Chapter 21 021[VIP]

Chu Liuxiang rubbed his nose. "Madam Shi, are you used to being distracted when talking to people?"

Shi Qingruo returned to her senses and replied, "If the person before me were my opponent, even if they accidentally reminded me of something, I wouldn't have dared to lose focus. But since it's Chu Xiangshuai, I think you won't mind this little impoliteness, right?"

Chu Liuxiang smiled and said, "If I say I don't mind, does this presumptuous visit make us even?"

Shi Qingruo remained noncommittal. "If it doesn't make Chu Xiangshuai doubt my own charm, then of course it's fine."

Chu Liuxiang was startled at this, then his face brightened and he truly smiled.

This wife of the Saint Lord of the Misty Heaven Alliance was truly a truly wonderful person.

However, in just a few words, she offered both unexpected praise and the realization that she had committed more than just the mistake of trespassing on this precious land.

No wonder the Misty Heaven Alliance was such a mixed bag, with many factions lurking within, yet each still obeyed her orders.

That wasn't something that could be accomplished solely by relying on Saint Lord Guan Qi's martial arts.

Nor was it because of her looks.

Even Chu Liuxiang, who was used to seeing beautiful women, couldn't avoid the vulgarity of a commoner. When Shi Qingruo took the peach blossom in front of her and sniffed it, she felt that the dazzling peach blossoms before her were truly dazzlingly beautiful.

Even the most flourishing peach blossoms would eventually seem overshadowed.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart. "Come to think of it, I've never met Madam Shi before. How could you call out my name?"

Shi Qingruo casually inserted the peach branch into a white porcelain vase beside her, turned around and sat down on the couch by the window. Seeing that Chu Liuxiang had also calmly taken her seat, she replied, "The Misty Heaven Alliance is not a place that anyone should be allowed to enter at will. Unfortunately, before I officially became the Saint Lord's wife, Not many people are willing to listen to what I say. It was only during this month that I strengthened my defenses, fearing that someone would come to kill me with a knife."

She lowered her eyes, looking innocent and weak. "Chu Xiangshuai also knows that although I know some martial arts, I am not very strong. I only know some hidden weapon techniques. If someone wants to assassinate me, I can only call for help."

Chu Liuxiang coughed lightly: "After what happened in Liufenbantang, the credibility of this statement is greatly reduced."

Shi Qingruo, however, did not feel uncomfortable lying at all: "In short, although the current Misty Heaven Alliance is not a solid block, there are not many people who can come to me quietly. Apart from the peerless masters like Brother Qi, who are famous for their martial arts skills, I think there are only two others."

"One is Sikong Zhaixing, and the other is you, Chu Xiangshuai."

Chu Liuxiang understood. "But Sikong Zhaixing has long been driven by Madam Shi, even going so far as to make a trip to the Six Gates for you. So, I'm the only one left."

Shi Qingruo nodded, noticing Chu Liuxiang's expression suddenly become serious.

"Even Madam Shi feels that if someone breaks into a place as difficult to enter, or even if something important is lost, I, Chu Liuxiang, would be the first person to come to mind. It's no wonder others would think the same."

"Others?" Shi Qingruo asked curiously.

Chu Liuxiang didn't seem to be saying this casually. His sudden appearance in the Misty Heaven Alliance, in front of Shi Qingruo, couldn't be just a passing visit.

If that was the reason, he would have come earlier.

Chu Liuxiang asked, "Master, have you heard of the Divine Water Palace?"

Shi Qingruo replied, "Of course I have. Before I came to Bianjing, I stayed in the Dongting area. The Divine Water Palace is located further south. In the minds of ordinary people in that area, it is no different from the Fairy Palace."

Chu Liuxiang breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he could save a lot of trouble: "Then Master, have you heard of the rules of the Divine Water Palace and its secret treasure, the Tianyi Divine Water."

"Of course,"

Chu Liuxiang said, "that's why I came to the Mi Tian League."

He had no intention of keeping anyone in suspense and went on to explain: "A month ago, the Tianyi Divine Water from the Divine Water Palace was used on several martial arts masters, poisoning them and then dumping their bodies at sea. I thought it was the work of the Divine Water Palace, but at the same time, I met a disciple of the Divine Water Palace who shouted at me to kill him. He said that I had stolen the Tianyi Divine Water and that I was the one who used it on those martial artists." "

But as far as I know, Marshal Xiang, known as the "Step on the Moon, Leave the Fragrance" martial artist, possesses supreme martial arts skills, yet I've never heard of such a person in the martial arts world. Someone was killed by you," Shi Qingruo said seriously, frowning.

He didn't kill.

Chu Liuxiang's smile grew a little warmer. "But rumors are just rumors. Few people in the martial arts world have actually seen me in action."

The implication was that this statement wouldn't convince anyone, let alone the reclusive Shenshui Palace inhabitants.

"According to Gong Nanyue, a disciple of the Shenshui Palace, I have been suspected by the Shenshui Palace because - the disciple who stole the Tianyi Divine Water was found to be pregnant after his death. And unfortunately," he touched his nose awkwardly, "I, Chu Liuxiang, really have a reputation as a playboy in the martial arts world."

Shi Qingruo frowned slightly when he heard this, "So, you naturally became the person they suspect number one."

Chu Liuxiang felt even more helpless: "Fortunately, that Miss Gong was reasonable. Seeing that she could not beat me, she agreed to my request and gave me two months to find the real culprit who stole the Tianyi Divine Water and murdered so many masters."

"Then what does this have to do with the Mi Tian League?" Shi Qingruo asked.

In the previous few rounds she participated in, she seldom interacted with Chu Liuxiang, and had not personally participated in the case of Shenshui Palace and Tianyi Shenshui. She only knew the identity of the culprit behind the scenes, and also knew that the matter was successfully resolved by Chu Liuxiang in the end. However, she did not expect that something unexpected had happened that led Chu Liuxiang to find someone to find the Mi Tian League.

Chu Liuxiang replied, "This incident happened so suddenly that I have no clue what's going on. I only got a tip from Black Pearl, who's also investigating the case. Her father, one of the deceased, had been in contact with someone before his death. Unfortunately, based on this person's behavior over the years, it's possible he might have taken advantage of the disciples of the Divine Water Palace and indeed possessed the ability to infiltrate the Divine Water Palace. I tracked him all the way here and learned from Beggars' Sect disciples in Bianjing that he was last seen in the Misty Heaven Alliance."

Du Zhongzi's

expression grew more serious as he spoke. "Master, please don't think I'm exaggerating, and don't take this person's presence in the Misty Heaven Alliance as a common occurrence. He's an expert in hidden weapons, mechanisms, and poisons. I suspect he was most likely drawn here by the hidden weapon you produced."

Shi Qingruo paused. "May I ask this person's name—"

Chu Liuxiang sighed. "He's from the Tang Sect in Shu. I imagine you've heard of him."

...

"Put it away! I don't want to see it."

Despite his words, the attendant standing nearby saw the man, his face half-obscured by a mask, unable to restrain his gaze before sweeping the object away.

On the table lay a red invitation with gold embossing.

The most striking words on it were the words "Mi Tian Alliance."

This invitation was issued by the Mi Tian Alliance, inviting everyone to witness the formal confirmation of the five or six Holy Lords through the tournament.

If it had been given to a prominent figure within the alliance, or a force friendly to the Misty Heaven Alliance, it would have been fine. But why had it been sent to him?

Fang Yingkan's eyes burned with hatred.

Even though the half-injured face had been treated with the best medicine and temporarily concealed by a mask, making him look like the noble young marquis, even adding a touch of mystery to it, Fang Yingkan knew that as long as he hadn't exacted his revenge, the image of being thrown to the ground and controlled would replay in his mind again and again.

When he received the invitation, he couldn't help but wonder if this was Shi Qingruo's latest show of force to intimidate him, or perhaps...

a plea that he would lose his mind, change his ways in Bianjing, and truly step forward to compete with her.

He reached out to cover the golden mask, and the coolness of his hand gradually calmed his rising anger.

Whether it was intimidation or provocation, he couldn't fall for her trap.

As for the election of two new Saint Masters within the Misty Heaven Alliance, to replace Zhang Tieshu and Zhang Liexin, he might as well not go.

What if Shi Qingruo publicly accused him of bribing the "Iron Tree" to cause unrest within the Misty Heaven Alliance? Would he accept the offer or not?

It would be better to…

"Young Marquis, Ren Yuan is here for a visit." A voice suddenly rang out from outside the room, interrupting Fang Yingkan's deliberations.

Fang Yingkan's gaze shifted. "Send him in."

Ren Yuan? What was he doing here?

As soon as he finished speaking, a thin, gaunt young man entered, led by an attendant.

The young man lowered his head slightly, not because of a broken neck like Di Feijing, but more out of shyness.

Combined with his rather handsome face, he even looked somewhat pitiful and endearing.

If Fang Yingkan hadn't known his background, who would have guessed that a man with such appearance and demeanor would be the nightmare of so many in Bianjing?

He and his senior brother Ren Lao both served in the Ministry of Justice, serving as the right-hand men of Chief Inspector Zhu Yueming. Their daily routine consisted of using a variety of bizarre torture instruments to extract answers from prisoners.

Ren Lao and Ren Yuan were a pair of notoriously cruel officials!

Fang Yingkan sometimes felt that the word "cruel" wasn't even enough to describe them, as their torture and interrogation methods were simply unheard of!

It was precisely for this reason that he desperately needed to win over this young man.

After all, the more skilled Ren Yuan became at interrogating prisoners, the more likely he would meet with important prisoners, filling his brain with information about not only torture techniques but also the inner workings of the capital's social circles.

And the latter was exactly what Fang Yingkan needed.

It now seemed that his previous attempts to arrange private gifts were not in vain. Ren Yuan's sudden and unsolicited visit was the perfect sign of good news.

As soon as Ren Yuan entered, Fang Yingkan greeted him and ushered him to the tea table.

"Young Marquis, there's no need to be so polite," Ren Yuan whispered softly. "I've only come to give you a few words of advice."

Fang Yingkan suppressed his anger at Shi Qingruo's invitation and straightened his expression. "Brother Ren Yuan, please feel free to give me some advice."

Ren Yuan appreciated Fang Yingkan's attitude. Although he knew he only treated minor figures like them with respect because he truly had nowhere else to turn, he still preferred

his own kind to those seeking connections.

His smile grew even more beautiful. "A few days ago, quite a few people were imprisoned in the capital. Young Marquis, you should be aware of this."

It wasn't because of the downfall of the Six-and-a-half Hall, which had apprehended many of the evildoers it had previously protected, but rather because of something else.

Huo Xiu, the leader of the assassin organization Qingyi Tower, had been captured by Wang Xiaoshi and Bai Choufei and brought to the capital. Many assassins affiliated with Qingyi Tower were also implicated and apprehended.

Clearly, this achievement couldn't be shouldered solely by the Six Gates under Zhuge Shenhou's tutelage; some of the work would have to be transferred to the Ministry of Justice.

Furthermore, because Huo Xiu, the miser, had lost all his gold and silver, he was heartbroken and unwilling to speak. While the higher-ups were pressing for answers regarding this crucial case, Huo Xiu was quickly transferred to the hands of the ruthless pair of officials within the Ministry of Justice.

Upon hearing this, Fang Yingkan sat up straight and leaned closer to Ren Yuan. "What connection does this man have with me?" "

Whether there is a connection is for the young marquis to judge for himself," Ren Yuan said tepidly, seemingly unresponsive to Fang Yingkan's curiosity. He simply continued his previous statement.

"Huo Xiu refuses to speak, but we in the Ministry of Justice are well-versed in making people talk. It's easy to skin and dismember someone and still keep them alive. But this dissection has caught my attention, and that's something that can negate Huo Xiu's technique."

"How do you mean?" Fang Yingkan asked.

Ren Yuan said, "Young Marquis Fang should be aware of my martial arts. It's not as good as those of you, the chosen ones, but it's still quite respectable. Having been taught by so many people, my horizons are broader than those of the average person. So I know this: some martial arts may appear to be very different from their original appearance depending on who performs them, or they may only be slightly similar. But when it comes to the application of internal energy, the essence remains the same, and upon impact, the true nature is revealed."

"I once had the good fortune to meet someone who died at the hands of Changkong Gang Leader Mei. I cut open his wounds and carefully examined them for a long time. This time, I actually saw similar injuries on Huo Xiu, likely caused by the same finger technique." "

It is said that the person who crippled Huo Xiu's martial arts was Bai Choufei, who had just been recruited into the Misty Heaven Alliance..."

Fang Yingkan shuddered.

He believed that Ren Yuan, having come to him on his own initiative, would not tell him information that would be of no use.

His eyes almost immediately shifted to the invitation.

The gilded piping and inscriptions reflected the sunlight filtering through, briefly stinging one's eyes.

Fang Yingkan remained silent for a long moment, then muttered, "...Who said this was a provocative letter?"

This was clearly an invitation perfectly timed and appropriate!

...

At least when Fang Yingkan entered the Misty Heaven Alliance bearing this invitation, he looked triumphant once again.

His blue brocade robe, embroidered with dark gilt patterns, and the purple-gold sash at his waist clearly marked his status as a distinct martial artist.

And on the remaining portion of his face, unobstructed by the mask, a gentle yet cynical smile once again graced his face.

Some of the martial artists present might have heard about Shi Qingruo and Guan Qi's visit, and they were also aware of the discord between the Shentong Marquisate and the Mitian Alliance. However, facing Fang Yingkan's frank and calm arrival, they suppressed their doubts and greeted the heir of the great hero Fang.

Fang Yingkan's smile grew even more charming.

However, the next moment he caught sight of a figure in the distance, he subconsciously dropped his smile, as if the expression had frozen on his face for a moment.

If he hadn't prepared himself beforehand, and knew he had a hidden agenda, he'd have nearly touched his mask again, fearing it wasn't secure enough.

"Young Marquis Fang, if you're not comfortable here, you might as well return home." Sikong Zhaixing followed Fang Yingkan's gaze and saw, as expected, Shi Qingruo and Guan Qi emerging together.

With the terrifying pressure that descended upon the scene, the invited guests no longer cared about Fang Yingkan.

As for Fang Yingkan himself, it took considerable effort to swallow his boiling breath.

He glanced sideways at Sikong Zhaixing. "Is this the Misty Heaven Alliance's way of entertaining guests? They've just arrived, and you're already trying to kick them out. If your alliance is truly so destitute, I don't mind paying for my own meals today." Sikong Zhaixing

shrugged. "I didn't say that. You're the one who thought that. Since there's nothing wrong with you, young marquis, please make yourself at your own convenience."

Fang Yingkan didn't bother arguing with these minor figures. He glanced at the location of the arena, considered the location on the invitation, and casually headed in one of the directions.

Even though he appeared to be heading towards Shi Qingruo and Guan Qi, he didn't show any sign of abnormality.

Sikong Zhaixing, however

, was still staring at him, thoughtful.

"Do you think there's something wrong with him?" Lu Xiaofeng noticed this and approached Sikong Zhaixing and asked.

He didn't quite understand why Shi Qingruo had insisted on inviting Fang Yingkan on this trip.

If they wanted to target Fang Yingkan, they should have found a way to expose his crimes to Fang Geyin and let his adoptive father take action first. Otherwise, given Fang Yingkan's status as a young marquis, if they really wanted to kill Fang Yingkan, no matter what they did, it would seem like they were being cautious.

Relying solely on this competition would definitely not be enough.

But how can I put it? Shi Qingruo's previous decisions, although dangerous, always achieved unexpected results, and today would be no exception.

He only needs to watch from the side and make sure that the villain Fang Yingkan does not escape.

As for the others...

"You're wrong, I'm not looking at that young marquis Fang, I'm looking over there." Sikong Zhaixing raised his chin, motioning Lu Xiaofeng to look up.

"What are you looking at? Madam Shi?" Lu Xiaofeng said easily.

"No, I'm looking at the guard she brought with her today." Sikong Zhaixing pondered, the more he thought, the more puzzled he became. "I felt something was amiss when we passed each other this morning, and now it suddenly dawns on me: he's using a disguise!"

"Then..."

"Hey, there's no need to be so anxious." Sikong Zhaixing reached out to stop Lu Xiaofeng, slightly puzzled by his apparent eagerness, but without dwelling on it, he continued. "Look at where he's standing, vaguely protecting Madam Shi. He probably means no harm. And they made eye contact, so they probably know each other."

Sikong Zhaixing had a vague suspicion about this man's identity, but he couldn't quite figure out why he was there, so he put it aside for now. "Just keep an eye on that guy later."

With Guan Qi accompanying Shi Qingruo in full view, nothing unexpected could happen.

Coincidentally, the gongs and drums within the venue began to strike, drawing their attention.

The highlight of the day had arrived:

the arena fight!

Thanks to the arrival of Mr. Yan of the Jewel Pavilion and Dugu Yihe, the head of the Emei Sect, along with the Six Gates personally delivering the imperial bounty and some stolen goods to the alliance, members of the Mi Tian League, even those who hadn't personally participated in the deed, have developed a deep respect for Bai Choufei and Wang Xiaoshi.

Despite its chaotic nature, the Mi Tian League perhaps adheres to two ironclad principles more than any other place:

The one with the biggest fist is the boss.

The one who brings in the money provides the bread and butter.

By that measure, Wang and Bai are truly only one step away from ascending to the throne of the Mi Tian League's Holy Leader:

proving their martial arts prowess!

So, when Bai Choufei stepped onto the stage, still wearing his usual attire, at first glance...

"Da Baicai seems much more energetic than before," Wen Rou muttered.

Shi Qingruo glanced at her with a smile and replied, "People are in high spirits when they are happy."

Wenrou pulled the corner of her mouth, "Tsk... they are just busy showing off."

But even though she said that, she knew very well that with the relationship with Su Mengzhen and her father's identity, she would definitely not be able to join the Mi Tian League for fun.

She could only wait and see today how these two companions she met in Hubei could surpass the others and take the positions of the Five Saints and Six Saints of the Mi Tian League.

She never liked to let herself feel depressed, and she cheered up again, "I don't know if there are any hidden masters in the Mi Tian League. They went to solve the problem of the Jinpeng Dynasty, and one of them drew his sword and the other used his finger technique to the "Winter Solstice" move, but they still said that they didn't try their best. I want to see how they perform today."

Shi Qingruo smiled gently, "That may disappoint Miss Wen. If there were any disciples in the Misty Heaven Alliance whose martial arts could rival Huo Xiu's, they would have already established their own sect and become another leader of the Qingyi Tower. How could they still be here?"

Perhaps only if Guan Qi took the stage to test the abilities of the "two quasi-saints" could they possibly force more of their hidden cards to be revealed.

This would also provide a good spectacle for Fang Yingkan!

Wenrou felt a little regretful, but she had to admit that Shi Qingruo's words were absolutely right.

If there were truly capable people, they would have emerged during the match between the Misty Heaven Alliance and the Liufenban Hall!

It was no surprise then that, as soon as the leader gave the signal for the competition to begin, the Misty Heaven Alliance members leaped onto the stage, only to be knocked down one after another.

Not only was Wang Xiaoshi's retaining sword still unsheathed, the knife remained motionless as if it were the hilt. Bai Choufei's white robe seemed completely untouched by a speck of dust, pristine and clean as new.

Combined with his slightly raised, proud demeanor, it was clear that those challenging him on the stage presented him with no pressure at all.

Seeing this, Fang Yingkan's brow furrowed.

Honestly, most of the Misty Heaven Alliance fighters were eager to challenge for the position of Saint Master. Even if they weren't elite warriors, they were certainly skilled martial artists. The spectators could see that none of them could be considered mediocre.

Yet, even they were utterly vulnerable before Bai Choufei, let alone forced to unleash his unique skills.

Just observing the fight made it impossible to tell whether Bai Choufei's finger techniques were stolen from the Changkong Gang.

The person closest to Fang Yingkan even remarked that Bai Choufei's moves bore a strong resemblance to the Xiaolei Sect's Thunder Scroll's Loss of Mind Finger.

No, this was not what Fang Yingkan had hoped to see.

He leaned over to a nearby attendant and asked, "Should I step up and test his skills myself?"

The attendant panicked, "Young Marquis, this is within the Misty Heaven Alliance after all..."

"Wait!" Fang Yingkan suddenly raised his hand, interrupting him. "Look at this."

Just as Fang Yingkan was speaking, a figure suddenly swooped onto the stage.

Almost the moment he saw the young man, Fang Yingkan put aside his previous thoughts and settled back into his seat, his face filled with interest.

Bai Choufei, however, was startled and fixed his gaze on the man before him. "Are you also from the Misty Heaven Alliance?"

It was no wonder he asked such a question.

The young man before him had long, unkempt hair, looking neglected for a while. His clothes, however, were clearly not some cheap street-food find; they were loose, making him look more like a sleepy dandy than a beggar.

But what was even more striking wasn't his hair or his clothes, but the eyes beneath that tangled hair.

Those eyes were clear and cold, yet brimming with a chilling ruthlessness, as if they had transformed into two sharp blades piercing Bai Choufei.

But as he turned to look at Shi Qingruo in the stands, a dark, slimy gaze suddenly shone.

But the next moment, Chu Liuxiang's disguised attendant blocked his gaze, forcing him to refocus his attention back on the present moment.

The young man stretched lazily, his lips parted. "I'm not a member of the Misty Heaven Alliance. How could I dare to come on stage? I've only been a member for a shorter time than many of my brothers. But I think... Young Master Bai hasn't been here long either. We're about the same size. If you can be here, why can't I?"

His gaze grew colder. "Unfortunately, I'm not as good as you. With that opportunity to shine, I could only defeat you to take the position of Saint Lord."

As for why he chose Bai Choufei as his opponent, rather than Wang Xiaoshi, it was naturally because

he didn't like seeing someone as arrogant as himself on the stage!

As soon as he spoke, he moved.

It was like a mass... no, not a human figure, but a cloud of flying snow, hurtling towards Bai Chou.

Before Bai Choufei could reply, his expression suddenly changed.

His vigilance before the young man's attack was entirely justified, and now his alertness had reached its peak.

This man's martial arts couldn't be described as anything other than extraordinary.

The shimmering ice and shadows of the snow were bizarre and inexplicable.

Each strand of dark blue ice seemed to ignite instantly, splitting into eight directions, corresponding to the eight gates of the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams.

It wasn't palm power freezing ice, but clearly a unique hidden weapon.

However, the man's movements were so swift, it was impossible to discern the exact method used to unleash the hidden weapon!

Bai Choufei retreated quickly, but his hands were moving in an attack.

He split his fingers in the wind, sweeping one finger across the incoming hidden weapon. Like a lingering breeze, he lifted the swiftly flying ice. Another strand of his finger, like a cold wind, swirled and struck the back of the young man's head.

Both were cold.

One was a frost-fire meteor, the other the "Great Cold" from the Shocking Soul Finger.

"Hahahaha, is that all you've got?" the young man grinned through his tangled hair. Far from retreating,

he charged forward. A ruthless warrior wielding hidden weapons and using his body as a blade, how could he be forced back by Bai Choufei's two fingers?

Since he had to approach someone to obtain the secret formula for the hidden weapon, he should have dealt with the vicious dog before him.

He nimbly dodged Bai Choufei's rapid attacks, faint blue stars dotting his hand and surrounding him like a streak of fireflies, firmly resisting Bai Choufei's "Winter Solstice" finger force.

Faced with the intense cold energy of the "Winter Solstice," a faint snowflake landed on the back of Bai Choufei's hand, seemingly a matter of course.

But the next moment, the young man gathered his strength, surging even faster than the scattered hidden weapons.

A second blue light flashed like a gossamer, hurtling towards the first flake of ice.

Bai Choufei's "Jingzhe" finger failed to stop the icy flower, allowing the strange creature to push the previous one into the back of his hand.

A third icy flower followed.

But it wasn't because it had increased in speed.

Wang Xiaoshi, in the adjacent stands, had already finished the battle there and saw with absolute clarity that, in that split second, Bai Choufei's speed suddenly slowed.

That wasn't just a hidden weapon shaped like an icy spike; it was also a deadly poison!

"Be careful!"

Wang Xiaoshi didn't need to warn him; Bai Choufei was already straining to suppress the poison.

The coldness on the back of his hand was like a sting from a poisonous insect, but in a split second, the right half of his arm was transformed into an ice sculpture.

He quickly sealed his meridians with his fingers, severing his vital energy to prevent the icy poison from spreading further.

Seeing the young man's momentum increasing, the hidden weapons around him seemed to be magnetically drawn to his injured arm. He let out a long roar and released a wisp of wind from his left hand.

In this brief encounter, he understood one truth very clearly.

The man before him was unlike any other member of the Misty Heaven Alliance. He simply couldn't defeat him without exerting all his might.

Given that, the only option was a fight!

The chaotic winds of the sky and the dust on the ground transformed into this thunderous, startling finger strike, one of the three most astonishing moves in the technique he dubbed the "Shocking God Finger."

"Break the Evil!"

Guan Qi suddenly rose from his seat in the stands.

His mind was still half in a state of confusion, but the sight of his ultimate move suddenly brought him to a state of clarity, his mind intent on memorizing every move.

The "Break the Evil" finger force erupted in the air with a sharp, piercing roar, hurtling towards the young man armed with hidden weapons.

Bai Choufei's zhenqi weakened considerably.

In return, he faced this finger strike, a force so powerful it could reach the heavens and earth without a trace of escape!

How could Bing withstand such a lethal blow?

Only a dark blue, poisonous flame remained, illuminating the shocked faces of the people below.

This included Fang Yingkan, who had also suddenly risen to his feet.

He stared at the scene before him, his face more like delight than shock.

In this ecstasy, he couldn't help but recall his childhood.

Back then, he was held in the arms of his adoptive mother, Sang Xiao'e, and brought to the Changkong Gang, which ruled Hubei's land and water underworld.

Back then, the leader of the Changkong Gang was still his adoptive mother's father, Sang Shuyun, not Mei Xingfei, whom he considered too kind and the victim of the Changkong Gang's massacre a few months ago.

He leaned on his adoptive mother's shoulder, watching Sang Shuyun and Mei Xingfei's sparring match. Among them...

among them was this finger technique.

It was emanating from Sang Shuyun's hands.

So, it certainly wasn't some martial art Bai Choufei had invented from scratch, nor was it related to Lei Juan's Lost Mind Finger.

It was—

"...Changkong Divine Finger, it's Changkong Divine Finger!"

This was the Changkong Gang's lost Changkong Divine Finger, or perhaps even the Eternal Divine Finger.

Bai Choufei had come to Bianjing from Hubei, and it all matched!

Fang Yingkan lives up to his name, seeing clearly.

A few short months wasn't enough time for him to completely transform this finger technique. Between life and death, he couldn't hide it!

And only... only someone who had slaughtered the entire Changkong Gang could possibly use this martial art.