Chapter 129: Nibbling on Sunflower Seeds

Chen Erpao smiled faintly, deciding not to continue the fight. His speed increased dramatically. Although his opponent was protected by the "Diamond Shield," Chen's "Nirvana Saint Hard Qi" focused his energy into a single point, vastly enhancing his attack power; it mattered not how strong the Diamond Shield or Iron Cloth Shirt might be, they would still buckle under his relentless barrage of fists. Niu Erhu found himself increasingly unable to fend off the onslaught, his body covered in bruises from palms and fists. Despite the protection of his Diamond Shield, the pervasive pain left him unable to continue the struggle.

In ancient times, martial artists developed methods to break through hard-style techniques using "inch-power." Chen Erpao’s current technique far surpassed that; its lethality was terrifying. It could form an impenetrable defense or be unleashed as a thunderous attack. With one final, fierce strike from Chen Erpao, Niu Erhu was sent flying, his "indestructible" body finally failing to withstand the blow.

Liu Yuan stared in astonishment for a long time before regaining his composure. He walked over to Chen Erpao and whispered, "You truly live up to your reputation as a member of the China Dragon Team. Judging by what I just saw, you easily took down our three-time consecutive martial arts champion without even using your full strength. I can only imagine what you are capable of at your peak."

Huang Le’s bright eyes were filled with complex emotions as she stared straight at him, as if trying to discern some hidden truth.

Chen Erpao quickly retracted his Nirvana Saint Hard Qi, and his skin instantly returned to normal—a truly miraculous sight. Martial arts are boundless, and despite the advancements of modern science, many of their mysteries remain unexplained.

"This Niu Erhu is quite impressive and has great potential. In three years, he will likely see a massive increase in his strength. He is worth cultivating; he will definitely be a national asset in the future."

As they talked, they toured the training base. Many of the training exercises stirred memories, scenes from the past appearing as if they were happening all over again, so familiar and vivid.

By evening, Chen Erpao declined Liu Yuan’s offer for dinner and hurried back to Tuen Mun. As soon as he entered the headquarters, Wang Xing, Liu Huagang, and the others surrounded him, eager to know what plan he had to deal with the alliance of several mainland sects in a few days.

Chen Erpao still would not tell them. He merely smiled calmly and told them to wait and see, promising them they would be shocked beyond imagination. He left them filled with endless doubt; how could he possibly face the forces of several mainland alliances without using a single member of his own organization? They racked their brains, unable to fathom what Chen Erpao was planning.

The three days given by the mainland alliance passed in a flash. On that day, the Yi Gate headquarters looked no different than before, except that the senior members were sitting at the front gate, snacking on sunflower seeds. Not a single extra guard had been added.

Wang Xing and Liu Huagang had been worried, but seeing Chen Erpao so calm and collected, they felt their anxiety ease.

Around ten o'clock, the sun hung high in the sky, casting its radiance over the ground. Suddenly, dozens of cars and vans pulled up to the Yi Gate headquarters. Nearly a hundred men leaped out, their aura imposing enough to make passing pedestrians stop and watch.

Four men, all over fifty, appeared to be the leaders of the four mainland alliances. Each looked vibrant and full of energy, showing no signs of aging; at a glance, they were clearly experts.

From the moment they stepped out of the cars, their eyes were fixed on Chen Erpao. Chen Erpao studied them in return, noting that their auras were extraordinary. One man with a slightly graying beard carried the air of a grandmaster, standing before Zhao Wuji; he appeared to be an elder of the Hengshan Sect.

"A grandmaster-level expert, and not someone who has just entered that realm," Chen Erpao thought to himself. Besides the elder from the Hengshan Sect, the other three also possessed fierce auras. Two of them had reached the grandmaster level, while the one from the Iron Sword Alliance seemed to be somewhere between a first-rate expert and a grandmaster.

Though their followers numbered less than a hundred, each one possessed a sharp, disciplined aura, distinct from common thugs. They were martial artists. Even the weakest among them held the strength of a third-rate expert, and there were over a dozen first-rate experts among them. It had to be admitted that this group was formidable—enough to sweep aside five hundred street thugs.

The Hengshan elder stepped forward, his eyes piercing. Seeing Chen Erpao and the other Yi Gate leaders sitting comfortably with their legs crossed, snacking on seeds, he couldn't help but be taken aback, filled with confusion as to what they were plotting.

"We have come for the person we demanded."

The elder from the Iron Sword Alliance had the most malicious gaze, even leaking a hint of killing intent. "Hand him over immediately, or we will flatten this place. Hmph!"

Chen Erpao smiled faintly, unbothered. "Intimidation is a serious crime in Hong Kong. But I must admit, you’ve actually scared me. You want the person? Wait a moment. I’ll make a call and have someone brought over. You will be satisfied."

"You’d better not play any tricks, or I have dozens of ways to make you wish you were dead," the Iron Sword Alliance elder threatened viciously.

Chen Erpao then dialed Liu Yuan’s number and said only one thing: "It’s time."

Wang Xing and Liu Huagang stared at him in surprise. Huang Mao spoke up directly, "Brother Pao, should I call up our men? I can have part of the Guard Hall and Blood Hall come over. The Assassination Hall is almost finished with their training, too—we could bring them all. There might still be time."

Chen Erpao waved his hand. "Just wait and watch the show!"

The group returned to their casual snacking, completely ignoring the hundred or so martial artists who were poised for action. This caused the four top young experts of the four alliances to grow restless.

Three days ago, when they invaded the Yi Gate headquarters, they had been restrained by caution despite facing a vastly larger enemy. But today was different. They had nearly a hundred skilled martial artists, backed by several elders who were masters beyond the first-rate level. What was there to fear? To be so disrespected and ignored—even a statue of clay would have a temper.

Zhao Wuji rushed toward Chen Erpao, radiating a powerful fighting spirit. With a provocative tone, he said, "So you are Chen Erpao, the leader of Yi Gate? I have heard of your deeds; they are quite remarkable. Today, I’ve come to learn from you."

Zhao Wuji’s eyes were filled with arrogance. As one of the top experts of the younger generation, he was highly gifted, having already reached the level of a first-rate expert in his early twenties. Throughout history, countless seniors and renowned masters had remained stuck at this stage for their entire lives, which had made him quite proud.

But since coming to Hong Kong, he had constantly heard of Chen Erpao’s rapid rise and his reputation for being invincible. It made him resentful, and he had always wanted to challenge him to determine who was better.

Chen Erpao looked him straight in the eye and smiled with contempt. "You... aren't qualified. Ask again in ten years! I’ll give you that chance."

"You..." Zhao Wuji’s face turned pale with rage. To be insulted in front of so many people was like being slapped across the face.

"Let me show you the ultimate technique of the Hengshan Sect: the Cloud-Flowing Palm!"

In a fit of fury, Zhao Wuji unleashed his palms with the force of an avalanche, creating layers of pressurized air as he struck down.

Chen Erpao made no move to block it head-on. With a slight shift of his body, he easily evaded the strike. *Bang!* The chair he had been sitting on turned to splinters, scattering across the floor.