Chapter Eleven: The Winner Takes All
Liang Xiao smiled and said in a loud voice, "So, shouldnt I be the one sitting in this palace masters position?" Everyones face changed color, Ming Gui raised an eyebrow, and the sharp light in his eyes shot towards Liang Xiao.
Zuo Yuan sneered and said, "Youre just an outsider, even if youre exceptionally good at arithmetic, how can you be the master of this palace?" The elderly crowd nodded in agreement. Liang Xiao smiled and said, "So its like that, you people can take over the Hua family and replace them, why cant an outsider become the master of Tianji Palace? Are all your words about the winner becomes king, the capable one takes the position just nonsense?"
Everyone was taken aback by his words: "Thats right, the Ming family replacing the Hua family is survival of the fittest. Why cant outsiders be the ones to survive?" The room erupted into a heated discussion. Ming Guis eyes darted around, and he gave Ming Sanqiu a signal with his eyes, smiling as he said: "Little guy, even if youre good at calculations, your martial arts skills may not be enough to become the Palace Master!"
Ming Sanqiu understood his uncles intention and slapped a palm towards Liang Xiao, shouting: "Not bad, let me try your skills again." Hua Wuyan had been paying attention and sealed it with one palm. Ming Sanqius power was slightly inferior, and he retreated a step. Unexpectedly, Ming Gui took advantage of the two mens hands, stretched out his arm, and grabbed Liang Xiao. Qin Boshi saw the situation, laughed loudly, and pushed out both palms. The fingers were compared, and the strong wind burst forth. The two exchanged a move like lightning, Qin Boshi stood firmly on the ground, stable as a rock, while Ming Gui was in mid-air, with nothing to rely on. He flipped over and fell to the ground, retreating three steps in a row, breaking three green bricks, his whole bodys energy boiling like a cauldron. In his heart, he was greatly shocked: "The Qin family is fierce, I underestimated him!" Qin Boshi ranked fourth among the Tianji Eight Cranes, but he was extremely low-key and others didnt take him seriously.
Qin Bohu laughed loudly and said, "Brother Mings Flying Swan Claw is indeed sharp! Qin would like to learn from you!" He took a step forward, his hands flat and pushing out. Ming Gui only felt the air rushing like waves, dodged sideways, and flew his claw to grab Qin Bohus waist. Qin Bohu swung his palm down, Ming Guis fingertips felt scorching pain, and he flipped his hand to press against Qin Bohus wrist.
Ming Sanqiu saw Ming Gui couldnt gain the upper hand, Hua Wuyin was about to end it himself. With a raised eyebrow, he smiled and said: "Hold on!" Ming Gui retreated as ordered, Qin Boshi didnt pursue, coldly stopping in his tracks. Hua Wuyin glanced at Ming Sanqiu: "Do you have anything else to say?"
Ming Sanqiu smiled and said, "Dont be angry, Palace Master. My uncle is just testing this young brothers skills. In my opinion, we are all people of the Tianji Palace, and its not worth hurting our harmony for an outsider. If there are differences, lets discuss them calmly." He emphasized the two words "outsider" very clearly. Hua Wuyan coldly smiled and said, "Youve changed quickly, you were the one who took action, and now youre the one who wants to calm down!" She looked back at Liang Xiao, feeling a little puzzled in her heart: "I didnt expect that after six years, this young man would have studied algebra to such an extent. Its really unbelievable." Thinking of this, she smiled and said, "Liang Xiao, arent you going to learn the Taiyi Splitting Light Sword? Ill teach it to you!" After speaking, she clasped her hands behind her back and smiled without saying a word.
Hua Qingyuan was overjoyed and hastily said, "Xiaoer, why havent you paid your respects to your master yet?" Ming Shis uncle and nephew looked as pale as death, knowing that once Liang Xiao became a disciple, he would be a member of the Tianji Palace. With Ming Sanqius logic, there was a chance for him to become the palace master. Both thought: "Hua Wuyue is so cunning, clearly wanting to die together with the net, rather than letting my Ming family get their hands on it!"
The crowd on the scene was silent, everyone staring at Liang Xiao. Unexpectedly, Liang Xiao shook his head and said, "I dont want to learn anymore!" The Hua family was shocked, but Ming Sanqiu and others were unexpectedly delighted. Hua Wuyan was furious and laughed: "Liang Xiao, youve been studying arithmetic for five years, isnt it just to learn this martial art?" If he didnt mention this matter, it would be fine, but thinking of the deception of the past five years, Liang Xiao hated Hua Wuyan so much that he wanted to fight him to the death. He sneered and shook his head, saying: "The past is the past, Im not interested now." Without regard for Hua Wuyans embarrassment, he turned around and left. Unexpectedly, this turn of his body made him face Hua Xiaoxue directly.
Hua Xiao Shuang had been heartbroken and tearful since her fathers humiliation, and the tears still lingered on her face. But as soon as she saw Liang Xiao, all her unhappiness was forgotten, and she couldnt help but smile with joy. Although she was weak from illness, her smile was extremely beautiful, like a cloud breaking to reveal the moon, or a delicate flower with dew, exuding an indescribable charm that captivated peoples hearts.
Liang Xiao was stunned, and then felt a pang in his chest: "The surname Mings uncle and nephew are sinister and cunning. If I leave like this, Im afraid that from now on, Xiaoshuang will never have such a smile again." Thinking of this, the waves surged, and he turned around and said loudly: "Good, the winner is king, if you win in learning martial arts, can you be the master of Tianji Palace?"
Ming Sanqiu saw him full of confidence, and his heart skipped a beat. He was also inspired by Liang Xiaos words to fight back, ignoring Ming Guiyans gaze, and said casually: "Thats right, whoever wins will be the master of the palace!" Liang Xiao threw away the precious sword at his waist and smiled: "Good, lets have another martial arts competition." Everyone was shocked: "Is this kid crazy? Even if he practiced since birth, hes no match for Ming Sanqiu!"
Ming Sanqiu carefully measured Liang Xiao, smiling and saying: "Young brother, a gentlemans word?" Liang Xiao also smiled and said: "A fast horse with one whip." Qin Bofu deeply understood Liang Xiaos bottom line and couldnt help but loudly shout: "You stinky little devil! Have you gone crazy? Even if youre good at arithmetic, when it comes to martial arts, how many catties do you have?" Hua Qingyuan also said: "Liang Xiao, dont be arrogant." Liang Xiao just coldly smiled and didnt pay attention. Hua Wuyan thought in her heart: "This little devil is overflowing with talent, maybe he has some kind of strange move to turn the tables. Even if he cant win, by letting him make a scene like this, it will ultimately benefit me." Xiang Cheng made no sound and coldly observed from the side.
Ming Sanqiu was afraid that Liang Xiao would regret it, so he took a step forward, cupped his hands and smiled: "Little brother, please advise me!" Liang Xiao didnt return the courtesy, nodded and smiled: "Alright, Ill give you two pointers."
Ming Sanqiu was furious in his heart, and his palms suddenly closed and opened, using the move "Biased Heart Broken Leaf". This is a move from the "Xuan Xing Palm", one of the nine great ultimate skills of the Hua family. The essence of the "Xuan Xing Palm" lies in its mysterious and shapeless palm strikes. As soon as Ming Sanqiu made his move, he used this superior martial art, intending to quickly defeat him with a thrilling victory.
Liang Xiao burst out laughing, suddenly leaning back, his left palm spread open and placed between his chest and neck. He subtly pointed at Ming Sanqius wrist, then twisted his waist, his right palm mysterious and unpredictable, passing through Ming Sanqius two palms and brushing against his chest. Ming Sanqiu quickly circled his palm force back, intercepting Liang Xiaos vital point, his foot kicking horizontally, forcing him to retreat.
Liang Xiao had used the "Taibai Drunken Fist" before, but suddenly he started wailing and crying loudly, his hands wiping away tears as if to clear his eyes. He stumbled and fell, running around Ming Sanqiu in a frenzy. This move, "Crying at the End of the Road", was similar to the Ming familys "Big Dipper Seven Steps", with an even more unusual technique. Legend had it that during the Jin Dynasty, the great writer Ruan Ji would cry loudly whenever he encountered a dead end while riding his horse or driving his carriage. This move was inspired by Ruan Jis eccentricity. When Ming Sanqiu saw Liang Xiao laughing and crying like a madman, with every movement of his hands and feet containing immense power, he couldnt help but feel a chill in his heart. He quickly changed moves three times to neutralize the attack.
Everyone saw Liang Xiaos impressive skills and couldnt help but praise him repeatedly: "This kids internal strength is ordinary, but his moves are incredibly clever!" Hua Xiao Xue was originally very worried, but now seeing Liang Xiao holding his own, she felt happy and exclaimed: "Brother Xiao is so amazing! Dad, did you teach him?" Hua Qing Yuan shook his head and said: "I couldnt have taught him that." Ling Shuang Juns heart was full of doubts: "He was just beaten by Mr. Wu, how come he didnt defend himself?" She glanced sideways, and saw Wu Changqings eyes staring at the scene, his face red with anger.
After a few moves, Ming Sanqius double palms were like seals, and he pushed out a move called "Dongtian Stone Gate". This move was clumsy yet clever, and as soon as it encountered a counterattack, it would suddenly become extraordinary. Hu Qingyuan watched clearly and shouted: "Xiaoer be careful!"
Liang Xiao heard the sound, and with two fingers together, he pointed towards Ming Sanqius pulse gate. This move "Spring and Autumn Straight Brush" was like Confucius writing Spring and Autumn, one word praising or blaming, directly pointing out good and evil. Ming Sanqiu split his palms apart, and with a whooshing sound, he slapped five times in succession, as if the heavenly gates had opened and a group of immortals were going out for a stroll, the palm wind rising and falling, surging towards Liang Xiao without distinguishing between first and last. Ming Sanqiu was extremely proud of himself, seeing that Liang Xiaos move was clever, he also wanted to use his move to knock him down, so although the move was strange, his inner strength had not been used to its fullest extent.
The crowd gasped in shock, but Liang Xiao remained calm and composed. With a swift turn of his body, his right hand grasped an invisible brush, while his left sleeve fluttered freely. This move, "Qu Yuans Rhapsody", was inspired by the poet Qu Yuans elegant demeanor as he strolled along the riverbank. Liang Xiao used his large sleeves to counterattack with softness overcoming hardness, or wielded his brush-pen to launch a fierce assault that left no escape. The onlookers eyes were dazzled as they watched him dissolve Ming Sanqius chain of five palm strikes.
Next, he arched his body backward and executed the move "Song Yu Facing the Wind". His right foot tapped lightly yet firmly, striking Ming Sanqius right elbow with precision. This kick was delivered with full force, sending a searing pain through Ming Sanqius bones. Overwhelmed with shame and anger, he abandoned his underestimation of Liang Xiao. With a long whistle, his movements became abruptly swift and agile, as if he had transformed into a whirling top that vanished from sight.
His subsequent attacks were unpredictable and ever-changing, unleashing the extraordinary techniques of "Eastern Scales and Western Claws" like a mighty river bursting forth.
Liang Xiaos heart felt a little flustered for the first time facing such an expert. With his "Shengwenjing" martial arts, he parried several moves, but was suddenly struck by Ming Sanqius "Luohua Knife", sweeping away his hair knot. Xiaoshuang watched in shock and cried out, then saw Liang Xiaos figure flash, escaping from the palm of his hand, and couldnt help but let out a sigh of relief. After these few moves, Ming Sanqiu had seen through Liang Xiaos strengths and weaknesses, seeking to end the fight quickly, each move filled with internal power, forcing Liang Xiao to clash head-on. Qin Bofu and Hua Qingyuan watched in shock and awe, each circulating their inner energy, waiting for Liang Xiao to be in danger before rushing forward to assist.
Liang Xiao dodged and weaved with his "Fantasy Dust Body Method", fleeing east and west. Ming Sanqiu was eager to win, taking a few quick steps forward, letting out a loud shout, and unleashing a flurry of kicks with his "Phoenix Tail Foot" technique, his leg movements flashing across the sky in a dazzling display. Liang Xiao was at a loss for what to do, ducking down and hiding behind the Hun Tian Yi instrument. Seeing Ming Sanqiu approaching, he reached out and pushed the Hun Tian Yi, causing the large copper ball to spin rapidly. Ming Sanqius foot slipped, and his leg strength unexpectedly shifted to one side.
Ming Gui raised an eyebrow and said with a cold smile, "The kids handwork is mediocre, but his legwork isnt bad." The implication was that Liang Xiao only knew how to run away. Hua Wu Xian also let out a cold laugh and said, "As the great Sunzi once said, To retreat and be unable to be pursued, one must be swift and impossible to catch. Its clear that even the sages of war have strategies for encountering strong enemies and retreating quickly. To stubbornly defend a position is truly foolish." Ming Gui heard her quote the words of the great sage and found it difficult to refute, so he could only coldly smile and say, "Fine, lets see how long he can keep running?"
On the platform, there are twenty-eight Hun Tian Yi instruments, arranged according to the positions of the Twenty-Eight Mansions. In fact, it is a concrete and miniature "Hun Tian Twenty-Eight Mansion Array". Liang Xiao was familiar with the celestial bodies and followed the arrays logic to move forward. Ming Sanqiu turned around twice, almost getting lost, but suddenly understood Liang Xiaos intention, secretly cursing him for being cunning, and then also followed the array method to chase after him.
Liang Xiaos algorithm surpassed Ming Sanqius by a wide margin, and his array method was even more clever. However, his lightness technique was far inferior, and after running over a hundred steps, Ming Sanqiu finally caught up. With a loud shout, he swung out with both palms. Liang Xiao had no choice but to dodge behind the copper instrument, and as he saw Ming Sanqius momentum, he pushed the sphere again. In this world, round objects are the least affected by force, and the copper instrument was not only round but also extremely smooth. This turn once again deflected Ming Sanqius palm force. The two exchanged blows less than ten times, and all the copper balls were set in motion, whirling around ceaselessly. Ming Sanqiu made a slight mistake and was actually tripped up by the spinning copper ball.
Two people turned in the array for several laps, Ming Sanqiu couldnt catch up with Liang Xiao no matter what, extremely anxious in his heart, he made a clear whistle, stretched out his palm and pushed the copper ball, the Hun Tian instrument suddenly accelerated, humming loudly. Next, Ming Sanqius movements were as fast as lightning, sometimes visible and sometimes invisible in the array, seemingly chasing after Liang Xiao, but actually repeatedly pushing the copper ball, only to hear the hum of the sound never-ending. The copper ball turned to its extreme position, leaving only a group of light shadows.
Hua Xiao Shuangs heart was hanging on Liang Xiao, staring with wide eyes, watching intently. When she got to this point, the copper ball disturbed her vision, and she felt dizzy and wanted to close her eyes to rest. Suddenly, a low cry came from the crowd, and she quickly opened her eyes again, only to see Ming Sanqiu rushing up to Liang Xiao, fists and feet flying out in succession. She immediately covered her mouth with her hand, her heart lifted high.
Liang Xiaos old trick was repeated, and he flipped the ball back with his hand. Unexpectedly, as soon as it touched, his fingertips felt a heat, but not only did it not change the direction of the copper ball, but it also brought a wild dog to snatch the bait. Only then did Liang Xiao understand Ming Sanqius intention, letting the copper ball spin endlessly, leaving Liang Xiao with no way to borrow momentum.
Ming Sanqius plan succeeded, and with a loud shout, he grabbed down. Liang Xiao rolled and crawled, desperately escaping for his life. But Ming Sanqius movements were too fast, his eyes couldnt keep up, his ears couldnt cover them. Just as he was about to succeed, a series of metallic cracking sounds came from beside his ear. Ming Sanqiu turned around to take a look, and his face changed greatly. The huge copper balls on the Hun Tian instrument flew out of their bases, whizzing towards him. It turned out that the Hun Tian instrument was originally used to predict celestial phenomena, and when it was built, no one thought of using it for martial arts, so the mechanisms were made very delicate. At this time, they were repeatedly and urgently rotated, and the mechanisms broke one after another.
Ming Sanqiu couldnt dodge the enemys attack, and in his haste, he dodged and weaved, but those twenty-eight copper balls were flying wildly everywhere, leaving him no place to hide. Ming Sanqiu parried and flashed, opening up a gap for two of them, but was hit by the third copper ball on his back. The force of this ball came mostly from himself, layered and accumulated, majestic and unparalleled. Ming Sanqiu felt a sweetness in his throat, stumbled forward, and fell out. Before he could steady himself, he was hit again by two more copper balls on his chest and back. Ming Sanqiu took three hits in a row, feeling an intense pain in his five organs, and a buzzing in his ears.
Liang Xiao fell to the ground, but instead gained an advantage. He rolled all the way out, only hearing the sound of wind whistling above his head and the crashing sounds that almost deafened him. After rolling for a while, he finally reached a place with no wind, lifted his head, and saw that the copper balls were scattered all over the ground. Ming Sanqiu was nowhere to be seen. Liang Xiao kicked away a copper ball, jumped up, and laughed loudly: "The outcome is already decided! Ming Sanqiu brought this upon himself, and now hes finished!" As soon as his words fell, several copper balls suddenly scattered apart, and Ming Sanqiu emerged with disheveled hair, his face flushed red, and a thread of blood at the corner of his mouth. In a hoarse voice, he cursed: "Youre dreaming, you son of a bitch!" Since his appearance, he had always been polite and courteous, but suddenly he blurted out a foul word, leaving everyone who heard it shocked and amazed.
Liang Xiao saw him looking like a fierce ghost and was startled, forcing a smile: "Good people dont live long, disasters leave behind for a thousand years. You two-legged cat, have nine lives." Ming Sanqiu let out an angry hum, brush-brush-brush three linked palms, chopping towards Liang Xiao, this "Yangguan Threefold Hand" one palm stronger than the next. But he had suffered consecutive copper ball impacts, his injuries were not light, relying on his refined internal skill, barely suppressing it, but in the ups and downs, was no longer as swift as before.
Liang Xiao saw him coming, dodged to the side, and suddenly discovered that Ming Sanqius palm contained the hidden meaning of the Nine Palaces. It transformed into the Eight Trigrams, becoming extremely ingenious. These changes, if they had occurred earlier, Liang Xiao would have been too busy escaping with his life to examine them closely; now that Ming Sanqius fists and feet had slowed down, Liang Xiao watched a few moves and suddenly realized: "The Heavenly Machine martial arts are inseparable from numerology, this guy has mastered numerology, taking the numerical foundation of the Thirty-six Heavenly Pegasus as the root, fusing it with the Eight Trigrams, transforming it into this messy and crude martial art."
As soon as he understood the principle, Liang Xiao looked up and saw that it was indeed like observing fire. Suddenly, he saw Ming Sanqiu move his feet, and in his heart, he quietly recited: "Step on Ming Yi, tread on Gui Mei, enter the middle palace, and stir up the gold of the Western direction." Ming Sanqiu had suffered internal injuries, but his ears were still functioning, and when he heard this, he was taken aback. He didnt dare to reveal that Liang Xiao had spoken out loud about his subsequent four changes, and in his fright, he hastily changed his moves. Liang Xiao saw him raise his hand and smiled slightly, saying: "People yuan tai yuan, exit southeast, pass northwest, and settle in the central wisdom earth." Ming Sanqiu was greatly shocked again and changed his moves once more. Unthinkingly, he raised his foot, and Liang Xiao called out his subsequent changes again. The crowd only saw Liang Xiao press his hand on his waist, reciting words, while Ming Sanqiu ran around him in all directions, never once making a move or gesture. For a moment, they looked at each other in confusion, secretly calling it strange. Only Hua Wuyans ears were attuned to the mysterious, and she heard something, nodding her head slightly: "This kid not only calculates everything under heaven but also has a cunning heart. If he had spoken loudly, Ming Sanqiu would have thought he was just making empty boasts; instead, he whispered quietly, which made him even more unpredictable."
Ming Sanqiu changed nine moves in a row, all of which were seen through by Liang Xiao, and he was at a loss. Liang Xiao took advantage of the situation and used the move "Yi Yin Geng Tu". It is said that before the famous minister Yi Yin fled to Shang Tang, he was a farming slave, and this move had a strong momentum of wielding a hoe and personally cultivating the land. Ming Sanqiu couldnt block it and retreated half a step. Liang Xiao then used the move "Taigong Chui Yu", with his right hand probing forward and his left hand hanging down.
Ming Sanqius eyes had already become disordered, seeing Liang Xiaos left armpit revealing a flaw, he was overjoyed in his heart, and ordered the summoning of "Fu Shu Liu Jue", striking directly at the central palace. Who knew that Taigong was fishing for fish, willing to take the bait, Liang Xiaos move was actually a lure. The fish took the bait, Ma Yous right fist pulled back, opening up Ming Sanqius palm momentum, his left palm turned out and struck his right chest. Ming Sanqiu retreated two steps in succession, his chest hurting unbearably. The crowd saw him being hit by the palm, and a burst of shocked cries arose.
Liang Xiaos move was successful, and his confidence increased. He let out a long laugh and continued to attack. Starting with "Zhou Gong Tuo", he made big moves, using "Guan Zhong She Gou", "Sun Wu Hui Jun", "Wan Bi Gui Zhao", "Lian Po Fu Jing", "Zhang Liang Shi Lü", "Han Xin Dian Bing", "Zhuge Hui Shan" and "Yun Chang Wu Ji" in succession, all of which were attacking moves from the "Jiang Xiang Jing" boundary within the stone array. When he reached the most enjoyable part, his literary and military skills complemented each other, and he displayed the wonders of combining hardness and softness. Ming Sanqiu was defeated, retreating in disarray. Liang Xiaos moves became more energetic, and his voice echoed loudly, piercing through the air. Everyone who heard and saw him was shocked.
Ming Sanqius "East Scales West Claws" had an unusual effect, but he was caught off guard by Liang Xiao and had no chance to counterattack. His anxiety worsened his internal injury, and after exchanging over twenty moves, his techniques became increasingly disorganized. Seeing this, Liang Xiao suddenly used the "Permitted Retreat" from the "Hidden Domain", using his left hand to neutralize Ming Sanqius "Five Peaks Scattered Hand". With a swift movement of his head, he launched the "Hair Enters the Mountain" technique. His hair had already come undone, and with his hair disheveled, this move was perfectly suited for him. The black strands of his hair danced in the wind, sweeping towards Ming Sanqius eyes. Ming Sanqius vision blurred, and he hastily retreated backwards. Suddenly, Liang Xiao let out a loud shout, spun around, and pressed his palm onto Ming Sanqius waist and abdomen.
Ming Sanqiu retreated five steps after the third autumn, swayed twice, and his palm felt like it was on fire. Hua Wenyin saw the situation and loudly shouted: "The outcome is already decided! Theres no need to continue comparing!"
The field fell silent, and Ming Sanqiu stood there in a daze. His mind was a jumble of thoughts: "Ive been hiding my light and practicing for half my life, could it really end like this...?" The more he thought about it, the more enraged he became. "Even if I dont become the Palace Master, Ill still take down that stinky little brat to vent my anger!" He glared with both eyes and let out a loud roar: "Who says the outcome is already decided?!" Then he pounced at Liang Xiao again. Everyone felt this move was unbecoming, and Qin Bosi couldnt help but shout: "Whats going on? You lost, yet you still want to fight?"
Liang Xiao stepped back, laughing and saying, "No harm! Ill lose again!" He then used the move "Cang Xuan Creates Characters", making several points in mid-air with an ancient and clumsy technique. Ming Sanqiu was about to break it when Liang Xiaos ten fingers moved swiftly, transforming into "Zhang Zhi Plays with Grass". The movement was unpredictable, suddenly turning elegant and free-flowing. Just as Ming Sanqiu had broken half of the move, Liang Xiao changed again into "Xizhi Writes Geese". Legend has it that the "Sage of Calligraphy" Wang Xizhi loved geese and enjoyed writing the character for goose, with a single stroke creating countless variations. Liang Xiao imitated his spirit, his index finger trembling as he moved with elegance and power; then, with a flourish of his left hand, he swept three times towards Ming Sanqius chest and vital points. This move "Adding Three Hairs to the Face" came from the story of the great painter Gu Kaizhi painting a portrait of Pei Kai. Originally, Pei Kai had no hair on his face, but Gu Kaizhi added three long whiskers. When people saw the portrait, they felt that it had an extra layer of spirit, and the ingenuity of the artist was evident.
Ming Sanqiu saw him approaching, and had no choice but to block with his arm. However, he didnt expect that Liang Xiaos move was a feint, and his right hand suddenly shot out with the "Painting Dragons Eyebrow" technique, pointing directly at Ming Sanqius eye. Ming Sanqiu hastily leaned back, barely avoiding disaster, but his temple was grazed by the tip of Liang Xiaos finger, causing a wave of scorching pain.
Liang Xiaos kung fu originated from the "realm of calligraphy and painting", mainly using finger techniques to strike acupoints, with a free and bold style. Ming Sanqiu was anxious and flustered, after exchanging twenty moves, he retreated more than ten steps, being forced by Liang Xiao to the edge of the Lingtai. Just then, Liang Xiao laughed and said: "My son, dont you admit defeat yet?" Ming Sanqiu lost his calmness, upon hearing this, he was about to retort, but felt a pain in his chest, so he had to hold back for the time being. After exchanging two more moves, suddenly Liang Xiaos finger flew towards him, like a divine brush stroke, and for a moment, he couldnt find a way to counter it, involuntarily sighing: "I give up!" Just as he was about to concede defeat, he heard Ming Hui shout: "Ling Xi Split Water Technique!"
Ming Sanqiu, who had been accustomed to his orders since childhood, concentrated his true strength in his palms and suddenly pushed forward. The "Ling Xi Fen Shui Gong" purely relied on deep internal power to remotely strike and injure people. As soon as Ming Sanqius palms were released, Liang Xiao felt an overwhelming surge of energy rushing towards him, and he didnt dare resist, hastily retreating with his hands bound.
Ming Sanqiu retreated with a single move, secretly scolding himself for being foolish. Although he was injured, his internal strength was still far superior, but his competitive spirit arose, and he insisted on suppressing Liang Xiaos moves. Unexpectedly, he was injured first and then had his "East Scales West Claws" fist logic seen through by Liang Xiao, who countered with the Stone Array martial arts. The Stone Array martial arts were created by Hua Liu Shui, and the unarmed skills of the Tianji Palace were unmatched. Ming Sanqiu considered himself exceptionally talented, and having already lost to Liang Xiao in terms of learning, he felt extremely humiliated. He was determined not to fall behind in martial arts, so the more unusual Liang Xiaos moves became, the more he wanted to compare them, unintentionally abandoning his strengths and using his weaknesses, naturally becoming more and more defeated as the fight went on.
The onlookers were clear, but couldnt help but remind them. Ming Sanqiu suddenly turned the tide with his unparalleled inner strength, striking Liang Xiao from afar, his movements swift and fierce. Liang Xiaos exquisite moves were useless when he couldnt get close to his opponent, and had no way to display them. Hua Wuyans face sank, and she coldly said: "Ming, is this a duel or a gang fight?"
Ming Gui smiled and said, "Im just saying that, you can point out this kid if you want." He pretended to be magnanimous, but he knew that the inner strength of different moves was not something that could be taught on the spot. Hua Wuyan was angry, but there was nothing else she could do.
Ming Sanqiu stabilized his footing and launched a fierce attack, forcing Liang Xiao to the edge of the stage. Suddenly, he unleashed his full strength, shouting "Down!" as his fists shot out with intense force. The wind from his punches was so strong that even Qin Bosi, who was three zhang away, felt the pressure and was startled, rushing out along with Hua Qingyuan. Ming Gui, Zuo Yuan, Tong Zhu, and Xiugou blocked their way, but soon the sound of muffled thuds filled the air as six people clashed in a flurry of punches and palms, sending shockwaves in all directions. Despite their incredible skills, Hua and Qin were unable to withstand the combined might of the "Four Cranes", stumbling backward on unsteady feet. Just then, Liang Xiao let out a sly laugh and said, "I wont go down."
A flower appeared before everyones eyes, and Liang Xiaos figure flashed by in an instant. Ming Sanqius double fists fell empty, and suddenly he felt a strong gust of wind behind him. Liang Xiao had somehow circled around to his back, and with a light tap of his palm, he struck. Hua Wuyan watched with her heart racing wildly, thinking: "Where did he learn this skill?"
Li Xue Dong rushed east and west, one step out, with the intention of being in all directions, but when he landed, it was unexpected. The large spiritual platform became a small piece of land, where he could come and go as he pleased. Ming Sanqiu couldnt grasp it, and had to withdraw half of his strength to protect himself. Li Xues restraints were greatly reduced, and his advances and retreats became even more mysterious.
Ming Gui gazed for a moment, only to feel that Liang Xiaos movements seemed familiar. Suddenly, his eyes widened as he exclaimed, "Three Talents Returning to the Origin Palm! Hes using the Three Talents Returning to the Origin Palm!" As soon as these words were spoken, a commotion arose in the crowd.
"Did you just figure it out?" Hua Wuque sneered. Ming Gui was shocked and uncertain, staring at her and saying "You taught him?" Hua Wuque sneered silently. She saw that the two people on stage were fighting hard to gain the upper hand, Liang Xiao relying on his exquisite physical skills, dodging left and right, but the true ingenuity of the "Three Talents Returning to the Origin Palm" had not been brought out at all. Unconsciously, she thought: "In extraordinary times, take extraordinary measures. This martial art was created by that treacherous villain, Qingyuan and Murong cant learn it, but this kid is different, learning it to deal with Mings uncle and nephew, its also a case of using poison to attack poison." Thinking of this, she shouted: "Ming Lao Da, you said I can point out his mistakes at will? Great, Ill just point them out for you to see." After that, she looked at the stage and shouted: "Liang Xiao, listen up!"
Liang Xiao was startled by the sound and almost got swept away by Ming Sanqius palm. Hua Wuyan said, "The three talents return to the origin, the energy condenses inside, the spirit wanders outside, examines the enemys emptiness and reality, waits for the opportunity to move, this is the key to offense and defense."
Liang Xiao found it strange in his heart: "The old womans words are reasonable, could she also know this kind of kung fu?" He was puzzled in his heart, but unfortunately he was on the arena and couldnt ask carefully, so he just listened to her reasonable words.
Hua Wenyin said, "The three talents return to the origin, with heart method being the highest, footwork next, and palm method being the lowest. You know about footwork and palm method, but you dont understand heart method. Heart method has three aspects: Mirror Heart, No Falsehood, and Great Emptiness. The first two are the realm of Only Self, while Great Emptiness is the realm of No Self. What is meant by Only Self is that all things forget their forms, only having oneself. As it is said: a fish swims in water and forgets about the water, a bird rides the wind but doesnt know there is wind."
Liang Xiao heard this, and his heart moved. He turned around and let Ming Sanqiu pass by. With his left hand, he made a "Xuan Xing Palm" gesture, avoiding Mings right-hand "Thousand Dragon Fist". In a loud voice, he shouted: "All emptiness in the universe, no one can rely on heaven or earth, only I can!" Hua Wuyan smiled and said: "Right! I have a few phrases that can help you calm your mind and nourish your body." Without avoiding suspicion, she spoke out loud in front of everyone. But Liang Xiao verified what he had thought about before, like a sudden enlightenment, and suddenly gained insight.
Ming returned to listen, her words were like a river, and she was extremely annoyed in her heart. However, the big words had already been spoken, and it was too late for regrets. Seeing Liang Xiao concentrate on listening, he unconsciously thought: "This is also good, take advantage of his distraction, kill him off guard." He and his uncle were connected at heart, Ming Sanqiu also thought so, and all kinds of ruthless moves and poisonous moves were used together, the air was filled with a fierce energy, like thunder and lightning.
Liáng Xiāos flower-like fingers pointed, "Spirit wandering outside, energy condensed inside", listening to the conversation with his ears, understanding in his heart, and treating Ming Sanqiu as if he didnt see him. His feet moved in a 3-3-4 rhythm, producing plum blossoms, walking all the way to the "Six-Six Heavenly Trample Step", coming and going freely, and finally forming a unique heavenly phenomenon. Although Ming Sanqius moves were fierce, for a time he couldnt do anything about him.
Hua Wuyan was also amazed by Liang Xiaos quick wit and continued to teach him the secrets of defeating his enemies. She only spoke in general terms, but Liang Xiao listened intently and grasped the essence of her words. Before she had even finished speaking, he had already changed his strategy, luring the enemy into a trap and counterattacking. The "Three Talents Returning to the Origin Palm" was a technique that grew stronger when faced with powerful opponents, providing more opportunities for counterattack. Ming Sanqius internal injury flared up again, causing him to become agitated and launch a series of fierce attacks, each one more desperate than the last, just as Liang Xiao had hoped.
Ming Guis eyes were fixed on the arena, but his ears were listening to Hua Wu Xians incantation, hoping to catch some clues. Suddenly, he heard her recite "Xu Ze Jing, Jing Ze Dong, Dong Ze De" and realized that these three sentences came from the "Tian Dao" chapter of Zhuangzi. He immediately bowed his head in deep thought. However, the "San Cai Gui Yuan Zhang" fist theory was profound and abstruse, and although Ming Gui knew the origin of the incantation, no matter how hard he tried, he couldnt decipher its true meaning.
Liang Xiao deeply understood the principles of Ming Sanqius fist, and as soon as he heard it, he gained a wonderful insight. The two of them exchanged several moves again, but Ming Sanqius one punch hit empty air, and his momentum couldnt be stopped. Liang Xiao saw this clearly, let out a loud shout, and with both palms simultaneously coming out, used the "Three Talents Returning to the Origin" move to press towards Ming Sanqius back hearts Shendao acupoint. Ming Sanqiu heard the wind sound, exerted all his strength, and leapt forward more than ten feet. Liang Xiaos one move fell empty, fearing a counterattack, immediately retreated backwards. Ming Sanqius this leap also stirred up his injury, his chests energy and blood churning, almost unable to stand steadily. Hua Wuyan secretly sighed in regret: "This childs internal strength is insufficient, otherwise, this one palm could have locked down the universe."
They fought several rounds, and Liang Xiao suddenly found an opening and attacked from the right. Ming Sanqiu didnt have time to turn around and defend himself, so he turned to the left. Ming Sanqiu turned left, but Liang Xiao was already on his right side. The two of them spun around in circles for over a dozen rounds, with Ming Sanqiu throwing ten punches in a row, each one hitting nothing but air. He felt extremely suffocated in his chest and throat, and a mouthful of blood surged up to his throat.
Hua Wenyin saw this and couldnt help but change her expression: "This Liang Xiao is indeed a rare talent. Just now I said, Injure the enemy slightly, repeatedly attack their weak point, use one finger to splash blood, and lead their blood to flow non-stop. He learned it and used it so cleverly." She thought deeply with great concern, "If he is useful to me, thats a good thing; but if he opposes me, it would be an enormous disaster."
Hua Xiao Shuang was anxious and worried, feeling sorry for Liang Xiao. Seeing Ming San Qiu on the verge of collapse, she couldnt help but ask: "Dad, if Brother Xiao takes one more step, he can win, why is he always a bit slow, making people anxious." Hua Qing Yuan shook his head and said: "Its easy to watch, but hard to do. At this moment, both sides are exhausted, not to mention taking another step, even half a step is impossible. Dont look at them getting slower as they fight, its more dangerous than when they were fast!" Hua Xiao Shuang was frightened and stared at the fighting stage, unknowingly clutching her mothers sleeve tightly.
"The Three Talents Return to the Origin Palm" was extremely exhausting, and Liang Xiaos internal energy was relatively weak. After running for a long time, his dantian was empty. Ming Sanqiu was disturbed by Liang Xiaos "exhausting enemy tactic", causing him to be exhausted and frustrated, with blood surging up his throat in waves. Both of them had their own troubles, but the determination to win was stronger than the competition of martial arts skills. After another ten moves, Liang Xiao saw an opening and pounced forward. Ming Sanqiu heard the wind sound and was about to dodge, but unexpectedly felt a heavy head, black eyes, and only felt a pain in his back heart, with a mouthful of blood shooting out like an arrow. His body swayed, and he slowly knelt down to the ground.
Liang Xiao struck out with one palm, but was instead knocked back two steps, and fell to the ground with a thud. He hated that he couldnt just lie down and never get up again.
This fierce battle had lasted for over two hundred rounds, with victory and defeat alternating, the changes were wondrous and strange, everyone watching was dazzled. On the spiritual platform, all that was left was the sound of Liang Xiao and Ming Sanqius heavy breathing.
