Chapter 142: Chapter 141: Deficiency
Force Release, Stance, Beast Form, and even Divine Intent...
The techniques the two men executed were strikingly similar. Outsiders might not have noticed the familiar feeling of a shared lineage, but as one of the combatants, Peng Weishan felt it deeply.
Furthermore, he had a vague sense that Zhao Xuanqi’s Beast Form was a cut above his own in every respect.
’Is it because of his skill? Or is the technique itself stronger? Or perhaps, both?’
Peng Weishan abruptly vibrated the muscles all over his body, creating an explosive crack as he struck the air. The recoil instantly halted his backward momentum. At the same time, he stomped his back foot on the ground, his waist and back arching as his robust muscles fully expanded, making his frame even more terrifying.
Simultaneously, his aura seemed to transform into that of a colossal bear holding up the heavens, and he suddenly unleashed a frightening Force.
Rivers suspended, seas overturned!
He thrust out a single palm. The muscles in his arm and hand trembled like flowing water, churning the surrounding air. The currents roiled like a surging river, and the courtyard became like a pool, the air its water. Even a Martial Arts Expert caught in the field would find their strength diminished by the turbulent atmosphere.
The Force was supple, concussive, prolonged, and deep!
Bear Form, Giant Bear Overturns the Sea!
On the other side, Zhao Xuanqi struck out with a single palm in nearly the same manner, using the same type of Force. However, his palm strike contained not only the supple, deep vibrations of a roiling sea overflowing its banks but also the cracking, shattering, and explosive power of a collapsing mountain range.
Bear Monarch, Uprooting Mountains and Overturning Seas!!
After his physical control had improved to the point where he could manifest Gang Qi, Zhao Xuanqi’s various Beast Form techniques could express a richer, more profound Force, making them increasingly difficult to counter.
BOOM!!
The two palms collided once more, like countless rivers and seas crashing together. The air in the courtyard instantly erupted as if in a boiling pot. Dust and blades of grass were flung into the air, bursting out from the opening of the main gate and unexpectedly plastering the faces of Sun Yunyong, Shi Huai’an, and Fan Shiyan, who were waiting outside.
In the collision, Peng Weishan, who had not used his Five Qi Tongxuan ability, was forced back another half-step. His expression grim, he adjusted his footwork and resumed his attack.
Ape Form! Elephant Form! Horse Form! Deer Form! Ox Form...
Over a dozen exchanges, Peng Weishan constantly switched between various Walking Beast Forms. But without exception, Zhao Xuanqi countered every single one by striking second but landing first with the exact same Beast Form. Some exchanges were evenly matched, but more often than not, he found himself suppressed by his opponent.
’He could see it clearly now. This man’s physical foundation was incredibly strong. And despite his youth, his Martial Dao experience, physical control, technical variations, and the aura of his Fist Technique had all reached a terrifying level. He didn’t give an inch, even when compared to a renowned Jianghu veteran like himself!’
’Moreover, the intent and details of this man’s Beast Form Fist Technique were not only similar to the White Tiger Sect’s but were even superior. His transitions between Beast Forms were smoother and more flawless. As a result, no matter which Beast Form he switched to, his opponent could immediately react and counter with the same form, even managing to strike second but land first!’
’Making it all look so easy was one thing, but to actually do it—and against him, an Elder of the White Tiger Sect—the difficulty was unimaginable.’
’This encounter almost made Peng Weishan feel as if he had returned to his youth, sparring with his senior brother and receiving pointers on his techniques.’
’There’s no doubt. This has to be *that* Fist Technique. Only *that* Fist Technique could achieve this level!!’
"Watch out!!"
Peng Weishan roared, his aura changing abruptly. The Beast Form he now displayed surpassed the limits of an ordinary one.
ROAR!!
A terrifying bestial roar erupted from his body as a colossal Exotic Beast, a hybrid of several Walking Beast Forms, manifested in the air.
An unknown Exotic Beast with a Tiger Form for a body, blended with several other Beast Forms, appeared before Zhao Xuanqi as a manifestation of aura.
"Oh?"
Zhao Xuanqi had never seen this kind of Exotic Beast Form before. However, he could see some clues. The power bursting from this Exotic Beast Form indeed far surpassed that of an ordinary Beast Form, but there was a flaw in the subtle circulation of its Force and its spiritual simulation.
’Others might not have sensed it, but Zhao Xuanqi, an expert in the various Exotic Beast Forms of the Hundred Beasts Fist, could perceive it clearly.’
’Sun Yunyong had mentioned before that the White Tiger Sect and the Black Tortoise Sect had lost parts of their Secret Transmissions over their long histories. It seemed he was right.’
In that instant, a flash of savage arrogance glinted in his eyes.
He struck out with a ferocious claw.
A tiger’s body, a human face, sharp fangs, and a long tail!
The Form of the Fierce Beast, Taowu!!
A wave of qi rolled out as Zhao Xuanqi’s attack erupted, striking precisely at the weak point in Peng Weishan’s Force.
’With a flawed Beast Form, he could see the weakness beneath its ferocious exterior at a single glance!’
STOMP, STOMP, STOMP!!
He would have been better off not using the Exotic Beast Form. Once he did, Peng Weishan found it even harder to withstand Zhao Xuanqi’s attacks. He stumbled back several steps under the terrifying impact, his eyes filled with shock.
’In ancient times, there were multiple purges of martial arts—the Mie Wu. Divine Generals no longer appeared, and the overall level of the Martial Dao across the Divine Land regressed. Only in the last century has it begun to develop again. From ancient to modern times, the Four Saints Sect’s fame has been too great, making them a primary target in every purge. The White Tiger Sect once faced a crisis that nearly annihilated them. Although they ultimately survived, many precious Secret Transmissions were lost. The most important among them was the corresponding essence of the Exotic Beast Forms.’
’The Exotic Beast Forms used in the sect today were all reconstructed by later generations based on historical records, and they differ considerably from the original inheritance. However, since they were the only ones in the Divine Land who could perform a Beast Form Fist that used Exotic Forms of walking beasts, no one could tell the difference. But now, its flaws had been exposed before Zhao Xuanqi.’
"Lend me a hand!"
On the other side, seeing Peng Weishan forced back, Xu Ji could no longer hold back and took a sharp breath.
HSSSSS!!
The air in the courtyard flowed into his lungs like a spirit serpent. His chest swelled high, resembling a thick Turtle Shell.
HSSSSS!!
Zhao Xuanqi, not giving an inch, also inhaled sharply. The air moved like a spirit serpent for him as well. In the space of a breath, it seemed as if the two of them were about to suck the entire courtyard into a vacuum.
In the next moment, Xu Ji’s broad figure instantly appeared in front of Zhao Xuanqi.
VMMMMMM!!
His vocal cords and internal organs hummed in unison, spreading out low-frequency Sound Waves. Even a Martial Arts Expert would feel their ears ringing and their head spin. Ripples even appeared in the air.
VMMMMMM!!
The next instant, a similar sound erupted from within Zhao Xuanqi’s body, canceling out the Sound Waves emitted by Xu Ji.
SWISH!!
Xu Ji’s palm pressed toward Zhao Xuanqi. It was light and soft, seemingly without a shred of force, yet its speed was unnervingly fast. At the instant of impact, it suddenly tensed. In the transition between hard and soft, the Force became like a spike, coiling inward. No matter where it struck, the Force could surge upward to shatter a person’s heart meridian with a single blow.
To understand his level of skill, one need only know that Xu Ji’s Physical Ability and control were such that he could wield a hundred-jin brush to write characters the size of a fly’s head.
Xuanwu Breath! Mystic Tortoise Sound! Mystic Tortoise’s Force!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!
Just as when he faced Peng Weishan, Zhao Xuanqi countered with the corresponding techniques from his Black Tortoise Gangsha. Without taking another breath, they exchanged dozens of blows. At first, they were evenly matched, but gradually, it was Xu Ji who began to fall into a disadvantage.
’This man’s Hard and Soft Power, his Force Transformation and redirection, are superior to my own. The various parts of his body are as supple as a snake and as firm as a Turtle Shell. He has displayed the Turtle and Snake Form to its absolute peak.’
’The Black Tortoise Sect’s special conditioning method for the Cross-Training realm, the Black Tortoise True Form, actually had parts of it lost long ago. This resulted in an incomplete transformation of the body’s Hard and Soft Power. Because of this, the Mystic Tortoise Inner Breath within the sect can only reach the limit of the Five-layered Training Method. The Sixth Layer of Turtle and Snake Force is nearly impossible to grasp.’
’And this man seems to have grasped a superior Training Method for the Turtle and Snake Force. That must be the real reason I’m losing ground.’
SWISH!!
The two traded blows for three minutes before separating after a final clash of palms. Zhao Xuanqi looked at Peng Weishan and Xu Ji standing together, and in his heart, he was now certain of one thing.
’The Secret Transmissions of the Four Saints Sect may have some variations in form, but their essential core comes from the same lineage, as if from a single school.’
’He refused to believe that such a coincidence could exist in the world.’
’In that case, there was only one explanation.’
’The so-called Holy Beast Fist was, in all likelihood, the very same Hundred Beasts Fist that he practiced.’
’His reincarnation into this world was no accident. It was likely intertwined with some inevitable factor he was not yet aware of.’
’The reason behind it all was too important. He had to find out.’
