Without a sound, a surging, boundless power rushed forward. Li Muzhan chuckled, "Still the Cloud-Dispelling Palm?"

Nangong Lizhen let out a dry laugh. "This Cloud-Dispelling Palm is not that Cloud-Dispelling Palm."

"Be careful!" With that, he pushed out another palm strike, silent as before.

Li Muzhan frowned, feeling intense heat on his left side.

And biting cold on his right.

The chill and the heat swept over him simultaneously. He spun both palms, attempting to deflect the two opposing forces.

Thump.

A dull thud suddenly echoed. Li Muzhan felt as if he had been struck by a giant log, launching him violently backward.

He tumbled several times in mid-air.

Then, his body suddenly felt light, and he descended slowly.

"Oh!" A collective gasp arose from the crowd.

Li Muzhan had shot out like a projectile from a cannon, flying straight away. After a few somersaults in the air, he floated down onto the high platform as lightly as a feather settling.

In mid-air, he suddenly flicked his left sleeve, his body folded, and he shot upward, flying diagonally back to the platform. He landed precisely on the very edge, a hair’s breadth from stepping into the void.

A look of admiration dawned on his face. "A marvelous palm technique!" He understood the mechanism: the colliding cold and heat had created an explosion, generating immense power, much like modern explosives, though perhaps not quite as potent, the effect was strikingly similar. It was his Indestructible Vajra Divine Art protecting him, coupled with his profound and pure internal energy, that kept him unharmed. Anyone else would have been instantly felled, unable to rise again.

Nangong Lizhen roared an approval. "Excellent! You are the first to retreat whole from the Cloud-Dispelling Palm!" He pushed both palms forward, shouting, "Take another strike from me!"

As he spoke, two bizarre forces surged toward Li Muzhan. One resembled a vortex, the other a gale, two distinct powers attacking separately. As they neared Li Muzhan, they suddenly merged.

Instantly, a tornado formed, sweeping Li Muzhan up. His feet left the ground, his robes snapped loudly, and he was about to be carried skyward. Li Muzhan quickly executed a Thousand-Jin Drop, anchoring himself. He flicked both sleeves, and the fierce winds before him instantly scattered and vanished without a trace. It was as if boiling water had met cold water.

He stamped his foot and burst out of the tornado’s range, arriving before Nangong Lizhen. He unleashed the Nine Palms of the Vast Sea, each strike pressing harder than the last, allowing no chance for the Cloud-Dispelling Palm to reappear.

The Cloud-Dispelling Palm was not only powerful in its internal force but also exquisite in its movements. It met the Nine Palms of the Vast Sea in a fierce contest, neither yielding an inch. For a time, they were locked in struggle, a blur of palm shadows and shifting forms.

Nangong Wuwang applauded, "Second Brother, you're done for! Just admit defeat!"

"You insolent brat, siding with outsiders! I'll deal with you later!" Nangong Lizhen cursed with a smile, unleashing continuous Cloud-Dispelling Palms, the force surging, the fierce winds billowing out.

Nangong Wuwang and Zhao Shuqi's robes billowed loudly, as if they stood in a great storm.

Nangong Lizhen’s palm technique was dominating and imposing, yet Li Muzhan remained fluid and graceful, handling it with ease. His palms moved softly, showing no sign of sharpness, like gusts of spring breeze pushing out, dissolving the potency of the Cloud-Dispelling Palm.

They were evenly matched, neither superior to the other. In the span of moments, they exchanged over five hundred moves, captivating the onlookers until they were lost to the world around them.

"Superb skill!" A deep shout suddenly rang out. Li Muzhan drifted backward, then turned to look.

Several figures now stood on the platform. The one leading was dressed in fine silk, slightly shorter in stature, but vigorous and handsome, standing firm like an aged pine. He had thick eyebrows and sharp eyes, radiating an aura of sharp capability. Behind him stood two middle-aged men, along with Wang Yuanchu and Wang Shuangfeng. Behind the Wangs stood the Four Guards; Wang Yingjie kept his gaze lowered, his arrogant spirit completely vanished, as if he were a different man.

"Big Brother! Big Brother! Young Master!" Nangong Lizhen and the other two bowed their fists.

Li Muzhan glanced at Wang Yuanchu, who gave a slight nod. Li Muzhan felt reassured; the matter was settled. The Wang family and the Nangong Clan would not need to fight further—a matter of immeasurable merit and joy. He cupped his fist in salute. "Li Muzhan pays respects to the Eldest Young Master."

He knew this short, vigorous youth was Nangong Yuanheng, the Eldest Young Master of the Nangong Clan, and a rare master in his time. A tiger sire begets no dog son. Nangong Yuanheng was famous in the martial world; he managed all of the Nangong Clan’s affairs, proving himself exceptionally astute.

Nangong Yuanheng returned the salute with a smile. "No need for formalities, Brother Li. You truly are a young talent. My Third Brother praised you greatly last night..." The Third Brother is arrogant, and you are the first person he has ever praised so highly. I have been eager to meet you as well."

"The Third Young Master overpraises me," Li Muzhan replied with a smile.

Nangong Yuanheng continued, "I believe what my Third Brother said is true; Brother Li is indeed exceptional. Why don't you stay a few extra days for a proper exchange of techniques?" Li Muzhan smiled faintly. "I have some interest, but I came with the Eldest Young Master Wang, and my itinerary must follow his; I cannot delay too long."

Wang Yuanchu quickly interjected, "Brother Li, since Eldest Young Master Nangong is so hospitable, staying a few extra days won't hurt. Zhongzhou City is prosperous and lively; we should enjoy ourselves for a few days."

"That would be excellent, the best possible outcome! We can fulfill our duties as hosts!" Nangong Yuanheng exclaimed happily.

Nangong Wuwang was overjoyed. "Wonderful! Brother Li, please stay a few more days; we must spar properly. You can't leave so soon!" Li Muzhan glanced at Wang Yuanchu, who smiled and said, "Brother Li, let's stay a few days then!" Li Muzhan nodded slowly. Nangong Wuwang was delighted. "Excellent! Big Brother, shall we hold a banquet tonight to entertain Brother Li?"

"Mm, yes," Nangong Yuanheng agreed with a smile. Li Muzhan quickly waved his hands, trying to decline, but Nangong Wuwang was overwhelmingly enthusiastic and insisted, leaving Li Muzhan no choice but to accept. Wang Yuanchu was greatly astonished; he hadn't realized Li Muzhan and Nangong Wuwang had become such fast friends—it had only been half a day, truly unbelievable.

Li Muzhan and his party stayed in Zhongzhou City for about ten days. Only when a messenger arrived from the Wang family did Wang Yuanchu decide it was time to leave and set off from the city. During these ten days, Li Muzhan was constantly pulled away by Nangong Wuwang and was not with Wang Yuanchu’s group; Wang Yuanchu and the others were accompanied by Nangong Lizhen. As for Nangong Yuanheng, he was bogged down by responsibilities and had no time to spare for them.

Li Muzhan and Nangong Wuwang spent most of their time on the training grounds. When they tired of sparring, they would head to the Wind and Rain Pavilion across the way for tea or wine, observing the surrounding scenery. Or, they would ride out of the city to find scenic spots where they would continue their practice matches. Over these ten days, both men's martial arts improved significantly; Li Muzhan gained deeper comprehension of the Nine Palms of the Vast Sea, and Nangong Wuwang’s Heaven and Earth Palm improved likewise. Their friendship also deepened greatly, and they spoke of everything.

Li Muzhan then learned that Nangong Sidao was not in the Nangong household but was traveling the world. Otherwise, he would have been needed to handle the constant challenges. Nangong Sidao detested daily chores and had handed all matters over to Nangong Yuanheng. Since the age of twelve, Nangong Yuanheng had been managing the Nangong family’s affairs. In this regard, Nangong Yuanheng was a genius among geniuses—mature in mind and meticulous in thought, even Nangong Sidao admired him. Furthermore, Nangong Yuanheng was not only adept at worldly matters but also possessed high martial talent; despite less training time, his skill was no less than that of his two brothers.

In the martial world, he had a distinct title: "The Thunderclap Palm." Nangong Sidao was a martial arts prodigy who taught his unique martial arts according to aptitude. He created the esoteric Heaven and Earth Palm, which he taught to three sons, but only Nangong Wuwang mastered it; the other two failed. Thus, he created two other palm techniques. Nangong Lizhen practiced the Cloud-Dispelling Palm, another esoteric art derived from the Heaven and Earth Palm but focusing more on grandeur and sweeping momentum, perfectly suited for Nangong Lizhen, allowing him to achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Nangong Yuanheng practiced the Thunderclap Palm, which embodied extreme Yang energy—the most solid and imposing—unleashed like a descending thunderbolt, unstoppable by any. With this palm technique, he carved out his formidable reputation in the martial world. When the Thunderclap Palm was mentioned, petty villains would flee in terror; the prestige of the Thunderclap Palm was earned through bloodshed, not merely by association with Nangong Sidao.

Hearing this from Nangong Wuwang, Li Muzhan grew even more curious about Nangong Sidao and felt greater admiration. To create so many palm techniques—a true martial arts genius, his fame was well-deserved. He had experienced the Heaven and Earth Palm and the Cloud-Dispelling Palm. Though he had not faced the Thunderclap Palm, he presumed it was no less formidable than the other two; he would not gain any advantage against it. He had initially thought the Nine Palms of the Vast Sea was among the world’s most supreme martial arts, perhaps top-tier, but now he realized it fell slightly short compared to the Heaven and Earth Palm. Nangong Sidao's title as the world’s foremost master was clearly not an empty boast.

Toward evening, Wang Yuanchu and his five companions returned to the Penglai Wang Residence. Standing before the mansion gates, Wang Yuanchu's expression shifted as he saw the white cloth hanging on the door. His face darkened, and he barked at the four large men standing beside the stone lions, "Old Yang, what is going on? Who went?"

A burly man lowered his head with a bitter expression. "It was, it was the Fifth..."

"Fifth?"

Wang Yuanchu grabbed the man’s collar, shouting, "Was it Yuanxin?"

"Yes," the burly man mumbled, keeping his head down.

Wang Yuanchu’s face turned ashen, devoid of color, muttering to himself, "How... how could this be?" The burly man looked up, tears in his eyes, gritting his teeth. "Eldest Young Master, you must avenge the Fifth Young Master! It was the Gongsun family who ambushed him!"

"The Gongsun family—!" Wang Yuanchu gritted his teeth, his face an iron-blue mask. Wang Shuangfeng frowned and whispered, "Father, let’s see the Ancestor first!"

"Right, to the Ancestor’s place first." Wang Yuanchu took a deep breath, suppressing the churning energy within.

Bang! He kicked the main door open and strode inside.

Li Muzhan frowned, sighing inwardly. Wang Family's Fifth Young Master, Wang Yuanxin—he had met him once at the Mei Residence. He hadn't expected him to perish so easily. Lamenting the fragility and impermanence of life, he quietly followed Wang Yuanchu into the manor.

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