Chapter 123: The Imperial Court! The Terrifying Secret Police

Chapter 123: The Imperial Court! The Terrifying Secret Police

"Aqi!"

Master Huang's stern shout echoed as he sprinted forward, just in time to catch Ghost Foot Liu, who was about to stumble.

This demonstrated Master Huang's exceptional agility.

"Are you alright?"

"Master, I'm fine!" Ghost Foot Liu gritted his teeth and replied.

He had just blocked Zhao Zheng's punch with his arms, and now his arms felt completely numb, as if they had been severed.

Saying he was fine at this moment was just a show of stubbornness!

Then, Ghost Foot Liu glared at Zhao Zheng, his face showing anger and seriousness.

For that young man to possess such strength, he must be at the same cultivation realm as him.

What was more terrifying was the young man's incredible agility.

He had reacted so swiftly to that punch that even Ghost Foot Liu couldn't keep up.

Seeing that Ghost Foot Liu was still eager to continue, a man with a trustworthy appearance standing nearby spoke up, "Aqi, this young man is no ordinary opponent. You've already taken a punch; why don't you call it quits?"

This man was Master Huang's top disciple, who had mastered his master's teachings and was no less skilled than Ghost Foot Liu.

However, Ghost Foot Liu was not one to concede easily.

"Brother, rest assured! I was just caught off guard earlier. I didn't realize this young man was pretending to be weak. I won't make the same mistake again. Moreover, my strength lies in my legs, and even without using my hands, I can still take him down!"

As his words trailed off, Ghost Foot Liu suddenly leaped into the air, his entire body soaring towards Zhao Zheng.

His legs kicked out countless shadows in mid-air, creating an awe-inspiring display of power.

Zhao Zheng merely smiled slightly, standing in his original position without moving an inch.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Ghost Foot Liu unleashed three consecutive kicks, all landing on Zhao Zheng's body.

However, Zhao Zheng didn't even flinch.

Instead, Ghost Foot Liu was the one shaken back repeatedly.

"Iron Shirt?"

He was utterly shocked! Ghost Foot Liu was quite familiar with the Iron Shirt technique, as there was an expert in the city who specialized in it.

But even Yan Zhen Dong wouldn't dare to take his continuous kicks like that!

"What kind of monster are you?" Ghost Foot Liu couldn't help but exclaim.

Akan and Master Huang, observing Zhao Zheng, also wore expressions of shock and seriousness.

Amidst everyone's gazes, Zhao Zheng revealed a smile, "Master Liu, you're no match for me. It's best to admit defeat!"

Hearing this, Ghost Foot Liu became furious and was about to grit his teeth and fight again, but Master Huang called for a halt.

"Aqi, stop!"

Ghost Foot Liu was taken aback and couldn't help but say, "Master..."

"He's not your opponent," Master Huang said. "Step down."

Ghost Foot Liu's face was unreadable, but since his master had spoken, he couldn't go against him and prepared to step down.

"Wait!"

Zhao Zheng suddenly spoke up, saying, "Master Liu, could you admit defeat before you leave?"

He knew these words sounded unpleasant, but he had to say them for the sake of the martial arts points.

As for offending people...

Anyway, he would be leaving the city tonight, so he didn't care.

As expected.

Upon hearing this, Ghost Foot Liu immediately exploded with anger.

He had already conceded by stepping down, which was essentially admitting defeat.

Yet that young man wanted him to admit defeat verbally?

This was outright humiliation!

"You're going too far, young man!"

As his words ended, Ghost Foot Liu charged towards Zhao Zheng again.

Zhao Zheng sighed! He had anticipated this reaction.

The next moment!

He suddenly unleashed a palm strike in mid-air!

Iron Sand Palm!

Bang!

The air was struck, creating a visible shockwave in the void that eventually formed a hurricane, blowing towards Ghost Foot Liu.

Ghost Foot Liu, who was charging forward, abruptly came to a halt!

He stood in the middle of the courtyard, staring at Zhao Zheng for a few moments before finally saying with great satisfaction, "I admit defeat!"

Leaving those words behind, Ghost Foot Liu turned and retreated to the edge.

Zhao Zheng didn't stop him, as he had seen the points prompt.

Ghost Foot Liu had contributed over two hundred points to his martial arts score.

"Master, this young man is a monster. You should be careful," Ghost Foot Liu whispered as he approached Master Huang.

Master Huang nodded, his gaze fixed on Zhao Zheng with seriousness, "To have mastered the Iron Sand Palm and Iron Shirt techniques to such a high level at his age, he's undoubtedly a martial arts prodigy!"

"He's just impolite and doesn't respect others," Ghost Foot Liu complained.

But Master Huang shook his head and said, "Aqi, he has shown you mercy three times. It's normal for a young man of his caliber to be a bit arrogant. If you're stepping down, you should indeed admit defeat."

Ghost Foot Liu had wanted to argue, but after thinking it over, he realized his master was right.

During their first encounter, if the young man had used the Iron Sand Palm, even if he had survived, his hands would have been severely damaged.

The second time, when he used his continuous kicks, the young man merely blocked them with the Iron Shirt technique without counterattacking, showing mercy for the second time.

The third time, he unleashed an empty Iron Sand Palm, allowing Ghost Foot Liu to witness the formidable might of his palm strike...

Indeed, on all three occasions, he had held back his strength.

"Master, do you have confidence in defeating him?" asked Ah Kuan, the senior disciple, from the side.

Master Huang smiled and looked at Zhao Zheng with admiration in his eyes, "It's rare to encounter such a skilled opponent. Let's give it a try!"

After that, Master Huang walked into the courtyard and stood before Zhao Zheng, cupping his hands in greeting, "Young man, may I ask your name?"

Zhao Zheng also cupped his hands and replied, "My surname is Song. My name is not important."

The reason he didn't reveal his name but mentioned his surname Song was to provide false information to the Extraordinary Beings and confuse them.

This was a plan he had discussed with Song Haitang in advance.

"Brother Song, you're so young, yet you've achieved such an astonishing level of martial arts. May I ask who your master is?" Master Huang asked, genuinely curious about the formidable figure who could have taught such an exceptional disciple.

Zhao Zheng smiled and said, "I don't belong to any sect or school, nor do I have a renowned master as my teacher."

Although he spoke the truth, the people present found it hard to believe.

How could someone without a teacher have cultivated their martial arts to such an advanced level? It seemed impossible.

Master Huang thought that Zhao Zheng was reluctant to reveal his sect and used this excuse to dodge the question, so he cupped his hands and said, "In that case, please!"

"Please!"

Zhao Zheng also cupped his hands, and his expression turned serious.

According to the information provided by Old Chu, Master Huang was proficient in various martial arts, and his Tiger Crane Dual Form Fist had reached the level of Supreme Mastery.

Additionally, Master Huang had created a unique Shadow Foot technique, which was incredibly powerful.

His opponent was far from being just a Peak Clear Energy practitioner; he had almost touched the edge of Dark Force!

With Master Huang's talent, if he were to obtain an Internal Martial Art manual, he could enter the Dark Force realm at any time.

Facing such a formidable opponent, Zhao Zheng naturally had to be cautious.

The next moment, both of them moved simultaneously, colliding with each other.

"Bang!"

Zhao Zheng unleashed his Iron Sand Palm, while Master Huang countered with his Tiger Fist.

The tiger's claws and the Iron Sand Palm clashed, creating a startling commotion.

Both of them retreated from the impact.

Feeling the stinging pain in his palm, Zhao Zheng was somewhat surprised.

This Master Huang was indeed extraordinary!

"Huff!"

Zhao Zheng took a deep breath, maximizing the power of his Iron Shirt, and then charged towards Master Huang.

He planned to use the same strategy that had defeated Yan Zhen Dong—mutual combat!

With his Iron Shirt, he was confident that he would gain the upper hand in a close-quarters fight.

Master Huang, living up to his reputation as a Martial Arts Saint, quickly understood the young man's intentions as Zhao Zheng approached him.

"Shadow Foot!"

Master Huang suddenly shouted, and his entire body soared into the air. His legs danced wildly, defying the laws of physics as he swiftly closed in on Zhao Zheng.

His leg movements were faster than Ghost Foot Liu's, and their might was even more astonishing.

Even before getting close, Zhao Zheng felt a sense of oppression.

"Well played!"

Zhao Zheng didn't dodge; instead, he tensed his entire body, his muscles tightening, and his tendons and bones resonating with a sound akin to a dragon's roar.

This was the origin of the name "Dragon Roar Iron Shirt."

After that.

He charged towards Master Huang's Shadow Foot without hesitation.

"Thump, thump..."

A dull thudding sound immediately followed.

In that instant, Master Huang kicked Zhao Zheng at least seven or eight times.

Each kick was felt clearly by Zhao Zheng, causing him pain.

If Master Huang were allowed to continue his assault, he would undoubtedly break through Zhao Zheng's Iron Shirt!

However.

Zhao Zheng wasn't a passive observer; he was actively seeking an opportunity to strike back.

Finally.

The opportunity presented itself, and he seized it. He struck out with a palm, hitting Master Huang's calf.

"Bang!"

Master Huang's Shadow Foot was instantly broken, and he quickly retreated, creating distance between them.

Seeing that Zhao Zheng was about to pounce again, Master Huang hurriedly raised his hand, "Wait!"

Zhao Zheng stopped, looking puzzled, "What's wrong, Master Huang?"

Master Huang rubbed his injured calf and said, "I concede defeat!"

His disciples were taken aback by his words.

"Concede defeat?"

Zhao Zheng was also astonished.

He believed that Master Huang's formidable skills could potentially break through his Iron Shirt if the fight continued.

The Dragon Roar Iron Shirt was not invincible.

Once his defense was breached, he would undoubtedly lose.

After all, his current strength was primarily due to his Spirit Energy Points.

His true combat ability was far inferior to that of Master Huang, a battle-hardened veteran.

"Master Huang, are you letting me win?"

Zhao Zheng furrowed his brows and asked, "Master Huang, are you sure about this?"

Master Huang waved his hands hastily, "No, I'm being serious. Your Shadowless Footwork is truly remarkable. Since its creation, it has never been defeated. You are the first person to break through my defense!"

"We were merely sparring, not fighting to the death. Since my signature move has been overcome, there's no need to continue."

"Young Master Song, you've won this match!"

It was undeniable that Master Huang possessed the demeanor of a grandmaster.

He conceded defeat to give Zhao Zheng a chance to shine.

Zhao Zheng was still young and had room for growth. If he suffered a defeat now, it might hinder his progress, which would be a pity for such a talented martial artist.

...

[Congratulations! You have defeated a master of the Peak Clear Energy realm and gained 1080 Martial Arts Points and 540 temporary Spirit Energy Points.]



Zhao Zheng heaved a sigh of relief as he read the notification in his left eye.

As long as the Spirit Realm acknowledged Master Huang's concession, it was enough!

"Master Huang, I accept your concession," Zhao Zheng said with a bow.

He was about to leave when Master Huang suddenly called out, "Wait!"

Master Huang looked at Zhao Zheng with admiration in his eyes and said, "Young Master Song, it's getting late. Why don't you stay for lunch at my humble abode before you go?"

Zhao Zheng was taken aback by Master Huang's invitation.

He hadn't expected Master Huang to be so magnanimous.

After conceding defeat, he was now inviting Zhao Zheng to stay for lunch.

Indeed, Master Huang was a true grandmaster!

Zhao Zheng hesitated for a moment but eventually agreed and stayed.

He had many questions to ask Master Huang.

The information from Old Chu was collected by his predecessors and wasn't comprehensive.

...

Name: Zhao Shanhe (Zhao Zheng)



Age: 19

Martial Arts: Dragon Roar Iron Shirt (Supreme Mastery), Iron Sand Palm (Supreme Mastery), Cloud Chasing Steps (Supreme Mastery)



Current Realm: Peak Clear Energy

Current Martial Arts Points: 2826

Available Spirit Energy Points: 981

These were Zhao Zheng's Martial Arts Points and Spirit Energy Points after his visit to Treasure Herb Hall.

His trip to Treasure Herb Hall was extremely fruitful.

Master Huang contributed over a thousand points, Ghost Foot Liu over two hundred, and Ah Kuan, who sparred with Zhao Zheng later, also contributed around two hundred points, slightly less than Ghost Foot Liu.

In total, Zhao Zheng gained approximately 1500 Martial Arts Points.

Additionally, he obtained crucial information from Master Huang.

The Imperial Court had been secretly restricting the spread of Internal Martial Arts!

Under the court's decree, the dissemination of Internal Martial Arts among the common folk had become scarce.

Even the major martial arts sects had received court orders prohibiting the external teaching of Internal Martial Arts.

Disobedience would result in the deployment of the Secret Police's experts to eliminate them!

According to Master Huang, the Secret Police's experts were incredibly formidable. Many strong individuals who defied the court met their end silently...

No wonder! Old Chu mentioned that the Fourth Spirit Realm had existed for many years, yet almost no Extraordinary Beings had acquired Internal Martial Arts.

Even a genius native martial artist like Master Huang had no access to Internal Martial Arts.

It was the court's secret restriction.

Zhao Zheng's brows furrowed as he thought about this.

He had planned to visit those major martial arts sects to acquire Internal Martial Arts.

However, with the court's decree in place, those sects would likely not dare to teach him, making any visit pointless.

There was another way: joining a sect directly!

This would provide an opportunity to learn Internal Martial Arts.

But this method was time-consuming.

Take Shaolin, for example.

To learn their Internal Martial Arts, one had to first become a monk, eat vegetarian food, and chant sutras. Then, after three years of doing odd jobs and another three years as a disciple, one might have a chance to receive the true teachings.

Other sects had similar rules.

Zhao Zheng didn't have that much time. He could only stay in this world for a month.

"The Imperial Court..."

Zhao Zheng muttered to himself, his eyes turning sharp.

Foreign powers had already invaded the country, yet the court was still hoarding treasures and restricting the people!

This was either stupidity or malevolence!

Or perhaps the court had already been occupied by monsters, indifferent to the lives of the common folk...

...

Zhao Zheng checked the time on his pocket watch while walking down the street.

It was just after 2:00 in the afternoon.

He had a few more hours left.

Zhao Zheng decided to make the most of his time and continue causing trouble for those martial arts halls!

---

(PS: Happy National Day in advance! I'll definitely post more chapters tomorrow!)



(End of Chapter)

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