Chapter 298: Sleeve-Hidden Universe, No Match for the Energy-Absorbing Great Art

The world today is in an unprecedented golden age of the martial arts world; martial arts schools stand in great numbers, and experts are as numerous as clouds, which has also had a tremendous influence on the struggle for supremacy over the world.

The various rebel kings who raised armies against the Sui, the powerful hegemons who carved out their own territories... almost everyone possesses extraordinary martial arts, otherwise, men of ambition would not dare to casually pledge their allegiance.

There is no lack of experts skilled in assassination like the "Shadow Assassin" Yang Xuyan in this world; if one does not have superior martial arts to rely on, one would not even know how one died.

Du Fuwei is naturally no exception.

His internal and external martial arts have both reached the first-rate, and his "Sleeve-Hidden Universe" is even more unfathomable, ranking among the top of the list of strange skills and absolute arts. Coupled with the fact that this underworld hegemon has rich combat experience, even when facing figures of the level of the Three Great Grandmasters, he can calmly escape.

Yet at this moment, as Du Fuwei looked at the composed Yu Liancheng before him, he felt an unprecedented sense of crisis.

He secretly stirred his vigorous Innate True Qi, his large hands appearing and disappearing within his sleeves. Although he had already regarded the other party as a formidable enemy rarely seen in his life, he said in a calm and indifferent tone: "Oh? And what do you intend to do?"

"The Heavenly Dao is impartial. Xiang Gui and his son Xiang Yushan traffic in human beings; a hundred deaths would not be enough to atone for their crimes. Shen Luoyan is the military advisor of the Wagang Fortress, and the Wagang Fortress has a decent reputation. Furthermore, I want her to announce my methods to the people of the world, so I have severely wounded her; her life or death is left to fate."

Yu Liancheng said indifferently: "As for old Du, your Jianghuai Army is called a righteous army, yet its discipline is corrupt; you rape and plunder, committing every evil, and to this day you are notorious. The number of common people who have been persecuted is countless. Today, let me act on behalf of Heaven."

"Heh." Du Fuwei sneered: "So what if I am notorious? History is left for others to judge the merits and demerits; in the end, it is nothing more than the success or failure of a king or a bandit. If I, old Du, can one day become the peerless hegemon who dominates this vast land, who would dare to speak ill of the Jianghuai Army? Who would dare to speak ill of me, old Du?"

Yu Liancheng shook his head and sighed: "Wherever the Jianghuai Army passes, the common people flee in panic, and you have made countless enemies. Among the people of insight in the world, who would dare to pledge allegiance to you, Du Fuwei? Your desire to obtain this world is no different from a fool's dream."

Du Fuwei spread his palms and suddenly clenched his five fingers, a sense of heroic spirit emanating from his whole body: "Regardless of my reputation, I, old Du, started from nothing, and the Jianghuai Army is now in its prime, being one of the strongest armies among the righteous forces. In the future, it is not impossible for us to vie for the throne."

Yu Liancheng said: "That is only because the Sui has already lost the hearts of the people, and the Jianghuai Army rose in rebellion earlier than others. Furthermore, the Buddhist and Daoist sects still intend to play the game of 'Substitute Heaven to Select the Emperor', and they will never let you, the notorious General Manager Du, get your wish."

Du Fuwei's tone turned grim, his murderous intent fully revealed: "Enough nonsense. Let me, Du Fuwei, come and learn your brilliant techniques. Whether I, old Du, die at your hands, or you die at mine, it is nothing more than whose fist is bigger and whose martial arts are higher; it has nothing to do with any damn reputation."

In reality, Du Fuwei also understood the shortcomings of the Jianghuai Army.

But he himself started as a gang leader, and the chronic illnesses of the Jianghuai Army had long since penetrated to the bone marrow. Even if he wanted to scrape the bone to heal the wound, the other righteous armies, and even his second-in-command Fu Gongshi, would never agree.

Xu Ziling saw the tense atmosphere between the two and hurriedly leaned into Kou Zhong's ear: "Young Master Kou, when the Black Young Master and Old Dad fight later, let's slip away quietly. This is our last chance."

Kou Zhong shook his head and said excitedly: "Young Master Ling, you are greatly mistaken. Old Dad and this Black Young Master are the two most powerful experts we have ever seen; even in the whole world, there are not many who can surpass them. The battle between these two will surely be magnificent. If we miss it, wouldn't we regret it for the rest of our lives?"

Xu Ziling hesitated and said: "But..."

Kou Zhong poked him with his elbow and said: "Stop talking, they are about to fight. Watch carefully; it would be best if we could learn a move or two."

While the two were talking, Yu Liancheng had already made the first move. As his sleeves fluttered, he reached out and grabbed.

This grab seemed to tear open an invisible black hole; the surrounding light dimmed as if it were being sucked in, and with Du Fuwei's cultivation, he could not help but stumble forward involuntarily.

This strange feeling immediately filled Du Fuwei with great terror, and he exclaimed: "Heavenly Demon Great Art? Could this person be from the Demon Sect?"

He threw himself toward Yu Liancheng, but he did not sit and wait for death. He stretched out his arms, his hands hidden within his sleeves, appearing and disappearing, and struck out at the opponent with a boom, hiding all changes and supernatural abilities within his sleeves. It was elegant and graceful, making it difficult for others to fathom.

This seemingly light strike would only erupt with unimaginable exquisite techniques and power when it truly reached the target.

This was precisely Du Fuwei's world-renowned unique skill—Sleeve-Hidden Universe.

Of course, to put it bluntly, it was just hiding arm guards about a foot long inside his sleeves, but it could always achieve the effect of a surprise attack and had already killed countless enemies for Du Fuwei.

But just as the distance between the two was less than three feet, and the killing move of the Sleeve-Hidden Universe was just beginning to show, Yu Liancheng's palm shook. The black-hole-like suction force suddenly changed, turning into an outward "repulsive force."

Du Fuwei was currently resisting the suction force; this suction force not only wanted to pull him in but also wanted to suck away his True Qi and Qi and Blood from a distance, which was terrifying to the extreme. He could only bind his True Power and Qi and Blood into an iron plate to resist with all his might.

At the same time, he had to drive the "Sleeve-Hidden Universe" on the other side, ready to erupt with a heaven-shaking strike at any moment, using his mind for two purposes. How could he have anticipated this change? His whole body could not help but stumble backward, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Du Fuwei sat on the ground, instinctively standing up and remaining on high alert to prevent the opponent from attacking and beating a dog in the water.

But just at the moment he stood up, Yu Liancheng seemed to have already anticipated his reaction. He curled his five fingers, and the original "repulsive force" transformed back into "suction force."

Du Fuwei exclaimed and was thrown toward the opponent like grass in the wind, appearing even more disheveled than when he first encountered the "suction force."

However, old Du was, after all, a hegemon of the underworld who had roamed the world. At the critical moment of life and death, he suddenly let out a long shout that shook the sky. His sleeves fluttered, and he used the "Sleeve-Hidden Universe" once again, imprinting it onto Yu Liancheng's palm, which looked erratic but carried the force of ten thousand jun.

Bang!!

Du Fuwei's long sleeves suddenly shattered, scattering and flying like pieces of butterflies.

And a palm as crystalline as jade pressed firmly onto his chest without any pretense.

Du Fuwei spat out a stream of blood directly, his body flying backward like a rag doll. He smashed through a door panel, fell into the inner hall, and crashed heavily onto a thick gambling table.

That heavy gambling table was like paper; it only hindered him for a moment before it was smashed to pieces.

Amidst the flying wood chips, Du Fuwei smashed through four or five more gambling tables before finally stopping his retreat. His face was pale, and he slumped on the ground, no longer possessing his former heroic posture.

"You two brats... cough cough... come here." Du Fuwei coughed violently, and with every cough, blood spilled from the corners of his mouth. Anyone could see that his days were numbered.

"Old Dad." Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were shaken to the core and hurriedly ran over, carefully helping him up: "Are you alright?"

The two had very complicated feelings for Du Fuwei, who had been chasing them all this time; they felt respect, fear, and even a trace of filial affection.

Seeing this scene now, they could not help but be filled with mixed feelings and a sense of sorrow.

"Old Dad... my skills are inferior to others... I cannot blame anyone else if I die." Du Fuwei's voice was low, and his face grew increasingly dim: "Fortunately, I can still see you two brats before I die, so my Sleeve-Hidden Universe will not be lost. Listen well, you two brats are clever and smart; how much you can remember... depends on yourselves."

In the lightning-fast exchange just now, his sternum had been broken, and his heart meridians had been shattered; he was now relying entirely on a mouthful of mellow True Qi to support himself.

"Old Dad, we..."

"Shut up, listen to me." Du Fuwei snorted coldly, a sudden radiance appearing on his face as he reached the stage of a final burst of energy.

His lips opened and closed rapidly, telling the secrets of the "Sleeve-Hidden Universe" one by one. He spoke through it twice, asked Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling a few questions, and quietly stuffed a token onto Kou Zhong's body before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

And as this breath was exhaled, Du Fuwei's essence, energy, and spirit withered at a speed visible to the naked eye. He sighed: "You two brats, live well, and do not... lose the prestige of my Sleeve-Hidden Universe."

After speaking, his head drooped, and he had no more breath.

"Old Dad!" Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling knelt before Du Fuwei. This cry of "Old Dad" was sincere and filled with tragedy, and they were so sad they almost shed tears.

"Discussing grand plans and hegemony in laughter, it is not as good as a bout of drunkenness in life." Yu Liancheng picked up a wine pot and tilted his head to pour a few mouthfuls into his mouth: "Alright, you two brats, tell me the location of the 'Longevity Formula'."

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling quickly put away their sorrowful emotions and looked at each other, both seeing a trace of surprise in the other's eyes.

Everyone who came to find them, except for Yuwen Huaji, came for the Yang Gong Treasury. This was the first one who wanted to take the "Longevity Formula."

Kou Zhong said: "The 'Longevity Formula' is an ancient and rare book, but from ancient times to the present, no one has ever succeeded in cultivating it. Black Young Master, you have made the wrong plan; be careful of going into Qi deviation."

Xu Ziling said: "Furthermore, the 'Longevity Formula' is no longer in our hands; even if you want to find it, you won't be able to."

Yu Liancheng stood with his hands behind his back: "It seems you are determined to make me take action. With my methods, making you spill the truth is far too simple."

Kou Zhong hurriedly took two steps back: "Black Young Master, don't be agitated. Let's talk things over, but the 'Longevity Formula' is indeed not in our hands."

Xu Ziling also said: "Why don't you give us a few days, brother? We will definitely find the 'Longevity Formula' for you."

Yu Liancheng could not be bothered to answer, simply walking toward the two of them step by step.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged a glance, then suddenly lifted a gambling table nearby and smashed it toward Yu Liancheng with all their might. At the same time, they bolted toward the window.

However, before that gambling table could even touch Yu Liancheng, it was as if it had been struck by a bomb; it exploded instantly, kicking up a turbulent, surging airflow that blasted outward in all directions.

Struck by the turbulent airflow, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling immediately spat out blood and tumbled backward.

Yet before they could even fall to the ground, a strange suction force manifested before Yu Liancheng, pulling the two of them toward him until they stopped just two feet in front of him.

The two tried to struggle, but the air around their bodies compressed and solidified, leaving them unable to move a muscle.

These two were also decisive; they immediately intended to sever their own heart meridians using the cultivation method Fu Junchuo had taught them, but with a casual flick of Yu Liancheng's finger, their True Qi was scattered, making it impossible for them to muster any. They could only keep shouting, refusing to admit defeat.

"Copper Coin Yu, don't even think about getting the 'Longevity Formula'!"

"That's right, no matter what Copper Coin Yu does, it is impossible for us to hand the 'Longevity Formula' over to you."

These two fellows loved giving people nicknames, so the priceless, flawless jade became, in their mouths, worth only a single copper coin.

"I told you to open your mouths; if you can keep them shut, I would admire you." Yu Liancheng's eyes flashed with a captivating divine light as he said, "Tell me, exactly where did you hide the 'Longevity Formula'?"

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling knew that Yu Liancheng's eyes were terrifying, so they dared not meet that strange, divine gaze; as they spoke, they kept their eyes tightly shut and turned their heads to the side.

Yet upon hearing Yu Liancheng's voice, which was filled with infinite Demon-like power, they could not help but shift their heads and open their eyes, speaking of a location as if they were marionettes.

After they revealed the location, Yu Liancheng channeled the 'Great Art of Energy Absorption' to extract a wisp of True Qi from each of their meridians.

"Is this the True Qi of the 'Longevity Formula'?"

Yu Liancheng stood with his hands behind his back, closing his eyes to sense the two strands of True Qi that had appeared within his body.

These two strands of True Qi were extremely faint; compared to Yu Liancheng's own vast and pure True Qi, they were not even a drop in the ocean, yet each possessed a trace of a strange property.

One strand was of the utmost Yin, the other of the utmost Yang, yet both were Innate True Qi, capable of creating a marvelous resonance with the world when circulated. If cultivated to the extreme, they might even be able to draw upon the Yin and Yang forces of heaven and earth.

With a shift of Yu Liancheng's intent, these two strands of True Qi converged; instantly, the Yin and Yang blended, growing significantly stronger than before and becoming filled with a gentle, water-like power that seemed capable of soothing all wounds.

This was another function of the Longevity Formula's True Qi, which had miraculous effects in treating injuries. The reason Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling grew stronger the more they fought was not unrelated to the miraculous healing effects of the Longevity Formula.

"The Longevity Formula has seven diagrams in total. If the last two represent Yin and Yang, then do the first two represent the Five Elements? Or are they perhaps a more detailed exposition of the latter two?"

Yu Liancheng muttered to himself, set down the unconscious Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, and with a flicker of his figure, he vanished.

"Sultry Lady" Renmeimei, who had been terrified and had witnessed everything, remained standing there in a daze.

From the moment Yu Liancheng appeared until Rongrong left just now, no more than an hour had passed.

But the situation had already undergone a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering change, one that left people completely unable to believe it.

It was unknown how much time had passed when Renmeimei's legs suddenly went weak, and she collapsed to the ground, a foul, pungent odor suddenly wafting from between her legs.

Regardless of anything else, she had managed to survive.

Although it was only because Yu Liancheng held her in contempt and could not be bothered to pay her any mind.