CHAPTER 427: CHAPTER 426 THIS IS A MISUNDERSTANDING! (THIRD UPDATE)_1

Mu Xue and her companion were furious, their clothes splattered with a considerable amount of red wine, leaving them looking quite dishevelled.

At that moment, Mu Xue exclaimed in surprise, "Master, how is it that there isn’t a single drop of red wine on you?"

Only after Mu Xue pointed it out did everyone notice that, despite the red wine bottle having exploded, not a single drop had stained Chu Hao.

He Shaotian immediately refused to believe it. "How is that possible?"

As he spoke, he carefully examined Chu Hao. Indeed, he found no trace of red wine, causing his eyes to widen in shock.

"DING... The Host’s subtle display of pretentiousness, the most lethal kind, has earned 1800 Pretentiousness Points."

The feeling of sitting here quietly showing off is actually quite good.

At the instant the red wine bottle exploded, Chu Hao had circulated his Inner Strength to repel the liquid.

Apart from Tang Mo, nobody else present understood what had just happened.

A look of horror appeared on Tang Mo’s face as she uttered, "Projecting Inner Strength outward?"

Yi Qingcheng asked, "What does ’projecting Inner Strength outward’ mean?"

Tang Mo explained, "Martial arts Inner Strength is divided into three stages: generation, control, and projection.

"Currently, I only possess Inner Strength within my body and am still learning its control. Projecting Inner Strength outward, however, is truly remarkable. In martial arts movies, when someone knocks a person down from a distance with a palm strike—that’s what’s known as projecting Inner Strength outward."

Born into a martial arts family, Tang Mo knew very well what projecting Inner Strength outward signified.

Chu Hao stood up, his eyes cold and detached like still water. He asked, "Are you sure what you used was Mystical Arts?"

He Junhao snorted coldly. "Mystical Arts? The He family claims second place, and no one dares claim first!"

This braggart! Where does that leave Longhu Mountain and Mao Mountain?

Chu Hao’s response was cold. "True Mystical Arts are not these mere tricks of yours."

Herz quickly asked, "Then what are true Mystical Arts?"

Chu Hao, with his hands behind his back and an indifferent expression, began to show off once more.

"True Mystical Arts can subdue demons, expel ghosts, and even kill effortlessly."

He Shaotian, who held a grudge against Chu Hao, scoffed at his grandstanding. "You think Mystical Arts are something out of a cultivation novel!"

With a dismissive wave of his hand, Chu Hao said arrogantly, "You’re an outsider, don’t meddle. You’re not qualified to speak on the topic of Mystical Arts."

"You!" He Shaotian was livid, feeling completely disregarded by this young man.

He Junhao said, "Mr. Herz, Mystical Arts are an ancient tradition from Huaxia. Although powerful, they have become almost imperceptible in the modern era. If you want to know what Mystical Arts are, I can explain them to you."

Herz was very interested in Mystical Arts. "Then tell me, what exactly are Mystical Arts?"

At that moment, He Junhao became the center of attention. He smiled and said, "Mystical Arts are a form of spiritual power; the soul itself is a spiritual force. They are generally used to exorcise demons and ward off evil. However, within Mystical Arts, Talisman Techniques are considered the most profound, and my family specializes in them."

Herz’s eyes lit up.

"It seems I must engage more with these prominent families."

Hearing this, the others sighed. It appeared Herz was genuinely curious about Mystical Arts and might collaborate with He Junhao.

He Junhao was inwardly pleased. If I can secure the high-speed rail project collaboration with Herz because of this, my status within the He family will soar!

"Heh heh... Talisman Techniques the most profound? Who told you that?" Chu Hao looked scornfully at He Junhao.

He Junhao was already annoyed with Chu Hao, thinking him arrogant for knowing a little about Mystical Arts. If we were anywhere else, I’d have had him dealt with countless times by now. He snorted coldly. "What do you know about Mystical Arts? Stop talking nonsense here."

Chu Hao waved his hand. "Alright then, let me enlighten you as to what Mystical Arts truly are.

"The Talisman Techniques you speak of are merely the most rudimentary form of Mystical Arts."

He Junhao raged, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

The He family was renowned within the Nine Gates of Huaxia for their Talisman Techniques, ranking second. And this fellow dared to claim these techniques were the most rudimentary form of Mystical Arts? How could I possibly tolerate this?!

Ignoring He Junhao’s fury, Chu Hao continued, "Mystical Arts are the backbone of ancient Huaxia’s mysterious culture. The characteristics of Mystical Arts involve numerical operations. They are founded upon the principles of Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, the Ten Heavenly Stems and Twelve Earthly Branches, the He Tu and Luo Shu diagrams, and the Tai Xuan Jiazi cycle.

""’Technique’ refers to esoteric methods.

""’Mystical’ refers to the generative and destructive cycles of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements.

""True Mystical Arts mainly consist of: astrology, divination, Liu Ren, Qimen Dunjia, physiognomy, character analysis, prognostication, geomancy, and date selection.""

Chu Hao mentioned several esoteric concepts before adding in simpler terms, "Practitioners of Mystical Arts cultivate methods to nourish and harmonize Essence, Spirit, and Energy.

""To put it in terms you can understand, Mystical Arts originate from the power within the human body—a genuinely existing, mysterious force.

""As for Talisman Techniques, they are merely a minor sub-category within Qimen Dunjia, still reliant on borrowing power from talismans to be performed. Would a true master of Mystical Arts use such elementary methods? When I say they’re the most basic, they *are* the most basic.""

"DING... The Host’s technical display of pretentiousness has earned 900 Pretentiousness Points."

After this explanation, even those unfamiliar with the subject found his words remarkably convincing, and their perception of Chu Hao shifted.

Herz also nodded; he was no fool. Everything Chu Hao said resonated with truth.

He Junhao’s expression darkened. He had no idea Mystical Arts were so intricate. To him, Talisman Techniques were just that—Talisman Techniques. He knew of Qimen Dunjia, but he was ignorant of the myriad other branches within Mystical Arts.

He Shaotian couldn’t help but challenge, "You’ve said so much, but do you actually understand Mystical Arts? You’re just bluffing, aren’t you?"

Yi Qingcheng also asked softly from the side, "Does Chu Hao understand Mystical Arts?"

Tang Mo’s mouth twitched. If Chu Hao doesn’t understand Mystical Arts, then who does? This guy is showing off again.

Chu Hao looked at He Shaotian and calmly stated, "Within three minutes, you’ll be thrown out of here. This is a form of divination using the Six Yao, one of the Mystical Arts, mainly used for predicting specific events."

He Shaotian finally couldn’t hold back his anger and started to curse, "Damn you! You just—!"

Before he could finish, a blonde foreign woman appeared, crying her eyes out. "Darling!"

Herz turned his head. He saw the foreign woman in a pitiful state, her once-beautiful face now swollen like a pig’s head.

Herz exclaimed, "Baby! What happened to you?"

The foreign woman sobbed, "Someone hit me! SOB SOB... I’m disfigured."

Everyone looked on with confusion. Is this lady Mr. Herz’s girlfriend?

When He Shaotian saw the blonde woman, he immediately recognized her. Wasn’t she the woman he had struck outside earlier?

She’s Herz’s woman? What rotten luck! Why did it have to be such a coincidence?

Indeed, when the blonde woman saw He Shaotian, she pointed at him furiously. "Darling, it was him! SOB SOB... You must avenge me."

Herz’s expression turned grim. The blonde woman wasn’t his girlfriend; she was his wife. To think my own wife was beaten into such a pitiful state!

He Shaotian broke into a cold sweat. "Mr. Herz, please listen to me, this is... this is all a misunderstanding!"

Herz, utterly enraged, punched He Shaotian squarely in the eye.