Chapter 45: War

The success of the first layer of the Annihilation Body Art was only one reason Cang Luo dared face Chen Dalong and the other two—not to mention the many abilities of the satellite, there were two other reasons that gave Cang Luo the courage to fight them!

First, during the five days he spent capturing Erha, Cang Luo’s cultivation base had broken through from Warrior Sixth Layer to Warrior Seventh Layer, only one layer below Chen Dalong—how could he lack the strength to fight?

Second, hadn’t Cang Luo just tamed a beast companion? A first-rank demonic beast, the Two-Headed Flame-Devouring Wolf, hiding nearby, waiting for his command.

Moreover, this Two-Headed Flame-Devouring Wolf was no ordinary first-rank demonic beast—it was a mutated first-rank demonic beast with two heads.

Furthermore, Cang Luo’s beast companion could share his infinite Qi.

With mutation and infinite Qi combined, Erha’s combat power could rival a second-rank demonic beast!

Infinite Qi, healing, dynamic capture, the Annihilation Body Art, the beast companion Erha, and his Warrior Seventh Layer cultivation base—these were the true reasons Cang Luo dared fight Chen Dalong.

Moreover, Cang Luo had been practicing the killing technique, Military Boxing, during this time; with all these advantages, he refused to believe he couldn’t defeat Chen Dalong, whose cultivation was at most Warrior Eighth Layer.

Still, caution was best—after all, Cang Luo knew nothing of Chen Dalong’s true strength, only that his cultivation likely reached Warrior Eighth Layer.

Seeing Cang Luo’s cautious posture, Chen Dalong laughed: “You’re scared? Where’s that ferocity you showed just now?”

Cang Luo gave no reply, instead assuming a defensive stance.

“Heh! Don’t be nervous.”

Chen Dalong smiled and continued: “Your Military Boxing is indeed impressive—far superior to many grappling techniques I’ve seen. But they all share one common weakness.”

Cang Luo’s heart skipped—a flaw in Military Boxing did exist, but he hadn’t expected Chen Dalong to spot it so easily?

Is he bluffing? Trying to shake my confidence?

Chen Dalong sneered: “Technique-based moves rely on overwhelming strength and speed to be effective.”

They may gain advantage against opponents of the same rank, but against foes stronger in power and speed, they become useless.”

As the saying goes: one force crushes ten techniques. My cultivation is Warrior Eighth Layer; yours is merely... Warrior Sixth Layer.”

All your techniques are mere tricks before me—easily shattered.”

Chen Dalong clenched his fists, his voice resounding powerfully. After exposing the weakness of Military Boxing, he regarded Cang Luo with calm satisfaction, expecting fear.

Yet to Chen Dalong’s disappointment, Cang Luo showed no sign of terror or dread—still cautious, still in a defensive posture.

Though his face revealed nothing, Cang Luo had to admit Chen Dalong was right—this was indeed Military Boxing’s greatest flaw.

Cang Luo’s Military Boxing instructor, the elite warrior of the Wind Forest Fire Mountain Combat Team, codenamed Cold Sword, had already warned him of this.

Moreover, Cang Luo had realized at the time that Dynamic Capture suffered from the same weakness.

Because Dynamic Capture merely allows one to receive and process information more completely and rapidly, enabling quicker correct responses—it does not reduce the opponent’s speed or increase one’s own.

Thus, if one’s speed is slower than the opponent’s, Dynamic Capture becomes useless.

Because while Dynamic Capture lets one see the opponent’s movements clearly, one cannot match their speed to respond.

That is the weakness of Dynamic Capture!

But Cang Luo was not worried—he still had two trump cards.

One: Erha, hiding in the shadows; two: the Annihilation Body Art, which temporarily boosts strength!

And perhaps, a false piece of intelligence to make Chen Dalong slightly underestimate him.

His cultivation was Warrior Seventh Layer—but Chen Dalong believed it was only Warrior Sixth Layer...

After analyzing their relative strengths, Cang Luo feigned being struck at his weakness, pretending anger: “Hmph! Enough talk—whether I’m useless or not, we’ll find out by fighting!”

Chen Dalong sneered: “You’re right—we’ll find out by fighting. Let me make your death clear.”

No sooner had he spoken than Chen Dalong’s eyes flashed with ruthless intent. He raised both palms, shouted “Dragon Subduing Palm,” and charged at Cang Luo like a mighty dragon surging from the sea.

Chen Dalong’s speed was far beyond that of Zhang Youliang and Wang Lei.

Cang Luo had no confidence he could dodge, so he summoned his only martial technique—Thunder Rush Palm—and met the attack with a palm strike.

“Boom!!!”

In just two seconds, Chen Dalong reached Cang Luo’s side. Their palms collided with a thunderous crack.

After the clash, Chen Dalong retracted his palms and stood motionless at the point of impact, frowning in thought.

Cang Luo, however, was blasted several zhang away by Chen Dalong’s Dragon Subduing Palm. He slowly rose from the ground, his right arm trembling violently—but no bones or tendons were damaged. He immediately channeled Qi to heal.

The clash between Dragon Subduing Palm and Thunder Rush Palm instantly revealed their superiority—the Thunder Rush Palm was slightly inferior.

Dragon Subduing Palm was a Yellow-Rank Middle-grade martial art, Yang-natured, famed for its overwhelming force.

Moreover, Dragon Subduing Palm possessed a special ability: its intense Yang Qi could resist various corrosive effects of other martial arts.

For example, Thunder Rush Palm’s paralysis effect.

Of course, this required sufficient Qi from the user.

Thus, Thunder Rush Palm was not only weaker in power but also spiritually suppressed!

“Good! Elder Chen is mighty—unbeatable below the Martial General! Crush that waste!”

Zhang Youliang, his arms dislocated, cheered from the side; Wang Lei remained unconscious.

Chen Dalong ignored Zhang Youliang’s flattery and suddenly said: “I didn’t expect your cultivation is Warrior Seventh Layer.”

“Tell me—how did you advance from Warrior Third Layer to Warrior Seventh Layer in just twenty days?”

“Speak, and I’ll give you a quick death. Otherwise, I’ll make you wish you were dead.”

At these words, Zhang Youliang beside him gasped in shock, stumbling back a step: “What? His cultivation is Warrior Seventh Layer?”

“How is that possible? How could he be so far ahead of me?”

Chen Dalong ignored Zhang Youliang. Just as he struck, he had instinctively extended a trace of Qi-sense.

Though only for an instant, he had clearly sensed Cang Luo’s Qi-sense—and through it, detected seven Qi wheels within his dantian.

Seven Qi wheels meant Warrior Seventh Layer cultivation!

Chen Dalong didn’t understand: why was this ordinary outer sect disciple advancing so fast? And he was an older disciple.

Previously, at twenty-two, he was only Warrior Third Layer—that was unquestionable. Boss Ouyang Lie had confirmed it after checking Cang Luo’s records at the Administration Hall.

So, was it elixirs?

Forcedly consuming pills to reach Warrior Seventh Layer?

Yes, only that possibility existed—meaning he carried many high-grade elixirs? Then I’ll thoroughly search his body later...

Cang Luo paid no mind to Chen Dalong’s frowning contemplation. He rubbed his arm, felt it had recovered enough, and grinned at Chen Dalong: “Ask Yama in the underworld!”

Before Chen Dalong could react, Cang Luo lunged forward at full speed.

In the span of a breath, he closed the dozen-meter gap, unleashing dozens of palm strikes—all effortlessly blocked.

Seeing his attacks fail, Cang Luo retracted his palms into claws. With Dynamic Capture’s aid, he seized Chen Dalong’s wrist with a Military Boxing grappling technique.

Cang Luo felt triumph—he pulled Chen Dalong’s arm, aiming to circle behind him and lock one limb.

But to Cang Luo’s shock, Chen Dalong’s arm didn’t budge—an inch. No matter how hard he pulled, it remained immovable.

“Hmph! I told you—before absolute power, all techniques are laughable.”

Chen Dalong sneered, twisted his wrist to seize Cang Luo’s arm, then slammed his other palm—Dragon Subduing Palm—straight into Cang Luo’s chest.

Cang Luo’s blood ran cold. He frantically activated his Qi wheels, channeling all his Qi to shield his chest.

A torrent of neutral Qi surged to his chest, reinforcing ribs, sternum, and pectoral muscles.

Not enough—he brought his other hand up to guard his chest.

“Boom! Boom! Boom...”

Chen Dalong struck seven times in succession—his limit. Legend said Dragon Subduing Palm perfected could unleash eighteen strikes in an instant.

That was the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms!

After the seven strikes, Chen Dalong kicked Cang Luo away with Leopard Shadow Leg, then withdrew to recover his Qi.

Dragon Subduing Palm was powerful—but consumed immense Qi. Yang-natured martial arts were the most draining.

“Hmph! Waste is waste!”

Chen Dalong, still recovering his Qi, sneered at Cang Luo, who lay motionless as if dead.

But he knew Cang Luo wasn’t dead—Warrior Eighth Layer couldn’t kill Warrior Seventh Layer with one blow, but it was close.

A direct hit from Dragon Subduing Palm would shatter the chest—months of bed rest, probably unable to speak, lungs and chest cavity filled with blood...

Yet just as Chen Dalong assumed Cang Luo was too injured to speak, Cang Luo’s laughter rang out.

“Hah... Hahaha! That was great! Again!”

Cang Luo lay on the ground, grimacing, blood trickling from his lips, his chest aching.

But protected and healed by neutral Qi, he was unharmed. In an instant, he rose, ignoring the pain, and charged at Chen Dalong again.

Chen Dalong was stunned—this waste wasn’t down?

But shock aside, he wasn’t afraid. Warrior Seventh Layer? He was Warrior Eighth Layer, his Dragon Subduing Palm perfected, and he still had more tricks...

Seeing Cang Luo close in, Chen Dalong halted his recovery and prepared to counter.

Just as Chen Dalong readied himself, Cang Luo flashed before him, using Cold Sword’s boxing footwork—dodging, shifting, twisting—leaving Chen Dalong unable to predict his attack direction.

Chen Dalong’s eyes blurred. He raised both palms defensively. Seeing Cang Luo’s footwork, he was stunned again—what style was this?

Never seen or heard of in the outer sect—light as a swallow, fluid as mist, dizzying to watch.

Did the outer sect’s martial arts hall even possess such a powerful movement technique?

This is impossible—where did this waste get all these strange tricks?