Chapter 175: Unmasked!

"Brother, what I'm saying is definitely true."

Gao Songbai forced a bitter smile.

"My life is in your hands; whether I live or die hinges on a single thought of yours. Would I dare to lie? All I ask is that after I finish speaking, you spare my life."

"Go ahead, speak."

"Alright, alright."

Gao Songbai pondered for a moment, then slowly began: "The Seven Star Palm is said to be based on the seven stars of the Big Dipper in the heavens, paired with the Eight Trigrams; the combination creates a palm technique famed for its speed. Its accompanying mind method, also called the Seven Star Skill, when you open the first Acupoint, you become a First-level Force Warrior; opening four Acupoints makes you a Second Level …"

Jiang Cheng perked up his ears and listened.

It is roughly similar to the Broken Jade Method he had been practicing.

If one can open all thirty Acupoints, one becomes a Fifth-level Force Warrior.

Of course, having two extra Acupoints opened puts a practitioner of Broken Jade Fist at a disadvantage.

Fortunately, in Real Combat many factors decide the outcome; lacking two Acupoints doesn't necessarily make one inferior to the opponent.

But the gap in cultivation speed is concrete.

Especially the later Acupoints, once opened, automatically draw in more Force.

Gao Songbai seemed afraid Jiang Cheng wouldn't understand, so after each chant he added an explanation.

Soon, two lines of small text appeared on the Panel.

【Seven Star Fist (Introductory Chapter): 0/5000】

【Seven Star Skill (Introductory Chapter): 0/10000】

Jiang Cheng felt a surge of joy.

Time ticked by slowly.

The two lines of text on the Panel also began to change.

From Introductory Chapter it shifted to Skilled Chapter, then from Skilled Chapter to Proficient Chapter.

Gao Songbai continued speaking incessantly.

Only Jiang Cheng didn't notice the fleeting look of resentment deep in his eyes.

"Hmph, you think you can get my Secret Martial Arts that easily? Do you really think I'm a three‑year‑old child? So easy to be fooled?"

He sneered inwardly.

If he can leave here alive today, that would be best.

If he ends up killed, at least he'll have gotten the other side.

Because he altered some parts of the cultivation method later on, such as the order of striking Acupoints.

Don't underestimate that tiny difference; sometimes it can keep a person stuck for months, and if it involves crucial Acupoints, it may even endanger life.

But to make the other believe, up through the Proficient Chapter content he spoke truthfully and even revealed some key points.

A few minutes later, he exhaled deeply and said, "Brother, I've already told you this Secret Martial Arts in full. I don't know if you heard it clearly; if any part was unclear, I can repeat it."

The parts he changed aren't many; even if he repeats it several times, there's no difference from the first telling.

That way, no slip will be exposed.

"Are you sure you've finished speaking?"

Jiang Cheng looked at him.

"Finished?"

Gao Songbai looked puzzled.

"Everything you said is true?"

"Of course it's true, Brother. This is exactly how I train."

"Is that so?"

Jiang Cheng glanced at the Panel.

The palm technique and internal skill displayed are only at the Proficient Chapter.

Yet the other claimed he had finished.

The outcome was about to unfold.

Jiang Cheng didn't waste words and fired a shot straight at the opponent's left arm.

"Ah!"

Gao Songbai winced in pain, teeth clenched, cold sweat pouring.

When his leg was shot before, he could still cover it with both hands.

Now his left arm is hit, he can only shield it with his right hand.

"Brother, you, what are you doing?"

He sounded both pained and aggrieved. "I've already told you the Secret Martial Arts in full, and you still shoot at me? If you want to kill me, just act, why torture me like this?"

"Whether you told the truth, you know it yourself."

Jiang Cheng sneered.

"I'll give you one more chance: recite the content after the Proficient Chapter of the Secret Martial Arts. If you still try any trick this time, I'll fire another shot at you. No problem, we have plenty of time."

Upon hearing that, Gao Songbai's heart rose to his throat.

No!

How does this guy know I tampered with the content after the Proficient Chapter? Could it be that he also practices the Seven Star Palm?

But that makes it even less plausible.

If he also trained the Seven Star Palm, why would he listen to every word I say? He would have grown impatient long ago.

"Could it be that the Secret Martial Arts he obtained were incomplete? It includes content after the Proficient Chapter, so he knows I altered some parts?"

Gao Songbai felt a bit gloomy.

Is there really such a coincidence under the heavens? "Are you still thinking about how to trap me?"

Jiang Cheng's voice rang out.

"No, no, no, there isn't, there isn't."

Gao Songbai forced a flattering smile.

"Sorry, big brother, my memory slipped a bit; I did say a few things wrong just now. Let me say it again."

"Alright, Hope, this time your memory won't deviate again," Jiang Cheng said meaningfully.

"It won't, it won't."

Gao Songbai's head shook like a rattle drum, and after a moment of silence he started narrating the Secret Martial Arts again.

Soon, the status of the Secret Martial Arts on the Panel changed.

It shifted from Proficient Chapter to Great Completion Chapter.

After a while, Gao Songbai's voice stopped.

"Finished?"

Jiang Cheng glanced at the Panel.

It still only contained the Great Completion Chapter content, not Perfect.

"Speak, it's finished."

Gao Songbai nodded, yet for some reason felt uneasy inside.

He recited the Great Completion Chapter content without omitting a single word.

However, for the last few Acupoints, to avoid being exposed, he altered only one.

Yet the person before him looked at him as if seeing through everything.

"Alright."

Hearing that word, Gao Songbai let out a slight sigh of relief, but only half a sigh before the person in front raised his gun and fired another shot at his leg.

"Ah! Ah!"

Gao Songbai's face twisted in pain.

He could no longer count how many bullets his legs had taken.

But compared to the pain, confusion weighed heavier in his heart.

Could he have been seen through again? "Say the Perfect Chapter again, it doesn't matter, you can keep digging pits for me, we have all the time."

Jiang Cheng's voice was flat.

He had long anticipated this.

Or rather, the fact that the other could honestly recite the Secret Martial Arts made him feel astonished.

"You, you…"

Gao Songbai was stunned.

A thought sprang up in his mind.

Could this person be deliberately playing with him?

He clearly knows how to practice Seven Star Palm, yet forces me to recite it fully—what's his aim? For fun?

"You have five seconds left."

Jiang Cheng suddenly said.

"I speak, I speak."

Gao Songbai was like a punctured balloon, fully resigned.

(End of Chapter)