Chapter 184: Seeking Guidance

With Zuo Zhicheng’s current strength, when he used the Yama Golden Body technique, martial artists with purple Physique Strength couldn’t harm him with ordinary punches and kicks unless they used sharp weapons like big knives or long spears.

To break through Zuo Zhicheng’s Yama Golden Body defense with bare-handed martial arts, one needed at least orange Physique Strength.

Feng Lun held one hand that had almost lost all sensation and said word by word: “Zuo…Zhi…cheng?”

“Correct.”

Feng Lun sighed, a bitter smile appearing on his face: “Before coming here, I thought the rumors were exaggerated. Now that I’ve seen it with my own eyes, I know your reputation is well-deserved. Master Zuo’s martial arts truly impress me.” His eyes were clear and transparent, showing no resentment toward Zuo Zhicheng for interfering and defeating him.

“I wonder if Haoran Martial Hall is still accepting people. I’m willing to stay here, to contemplate martial arts by the master’s side, and study the ways of Qi Training and Spirit Refining.”

Zuo Zhicheng scanned the several people with his Infrared Vision. In his view, their strength differences weren’t significant—all had Purple Innate Qi with coverage between 40% to 60%. However, none had reached Grand Completion of Qi Training, clearly indicating flaws in their practiced martial arts.

The meaning behind Feng Lun’s words was quite clear: he wanted to stay by Zuo Zhicheng’s side to seek guidance in martial arts. What he wanted to learn were naturally the secrets to Grand Completion of Qi Training, and even Spirit Refining methods.

At this moment, A Fei finally ran over from outside the door. After glancing at the scene, he walked behind Zuo Zhicheng and whispered by his ear: “This man is called Feng Lun, skilled in Saint Ancestor’s Free Hand, quite famous throughout the Southern Bay martial arts world. They say he once went alone to kill bandits for three years to train in real combat. He has a heavy killing nature and abundant practical experience.”

Zuo Zhicheng nodded, recognizing that Feng Lun was quite talented.

“Haoran Martial Hall is a place for learning martial arts and strengthening the body. Experts like Master Feng are naturally welcome here.” He turned to the other three martial artists and asked: “Do the three of you share the same intention?”

However, Wu Zhi’an directly knelt on the ground, ignoring the strange looks from others, and looked at Zuo Zhicheng with great respect: “Master Zuo, I’ve witnessed your martial arts. They are truly sublime and have reached the peak. I wonder if you have any disciples? I’m willing to serve you faithfully.” As he spoke, his eyes showed clear admiration.

Zuo Zhicheng’s eyebrows rose slightly, but he didn’t answer immediately.

Behind him, A Fei softly said: “This man is called Wu Zhi’an, formerly a student of a martial hall called Southern Sea Lion Martial Hall. Their hall had conflicts with Feng Lun and got challenged several times.”

Zuo Zhicheng nodded and said calmly: “I don’t have any disciples currently, nor do I plan to take any. If Brother Wu wants to exchange and spar in martial arts, I have no objection to you staying at Haoran Martial Hall.”

He naturally wouldn’t casually accept Wu Zhi’an as a disciple. This wasn’t like opera scenes where a youth immediately worships a strong master upon seeing one. Someone who so easily worships anyone stronger than themselves might seem passionate about Martial Arts, but hidden beneath the surface was disrespect and disloyalty to the school, and they were utterly foolish in conduct.

Zuo Zhicheng had already blacklisted Wu Zhi’an in his mind. Not only would he not accept such a person as a disciple, he didn’t plan to teach them any martial arts at all.

Then Zuo Zhicheng turned his head, his eyes falling on the other two.

A Fei softly introduced from behind him: “The one with some white hair is called Gao Guanglu, a famous escort in the circles. The other with facial tattoos is named Xing Xuan, a martial arts master from an ethnic minority in the south. They say he runs a martial hall there and is respected as a master.”

Zuo Zhicheng nodded. Over there, Gao Guanglu had already clasped his hands and said with a laugh: “Master Zuo’s martial arts are incredibly refined. Everyone now says you’re number one in Southern Bay, and today I’m convinced.

Brother Xing and I came today with no other intention than to exchange some moves with Master Zuo and seek guidance. Your skills are profound, and we hope you’ll go easy on us later.”

Gao Guanglu’s words were full of politeness and respect, displaying a straightforward, frank character. His meaning was clear—he maintained a humble posture, indicating they weren’t here to challenge but to spar and seek advice.

Zuo Zhicheng nodded, understanding his intention. The other party had no desire for conflict, merely wanting to exchange martial arts and seek insights.

So he turned to A Fei and said: “Wait for me outside and close the door. Today I’ll have a closed-door spar with Master Gao and Master Xing.”

Gao Guanglu laughed heartily: “Master Zuo, thank you.”

For people like him and Xing Xuan who relied on martial arts for their livelihood, reputation was obviously very important. Although being defeated by Zuo Zhicheng was expected, it could still affect their business. They were more than willing for Zuo Zhicheng to have a closed-door spar and private exchange.

Then Gao Guanglu stepped forward. He extended both hands, feet together, connecting his hands, elbows, hips, knees, and wrists together like the Big Dipper—four stars in the upper body and three in the lower.

“Master Zuo, this is my family’s Qixing Fist.”

Zuo Zhicheng nodded. Qixing Fist was also a widely spread martial art in the martial world. However, after being passed down for so long, different schools had developed their own training methods. Zuo Zhicheng took a step forward and extended his own hand.

The two slowly approached each other, their hands gradually reaching toward one another.

“I’ll begin,” Gao Guanglu said, simultaneously striking toward Zuo Zhicheng’s arms with alternating hands and elbows. It looked as if his two hands had become four arms.

Ordinary martial artists, faced with such a flurry of attacks, would be overwhelmed by the storm of elbows, palms, fists, and shoulders, getting knocked back without being able to react.

But Zuo Zhicheng’s eyes lit up, naturally not falling for it.

His palm lightly grabbed, as if clapping and bursting air itself. A strong gust rushed before Gao Guanglu’s face. Although this didn’t directly hit Gao Guanglu, it startled his ears, eyes, and skin, causing his attack to pause momentarily.

In that brief pause, Zuo Zhicheng’s arm that had burst the air lightly tapped with the elbow tip directly on the numbing meridian of Gao Guanglu’s arm. Gao Guanglu felt as if electrocuted, and before he could react, his entire body flew out as if riding clouds, landing outside the sparring area.

If this were just hand contact, Gao Guanglu would have clearly lost. But being sent flying in just one move made him feel somewhat embarrassed. He somersaulted and jumped up, then squatted down, feet gripping the ground. With a slight flash, he disappeared.

He didn’t truly vanish, but Gao Guanglu’s speed was so fast that he momentarily moved beyond the surrounding people’s line of sight.

Gao Guanglu’s body no longer maintained the Qixing posture, but if one looked carefully, they could see him taking seven consecutive steps with his feet, faintly arranged like the Big Dipper.

The starry sky in this world was exactly the same as Earth’s, and the Big Dipper was naturally a famous constellation.

They say that stepping on seven stars means being born with an emperor’s destiny, descending as the Purple Star Emperor. The Qixing Step that Gao Guanglu was now using was the secret technique within Qixing Fist’s secret hands.