Chapter 196: Chaos Brawl

Good fellows, those who understand the grudges haven't even begun fighting, yet each of you, as the big bosses closing the show, have already taken the initiative.

Ouyang Feng's punch that split the sky met Hong Qi Gong's upward palm with a thunderous clash; the forceful outward qi, in the sound of a dragon's roar, swept out instantly, tearing the red carpet into fragments that surged in all directions.

"Sss!" The people around the viewing platform felt the massive qi slam them, their breath suddenly halted; after catching their breath, they all inhaled sharply.

The Northern Beggar and Western Poison are terrifying indeed! If the duel between Huang Yaoshi and Zhou Botong over there was like shadow and illusion—speed and subtlety—then the clash before us between Ouyang Feng and Hong Qi Gong is pure strength competition.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Ouyang Feng's airborne punch was forcefully blocked by that soaring dragon palm; his complexion flushed red in an instant, and as he landed on the distant ground, he couldn't help shouting three "good"s.

Hong Qi Gong also felt uneasy; his right arm went numb, and the fierce punch not only flushed his face but also drove the overwhelming force into the ground, shattering the blue bricks beneath his feet.

With that move, the two were evenly matched; now all eyes were on them, standing ten zhang apart, their gazes locking, sparks flying everywhere.

"Again!!"

Ouyang Feng roared, his voice like thunder, eyes flashing like lightning; as his aura unfolded, his black robe swelled without wind, rustling, and his gray‑white sideburns flew wildly.

While speaking, his hands curled into claws at shoulder height, and his swollen body instantly hovered in the air, level with the ground.

He then descended slowly, as if ten thousand jin of force pressed down; a substantial yet invisible qi stream rose from beneath him, booming outward across the blue‑brick floor.

Under the gathered gazes of the heroes, Ouyang Feng's eyes widened, his cheeks and neck puffed like balls, and he emitted a "gurgle" sound. A ferocious aura radiated from his whole body, the surrounding air seeming compressed and slightly warped by his momentum.

On the viewing platform, the heroes stared in amazement, gasping; abandoning the elusive Huang Yaoshi and Zhou Botong, they focused on the two supreme masters in the arena—Ouyang Feng and Hong Qi Gong.

"Is this the Toad Technique?"

Fen Tianyu's face grew solemn, his gaze fixed, then he turned his head toward the boy in ceremonial robes beside him and asked softly.

Behind him, the three elders Su Lu Zhi, Yan Hongshou, and Jin Buhuan heard the voice, and their searching gazes also converged.

In terms of strength, three years ago they were a notch below the Five Great Peaks; when they first besieged Niu Dingtian, if they hadn't held back, they could have beaten him into the sea to feed the fish.

But now, with cultivation, stagnation means decline; facing Ouyang Feng one‑on‑one, they believed they could not endure a thousand moves.

Niu Dingtian nodded at the words, then his sharp eyebrows twitched slightly, and he sighed, "Three years ago when I took his Toad Technique, it was still unfinished; seeing his current strength, it shouldn't be far off."

"Compared to the original Toad Technique, and having cultivated it to this level, he is a step stronger than Hong Qi Gong. If it weren't for the old poison master's ruthless nature, willing to go to any lengths for a supreme skill, I would have recruited him to join forces."

While Niu Dingtian spoke, Hong Qi Gong far away wore a grave expression, standing unmoving; he slightly turned, stepped forward with his left leg, clenched his Dog‑Beating Staff in his right hand, his mysterious technique circulating, exuding a towering aura that pressed forward.

"Toad Earth‑Diving!!"

Suddenly, a rumbling thunderous shout cracked, and Ouyang Feng moved!

His swollen body shot forward like an arrow, his hands thrust rapidly in succession, a massive surge of qi erupted like crashing waves; where the qi passed, the ground cracked, and dust billowed.

"Dragon Subduing 18 Palms!" Hong Qi Gong was undaunted; he roared, a hint of an angry dragon's bellow in his voice.

His left palm slammed forward, a golden dragon‑shaped qi whistled up, bearing a world‑shattering momentum toward Ouyang Feng's Toad Technique.

"Boom!" A deafening crash, the two powerful qi streams collided instantly, unleashing a ferocious force that surged like a raging tide.

Both fighters' arts are supremely hard and yang, domineering and fierce; after this clash, the entire plaza seemed to tremble from the sheer power, and the onlookers around the platform turned pale and involuntarily stepped back.

"Again!"

The light faded, dust settled, Ouyang Feng roared, his fist like a sharp blade, and lunged at Hong Qi Gong again.

Hong Qi Gong's aura remained lofty, unyielding; a faint blue light shot from his hand, landing steadily beside Lu Youjiao. Then his palms alternated, qi swirling around his body, rising to meet the attack amid the dragon's roar.

The two clashed instantly, their forms intertwining, qi bursting everywhere, occasional dragon roars and toad croaks echoing, leaving the audience stunned.

Previously it was only rumor how Niu Dingtian fought in Xiangyang City, but now, witnessing the Five Great Peaks duel firsthand, everyone was deeply shaken by such a world‑shaking battle of masters.

As for the duel between Huang Yaoshi and Zhou Botong over there, their exchanges were like elusive phantom shadows; none of it had such raw power in every punch and every thrust that set blood boiling.

"Qiu Chuji!!"

"When will you finally get on stage?"

On the high platform, Zhu Cong and Han Baoju were engrossed watching the fight below, when a brother's angry shout suddenly snapped them awake.

"Bang!"

Ke Zhen'e swung his staff onto the ground, shattering the platform's wooden board; turning toward where Qiu Chuji had spoken, he shouted angrily, "They fight their fights, we fight ours, no interference. Your Quanzhen Sect can't be a coward in front of all the heroes today!"

Brilliant!

Another great show! This gathering was not in vain!

That was the thought simultaneously flashing through the heroes' minds. Apart from the Mongol envoys' area, Zhe Bie and Tuo Lei were still displeased by Niu Dingtian's proclaimed doctrine, while all other guests shouted "Spectacular!"

"Audacious!!"

Qiu Chuji's pure white face darkened like iron in an instant, his gaze fixed angrily on the figure on the platform, and he bellowed, "How can the Quanzhen Sect tolerate a blind man's insult! Today I will see how much you have progressed in three years!"

After speaking, he slightly gathered strength in his right hand, broke free from senior brother Ma Yu's pull, flicked his robe sleeve, and leapt onto the stage. Executing the Golden Goose Technique, his figure rose three feet into the air, sprinted thirty‑seven steps in mid‑air, and in just two breaths, landed back on the platform.

"What lightness!"

Someone behind him couldn't help but praise.

It must be said, aside from Huang Yaoshi and Zhou Botong's rapid, unpredictable steps, the Golden Goose Technique displayed by Qiu Chuji was the most dazzling to those present.

Han Xiao Ying saw this, withdrew her gaze from the melee, and fixed her eyes on the platform.

The next moment, she stepped forward; as if about to take flight, a white silhouette darted like a soaring swan, fleeting as a deity, like light clouds obscuring the sun, drifting like wind‑borne snow.

In an instant, the white silhouette already held a treasured sword like a celestial crane.

Such ethereal, god‑like movement was already swift and beautiful; with a beauty performing it, it truly resembled a celestial shadow, and the onlookers, stunned, all inhaled sharply.

"Hold your hand!"

Ma Yu narrowed his eyes, roared, stood quickly, and with a respectful bow to Niu Dingtian said, "Miss Han's martial arts are no longer what they were; how can a 4‑against‑1 be fair? I ask you, Master Niu, to allow the Quanzhen Sect to send two more fighters!"

As soon as those words were spoken, the hall filled with surprised looks, followed by a chorus of hisses.

Niu Dingtian's expression darkened slightly, he turned his head, his sharp, gleaming eyes fixed on Ma Yu, and said coldly, "Each of them harbors a life‑or‑death grudge, what does it have to do with others? Does your Quanzhen Sect truly intend to treat the original pact as a joke?"

A flash of anger crossed Ma Yu's face; he restrained the junior brothers and sisters about to act, gritted his teeth, and insisted, "The Seven Disciples of Quanzhen are bound like a tree; if one is in trouble, how can the other six abandon him?"

"If that cannot be done, the Quanzhen Sect will concede defeat in this bout; whatever compensation Brother Ke desires, I will try to fulfill, so please, Master Niu, grant it!"

Ma Yu realized that uttering those words would tarnish the Quanzhen Sect's reputation, but having seen Han Xiao Ying's fleeting figure, he instantly perceived that her steps were far more subtle than the three‑woman combined attack witnessed two nights ago.

If one said that was merely pure speed, right now it's basically impossible to find a trace. This girl only needs to engage in guerrilla tactics on the side, his junior brother wouldn't be able to withstand more than a hundred moves under the four-person combined attack.

This isn't even a comparison of internal strength! To protect his junior brother's life, Ma Yu can only gamble, betting that Niu Dingtian, constrained by the sect's founding day, won't personally strike in front of the crowd.

After his maternal uncle had his fun, Huang Yaoshi's anger subsided; he believed that, given the Eastern Heretic's arrogance, he would certainly not stoop to bullying the few with many or the big with the small.

Niu Dingtian almost burst out laughing from anger.

"I've already set the rules for you all, you ox-nosed Taoist—do you think you can play the rogue with me?" He took a breath, glanced askance at Ma Yu, his face expressionless, and said: "As sect leader, I once swore to take Qiu Chuji's head with my own hands. Not acting now is merely maintaining my dignity; if you, Sect Leader Ma, still can't tell what's important, why not all of you come at once and first spar with me?"

Had it not been for Wang Chongyang, that innate master lurking in the dark, he feared that striking outright would make too many enemies; he really just wanted to smash over with a single palm.

He's always been the one to play the rogue with others; how could he tolerate someone else playing the rogue in front of him?

Ma Yu's face froze; he was about to speak when Ke Zhen'e on the high platform could no longer hold back, shouting angrily: "How could I have ever drunk with you Quanzhen Sect's gutless lot? I, Ke, am truly blind!"

"Don't wait any longer! Attack!"

That last remark was aimed at Zhu Cong and Han Baoju; after saying it, he swept his iron staff toward Qiu Chuji first.

"Ding~"

Hearing the insults, Qiu Chuji's eyes grew colder; he drew his sword and slashed out, sparks flying instantly, shaking Ke Zhen'e's iron staff so hard it almost slipped from his grasp.

Han Baoju showed no hesitation, whipping his golden dragon whip out with a whoosh, aiming for Qiu Chuji's neck. Seeing the situation, Zhu Cong attacked with an iron fan to the waist and abdomen with one hand, and used the Separating Sinews and Misplacing Bones hand with the other against the lower body.

Han Xiao Ying's bright, beautiful eyes sparkled; though her right hand had gripped the sword hilt, the blade remained sheathed, merely gathering strength, standing ready at the side.

This move was done at Niu Dingtian's behest.

Precisely for this reason, Qiu Chuji in the arena kept only fifty percent of his strength in reserve, constantly guarding against attacks from this side, leaving him feeling extremely stifled.

"Overflowing Dragon Has Regret!!"

"Toad Whirlwind Kick!"

"Die!"

"Bang!!"

Ouyang Feng and Hong Qigong suddenly unleashed their grand moves, once again stirring up a tremendous commotion; Ma Yu started in shock, gritted his teeth, and gave a glance to his junior brothers Wang Chu yi and Tan Chu duan.

The two exchanged a glance, ignored Niu Dingtian on the viewing platform, and simultaneously unleashed the Golden Goose Technique, leaping onto the high platform.

Niu Dingtian gave a cold chuckle but did not stop him; he turned his head and jerked his chin at his newly appointed guardian Su Lushe, and the old man instantly understood.

"Hahaha, I've long heard of the renown of the Quanzhen Seven Masters; I, too, have come to seek instruction!"

A hearty laugh suddenly rang out across the square; Wang Chu yi and Tan Chu duan had just dashed halfway when Su Lushe stepped straight in front of them, blocking their path.

The old man chuckled as he looked at the two juniors before him; though he said he wanted to receive instruction, he merely barred their way and did not take the initiative to attack.

Considering he was once a Dharma King of the Manichaean Sect, he certainly cared about his reputation; but if the juniors made the first move, he would not hold back.

Ma Yu saw the situation and his face changed; he fixed his gaze on Niu Dingtian, but that man was merely watching with interest the fight between the Western Poison and the Northern Beggar, not even glancing at him again. (End of chapter)