lovenovelstory Chapter 67 The Palm of the Hand Blows and Hailstones Pushes the Heavens and Earth
Chapter 67 The Palm of the Hand Blows and Hailstones Pushes the Heavens and Earth
The broken-through-bottom-of-the-world-falling-dragon technique has become a martial art with no upper limit. The more Lin Zhuo uses it, the thicker, heavier, and stronger the accumulated palm force becomes.
Before the divine veins were formed, the hidden dragon's power could only temporarily reside in the sea of qi, like a trapped dragon sinking into an abyss, unable to fully unleash its supernatural abilities. Firstly, the sea of qi has the ability to restrain and store true qi, like a chain; secondly, allowing the powerful true qi to roam freely in the sea of qi can easily damage it.
Now that the dragon has emerged from the water and is surging through the divine veins, it is as if it has a large area of deep space as a buffer zone, and it is like a horse being released into the Milky Way without any restraint.
The hidden dragon's power originates from the Qihai acupoint and flows through the body's meridians. This is both a good thing and a bad thing.
Fortunately, this powerful circulating true energy, if properly guided, can certainly be used to promote internal strength and even other martial arts.
This means that, with the internal energy circulation of the Fallen Dragon as its core, it is possible to construct a highly efficient combination of techniques. This would allow light-body skills and hard-body skills to utilize the enhanced effects of the Fallen Dragon, and in turn, strengthen the effectiveness of the Fallen Dragon's power.
But bad news also followed. The stronger the hidden dragon's power accumulated, the more rapid the flow of true energy became. If Lin Zhuo's will and mental strength could not suppress and control this fierce and unparalleled mental energy, it would be easy for the flow of energy to go astray, the true energy to surge backward, and even the terrifying accident of the shattering of the divine meridians to occur.
Therefore, Lin Zhuo needed to create new martial arts techniques to help subdue the dragons.
For now, even if the power of the Fallen Dragon could be increased indefinitely, Lin Zhuo set a limit for himself: unless absolutely necessary, he should not stack the Hidden Dragon buff to more than nine layers, otherwise it would be counterproductive and harm himself.
The Nine-Layer Hidden Dragon technique boasts a 54-fold increase in the power of [Destruction] True Qi. Combined with the technique's own 18-fold increase, the final palm strike can reach as much as 72 times. This ferocious and powerful technique truly stirs up the wind and clouds, and can destroy buildings. It can already rival many blue-quality Destruction martial arts techniques.
In the world of "Cangcheng", blue-quality martial arts are truly rare treasures, secret manuals of famous sects that are not passed down to outsiders. Only a handful of top masters in the world can master them. Among them, the grandmasters of the righteous path are basically ranked on the Heavenly Ranking, while the grandmasters of the evil path are at the top of the Black Ranking.
It can be said that after mastering this stunning palm technique, Lin Zhuo is now qualified to fight against the most powerful figures in the martial arts world.
When Ding Shiyuan, the swordsman of the hour, heard Lin Zhuo's words, the phrase "mourning for oneself" really angered him, but it also made him feel that something was wrong.
People in the martial arts world always exchange a few words before a fight, because this intangible psychological factor of momentum can significantly influence their performance in actual combat. Increasing one's chances of victory by 30% simply by talking, or even subduing the enemy without a fight, is a very worthwhile trade.
Ding Shiyuan had fought hundreds of battles with all sorts of martial artists in the Jianghu, honing his tongue, thickening his skin, and hardening his heart. No matter what his opponents said, he could discern some truth from falsehood.
But it was precisely because he was able to analyze people's hearts that Ding Shiyuan felt more and more that the person in front of him was not lying at all, nor was he some kind of ungrateful, ignorant, and foolish person.
He could feel that Peter truly understood him, which was why Peter sincerely said those words.
"Don't think like that," Ding Shiyuan silently told himself. "Winning or losing is always predetermined. Never make judgments before the outcome is decided."
He was from Zhongping County, Yuyang Prefecture, and a descendant of the Ding family, a renowned swordsmanship family. He began practicing internal energy cultivation at the age of four, learned swordsmanship at the age of five, and was taught the Yixing Sword Style at the age of nine.
The Ding family members who practiced swordsmanship lived in an old house in a valley outside Guangping City. Every night, they would trek to the top of the mountain and climb the 33-zhang-high Star Gazing Tower to observe the stars and practice their swordsmanship.
Therefore, Ding Shiyuan became accustomed to the heights, the cool and chaotic night winds, the vastness of the earth and the insignificance of the mortal world, and the stars that seemed so close above him, within easy reach.
He knew that the stars revolved around the Big Dipper, that the starry sky was different in each of the four seasons, that he had seen meteors that suddenly shone and meteors that fell in spectacular fashion, and that he often gazed at the bright moon in the sky for a long time, thinking about the ancients of hundreds of millions of years ago and the new people of hundreds of millions of years to come.
He believed that the rise and fall of all human affairs could not change the course of the stars. The so-called reincarnation of stars and the so-called destiny of stars were nothing more than tricks used by monks and Taoists to fool ordinary people.
Such ancient things are completely indifferent to the petty noises of the human world. They operate according to the will of Heaven, a will so unfathomable that it is more difficult to measure and calculate than the trajectory of any star.
The Ding family's swordsmanship is masterful in the arts of divination, adept at planning before acting, and its sword principles are akin to those of chess. Every move is in accordance with the rules, calculated step by step, until the opponent is driven into a desperate situation, and the dragon is slain in one fell swoop. People in the martial arts world admire them and bestow upon them the reputation of "foreseeing all the secrets of heaven".
However, Ding Shiyuan dared not entertain the idea of calculating all the secrets of heaven.
The family's great-grandfather, Ding Si'an, the ninth grandmaster on the Heavenly Ranking, known as "Sword Challenging the Stars," once held his child's hand and earnestly advised him, "The secrets of heaven are unpredictable. As mere mortals, the more we think and calculate, the more mistakes we make. It's better to make a few casual moves; who knows, they might just help you turn the tide at some point."
When Ding Shiyuan was young, he did not understand this principle. Relying on his quick wit, he always pursued simplicity and cleanliness when drawing his sword, aiming to defeat the enemy as quickly as possible.
As he grew older and learned from his mistakes, he began to truly calm his mind and gaze at the night sky. His swordsmanship became increasingly cumbersome and confusing, like sand mixed in with water, a muddy mess, yet gradually he became invincible.
Grandfather was right. In any martial art that relies on meticulous calculation, practitioners must consider unexpected situations and cultivate their ability to handle emergencies.
"The secrets of heaven cannot be calculated, and the outcome is uncertain. Brother Lin, let's see who wins and who loses through our skills."
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhuo calmly raised his hand in invitation, "Come on, let's make a move."
"offend."
Ding Shiyuan leaped into the air, like an invisible and intangible ghost, swaying as if trying to blend his gray outfit into the night. The gleaming Autumn Thoughts Sword in his hand suddenly burst forth with a dazzling array of cold light, like the stars and lights in the sky and on the earth tonight, like a cold, sudden rain, like rustling autumn leaves, pelting down on Lin Zhuo.
The streets of Anzhou City were instantly filled with cheers and exclamations, and the doors and windows of nearby households could not block out the enthusiastic applause.
"It really is as beautiful as fireworks!"
"This young swordsman's swordsmanship is truly beautiful; he must be more skilled than the other person!"
"Let's see how Lin the Bloodsucker deals with this."
The swordsman, soaring into the sky, continued his attacks without pause, his movements as light as flowing clouds. He managed to maintain his balance in mid-air with only the slightest leverage during exchanges, showing no sign of falling. With his body sideways, hands gripping his sword, one leg bent and the other straight, he resembled an eagle spreading its wings, gliding through the air.
The Ding family's Yi Xing Sword Style is elegant and ethereal, and in terms of visual appeal, it is a first-rate martial art in the martial arts world.
As the seventy-seven sword shadows and cold stars flew into the range of the clumsy dragon's palm strike, the roar of the dragons swallowed up all the sword energy, extinguishing it one by one like sparks on the water's surface.
But in the next instant, the sword light shone again, more numerous and with greater speed, as if hundreds of soldiers had stormed into the enemy ranks, working together to annihilate countless dragons and snakes, even causing Lin Zhuo's powerful six-foot aura to collapse.
As a weapon listed on the list, the Qiu Si Sword already possesses extraordinary properties. Its effect on condensing true qi is extremely powerful, enough to allow a qi master to unleash the highly condensed qi structure of sword light in advance.
Skills like sword aura and saber aura are often the forte of many powerful sect leaders and martial arts masters like demonic cult masters.
The "Form Attachment" skill, which corresponds to the Level 4 professional characteristic of Qigong Masters on the Internet, allows one to extend their spiritual meridians outside the body and attach themselves to external entities. This greatly enhances the strength of objects and allows true qi to travel further, thus achieving the ability to turn grass, trees, bamboo, and stones into swords.
Indeed, as Ding Shiyuan said, with the sword in hand, his skills increased by 50% out of nowhere.
Lin Zhuo no longer held back his palm strikes as he had when he fought Wan Tao, hoping to overwhelm the Dianchen Swordsman with his overflowing energy. It would be difficult to do so.
It's not just that the "Yi Xing Sword Style" is more exquisite and complex than the "Boundless Chaotic Wave Slash," nor is it just that Ding Shiyuan's swordsmanship is more sophisticated and experienced than Wan Taoxian's, but also that this person's belief and will to wield the sword are not easily crushed.
In the brief exchange, Lin Zhuo was already able to discern many of Ding Shiyuan's ingenious ideas and skillful techniques from his swordplay. He truly wielded the sword like a general, strategizing with complete control. Moreover, the commander's fighting spirit was as cold and distant as fate, remaining indifferent to the situation on the field, regardless of whether it was favorable or unfavorable.
Lin Zhuo looked up at him, their eyes meeting. He saw a pair of cold eyes, devoid of murderous intent or hostility, and even filled with a sorrowful pity.
Why that look in your eyes?
As Lin Zhuo pondered to himself, he gathered his inner energy and unleashed a powerful palm strike towards the sky.
The clumsy dragon has fallen to earth.
He could already silently unleash this supreme power, so when he made his move, it was as calm as spring rain, with almost no abnormalities.
When Ding Shiyuan saw him raise his palm and push it out, he thought to himself that his chance had come.
He had previously guessed that Lei Yin Blood Hand's weakness lay in the brief moment after he struck out with his palm. If he could avoid this palm strike, he could advance straight in and seize the opportunity to win.
Ding Shiyuan quickly used his lightness skill to adjust his body, and at the same time, he thrust out a sword to provoke Dalong, trying to use the terrifying force to push himself away.
However, Lin Zhuo's palm force suddenly exploded the moment it touched Qiu Si's sword.
The arrogant and unrestrained palm force violently rubbed against the atmosphere, causing a sudden, desolate thunderclap to erupt in the autumn night's sky.
Crack! Buzz! — Amidst the thunderous roar, Ding Shiyuan, caught off guard, felt as if the oncoming gale was like the towering walls of Anzhou City, crashing straight into him. There was no way to block or avoid it. No matter how many afterimages his figure flashed rapidly in the air, he could not escape the range of the palm strike.
The next instant, he was propelled into the air.
This sudden turn of events was completely unexpected by Ding Shiyuan. Not only did he fail to close the distance to his opponent, but he was also pushed away. Unable to seize the opportunity when his opponent's old strength was exhausted and new strength had not yet been generated, the situation was extremely critical.
Lin Zhuo on the stage once again prepared his palm strike, which was even more powerful and forceful than before.
Ding Shiyuan tried his best to use his jack-like protective skills to plummet straight down, but what awaited him was another clumsy dragon falling to earth.
Yi Xing's sword technique splashed out a burst of light, like dazzling fireworks, only to be abruptly extinguished by a gust of wind rising from below.
Thunder roared again, and Ding Shiyuan was blasted even higher. The platform beneath his feet was now as small as a mahjong tile, and he couldn't hear the commotion of the people on the ground. His chest was pressed painfully by the raging wind, and he had difficulty breathing.
Even so, he continued to adjust, constantly using the wind to circle in the sky like a real bird, trying to return to the ring.
The clumsy dragon falls to earth—of course, it's this palm strike again. Whenever Ding Shiyuan gets close, he is inevitably met with this irresistible force.
The sword of autumn thoughts murmured softly in the wind, his clothes were torn in the wind, his bones creaked, his flesh could not bear the weight, and his facial features were distorted and comical by the wind.
Ding Shiyuan was still drawing his sword.
The streets of Anzhou City were quiet. The thunder drowned out everyone's words, but people continued to feel sad and grieved for Dianchen Swordsman, and were also moved by his stubbornness and defiance.
The same applies to Lin Zhuo.
His gaze was no longer fixed on Ding Shiyuan's eyes, but rather passed over the man's unsettling figure, gazing at the stars of the night.
Ding Shiyuan seemed to be standing shoulder to shoulder with him at this moment. Neither of them looked at each other, but both looked up at the vast sky, where the moon and stars were so bright and majestic.
"Have you truly understood my sword, my fighting spirit?"
"I originally thought you compared yourself to the unfathomable will of heaven, which is why you were so cold and ruthless. I never imagined you were just afraid of the will of heaven, and pitied every mortal manipulated by it. You are a pessimistic person at all times, so it's no wonder you have no murderous intent, no hostility, are unmoved by success or angered by failure. Is this what they call a desperate army that will surely win?"
"Isn't fate terrifying? Aren't you afraid of destiny?"
"I don't care."
"...I see. We are on different paths and cannot work together. I, Ding, lost, but only because I am not skilled enough. Your madman's fighting spirit cannot crush me."
Lin Zhuo unleashed seven consecutive palm strikes, and the stubborn, shimmering sword light in the sky, like a celestial river hanging in the air, finally extinguished completely.
The heavily injured and exhausted swordsman was unconscious, his body falling like a kite with a broken string. In mid-air, he was gently pulled back onto the high platform by a silent, powerful palm force, and caught by Lin Zhuo, preventing him from falling to the ground and being smashed into a pulp.
The thunder rumbled for several breaths before dissipating, and the crowd on the ground suddenly erupted in cheers and applause after a period of silence. The gongs of the servants in the Golden Pavilion clanged incessantly, celebrating this magnificent victory.