Ch.6 Attaining Qi

In the early morning of the next day, Zhuge Xiang and Li Bin stood face to face in the martial arts arena of the Shura Sect. Today was the day for the two of them to formally duel. Neither Zhuge Xiang nor Li Bin had much reputation within the Shura Sect, so there were not many spectators present.

The few onlookers scattered in twos and threes throughout the martial arts arena were merely individuals who had risen early to train and were now observing the duel out of curiosity. For those who did not understand Qi, their participation in a duel held little meaning.

"Hey, Zhuge Xiang, today I will ensure your complete defeat..." Li Bin sneered at Zhuge Xiang, exuding confidence.

As Li Bin gazed at Zhuge Xiang's composed demeanor, he couldn't help but wonder if Zhuge Xiang had ingested the spirit fruit syrup laced with Heartbreak powder right in front of him the previous day. At this point, Zhuge Xiang should have felt weakened and dizzy, shouldn't he? But there was no visible sign of it.

"Use whatever skills you possess. I am also eager to see what I have learned from Zhao Feiyun. A defeated warrior like you daring to boast again is quite audacious," Zhuge Xiang retorted, his attention not wavering from Li Bin's threats. If fighting served only as a platform for empty words, then what was the point of training?

Zhuge Xiang's nonchalant attitude only served to further infuriate Li Bin. What he found most intolerable was Zhuge Xiang's dismissive demeanor towards him. In his anger, Li Bin's tone grew sharper. "Zhuge Xiang, do you understand that the thing I despise the most is your attitude and your contemptuous demeanor, which makes me want to trample you underfoot involuntarily?"

"Contemptuous?" Zhuge Xiang responded to Li Bin's hysterical outburst with a contemptuous smile. "Whether I hold you in high regard or not depends on your actions, not my feelings. If you incessantly exhibit an air of superiority, belittle Niu Geng's loyalty as a weakness, and pretend to be clever while lacking the strength to back it up, what reason do I have to hold you in esteem?"

"You rascal! I'll make you pay!" Li Bin could not find a retort to Zhuge Xiang's words, so his embarrassment fueled his rage. In his fury, Li Bin charged towards Zhuge Xiang, employing a mysterious and agile footwork.

As he locked his gaze onto Li Bin's charging form, Zhuge Xiang also extended his hand in a manner reminiscent of a serpent's strike. His palm moved towards Li Bin's chest with a cunning angle.

However, Li Bin's recent practice of Nether Walk had clearly paid off. Just as Zhuge Xiang's strike was about to connect, Li Bin made a swift, unexpected maneuver, successfully evading Zhuge Xiang's palm.

"Oh..." The duel had just begun, and many spectators in the martial arts arena erupted in shocked exclamations.

For those who lacked an understanding of Qi, a fight might appear to involve only physical blows, but Li Bin's use of the Nether Walk demonstrated a level of finesse beyond the ordinary. His evasive footwork was exceptional, making it difficult for Zhuge Xiang to land a hit. Zhuge Xiang attempted six or seven consecutive strikes, but Li Bin evaded them with remarkable agility.

Li Bin's ghostly footwork, nimble and elusive, left Zhuge Xiang unable to even touch his opponent's clothing. The spectators were both amazed by Li Bin's exceptional footwork and convinced of Zhuge Xiang's impending defeat.

"Hey, even though I may not understand Qi, I've practiced the thirty-six steps of the Netherworld over a thousand times in recent days. It's impossible for you to lay a hand on me," Li Bin boasted triumphantly in response to the exclamations from the martial arts arena's disciples.

Zhuge Xiang furrowed his brow slightly as he observed Li Bin's mysterious footwork. While Li Bin hadn't fully grasped the essence of Nether Walk, his footwork alone made him an elusive target. Relying on the agility of Nether Walk, it became increasingly challenging for Zhuge Xiang to land a hit. He attempted several consecutive strikes, but Li Bin skillfully evaded them all.

"Is this the extent of what you've learned from Zhao Feiyun, hopping around to evade attacks?" Zhuge Xiang paused, fixed his gaze on Li Bin, and delivered a sarcastic remark.

Li Bin's sharpness was particularly unbearable for him. While he had intended to wait for Heartbreak Powder to take effect before making his move, he grew increasingly angry due to his humiliation. In his fury, Li Bin charged toward Zhuge Xiang with his unique and mysterious footwork.

Zhuge Xiang closely monitored Li Bin's approach. Then, with the swiftness of a striking snake, his palm suddenly appeared before Li Bin's eyes, striking at an unexpected angle with lightning speed.

Li Bin's pupils contracted in disbelief as Zhuge Xiang's palm materialized suddenly. How could Zhuge Xiang's palm keep pace with his ghostly footwork?

"You've lost!" Zhuge Xiang's expression remained calm as he declared three words with flat finality. His palm landed squarely on Li Bin's chest, and it was swiftly followed by a chain of successive strikes.

While Li Bin's ghostly footwork was enigmatic and evasive in terms of movement, Zhuge Xiang's Qingbo Palm was characterized by its relentless, interconnected attacks. Although Zhuge Xiang hadn't fully mastered Qi and had only learned some aspects of Qingbo Palm, his opponent, Li Bin, had no knowledge of Qi whatsoever. Under Zhuge Xiang's control, the Qingbo Palm made Li Bin feel as if he were ensnared in a spider's web, with one attack seamlessly leading to the next, making evasion nearly impossible.

"A set of palm techniques! Impossible! How could you have learned a set of palm techniques?" Li Bin couldn't believe it at this moment. Zhuge Xiang's relentless chain of attacks had exposed a comprehensive set of palm techniques, a concept foreign to the Shura Sect where martial arts were typically Qi-based.

Indeed, as Zhuge Xiang had said, Li Bin was destined to fail. He had already sealed his fate when he allowed Zhuge Xiang to land the first palm strike. The relentless chain of attacks from Qingbo Palm had left Li Bin incapable of mounting a defense or counterattack. He endured more than twenty consecutive strikes, and he couldn't escape the entanglement of Zhuge Xiang's relentless onslaught. Li Bin, overwhelmed and defeated, vomited blood and collapsed onto the martial arts arena.

"You...didn't you consume the spirit fruit syrup with Heartbreak powder? Why...?" As he lay on the ground, spitting out blood and looking dazed, Li Bin struggled to comprehend. Clearly, he had been seriously injured, but he was perplexed as to why Zhuge Xiang had not been affected. Hadn't he seen Zhuge Xiang drink the Heartbreak Powder-laced spirit fruit syrup himself?

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The injury to Li Bin was severe, and before Zhuge Xiang could provide an answer, Li Bin's head tilted, and he immediately lost consciousness. As for Zhuge Xiang, he frowned, pondering over the matter of the spirit fruit pulp.

"Victory? It seems that those who dare to accept challenges usually possess some skills, one with footwork, and one with palm techniques..." Zhuge Xiang's unexpected victory surprised many spectators watching the battle below. Suddenly, they realized that Zhuge Xiang had more to him than initially met the eye. He had dared to take on Li Bin's challenge because he had also mastered a set of palm techniques.

Below the martial arts arena, Niu Geng couldn't help but smile sincerely. Clearly seeing Zhuge Xiang's victory, he felt a deep sense of joy as well.

"Defeat Li Bin, an ordinary person, gained 11 exp, level breakthrough, the current level is level one, you gained 1 skill point."

Just as Li Bin lay unconscious, the mechanical voice resurfaced. Instantly, Zhuge Xiang felt his weary body rejuvenated, as if a long-dried field had been replenished with a refreshing spring, coursing through his veins and swiftly dispelling his fatigue. The system's notification momentarily distracted Zhuge Xiang from thoughts about the Heartbreak powder...

Whoosh, whoosh...

Standing on the martial arts arena, Zhuge Xiang's coarse clothing billowed in the wind, and his black hair danced in the air. A faint aura radiated from his body's center. Although the aura was subtle, it was undeniably present.

"Qi! He has mastered Qi! He actually comprehended Qi during the battle!" The spectators off the stage erupted in exclamations, their eyes filled with envy.

"Qi! This is Qi! I've finally succeeded." Zhuge Xiang clenched his fists, feeling the flow of Qi within his body. He couldn't contain his excitement. After a year of relentless effort, he had finally achieved the fruits of his labor and possessed Qi. In the future, he would become an official disciple of the Shura Sect.