On the fifth night, at the Star Gazing Platform on the outskirts of Chang'an...
Xiao Wuchen did not choose to enter through the secret passage, as this would lead him into a trap laid by the Grandmaster. Instead, he planned to use speed and surprise attacks on the vast battlefield to force the Grandmaster into making a mistake.
Just past midnight, the world fell silent.
Xiao Wuchen stood at the foot of the mountain, took a deep breath and, no longer concealing himself, channelled his inner strength, concentrating it in his palm. He then unleashed his strongest martial technique towards the empty valley, shouting, "Thunderclap Palm!"
'Thunderclap Palm!' A palm strike like a thunderclap ripped instantly through the night's tranquility, carrying a terrifying force as it slammed directly towards the residence of 'Iron Hand' Lu Qingfeng within the stone houses of the Star Gazing Platform.
This wasn't a killing move, but a blatant provocation and demonstration.
The next second, the stone house exploded, scattering debris everywhere!
Just as the stone house collapsed, a grey-blue figure shot into the air like a cannonball and landed steadily on the edge of the observatory.
The newcomer was none other than 'Iron Hand' Lu Qingfeng. Burly and with a cold, stern face, his bulging arms exuded an aura of authority and menacing power. His sharp eyes locked onto Xiao Wuchen at the foot of the mountain.
'You lackeys of the Evil-Repelling Division, how dare you come knocking!' Lu Qingfeng's voice, carrying the unique power and penetrating force of true qi, sent the forest's birds scattering in terror.
Xiao Wuchen stood firm and unwavering, his inner strength already at its peak.
'By order of the Grand Steward, I have come to summon the Grandmaster to face justice!' Lu Qingfeng laughed wildly; his laughter was filled with disdain for a mere Qi Refining Realm ant. 'You ignorant brat! Do you even know what true Qi is?!' Before he could finish speaking, he stopped talking nonsense, his true Qi erupting beneath his feet. His entire figure instantly transformed into a blur as he leaped down from the stone platform, which was tens of metres high!
A Foundation Establishment Grandmaster — his strength was indeed terrifying!
'Iron Hand Shattering Stone Technique!' Lu Qingfeng struck Xiao Wuchen's head with a palm, accompanied by a terrifying gust of wind. The strike was heavy and powerful, and the condensed bluish-grey true energy in his palm was almost tangible. Even before it made contact, the air exploded with a muffled sound.
Xiao Wuchen's pupils constricted sharply. He knew that a head-on collision would mean certain death.
He instantly activated the Flowing Wind Step, moving like a leaf swept by the wind and narrowly avoiding this earth-shattering blow!
Lu Qingfeng's palm slammed into the ground, shattering the hard rock like tofu and leaving a huge, smoking palm print several inches deep.
'Not bad speed, but unfortunately, it's child's play for the Qi Refining Realm!' Lu Qingfeng sneered, forming a protective shield of true energy around him. Xiao Wuchen's ordinary attacks didn't worry him at all.
Xiao Wuchen knew he couldn't delay; he needed to lure Lu Qingfeng to the top of the Star Gazing Platform quickly.
Spinning around abruptly, he advanced instead of retreating and unleashed three consecutive Thunderclap Palm strikes, all aimed at the stone platform behind the Grandmaster.
Lu Qingfeng casually flicked out a wisp of true energy, easily shattering Xiao Wuchen's palm attack. However, in that instant, Xiao Wuchen had used the momentum to propel himself onto the Star Gazing Platform!
The top of the observatory was flat and offered a wide view.
Lu Qingfeng unleashed his true energy, leaping nimbly upwards to the centre of the platform. His eyes blazed with an even greater fury. 'You want to die with some dignity, is that it? Fine, I'll grant your wish!"
Xiao Wuchen stood on the other side of the platform, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. Now was the time to execute the plan!
Ignoring Lu Qingfeng, he channelled his inner strength and aimed a powerful palm strike at an inconspicuous corner on the platform's edge.
Target: The entrance to the secret passage!
This palm strike wasn't aimed at 'Iron Hand', but seemed intended to destroy something.
Lu Qingfeng's expression changed drastically.
'You dare!' His greatest fear was the destruction of the Earth Fire Chamber and the secret passage — his secrets lay there.
The Grandmaster surged forward instantly, charging towards Xiao Wuchen at a speed far exceeding his previous pace.
'Get out of my way!' Lu Qingfeng's true energy spiralled out of control as he became enraged. His palms spun in the air with a piercing shriek, carrying earth-shattering power, and he aimed directly at Xiao Wuchen!
At this critical moment, Xiao Wuchen knew he couldn't wait any longer.
A resolute glint flashed in his eyes. He gripped the Meridian Building Array Plate tightly in his left hand while swiftly producing a Gathering Yuan Pill with his right, which he swallowed with lightning speed.
The pill melted instantly upon entering his mouth and an unimaginably pure energy surged into his body.
System notification: High-level energy source detected — Gathering Yuan Pill! Inner Force Pool boiling violently!
Warning! Vast inner force attempting to break through the Qi Refining Realm barrier! The critical point for this realm is about to be reached!Xiao Wuchen was gripped by a searing pain, as if a mountain was splitting open. Blood seeped from his seven orifices almost simultaneously. But he endured the agony, compressing his inner force towards his dantian core. At that very moment, Lu Qingfeng's powerful attack, delivered by a Grandmaster of the Meridian Building stage, hit him! The aura of death enveloped him. Xiao Wuchen let out a low roar and, almost instinctively, activated the Meridian Building Array Plate in his hand, slamming it violently into the ground. The array plate burst forth with light! At that critical moment, a profound power enveloped Xiao Wuchen's shattered dantian, acting as a temporary barrier against the Grandmaster's overwhelming force. Under the Grandmaster's immense pressure, Xiao Wuchen's cultivation level finally broke through! System notification: Meridian Building Array Plate activated, locking the Meridian Building channel! Congratulations, host! Qi Refining Perfection, Early Stage of Meridian Building (1%)! Martial Arts Core: Inner Force True Qi! The power is extremely unstable in the conversion process! Before Lu Qingfeng's horrified eyes, a light blue aura erupted from Xiao Wuchen's entire body. His internal energy began to be compressed, purified and transformed into true qi at an astonishing speed. He raised his right hand, enveloped in blue true qi, and forcefully met the fatal palm strike aimed at a grandmaster!