At that moment, Ben Guang, Head Monk of Shaolin, declared in a ringing voice, "Amitabha! We have come today for one purpose only—to deal with the Martial Demon. If any others insist on obstructing us, then I fear they must look to their own fortunes!"
From the opposing crowd, a man suddenly strode forth. He was powerfully built, tall and broad like a warhorse, with a leopard's head, round glaring eyes, a swallow's jaw, and a tiger's neck. His whole bearing was fierce and imposing. In a cold voice he said, "If that is so, then let us waste no more words! I am Wang Chong, the Tyrant of Chu Tianba. I have long admired the secret arts of Shaolin, and today I have come to receive your instruction!"
Wang Chong, the Tyrant of Chu Tianba, had long run rampant across the two southern circuits of Jiangnan, famed for his valor and ferocity in battle. Invited here on this occasion, he sought to measure himself against the greatest masters under heaven. Seeing the man's aggressive bearing, Ben Guang was still considering who should answer the challenge when a monk suddenly stepped out, cupped his hands, and said, "I am Ben Xin of the Western Hall. I have come to learn from Your Excellency's brilliant skill."
Wang Chong narrowed his eyes and sneered. "Excellent. Then make your move!"
No sooner had he spoken than he flew forward at blinding speed and struck out with a palm like a gust of wind. Ben Xin tilted his body slightly and slipped past it with nimble ease, yet even so, the force of the palm wind drove him back several steps. After steadying himself, he nodded faintly and said, "A fine hand indeed!"
But before the words had fully left his mouth, his stance changed at once. He stood upright and square, feet together with the toes slightly turned outward, arms bent, palms pressed together before his chest with the fingers pointing upward. Suddenly his left hand shot out in feint, and his right followed in a flash—a move called "Split Bricks and Shatter Stone" burst forth!
This was one of Shaolin's Seventy-Two Supreme Arts, the Mighty Vajra Hand, a discipline that emphasized qi gathered full in the dantian, the waist and inner strength moving as one, striking with unmatched ferocity. Ben Xin's attack came swifter and fiercer than before, the palm wind shrill and biting as it swept straight toward Wang Chong.
Seeing the move's savage power, Wang Chong's face darkened. His feet shifted, his body quick as a hawk. Not only did he not retreat—he sprang forward instead. His arms spread abruptly like a tiger descending the mountain, his palms overbearing and violent as he met Ben Xin's Mighty Vajra Hand head-on.
Bang! Their palm energies collided, and the shockwave surged outward. The surrounding spectators felt a powerful current strike them, forcing them all back a step.
In the blink of an eye, the two had already exchanged dozens of moves. Ben Xin moved like thunder and lightning, both palms striking in ceaseless succession, the Mighty Vajra Hand unfolding layer upon layer, pressing Wang Chong so hard he had scarcely any room to evade. Wang Chong, however, was agile and fleet of foot. Though forced to give ground again and again, he continued to dodge and retreat, yet even so, sweat had already begun to bead on his brow.
Bang bang bang—The sound of palm power crashing together rang out without pause, and the scene grew ever more intense. Ben Xin let out a sharp cry, stepped forward, and suddenly raised his palm. With one move, "Carving Jade into a Vessel," followed immediately by "Cast Stone Against an Egg," he launched a relentless chain of attacks. His palms came like a raging storm, driving Wang Chong into grave peril.
Ben Xin rushed in at close quarters, his palm wind heavy as mountains, his force vast and powerful. In an instant, his strike had already reached Wang Chong's chest.
Wang Chong's eyes tightened. With a great shout, he stimulated his inner power, crossing both palms and striking left and right in swift succession to counterattack. Boom! Their palm strength exploded outward, and both men staggered back several paces.
Wang Chong steadied himself, drew a deep breath, and his eyes flickered with fierce light. In a low voice he said, "The Shaolin Sect truly deserves its mighty reputation. It is no empty fame. I, Wang Chong, can no longer hold back—I must reveal a little of my true skill!"
Ben Xin gave a slight nod and brought his palms together. "This poor monk humbly awaits your instruction."
The two stared at each other for a moment, each knowing he had encountered a formidable foe. Around them, the gathered heroes held their breath, the tension mounting to the utmost.
Even as they spoke, however, their hands, feet, and footwork never stopped. The longer they fought, the faster their attacks became. Wang Chong had spent many years immersed in martial study. Drawing upon the strengths of many schools, he had created his own unique system of palm techniques, which he named the Tianba Palm Art.
Suddenly he leapt into the air with awe-inspiring force and pounced downward. With one move, "The Sky-Bending Eagle," he chopped out two fierce streams of palm power from midair. Not only were these strikes heavy with force, but the techniques themselves were strange and unfathomable. One palm came before, the other after, shadowing each other so closely that in the blink of an eye they had already arrived within a foot of Ben Xin's chest.
The abrupt, violent palm wind caused Ben Xin to start slightly. He had not expected Wang Chong's palm techniques to be so intricate and uncanny. But after all, he was a master of Shaolin. In the face of danger, he did not lose his composure. Turning his palms at once, he swiftly struck out twice in response.
Pa! Pa!The palms met with a violent crash, stirring a gale that scattered in all directions.
This move was Shaolin's "One Clap, Two Dispersals Palm." With fierce power it turned danger into safety, dissolving the opponent's palm force. At the same time, Ben Xin's body spun rapidly, and before Wang Chong could shift to another move, he had already followed with three more attacks in swift succession.
These three rapid attacks were part of Shaolin's secret transmission, the "Great Compassion Thousand-Leaf Hand." Palm shadows flew everywhere like a thousand-armed Buddha, the offensive so dense that not even wind could pass through it. Wang Chong's pupils contracted. He retreated two steps in quick succession before finally escaping the chain assault.
Wang Chong said in admiration, "Master, you truly bear peerless arts. Today I, Wang Chong, have opened my eyes!"
Ben Xin gave a faint nod. "You are too gracious. Your own secret skills are profound indeed. This poor monk has benefited from your instruction."
Wang Chong was fierce by nature and refused to be outdone. At once he said in a deep voice, "Master, then do take care!"
With that, he gave a shout. His left palm rose, and with one move—"Advance, Yet Cannot Advance"—he conjured a vast sheet of palm shadows that crashed forward.
The palm force came in layers upon layers, like great waves battering the shore. Ben Xin immediately employed a separating palm technique from the Eight Strikes of the Shaolin Divine Palm, rapidly dismantling the assault. Before Wang Chong's first move had even ended, his right palm shot out in a flash. With a second move—"Retreat, Yet Cannot Retreat"—a fierce howl burst forth from level ground, the sound of its force splitting the air like thunder.
Ben Xin raised his hands to receive and break the attack, fists and feet moving together. The two exchanged blows at lightning speed, offense and defense changing as swiftly as sparks from flint. Ben Xin sprang forward and suddenly gave a clear cry, his right palm cleaving downward with savage force. Wang Chong dared not take it head-on. He twisted aside to evade, then abruptly spun and counterattacked, launching two moves in succession—"No Road to Heaven" and "No Gate into Earth."
The two bodies crossed and recrossed, changing through dozens of moves in an instant. To the spectators, they appeared as two blurred shadows flashing across the field, their speed so great that the eye could scarcely follow.
Bang! Bang!Suddenly came two heavy sounds as their palms met once more, and the two men each stumbled back several paces.
Ben Xin's face turned slightly pale, yet he still brought his palms together and softly intoned, "Amitabha. Sir, the depth of your skill commands this poor monk's utmost admiration."
But even as he spoke, a cry of "Wah!" burst from his lips, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. His expression changed abruptly, and he slowly sank down to sit on the ground. Clearly, he had suffered an internal injury.
Though Wang Chong remained standing by sheer force of will, the corners of his mouth twitched. Then, with a sudden "Wah!", he too spat out a gush of blood and staggered several steps.
"Elder Brother!" cried the outlaws behind him, rushing forward to catch and support him.
The clash of these two great masters had ended with both vomiting blood—both sides grievously wounded!
The entire arena fell silent in horror. All the gathered heroes were shaken to the core. The savagery of this duel left them holding their breath, unable to speak for a long while.