Chapter 855: The Jia Family — Not Just One Jia Rong

On the extremely special Kunwu Stone, there are also some strange patterns.

This solid stone, a bit larger than a thumb, also gained a certain effect of breaking through protective true qi.

Zhou Tong stood like a mountain in the middle, Zhang Qing, as the sole main attacker, gripped this Kunwu Stone, continually expanding the advantage.

Zhang Qing didn't rush to act; his body tilted slightly, his gaze 'wove' past Zhou Tong and fixed on that Sun Dawang.

Sun Wukong grinned at Zhang Qing, taunting: "Nothing left?"

Zhang Qing withdrew his gaze, raised his hand; the Kunwu Stone in his hand was not launched, merely a feint, yet not a false attack.

A small stone hidden in his hand shot out, aiming for Sun Wukong's eyes.

Just as he fixed his gaze on Sun Wukong and placed his attention on that small stone, the true killing move was unleashed.

From the earlier probing, Zhang Qing already understood that this Sun Dawang possessed a hard‑qi cultivation, protective true qi, and extremely strong defense.

But even the strongest defense has weak points—eyes, the lower yin, etc. —which are relatively speaking, vital spots.

The reason we say 'relative' is because the protective true qi is vast and can form an intangible guard.

With the ability of a Master or Grand Master, standing there, even if ordinary qi‑practitioners hacked wildly, they could not break through those spots.

But Zhang Qing is no ordinary qi‑practitioner; his 'Featherless Arrow' can transcend first‑ and second‑tier, truly wounding a Master.

Add this tiny Kunwu Stone, and it can kill a Master!

As for a Grand Master, it's hard to say, but it should be able to wound them too.

The small stone struck Sun Wukong's eyes, shattering into dust that fell down.

Zhang Qing, on the verge of acting, widened his eyes—not his eyelids, but his eyes! The opponent actually blocked his Featherless Arrow with his eyes (plus protective true qi).

Not a hair harmed!

Zhang Qing suddenly felt his hand go weak.

In the next breath, he gritted his teeth, pulled his hands back, brushed past his body, and flung them outward.

A multitude of angular, spiked stone shards rained down like Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers, covering the sky and earth as they assailed Sun Wukong.

Many even passed through Zhou Tong's somewhat loose clothing, leaving tiny transparent holes.

These stone projectiles struck Sun Wukong's body, turning into puffs of dispersing powder.

Some even gave the sensation of raising dust.

He……tui

Sun Wukong suddenly opened his mouth and spat.

The Kunwu Stone mixed in among them was shattered by his spit, instantly breaking into pieces, utterly useless.

Zhang Qing's face fell; his 'Fatal Strike' hidden among those projectiles was aimed at Sun Dawang's lower yin, but was directly spat to pieces mid‑flight.

The gap between them was truly too great to be bridged.

"You little sneak, quite wicked." Sun Wukong said.

If the position weren't slightly off, he wouldn't bother spitting a mouthful.

Speaking, he opened his mouth and exhaled; this time it was just a plain breath, yet the exhaled air was not 'simple'.

A black wind swept in, instantly wrapping Zhang Qing, hurling him onto the outer spectator seats, sinking into the stone steps, and he fainted completely.

Zhuge Liang looked at Guan Yu: "This strength……"

Guan Yu nodded: "It has already surpassed the Grand Master realm." His tone was utterly certain.

Zhou Yu, a little farther away, said: "I've heard that the 'Inverting Mountains' beneath the Lord Mayor's Mansion were supposedly moved there by someone levitating it one day, everyone saying it was the work of the Mysterious Venerable Jia Rong, but now it seems not necessarily so."

Lü Bu stood up, then sat down again, rubbed his bald head, and said nothing.

Tang Luo paid no heed to the varied reactions of the crowd, played chess by himself, had Jia Yingchun come behind Sun Wukong, and imitating the gourd, launched a Forward Cannon.

Zhu Wu let out a long breath, choosing not to guard Zhou Tong.

Let Wu Song (the chariot) step forward.

"Let's shoot an arrow." Tang Luo smiled at Jia Yingchun.

Jia Yingchun nodded, taking down the composite bow from his back.

"Chancellor, this is it—see if you can……" Beside Zhuge Liang, the old general Huang Zhong rubbed his hands, speaking with a hint of flattery.

Zhuge Liang gave a helpless wry smile: "Old Master Huang, just glancing at it from afar, I couldn't possibly replicate it for you."

After that day, Huang Zhong could not forget Jia Yingchun's bow.

His once‑beloved bow was set aside, no longer maintained as before, turning him into a fickle‑new‑lover‑type scoundrel.

When idle, he kept asking Zhuge Liang to describe the special bow he fancied.

He hoped the Chancellor would help him forge one.

"Isn't this good enough?" Huang Zhong was very disappointed.

Zhuge Liang simply nodded: no hope, no disappointment.

He thought that bow couldn't be copied just by glancing at it and fiddling a bit; even if made, it would likely have form but no spirit, and probably fall short of Huang Zhong's current bow.

"If it could be mass‑produced……" Zhuge Liang's thoughts shifted, then he suddenly stopped, forcing a bitter smile and shaking his head.

The significance of mass production has dwindled.

At least for their generation, improvements in mass‑produced armor and weapon quality, the arms race, have basically lost their meaning.

To contend for the world, in the long stretch ahead, they would no longer rely on strong troops and sturdy horses.

On the chessboard, Jia Yingchun took out an arrow that looked somewhat special, nocked it on the bow, drew it slowly, and the arrow pointed straight at—none other than Zhou Tong!

What, did Sun Wukong in the middle disappear?

No, Sun Wukong is fine; he sat down, clearing space.

Exactly, it was by sitting down that he cleared enough space.

Otherwise, his hair and the big flag would block the view.

Drawing the bow, releasing the string—Jia Yingchun did not try any of Zhang Qing's fancy probing tricks; having pulled the bow to its limit, she simply shot an arrow.

With a harsh whistle, the arrow instantly arrived before Zhou Dong.

Zhou Dong's hands, which had been behind his back, instantly moved forward to make a motion resembling an embracing-ball Taiji pose.

The arrow halted between his hands, pausing for a breath, then Zhou Dong violently pulled his hands outward.

The feathered arrow shattered completely, appearing just as ineffective.

Zhou Dong's previously slightly furrowed brow deepened now; he looked at his right palm, where a wound appeared and blood slowly seeped out.

That arrow had already wounded him!

Indeed, this was precisely because he stood still and took Jia Yingchun's arrow head‑on; if he had dodged, the arrow couldn't even have hurt a single hair on Zhou Dong.

But the "Sun Dawang" standing before him just moments ago also hadn't moved.

Jia Yingchun's arrow and Zhang Qing's strike with the Kunwu stone were evenly matched.

Yet the outcome was that one person spat saliva to shatter it, while the other gained a wound on his palm.

The superiority was instantly decided!

Zhou Dong has probably also surpassed the Grand Master realm, …" Guan Yu stroked his beard, his tone tinged with regret.

Suddenly I somewhat understood why Zhou Yu no longer looked askance at Zhuge Liang.

Since Zhou Yu was born, why must Zhuge Liang also be born?

Zhou Dong had long been famous, but was suppressed by the later‑rising Lü Bu, gradually fading into obscurity.

Probably during those years of disappearance he devoted himself to studying martial arts, finally achieving a breakthrough.

Now his strength is not inferior to Lü Bu's in the slightest, yet at present Lü Bu is no longer the pinnacle of martial arts in the world.

Above him lies the position occupied by Jia Rong, which everyone can only look up to and still cannot see.

Another Sun Dawang has appeared, far above the Grand Master level.

Zhou Dong's feelings can easily be imagined.

After shattering the feathered arrow, Zhou Dong did not counterattack; he merely waved his hand.

Jia Yingchun gave a slight bow, put away her composite bow, and cleanly left the chessboard.

Each side lost one cannon; on the surface the forces seem evenly matched, but everyone knows that in this chess game the Liangshan remnants are sure to lose.

Unless they are able to come before that furnace and make it move.

Jia Rong intends to become the World Arbiter, and must therefore follow through on her words.

Once the furnace is moved, the Liangshan remnants will win this chess game.

Wait… what will happen after winning the chess game?

Everyone suddenly realized that before the game began, neither side had stipulated any consequences of victory or defeat.

Probably one side thinks it cannot possibly lose, while the other thinks only of revenge—just tear a piece of flesh from the opponent and shatter their golden body.

Being the World Arbiter is not that easy.

One must become strong enough to reveal no weakness, to the point of making others despair.

Jia Rong has already drawn near, but the Number One City under Heaven still leaves the Jia family far behind.

What Jia Rong is doing now clearly tells others that even if she does not act, the Jia family remains overwhelmingly strong.

She is establishing an invincible posture for the Jia family.

No one knows how far these Jia family women can go.

Meanwhile Zhu Wu was preparing to continue mounting his chariot and horse, while Zhou Dong gave the chess piece free will, stepping forward on his own.

Zhu Wu said nothing, gestured that it was Tang Luo's turn, and tacitly accepted Zhou Dong's action.

Tang Luo simply continued deploying his forces at a leisurely pace, without forming a battle array, merely pulling out the chariots, horses, and cannons, about to engage.

After two steps, Zhou Dong walked toward Sun Wukong and threw a punch.

This punch was soundless, layered with heavy afterimages, as if hundreds of fists erupted simultaneously at that moment.

Sun Wukong smiled slightly and reached out to press against Zhou Dong's fist.

In an instant they exchanged dozens of moves, with Zhou Dong being completely suppressed by Sun Wukong.

Yet his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

After a hundred moves passed in an instant, Sun Wukong flicked his finger; Zhou Dong flew backward, crashing beside Zhang Qing, becoming a pair of ill‑fated brothers.

However, Zhou Dong did not lose consciousness; after struggling to his feet, he bowed his fists to Sun Wukong in thanks.

He was not thanking Sun Wukong for sparing his life, but for the recent bout of sparring that gave him further insight on the martial path.

A hundred exchanges with you equal ten years of training!

"Pin'er, go, eat that pawn!"

Zhou Dong retreated, and the wail‑like palm wind of the Death God Who Does Not Cry rang out as Lin Daiyu struck with her palm at the Divine Strider Guardian Dai Zong.

The palm wind's energy was ethereal and shifting, enveloping them.

Dai Zong's body suddenly blurred, his form shifting as he moved within the limited space to dodge Lin Daiyu's Flower‑Burying Palm.

Lin Daiyu flicked her abundant rear, using it as cover, swiftly changed her posture, and attacked when the enemy was unprepared.

Flower‑Burying Palm: Piercing Flowers, Skimming Leaves!

The two kept clashing; Dai Zong was suppressed by Lin Daiyu, who for a time could not seize this slippery fellow.

Without hesitation, Lin Daiyu lowered her palms, stood firm, and traced circles before her chest; her energy surged, as if endless blossoms were flying forth.

Dai Zong instantly found himself amidst a sky‑filling shower of flowers, unable to grasp its bounds.

A profusion of these "flying flowers" can disorient the opponent, even induce hallucinations; a powerful palm concealed within them achieves a one‑hit kill effect.

Blossoms fade, flowers fly, the heavens fill with petals!

The moment Dai Zong came to, his chest exploded with pain, caved inward, and Lin Daiyu's palm dealt him a heavy wound.

However, Lin Daiyu did not deliver a fatal blow to the heavily wounded Dai Zong, but instead looked toward the nearby Shi Jin.

It's your turn next.

Fighting spirit overflowing!

Shi Jin touched the staff on his back; it looks like there will be a fierce battle soon.

The Jia family — it's not just Jia Rong alone!