Tiger Elder Wang Tao, confident in his status, said, "Xuanwu Elder, no need for courtesy. Make your move!"
Xuanwu Elder Shen Er leapt forward and launched his attack, striking suddenly with a palm. The speed of his blow was astonishing. Wang Tao twisted his body to evade, freeing himself just in time, and countered with a sweeping left palm before swiftly retreating. Had Wang Tao not been so quick, he would surely have been injured by Shen Er.
In that instant, Wang Tao evaded repeatedly, retreating several zhang away. Shen Er, swift as lightning, cut off his path in an instant. Now that his divine skill had just been perfected, his palm techniques flowed endlessly, each move executed with effortless precision. For a moment, Wang Tao could not fully recover from the relentless assault.
As the saying goes, life is like a game of chess—once a move is made, there is no regret. One misstep leads to another; a single careless move can cost the entire game.
Wang Tao, who had always looked down on others, now found himself on the defensive, trapped in a perilous situation. Suddenly, he roared and unleashed the technique "Snatching Teeth from the Tiger's Mouth." His body flickered, both hands darting forward, his legs sweeping horizontally. His limbs moved with blinding speed, attacking like lightning, palms falling like rain.
Shen Er was startled, but in the blink of an eye, Wang Tao's palm had already reached his chest. Shen Er inwardly praised the strike and met it head-on. As their fists and palms clashed, Shen Er suddenly recalled the formula of "Half Push, Half Yield." He immediately applied the technique.
He fought not with brute force, but with intent.
Wang Tao struck with full power, yet his force was turned back against him. After only a few exchanges, he found himself in disarray. Realizing the subtle brilliance of Shen Er's palm techniques, he quickly changed tactics. With a move called "Knee-Advancing Elbow Step," he targeted Shen Er's lower body, launching a chain of kicks and elbow strikes.
Shen Er, seeing the unfamiliar technique, was momentarily at a loss and could only retreat, relying on evasive footwork.
Wang Tao was delighted.
Seizing the moment, he struck suddenly—his palm flashing toward Shen Er's chest.
Shen Er calmly traced an arc in the air with his left hand and casually sent out a palm.
Bang!
Both men were forced back several steps.
This was the technique "Feigning Refusal While Welcoming."
The two stared at each other in shock. Shen Er could not help but marvel—if it had been the Four Envoys, they would have already been blasted away. Yet Wang Tao's internal strength was profound; both had been forced back evenly.
Wang Tao, who had thought he had the advantage, had been pushed back by Shen Er's seemingly effortless palm. He could not comprehend how such a light strike carried such overwhelming power. His eyes blazed with anger as he demanded,
"What kind of technique was that?"
Shen Er, proud and composed, replied, "That move is called 'Feigning Refusal While Welcoming.'"
Wang Tao frowned. "Shen Er, I've seen your techniques before. The forms are the same—but your timing, angles, and speed are completely different. You must have been guided by a master!"
Shen Er nodded. "You're right. Last year, I encountered the wife of Hall Master Wu of the Hall of Loyalty. When I used this palm technique against her, she said it was stolen from a senior master and called it the 'Seven Absolutes Palm.' Seeing that I performed it poorly, she gave me a thorough beating."
He paused, then continued calmly, "But during our exchange, she also taught me a few key principles of the palm techniques. For that, I am deeply grateful. She is, in truth, my master. Without her guidance, I might have practiced this art my entire life without understanding it."
His words were sincere, without the slightest resentment. Everyone present could feel his honesty, as though fate itself had favored him.
Back then, Ling Xian'er had not intended to teach him. She had merely spoken a few words in passing to prove that Shen Er's master had stolen the Seven Absolutes Palm, inadvertently revealing the key principles of three techniques. Yet Shen Er, obsessed with martial arts, memorized them immediately. After returning to the Nine Heavens Palace, he studied day and night, contemplating her movements and refining his practice.
He labored tirelessly—and Heaven does not fail the diligent.
Today, he had finally risen.
In truth, Ling Xian'er had only revealed three techniques. Yet those three moves were enough to make the entire martial world regard Shen Er in a new light—just as Cheng Yaojin of the Tang dynasty became famous with only his "three axe strikes." True mastery lies not in quantity, but in depth. Its mysteries can only be grasped in the heart, not explained in words.
Shen Er asked calmly, "Shall we continue?"
Wang Tao, unwilling to lose face, glared at him. His expression darkened.
"Of course we fight! Watch closely—I'll grant your wish!"
With that, his body flickered like a swallow skimming the air. His wrists turned, and both palms swept toward Shen Er.
Shen Er hesitated briefly, sensing the danger. He dared not underestimate his opponent. Planting his stance, he once again used "Half Push, Half Yield."
In an instant, their palms clashed.
Wang Tao exerted full strength, while Shen Er smiled faintly, his technique embodying the balance of Yin and Yang. Yet once again, Wang Tao's power was redirected back upon him. After several exchanges, he was thrown into disorder.
"Change techniques!" he shouted.
Their energies surged. Moves shifted, forms changed. In a blink, they had exchanged four moves and twelve variations.
Shen Er suddenly said, "Watch this move carefully."
He unleashed "Willows in Mist."
His assault surged forth. His footwork flowed like drifting shadows, his fists and palms unified. His movements were clean, precise, and ruthless—each strike swift, accurate, and deadly.
Wang Tao saw palm shadows fill the sky and quickly switched techniques, resorting to his life-saving move—"Escaping the Tiger's Jaws." His palms turned into claws, his body leaping like a tiger, darting and evading with rapid bounds.
Suddenly, their palms collided again.
Bang!
Both were sent flying backward, dissipating each other's force before landing steadily.
At that very moment, a clear voice rang out:
"Xuanwu Elder, what remarkable skill!"
The voice was crisp and bright. It seemed to come from afar, yet also from nearby. It sounded unmistakably like that of a young woman…