Watching Chen Xiao’s departing back, Lan Qing’er felt a slight sense of loss. From childhood, wherever she went, people treated her like a star, but Chen Xiao’s attitude was merely like that of an ordinary friend. This made her feel a small pang of disappointment at his farewell.
No one noticed Lan Qing’er’s girlish thoughts. After Chen Xiao left, the plaza returned to its usual order, but undoubtedly, everything that had just happened made everyone present remember Chen Xiao’s name.
“Brother Xiao is Brother Xiao, always so cool wherever he goes!” On the way back, Xiao Liuzi flattered Chen Xiao with a playful grin.
“You don’t mind that I embarrassed you?” Chen Xiao joked, recalling Xiao Liuzi’s awkward expression when he learned Chen Xiao only had a first-grade spirit root.
“Heh heh, how could I…” Xiao Liuzi’s face reddened. He was deeply ashamed of his earlier reaction.
Just then, Chen Xiao suddenly stopped. Xiao Liuzi, wondering why Chen Xiao had stopped, heard Chen Xiao say with a cold laugh, “You’ve been following for a long time. It’s time to come out.”
Chen Xiao had long since noticed he was being followed, and he could guess who it was without even thinking.
As expected, the moment Chen Xiao spoke, a gust of wind sounded, followed by a flash of a dark silhouette. In the next instant, an arrogant figure appeared before Chen Xiao and his companion. It was none other than Wang Hao.
“Not bad, you actually noticed me.” Wang Hao’s face was ashen, his voice icy. He had quietly followed Chen Xiao since he left the plaza, intending to teach him a lesson in a secluded spot, but he hadn’t expected to be discovered by Chen Xiao first.
“Of course, who is Brother Xiao? Noticing the tracking of a nobody like you is no big deal at all,” Xiao Liuzi said with disgust. The “nobody” he referred to was clearly Wang Hao, whom Lan Qing’er had said she didn’t recognize earlier.
He could tell there was some bad blood between Wang Hao and Chen Xiao. Since Wang Hao was Chen Xiao’s enemy, he naturally wouldn’t hold back his words.
“You…” Hearing Xiao Liuzi’s words, Wang Hao became furious. He suppressed his anger, glanced at Xiao Liuzi, and said contemptuously, “Hmph, a nobody is a nobody, and the follower he brings is also a nobody.”
“Hey, what are you saying…” Xiao Liuzi was clearly displeased with Wang Hao’s words and angrily rolled up his sleeves.
“You, a nobody, think you can fight me?” Wang Hao’s eyes narrowed menacingly.
Xiao Liuzi then remembered the vast difference in strength between himself and Wang Hao. He paused, but his mouth refused to yield, saying, “Brother Xiao, let’s go. Don’t waste your breath on such a nobody.”
Chen Xiao naturally wouldn’t leave. He stepped in front of Xiao Liuzi and said sternly, staring at Wang Hao, “He is not my follower, but my friend. Also, in my eyes, you are worse than a nobody.”
Hearing Chen Xiao’s words, Xiao Liuzi was deeply touched but also inwardly worried. His opponent was at the fifth level of Body Tempering. The two of them combined wouldn’t be a match for him. This was going to be bad.
Wang Hao, upon hearing this, burst into laughter. “Haha, a nobody who hides behind women dares to be so arrogant. Now that that wench isn’t here to help you, I’d like to see what makes you dare to provoke me.”
Chen Xiao rolled his eyes at Wang Hao and said coldly, “If you want to fight, fight. Why so much nonsense?”
Chen Xiao knew he couldn’t escape today. It was better to have a good fight. Although there was a three-level difference in cultivation between him and Wang Hao, backing down before a fight was definitely not his style.
“You’re lucky to be alive. I didn’t kill you last time, but since you’re so eager to die, I’ll grant your wish.” Wang Hao, seeing the usually weak and incompetent Chen Xiao become so defiant, felt his authority challenged. Gritting his teeth, he unleashed a strong fighting intent and struck Chen Xiao with a palm.
Facing Wang Hao’s attack, Chen Xiao was not flustered at all. Although Wang Hao had a cultivation of the fifth level of Body Tempering, in terms of pure strength, Chen Xiao was not much weaker than Wang Hao. So, Chen Xiao clenched his fist and met Wang Hao’s palm.
Fist and palm met with a dull thud, and both were forced back several steps.
In the first exchange, they were evenly matched, but their feelings were vastly different.
Chen Xiao was secretly delighted. The effect of cultivating the God-Slaying Art exceeded his expectations. He had thought he would only be able to fight against martial artists at the fourth level of Body Tempering, but he didn’t expect to be able to fight evenly with someone at the fifth level.
On the other hand, Wang Hao’s face showed surprise, and he was shocked.
“How is this possible? This nobody’s cultivation has only increased by one level compared to a few days ago, but why could he, who had no power to resist me a few days ago, now fight me evenly across levels?”
“No, I absolutely cannot let this nobody continue to grow. I must take his life today.” Recalling past grievances with Chen Xiao, Wang Hao harbored killing intent. He quickly circulated the vital energy within his body, and a ball of flame faintly appeared on his palm.
“Flame Burst Palm!”
Wang Hao decided not to hold back. The martial skill Flame Burst Palm was his highest-level martial skill, a lower-grade Profound-tier martial skill, and its power was not to be underestimated.
Seeing Wang Hao use a martial skill, Chen Xiao also adopted a serious expression and quickly circulated the vital energy within his body, unleashing the first form of the Six Harmonies Fist he had just learned, the Collapsing Fist. A ball of blue light appeared on his fist.
Looking at the faint blue light on Chen Xiao’s fist, Wang Hao sneered, “Hmph, you think a mere Yellow-tier martial skill can resist my Flame Burst Palm? You truly don’t know the immensity of heaven and earth!”
“Flame Burst Palm, go!”
With a loud shout, Wang Hao unleashed his Flame Burst Palm. The moment the vital energy left his palm, it emitted a bursting roar.
“Six Harmonies Fist, Collapsing!”
Chen Xiao’s expression shifted slightly. He punched out, forcefully resisting the Flame Burst Palm. However, he had underestimated the power of the Flame Burst Palm, and coupled with his Collapsing Fist only being newly mastered, the difference in power was immense. This time, when fist and palm met, a roar sounded, and Chen Xiao was sent flying backward.
“Pfft!” Chen Xiao spat out a mouthful of blood. He was clearly seriously injured by Wang Hao’s palm.
“Hmph, no match for me!” Wang Hao, having gained the upper hand, immediately became smug. He condensed flames on his hand again, intending to kill Chen Xiao.
“Flame Burst Palm, go!”
Wang Hao pressed his advantage, about to strike again. Just then, he felt a strong gust of wind coming from behind him. It was too late to turn around and meet the attack. But if he didn’t turn and continued to strike Chen Xiao, he would likely be hit before he could even reach Chen Xiao.
All this happened in a flash. The attacker behind Wang Hao had clearly chosen the opportune moment to strike. However, Wang Hao’s reaction was also quick enough. He rapidly adjusted the vital energy within his body, followed by a forward somersault, narrowly dodging the sneak attack from behind.