parentshiftbook Chapter 67 The Duel
Chapter 67 The Duel
All eyes turned to Changfeng Escort Agency.
This force, which transitioned from a security escort agency to a martial arts profession, has been gaining momentum for the past year.
The sect has three body-refining martial artists who have just transferred from the escort agency to the martial arts world, and they have already overwhelmed all other forces except for the Chen and Lin families.
Those familiar with the situation also know the cause of this fight.
Everyone was speculating that Lu Cheng wouldn't be the first to go on stage.
Meanwhile, in the seats of Changfeng Escort Agency.
Feng Qi and his two companions sat in the center of the first row, with Lu Cheng and Zhao Cheng beside them.
Upon hearing Shen Yi's words, Zhao Cheng stood up without hesitation:
"I'll go."
Only a very few people know about Lu Cheng's breakthrough to the peak of the Refining Strength realm.
With such strength, it's naturally better to play later in the day.
Ideally, Chen Heng, Lin Yuan, and the three镖头 (bodyguards) of Zhenwu Camp should fight to the death, and in the meantime, eliminate the three members of the Thirteen Families.
In this way, Changfeng Escort Agency can be invincible.
Neither Feng Qi nor Lu Cheng had any objections to this arrangement.
Lu Cheng patted Zhao Cheng on the shoulder and whispered his instructions:
"Be careful and prioritize your own safety."
The duel was not a matter of life or death, and Changfeng Escort Agency had previously rejected the proposals from the Chen and Lin families.
This forced them to offer a prize worth 50,000 taels of silver.
It's impossible for either of them not to harbor resentment towards Changfeng Escort Agency.
Zhao Cheng nodded:
"Don't worry, after traveling all over the country for so many years, why would I give up here?"
After saying that, he laughed and picked up the River-Blocking Halberd, then walked towards the high platform.
She didn't try to steal the spotlight during her performance.
He obediently climbed the steps from the side.
"Zhao Cheng of Changfeng Escort Agency, please enlighten me."
The viewing area on the east side was occupied by thirteen martial arts factions, led by the Xu and Huang families.
They had long since lost all ambition.
Although Shen Yi uprooted all four families of the Vermilion Bird Martial Arts School, the prize of 50,000 taels of silver could not be reduced by a single penny.
In this way, all the frustration and regret in his heart were transferred to resentment towards Changfeng Escort Agency and Lu Cheng.
If Lu Cheng hadn't killed the young leader of the Fish Gang, how would they have had an excuse to pressure the Changfeng Escort Agency?
If Changfeng Escort Agency had handed Lu Cheng over immediately, how could they have given Shen Yi an opportunity to take advantage of him?
In the end, it's all because of that damned Lu Cheng!
However, they also knew that Lu Cheng had already become a martial artist, and his strength was quite formidable.
They probably won't have a chance on their own.
After learning that the Lin family had also lost face with Lu Cheng, he immediately gave some benefits to the Chen and Lin families.
The promise they received was to cripple Lu Cheng.
Upon seeing that it was Zhao Cheng instead of Lu Cheng who was taking the stage, his expression immediately changed, and he angrily shouted at Zhao Cheng:
"Where did you come from? Are you from the Changfeng Escort Agency?"
"Does this competition allow outsiders to participate?"
These words were ostensibly a question to Zhao Cheng and Changfeng Escort Agency, but in reality, they were an expression of dissatisfaction to Shen Yi.
Shen Yi glanced over here, then turned his gaze to Changfeng Escort Agency.
Before he could speak, Feng Qi had already spoken:
"Zhao Cheng is a guest retainer of my Changfeng Escort Agency, so naturally he belongs to my Changfeng Escort Agency. How can he be an outsider?"
Shen Yi waved her hand:
"In that case, let's stop talking nonsense."
Seeing Shen Yi speak, the thirteen families could only glare resentfully at Changfeng Escort Agency before reluctantly shutting their mouths.
The seats were occupied by the Chen and Lin families.
Seeing Zhao Cheng carrying a halberd step onto the stage, the Chen family members couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
The patriarch, Chen Chonghui, said disdainfully to those around him:
"Hmph, another one wielding a heavy weapon. He really doesn't know what's good for him."
"They think they can take advantage of my son's two consecutive matches and profit from the defeat. They are sorely mistaken."
"Let him experience the Chen family's Wind-Piercing Leaf Palm, so he won't be so blind when he goes out and get chopped up."
Lin Wanxiong, standing to the side, looked at Zhao Cheng's River-Blocking Halberd, seemed to remember something, frowned slightly, and said:
"Brother Chen, you must not be careless. This kid is probably not simple."
Then, he recounted the events of the duel between Yang Xiong and Lu Cheng two months prior.
Hearing this, Yang Xiong, who was a few rows behind, blushed.
Only then did the Chen family members take it seriously.
"Hmm, it seems we need to be careful."
They weren't worried that Chen Heng would lose.
But if they were to exhaust too much energy, wouldn't they be easily defeated in the next match against Zhenwu Camp?
Chen Chongxin snapped open his folding fan and held it to his mouth, subtly warning Chen Heng using telepathy:
"Heng'er, do not be careless. This man's halberd skills are extraordinary; he seems to handle heavy tasks with ease!"
Chen Heng on the high platform narrowed his eyes, nodded slightly, and glanced at Zhao Cheng's River-Blocking Halberd.
He thought to himself that Zhao Cheng's halberd looked quite heavy, and even if he wielded it with ease, he would eventually be unable to support it for long.
Then I can take him down just like I did with Han Bao.
Chen, Lin, and the others exchanged a glance, smiled slightly, and felt relieved.
They could naturally see that Zhao Cheng had not yet reached the pinnacle of his internal energy cultivation. Therefore, as long as Chen Heng was on guard and dealt with him patiently, it would not be a problem.
As Shen Yi announced, "The duel begins," Zhao Cheng and Chen Heng instantly clashed on the high platform.
Having received Chen Chongxin's reminder, Chen Heng focused on defense from the beginning and did not launch any offensive moves.
Zhao Cheng did not rush into things blindly, but instead made continuous probing attacks.
Over the years, he has traveled all over the country and experienced countless exchanges, both big and small.
It's clear that Chen Heng is formidable and possesses exceptional martial arts skills.
However, his martial arts level was inferior, and even though Chen Heng had been weakened by Han Bao, he was still not someone he could easily deal with.
What he needed to do was to wear down Chen Heng as much as possible so that the second captain of the Zhenwu Camp could face Lin Yuan at his peak.
Try to reduce Lu Cheng's pressure as much as possible.
Otherwise, if Lu Cheng were to face two opponents who had reached the peak of the Qi Refining stage, he might not be able to win.
Having made up his mind, Zhao Cheng began to use the Thirty-Six Forms of the River-Blocking Halberd Technique repeatedly.
All your energy is allocated to offense and defense.
The two exchanged blows for over eighty rounds. Chen Heng repeatedly tried to advance using his movement techniques, but Zhao Cheng saw through his moves in time and kept his distance.
Such a style of play was naturally not very interesting, and the audience below the stage became increasingly bored, urging the two to show some real skill.
In the viewing area of the Chen and Lin families, the faces of the four people in charge grew increasingly grim.
After fighting for so long, Chen Heng's strength had already begun to decline, and now even if he wanted to unleash his full power, he couldn't.
It can be said that Zhao Cheng has achieved his goal.
"You little thief, using such a powerful weapon, yet fighting so cowardly, how can you be so shameless?" Chen Heng finally couldn't suppress his anger and cursed at Zhao Cheng.
Zhao Cheng remained silent, only thrusting, prying, blocking, and hooking, without making any large-scale chopping or smashing moves.
The two exchanged blows for nearly thirty more rounds, and both were already in a state of disarray.
Below the platform, Chen Chonghui and Lin Wanxiong couldn't help but start yelling at Zhao Cheng.
But Shen Yi immediately stopped him, and then stopped the fight:
"Alright, let's call it a draw. This match will be considered a draw."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Cheng and Cheng Heng both stopped fighting.
Chen Chonghui, however, was dissatisfied and objected:
"Captain Shen, the battle is not over yet, how can it be considered a draw?"
The two looked at each other's positions, and although they were separated by a high platform, it seemed as if they could meet each other's eyes.
Shen Yi smiled and said:
"Oh? If we're going to count Chen Hengsheng, that's certainly possible."
Chen Chongxin quickly tugged at Chen Chonghui's arm and interjected with a smile:
"Since Captain Shen has spoken, there is no reason to change it. A draw is the fairest outcome."
Chen Heng's strength had been completely exhausted by Zhao Cheng.
In the next match, whether it's Xue Yin or Li Wei, they probably won't be able to withstand even ten moves.
Rather than being defeated in one fell swoop, it's better to step down like this.
At least it's more respectable.
The two stepped down from the stage and returned to their respective seats.
Lu Cheng stood up and helped Zhao Chengli back to his seat.
"Thank you for your help, Brother Zhao."
Zhao Cheng laughed heartily: "Why be so polite between us?"
He picked up the water bag next to him and started gulping it down.
On the other side, Li Wei of the Zhenwu Camp had already stood up, looked at Lu Cheng, and said regretfully:
"Sigh, I was planning to spar with that kid again."
After saying that, he turned and walked towards the high platform.
From the thirteenth family, a disciple quickly stepped onto the stage.
After exchanging greetings, the two quickly began to fight.
However, the difference between the two was too great, and the disciple was defeated in less than ten moves.
In the area occupied by the Chen and Lin families, Chen Chongxin whispered something to the other three.
The three reacted differently, and after a brief argument, Lin Wanying and Chen Chonghui shook their heads helplessly.
Lin Wanxiong smiled and said something to one of his disciples behind him.
Then, to everyone's surprise, the disciple got up and walked towards the high platform.