Chapter 163: Astonishing Everyone with Skill
Chapter 163: Astonishing Everyone with Skill
“We’ve been talking for so long, and I haven’t introduced you yet. This is Qiu Xinshou, the supervisor of the Capital Branch. He’s on the same level as Lu Shouyang.”
Jiang Chu suddenly slapped his forehead, shook his head with a smile, and then introduced the middle-aged man who had been sitting there silently to Lin Mu.
“Hello, Supervisor Qiu.”
Lin Mu immediately leaned forward, extended his right hand, and shook hands with Qiu Xinshou.
“Lin Mu, I’ve long heard of your great name. Truly, a hero emerges from the young!”
Qiu Xinshou gave Lin Mu a friendly smile.
“Supervisor Qiu, you praise me too much. I’ve only cultivated a bit faster, hardly deserving the title of a young hero. However, looking at you, Supervisor Qiu, though you appear strong and healthy, you don’t seem like a cultivator?”
Lin Mu said modestly, though he glanced at Qiu Xinshou with a hint of doubt.
“Brother Lin, you might not know this. Brother Qiu is the only exception in the Dragon Protection Corps. Among all branch supervisors, he’s the only one who doesn’t cultivate. He just exercises regularly, so his physique is much better than an ordinary person’s.”
Jiang Chu laughed heartily.
“Oh? This is really the first time I’ve heard of it.”
Lin Mu said curiously.
“That’s because Brother Qiu isn’t known for his martial prowess but for his wisdom. His nickname is Little Sleeping Dragon!”
Ding Han also smiled from the side.
“Little Sleeping Dragon! So you’re a strategist comparable to Mr. Zhuge. Lin Mu is truly impressed!”
Hearing this nickname, Lin Mu immediately felt deep respect. After all, the historical Zhuge Kongming was often described as having wisdom akin to that of a supernatural being. To be considered as having intelligence so high it’s almost monstrous—what high praise indeed!
“Don’t listen to their nonsense. It’s all everyone exaggerating.”
Qiu Xinshou waved his hand, shaking his head with a smile.
“By the way, Brother Lin, the main reason we invited you here this time is to ask for a small favor.”
Jiang Chu put away his smile and looked seriously at Lin Mu.
“Brother Jiang, just say what you need. If it’s something I can do, I definitely won’t refuse.”
Lin Mu smiled slightly.
“It’s actually not anything difficult. We just wanted to ask Brother Lin to give some guidance to young Ding.”
Jiang Chu laughed, feeling deeply comforted. Lin Mu’s straightforward nature suited him well.
“I wouldn’t dare call it guidance. I see Brother Ding’s martial arts have already reached a profound level. His complexion is like jade—I suppose he’s practiced some kind of body protection technique?”
Lin Mu glanced at Ding Yongyan.
“Brother Lin, your eyes are sharp. I’ve indeed practiced Shaolin’s Vajra Body Protection Divine Skill since childhood. I’ve only reached the second realm, the Jade Body Realm, and I just entered it not long ago. I still can’t freely retract the jade-like glow of my skin.”
Ding Yongyan quickly said modestly.
“So it’s the Vajra Body Protection Divine Skill! I’ve heard this martial art is very difficult to cultivate. For Brother Ding to reach the Jade Body Realm is truly remarkable.”
Lin Mu praised.
“This is all thanks to my hard work since childhood and my master’s diligent guidance. Actually, my aptitude isn’t outstanding. It took me so many years to reach the second realm—I feel ashamed for failing my teacher’s teachings.”
Ding Yongyan shook his head somewhat apologetically.
“Haha, Yongyan is always so modest. He’s the face of our Capital Branch, just like you are in the East Sea Branch. Originally, the mission to help the Luo Family in New York was going to be assigned to Yongyan. However, Lu Shouyang strongly recommended you, so Yongyan stayed behind.”
Qiu Xinshou said with a gratified smile.
“Supervisor Lu has foresight; his decision was correct. If Brother Lin hadn’t gone this time, the mission might have encountered big trouble. I’ve already heard from Brother Jiang that the two most powerful Superpower Users were even beyond him and Brother Ding. If I had gone, it wouldn’t have been of much use.”
Ding Yongyan quickly waved his hand and smiled at Lin Mu.
“The path of cultivation is about constantly seeking progress under pressure. Sometimes facing such experts can force out the potential within your body. Maybe you’ll gain some insights, and your cultivation will advance rapidly.”
Lin Mu looked at Ding Yongyan.
“That’s exactly why I asked Brother Jiang to invite you over, Brother Lin. I feel I’ve been stuck at a bottleneck for a long time. I’m just a step away from a breakthrough. I hope that under your pressure, I can reach even greater heights!”
Ding Yongyan’s eyes shone as he looked at Lin Mu.
“Yes, please help us out, Brother Lin. There are quite a few missions here in Jingdu. If Yongyan’s cultivation improves, it will be a great help to us.”
Qiu Xinshou also stepped in to support, while Jiang Chu and Ding Han added their praises.
“What are you all doing? I never said I wouldn’t help Brother Ding. It’s just that Brother Ding’s own cultivation is already high; he has stepped into the threshold of cultivating Zhenqi. If we truly fight, fists and feet have no eyes—I can’t guarantee I can control it perfectly.”
Lin Mu smiled slightly. Since Ding Yongyan sought pressure from him, it naturally wouldn’t be a mere casual exchange. They would have to go all out to let Ding Yongyan feel the pressure and find that sliver of opportunity for a breakthrough.
“Brother Lin, you don’t need to hold back. Just leave me with one breath—don’t beat me to death, after all, I still want to seek that breakthrough insight!”
Ding Yongyan smiled lightly, joking.
“Haha, if I really accidentally beat Brother Ding to death, I’m afraid Supervisor Qiu would be the first not to let me off.”
Lin Mu also laughed heartily.
“So, Brother Lin, when do you think we can do this?”
Ding Yongyan asked.
“As the saying goes, there’s no time like the present. How about right now, Brother Ding? What do you think?”
Lin Mu thought for a moment. He had filming in the coming days, and since he’d come all the way to Jingdu, he still wanted to go out with Yao Xianxian. It would be best to settle this matter today while he was here.
“I have no problem. I can start anytime!”
Hearing this, Ding Yongyan immediately laughed happily.
“Since Brother Lin is so enthusiastic, Old Ding, gather all the younger members to watch the match. Let them learn from the experience. After all, opportunities to receive guidance from an expert like Brother Lin are rare.”
Qiu Xinshou’s eyes flashed, and he immediately spoke to Ding Han.
Lin Mu smiled inwardly. This Qiu Xinshou didn’t miss any opportunity. Not only was he using Lin Mu’s pressure to boost Ding Yongyan’s strength, but he also wanted to bring all the Capital Branch members to watch. No matter how much they comprehended, it was a ready-made benefit.
Half an hour later, Lin Mu and Ding Yongyan stood in the training ground on the fifteenth underground level. This facility was specially built for experts who had reached the Spirit Gathering Realm, to prevent the powerful destructive force of Zhenqi from damaging the building.
Around the training ground, thirty-four Dragon Protection Corps members stood in an orderly fashion. Their strengths varied; the strongest was slightly below Ding Yongyan, while the weakest were only a bit stronger than soldiers—perhaps they were newcomers to the Corps.
“Brother Lin, please advise!”
Standing about seven or eight steps away from Lin Mu, Ding Yongyan clasped his hands and bowed.
“Please!”
Lin Mu slightly clasped his hands, standing with his feet neither too tight nor too loose. Though he appeared casual, his posture seemed natural and flawless.
Just from his stance, Ding Yongyan’s eyes immediately sharpened. He naturally saw the skill in it and became extremely focused.
He placed his left palm against his abdomen, then his right fist smashed fiercely into his left palm. Simultaneously, he lifted his right foot and suddenly stomped hard on the ground. Using the rebounding force, his whole body shook, and the Zhenqi in his Dantian instantly flowed through all his Meridians.
With just this one movement, his aura surged to its peak. The stance Ding Yongyan performed had a name: Vajra Pounds the Mortar. It was an extremely fierce and powerful technique, with many taboos during practice. If not done correctly, it could damage the spine and brain.
Judging by Ding Yongyan’s posture and the soaring aura that followed, it was clear he had mastered the Vajra Pounds the Mortar to a proficient level.
“Good!”
Seeing this, Lin Mu’s eyes lit up. Although Ding Yongyan couldn’t freely control Zhenqi flow yet, with the help of this stance, he had touched the edge of it.
“Hey!”
With a loud shout, Ding Yongyan ground his feet, swinging his arms like a whirlwind. His fists moved in wide, sweeping arcs, each punch combining his physical strength with Zhenqi. Before he even reached Lin Mu, the forceful wind already made Lin Mu’s clothes flap loudly.
A flash of light appeared in Lin Mu’s eyes. Since the goal was to force out Ding Yongyan’s potential, he wouldn’t hold back too much. From the start, he would let Ding Yong experience true power and despair!
With a long roar like a Dragon’s Roar, Zhenqi instantly surged from his Dantian. Without needing any stance to propel it, Lin Mu could fully control the flow of Zhenqi in his body with just a thought.
Since Ding Yongyan’s martial arts followed a fierce and powerful path, Lin Mu naturally used the supremely Yang and rigid Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms. To counter violence with violence, he would completely overpower Ding Yongyan with sheer strength.
His right foot stepped forward, grinding into the concrete floor, which silently developed cracks. Lin Mu pushed his right palm forward; though the movement seemed slow, it generated an extremely sharp gust of wind that almost made Ding Yongyan unable to open his eyes.
This purely Zhenqi-driven, extremely rigid palm technique astonished everyone the moment he made his move.
“It really is the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms!”
“I heard it was lost, didn’t I?”
“How could it be lost? Such martial arts would definitely be preserved. It’s just that no one could master it before.”
“The ultimate Yang palm technique—truly worthy of being the unique skill that the Beggars’ Sect was once famous for!”
The spectators around the training ground immediately began whispering. In today’s society, it wasn’t that there were no people who could cultivate martial arts to Lin Mu’s level, but it wasn’t something these people could easily witness. Naturally, everyone was very excited.
But compared to the spectators, Ding Yongyan’s current feeling was terrible. Lin Mu’s overwhelmingly powerful palm pressure made him feel as if a great mountain was crushing him. His chest tightened, almost suffocating him.
“How is this possible! How can I not even withstand one move!”
His face flushed red, and a cry almost tore from his chest. Ding Yongyan suddenly retracted both palms to his sides, then raised them brilliantly from his chest like a white lotus blooming.
His right fist drew a curved line, seemingly slow but actually fast, blocking Lin Mu’s right palm. When fist and palm met, the sounds and winds in the arena instantly ceased, returning to complete silence.