Chapter 36: Both Offensive and Defensive

Chu Xiong lunged forward. Though his speed was not exceptional, the terrifying pressure he emanated was palpable, accompanied by the manifestation of a black bear martial spirit behind him.

Chu Xiong had reached the tenth stage of Body Refining. Coupled with his black bear martial spirit, his cultivation techniques were clearly perfectly aligned with that creature. While a black bear might seem unremarkable, it possessed immense defensive capabilities and astonishing strength, making it a beast that balanced both offense and defense. On this continent, any animal capable of becoming a martial spirit was naturally no mere beast, but a top-tier specimen of its kind.

Lu Qingyun retreated rapidly. Chu Xiong slammed a palm onto the table, shattering the solid marble surface into dust.

"Boom..."

Li Changfeng and his companions quickly fell back; they were no match for this man, and intervening would have been futile. Lu Qingyun was at the eighth stage of Body Refining—only two stages behind his opponent. Perhaps he had a fighting chance?

Lu Qingyun did not draw a weapon. He merely looked from the pulverized table to Chu Xiong, who broke into a boisterous laugh.

"Hahahaha! What? Shocked by my power? That’s only natural, isn't it? Your strength is nowhere near mine. Even if you possess the Azure Dragon martial spirit and your cultivation speed is fast, you still cannot compare to me!"

Lu Qingyun showed no trace of fear in his eyes. Instead, he shook his head slowly. "When did I say I was afraid? I just think it’s a pity about this table. If I recall correctly, there are rules here, right? Damaged property must be compensated for at its full price. Everyone saw it—I didn’t move a muscle. He was the one who broke it. You all saw that, didn't you?"

Lu Qingyun’s genuine concern for the cost rather than his own safety served as a provocation that Chu Xiong felt deeply.

Seeing his second uncle’s fury, Chu Feiyang added fuel to the fire. "Even if he destroys this entire place, our Chu family can afford to pay for it. You offended someone you shouldn't have, and you should have considered the consequences! Did you think you could escape? Or were you planning to play the coward? My second uncle’s methods are ruthless; prepare yourself for death!"

Chu Feiyang turned to his uncle and shouted, "Second Uncle, you weren't here earlier to hear what he said. He claimed that with his own strength, he could destroy our entire Chu family, that he alone could wipe us off this continent! From today on, I will practice harder; I will never allow someone like this to bully us and remain so arrogant. It’s all my fault..." Chu Feiyang feigned a look of immense grievance.

As a senior of the family, Chu Xiong was consumed by rage upon hearing this. "Rest assured, anyone who provokes our Chu family will meet a miserable end. Even if I haven't returned to my peak, dealing with a small fry like this is easy enough! It is only a pity about that Azure Dragon martial spirit. If it were mine, I would surely attain even greater power, but..."

Chu Xiong paused, as if struck by a thought. He turned toward Lu Qingyun with a sinister, twisted smile. "Heh heh, just because I cannot do it doesn't mean others cannot. I remember our Chu family possesses a special secret technique. In that case, we shall beat him to a pulp and take him back. If we can extract his Azure Dragon martial spirit, wouldn't that grant us immense power? Such a top-tier martial spirit is not something one encounters every day..."

Lu Qingyun had assumed they were merely arrogant, but he never expected them to be so cruel. To think they would actually contemplate extracting someone else's martial spirit?

Hearing this, Lu Qingyun did not panic. He let out a cold laugh and said slowly, "Heh, it seems people like you love to indulge in fantasies. With such a large family, why can't you stop dreaming? At your age, to have such mediocre strength... I’m embarrassed for you. How can you stand there and spout such shameless nonsense? Who are you trying to convince?"

Lu Qingyun did not draw his weapon, for he wanted to test the true power of the eighth stage of Body Refining. In truth, a gap of two stages was not insurmountable. Those with terrifying techniques and tactical acumen could often defeat opponents two stages higher. However, Chu Xiong was at the pinnacle of his stage, on the verge of a breakthrough. Having stagnated there for decades, he had mastered his techniques and possessed combat experience far superior to Lu Qingyun’s. To win, Lu Qingyun would have to rely on the suppression provided by his martial spirit. It was precisely because the Azure Dragon martial spirit was far stronger than ordinary ones that Lu Qingyun felt so confident.

Otherwise, he would never have engaged in a battle unprepared or taken unnecessary risks. He believed he would reach much higher realms in the future and would not waste his life on such trifles. He chose to fight partly because he had been backed into a corner, and partly because he wanted to test the limits of his current strength. It was a golden opportunity; battling such a man might even trigger his own latent potential.

[Ding! Trash-tier combatant, defeat this wretched fellow and be rewarded with cultivation essence!]

Hearing that familiar voice in his mind, Lu Qingyun felt the system wasn't quite as cold as he thought. Last time, he had benefited from a boost in cultivation, and though the "some" wasn't specified—it could be infinite or minuscule—it was better than nothing.

A smile tugged at Lu Qingyun’s lips, but Chu Xiong took it as a provocation.

"You can still smile?" Chu Xiong gritted his teeth. "Today, I’ll let you taste my might!"

Lu Qingyun was still basking in the joy of the impending reward when Chu Xiong snapped. The burly man charged like a wild bear tearing through a jungle. He swung his massive fists wildly. Lu Qingyun retreated rapidly, choosing to dodge. It wasn't out of fear, but because the man’s strength was truly terrifying. His combination of martial arts and martial spirit made him a juggernaut of offense and defense; Lu Qingyun couldn't find an opening.

Chu Xiong’s attacks, however, were clumsy and lacking in speed, but his raw power was so immense that the elegant private room was already a ruin. Looking at the wreckage, Lu Qingyun felt a twinge of guilt—not for the cost, but for the loss of so many delicious dishes.

As Lu Qingyun pondered this, Chu Xiong panted, "Is that all you can do besides dodge? Do you dare face me head-on?"

Beads of sweat had formed on Chu Xiong’s forehead, and his clothes were soaked. He stood still, his eyes burning with even deeper rage, feeling like a fool being toyed with.

Lu Qingyun shook his head slowly. "Why should I listen to you? I do as I please and will never be commanded by anyone. You’re tired, aren't you? That’s what happens when you’re old. I haven't even started, and you’re already out of steam? I haven't had my fill of fun yet!"

Lu Qingyun’s words infuriated him. Chu Xiong realized he had been played. He clenched his fists and lunged again, but whether from exhaustion or depleted spiritual energy, his footing was unsteady. He stumbled.

Lu Qingyun had been tracking his every move. Seeing the opening, how could he let it pass? His figure flickered, and he charged, still without a weapon, focusing the power of the Azure Dragon projection into his fist.

The onlookers held their breath, uncertain if Lu Qingyun could truly defeat Chu Xiong. But just as Lu Qingyun neared him, Chu Xiong suddenly surged with power, throwing a black-clad fist toward him. Had Lu Qingyun not dodged, that blow would have shattered his skull.

"Boom..."

The fist slammed into the wall, leaving a massive hole. Chu Xiong had feigned the opening to bait him. Seeing Lu Qingyun predict and dodge his strike, Chu Xiong was shocked. The trap had been meticulously set; anyone else would have been struck.

Lu Qingyun sneered. "So confident, yet you resort to such underhanded tricks? Isn't your power 'great'? I never expected you to use such methods against me. How laughable..."

Lu Qingyun continued to goad him, and Chu Xiong finally lost control. He activated his ring, pulled out several vials of pills, opened them, and downed them frantically.

Li Changfeng warned, "Those pills are all for boosting strength and speed! Be careful!" He then threw several vials to Lu Qingyun.

Lu Qingyun caught them, opened one, and swallowed the contents without hesitation, immediately feeling his strength and speed surge.

Li Changfeng said earnestly, "It's safe to take; there are no side effects!"

Lu Qingyun replied with a smile, "I’ll return the favor twofold!"

Lu Qingyun’s relaxed demeanor infuriated Chu Xiong, who glared at him with a twisted expression. "Li Changfeng, just you wait!"

Li Changfeng hadn't wanted to get involved, but at this point, there was no turning back. If the Chu family sought revenge, he would have to endure it. Even if he hadn't intervened, the Chu family would eventually target the Heavenly Spirit Sect anyway. Life is about spirit; since he could make himself feel better, why not do it?

Lu Qingyun stopped dodging. He accelerated, charging forward. This sudden change in tactics caught Chu Xiong off guard, especially since he didn't recognize the footwork Lu Qingyun was using.

In reality, Lu Qingyun wasn't using any specific technique; he had no family heritage and no system rewards for footwork. He was simply relying on his past experience! Before arriving on this continent, he had been obsessed with extreme sports. His old body hadn't been able to perform them, but this one could.

Amidst the ruins of the room, Lu Qingyun moved with incredible agility. His landing points and body angles were entirely unpredictable. Suddenly, he appeared behind Chu Xiong, the power of the Azure Dragon martial spirit concentrated in his fist, and struck Chu Xiong squarely in the back.

"Boom..."

A loud thud echoed, but Chu Xiong didn't budge. He wasn't injured, nor did he move. He turned his head with a smile. "Did you think that would hurt me?"

Indeed, the man’s martial spirit was perfectly balanced between offense and defense.

As Lu Qingyun prepared to pull away, Chu Xiong grabbed him with a massive hand. His black fist swung toward Lu Qingyun’s head again with such immense force that the wind from the punch ruffled Lu Qingyun’s hair.

Just as the fist was about to connect, Chu Xiong suddenly froze. To everyone’s bewilderment, blood began to trickle from the corner of Chu Xiong’s mouth. He stared at Lu Qingyun with wide, disbelieving eyes and whispered weakly, "You... you..."