"I... I'm not seeing things, am I? That kid can actually fight Senior Brother to this extent?"
"Even the senior brother, who used his explosive secret technique, couldn't suppress that kid?"
"Is this kid really just a Bone and Tendon Realm cultivator?"
...
All the martial artists watching Lu Qing fight the burly man could hardly hide their shock.
Now, under Lu Qing's full power...
Everyone could see that Lu Qing's cultivation level was indeed still at the Bone and Tendon Realm.
But it is precisely because of this that everyone is even more deeply moved.
Because they couldn't imagine how Lu Qing, with his Bone and Tendon Realm cultivation, managed to fight against a martial arts grandmaster whose internal organs were at their peak.
If it were merely a matter of high skill level in swordsmanship, it could be explained as Lu Qing possessing extraordinary talent in the way of the sword, having comprehended a level of swordsmanship far exceeding that of ordinary swordsmen ahead of time.
But cultivation is something that comes with real effort and cannot be achieved through any shortcuts or tricks.
Logically speaking, no matter how strong someone is in the Bone and Tendon Realm, they shouldn't be a match for a Grandmaster-level expert with perfected internal organs.
The difference in their cultivation levels alone puts them on completely different levels.
But right now, Lu Qing defied common sense, fighting to a standstill against a martial arts grandmaster with his Bone and Tendon Realm cultivation.
This left many martial artists not only shocked but also bewildered.
"It's actually sword intent! Although it's only a rudimentary form of sword intent, it's enough to suppress Wang Cangyi, the eldest disciple, in terms of swordsmanship. But what's wrong with this young man's body? How can he be so strong? He's been at his limit for so long, and his aura hasn't waned yet?"
Above the city gate, a young man in plain clothes observed the battle below with a strange aura in his eyes.
He was secretly shocked.
Unexpectedly, this young man, whom he had met once before, possessed such terrifying martial arts talent.
To comprehend sword intent at the Bone and Tendon Realm stage, even if it's just a trace of sword intent, is still incredibly impressive.
What puzzled him even more was that Lu Qing's body was also unexpectedly strong, able to fight against the burly man, a martial arts master, for so long without being at a disadvantage.
Even the true disciples of the top sects in Zhongzhou would probably find it difficult to do.
It is likely that only the inheritors of those mysterious places could accomplish such a monstrous feat.
The young man in plain clothes shifted his gaze to the side.
Wang Cangyi's face had turned ashen, his eyes were gloomy, and it was unclear what he was thinking.
He felt a chill run down his spine and became secretly on guard.
"Old, old doctor, when did Brother Lu Qing's skills become so formidable?"
Beside the oxcart, Magu asked somewhat haltingly.
He had always known that Lu Qing was very strong and could not be regarded as an ordinary person in the Bone and Tendon Realm.
Back in the nameless valley, he once forced back an Inner Strength Realm expert with a single strike.
But at that time, it was only because Lu Qing's swordsmanship was superb that he was able to catch the enemy off guard.
In a real battle, facing the eruption of the Inner Strength Realm, he still needs to avoid its sharp edge.
It hasn't been long, yet he's already able to fight head-on against a Grandmaster whose internal organs are at their peak and not be defeated.
The speed at which their strength is growing is truly terrifying.
"I don't know either." The old doctor shook his head. "I have never interfered with Aqing's cultivation, and I don't know when his strength reached such a level."
As for Wei Zi'an and his wife, they were completely stunned.
I never imagined that the usually amiable Doctor Lu could be so terrifying when he fights.
Just as everyone was shocked by this unprecedented battle.
The battle between Lu Qing and Lu Qing has taken another turn.
Clang!
The two swords clashed once again.
However, this time, the two already battered swords could no longer withstand the force of the two men, and their blades shattered.
All that remained was the hilt with a small section of the blade, which he held in his hand.
"not good!"
Magu was shocked and was about to throw his longsword.
But then Lu Qing and the burly man tacitly tossed aside the hilts of their knives.
He charged at his opponent with his bare hands.
"Again!"
"That suits me perfectly!"
The two got so into the fight that they decided to have another match using their fists and feet.
roar!
This time, it was Lu Qing who took the initiative.
He strode forward with great strides, each step causing the solid ground beneath his feet to tremble.
His internal energy and blood circulated and vibrated, and faint tiger roars emanated from his body.
In the blink of an eye, he was in front of the burly man and threw a punch.
The punch completely disrupted the surrounding airflow, creating a series of whistling sounds.
The air around the fist, compressed and stacked up under the rapid speed of the punch, didn't have time to disperse. It condensed into an explosive ball of air, carrying immense power, and blasted towards the burly man!
That's incredible!
Seeing Lu Qing's fierce punch, the burly man's eyes twitched.
He had originally thought that Lu Qing, without his battle sword, would be no match for him in his bare hands.
After all, he had cultivated in the sect for many years and possessed a wealth of skills. In addition to his most prized swordsmanship, his fist and foot techniques were also quite remarkable.
In a contest, even the third junior brother might not be able to defeat him.
As a young man, Lu Qing possessed unparalleled talent in the art of the sword, comprehending sword techniques at the level of a grandmaster or higher ahead of time.
However, his martial arts skills are definitely inferior to his.
But now, feeling the force of Lu Qing's punch, the burly man knew he was wrong, and terribly wrong.
Lu Qing's boxing skills were actually far superior to his!
However, by then it was too late to realize this.
In the blink of an eye, Lu Qing's fist was in front of him.
The burly man instinctively sensed that he couldn't back down from this punch.
If they retreat, Lu Qing will seize the initiative instantly.
With Lu Qing's skill in boxing and his current unstoppable momentum,
If he gains the upper hand, it will be extremely difficult for him to regain it.
They probably won't be able to recover until they are defeated.
If we don't want to lose the initiative, we have no choice but to take it head-on!
In a flash, the burly man made his judgment.
Lu Qing's strength was slightly inferior to his.
As long as he can withstand his offensive, he will still have a chance to counterattack when his momentum weakens!
With his body moving at will and his mind making a decision, the burly man lowered his stance, firmly standing in place, his arms crossed as if sealing off Lu Qing's fist.
boom!!
Under the watchful eyes of many martial artists, Lu Qing's roaring punch landed squarely on the arms of the burly man without any fancy moves.
A powerful force erupted instantly, and the explosive energy directly distorted the surrounding atmosphere, causing the figures of both sides in the battle to become blurred.
In the dim light, everyone could see that the burly man couldn't help but take a step back under Lu Qing's punch.
But his stance was not broken; it remained firmly planted there!
But this is far from over!
Seeing the burly man retreat, Lu Qing pressed his advantage, taking a step forward and pulling and tugging at his foot, his shoe instantly cracking. The ground was twisted and deformed under his foot, like a soft, sticky rice cake.
Power rose from the ground, and with this immense force, amidst the roars of tigers, Lu Qing once again unleashed a punch at the burly man.
The burly man had no choice but to continue taking the hits head-on.
boom!!
With a powerful punch, the burly man was forced back another step amidst the explosive force.
Ignoring everything else, Lu Qing took another step forward and threw a punch.
Boom boom boom...
And so, with each step the burly man took back, Lu Qing would step forward and unleash a punch.
Finally, when Lu Qing landed his ninth punch, he stood still and stopped attacking.
The burly man also stood still, maintaining his defensive stance.
At this moment, both Lu Qing and the burly man were covered in steam and shrouded in white mist.
That was the sweat vapor that rose from the body due to the circulation of powerful qi and blood.
The surrounding ground was a complete mess, full of potholes and uneven, no longer as smooth as it had been before.
"What kind of boxing style is this?"
Suddenly, the burly man spoke up and asked.
"Tiger Fist," Lu Qing replied.
"Fierce Tiger Fist, what a name! Its ferocious aura is like that of an unparalleled tiger. It truly lives up to its reputation as a master-level fist technique!"
"I have nothing to say about being defeated by a master of boxing like you."
After the burly man finished speaking, he could no longer suppress a mouthful of blood mist and spat it out, his body falling backward.
Under Lu Qing's continuous attacks, the vital energy in his body had long been scattered.
His internal organs were severely injured, and he was no longer able to fight.
Lu Qing looked at the fallen burly man, then turned and left.
It wasn't that he didn't want to finish off the enemy, but after this fight, he had very little strength left.
Moreover, the moment the burly man was defeated, he felt a faint killing intent lingering around him.
That was a warning from Wang Cangyi.
He was certain that if he dared to kill the burly man, Wang Cang would probably do anything to him.
He didn't know if he would be able to kill the burly man by then.
But the situation will inevitably spiral out of control.
No one knows what a Primordial Realm cultivator might do after losing their mind.
Wow!
Seeing the burly man fall, Lu Qing turned and left.
All the martial artists watching the battle could no longer suppress their shock and erupted in cheers.
"Am I dreaming? That boy actually defeated a martial arts master?"
"A Bone and Tendon Realm cultivator defeating a Perfected Internal Organ Realm cultivator—is such a [N O V E L I G H T] thing really possible?"
"That boy's fist technique is actually that powerful?"
Many martial artists stared in disbelief at the scene before them, wondering if they were dreaming.
As for the disciples of the Tiancang Sect, they were all completely disoriented, almost unable to believe their eyes: "Senior Brother, defeated?"
"This young man, this young man..."
The county magistrate on the city wall looked at Lu Qing's figure, wanting to say something.
But after stammering for a long time, he still couldn't find the words to express the shock he felt at that moment.
Even the young man in plain clothes had his mouth slightly open, somewhat losing his composure.
After a while, he let out a long sigh of relief.
"As expected, heroes emerge from among the young. This young man is probably qualified to be listed on the Hidden Dragon List."
"What? Zhi Rui, you're saying he can make it onto the Hidden Dragon List?" The county magistrate was taken aback.
"What, you think he's not qualified?" the young man in plain clothes retorted.
The county magistrate glanced at the burly man lying on the ground and immediately realized what was happening.
"That's right. To defeat a martial arts grandmaster who is at the peak of the Inner Organs Realm with the cultivation of the Bone and Tendon Realm is a feat that would be a joke if he couldn't make it onto the Hidden Dragon Ranking."
Wang Cangyi, who already had a gloomy face, looked even more unpleasant after hearing their conversation.
"What, Your Excellency Zhi Rui, do you intend to promote this person to the Hidden Dragon List?"
"Whether or not someone can make it onto the Hidden Dragon List is not up to me, but I will report the details of this battle to the headquarters of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. Whether this young man is qualified to be on the Hidden Dragon List is a decision for the headquarters to make," the young man in plain clothes said with a smile.
But Wang Cang's expression grew even uglier upon hearing this.
After the young man in plain clothes reported the details of the battle to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, the whole world knew that Wang Cangyi's disciple had been defeated by an unknown boy in the Bone and Tendon Realm.
What's more troublesome is that once that kid makes it onto the Hidden Dragon List, many powerful sects in the world will likely extend olive branches to him.
By then, it will be even more difficult for him to regain his dignity.
Wang Cangyi's murderous intent quietly resurfaced.
But after looking at the calm face of the young man in plain clothes, he finally suppressed his killing intent.
But in her heart, a desire for the Wei family's treasure arose once again.
If he could obtain that treasure and break through to the Innate Realm in the future, why would he need to fear this small Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and suffer this humiliation?
Anything that dares to displease him can be killed!
Let alone this mere disciple of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, even the Pavilion Master himself could be crushed with a single step!
With this in mind, Wang Cangyi's resolve hardened once again. No matter the cost, he had to seize the treasure from the Wei family.
"Senior Brother, Senior Brother!"
The disciples of the Tiancang Sect rushed to the burly man and checked his injuries.
But the burly man simply looked up at the sky above him.
He was wrong. He thought that as long as he could withstand Lu Qing's offensive, he could find a weakness to counterattack.
Unexpectedly, Lu Qing's breath was so long.
In the end, it wasn't that Lu Qing was exhausted, but rather that his secret technique had reached its time limit, and his vital energy was literally scattered.
What kind of monster is that boy? As a Bone and Tendon Realm cultivator, his stamina is even more exaggerated than that of someone at the Perfected Internal Organ Realm.
"Senior Brother, are you alright? Don't scare us!"
One of the disciples of the Heavenly Azure Sect was so frightened by the fact that the burly man did not respond that he was about to cry.
"I'm fine, please help me back first."
The burly man suddenly spoke, his voice somewhat weak.
Immediately, disciples stepped forward and helped him up.
As soon as they returned to the city gate, they saw a jade bottle placed in front of the burly man.
At the same time, a cold voice fell from above: "Useless thing, submit to it!"
"Master..."
The burly man held the jade bottle, feeling a pang of shame.
As for the disciples of the Tiancang Sect standing to the side, they all trembled upon hearing the chill in the Second Elder's voice and dared not utter a sound.
"elder brother!"
Unlike the demoralized disciples of the Tiancang Sect, Lu Qing received a hero's welcome upon his return from the oxcart.
When Xiaoyan saw Lu Qing return, she immediately rushed over to him.
"How was it? Wasn't your brother amazing?"
Lu Qing caught her and smiled.
"Amazing, so amazing! Brother is the best!"
Xiaoyan nodded her little head like a chick pecking at rice, her eyes sparkling.
"Dr. Lu, you are amazing!"
Wei Zian looked at Lu Qing with admiration.
"Brother Lu Qing, you... you actually defeated a martial arts grandmaster?"
Magu was so excited that his mouth trembled.
"It's good that you're back safe and sound, it's good that you're back safe and sound!"
Madam Wei felt relieved and was overjoyed.
"Aqing, are you injured?" the old doctor asked.
"No, but my strength is almost exhausted. I'm afraid I'll have to rely on you, Master, from now on," Lu Qing replied.
"It's alright, you take a rest. I'm not good at fighting, but I should be able to protect you."
Perhaps spurred on by his disciple's previous battle, the old doctor became unusually bold.
"Then it's up to you, Master."
Lu Qing nodded, took out a jade bottle, poured out a blood-nourishing and qi-boosting pill, swallowed it, and restored his strength.
"Senior Wang, what are your plans next? Are you still unwilling to give up?"
On the city wall, the young man in plain clothes spoke calmly.
“Give up? Haha, the word ‘give up’ has never existed in my dictionary, Wang Cangyi.” Wang Cangyi laughed. “Your Excellency Zhirui, if you want me to give up, you might as well go and persuade Wei Shanhai. As long as he is willing to hand over the things to me, I will naturally leave.”
"It seems Senior Wang is determined not to give up?"
"Why should I give up? My Tiancang Sect still has dozens of disciples here, and that kid on the other side is already exhausted. As long as I give the order, who can stop me?"
The young man in plain clothes was speechless.
That's right, that's exactly what he's worried about.
As long as Wang Cangyi is willing to swallow his pride and send his disciples to besiege Lu Qing and the others, the old doctor will definitely take action.
But that would give Wang Cangyi a reason to make a move.
Since this is not within the city limits, the binding force of the ban is greatly weakened.
Even if Wang Cangyi were to provoke a battle between innate-level warriors, as long as he didn't intentionally slaughter ordinary martial artists, even if the conflict reached the Holy Mountain, it would be difficult to deal with him.
After all, the world is ultimately ruled by the strong.
Even a sacred mountain wouldn't punish a person at the Innate Realm for such a trivial matter.
Just as the young man in plain clothes was getting anxious, his expression suddenly changed, and he looked out of the city.
Wang Cangyi, standing to the side, looked delighted.
"Hahaha, Wei Shanhai, you actually dare to leave the city?"
Before he finished speaking, Wang Cangyi's figure had already disappeared above the city gate.
The next moment, a terrifying innate pressure descended from above the heads of all the martial artists.
