Chapter 356

Banggu glanced at the wide-open gate, then turned to Luo En, eyes gleaming with intensity as he assumed the stance of Flowing Rock Shatter Fist: "Kid, don't forget to pay the repair fee after this."

He stomped his foot and charged straight at Luo En—this was the first time Banggu had launched an attack since the beginning.

One hand, wrapped in fist energy, curved like a swimming fish, striking Luo En's neck with an eerie, unpredictable angle.

But it struck nothing.

Banggu snapped his head upward.

Luo En had somehow leapt into the air; now he spun his body and lashed out with his right leg like a whip, descending with devastating force toward Banggu's head.

Banggu narrowed his eyes.

His hands traced an exquisitely precise arc, his feet stepping in rhythm as fist energy unfolded, forming an invisible barrier around his body.

"Flowing Array."

Luo En's powerful strike was largely neutralized by Banggu's hands through an exquisite martial technique, and after barely tilting aside the attack, Banggu seized the opening left by Luo En's missed blow, stomped his foot, activated Instant Body Technique, and appeared before Luo En in midair.

"Kid, see that? Smoothly deflecting an opponent's strike, then striking the opening with lethal precision—that's… Flowing Rock Shatter Fist!"

As Banggu spoke, his hands unleashed a barrage of blows like a storm of rain and wind toward Luo En.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Waves of fist energy surged into Luo En's body, surging wildly and exploding within him.

After finishing his assault, Banggu landed lightly on the ground, hands clasped behind his back, facing away from Luo En as he fell to the earth—exuding the aura of a grand master.

"Brute strength alone cannot oppose martial arts. Feel the true power of martial arts, boy."

"This is… S-Class ranked third hero—Silver Fang!"

Shuichui swallowed hard, gazing at Banggu with awe.

"What incredible power… it's on a completely different level from B-Class and A-Class."

"Master… won!"

Chalanzǐ snapped back to reality, leaping up in excitement, eyes filled with admiration as she stared at Banggu: "I knew Master would win! Flowing Rock Shatter Fist is truly the strongest! When Master goes all out, that guy stands no chance!"

"Chalanzǐ, don't say things that make people laugh."

Banggu shot him a sharp glance: "Luo En's strength is equal to mine. It wasn't me who won—it was martial arts. If he had trained even a little in martial arts, I never could have defeated him."

"Eh… eh?!"

Chalanzǐ's expression froze: "M-Master, what are you saying?"

"So this is martial arts…"

A voice came from behind Banggu.

Banggu, Shuichui, and Chalanzǐ all turned to look.

Luo En brushed off his clothes and stood up, unharmed, his face calm.

Banggu's eyes widened.

"Impossible! My attack had no effect on you?!"

10, Banggu's shock

Banggu stared at Luo En in disbelief.

His attack had not been meant to kill, but its power was real.

Under such force, even solid boulders could be shattered—yet this young man remained untouched?

What nonsense!

Could it be that, like Super Alloy Blacklight, he had trained his entire body to a state of refined perfection?

"H-How is that possible?!"

Chalanzǐ's mouth hung open, eyes bulging.

Shuichui stared at Luo En in stunned silence.

That was the attack of Silver Fang, ranked third among S-Class heroes!

And it did nothing to him?

"Using the opponent's force to neutralize it, defending against attacks, then striking back at the perfect moment—your martial arts are slightly more interesting than I thought."

Luo En spoke, stepping past Banggu.

"But in the end, it's still a defensive art for the weak against the strong—it means nothing to me."

"Still, thank you, old man, for agreeing to play with me…"

Whoosh!

A leg swept in from behind Luo En with fierce momentum, aiming for his side.

Luo En raised his arm.

Boom!

A powerful shockwave erupted around the two of them.

"What?!"

Banggu's pupils shrank sharply.

Luo En hadn't moved at all—only raised his arm—and had effortlessly blocked Banggu's side kick.

"This fight has gone far enough, Old Man Banggu."

Luo En's blue eyes flicked sideways at Banggu: "You're not my match."

A flash of golden-red light passed through his eyes as a hint of Conqueror's Haki was released.

"!!"

The moment Banggu felt that overwhelming pressure, his usually calm and composed expression shattered.

In Shuichui and Chalanzǐ's sight.

Xiang Banggu recoiled over ten meters as if facing a flood or ferocious beast, adopting the Fighting Stance of Flowing Rock Shatter Fist toward Luo En, his face filled with shock and suspicion, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.

"Master… what's going on?"

Cha Lanzi asked in confusion; he had never seen Banggu display such an expression before.

Fubuki also looked utterly baffled.

"Who… are you really?!"

Banggu fixed his gaze on the young man standing with his back turned and asked.

"I'm just an ordinary traveler."

Luo En spoke to him while turning away, walking to Fubuki's side.

Fubuki stared at him, frozen.

Luo En extended his hand toward her.

Fubuki frowned in confusion: "What… is this?"

"Lend me some money."

"…."

After borrowing Fubuki's money to pay for the gate repairs, Luo En left the dojo with Fubuki.

After the two had departed.

Cha Lanzi and Banggu stood at the dojo's entrance, gazing down at the two shrinking figures below.

"That guy came as a guest to visit Master, yet he dared to be so disrespectful to you—had it not been for their status as guests, your strength would've crushed him long ago."

Cha Lanzi couldn't help but voice his indignation on behalf of his master.

"He even had the audacity to speak so boldly—hmph, truly…"

"Cha Lanzi, be silent."

"Master…"

Cha Lanzi turned to Banggu, wanting to say more.

But when he saw Banggu's aged, wrinkled face—hands clasped behind his back, eyes fixed downward—with its grave expression, he said nothing at all.

"Master, is that man truly that strong?"

"Stronger. At least one level above me—possibly two."

Hearing Banggu's solemn words,

Cha Lanzi widened his eyes in horror.

"In that instant, I felt an aura from him I've never encountered before," Banggu murmured, looking down at his still-trembling palm. "His gaze seemed to tell this old man… if I strike again, I will die."

"In that instant, I completely lost my warrior's spirit and chose to retreat. What a terrifying young man… Luo En… where on earth did he come from?"