Chapter 77

In this exchange, the reason Chen Xuanfeng was immediately at a disadvantage, passive at every turn, and utterly unable to counterattack was partly because he was completely unaccustomed to Wu Chengyu's martial arts, but the main reason was still the advantages created by the benefits and body tempering technique Wu Chengyu obtained from the bamboo slips.

Being able to return the Empty Palm Strike force exactly as received is, of course, the marvelous application of Shifting Stars and Changing Constellations, but the Murong version of Shifting Stars and Changing Constellations actually doesn't have that much power.

According to Grandmaster Teacher Ma of the Hunyuan Taiji School's theory, martial arts similar to Shifting Stars and Changing Constellations, Transplanting Flowers and Grafting Jade, the Great Cosmic Shift, or Taiji Fist can all be analyzed and summarized using the concepts of Receive, Neutralize, and Release.

Transplanting Flowers and Grafting Jade excels in the aspect of "Receive"; Wu Chengyu speculates that Transplanting Flowers and Grafting Jade combines with the Bright Jade Skill, using a protective force field to redirect incoming force.

The Great Cosmic Shift emphasizes "Neutralize", stimulating one's own potential; whether it is one's own inner force or incoming external force, both can be led and shifted, changing unpredictably. When exchanging moves with someone, even if the opponent has no flaw, it can create a flaw.

Then there is Taiji Fist's "Four ounces deflect a thousand catties", which has unique aspects in both "Receive" and "Release"; the force does not need to enter the body, relying entirely on the clever application of the fist technique.

As for the Murong Family's Shifting Stars and Changing Constellations, after Wu Chengyu carefully studied it, he discovered that it dabbles in Receive, Neutralize, and Release; apart from the final "Release" which is still quite exquisite, the other two aspects both have defects. But if you cannot receive and cannot neutralize, then naturally you cannot release.

First is "Receive"; Shifting Stars and Changing Constellations is like an incomplete mathematical formula, and using this formula still requires a large amount of verification. So the Murong Family must first understand, even master, the martial arts of the hundred schools, in order to use this formula to receive external attacks.

But this inevitably consumes a massive amount of time and energy; back then Murong Fu suffered a loss precisely on this point.

Then is "Neutralize"; when Murong Fu encountered people with martial arts lower than his own, Shifting Stars and Changing Constellations was invincible, but when encountering those of comparable level or higher than him, Shifting Stars and Changing Constellations could neither receive nor neutralize, fundamentally unable to achieve "using the opponent's way to return to the opponent's body", and could only become a chicken rib — useless to eat, a pity to discard.

And the All-Nature Protection Way cleverly utilizes the body's hidden meridians; in the aspects of Receive and Neutralize it is extremely profound. Under the bamboo slips' guidance, over this past year Wu Chengyu has finally managed to preliminarily fuse the All-Nature Protection Way and Shifting Stars and Changing Constellations together; it's just a pity that right now it has only reached minor accomplishment.

At this moment, for him to launch a surprise attack against Chen Xuanfeng, whose skill was not that much higher than his own, was no problem. But even so, against Chen Xuanfeng's consecutive Empty Palm Strikes just now, Wu Chengyu had a few palms where he could only redirect the direction, unable to return them exactly as received.

Furthermore, at his current level, if he encounters a master whose skill far surpasses his own, this current degree of Shifting Stars and Changing Constellations still cannot receive the attack. This technique, after the All-Nature modification, is profound and mysterious; wanting to cultivate it to Great Accomplishment remains a long and arduous road.

Apart from Shifting Stars and Changing Constellations, the fact that he just now clung to Chen Xuanfeng's back like a ghost possession, and instantly shifted positions as if using a division technique, was also thanks to the Cat Step.

Chen Xuanfeng's claw struck his chest yet he managed to slide away from the opponent's attack force — that relied on the Eel Skill.

And Chen Xuanfeng's full-force collision being caught by Wu Chengyu with a single hand — that kind of physical strength naturally comes from the daily cultivation of the Ox-Horse Stance.

The current Wu Chengyu can only say one phrase: "True fragrance" — however much he disdained these martial arts' names back then, that is how delighted he is now.

All of these come from the bamboo slips' bestowal or guidance; the only thing unrelated to the bamboo slips is that final move where he dislocated Chen Xuanfeng's shoulder, which comes from the Murong Family's Bao Clan's unique skill, the Bone-Dislocating Seizing Hand.

This hand technique is both exquisite and fierce, excelling at close-range rushing attacks; once the seizing hand grabs any part of the body, it can instantly forcibly dislocate the joint there. Among all the Murong Family's fist and foot techniques, the one Wu Chengyu likes the most is this one, rather than the Interlocking Finger which is equally famous as Shifting Stars and Changing Constellations.

The Bone-Dislocating Seizing Hand was Bao Butong's unique skill back then; it's just a pity that his most eye-catching feature was that stinking mouth of his, which instead caused people to overlook his martial arts as one of the Murong Four Generals. But thinking carefully, with a mouth that foul still being able to live a long time, this seizing hand must have some substance to it.

Wu Chengyu also wanted to specifically use this set of seizing hand to deal with the Black Wind Twin Demons' Nine Yin White Bone Claw; after the exchange just now, the Bone-Dislocating Seizing Hand leads one to zero.

Just when Wu Chengyu was feeling slightly smug, Chen Xuanfeng had already rushed to the foot of Xiao Lingshan and was rapidly ascending the mountain along the mountain path.

And at this moment, at the foot of the mountain, many people had already been lying in ambush; the leader was precisely Lu Chengfeng.

At this time they all held their breath and focused, concealing their traces, until they saw Chen Xuanfeng swiftly enter the mountain, only then did they all walk out from their hiding places one after another.

Lu Chengfeng's legs were disabled; at this moment two strong men were carrying him in a small sedan chair.

"Villa Master Lu, that evil thief looks injured; right now he's definitely going to find that evil old woman. Now we just await your command."

"Brother Gan, your sable is truly that miraculous?"

"Villa Master Lu, rest assured. My sable has already memorized that evil thief's scent; as long as he is in the mountains, he absolutely cannot escape my sable's tracking."

"Good, fellow heroes, brave men. These Black Wind Twin Demons specialize in using living people to cultivate; they are cruel to the extreme. Our Jiangnan commoners have suffered them for long. Today let us act on behalf of heaven, and help the commoners eliminate these two evil thieves.

The evil thieves' martial arts are high; you all need not concern yourselves with any jianghu morality later. We will cooperate with full strength, coordinating with each other.

Especially since their lightness skill is extraordinary, the few brothers skilled in hidden weapons, later guard the outer perimeter. Once the two evil thieves attempt to break out, together use dark iron caltrops to greet them. If you can poison them, poison them; absolutely do not be soft-hearted."

Everyone assented in low voices, led by that Gan-surnamed man, following his purple-gold sable tracking all the way up.

And at this moment, Wu Chengyu, bringing Lu Zhiyi and Niu Dajie and the others, also arrived in time, following at the rear of the group.

The story divides into two threads. Chen Xuanfeng, his right shoulder dislocated and half his body covered in blood, exerting all his strength, in the short span of three incense sticks' time ran to a concealed small valley at the mountainside of Xiao Lingshan.

He had just stepped inside when he heard a low shout: "Who?"

"Thief woman, it's me."

"Thief man, you've finally returned. No, you have a blood smell on you; you're injured. Who dares to have injured you?"

"It was a masked man. His skill isn't high, but his methods are extremely strange; I had almost no power to fight back.

Now is not the time to speak of this. People have already found Lingshan Town; the number is absolutely not small. This place is not suitable to stay long. Pack up and we'll leave from the rear mountain."

Just as the two were packing up preparing to leave immediately, a melodious xiao sound suddenly came from outside the valley. The xiao sound rose and fell continuously like sea waves, faintly carrying a kind of proud and aloof character, transcending the world and standing alone, unwilling to be the same as others.

The xiao sound filled the entire valley, especially in the deep night; the xio sound twisted and turned a thousand times, captivating.

But Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng, who had just heard the xiao sound, turned pale with fright. Chen Xuanfeng's hand trembled involuntarily; Mei Chaofeng even plopped down sitting on the ground.

"It's the Bihai Chaosheng Melody. Could it be that the Old Master has finally come out of the island to find us?" Mei Chaofeng's voice already carried a sobbing tone at this moment.

Chen Xuanfeng could calm down somewhat. He listened carefully, then suddenly shook with rage: "It's not the Old Master. It's Old Fourth Lu, Lu Chengfeng. Among the Peach Blossom Island disciples, only he studied music. This fellow learns everything from the Old Master, yet learns nothing to resemblance; forever only capable of Dongshi imitating a frown."

The Peach Blossom Island disciples were already incomparably familiar with Huang Yaoshi's xiao sound. Just now the two of them were merely overly frightened; listening for a moment they could naturally distinguish the difference. Just as Chen Xuanfeng said, Lu Chengfeng can forever never blow out Huang Yaoshi's charm.

"Old Fourth Lu, Lu Chengfeng. So it's you coming to find trouble for the two of us."

(Chapter End)