Chapter 988

"I don't fear Master Liaofan's ridicule — even Yunzhou Shaolin Wu Gong, this young lady has, by a fortunate twist of fate, learned a little of it as well."

"Wow! What's the background of this little girl? Bragging so big?"

"Right! She just finished giving pointers to Master Yeyu, and now she's here to lecture the Abbot of Yunzhou Shaolin?"

"Don't joke — Master Liaofan of Yunzhou Shaolin is the foremost of Yunzhou Shaolin's Three Divine Monks."

"Even if this little girl had learned martial arts from the womb, she wouldn't be qualified to lecture Master Liaofan, would she?"

"Then how do you explain that Master Yeyu's Wu Gong cultivation advanced after receiving her guidance?"

"Are you saying Master Yeyu can't compare with Master Liaofan?"

"That's not what I meant…"

"Then what do you mean…"

The moment Zhou Zhiruo spoke, the Wu Lin people nearby exploded into an uproar.

Master Yeyu had just admitted that, thanks to Zhou Zhiruo's guidance, her cultivation had advanced — and this had also been confirmed by Master Liaofan of Yunzhou Shaolin.

Who would have thought this delicate, lovely beauty would speak with such astonishing boldness.

Not only did she admit to having guided Master Yeyu, she even claimed to know Yunzhou Shaolin Wu Gong.

At this, Master Liaofan, too, felt a slight trace of surprise.

He never imagined that the Zhou Zhiruo before him could be so arrogant.

After a brief pause, Liaofan at once resumed the bearing of a Gao Seng, and said with a genial expression,

"Miss is quite formidable! But may I ask, of my Yunzhou Shaolin's Qishier Sect absolute arts, which one have you learned?"

The reason Yunzhou Shaolin has reigned supreme in the world lies precisely in these Qishier Sect absolute arts.

Each absolute art not only differs vastly in its moves, but also follows entirely different internal-energy routes.

There are the fierce and mighty divine arts — the Single Palm Shattering Two, the Demon-Subduing Palm, the Weituo Staff.

There are also the strange finger forces that wound without a trace — the Formless Robbery Finger, the Flower-Picking Finger, and the like.

Since the founding of Yunzhou Shaolin, no one has ever truly managed to master all Qishier Sect absolute arts.

But mastering even a few of them would absolutely earn one a place in the jianghu.

This is one of the secrets of Yunzhou Shaolin's enduring prosperity.

"Master will know once you try."

Zhou Zhiruo smiled faintly, and suddenly struck out with a palm.

This palm had no flourish whatsoever, and was launched without any warning.

The crowd was just feeling puzzled — what kind of Yunzhou Shaolin absolute art could this plain, unremarkable palm be?

While they were still wondering, they saw Liaofan's expression change drastically, and he blurted out,

"Single Palm Shattering Two? How could this be possible?"

The Single Palm Shattering Two is one of the rare palm-method divine arts among Yunzhou Shaolin's Qishier Sect absolute arts.

This palm method has one, and only one, move.

In that single move, an extremely powerful true-element offensive is condensed — a vicious attack that gathers all the true element in one's body into one strike.

Once unleashed, unless the opponent is a full realm higher, they will most likely lose if caught off guard.

It's just that this palm method is an untransmitted secret of Yunzhou Shaolin.

Why would this delicate young miss know this move?

Though greatly shaken, Liaofan had no choice but to receive this strike.

He was seen bringing his palms together before him, standing in place.

As his lips hummed, true element surged through his whole body, spreading out around him.

"Boom!"

Just as the crowd was still at a loss, Zhou Zhiruo's Single Palm Shattering Two palm-force had already arrived.

This terrifying palm-force struck about a foot in front of Liaofan, and could advance no further.

Dimly, a golden bell formed of true element was seen, inverted over Liaofan's body.

"Is this Yunzhou Shaolin's Jin Zhong Shield?"

"You call this the Jin Zhong Shield?"

"Right! Isn't the Jin Zhong Shield an external hard-skill?"

"Then if this isn't the Jin Zhong Shield, what is it?"

The Wu Lin onlookers who witnessed this Jianlezhe Sect divine art were even more struck dumb with astonishment.

Just as everyone was thinking Zhou Zhiruo's palm wouldn't gain any advantage—

Suddenly Zhou Zhiruo's palm-force shifted, transforming into raging flames that in an instant wrapped around and burned that entire golden bell formed of true element.

"Ah… what divine art is this?"

"How can it catch fire? Is this really the Single Palm Shattering Two? Is Yunzhou Shaolin this terrifying?"

The Wu Lin present cried out in shock once more at the sight.

Although there are many Wu Gong in the Wu Lin that can summon the powers of water, fire, wind, and thunder,

Zhou Zhiruo's palm clearly had no corresponding attribute at first — how did it acquire one later?

Is this really the Single Palm Shattering Two?

"Good! What a Nine Yang Art!"

Seeing this, Liaofan could not help but praise aloud.

He pressed his palms toward his heart, and a surge of thick true element erupted violently outward.

Like a gale, it blew out in one breath all the blazing flames surrounding him.

"Benefactor Zhou truly has astonishing talent. This poor monk is impressed, impressed."

After putting out the fire, Liaofan no longer wished to keep fighting Zhou Zhiruo.

"Master, your divine skill is matchless — it is Zhiruo who should be impressed."

Zhou Zhiruo clearly hadn't expected that her Nine Yang Skill combined with the strange move "One Palm, Two Scatter" would be broken through by Liaofan like this.

The Three Great Divine Monks of Yunzhou Shaolin truly lived up to their fame.

"So her name is Zhou Zhiruo? What a beautiful name!"

"Right, the name is beautiful, and the person is even more so."

"Zhou Zhiruo? What's her background?"

"I don't know her background, but from today onward, her fame in the Wu Lin will likely be unmatched."

Indeed, having earned such high praise from Master Yeyu and Yunzhou Shaolin's Master Liaofan, Zhou Zhiruo would rise to sudden fame from this day forth.

After a brief exchange of blows, Liaofan no longer entangled himself with Zhou Zhiruo.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Master Yeyu and Zhou Zhiruo, he made an excuse about needing to hold the Tudao Assembly and withdrew.

Elsewhere, hidden among the crowd, Cao Zhengchun and the Eastern Depot experts began discussing once more.

"Nine Yang Skill, One Palm Two Scatter Palm — just how many divine skills does this Zhou Zhiruo know!"

"To be able to trade blows with Liaofan to this extent, this must really be Zhou Zhiruo! Factory Chief, shall we make our move?"

Cao Zhengchun listened to the suggestions at his ear, his brow furrowing even tighter.

"Tell me, why has this Zhou Zhiruo suddenly come to Mount Shaoshi?"

"Huh?"

Hearing this, the Eastern Depot experts were momentarily at a loss for words.

"And why did she suddenly strike at Liaofan in public? Was it to make a name for herself?"

Cao Zhengchun didn't wait for his subordinates to answer before throwing out his next question.

"Hmm? Supervisor, you suspect this Zhou Zhiruo is an impostor?"

Luo Jusheng, worthy of being Cao Zhengchun's trusted confidant, had finally guessed his master's thoughts.

"Exactly!"

Cao Zhengchun nodded and said,

"Keep watching her! This Zhou Zhiruo is very suspicious.

Also, expand surveillance to cover every martial artist present. This household servant has a feeling that even if the Zhou Zhiruo before us is fake, the real Zhou Zhiruo must have already arrived."

"Yes, sir."

The Eastern Depot experts once more accepted the order.