Chapter 53: The Might of Martial Arts, the Strength of Three Bulls in a Single Strike

This punch is too strong!

Li Changwei gritted his teeth and took a step back.

He could not grasp timing the way Zhang Yuan did, nor could he counter with the same momentum as Zhang Yuan.

This punch from Zhang Yuan had already surpassed the power he could control.

Standing to the side, Chang Ning’s eyes flashed with brilliance.

The Black Tiger Captain's study of fist techniques was indeed profound, but his combat experience seemed insufficient.

With Li Changwei taking this step back, Zhang Yuan’s advancing punch would inevitably miss its mark.

No matter how strong the punch, what good was it if it couldn't hit the target?

At the very moment Li Changwei retreated, Zhang Yuan’s advancing punch did not stop. He took a half-step forward with his left foot and slammed his right foot down heavily.

"Boom—"

Borrowing the momentum of the advancing punch, this stomp exerted a force exceeding that of a single ox!

The connection of power between the two moves was seamless, without a single flaw or pause!

"How is this possible!"

"This strength—"

A chorus of gasps rang out.

The variation, the connection, and the accumulation of power in this punch completely exceeded the imagination of all the Black Cavalry soldiers.

Beside Zhang Yuan, the shadow of a wild bull emerged.

A half-step forward collapse, right shoulder pressing forward.

Iron Armor Fist, Iron Mountain Lean!

This Iron Mountain Lean, following the previous punch, caused the power to leap directly beyond the strength of one ox, reaching a terrifying three thousand catties!

This was already the combat power of the Xiantian Realm!

The observing soldiers all stared with wide eyes, unable to believe the scene before them.

Even Chang Ning’s eyes twitched, his face flushing red.

The theoretical limit of a single strike in the Houtian Realm was the strength of one ox, yet at this moment, Zhang Yuan’s punch had surpassed it. Who would have dared to imagine such a technique!

Li Changwei trembled all over, his face pale. He didn't dare to take this hit and retreated in panic.

But his speed of retreat could not match the speed of Zhang Yuan’s next advance.

Before the Iron Mountain Lean could fully land, Zhang Yuan used the momentum of the charge to twist his waist, turn his body, step forward with his left foot, retract his right fist, and raise his elbow.

Iron Armor Fist, Sky-Suspending Elbow!

The advancing punch and the Iron Mountain Lean were imitations of Li Changwei’s previous moves.

These two moves were specifically for the accumulation of power to execute this third move.

Sky-Suspending Elbow!

Three moves connected, power piercing through!

"Roar—"

Beside Zhang Yuan, a shadow of a wild bull condensed from his blood and qi.

It wasn't one bull, but two!

With the accumulation of three moves, a single strike in the Houtian Realm condensed the strength of two oxen—four thousand catties of massive force!

Unable to retreat in time, Li Changwei did his best to block in front of him with both hands.

Zhang Yuan’s elbow smashed through his arms and struck his chest.

Li Changwei was sent flying three yards away, his back slamming into the trunk of a large pine tree.

"Bang—"

The massive pine tree shuddered, and its trunk exploded.

Such a large tree had its trunk directly shattered!

Terrified, Li Changwei slowly turned his head to look at the splintered wood behind him.

If the force of Zhang Yuan’s strike had penetrated his body, his internal organs would have shattered and his bones would have turned to dust!

Reaching out to touch his chest, which felt a dull ache, he whispered in disbelief, "Penetrating Force..."

"Mountain-Splitting Strike!" several soldiers nearby cried out in shock.

In the martial arts world, this kind of penetrating force was indeed called "Striking the Ox through the Mountain."

There were once martial arts experts who claimed they could shatter heavy armor with a single blade of grass; that was the application of penetrating force.

Whether it was penetrating force or the Mountain-Splitting Strike, both represented a mastery of martial techniques at their peak, and an absolute control over one's cultivation and the application of power.

Outside the camp, there was a collective intake of breath.

The gazes the soldiers cast upon Zhang Yuan shifted from indifference at the start to fervor and reverence.

They were all practitioners of the martial arts; they knew that reaching the pinnacle of a technique required talent, effort, and perseverance—none could be lacking.

Martial artists respect the strong, not just for their power, but as a recognition of their hard work.

Whether it was his cultivation or his martial skills, Zhang Yuan was incredibly powerful.

Who would oppose such a man leading them?

"Li Changwei thanks the Lord for showing mercy." Li Changwei straightened his clothes, took a few steps forward, and bowed to Zhang Yuan. "It was this subordinate who was blind."

If Zhang Yuan’s strike had not been a penetrating force, it would have been Li Changwei’s own body that exploded.

It was the same Iron Armor Fist technique, yet Li Changwei could not dodge it.

And using the same technique, Zhang Yuan had actually struck with the force of two oxen!

Looking up slightly at Zhang Yuan, Li Changwei’s eyes were filled with fervor.

Previously, when Zhang Yuan said his fist technique lacked refinement, he only now realized that Zhang Yuan was being polite.

In the eyes of a powerhouse like Zhang Yuan, who had mastered his technique to the extreme, Li Changwei’s skills were a complete mess!

Beside him, Chang Ning also hurriedly straightened his clothes and bowed to Zhang Yuan. "Subordinate Chang Ning greets the Captain. In Luyang Prefecture, we of the Black Cavalry follow your command."

The other soldiers quickly followed suit, bowing and cupping their fists.

Standing not far away, Wang Qinian curled his lip slightly, a flash of envy in his eyes.

He also wanted to subdue these Black Cavalry, but unfortunately, he could not.

He could only persuade people with reason; he could not subdue them with fists like Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan raised his hands in a salute, gesturing to those around him. "Everyone, from this day forward, we are brothers in life and death."

"A hundred battles without regret, never abandoning each other in life or death."

A cold, murderous aura emanated from Zhang Yuan.

This was a natural, condensed aura born from immense slaughter.

This was something only a true veteran of a hundred battles could possess.

As the aura rose, Wang Qinian, standing nearby, felt a chill run through his body.

Li Changwei, Chang Ning, and the others looked up, their faces showing unmistakable surprise.

They had thought Zhang Yuan was merely a captain in a remote border town, but looking at him now, he was clearly a battle-hardened veteran!

For a practitioner, experience is also a part of one's strength.

Recalling it now, during the exchange between Li Changwei and Zhang Yuan, almost every move had been anticipated by Zhang Yuan.

That was experience.

"Lord, the Third Squad of the Black Ice Platform, Zheng Yang County, awaits your orders for reorganization and training." Li Changwei saluted again.

The others also saluted, looking at Zhang Yuan with anticipation.

Only by following a powerhouse can one be tempered to become stronger.

A single set of Iron Armor Fist could manifest the strength of two oxen in Zhang Yuan's hands; everyone looked forward to the upcoming training.

Zhang Yuan nodded and looked at the crowd. "There is no rush for training. Let me first assess the strength of the Black Cavalry."

...

Zhang Yuan did not leave the Black Cavalry station until the afternoon.

During that time, he observed the Black Cavalry forming and breaking formations, as well as the soldiers demonstrating combat formations to kill enemies.

The Black Cavalry in full armor and mounted on warhorses were in their true peak state.

Wang Qinian's previous evaluation of the Black Cavalry had been very inaccurate.

Two Black Cavalry working in coordination could hunt a mid-stage Houtian expert.

Five riders could engage a late-stage Houtian expert and retreat unscathed.

With ten riders and a mid-stage Houtian leader, they could directly surround and kill a late-stage Houtian expert.

This was the capital of their pride.

Their warhorses all possessed a trace of exotic beast bloodline, making them stronger and faster than ordinary mounts.

Their armor and weapons, in terms of both defense and offense, were incomparable to the standard issue of the Martial Guard Office.

The Black Cavalry's combat formation was the Tiger March Formation; when they formed up, they moved like a tiger, possessing both majesty and power.

Zhang Yuan did not immediately arrange the training. Instead, he made an agreement with Li Changwei and the others to have the training plan sent to him once they returned.

Everyone knew that reorganization could not be decided in a few words, and the casual pointers Zhang Yuan had given them just now were already enough for them to digest.

They had not expected that Zhang Yuan would be so familiar with battle formations that it would leave them stunned.

Upon returning to the city, Zhang Yuan went to the academy. Chen Wu was in the courtyard teaching fist techniques, and beside him was Huang Sanliang, who had not visited the academy for a long time.

It was likely that because Chen Wu was leaving the Martial Guard Office and Luyang Prefecture, he had sought out Huang Sanliang to take over the academy's martial arts courses.

"Brother Yuan."

"Brother Yuan."

Everyone called out to him upon seeing him.

Zhang Yuan nodded in acknowledgment and then walked to the backyard.

Tao Hong was speaking with Young Master Tao; seeing Zhang Yuan arrive, he bowed slightly and then withdrew through the door.

"Is Wang Qinian likely to be dismissed?"

"Tao Hong and the others are worried that the new commanding officer arranged by the County Black Ice Platform won't take the lives of the brothers seriously."

(End of Chapter)