Both men gathered their energy into their palms. Hands rose and fell, fists and kicks clashed, their movements swift as thunder and lightning. They fought fiercely for a long while, each attacking and defending in turn. Their stances were solid, waist and horse stance unified, neither yielding an inch. They moved like dragons and tigers—whether holding the horse stance, dropping into a low crouch, advancing with palm strikes, withdrawing with raised palms, or following with turning strikes—their foundations were equally firm.
At that moment, Ding Qiang launched a series of attacks aimed at three vital points of Xiao Zhuang, fierce and precise. Xiao Zhuang reacted with astonishing speed. Drawing in a breath, his chest and abdomen suddenly contracted by half a foot, narrowly evading the thrust. He immediately counterattacked with full force, his palms striking out swiftly from both sides. Ding Qiang had not expected such speed. Two invisible waves of palm force surged toward him. He spun to evade, but was a moment too slow. With a loud bang, his left shoulder was struck, and his body was sent flying backward three zhang.
Xiao Zhuang cupped his fists and said, "Brother Ding, forgive me."
Shi Tian, chief escort of the Dragon-Tiger Escort Agency, hurried forward and announced loudly, "Xiao Zhuang of the Mighty Wind Sect is victorious." After a pause, he continued, "Now we invite Sect Leader Xiao Xiong of the Four Directions Sect and Sect Leader Gu Yi of the Mighty Wind Sect to the arena."
Applause erupted from the crowd as the two stepped into the field.
Xiao Xiong said, "Your disciple Xiao Zhuang is indeed formidable. Though Ding Qiang is defeated, his effort was honorable."
Gu Yi replied, "Their bout was but a spar. The grudges between our two sects cannot be settled by words. The only way is a one-on-one duel."
Xiao Xiong said coldly, "Though we fight unarmed, fists and kicks have no eyes. Life and death are left to fate."
Gu Yi snorted. "The stronger one speaks the truth. Enough talk—let us begin!"
"So be it," said Xiao Xiong.
With that, he drew in a surge of inner energy from his dantian. His robes fluttered with a tearing sound as his body shot forward like lightning. In an instant, his fist struck. Gu Yi reacted quickly. Knowing his opponent's decades of cultivation, he dared not be careless. With a shout, he slid sideways, instantly changing direction, leaping several feet away.
Xiao Xiong, worthy of his title, struck only empty air but immediately turned and pursued. The moment Gu Yi's feet touched the ground, Xiao Xiong's fists and palms arrived simultaneously. The two exchanged over ten moves in rapid succession, drawing cheers from the onlookers. Their profound skill inspired awe and admiration.
Xiao Xiong pressed his assault relentlessly, yet Gu Yi proved elusive, full of cunning variations. Known for his scheming and unpredictability, Gu Yi seized the moment when Xiao Xiong struck. Sinking his energy into the dantian, he suddenly changed direction and darted back into the field. Xiao Xiong leapt after him, unleashing a barrage of blows that stirred dust and stones, aiming to finish the fight in one decisive strike.
These strikes were far more powerful than those of Ding Qiang or Xiao Zhuang. Suddenly, Gu Yi slipped behind a stone lion at the temple gate. With a rush of wind, a figure shot out, charging straight at Xiao Xiong's face. Xiao Xiong let out a faint snort and struck with both fists and palms. Their four palms collided. With a thunderous crash, their forces met midair, and both were forced back ten paces before regaining their footing.
Relying on his pure inner strength, Xiao Xiong clashed head-on with Gu Yi and matched him evenly. Gu Yi had deliberately lured him, springing out from behind a tree with sudden speed. Neither gained the upper hand, and both were inwardly shocked.
Xiao Xiong's palm strikes were fierce and direct, cutting and smashing with overwhelming force—his style was one of sheer power. Gu Yi, on the other hand, was calculating and cautious, his techniques elegant, varied, and unpredictable—his style was one of subtlety and flexibility. Today's battle was perfectly matched, each with their own strengths.
Xiao Xiong's expression darkened. "Do not think the Four Directions Sect fears the Mighty Wind Sect. My iron palms are my pride. If you are unconvinced, let us continue!"
Gu Yi sneered. "Do not think I fear you. That was merely a warm-up!"
Their harsh words concealed their unease; in truth, neither dared underestimate the other.
Gu Yi gathered his energy and unleashed a force unlike before, shooting forward like an arrow from a bow. Xiao Xiong, relying on his powerful style, refused to yield. Both understood that in the struggle for dominance, strength was everything—only the strong ruled, the weak had no value. As the saying goes, "The strong fear the fierce, and the fierce fear those who fear nothing."
This battle would determine the rise or fall of their sects. Their movements were swift and precise, worthy of sect leaders.
Xiao Xiong sank into a horse stance and shouted, "Splitting the Mountain!" Both palms struck out, wind roaring as they shot toward Gu Yi's chest like lightning.
Gu Yi slid aside, turning his body, his left hand coiling inward before he spun and struck out with his right palm, shouting, "Single Palm Splits Stone!"
In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged over fifty moves. The decisive moment seemed near. Their techniques shifted constantly, fists and palms alternating, offense and defense intertwined, movements swift and fluid. The sound of their blows echoed continuously.
Suddenly, Gu Yi changed his technique, turning his palm into fingers and stabbing toward Xiao Xiong's chest at the Tanzhong acupoint. Startled, Xiao Xiong retreated two steps, instantly transforming his fist into a claw, advancing to strike Gu Yi's ribs. Gu Yi twisted aside, turning his fingers back into a palm and slashing toward Xiao Xiong's shoulder.
They shouted as they fought, their techniques endless. Xiao Xiong's moves were heavy and forceful, while Gu Yi's were ever-changing. Suddenly, Xiao Xiong leapt into the air, diving down with both arms shaking as he unleashed a series of palm strikes. Though Gu Yi's techniques were exquisite, he was caught off guard by Xiao Xiong's desperate assault. Forced to evade, he failed to fully escape—a heavy palm struck his left shoulder.
At that critical moment, a figure flashed in, shouting, "Stop!"
A palm strike came crashing in. Xiao Xiong had no time to pursue. He turned and met it with his own strike. With a resounding boom, their palms collided. They separated instantly, each retreating.
Xiao Xiong was forced back several steps, startled. Then he shouted angrily, "Who dares interfere?!"
The newcomer replied calmly, "Sect Leader Xiao, your skills are impressive."