Wu Mo cast a malicious glance at Li Jian and sneered, "Boy, what business is this of yours? Why have you come to meddle as well?"
Fei Jin burst into laughter and strode forward. "How could it not concern him? Aside from carrying out assignments entrusted by the Imperial Court, the duty of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness is to travel the martial world and uphold justice wherever wrongs are done."
Wu Mo snorted coldly. "Boy, I made it clear long ago that all grudges between Wu Mo and the various sects were settled once and for all. Why are you trying to play peacemaker again? The world is vast enough already—do you not think you're sticking your nose too far into other people's affairs?"
Li Jian replied, "Senior, your return to the martial world has shaken all under Heaven. Yet even so, mercy is a virtue worth preserving."
"How have I shown no mercy?" Wu Mo retorted. "Have I killed anyone today?"
"Your martial skills are peerless," said Li Jian, "but you bully others with your power and act without restraint. As Master of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, I cannot stand by and ignore it."
His words rang with righteous conviction. Everyone present was deeply moved and thought to themselves, Such is how a true man ought to conduct himself.
Wu Mo sneered. "You self-proclaimed champions of righteousness are always eager to point fingers at others. Enough talk! Let our palms decide who is right!"
"A true man should never abandon the righteous path," Li Jian declared.
With a cold snort, Wu Mo suddenly sprang into the air. His body spun rapidly overhead before diving down like a hawk. He struck with a succession of palms, some feints and some genuine attacks, blending deception and force, softness and hardness. The assault was fierce beyond compare.
Li Jian stood unmoving like a mountain. As Wu Mo came hurtling toward him with a wind-splitting force, his palm strikes crashing forth like thunder and collapsing mountains, Li Jian lowered his stance and shifted aside. His figure flickered, retreating with agile footwork. Then both hands shot out simultaneously, intercepting and deflecting the incoming attacks with lightning speed.
Yet no sooner had he withdrawn than Wu Mo pressed forward relentlessly, clinging to him like a shadow. His palms chopped and legs lashed out in swift succession. However, rather than overwhelming Li Jian, Wu Mo found himself increasingly astonished by the youth's skill. After all, the person before him was not yet twenty years of age.
One was the dreaded demon of the martial world, feared by all under Heaven. The other was a young hero, renowned for courage and righteousness.
With a thunderous shout, Wu Mo launched himself forward. His hands swept forth like a violent storm as he unleashed the Purple Cloud Eight Forms. The eight forms flowed into one another without interruption, each containing eight variations, creating sixty-four transformations in total. The attacks came with astonishing speed.
Yet Li Jian remained completely unafraid. Calmly focusing his mind, he met every strike head-on, countering each move according to its nature.
"Boy," Wu Mo exclaimed, "for one so young to possess such profound internal power is truly remarkable! This is my own creation—the Purple Cloud Eight Forms. Eight forms linked together, each containing eight variations, for a total of sixty-four changes. Do not think it easy to deal with!"
The palm art combined fierce force with hidden softness and had reached the pinnacle of perfection.
Though they conversed, neither man's hands, feet, nor footwork slowed in the slightest. Facing one another, one advanced while the other retreated.
Li Jian withdrew as swiftly as thunder and said, "This junior is honored to witness such masterful techniques."
Even as he spoke, he evaded several of Wu Mo's rapid attacks.
"The essence of the Purple Cloud Eight Forms," Wu Mo explained, "lies in using simplicity to command complexity. Though there are only eight forms, each contains eight transformations, making sixty-four variations in total."
His attacks never ceased as two more moves came sweeping forth.
Leaping backward, Li Jian praised him. "Such a profound and wondrous art deserves careful study. This junior would be honored to hear more of its mysteries."
As he spoke, he shifted his body and narrowly avoided another palm strike.
Wu Mo declared, "The Purple Cloud Eight Forms consist of the Acupoint-Sealing Form, the Boxing Form, the Palm-Pushing Form, the Hooking Hand Form, the Claw Hand Form, the Finger Hand Form, the Lightning-Grasping Form, and the Freeform Style."
"This junior's skills are shallow," Li Jian replied modestly. "I may possess an advantage in youthful strength, but I hope Senior will continue to enlighten me."
Although they spoke calmly, their movements grew ever faster. Yet neither showed the slightest sign of labored breathing, revealing the astonishing depth of their internal cultivation.
Suddenly, Wu Mo released a dragon-like whistle and shouted, "Finger Hand Form!"
A moment later he cried, "Palm-Pushing Form!"
With that, he raised his hand and chopped forward with an open palm. Li Jian twisted aside to evade the attack.
A deafening explosion followed.
Not far away, a massive boulder shattered into countless fragments, stone chips scattering in every direction. The destructive power was truly terrifying.
Without pausing, Wu Mo closed the distance and shouted, "Boxing Form!"
His fist shot forward. Though it was a simple Four-Level Fist, it carried the weight of ten thousand jun.
Li Jian was forced to turn sideways and push out with his right hand. Wu Mo immediately shifted his stance, placing his hand upon Li Jian's arm.
"Hooking Hand Form!"
His fingers suddenly curled inward. Wrist and palm bent together into a hook-like shape, resembling the grasp of an ape.
Li Jian instantly adapted. Inspiration flashed through his mind as he employed the techniques of Praying Mantis Boxing.
Reciting aloud, he chanted:
"From seven principles Mantis Boxing is born;
Strike, seize, pluck, and shift without fail.
Lead with the front step, follow with the rear;
Five gates and six methods yield endless transformations."
This ancient verse was one of the core formulas of Praying Mantis Boxing.
At once, Li Jian formed mantis hooks with the index and middle fingers of both hands. The two combatants exchanged hooks, grabs, plucks, and traps in dazzling succession.
Wu Mo followed with Five-Finger Hooks, Three-Finger Hooks, and Two-Finger Hooks. The variety of techniques was so intricate that onlookers could scarcely follow them.
Wu Mo stared in surprise.
"Boy, what kind of martial art is this?"
Li Jian answered respectfully, "This junior's abilities are limited. What I practice is Praying Mantis Boxing. I hope Senior will not hesitate to offer guidance."