Chapter 151 - 133: Capturing the Alliance Leader While the Tea is Still Warm

But how could his hasty attack possibly outspeed Zou Feng, who had long been gathering strength for his move?

With a mere flick of his hand, he slapped his palm against He Qingshan’s chest, striking him with the Poison Fury Fire Lotus Seal.

Immediately, before He Qingshan could even scream, the force of the blow lifted him off his feet and sent him soaring into the air.

Soon after, a spectral lotus blossomed and exploded in the air, a magnificent sight against the night sky.

Zou Feng hadn’t come here for a massacre, so he had naturally held back on that strike.

As a result, He Qingshan didn’t explode into a million pieces with the lotus. Instead, he plummeted to the ground like a kite with a severed string.

After hitting the ground, he struggled to his feet, but only managed to prop himself halfway up before collapsing again.

The Danxin Alliance disciples stared blankly, still unable to process the scene before them.

’They had to get this straight... what in the world just happened?’

’Zou Feng came to challenge us, Eldest Senior Brother stepped forward, they barely exchanged two pleasantries, and suddenly he was blasted into the air where a lotus exploded. Now he can’t even get up?!’

’Wait, they’re both Seventh Grade. Can the power gap really be this massive?’

"The Cultivation Skill of the Fu Hu Martial Arts Hall is an utter mess!"

There could be no more fitting line. Zou Feng stared at He Qingshan, who was still trying to get up, and the words came out almost instinctively.

"Next!" Zou Feng’s gaze swept across the crowd.

But the disciples, who moments ago were fiercely cheering on their Eldest Senior Brother, had all taken several steps back, each trying to shove their companions in front of them.

"Young man, where you can show mercy, you should!"

"This was just a spar! Your methods are far too ruthless!"

The two shouts came almost simultaneously. From behind the crowd, two figures leaped high into the air, darting toward Zou Feng.

Zou Feng had never met these two before, but one glance at the fluctuations of their Inner Qi told him they were both Seventh Grade masters.

Of course, this was normal. The Danxin Alliance was in the middle of a meeting to discuss important business, so naturally all five of its Seventh Grade masters were present.

Though he had never seen them, Zou Feng had already deduced their identities based on the information he had.

The one who looked to be over sixty, his eyes as sharp as a falcon’s, had to be Zhang Zhengze, the master of the Celestial Roc Martial Arts Hall.

The middle-aged man shouldering a Yanyue Blade was evidently Chen An, master of the Yidao Martial Arts Hall.

Zou Feng was here to issue a challenge, so for two Seventh Grade masters to attack him simultaneously was a clear violation of martial ethics.

The two of them were clearly aware of this, which is why they shouted about Zou Feng being too ruthless, using the pretext of rescuing He Qingshan to justify their attack.

In truth, they knew that a one-on-one fight was a lost cause and they had to resort to trickery.

The upper echelons of the Danxin Alliance had clearly come to a silent, mutual understanding in the rear courtyard.

Even if Zhang Zhengze and Chen An couldn’t defeat Zou Feng, they could at least pave the way for Shi Yangming...

As for their dishonorable conduct, Zou Feng couldn’t give a damn.

First, he conjured a large Fire Lotus and launched it at Chen An. Then, he closed in on Zhang Zhengze, using his Great Universal Hand to clash with the man’s Palm Skill.

Turns out, the man was nothing compared to Deng Guangxin. After only five or six exchanges, Zhang Zhengze felt a searing pain in his palms.

He beat a hasty retreat, shaking his hands to try and soothe the pain.

But Zou Feng wasn’t about to give him that chance. During their exchange, his Inner Qi had already adhered to Zhang Zhengze’s palms.

Seeing Zhang Zhengze trying to escape, Zou Feng gave a sharp tug and yanked him back.

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

Dragging Zhang Zhengze back, Zou Feng channeled the power of "Laziness" from his Great Universal Hand and viciously slapped the man across the face several times.

The slaps instantly extinguished Zhang Zhengze’s will to fight. He became too lazy to even break his fall and crashed rigidly to the ground.

"Celestial Roc Palm? What a joke! It’s flimsy and useless!"

The words had barely left his lips when a fierce wind howled behind him. Evidently, Chen An had renewed his attack, swinging his Yanyue Blade.

But Zou Feng didn’t dodge. Activating his Tribulation-Indestructible Body, he caught the flat of the blade. Then, Emitting Force with both hands, he twisted the Yanyue Blade like a pretzel.

Then, as Chen An watched in horror, Zou Feng slapped him across the face.

"AHH—"

Chen An shrieked and fell to the ground, where he could only writhe while clutching his face.

"The Saber Skill of the Yidao Martial Arts Hall is also an utter mess!"

With that, Zou Feng scanned the crowd again and boomed, "Who else!?"

BOOM!

A clap like muffled thunder suddenly echoed through the clear night sky.

At the same time, a figure shot out of nowhere, rocketing straight toward Zou Feng.

Shi Yangming had finally made his move.

He had no intention of wasting words; he had already seen just how formidable Zou Feng was.

At this point, there was no meaning in adhering to martial ethics. His only choice was to launch a sneak attack, whatever the cost, and see if he could force a more favorable outcome.

Shi Yangming had cultivated the two great ultimate skills of the Fu Hu Martial Arts Hall—the Thunderbolt Fist and its counterpart, the Thunderbolt Blade—to the Realm of Refining Fire.

From a distance, the Thunderbolt Rolling Blade Technique he now executed truly resembled a horizontal bolt of lightning hurtling toward Zou Feng.

’A sneak attack?’

Zou Feng gave a savage grin. He spread his hands, a blur of Flower Hand motions, and met Shi Yangming’s Thunderbolt Rolling Blade Technique head-on.

Blade met palm. In an instant, the entire arena, with the two fighters at its center, became a whirlwind of palm and blade afterimages, each surging toward the other in an overwhelming flood.

One might have expected this seemingly "evenly matched" clash to last for some time. But before long, it was Zou Feng who first showed a hint of impatience.

"Too slow, too slow, far too slow!"

He wasn’t just mocking Shi Yangming. Compared to Deng Guangxin’s fists, Shi Yangming’s Saber Skill truly was far too slow.

Hearing the taunts, Shi Yangming assumed it was just one of Zou Feng’s psychological ploys. He initially planned to ignore it and remain focused on his attacks.

But a quick glance at Zou Feng revealed that the man was, in fact, effortlessly parrying all of his moves, looking completely at ease.

In fact, his look of impatience was identical to the one Shi Yangming himself wore when instructing disciples at the Hu Martial Arts Hall...

’Could the gap in our abilities truly be this immense?!’

’Impossible! Absolutely impossible! The kid has to be faking it! He’s just toughing it out!’

Gritting his teeth, Shi Yangming pushed himself harder. His blade strikes quickened, the afterimages growing even denser.

But Zou Feng was still not satisfied. "Not good enough. Still too slow!"

"With a blade that slow, how do you even make a living in this world?"

At these words, Shi Yangming’s mental state nearly shattered.

"AAAAHHH—"

He roared furiously and accelerated again. But under the strain of this forced speed, his techniques lost all form and were completely devoid of power.

Seeing this was enough, Zou Feng suddenly stepped back, cupped his fist, and said, "I accept your concession."

Shi Yangming stopped, panting heavily. He didn’t care why Zou Feng had suddenly called a halt to the fight.

Instead, after catching his breath, he spoke in a tone bordering on a sob, "My... my blade isn’t slow! You’re lying!"

Shi Yangming had completely lost it. He could accept losing the duel, but he could not stand having his blade called slow.

"Actually, I came to the Fu Hu Martial Arts Hall because I have something to discuss with Alliance Leader Shi." The shock and awe had worked; Zou Feng couldn’t be bothered to fight any longer.

Shi Yangming finally regained a sliver of his composure and asked uncertainly, "What is it?"

"Please come to the Dragon Gate Boat, Alliance Leader Shi. Gao Jun of the Mountain and River Association is there as well. We can all talk together."

Hearing this, Shi Yangming frowned. "Today is inconvenient. We can talk another day."

Now it was Zou Feng who was displeased. "There’s no time like the present, Alliance Leader Shi. Let’s not keep Gao Jun waiting."

"I told you, today is inconvenient—Ah! You brat, how dare you!"

’Does this guy still not get the situation? An old man like him is going to throw a tantrum at me?’

Zou Feng had no patience for this. He used his sticky Inner Qi to yank the man over, clamped one hand over his mouth and nose, and used his other hand to "calm" Shi Yangming’s emotions with the Great Universal Hand.

Then, with a single leap, he was gone, vanishing into the night with Shi Yangming in a headlock.

"Alliance—Leader—"

"Let the Alliance Leader go!"

"Quick, after them! Save the Alliance Leader!!"

"Maybe we should report this to the authorities..."

With Shi Yangming in tow, Zou Feng raced back, soon arriving at the Dragon Gate Boat Gathering Hall.

As for his pursuers, they lost sight of even his shadow in no time at all.

Gao Jun was still waiting, his heart pounding with anxiety.

Finally, overcome by thirst, he had just picked up his teacup again.

"Sorry for the wait!" Zou Feng said as he strode into the Gathering Hall with Shi Yangming slung over his shoulder.

He then tossed the unconscious Shi Yangming into the chair beside Gao Jun.

"Now, we can have a proper talk..." Zou Feng said, taking the main seat.

Gao Jun stared blankly at Shi Yangming’s slumped form, then suddenly realized with a jolt that the teacup in his hand... was still warm!

P.S. Had another bout of diarrhea, I’m completely drained. Nothing I can do about it... sigh.