Chapter 229: Against Fists

Wang Chao and Elder Hong Hao exchanged glances from their seats on the platform.

"Bai Chao excels at fist techniques. Liu Yang… he probably isn't a match, is he?"

Wang Chao hesitated, his voice lacking conviction. The previous contestants had all been so confident they would win, but they had all lost terribly. According to his initial thoughts, Bai Chao should win easily, but Zhang Xuan's students were just too unpredictable. His repeated miscalculations had left him with no confidence.

"I also think… he should be able to win…"

Elder Hong Hao also looked disheartened. He had desperately wanted Teacher Zhang to be disgraced and utterly defeated, but it seemed that humiliation was out of the question now. What they needed to do most was to figure out how to avoid being humiliated themselves.

"Bai Chao, don't hesitate! Unleash your strongest fist technique right from the start; don't give your opponent any opportunity!" Wang Chao gritted his teeth and roared towards the stage. There was no turning back now. If they lost this match, the last one wouldn't even matter. Their only course of action now was to make a desperate gamble and burn their bridges. Bai Chao excelled at fist techniques, so he should use his strongest attack to overwhelm his opponent. Otherwise, coming with such hope only to return defeated… how could his friend possibly become a disciple of the Three Masters again? How could he become an apprentice?

"Understood!"

Bai Chao nodded in response, his eyes narrowing. He had watched the first three matches and knew that Teacher Zhang's students, although not high in cultivation, each possessed considerable strength. There could be no hesitation or indecision. Otherwise, he would certainly repeat the same mistakes as before.

"Patriarch Wang Hong, do you think Bai Chao can win?"

In the spectator stands, Patriarch Bai Ming looked at Wang Hong, who was not far away. Both were patriarchs of great clans, overlords controlling their respective regions, and powerful cultivators at the Tongxuan realm, making them the most qualified to comment.

"I don't think so. Teacher Zhang has two wins and one draw, establishing his prestige. As long as Liu Yang isn't too bad, it will be difficult to reverse the situation."

Wang Hong shook his head. The matches were already past the halfway point, and Teacher Lu's students had been continuously suppressed. How could it be so easy for them to win now? Besides, his own daughter was a student of Teacher Zhang's and knew how astonishing Zhang Xuan's teachings were. Otherwise, his seemingly foolish daughter wouldn't have been able to kick Du Lei, a Martial Artist Three-dan practitioner, flying with a single kick. If even she was so powerful, Liu Yang certainly wouldn't be bad either.

"I disagree with your view!" Patriarch Bai Ming's eyes flashed like lightning.

"Oh?" Wang Hong looked at him in confusion.

"This Bai Chao is from my Bai clan, though from a very distant branch family, which I didn't know before. Just now, I had someone investigate him specifically, and he actually cultivates the Iron Armor Art!" Patriarch Bai Ming's tone seemed to carry a hint of disbelief.

"The Iron Armor Art? Could it be..." Patriarch Wang Hong was first stunned, then his pupils constricted. "Is it the cultivation art practiced by the Iron Armor Elder seventy years ago? Wasn't it lost long ago? How does your clansman know it?"

Few knew of the Iron Armor Art itself, but many, even among the younger generation, were aware of the Iron Armor Elder. He was a notorious phantom thief from seventy years ago. He committed robberies and all manner of evil deeds, striking fear into many, and was one of the most notorious figures in Tianxuan Kingdom's history. He was so arrogant that both the kingdom and various civilian forces sent out many masters to intercept him. Unfortunately, these powerful individuals all returned defeated; it could be said that whoever went, died.

Finally, one time his whereabouts were exposed, and he was surrounded by dozens of masters in a valley. Everyone knew his methods were formidable, so they didn't approach, instead using powerful crossbows to shoot from a distance. To their astonishment, they found that a layer resembling animal scales appeared on his body, making it impossible for arrows to penetrate. In other words, powerful crossbows and arrows could not harm him at all.

Left with no choice, they charged forward for close-quarters combat. The scales on his body offered nearly invincible defense, making it impossible for swords and blades to pierce them. That battle was so fierce that blood flowed like rivers, and the sun and moon lost their light. In the end, although the righteous side won, they also lost at least thirty Tongxuan realm experts, causing the Tianxuan Kingdom's overall national strength to decline significantly, almost failing to recover. Legend has it that the ultimate technique of growing scales all over the body was the Iron Armor Art!

Seventy years ago, with the death of the Iron Armor Elder, wasn't it lost long ago? How does this Bai Chao know it?

"The Iron Armor Art was lost, and what he cultivates is not the authentic Iron Armor Art." Bai Ming's expression was calm.

"Then…" Patriarch Wang Hong blinked.

"The authentic Iron Armor Art, when cultivated, covers the entire body with scales, making defense invincible. However, he has only cultivated it to his fists. This means that once he activates the art, his fists will become as terrifying as steel, and can even be used as weapons!" Patriarch Bai Ming revealed all the information he knew, finally explaining the reason for his previous statement: "Liu Yang's right hand was already injured, while this guy's fists are invincibly strong in defense, and their power is astonishing. Who do you think will win?"

"This… if it's truly the Iron Armor Art, it might indeed be very difficult to win…"

Patriarch Wang Hong's expression darkened. Knowing that history and the power of the Iron Armor Elder, one couldn't help but know the terror of the Iron Armor Art. This was no longer human; it was defense and power akin to that of a savage beast. With such an attack, let alone Liu Yang having been injured before, even if he hadn't, how could he possibly win?

"Actually… as long as Liu Yang isn't foolish enough to engage him in a direct fistfight and adopts evasive attacks, perhaps he won't be utterly defeated!" After a moment of contemplation, Patriarch Wang Hong said. The opponent's fists were formidable, but they also had weaknesses. That is, his defense and attack in other areas were relatively low. In that case, as long as Liu Yang didn't confront him head-on and adopted evasive attacks, he might not necessarily lose.

"I hope so, but… I'm afraid Liu Yang might not know and will fall for his trick." Patriarch Bai Ming gave a bitter smile. Although this Bai Chao was his clansman, he had no real affection for him and fundamentally hoped that Alchemist Zhang Xuan would win.

"This…" Just as he was about to retort, Patriarch Wang Hong heard the clear voices of the two youths on the competition stage ringing out.

"Liu Yang, I know your right hand's meridians were damaged before, but like Wang Ying, Teacher Zhang must have healed it, right?" Bai Chao looked over.

"That's right. Teacher Zhang saw the problem and personally went to the Alchemist Guild to get a Meridian Warming Pill. Now, my right arm is perfectly fine." Liu Yang nodded. Speaking of this matter, he was filled with pride and admiration. Only a selfless person like Teacher Zhang would devote so much to his students, without considering any gains or losses.

"Since it's healed, I have a suggestion. Are you interested? Let's stop with the flashy, complicated sparring and just have a direct fistfight. Whoever can't endure it, loses." Bai Chao sneered coldly. "Don't tell me you're scared, unless… your Teacher Zhang didn't actually heal your arm, and everything he said earlier was just bragging."

"A fistfight it is! Who's afraid of whom?" Hearing the opponent doubt Teacher Zhang, Liu Yang immediately flew into a rage and waved his hand.

"This fool…" Seeing his fears come true, that this guy had indeed fallen for the trap, Patriarch Wang Hong's expression changed. The opponent cultivated the Iron Armor Art; agreeing to a fistfight with him wasn't that seeking death?

"Go tell Teacher Zhang that Bai Chao cultivates the Iron Armor Art and his fists are incredibly hard. Under no circumstances should Liu Yang engage him in a fistfight…" He hastily turned and instructed a guard behind him.

The guard nodded, quickly approached Zhang Xuan, and relayed the message.

"Teacher Zhang, I've heard of the Iron Armor Art," Zhao Ya began. "It's a secret technique left by the Iron Armor Elder. From a young age, one's hands are soaked in the blood of Iron-Armored Beasts. Over time, the palms become as hard as steel. However, they also lose the flexibility of normal hands, making it difficult to discern objects by touch."

"As hard as steel?" Zhang Xuan said, perplexed. "What's the difference between that and wearing an iron gauntlet?" Cultivation was meant to evolve a person's life level. The more skilled one was, the higher the demands on their hands, and the more agile they became. This guy, on the other hand, trained his hands into steel, even losing basic touch and sensation. Even if the art was powerful, what was the use of it? He really didn't know what kind of perverse person would devise such a perverse cultivation art.

"Teacher Zhang, the Patriarch wants me to tell you to definitely dissuade Liu Yang from having a fistfight with him…" Seeing that the two of them still had the leisure to discuss the Iron Armor Art, the guard hastily interjected.

"Don't have a fistfight? Why?" Zhang Xuan looked over curiously. "I think Liu Yang's agreement is perfectly fine. Bai Chao is a Martial Artist Three-dan with true qi enhancement; both his speed and reaction capabilities are much stronger than Liu Yang's. If Liu Yang were to run when he couldn't win, they wouldn't be able to determine a winner in a day. Standing still for a fistfight happens to conceal many of Liu Yang's disadvantages. Why dissuade him?"

This was just like Yuan Tao's fight with Kong Jie in the first match. It was an unchangeable fact that Liu Yang and the others' cultivation was lower than their opponents'. If the opponent truly used flashy and complicated moves, they would have no recourse. Since they chose to stand still and fight, wasn't that exactly what he wanted?

"This…" The guard was exasperated. That's not how it is at all, okay?! Didn't I just tell you? The opponent cultivates the Iron Armor Art! Those are fists comparable to steel; it's impossible to win a fistfight against them…

Just as he was about to explain further, he saw figures shifting on the competition stage, and the two had already begun their battle. At this point, even if he wanted to dissuade them, it was too late.

"Since you agreed, then let's begin!"

Seeing that Liu Yang had fallen for his trap, Bai Chao let out an excited roar, took two steps forward, and threw a punch.

Boom!

The air compressed by his fist created a sonic boom. Sure enough, just as stated, its surface was covered with fine scales, as if it had transformed into the hooves or claws of a savage beast, exuding an abnormal sense of pressure.

"Bring it on!"

Liu Yang's eyebrows lifted, and he also raised his fist to meet it.

"It's over!" He hadn't expected that even after hastily sending out a guard, he still couldn't stop the two from engaging in a fistfight. Patriarch Wang Hong's face turned pale, and his body involuntarily swayed twice. How could a human fist possibly contend with the opponent's beast-like fist? Especially when their strength was far inferior?

He sighed with his eyes closed, just as he was about to lament that Liu Yang's hand bones would soon shatter and he would suffer a miserable defeat. Then, he heard Patriarch Bai Ming beside him gasp for breath and exclaim, "Ah!" in astonishment.

"This… this…"