Chapter 56: Intense

Tian Yaozong’s spine snapped downward like a taut bow, his right knee nearly touching the ground.

His left palm pressed inverted against the floor while his right fist retracted to his ear; the veins on his knuckles coiled like earthworms, and his joints emitted a crisp "crack-crack" sound from the friction.

He lunged forward like a falcon in a direct strike, one hand seemingly aiming to seize Chen Qing’s throat, while the other guarded his chest—simultaneously a defense and a way to seize an opening.

This was precisely the opening stance of the Wind-Breaking Style: "Falcon’s Beak Sinking into the Abyss."

Chen Qing took half a step back with his right foot, his heel grinding three inches into the mud. His knees bent slightly like a drawn bow, yet his spine hung loose like a lazy python, and his shoulder blades spread slowly to either side.

The two stood in a standoff for several breaths, the surrounding crowd watching with bated breath.

In the next instant, Tian Yaozong stomped his left foot violently, causing the mud to explode as his body shot forth like a compressed spring.

His right palm pressed his fingers together like a blade, thrusting straight toward Chen Qing’s throat. Before the strike even arrived, the piercing wind sent fine goosebumps rippling across Chen Qing’s skin.

With lightning reflexes, Chen Qing’s left arm suddenly snapped out. His five fingers pressed together like the head of a venomous snake, executing the move "Spirit Snake Probing the Path" to strike directly at the *Quchi* acupoint on the opponent's wrist!

*Ssh!*

The tips of his fingers tore through the air with a sharp hiss, and a chilling, hidden force (*an jin*) pierced three inches ahead of the flesh.

Tian Yaozong felt as if his entire right arm were being pierced by ice needles, his blood and qi suddenly stagnating.

The ferocity in his eyes surged. His throat-stabbing hand-blade transformed into a claw, his finger joints popping like cracking beans, and his fingernails took on a metallic gray luster.

This was the Wind-Breaking Style’s killing move, "Steel Hook Tearing Silk." Similar to the Bone-Splitting Hand, once it made solid contact, it would snap tendons and break bones; even if one survived, they would be crippled.

Tian Yaozong had relied on this move repeatedly with success; previously, Cheng Family's Pang Shuhua had been ensnared by it.

Chen Qing had studied the Wind-Breaking Style and was long prepared for this move. His arm seemed to be coated in oil; as his forearm sank and rotated, the supple strength of "Ape Circling the Branch" allowed the steel claws to slide off his flesh, tearing only five rents in his coarse cloth sleeve.

Using the momentum of this turning body to discharge the force, Chen Qing kicked hard with his right foot. He spun like a top, then used the centrifugal force to whip his right arm upward, his fingers pressed together like a sword, driving straight toward Tian Yaozong’s *Shanzhong* acupoint in the center of his chest.

This move was the "Reverse Arm Whip Hand." Before the fingers arrived, a sharp aura an inch long had already made Tian Yaozong’s chest feel numb.

One sought to divide life and death in an instant; the other sought to turn lightning into suppleness.

Tian Yaozong hurriedly dodged the strike, retreating hastily toward the rear. Chen Qing naturally would not let such an opportunity slip; he lunged forward like a shadow, his arms swinging out like steel whips, pressing down with a sound like rolling thunder.

"Boom—!"

Tian Yaozong crossed his arms like an iron door bolt to block. As their arms collided, a piercing sound erupted.

The veins on his temples bulged like earthworms, yet a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

In the blink of an eye.

Tian Yaozong’s crossed arms opened like a venomous snake's maw. His sleeves exploded into fragments with a "shredding" sound. His forearm muscles bunched like iron, and his hidden force erupted suddenly. His palms pressed together like an awl, thrusting straight for Chen Qing’s *Zhangmen* acupoints at his ribs.

This strike was insidious and tricky, its hidden force concealed until impact; hitting a vital point would surely mean death.

Chen Qing’s body flickered, forcibly twisting away from the vital points while simultaneously circulating his "Fishing Toad Strength."

Tian Yaozong’s Wind-Breaking Style double-awl thrust struck him like hitting a skin-covered war drum.

"Hmm!?"

Tian Yaozong’s heart jolted.

But there was no time for thought. Chen Qing did not retreat but instead pressed forward, using the force of the rib strike to crash into the center. His right fist rose from below like a heavy cannon blasting toward the heavens.

This move, "Spirit Ape Offering Longevity," aimed straight for Tian Yaozong’s jaw. The passing wind emitted a series of "crackling" sounds.

Chen Qing had not only neutralized the killing move but had seized the initiative! His seasoned and ruthless execution made the onlookers gasp.

"Chen Qing's strength is definitely beyond the C-Rank!" Wu Manqing’s eyes filled with astonishment.

Tian Yaozong leaned back like a bridge, narrowly avoiding the heavy punch to his jaw.

However, the opening from his throat to his jaw was completely exposed. Chen Qing transformed his fist into a peck; his right wrist flipped like a spirit snake raising its head, his five fingers pressed together like an iron awl, pecking toward Tian Yaozong’s *Gufeng* acupoint at the base of his left ear with a piercing shriek.

This peck was faster than lightning; the wind from his fingers sliced through the air, creating several distorted currents of air.

Tian Yaozong had no way to avoid it and instinctively raised his left elbow to block.

*Pa-pa-pa-pa!*

In an instant, the two exchanged dozens of blows. The force beneath their feet even cracked the stage, causing it to collapse.

Such fierce combat made many present feel a chill run down their spines.

Clearly, this was different from an ordinary sparring match. From the very beginning, both men had committed themselves entirely; every move and every stance contained killing intent. A single mistake would result in immediate injury or death.

Chen Qing had done his homework, and so had Tian Yaozong.

The crowd, who had expected a one-sided fight, now saw it turn into a grueling stalemate.

"Bang!"

After another collision, both men retreated seven or eight steps simultaneously. They breathed heavily, while their internal strength circulated to clear the muscle numbness and congestion caused by the impact.

In a life-and-death struggle, physical exhaustion is immense.

Tian Yaozong let out a roar and charged forward like an arrow released from a bow.

Fast!

Too fast!

The instantaneous burst of speed from Tian Yaozong brought a gust of wind. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Chen Qing, his five fingers shaped like claws, striking toward Chen Qing’s face.

If this claw landed, his eyeballs would be gouged out!

At the same time, his other hand was poised, waiting for Chen Qing to change his stance so he could deliver a finishing blow!

This was the Wind-Breaking Style’s "Twin Dragons Emerging from the Sea."

Consecutive killing moves, a relentless and unending offensive.

Chen Qing dropped his center of gravity low, narrowly evading the fierce claw wind. Tian Yaozong formed his left hand into a fist and slammed his elbow hard toward Chen Qing’s chest.

As the elbow struck, his tendons and bones sang with a "crackling" sound, its momentum terrifying.

Tian Yaozong had unleashed several moves in succession, his style fierce and domineering, having pushed his strength to its peak.

Chen Qing was forced back by the continuous onslaught, his momentum faltering! Seeing that Tian Yaozong’s next wave of attacks would be like a crashing tidal wave, it seemed he had fallen into a desperate situation with no way to retreat!

"This is bad!"

Cheng Huan’s heart leaped into his throat.

Some of the Cheng family disciples closed their eyes, unable to watch.

The entire field held its breath, eyes locked onto that shattered stage!

In an unbelievable move, Chen Qing’s body curled into a ball like a spirit ape diving into the earth, narrowly slipping beneath that lethal elbow.

"You think you can escape!?"

Tian Yaozong’s eyes flashed with cold light. He clenched his fingers tightly, his blood boiling. With the momentum of ten thousand pounds, his fist pursued through the air.

Facing this lethal pursuing punch, Chen Qing showed no intention of dodging; he merely tilted his body subtly to the side.

The angle was tricky, and the timing was precise!

Tian Yaozong’s scalp instantly went numb, a chill rushing to the crown of his head.

Not good! He instinctively tried to pull his punch back, but the momentum was already like an arrow from a bow—it could not be recalled!

*Thud!*

The heavy punch, carrying immense force, slammed hard against Chen Qing’s shoulder blade. Fortunately, the side-step had dissipated most of the force, and no sound of bone breaking was heard.

*Crack!*

At the very moment the fist met flesh, Chen Qing’s left hand shot up like an iron hook. His five fingers, like steel claws, gripped tightly onto the reverse joint of Tian Yaozong’s right elbow!

Twist the waist! Kick the ground! Sink the hips!

The brute force of the Tongbi Fist, designed to split tendons and break bones, erupted violently!

Tian Yaozong’s entire right arm was twisted like a piece of rope. His major tendons snapped with a dull thud like a broken bowstring, and the white shards of his arm bone pierced through the flesh!

"Aaaargh—!"

The scream was cut short as it left his throat.

Chen Qing’s right claw, the "White Ape Severing the Throat," had already clamped onto Tian Yaozong’s *Tiantu* acupoint at his throat like a venomous snake.

His five fingers closed like red-hot iron pincers, driving hidden force through the gaps in the throat bones.

(End of Chapter)