The night offered no change, the lake reflecting the lamplight, its surface shimmering, countless ripples spreading from beneath the bridge.
Two figures stood on the bridge, clashing like phantoms.
From a distance, they were indistinct, mere blurs of light as they crossed.
However, to Gu Yueqing and the others, whose eyesight far surpassed ordinary folk, a focused gaze revealed anticipation and excitement.
This expression quickly turned to astonishment.
The two figures suddenly separated, landing on opposite sides of the highest point of the broken bridge, neither clearly gaining the upper hand.
"This young man's strength is not weak!"
Those martial artists who knew nothing of Chen Fan were surprised by this, their hearts shaken.
On the bridge.
The separated figures halted, showing no immediate intention to strike.
"You indeed have not disappointed me!"
Gongsun Zheng spoke, his voice clear, confident, and composed.
"But you have disappointed me somewhat!"
Chen Fan suddenly strode forward.
With a single step, his form seemed to rise several inches, like a mountain.
With a common thud of his footstep, his aura surged.
Rolling killing intent soared into the sky, startling birds on Lone Mountain over ten miles away.
"I have disappointed you?" Gongsun Zheng's gaze was filled with indifference. He pushed off the ground with his feet, lunging forward like a cannonball.
Rumbling, the qi within his body surged, like wind and thunder.
He brought his fist down from the sky.
This punch was unstoppable.
The qi broke through the air, a punch to shatter mountains!
Torrential qi flowed and circulated.
The lake water beneath the bridge suddenly surged violently, the churning water transforming into waves.
Chen Fan raised his hands to block, his palms like crashing waves.
With a boom, qi surged, the explosive killing intent clashing, transforming into a mournful gale.
In the collision of internal energy, both felt the other's body was forged from steel, unyielding.
Gongsun Zheng, having lunged, was repelled. After a pause, he stumbled back several steps.
Chen Fan also paused for a few breaths before tapping his toes, becoming a phantom as he closed in. Bang, bang, bang...
In the blink of an eye, they had clashed and collided over ten times on the bridge.
Like rabbits leaping and falcons descending, moonlight flowed, their movements so rapid, like a shadow play, utterly indiscernible.
Exclamations arose from the riverbank.
"How can Mr. Long's strength be so formidable?"
Some martial artists gasped, finding it hard to believe.
They had initially thought Chen Fan to be an unknown nobody, one whose martial pursuits were tainted by the smell of money, not worth Gongsun Zheng's single punch.
Yet, the facts left them dumbfounded. The unknown Chen Fan, far from being defeated in one or three moves, was locked in a prolonged struggle with Gongsun Zheng, showing no sign of defeat.
"No wonder Mr. Gongsun values this man so highly. Based on the strength he has displayed so far, this man's power is indeed extraordinary!"
Though the distance was great, the faint sound of surging qi could still be heard, like the fierce howl of the wind, making one's scalp tingle.
Gu Yueqing's expression appeared somewhat solemn.
She still did not doubt the outcome. Gongsun Zheng's only opponent was himself. No matter how strong Chen Fan was, he was merely his whetstone.
She knew Gongsun Zheng was using this to temper his spirit and martial will. Chen Fan was likely no match for him.
Yet, the string in her heart could not help but tighten.
Gongsun Yuan and Gongsun Liang, however, maintained placid expressions.
To them, Gongsun Zheng was invincible.
On the other side, Su Yuhua's face showed shock.
Simultaneously, he felt a measure of relief, glad he hadn't rashly attempted to kill Chen Fan directly.
The two figures on the bridge were as fast as ghosts, utterly inhuman. If he had acted rashly earlier, he might have met the same fate as Jiang Shaolong.
"Damn it, he must be the Lord of the Dark Night!"
A voice came through Su Yuhua's earpiece—Xue Ci's.
Xue Ci, also watching the battle from an unknown location, was equally astonished.
Su Yuhua did not reply.
Beside him, Su Yingxia's mouth hung open, her face clouded with gloom.
It was no wonder Jiang Shaolong had died; his death was truly not unjust.
She could not comprehend the situation at all now. All she could do was pray that Gongsun Zheng would kill Chen Fan on the broken bridge.
"Look at the lake!"
Someone cried out.
The spectators turned their gaze to the water beneath their feet.
Splash, the lake water surged with urgency, crashing against the embankment, splashing meters high.
Mere moments ago, the waves had not been this large.
It was unclear whether the change in the lake was due to the increasing night wind or the actions of the two on the bridge.
On the bridge, after a series of collisions, the two figures separated once more.
"Exhilarating!"
A roar erupted. Gongsun Zheng exhaled, his voice like thunder, startling all directions.
The next moment, his aura surged again.
He took a step forward and raised his hand abruptly.
Boom, his green robe billowed, and as he slapped out, streaks of white qi erupted, shredding the air, descending like an enraged dragon.
Wherever this qi went, it was destructive, obliterating everything.
Chen Fan's pupils contracted.
He had faced many martial arts masters, but few possessed strength like Gongsun Zheng.
The foundation and heritage of a thousand-year-old noble family were indeed extraordinary.
Chen Fan raised his hand like a blade, killing intent swirling around him, and slashed out with a palm strike.
The killing intent condensed into a blade edge, like a sharp weapon cleaving the sky.
It was as if in a battlefield of endless artillery fire, where mountains of corpses and seas of blood were piled high, a single blade struck down the enemy chief, breaking through myriad armies, a strike that made ghosts and gods tremble.
Swish.
The dragon's head bent, its qi shattered.
The two figures collided amidst the frantically surging qi and killing intent.
His blade returned to his palm, their palms met.
With a boom, one stood firm, while the other figure flew backward, soaring into the air like a crane taking flight.
Rumble, the railings broke everywhere, collapsing and falling into the water.
The bridge surface beneath Chen Fan's feet cracked.
The flying figure, after soaring dozens of meters, plummeted, reaching out.
Clang, a sword light suddenly appeared, a white rainbow dazzling as lightning.
The sword, unsheathed!
The broken bridge was an arched stone bridge with a gentle slope.
At this moment, Chen Fan stood at a higher point, while Gongsun Zheng, having been repelled, stood below the slope with his sword unsheathed.
Pointing his sword at Chen Fan, Gongsun Zheng's gaze was cold, his fighting spirit soaring, his killing intent reaching the heavens.
"The sword is unsheathed?"
On the bank, experts like Luo Zilic, once again showed disbelief.
"Gongsun's Sword!"
In ancient times, the beauty of the Gongsun clan, with a single sword dance, moved all directions.
This was the origin of the Gongsun clan's legacy.
In the martial arts path, the Gongsun family's swordsmanship was the most powerful.
However, their other aspects were by no means weak.
Gongsun Zheng had once roamed the martial world. The martial artists capable of forcing him to draw his sword were few and far between.
They never expected Gongsun Zheng to be forced to draw his sword by an unknown individual like Chen Fan.
This meant Chen Fan was far stronger than they had anticipated.
Gu Yueqing's brow furrowed.
The opponent that Gongsun Zheng had waited over half a month for, and personally invited, must possess extraordinary strength.
But if he couldn't defeat his enemy without drawing his sword, was this whetstone merely a whetstone?
Among the spectators, Xu Yunhou's heart sank.
How many years had it been since Gongsun Zheng last drew his sword?
Five years, ten years, or even longer?
To face this villain Chen Fan and draw his sword seemed like an ominous sign.
He had initially thought that once Gongsun Zheng made his move, it would be a swift victory.
After all, Xu Xilou's strength was not even one percent of Gongsun Zheng's.
But now...
He shook his head abruptly, casting aside the ominous thoughts.
Perhaps the sword was drawn simply because the swordsman wished to draw it.
Or perhaps, it was merely to use the strongest means to slay the enemy.
Respect for the opponent, and respect for oneself!
Nothing more than that?