Chapter Twenty: A Genius?
On the other side of the square, Chen Xuan also stood with arms crossed and a smiling expression, watching Hao Shengyi intently.
His Iron Cloth technique was fully mastered—impervious to blades and bullets, immune to fire and water. What was there to fear? Even if Hao Shengyi’s internal skill was profound, it didn’t guarantee defeat.
And if he did lose, it was no big deal; he could challenge him every day until one day he finally brought him down.
As Chen Xuan regarded Hao Shengyi, the latter smiled warmly in return, their eyes meeting with a mutual sense of respect and understanding.
At that moment, Elder He Yun of the Five Poisons Sect and two other elders were still shouting for them to stop the duel, but in front of the other heretical sects who merely sought entertainment, their protests were utterly ineffective.
An elder from the Seven Kill Palace, Tao Haigong, blocked He Yun with a cheerful smile and said, “Brother He, don’t be so agitated. Listen to me—these are just children playing. Nothing serious will happen. Rest assured, I will remind Xiao Yi to be careful!”
Tao Haigong was proud of Hao Shengyi, his prized disciple who had earned a reputation within just six months of entering the martial world, bringing great honor to the Seven Kill Palace. He was leading the group this time.
He never expected a mere junior disciple from the Five Poisons Sect to dare challenge his student—truly overestimating himself!
Tao Haigong was confident that this was just for show and had no intention of letting He Yun spoil the fun.
“Exactly, Brother He, don’t worry!”
“It’s just a friendly spar; it won’t hurt him.”
Other elders from the heretical sects laughed and agreed.
“You can’t do this. Chen Xuan, come back at once. Return quickly, or face punishment according to sect rules!”
He Yun shouted repeatedly.
Some elite disciples nearby looked on with a hint of mockery, also doubting the seriousness of Chen Xuan’s previous actions. Like the elders, they were only here for the spectacle.
But Chen Xuan acted as if he hadn’t heard, casually scratching his ear with a smiling face.
“Alright, I will preside over this match. Since fists and feet are blind, let’s keep it brief. Xiao Yi, you must go easy on your junior brother!” Tao Haigong chuckled.
“Master, Brother Chen was once a ninth-level Qi accumulator. Though he has regressed somewhat, he remains unfathomably deep. I must give my all; otherwise, I dare not face him,” Hao Shengyi replied with a smile.
“Is that so? Then you shall spar properly with this junior brother.”
Tao Haigong smiled again and turned to Chen Xuan, who still wore a cheerful grin, seemingly not the least bit angry. Tao Haigong shook his head in silent amusement.
“The duel begins!”
Tao Haigong announced.
“Brother Chen, please!”
Hao Shengyi clasped both fists and, before Chen Xuan could react, stepped forward with a lightning-fast strike. His body surged like a fierce wind, leaving only a blurry afterimage—far swifter than Zheng Yun’s speed.
Outside, the watching elders and elite disciples chuckled derisively.
Many glanced at He Yun with contemptuous smiles.
It was over.
In just one move, the duel concluded.
Hao Shengyi’s speed was too overwhelming; Chen Xuan had no response whatsoever and stood there bewildered.
What kind of duel was this?
He Yun’s face darkened with anger, grinding his teeth. Yet secretly, he clung to a sliver of hope.
He prayed that Chen Xuan’s Iron Cloth skill was truly perfected and could withstand Hao Shengyi’s assault. Otherwise, if he were knocked down in one strike, the Five Poisons Sect would be utterly disgraced.
Bang!
A muffled sound rang out as Chen Xuan’s clothes tore with a rustling noise, ribbons flapping wildly as they snapped and flew aside.
At his dantian, a swirling black palm appeared, striking his body with tremendous force.
At the other end of the palm, Hao Shengyi wore a vicious grin, lifting his head to look at Chen Xuan with a cruel gleam.
Chen Xuan furrowed his brow, finally understanding the meaning behind Hao Shengyi’s nickname, “Smiling Blade.”
Damn.
Such a ruthless strike right from the start!
Targeting the dantian like that—any ordinary disciple struck there would likely vomit blood and be incapacitated instantly, possibly even destroying their dantian.
Without hesitation, Chen Xuan raised a fist and directly punched toward Hao Shengyi’s face.
At the moment Hao Shengyi’s palm struck Chen Xuan’s dantian, he was still smirking. But suddenly, he sensed something was wrong—his force completely failed to penetrate, as if striking iron or stone. Half of his powerful palm force rebounded.
His expression changed instantly as he realized what was happening.
Iron Cloth technique?
Chen Xuan’s Iron Cloth skill had reached an incredible level, allowing him to lock his dantian?
Whoosh!
Seeing Chen Xuan’s fist coming, Hao Shengyi shifted his body, vanishing from Chen’s front at an impossible angle. The next moment, he unleashed another powerful palm strike.
This was the Seven Kill Palace’s unique secret technique, the Black Heart Fiend Palm, only taught to those who had passed rigorous tests and ventured into the world. No other disciples could learn it. Its power was tremendous, capable of shattering stone monuments with each blow.
Bang!
The palm force surged with a sharp whistle through the air, releasing a pungent aura, and slammed into Chen Xuan. Yet again, it had no effect—like a hammer striking a bronze drum, it roared back.
Hao Shengyi’s palm was numb from the impact.
His expression turned more shocked and incredulous.
The watching elders and elite disciples all changed their expressions.
“Iron Cloth technique?”
“How is this possible? How can this kid’s Iron Cloth withstand the Black Heart Fiend Palm? Has... has he mastered Iron Cloth?”
The elders were stunned.
A disciple of the Five Poisons Sect mastering Iron Cloth to such a degree?
What a joke!
Even Tao Haigong’s face shifted wildly, completely unprepared for this. He glanced at Elder He Yun and forced a smile. “Unexpected indeed. Your sect’s disciples not only excel at poison techniques, but also possess profound Iron Cloth skills. Brother He, you truly know how to hide your strengths.”
He Yun exhaled in relief when Chen Xuan blocked Hao Shengyi’s Black Heart Fiend Palm, secretly amazed. But he maintained a calm and indifferent expression.
“It’s nothing. To be honest, Chen Xuan is among the lowest-ranked disciples in our sect. Several of our elites could easily defeat him. I apologize to Brother Tao and the others for the embarrassment. It’s not worth mentioning,” He Yun said lightly.
Many elders twitched their eyelids, cursing silently.
You weren’t saying that just moments ago.
You were practically desperate back then.
Tao Haigong cursed inwardly.
Taking advantage and then acting innocent—truly despicable!
Wait!
Suddenly, a thought struck Tao Haigong, and his expression turned uncertain.
Could Chen Xuan really be one of the Five Poisons Sect’s top prodigies, deliberately sent by He Yun to humble other sects, only for them to accidentally collide with the Seven Kill Palace?
Otherwise, how to explain Chen Xuan’s mastery of Iron Cloth?
The Five Poisons Sect was known primarily for its poison arts, and novices rarely practiced other techniques before mastering poison. If Chen Xuan’s Iron Cloth was so formidable, then surely his poison skills were even stronger?
“Damn!”
Cold sweat broke out on Tao Haigong’s face.
His disciple Hao Shengyi was in trouble—he might already be poisoned. After all, the Five Poisons Sect’s poison techniques could silently infect victims, and symptoms often appeared only after the poison had deeply penetrated the heart.
He wanted to warn Hao Shengyi but feared losing face among peers, so he could only watch helplessly, cursing silently.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Inside the arena, the dull thuds continued as Hao Shengyi jumped up and down, unleashing the Black Heart Fiend Palm to its fullest. His strikes were fierce and domineering, relentlessly pounding Chen Xuan.
But with each blow, his palms and arms grew increasingly sore, his wrist bones nearly breaking.
He was both shocked and furious but dared not stop.
He was growing anxious, unable to gauge Chen Xuan’s true strength. According to what he knew, the Five Poisons Sect’s greatest strength lay in poison arts, yet Chen Xuan remained motionless, clearly holding back.
If he stopped, he feared facing Chen Xuan’s Five Poisons Divine Palm, a devastating technique that could cause unbearable suffering even with a half strike.
He wasn’t sure if Chen Xuan had learned it, but he had no choice but to press on.
Chen Xuan stood calmly, feeling the relentless palm strikes but smiling, letting them land.
The gamble paid off.
With Iron Cloth fully mastered, Hao Shengyi’s strikes were powerless against him.
The blows only caused a tingling sensation, like flicking a mosquito on one’s own skin.
This Iron Cloth was simply monstrous.
Chen Xuan nearly laughed out loud.
Fame +15
Fame +8
Fame +12
A series of blue lights flashed before his eyes.
Chen Xuan couldn’t help but burst into hearty laughter.
In an instant, 38 points of fame were credited!
He was striking it rich!
“Hahaha, Senior Brother Hao, is that all the power your palm has? If it’s not enough, why not bring a couple more senior brothers over? I, Chen Xuan, will take them all on, hahaha...”
Chen Xuan laughed.
Hao Shengyi, burning with humiliation and rage, shouted fiercely and unleashed even stronger attacks.