator with a Dual Cultivation of Body and Spirit, and his specialty was close-quarters combat.
"Are you ready?"
Zhang Chi asked, standing there casually.
"Ready!"
The Lower Sect disciple nodded, his entire body tensing. He abruptly pushed off with his legs, intending to seize the initiative by striking first.
BOOM!
But in the next instant, all the crowd felt was the ground shake. Before they could even figure out what was happening, Zhang Chi had vanished from his spot, then suddenly reappeared before his opponent and thrown a casual punch.
CRACK!
The Lower Sect disciple’s Shield instantly shattered, and he was sent flying backward, spitting blood.
He flew more than a hundred feet before slamming into the Medicinal Garden’s Array. He then slid down in a sorry state and couldn’t get back up for a long while.
Looking back at Zhang Chi, he was calm and composed, and the hand that had thrown the punch didn’t even have a scratch on it.
In reality, Zhang Chi had only used a tiny fraction of his physical strength. Otherwise, a single punch would have been enough to make his opponent explode.
After all, he just wanted to put the man in his place; he couldn’t kill a fellow sect member over such a trivial matter.
HISS!
But to the Lower Sect disciples, that single punch was already terrifyingly powerful, causing them all to gasp in shock.
When they looked at Zhang Chi again, their faces were filled with reverence.
"This... How can this be?"
The disciple who had challenged him lay on the ground, muttering to himself. It was clear that not only was his body injured, his ego had taken a massive hit as well.
Usually, he was respected as a senior brother here and believed himself to be in no way inferior to an Upper Sect disciple of the Same Tier. He had even lamented the fact that he never had an opportunity to test his skills against one.
But now, he finally understood that he was nothing more than a frog in a well.
’So Upper Sect disciples are this strong? No wonder only the most outstanding among us are qualified to go to the Upper Sect!’
This was the thought running through all the Lower Sect disciples’ minds.
"My apologies, I might have hit a little too hard. Here, take this Healing Elixir," Zhang Chi said with a faint smile.
His smile was as gentle as before, but this time, not a single Lower Sect disciple thought he was a pushover.
In fact, that smile sent a shiver down their spines, making them suspect Zhang Chi was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
SHOO!
As he spoke, Zhang Chi casually took out a Tier One Middle Grade Healing Elixir and flicked it over to the downed disciple.
’The carrot and the stick,’ he thought. ’That’s the real way to earn their submission.’
Besides, healing the Lower Sect disciple would prevent Junior Martial Uncle Hong from taking issue with him when he arrived.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Zhang."
The Lower Sect disciple was stunned by the gesture and quickly accepted the Pill. After examining it closely, he was overcome with surprise and gratitude.
He quickly tilted his head back and swallowed the Pill. Soon, his body felt relieved, and he managed to get back on his feet.
Of course, it would still take at least half a month for his injuries to heal completely.
Furthermore, his Low Grade Beast Bone Shield was completely ruined, a loss that made his heart ache.
But he didn’t dare harbor the slightest resentment toward Zhang Chi. He only regretted his own reckless behavior.
"Senior Brother Zhang, my name is Hong Hu. The Junior Martial Uncle Hong everyone talks about is my grandfather. But I’m a man of my word. From now on, I’ll follow all your orders. If you tell me to go east, I’ll never go west!" This Lower Sect disciple said with a cupped-fist salute.
"The same goes for us! We greet you, Senior Brother Zhang!"
Seeing this, the other Lower Sect disciples immediately followed Hong Hu’s lead, bowing in unison.
"So you have that kind of background? Interesting."
Zhang Chi was slightly surprised but didn’t think much of it.
After all, he himself was at the Foundation Establishment Realm, and it was highly probable that this Junior Martial Uncle Hong was no match for him.
To say nothing of Hong Hu, who was merely his grandson.
Still, he was glad he had put him in his place so decisively. Otherwise, dealing with someone with connections would have been an endless hassle.
"Senior Brother Zhang, may I ask your esteemed name? Also, you practice Body Refining as well, and your Body Refining Cultivation is extremely high, isn’t it?"
Seeing how calm Zhang Chi remained after learning of his background, Hong Hu couldn’t help but respect him even more.
He then asked with an ingratiating smile.
Although he was the descendant of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he knew his grandfather didn’t have long to live. Coupled with his admiration for the strong and his relatively young, simple-minded nature, he didn’t harbor any complex schemes.
"My name is Zhang Chi, and yes, I do practice Body Refining. I’ve cultivated a Low Grade Body Refining Technique to the Perfection Realm," Zhang Chi said with a faint smile.
As he spoke, his body trembled slightly, and a jade-like light immediately began to flow across his skin.
This was the unique visual phenomenon produced when the Bright Jade Body Refining Technique was actively channeled.
Although he had long since switched his Cultivation to the Celestial Net Evil Body, he could still use this technique.
He now had a Foundation Establishment Cultivation, and this was the Demon Abyss Azure Dragon Ridge. The Song Family and the Xie Family had no influence here, so revealing a bit of his Body Refining Cultivation was no problem at all.
It might even save him a lot of trouble.
Furthermore, it would lay some groundwork for revealing his higher Cultivation in the future.
The Perfection Realm of the Bright Jade Body Refining Technique was only equivalent to a Middle Grade Body Refining Technique at the Tier One Late Stage, and perhaps even slightly inferior.
Among the Qi Cultivation Disciples who had come to the Demon Abyss, this level of strength was considered run-of-the-mill, so he wouldn’t be forcibly conscripted to the front lines for revealing it.
"Heavens, Senior Brother Zhang, you’re incredible!"
"It’s really Body Refining at the Perfection Realm! That must be the Bright Jade Body Refining Technique, right? I’ve seen other disciples practice it, but their skill is nothing compared to Senior Brother Zhang’s!"
"Exactly! Senior Brother Zhang must have been holding back just now. Otherwise, Senior Brother Hong Hu wouldn’t have survived!"
"As expected of an Upper Sect disciple!"
But the Lower Sect disciples were weak and lacked worldly experience, so they immediately cried out in astonishment.
They were filled with boundless admiration, Hong Hu included.
He was also grateful that Zhang Chi had held back, and relieved that he hadn’t been killed by that single punch.
At first, he thought he had just been too slow to react, and even suspected his opponent had used some special technique. Only now did he realize that Zhang Chi was a genuine Body Refining expert.
"Heh. Hong Hu, your Body Refining has already reached the Tier One Middle Stage, which isn’t bad. You just haven’t grasped the principle of Yin Yang Balance. If you’re willing, I might be able to give you a pointer or two when I have some free time," Zhang Chi said with a smile.
With his current Body Refining Realm, guiding the other man would be more than easy, and it wouldn’t waste much of his time.
After all, a word of guidance from a True Inheritor was often quite simple.
"Really? Thank you, Senior Brother Zhang!"
Hong Hu was thrilled. A moment ago, he’d thought it was his unlucky day, but now he realized he had struck gold and met a powerful benefactor.
"Senior Brother Zhang, I practice Body Refining too! Can you guide me as well?"
"And us!"
The other disciples couldn’t help but feel envious, and they all chimed in.
The practice of Body Refining was widespread here in the Demon Abyss.
For one, the area was rich in materials suitable for Body Refining.
For another, this place was extremely dangerous, and Body Refining not only sped up one’s Cultivation but also provided an immediate boost to one’s Combat Power.
However, while almost everyone practiced Body Refining, many—especially Low Tier Cultivators—were merely dabblers. Only those with background, wealth, and talent could truly achieve something with it.
Hong Hu, for example, had some connections, so he had made some progress in Body Refining. The other disciples, though they also practiced it, were far behind.
Some showed no discernible signs of Body Refining at all.
’These guys!’
At this, Hong Hu’s smile couldn’t help but stiffen.
Before, his Body Refining Cultivation had been the highest here, and all these people had come to him for advice.
Now, they were all crowding around Zhang Chi. The sudden change was naturally hard for him to accept.
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