Chen Jinfeng struck again and again, beating Zhu Feng until he was utterly powerless to retaliate. At that moment, a series of booming palm strikes rang out as a fierce gust of palm wind swept straight toward Zhu Feng's face. Zhu Feng's footwork suddenly changed—his body rose and halted in rapid succession, spinning and turning with lightning speed. Chen Jinfeng let out a sharp cry and unleashed her palms like flashes of lightning, striking seven times in succession. Each palm strike was ferocious beyond measure, powerful enough to shatter mountains and split stone. Her advance was like a raging dragon or a fierce tiger, pressing forward relentlessly, launching continuous attacks without pause.
Seeing the situation turn dire and knowing he could not withstand her force head-on, Zhu Feng twisted and turned his body several times to evade. Suddenly, he dropped to the ground and rolled swiftly. Chen Jinfeng followed up with a flurry of kicks, each one landing in rapid succession. As Zhu Feng rolled across the ground, he secretly gathered his strength, then suddenly leapt backward into the air. Mid-air, he let out a piercing whistle and executed a move called "Looking Back at the Moon," diving down from above and counterattacking with two palms. The power was immense, the counterstrike lightning-fast—utterly unexpected.
Chen Jinfeng felt a fierce gale rush toward her face. Shocked, yet remaining calm, she changed her move instantly, lifting her foot and retreating explosively backward, her body flying several zhang away. Having gained the advantage, Zhu Feng would not let such an opportunity slip. He poured all his internal energy into his attacks, launching several rapid strikes in succession—each a killing move, pressing forward step by step. This was the Huashan Sect's "Jade-Shattering Fist."
At this critical moment, Chen Jinfeng was in extreme danger. Yet her Heavenly Gang Palm Technique, which stored rigid power within while displaying softness without, now transformed force with exquisite finesse. In an instant, she turned peril into safety.
Below Lotus Peak, the two fought with wild ferocity. Gales howled, the clash was brutal and perilous to the extreme. Their footwork was superb, attacks and counters exchanged in dazzling succession. The onlookers around the field could not help but exclaim in admiration. After a prolonged struggle, Zhu Feng suddenly sealed Chen Jinfeng's attack with both palms, twisted his body, spun around, and unleashed a move called "Moon Beneath, Stars Before." The technique was full of变化—ethereal and elegant beyond compare. His arms shook, his body flashed like lightning, and he charged straight in.
Chen Jinfeng responded with full force, her attacks swift as a raging wind. Several palms lashed out in succession, fast as thunder, weaving back and forth like a shuttle. Zhu Feng, a man skilled in schemes and calculation, saw the ferocity of the incoming strikes and immediately stepped back to evade. In his heart, he quickly devised a plan and executed the move "Floating and Sinking." This was a soft palm technique—his body followed Chen Jinfeng's strikes, advancing and retreating along with her palms, yielding and responding in harmony.
At this critical juncture, Zhu Feng suddenly unleashed the Huashan Sect's ultimate technique—"Iron Finger Art," thrusting straight toward Chen Jinfeng's Danzhong acupoint. The move came without warning. Had the opponent been a man, it would have been impossible to guard against in time. However, for a woman, this acupoint lay within the bosom, a region instinctively protected. Feeling a hand suddenly brush against her body, Chen Jinfeng was startled, reacting almost purely on instinct. She spat angrily and shouted, "Have you no shame?!"
She immediately countered, grabbing backhandedly. The two exchanged finger and claw techniques in rapid succession. During the earlier Huashan Sect leadership contest, Zhu Feng had used this very Iron Finger Art to pierce Sima Lun's palm with a single strike, defeating the famed master and earning instant renown throughout the martial world. But today, repeating the same trick proved completely ineffective.
Chen Jinfeng was furious beyond measure. Summoning all her strength and rage, she shouted, "You dare call yourself righteous? If I don't show my power, you'll think I'm a sickly kitten!"
Zhu Feng's scheme having failed, he too grew angry. He arrogantly raised his head and said, "In martial combat, why waste words?" Shameless as he was, even as he spoke, he twisted his waist and arms and suddenly launched another move—"Caught Off Guard," striking straight toward Chen Jinfeng's face with several rapid palms.
Though Chen Jinfeng was no maiden, such humiliation was unbearable. Burning with vengeance, she resolved to settle matters here and now. She lifted her head sharply, her eyes blazing with venomous light, and shouted sternly, "So this is what the Huashan Sect's leader amounts to!"
Almost simultaneously, Chen Jinfeng sprang into the air, swift as lightning. Executing "Arrows Falling Like a Forest," she lunged at Zhu Feng. He raised his arms to block. Chen Jinfeng feinted twice, then thrust her right palm forward with blinding speed. Zhu Feng countered with his own palm. The two exchanged blows, real and feigned indistinguishable. Several palms clashed—blocking, chopping, striking.
Zhu Feng's internal strength was inferior, and Chen Jinfeng's techniques were far more refined. At this point, Zhu Feng's true energy was exhausted; his movements slowed. Chen Jinfeng pushed and followed through with both palms, shouting sharply—pa! A palm strike landed squarely on Zhu Feng's abdomen, sending him reeling backward. Her left palm feinted again, followed immediately by Jade Ring Steps and Mandarin Duck Legs, unleashing a flurry of six consecutive kicks. Two of them landed solidly, kicking Zhu Feng straight into the air and sending him crashing onto the grass.
Before all the heroes of the martial world, Western Sacred Matron Chen Jinfeng kicked Zhu Feng flying—utterly domineering! It could truly be said she beat the Huashan Sect leader soundly and vented her fury completely. She brushed off her hands disdainfully and sneered, "So-called righteous sects, yet your moves are so vile and dirty. Fists and feet know no mercy—today, I'll offend you all!"
The Huashan disciples, seeing their sect leader humiliated and verbally crushed, had no words in defense. All were overwhelmed with shame. Zhu Feng himself, badly injured and utterly miserable, dared not speak. Two disciples could only help him up and escort him away in disgrace.
As the sun gradually sank westward, a gentle breeze rustled through the branches, producing a soft sha-sha sound, adding a chilling, murderous atmosphere. Chief Judge Cui Fujun stepped into the field and announced loudly, "Western Sacred Matron Chen Jinfeng, please rest briefly. After one incense stick's time, you will face White Lotus Sect Leader Huangfu in battle!"
Enemies are destined to meet. Their feud traced back to a devastating defeat suffered by the Western Sacred Sect in the Western Regions. After faking her death and returning to the Central Plains, Chen Jinfeng realized her martial arts were insufficient to dominate the world. Desperate to obtain supreme skills, she allied with Empress Palace Master Nangong Yan to scheme for the madman Situ Kong's secret manual—the Nine Heavens Manual.
They drugged Situ Kong with a tasteless, colorless poison that drained his power, but just as success seemed within reach, Wu Tong inadvertently ruined their plan. Harboring deep hatred, Chen Jinfeng sought revenge by recruiting the White Lotus Sect Leader and the Five Supreme Elders. Yet fate betrayed her again. Not only did Situ Kong come to Wu Tong's aid, he also mocked and humiliated her repeatedly, ruining her reputation.
Enraged, Chen Jinfeng demanded that White Lotus Sect Leader Huangfu avenge her by teaching Situ Kong a lesson. But Huangfu had no idea that Situ Kong's martial arts had reached a transcendent realm. Defeated, Huangfu even begged for mercy and fled without notice—nearly causing Chen Jinfeng to die under Wu Tong's Crouching Dragon Blade. From that moment on, a deep vendetta was sealed between them.