125: Chapter 125 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (Seventy-Three)

Chu Shi's voice rang out calmly.

Before his voice had even faded, he moved.

Chu Shi employed the "Diamond Cloud-Stepping Footwork" that he hadn't used in a long time, instantly rushing before Zhou Xuan.

He simply threw a single punch.

Wherever the wind of his fist passed, the air was ignited, emitting a sizzling sound.

Zhou Xuan's expression changed drastically, his pupils contracted sharply, and he hurriedly held his sword horizontally to block.

Pale green true energy surged wildly, forming a thick barrier on the spring bud sword.

With a deafening "Boom!"

His true energy barrier was shattered instantly, as if it were made of paper.

Chu Shi's fist struck the blade of the spring bud sword squarely, bending it into a semi-circle.

Zhou Xuan felt an irresistible force surge through him, sending him flying backward; he crashed heavily onto the arena floor, sliding several yards before coming to a stop.

With a "pfft" sound, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

He struggled to stand up, only to find that Chu Shi was already standing in front of him.

Chu Shi's fist stopped three inches from the center of his forehead.

The scorching wind from the fist made his hair fly.

"You have lost," Chu Shi said calmly.

Zhou Xuan looked at Chu Shi, his eyes filled with confusion and shock.

He had anticipated that he might not be a match for Chu Shi, but he never expected it to be a complete crushing defeat.

And he was the one being crushed.

He smiled, saying with some relief: "I have lost. Brother Chu truly lives up to his reputation; I am convinced of my defeat."

Afterward, Zhou Xuan barely steadied himself, cupped his hands toward Chu Shi, and asked with some reluctance:

"Might Senior Brother Chu be willing to tell me what inheritance you used during the fight? How could the gap between us be so vast?"

Chu Shi withdrew his fist, glanced at him, and then suddenly realized.

Right, he had been beaten silly, beaten out of his self-confidence.

After all, his external display was just moving forward, and then with one punch, he had collapsed.

Chu Shi thought for a moment, then looked at his master and Elder Mo who were chatting on the high platform, deciding to explain it to him.

"Junior Brother Zhou, your fighting style is too rigid. You probably haven't fought in any real battles, right?"

"That is correct. Since joining the sect, I have focused solely on cultivation and have not engaged in combat."

Zhou Xuan had calmed down by now, and although he was a bit confused, he answered earnestly.

Chu Shi smiled; it was as he thought.

Afterward, he earnestly advised him: "Go fight more. The martial path cannot be achieved by working behind closed doors.

You must compete and fight. You must temper yourself in blood and fire.

Just now, I had already gathered my strength when you attacked. The moment your sword failed to land, I seized that opening.

I immediately used a vigorous footwork technique to rush forward, followed by a powerful ultimate move—a killing blow from the "Blazing Sun Fist Imprint".

It instantly crushed all your defenses, and one punch shattered your momentum."

After speaking, Chu Shi looked at the expression on Zhou Xuan's face, which carried shock, relief, and even a hint of joy, and continued to say to him.

"That is the one step and one punch you saw. In reality, the gap between us is not as large as you think."

As he spoke, Chu Shi even bent down to pick up the spring bud sword and handed it to Zhou Xuan.

Zhou Xuan hurriedly took it with both hands, his face filled with gratitude, and said solemnly to Chu Shi:

"Many thanks to Senior Brother Chu for imparting your wisdom and clearing my doubts. This junior brother is immensely grateful."

After speaking, he bowed deeply to Chu Shi again before limping off the arena.

Chu Shi watched Zhou Xuan's back as he left the stage, shaking his head inwardly.

I was lying to you, little brother.

In reality, the gap between us is truly vast.

If I didn't have absolute certainty, how would I dare to ignore your attack and start with an ultimate move?

If I had been broken by your sword, wouldn't I have been finished?

The conversation between the two seemed long, but in reality, only a short moment had passed.

The crowd below only saw the Four Seasons Holy Land's leading disciple, the high-spirited Zhou Xuan, strike at Chu Shi with his sword first.

Then, with a look of disbelief, he was rushed by Chu Shi and shattered by a single punch.

He walked off the arena dejectedly.

The entire venue was silent.

After a long while, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause and cheers.

"Chu Shi! Chu Shi! Chu Shi!"

Countless Great Sun Holy Land disciples shouted Chu Shi's name loudly; their voices resounded through the sky, spreading throughout the entire Great Sun Holy Land.

Chu Shi stood in the center of the arena, his neat purple martial outfit illuminated by the golden sunlight, appearing like a god of war, shining brilliantly.

Watching Chu Shi, Elder Mo of the Four Seasons Holy Land on the platform, whose expression had originally been extremely ugly, also changed.

With a warm and appreciative face, he said to Peak Master Lieyang: "Old Li, you have truly taken in an outstanding disciple this time.

Not only is his combat talent high, but he is also not lacking in social intelligence.

Look, when Xuan'er asked him, he even glanced at you and me on the platform; he is clearly a tactful person."

Peak Master Lieyang heard this and waved his hand, his expression serious.

But the hidden smile and gratification in his eyes could not be hidden no matter what.

"Hahaha, Brother Mo, stop praising this kid.

What kind of tact is that? This kid doesn't know how to pull his punches; wouldn't a fight like this cause you to lose face, brother?

It's just that he handled it well at the end, knowing to consider the friendship between you and me, and wasn't overly arrogant.

Otherwise, I would have had to punish him to apologize to Junior Nephew Zhou personally."

After speaking, he stood up, waved his hand to take out three tokens—gold, silver, and copper—from his ring, and shot them to Chu Shi, Zhou Xuan, and Bing Hao.

Immediately, he spoke solemnly, "Quiet!"

In an instant, his calm and majestic voice spread throughout the entire Lieyang Peak.

"I declare this ceremony concluded.

The top three of this exchange meeting may use their tokens to go to the Lieyang Peak Internal Affairs Hall to receive their rewards."

After speaking, he flicked his sleeves and disappeared from the high platform.

Simultaneously, the various peak masters and elders on the high platform also disappeared.

At the same time, Peak Master Lieyang's voice transmission reached Chu Shi's mind:

"Shi'er, handle your trivial matters in the next few days, and come find your master at the Peak Master's Hall in three days."

Chu Shi was slightly stunned. What does this old guy want now? But, it should be a good thing, right?

He was his personal disciple now, and he had just brought honor to him.

Overthinking is useless.

Chu Shi shook his head, slightly adjusted his robes, which weren't messy at all, and turned to walk toward the bottom of the arena with large strides.

He had already seen his mother, Madam Liu, waving at him from afar; her teary face was filled with joy and worry.

In a few steps, Chu Shi walked off the arena. Immediately, he hurriedly put an excited expression on his face and walked quickly toward Madam Liu.

"Mother, why are you crying?"