Chapter 70: Going to the City Lord’s Mansion to Woo a Lady (Eighth Update)

As dusk settled, Luo Hengxing, as agreed with Xin Lang, came once again to challenge him without compensation.

Luo Hengxing declared, “Xin Lang, after losing to you yesterday, I spent the whole day studying and have figured out how to counter your layered force technique. Watch how I defeat you today!”

Xin Lang chuckled, “Excellent! I too wish to hone my ‘Eight Dragon-Subduing Forces’ further.”

With Luo Hengxing’s challenge, their battle officially began.

As before, Luo Hengxing launched the first attack, this time utilizing an earth-level technique, “Rampant Palm!”

“Eight Dragon-Subduing Forces, third force—Layered Force!”

Seeing Luo Hengxing use his self-created secret force technique ‘Rampant Palm,’ Xin Lang countered with a blow of his own Layered Force.

Bang! Palm met fist, both unleashing hidden force. Luo Hengxing’s force was formidable, yet Xin Lang’s Layered Force, thrice stacked, though he hadn’t used his ‘Heavenly Halberd,’ was enough to withstand the Rampant Palm.

After the clash, Xin Lang was forced back a dozen steps, while Luo Hengxing stood his ground, unmoved.

The triple-layered hidden force Xin Lang had delivered into Luo Hengxing’s body was swiftly dissolved by him.

“Haha! As I said, I’ve mastered the method to break your Layered Force. So, what say you? Will you concede?” Luo Hengxing taunted.

Xin Lang laughed, “The ‘Eight Dragon-Subduing Forces’ have eight in total. I’ve only used the third. Now, let me show you the might of the fourth!”

“Very well! Then let me show you the power of my self-created secret force, ‘Dominating Fist’!”

Both ‘Rampant Palm’ and ‘Dominating Fist’ were earth-level, advanced techniques Luo Hengxing had developed after becoming a revolutionary martial artist. Whether fist or palm, they were overwhelming—few of the same rank could withstand them.

Luo Hengxing’s feet erupted with hidden force, his body shooting toward Xin Lang as he unleashed a punch. Even before the fist arrived, the gust sent Xin Lang’s clothes fluttering wildly.

As Luo Hengxing’s fist approached, Xin Lang’s mind conjured a massive character for ‘Dominance,’ inspiring fear and trembling.

Xin Lang focused, shattering that dominating presence in his mind, and shouted, “Eight Dragon-Subduing Forces, fourth force—Coiling Dragon Force!”

Bang! Xin Lang’s fist collided with Luo Hengxing’s Dominating Fist!

Xin Lang’s body was sent soaring by Luo Hengxing’s blow, but Luo Hengxing fared no better—the Coiling Dragon Force, amplified by the ‘Heavenly Halberd,’ doubled in strength and spiraled up Luo Hengxing’s arm, seeking to crush his body.

“This is the eighth layer of secret force—Spiral Force! Wait—no, it’s different…”

Luo Hengxing initially thought Xin Lang had delivered an ordinary Spiral Force, but soon realized the Coiling Dragon Force was distinct. The Spiral Force contained only a single spiral, while Xin Lang’s Coiling Dragon Force comprised two—like twin dragons, one rotating left, the other right—coiling around Luo Hengxing’s body, attacking from opposing directions, making them impossible to neutralize simultaneously.

Xin Lang descended from above, poised to strike Luo Hengxing mid-air. Luo Hengxing knew he had lost again; should Xin Lang continue the assault, defeat would be inevitable.

Upon Luo Hengxing’s concession, Xin Lang gained another 150 experience points from him, bringing his total to 1375.

Xin Lang mused happily, “If I can keep earning 150 experience points every day, I’ll be set for life!”

On the third day after the Nine Sun City Academy Martial Tournament ended, City Lord Ouyang Tianfeng sent invitations—not only to Meng Linglong and Xin Lang, but also to Qian Baidu and Fatty Gu.

“Xin Lang, you injured Ouyang Feiyun! Ouyang Tianfeng won’t try anything sneaky against you, will he?” Qian Baidu asked anxiously.

Fatty Gu, however, was unconcerned. “Perfect! Now I can openly sneak into the City Lord’s mansion to woo women!”

Since the academy tournament, Gu Ge had been determined to win the heart of Ouyang Tianfeng’s daughter, Ouyang Yanran. With Xin Lang and the others invited, Fatty Gu would not miss such a golden opportunity.

Xin Lang, seeing Fatty Gu’s predatory gaze, warned, “You’d better restrain yourself today. If anything happens, I won’t bail you out!”

Qian Baidu laughed, “It’d be best if Ouyang Yanran could castrate this breeding boar!”

Fatty Gu roared in protest, “You bastard! I never tried to woo your sister—why are you so hostile?”

Qian Baidu rolled up his sleeves, “Try mentioning my sister again, and see if I don’t teach you a lesson. Maybe you’ve forgotten the pain these past few days?”

Fatty Gu retorted, “You think I’m afraid of you?” and prepared to fight.

Xin Lang, with a kick to each, booted the two out of his room. “If you want to fight, do it outside—don’t break my stuff!”

Qian Baidu and Fatty Gu, now outside, charged at each other in fury.

Shadow Fist, Chain Kicks—they grappled fiercely.

Fortunately, Xin Lang possessed a potent external wound medicine; otherwise, after such brawling, their battered faces would make attending the banquet impossible.

Led by Meng Linglong, Xin Lang, Qian Baidu, Fatty Gu, and Meng Chuchu arrived at the City Lord’s mansion.

Though not as grand as the Nine Sun City academies, the City Lord’s mansion was lavishly built—fences and steps of white jade, pillars and roof beams gilded with gold, opulent and extravagant.

Fatty Gu exclaimed with envy, “Damn! My old man works himself to the bone and still can’t make money as fast as a city lord!”

Xin Lang teased, “So, you want to be city lord now?”

Fatty Gu scoffed, “Please! My dream is to sleep with celestial maidens. City lord, gold coins—they’re just fleeting clouds. Only the women beneath me are real!”

“Shameless!” Fatty Gu was about to expound on his lofty ambitions, but Ouyang Yanran happened to pass by, overhearing him. She shot him a fierce glare and entered ahead.

Xin Lang laughed, “Looks like your path to romance won’t be easy.”

Fatty Gu grinned, “She’s shy with so many people around during the day! Tonight, I’ll turn her into a gentle little kitten!”

Hearing Fatty Gu’s words, everyone gave him a look of contempt.

Ouyang Tianfeng, learning of their arrival, sent attendants to usher them into the banquet hall.

The banquet was already laid out, awaiting their presence to begin.

Xin Lang noticed Ouyang Tianfeng and Ouyang Yanran were present, but neither Ouyang Feiyun nor his father, the principal of Rising Sun Academy, was in attendance.

Besides Ouyang Tianfeng and his daughter, Li Xuanming, the special observer from the Imperial Martial Academy, and Wang Junwei, the special observer from the War Academy, were also present.

When all the guests were assembled, Ouyang Tianfeng announced, “Tonight’s banquet is primarily to celebrate my daughter Yanran’s selection to the Imperial Martial Academy…”

After some formal words, the banquet commenced.

Xin Lang and Meng Linglong had no idea what Ouyang Tianfeng was really planning. Even if Yanran was chosen for the Martial Academy, it made little sense for him to invite them.

Meng Linglong exchanged a glance with Xin Lang, whispering, “There’s a plot. Be careful!”

PS: Eight chapters today! If anyone still has votes, throw them to Cabbage!