Chapter 145: Today's Dragon-Slaying Palm

"Boss, this mechanical carriage of yours is simply too flashy; look at them, all staring with wide eyes like a bunch of country bumpkins."

Wang Fuhai walked briskly beside Facing Facing Cang Luo, speaking as he moved, while Facing Facing Cang Luo drove the war chariot slowly and Zhao Renwu walked on the other side.

The others of the War Wolf Gang followed at the very back, their eyes fixed straight on the rear wheels of the chariot.

They were puzzled: why did this two-wheeled mechanical carriage not fall over? How amazing!

Wang Fuhai was also puzzled, but he did not ask; the Fat Lord was the Vice Boss, and asking would lower his status.

He thought for a moment and continued: "Boss, where did you go to cultivate recently? You even broke through four layers, reaching the Warrior Stage 9 cultivation..."

"Also, where did you buy this mechanical carriage? It must be very expensive, right?"

Wang Fuhai still could not help but ask, and seeing him ask, everyone raised their ears to listen.

For these two questions, Facing Facing Cang Luo had already prepared his explanation and smiled: "This Boss encountered a great expert during my recent cultivation trip."

"A great expert?"

Everyone was stunned, and Zhao Renwu was even more shocked; he had just thought that Facing Facing Cang Luo must have had a fortuitous encounter this time, and now it seemed his expectations were not wrong.

Facing Facing Cang Luo wore an expression of profound mystery but said no more, simply stating two sentences: that he had been taken as a disciple by a great expert, taught a Earth-grade technique, and the mechanical carriage was also a gift from the expert...

This explanation corresponded with what he told the Divine Weapon Forge—that his master was a Mohist mechanical engineer; if anyone investigated deeply, both sides could verify each other. Although there were loopholes, they were not too big.

After hearing this, the War Wolf Gang expressed complete belief and felt envy and jealousy toward Facing Facing Cang Luo's fortuitous encounter.

Facing Facing Cang Luo said no more and continued driving the chariot; wherever the chariot passed, the disciples of the Profound Heaven Sect blocking the road all stepped aside, looking at him and the chariot with expressions of envy and puzzlement, discussing his identity.

On the arena platform, Chen Yun also saw Facing Facing Cang Luo and the mechanical carriage and sneered: "Pretentious and meaningless; even a piece of scrap metal is used to show off."

He had seen a mechanical carriage before; the Governor's Mansion of Danyang Commandery had one.

Early this year, during an outside mission, he needed to go to the Governor's Mansion to hand over the mission and happened to see the Governor and two Mohist mechanical engineers assembling a mechanical carriage.

That mechanical carriage was as large as a restaurant building, with an appearance resembling a war fortress.

The wheels were a full twelve pairs!

He inquired and learned it was purchased by the imperial court from the Mohists and assigned to Danyang Commandery for city defense, to guard against possible beast tides in the beast mountains.

It was said that mechanical carriage was worth five thousand pieces of supreme spirit stones, providing combat power not inferior to a Wu Huang expert.

Compared to that mechanical carriage in the Governor's Mansion, the one before his eyes was simply the difference between gravel and a boulder, a drop of water and an ocean; how could the other party still have the nerve to show it off in public?

However, this small mechanical carriage was not entirely useless; using it for transportation was not bad, much flashier than riding a beast pet.

Thinking of this, Chen Yun immediately added another necessity to kill Facing Facing Cang Luo; killing the other party would not only allow him to annex the War Wolf Gang and the War Wolf BBQ Restaurant but also obtain a mechanical carriage.

This duel was truly a huge profit!

Chen Yun was in high spirits, looking down at Facing Facing Cang Luo from the arena platform, hands clasped behind his back, smiling: "You actually dare to come; you have guts!"

At this moment, the surrounding crowd also learned that Chen Yun's opponent was this person riding the strange mechanical carriage.

"Who is this person? What is his cultivation? How dare he duel with Senior Brother Chen Yun!"

"I know, the Boss of the War Wolf Gang, the owner of the War Wolf BBQ Restaurant; I don't know his cultivation, but their regular Vice Boss Zhao Renwu is at Warrior Stage 9, so I imagine he is about the same."

"War Wolf BBQ Restaurant? So that's it; the Fierce Heaven Gang wants his BBQ restaurant!"

"Sigh! Another gang is about to be finished..."

The crowd murmured in low voices, all expressing that they did not expect much from Facing Facing Cang Luo and the War Wolf Gang, thinking Facing Facing Cang Luo was no match for Chen Yun and the War Wolf Gang would be annexed by the Fierce Heaven Gang.

Facing Facing Cang Luo ignored the crowd's murmurs, parked the chariot beside the arena platform, did not look at Chen Yun, and scanned the other arena platforms with his eyes.

At this moment, several arena platforms were fighting fiercely, fist hitting flesh, swords clashing, completely fighting for their lives.

Some even continued fighting after having a hand severed; it was not that they refused to surrender, but their opponents did not give them the chance to surrender.

This was the Life-and-Death Arena, a place to decide life and death!

After watching for a while, Facing Facing Cang Luo then jumped onto the arena platform to stand opposite Chen Yun, gazing directly at the other party.

Chen Yun glanced disdainfully at Facing Facing Cang Luo, turned around, and shouted toward several stewards not far away with a fist-palm salute: "Senior Liang Zhishi, there is a life-and-death duel on Arena Platform Three; please, Liang Zhishi, supervise and witness!"

The Life-and-Death Arena had stewards from the Law Enforcement Pavilion stationed there, one to supervise the fair duel and two to maintain order.

Hearing someone shout about a duel on Arena Platform Three, the stewards discussed for a moment and then sent out a Liang Zhishi surnamed Wang, with Warrior Stage 6 cultivation.

As Liang Zhishi Wang leisurely strolled toward Arena Platform Three, he thought that these outer sect disciples were simply bored; their strength was so low, yet they did not hurry to cultivate?

Upon arriving at Arena Platform Three, he sized up Chen Yun and Facing Facing Cang Luo and said indifferently: "Why are you dueling? Is it voluntary?"

He was just asking as a matter of routine; in fact, he would not care why they were dueling or whether the duel was voluntary.

Regardless of the reason, they were merely weaklings in the end.

Their Law Enforcement Pavilion, unless they happened to catch someone violating sect rules on the spot, or someone brought evidence to demand an investigation, generally held the attitude that it was better to avoid trouble than to create it.

Chen Yun had fought on the Life-and-Death Arena many times and was very familiar with it; he smiled: "Personal grudge; of course, we are voluntarily dueling."

Having said that, he looked at Facing Facing Cang Luo, grinned, and asked mockingly: "Senior Brother Cang, are you voluntarily dueling with me?"

Facing Facing Cang Luo said calmly: "Voluntary!"

Seeing this, Liang Zhishi Wang asked no more, nodded lightly, and said: "Then let us begin; however, since we are all fellow disciples, try to stop at the point of victory."

Having finished speaking, he retreated to a corner of the arena platform, leaving space for the two duelists.

The disciples surrounding the arena platform also immediately perked up, preparing to watch the show.

On the arena platform, Chen Yun beckoned with his finger, his face full of contempt, signaling Facing Facing Cang Luo to attack first.

However, Facing Facing Cang Luo made no move; instead, he turned his head to look at the crowd watching the battle around the arena platform, his eyes darting about with a look of confusion...

Letting the weakling strike first is a gift from the strong and also confidence in one's own strength.

Chen Yun let Facing Facing Cang Luo strike first, but Facing Facing Cang Luo turned his head to look elsewhere, as if he had not heard his words and ignored his existence.

"You refuse a face when offered one!"

Chen Yun snorted coldly, decided not to waste time, immediately activated his movement technique, and rushed rapidly toward Facing Facing Cang Luo, planning to cripple the other party first.

"Wait!"

Seeing Chen Yun rush toward him, Facing Facing Cang Luo immediately shouted loudly to stop him.

This roar, Facing Facing Cang Luo unleashed with all his Yuan force, echoing across all nine fighting platforms.

At one corner of the platform, Officer Wang furrowed his brow instantly—he judged from this roar that Facing Facing Cang Luo's Yuan force was extraordinarily profound, possessing at least Stage 7 or 8 Warrior strength...

Chen Yun's attack rhythm was brutally interrupted by Facing Facing Cang Luo's roar; he stood in the center of the platform and shouted: "What are you doing? Trying to surrender and beg for mercy?"

"It's not impossible. Do you remember the conditions I mentioned earlier? If you agree, I'll spare your life."

The condition he referred to was about the Wolf War BBQ shop—this duel's ultimate goal was to claim the BBQ shop; as long as he got the shop, anything was acceptable.

Even if Facing Facing Cang Luo refused, he would soon beat Facing Facing Cang Luo to his knees begging for mercy, trading the BBQ shop and the mechanical vehicle for his life.

Facing Facing Cang Luo shook his head and said: "I was just wondering why no one's taking bets on the outcome? A duel needs stakes to be interesting, don't you think?"

Chen Yun froze, then burst into laughter, as if he'd heard something absurd.

Facing Facing Cang Luo ignored him, turned to the crowd watching on all sides of the platform, and called out loudly: "My junior brother is dueling Senior Brother Chen Yun—anyone willing to take bets?"

No one answered!

After a moment of silence, a member of Lie Tian Gang whispered: "Laughable—the outcome is obvious. What's the point of taking bets?"

"Exactly. Who'd dare take bets when one side is certain to win? If anyone does, they're either a fool or a fraud, colluding with one side to scam money."

Facing Facing Cang Luo heard this and immediately understood—everyone believed he would lose, which was why no one took bets.

It made sense. His cultivation level, if he didn't say it himself, wasn't even known to the Wolf War Gang—let alone others.

At best, they knew he was Warrior Stage 9 a month and a half ago—that was only because the Wolf War BBQ shop had become famous, and they knew he was the gang's boss.

Otherwise, who even knew him?

So, since no one would take bets, he'd take them himself.

Facing Facing Cang Luo thought for a moment, then called out again: "Today, I, Facing Facing Cang Luo, duel Senior Brother Chen Yun in a life-and-death duel. Solo joy is no joy—let the brothers share in it. I'll put up two thousand lower-grade Yuan stones as the pot, for everyone's amusement."

"The rules are simple: bet on me winning or losing, odds one to one. Funds are limited—bets close once the pot is full."

"Those who wish to bet, see our Wolf War Gang's Internal Affairs Vice Boss, Wang Fuhai..."

These two thousand lower-grade Yuan stones were the entire fund the Wolf War Gang could muster—Facing Facing Cang Luo had secured their use by trading his position as gang boss.

Before arriving, when Facing Facing Cang Luo announced he'd use this money as stakes, everyone from Zhao Renwu's faction, except Wang Fuhai, strongly opposed it.

They said it was the gang's hard-earned savings, won through blood and sweat, and they refused to let Facing Facing Cang Luo gamble it away.

Though Facing Facing Cang Luo claimed he was Warrior Stage 4, higher than Chen Yun, they didn't believe he could guarantee victory—they dared not bet, and didn't want to.

In the end, Facing Facing Cang Luo swore an oath on the spot: if he failed to defeat Chen Yun, he would immediately surrender the gang leader position—only then, under Zhao Renwu's signal, did they agree.

After Facing Facing Cang Luo explained the rules, someone joked: "He knows he's doomed, so he's spending his money before death? What's the most painful thing in life?"

"When you die, your money's still left unspent..."

The crowd chuckled. Someone exclaimed: "Two thousand lower-grade Yuan stones! Is the Wolf War Gang this rich?"

"Of course. The Wolf War BBQ shop brings in gold daily. And if other gangs hadn't copied and opened BBQ shops to compete, the Wolf War Gang could've earned even more."

"Are you betting?"

"Of course! Free money? Don't be a fool!"

The spectators erupted in discussion, then rushed toward Wang Fuhai to place their bets.

Almost everyone bet on Facing Facing Cang Luo losing; only a handful bet on him winning—among them was Beigong Wang.

In fact, he'd just been hesitating whether to take bets himself—he believed Facing Facing Cang Luo had a high chance of winning, and with slight manipulation, he could make a fortune.

But he feared offending too many people, especially Lie Tian Gang, and ultimately dared not take bets.

Also, he couldn't guarantee Facing Facing Cang Luo's certain victory, so he only bet two hundred lower-grade Yuan stones.

On the platform, Facing Facing Cang Luo noticed Beigong Wang but said nothing—considered him perceptive.

Moments later, everyone had finished betting. Wang Fuhai excitedly held up two fingers toward Facing Facing Cang Luo—meaning he'd collected two thousand lower-grade Yuan stones total, after deducting the bets on Facing Facing Cang Luo winning.

If Facing Facing Cang Luo defeated Chen Yun, he'd profit exactly two thousand lower-grade Yuan stones.

Facing Facing Cang Luo gave a slight nod, turned to Chen Yun, and said calmly: "Senior Brother Chen, you've waited long enough. Let's begin."

With that, Facing Facing Cang Luo activated Meiti Shengong, secretly channeling Tu Long Palm and rapidly charging it—he decided on a single lethal strike to instantly kill his opponent.

"Hehe! Thank you, Senior Brother Cang. Let's begin!"

Chen Yun smiled and also placed a bet of one hundred lower-grade Yuan stones.

With that, he reactivated his body technique and charged toward Facing Facing Cang Luo again...

"Wait—I'm placing a bet too."

But at that moment, another roar rang out—from Officer Wang at the platform's corner.

Chen Yun nearly stumbled—he was interrupted again in his attack rhythm. If it hadn't been Officer Wang, he'd have challenged the speaker to a duel!

Officer Wang pulled out a gleaming silver upper-grade Yuan stone and tossed it to Wang Fuhai, speaking slowly: "I bet... Senior Brother Cang wins!"

At these words, everyone who had bet on Facing Facing Cang Luo losing froze instantly. Chen Yun stared wide-eyed at Officer Wang, utterly incredulous.

Did the officer think Facing Facing Cang Luo would lose?

Why?

Chen Yun couldn't understand. The spectators couldn't understand either.

But Officer Wang ignored them all and said firmly: "The duel—officially begins!"

As he spoke, Chen Yun was still puzzling over why Officer Wang thought he'd lose, and for a moment, he stood frozen in place.

Facing Facing Cang Luo acted decisively. He was only ten meters away from Chen Yun—suddenly appearing before him, he unleashed his fully charged Tu Long Palm, striking straight at Chen Yun's chest!

Chen Yun finally snapped back to awareness. Seeing Facing Facing Cang Luo before him, he was utterly shocked and felt a lethal threat—he instinctively gathered his aura to shield himself.

But it was too late. Facing Facing Cang Luo's Tu Long Palm had already struck.

Two months ago, Facing Facing Cang Luo first used Tu Long Palm—he was only Warrior Stage 6, yet he defeated Long Zhantian, a Warrior Stage 9.

One month ago, as a Warrior Stage 9, Facing Facing Cang Luo used Tu Long Palm to defeat Zhang Zhen, a Warrior General Stage 1.

Both times, Facing Facing Cang Luo was still a Warrior—Warriors cannot gather aura.

Today, Facing Facing Cang Luo, at the fourth level of Martial General cultivation, could condense aura!

The orange-red aura absorbed by the Earth-grade upper-tier heart method Meiti Shengong, and the pale blue aura absorbed by the Human-grade lower-tier heart method Lei Qi Jue, merged under the boundless attributeless aura like two dragons playing with a pearl, their power surging dramatically!

Boom!

A muffled thunderous crash echoed; Chen Yun was flung backward, spewing blood, and rolled off the arena amid the overseer Wang's startled gaze.

As Chen Yun rolled off the arena, the blood spewed from his mouth had not yet touched the ground—testimony to the overwhelming power and astonishing speed of the Dragon-Slaying Palm!

At this moment, all fell silent; everyone stared in shock at Facing Facing Cang Luo, standing proudly at the arena's center, speechless, as if the air itself had frozen.

Even the combatants on nearby arenas, who had just been locked in deadly battle, halted their fight and gazed at Facing Facing Cang Luo in astonishment.

Though engaged in combat, they were aware of what transpired here—they knew one contestant was Chen Yun of Lie Tian Gang, and that Chen Yun was immensely powerful.

Yet no one expected Chen Yun to be defeated so swiftly, so unexpectedly.

The opponent had defeated Chen Yun, who possessed Martial General fifth- or even sixth-level strength, with just one palm strike.

Below this arena, Beigong Wang wore a solemn expression, murmuring to himself: "Again, this palm—identical to the one he used two months ago against Long Zhantian of Kong Sheng Academy..."

No, stronger!

Under the Wu Shi level, no one could withstand it head-on!