Chapter 45: Battle

The successful cultivation of the first layer of Meiti Shengong is only one of the reasons Cang Luo dares to face the three attackers Chen Dalong and his group; besides the many abilities of the satellite, two other reasons also give Cang Luo the courage to fight them!

First, during the five days spent capturing Erha, Cang Luo's cultivation had already broken through from Warrior Stage 6 to Warrior Stage 7, only one stage behind Chen Dalong—how could he lack the strength to fight?

Second, hadn't Cang Luo just tamed a beast pet? A first-tier demon beast, the Two-Headed Fire-Devouring Wolf, hiding nearby awaiting his command.

Moreover, this Two-Headed Fire-Devouring Wolf was no ordinary first-tier demon beast, but a mutated first-tier demon beast with two heads.

Not only that, Cang Luo's beast pet could also share his limitless Yuanli.

With mutation plus limitless Yuanli, Erha's combat power could likely rival a second-tier demon beast!

Limitless Yuanli, healing, dynamic capture, Meiti Shengong, beast pet Erha, and Warrior Stage 7 cultivation—these are the true reasons Cang Luo dares to fight Chen Dalong.

Moreover, Cang Luo had been practicing the killing technique Military Body Fist all this time; combined with all of the above, he refused to believe he couldn't defeat Chen Dalong, whose cultivation was at most Warrior Stage 8.

Still, caution first—after all, Cang Luo knew nothing of Chen Dalong's true strength, only that the opponent's cultivation had very likely reached Warrior Stage 8.

Seeing Cang Luo's cautious look, Chen Dalong laughed and said, "Scared? Where's that ferocity from earlier?"

Cang Luo did not respond, but instead assumed a defensive stance.

"Heh! Don't be nervous."

Chen Dalong smiled and continued, "Your Military Body Fist is indeed not bad, much more formidable than many grappling techniques I've seen, but unfortunately they all share a common weakness."

Cang Luo's heart skipped a beat—the Military Body Fist did have a weakness, but he hadn't expected it to be seen through so easily?

Was it a bluff? Spoken to shake his confidence?

Chen Dalong said disdainfully, "Techniques that rely on skill must be supported by powerful strength and speed to be effective against an enemy.

In battles between equals they can indeed grant an advantage, but when facing an opponent whose strength and speed both surpass yours, they lose all effect.

As the saying goes, one force subdues ten skills. My cultivation is Warrior Stage 8, while you're only a Warrior... Stage 6.

All your techniques before me are mere tricks, unable to withstand a single blow."

Chen Dalong clenched his fists, his words ringing with force. After pointing out the weakness of Military Body Fist, he stood there looking utterly at ease, watching Cang Luo and expecting a fearful reaction.

However, to Chen Dahu's disappointment, Cang Luo did not show panic or fear, still maintaining his cautious defensive stance.

Though Cang Luo showed nothing on his face, he had to admit Chen Dalong's words were right—this was indeed the greatest weakness of Military Body Fist.

Cang Luo's Military Body Fist instructor, an elite warrior of the Feng Lin Huo Shan combat squad, codenamed Cold Sword and Cold Arrow, had long ago told him this.

Not only that, Cang Luo had also realized at the time that dynamic capture shared this same weakness.

Because the dynamic capture ability only lets one receive and process information more completely and quickly, thereby allowing one to swiftly make the most correct response—it does not slow the opponent or increase one's own speed.

Therefore, if one's speed is not faster than the opponent's, the dynamic capture ability loses its effect.

Because although dynamic capture lets one see the opponent's movements clearly, one cannot match the opponent's speed and is unable to respond.

This is the weakness of the dynamic capture ability!

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

One was Erha hiding in the shadows, the other was Meiti Shengong, which could temporarily boost his strength!

And also, perhaps some false intelligence that might make Chen Dahu slightly underestimate him.

His own cultivation was Warrior Stage 7, yet the other believed him to be Warrior Stage 6...

After analyzing the strength of both sides, Cang Luo put on a look of having his sore point struck and said angrily, "Hmph! Enough talk—whether it's unable to withstand a blow, we'll only know after fighting."

Chen Dalong sneered, "You're right, we'll only know after fighting. Then I'll let you die understanding why."

The moment his words fell, Chen Dalong's eyes suddenly flashed with ferocity. He then channeled both palms, roared "Dragon-Subduing Palm!" and charged at Cang Luo with the momentum of a fierce dragon emerging from the sea.

Chen Dalong's speed was extremely fast—incomparable to Zhang Youliang and Wang Lei.

Cang Luo had no confidence in dodging, so he also channeled his only martial technique, Thunder-Rushing Palm, and met it with a palm strike.

"Bam!!!"

In just two seconds, Chen Dalong was upon Cang Luo, their palms met, producing a thunderous roar.

After their palm clash, Chen Dalong withdrew his hands and stood still at the spot of their clash, frowning thoughtfully.

Cang Luo, however, was sent flying several zhang away by Chen Dalong's Dragon-Subduing Palm. He slowly got up from the ground, his right arm trembling continuously, but no bones or tendons were injured. Cang Luo hurriedly mobilized Yuanli to heal.

This clash between Dragon-Subduing Palm and Thunder-Rushing Palm immediately made the superiority clear—Thunder-Rushing Palm was slightly inferior, and this slight inferiority was not only in power compared to Dragon-Subduing Palm.

Dragon-Subduing Palm was a Yellow-grade mid-tier martial technique, Yang-attribute, renowned for its ferocious power.

Moreover, Dragon-Subduing Palm also carried a special ability—its blazing Yang-attribute Yuanli could resist various erosion effects of certain martial techniques.

For example, the paralysis effect of Thunder-Rushing Palm.

Of course, this required the user to have sufficient Yuanli.

Therefore, Thunder-Rushing Palm was not only inferior to Dragon-Subduing Palm in power, but was also countered in attribute!

"Good! Senior Brother Chen is mighty, invincible below the Martial General rank—kill that trash!"

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

Chen Dalong was unmoved by Zhang Youliang's flattery and suddenly said, "I didn't expect your cultivation to be Warrior Stage 7.

Tell me, how did you cultivate from Warrior Stage 3 to Warrior Stage 7 in just twenty days?

Tell me and I'll give you a quick end. Otherwise, I'll make you wish you were dead."

The moment Chen Dalong said this, Zhang Youliang at the side was greatly shocked. He staggered back a step and said in disbelief, "What, his cultivation is Warrior Stage 7?

How is that possible? How could he be so much higher than me?"

Chen Dalong ignored Zhang Youliang. While throwing his palm strike, he had instinctively sent out a wisp of Yuan Sense.

Though only for an instant, he had truly sensed Cang Luo's Yuan Sense, and through it sensed that Cang Luo's Lower Dantian contained seven Yuan Wheels.

Seven Yuan Wheels represent Warrior Stage 7 cultivation!

Chen Dalong couldn't understand why an ordinary outer disciple would cultivate so quickly, and an older disciple at that.

Previously, being only Warrior Stage 3 at twenty-two—that much was true. Sect Leader Ouyang Lie had said he had investigated Cang Luo's records from the Steward Hall.

Then, was it consuming pills?

Forced himself to Warrior Stage 7 by gulping pills?

Hmm, only this possibility exists—that means he has a lot of high-grade pills? Then I'll have to search his body thoroughly later...

Cang Luo paid no attention to Chen Dalong, who was frowning in deep thought; he rubbed his arm, felt it had recovered sufficiently, and smiled at Chen Dalong: "Ask Yama in the Underworld!"

Saying this, Cang Luo immediately dashed toward Chen Dalong, giving him no time to react.

In the span of a single breath, Cang Luo covered the dozen meters and reached Chen Dalong's side, unleashing dozens of slaps—all effortlessly blocked by the opponent.

Seeing his attacks failed, Cang Luo instantly retracted his palm into a claw; with the aid of his dynamic tracking ability, he used a grappling technique from Military Boxing to seize Chen Dalong's wrist.

Cang Luo felt a surge of joy, and seizing the moment, pulled Chen Dalong's arm, aiming to circle behind him and control one of his limbs.

But to Cang Luo's shock, the opponent's arm didn't budge an inch—no matter how hard he pulled, it refused to move.

"Hmph! I told you—before absolute strength, all techniques are laughable."

Chen Dalong sneered, twisted his hand to seize Cang Luo's arm, and slammed his other palm down with Dragon Subduing Palm onto Cang Luo's chest.

Cang Luo's blood ran cold; he frantically activated his Yuan Wheel to channel all his Yuan energy to shield his chest.

Swirling, attributeless Yuan energy surged continuously to his chest, reinforcing his ribs, sternum, and pectoral muscles.

Still not enough—he quickly brought his other hand back to guard his chest.

"Boom! Boom! Boom..."

Chen Dalong unleashed seven slaps in an instant—that was his limit; it's said Dragon Subduing Palm, perfected, can strike eighteen times in a breath.

That's called the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms!

After delivering those seven slaps, Chen Dalong kicked Cang Luo away with Leopard Shadow Leg, then withdrew his stance to regulate his breath.

Dragon Subduing Palm is powerful, but it drains heavily—Yang-attribute martial arts are the most draining category.

"Hmph! Waste is waste!"

While regulating his breath, Chen Dalong still spat at Cang Luo, who lay on the ground as if dead.

But he knew Cang Luo wasn't dead yet—Warrior Stage 8 can't one-shot Warrior Stage 7, though it's close.

Struck dead center by Dragon Subduing Palm, his chest must be shattered; he'd need months of bed rest, probably can't even speak now—his thoracic cavity and lungs are full of blood...

Yet just as Chen Dalong believed Cang Luo was too wounded to speak, Cang Luo's laughter suddenly rang out.

"Hah... Hahaha! That was great! Again!"

Cang Luo lay on the ground, laughing bitterly, a trail of blood dripping from his corner of the mouth, his chest throbbing.

But under the protection and healing of attributeless Yuan energy, he was unharmed; in an instant, he rose to his feet despite the pain and charged straight at Chen Dalong without a word.

Chen Dalong was stunned—this waste wasn't even hurt?

But shock aside, he wasn't afraid of Cang Luo—just Warrior Stage 7, while he was Warrior Stage 8, with perfected Dragon Subduing Palm, and still had more tricks up his sleeve...

Seeing Cang Luo closing in, Chen Dalong immediately halted his breath regulation and prepared to counter.

Just as Chen Dalong readied himself, Cang Luo flashed before him, using the boxing footwork taught by his Cold Blade instructor—dodging, shifting, and weaving—leaving Chen Dalong unable to predict his attack direction.

Chen Dalong's vision blurred; he crossed his palms before his chest, and upon seeing Cang Luo's footwork, he was stunned again—what kind of movement technique is this?

Never heard of it, never seen it in the Outer Sect—steps light as mist, body as fleet as a swallow, dizzying to behold.

Does the Outer Sect's Martial Arts Hall even possess such a powerful movement technique?

This is absurd—where did this waste get all these bizarre tricks?