Several Clear Gang leaders gathered, yet none stepped half a foot into the fortress, nor notified Baolin Martial Hall.

The implication was self-evident.

Xiangzi’s face darkened as he strode over; Qi Ruiliang behind him couldn’t even pull him back.

“Brother Qi, if today were merely catching up, Li would naturally welcome you with open arms.”

“But since Li holds a post here, as a Baolin disciple, official duties come first.”

His words were like a basin of ice water, dousing Qi Ruiliang’s smile completely.

He wanted to speak but stopped, finally letting out a long sigh—this Brother Li is sharp; he’s already guessed a bit.

Qi Ruiliang stood in place, gazing at the leisurely river, his thoughts in turmoil, lingering for a long while.

He was a Baolin disciple, true, but also the Qi family’s third young master!

Now with Clear Gang seemingly at odds with Baolin, he was truly caught in the middle.

Amid his chaotic thoughts, his expression suddenly changed—Brother Li’s heading straight for the old man’s meeting place?

His father’s guards didn’t know this Brother Li; don’t let a misunderstanding arise.

This Brother Li was noted by several courtyard masters.

If something happened on Clear Gang’s side, they truly couldn’t explain it!

—

At the doorway, a horse-faced burly man blocked the entrance.

Glancing at this dusty tall figure, sensing no qi-blood fluctuation, he impatiently barked: “Where’d this kid come from? Clear Gang’s holding a meeting—scram!”

Xiangzi said nothing, face grim as he pushed forward—joke’s on you; this door says “Li Residence”—since when Clear Gang’s turf?

The horse-faced man’s expression hardened, fists clenching.

Xiangzi sneered—such overbearing Clear Gang; disagree and fight?

I haven’t moved; you come first.

Facing the ferocious punch, Xiangzi sank his stance, hips twisting like an axle, right fist exploding from his ribs.

Mind-Intent Six Harmonies Fist’s Collapsing Fist.

Fist wind erupted, sharp and pressing.

The horse-faced man’s pupils shrank—where’d this wild tall guy come from, fighting so recklessly, trading injury for injury?

Trading injury for injury?

He overthought.

A muffled thud.

He flew like a sandbag, crashing into the wall and sliding down.

Xiangzi’s fist struck first despite moving second.

The noise naturally alerted Clear Gang guards inside.

Several unfamiliar faces rushed to the door, seeing the horse-faced man slumped against the wall, life or death unknown.

“Old Zhang!”

“Where’s this dog thief from, daring to strike Clear Gang?”

“This kid’s skilled—beat ninth-rank entry Old Zhang! Brothers, together!”

Blades unsheathed with a clang.

Several men charged shouting.

Xiangzi sneered; driven by the qi-blood crimson pearl in his dantian, minor accomplishment Jade Ring Steps grew more eerie and sharp.

Blade shadows layered; Xiangzi’s form left multiple afterimages in the air, two short spears suddenly in hand.

Spears flew like rain.

Where Xiangzi passed, several lay sprawled.

Though angry, for Qi Ruiliang’s sake, he held back, mostly using spear hafts to knock them down.

Just then, the house door opened; a young martial artist stood there.

Seeing the wreckage, this stern-faced young martial artist paused,

Then softly asked: “Little brother, who are you? Why attack Clear Gang?”

To avoid attention, Xiangzi wore no hall black shirt, just ordinary martial short garb, plus his aggressive demeanor—quite hostile.

This Clear Gang martial artist looked in his twenties, temples bulging high, build burly.

Though calm-faced, his eyes hid hard-to-mask killing intent—honed in years of blood and rain.

Hard to believe such youth yielded such aura.

But Xiangzi’s lips curved in a faint smile, teeth gritting one word: “Scram!”

Hearing this, the young man’s face unchanged, brows arching—invisible killing intent surged like a hurricane.

Some wild kid, refusing toast for punishment!

His face twisted; shoulders trembled fiercely, bones crackling like popping beans!

Even Xiangzi’s expression tightened—this was ninth-rank bone-tempering realm’s unique “bone resonance.”

Such violent resonance—this Clear Gang martial artist was ninth-rank perfection realm!

By appearance, under thirty.

Such young ninth-rank perfection—even in Baolin Martial Hall, noteworthy!

From the small house, several silk-robed elders emerged, stunned by the scene.

The leading elder was gaunt, beard fully white, face plain yet exuding natural authority—long in power’s forge.

He was about to speak when a lazy tall man behind pulled him: “Hey, Old Helmsman Qi, haven’t seen this kid in a while—let’s see his skills.”

This plain-faced elder was none other than Old Helmsman Qi, ruling all Forty-Nine City Clear Gang.

Old Helmsman Qi glanced at the tall man, lips curving faintly—

With this man—who subdued Forty-Nine City peers with fists alone—no chaos would arise.

“Deacon Wan, you know this kid?”

“Hm—this kid’s Li Xiang, my junior brother. Decent skills—just advanced to ninth rank a month ago.”

Old Helmsman Qi’s white brows arched—worthy of Wan Yuxuan calling “decent”?

But he chuckled wryly: Just ninth-rank entry?

“Deacon Wan, remind you—my guard’s no ordinary man, ninth-rank perfection expert. Your junior brother’s fresh ninth rank—won’t last many moves.”

At this, Wan Yuxuan pulled off his hood, revealing a slightly weary face: “Hm—perfect to watch.”

Old Helmsman Qi smiled softly, saying no more—Forty-Nine City knew Wan family’s heir acted freely; only Baolin Wind Justice Courtyard’s Master Xi could rein him.

Then Old Helmsman Qi frowned—this tall guy named Li Xiang?

The name rang familiar.

His third son mentioned him several times—a Baolin fellow disciple, with clear admiration.

His third son seemed mild but was inwardly proud; rare to hear him admire anyone.

In that moment, even this decades-ruling Clear Gang helmsman grew curious about the hall’s tall guy.

—

Back to the field,

Xiangzi’s expression drew the young martial artist’s sneer: “Scared? Too late!”

Words unfinished, surging fist wind hit.

Bright Force.

Xiangzi’s pupils narrowed slightly.

His first true clash with a Bright Force martial artist.

World’s martial path: Bright Force three grades, Dark Force three, plus unseen Transforming Force three—totaling nine ranks.

In truth, fifth-rank Pulse Condensation Realm was current martial artists’ limit—even Forty-Nine City’s three hall masters stopped there.

Bright Force was essentially dantian qi-blood scouring skin, tendons, bones, limbs—producing force.

Ancient martial artists said: “refine essence to qi”—gathering acquired qi to dantian, strengthening bones and physique.

Thus Bright Force was most rigid and direct; stronger physique yielded stronger Bright Force.

Xiangzi excelled here.

Fresh ninth rank, he blocked Wan Yuxuan’s fifty percent force at entry realm.

Later, mastering Three Forms Stance, he lasted dozens of moves against outer sect prodigy Zhao Mu.

Now ninth-rank minor accomplishment…

He wanted to see if going all out, he could handle a ninth-rank perfection martial artist!

At this thought, Xiangzi chuckled lightly, breath suddenly constricting.

Battle intent surged like tides,

Dantian’s qi-blood crimson pearl abruptly exploded.

Surging qi-blood rippled visibly from Xiangzi as center.

Clear Gang bosses saw the view distort.

Such surging qi-blood fluctuation?

All startled—this tall guy… also wields Bright Force!

Such young Bright Force expert!

Truly just ninth-rank entry?

Only Wan Yuxuan’s lips curved faintly, inwardly musing: Just over a month—his Bright Force already this imposing?

Heh, this kid… cultivates fast.

—

Seeing Xiangzi unyielding, the young martial artist inwardly jolted, eyes flashing disdain:

World’s full of overreachers.

His sparing intent vanished,

He charged, force surging like tides, body wrapped in sharp intent.

Like thunder!

Palm winds erupted silently before him, yet courtyard dust rose faintly; even tree leaves seemed pulled, falling like rain.

Leaves and palm winds mingled, momentum grand.

Clearly an external boxing master!

Xiangzi wouldn’t retreat; eyes flashed brilliance.

Long roar; feet formed Three Forms Stance—rooted like ancient pine.

Opponent’s palm winds fierce, but Xiangzi ignored.

Eyes slightly squinted, side stance, lead hand loosely forward, shoulders sunk, elbows dropped—steady as mountain.

World seemed left with him alone, one fist.

Suddenly,

Front foot lightly pushed, rear fiercely stamped,

Visible force exploded from his soles, twisting hips, instantly to spine, up the back.

Intent, qi, force—all arrived!

Surging force blasted from his fist, thunderous crack.

Mind-Intent Six Harmonies Fist—Cannon Fist!

Let thousands charge; I meet with one Cannon Fist.

His first proficient, Mind-Intent Six Harmonies Fist ultimate, since minor accomplishment.

First move—a killing strike!

The young martial artist was ruthless too; seeing the fist, roared “Good fist!”

Palm winds abruptly vanished.

Purple-green iron palms appeared before Xiangzi’s fist—iron sand palms, fierce beyond sight.

Momentarily, all held breath, focused.

Fist met palm,

Internal profound boxing vs external fierce palms,

Direct clash from the start!

A boom explosion.

Expert bouts—no fancy tricks,

One fist, one palm—weighed each other!

Then fists and palms rained,

Figures crisscrossed like storm, crackling like thunder.

Dozens of moves passed quickly.

Seemingly… evenly matched?

Watching longer, Old Helmsman Qi’s surprise grew, tutting: “Deacon Wan, Baolin has another young genius—congratulations.”

“But… your junior brother’s qi-blood seems failing. Stop this—don’t let such talent fall to Clear Gang.”

“Failing?” Wan Yuxuan smiled playfully, “Old Helmsman Qi… watch more?”

Old Helmsman Qi paused, suspicion rising—lasting so long against ninth-rank perfection already impressive; by Wan heir’s words…

Does he think his little junior brother can beat ninth-rank perfection?

Absurd.

World’s path: one rank, four tiers—each a chasm.

Even geniuses crossing one tier shocked; when heard of minor accomplishment beating perfection?

At this, Old Helmsman Qi froze—uh, this Wan Yuxuan could?

Last year on “Prodigy Arena,” eighth-rank minor accomplishment Wan Yuxuan crushed Revival Martial Hall’s seventh-rank entry young genius.

Stunned all.

But Wan was embassy district great family…

What did this tall guy have to compare?

—

Field shifted slowly.

Minor vs perfection—despite equal skin-grinding, bone-tempering, Xiangzi’s qi-blood strained.

His wild fist style weakened.

Even match turned Xiangzi defending, Clear Gang martial artist attacking.

Thanks to extraordinary skin, tendons, bones, Xiangzi endured the brutal iron sand palms.

But all saw—Baolin kid’s defeat… imminent.

Suddenly,

Xiangzi’s fists exploded, barely repelling the Clear Gang martial artist, feet retreating rapidly.

“Where!” The Clear Gang martial artist roared, striding chase—kid’s breath spent; can’t let him recover?

Inwardly, he marveled too.

Opponent mere minor accomplishment, yet skin, bones matched his perfection.

Stranger—this weird fist style tall guy, where such robust qi-blood?

If dragged longer, even his qi-blood might fail.

Thinking this, he quickened, aiming to end it.

Suddenly, his heart chilled.

A zhang ahead, the tall figure abruptly halted, slightly bending, arm weirdly thrusting back—

Arm straight as spear shaft, fist the tip.

Xiangzi like an unstoppable great spear.

Force exploded from his fist tip.

Xiangzi ignored the incoming iron palm, surging final qi-blood in relentless posture—his ultimate.

Five Tigers Gate-Breaking Spear thirteenth form—Returning Spear Thrust!

Taught personally by Uncle Jie.

Back then, Xiangzi used it with iron spear to slay ninth-rank peak tiger demon.

Now minor accomplishment, with Mind-Intent Six Harmonies Fist force—fiercer, domineering.

Clear Gang martial artist’s eyes showed horror—kid hid strength?

After all these moves, how still so violent?

Minor accomplishment qi-blood surpassing his?

But no time to think,

He forced one breath for surging palms, couldn’t stop; opponent’s fist too tricky, undefendable.

In an instant, tide turned.

Xiangzi, once struggling, reversed with this weird strike.

All watched in shock—tall guy… trading injury for injury.

Such domineering style!

Clearly, mutual destruction imminent.

—

As the crowd’s hearts pounded, a figure flashed.

Just as palm and fist neared clash,

Between fist and palm… a burly tall man appeared.

No one saw his move.

Yet there he was.

This lazy burly man casually extended hands, patting down.

One on palm, one on fist.

Instantly,

Invisible ripple from Wan Yuxuan.

Boom

A faint explosion.

No violent action; the lazy tall man like stretching—palms alone stopped both killers.

Two surging Bright Forces hit Wan Yuxuan like mud in sea… vanished!

Xiangzi and the Clear Gang martial artist felt soft numbing force from his palms—their forces dissipated, unable to rally dantian qi-blood.

Abruptly, field’s forces gone.

Sunshine bright again, wind fresh—as if those killing intents never existed.

Both combatants horrified, staring at the sudden Wan Yuxuan—someone casually catches Bright Force?

How robust his qi-blood and body?

As all gaped,

Wan Yuxuan clapped: “Good fight… no need to continue.”

Then smiling at Xiangzi: “Xiangzi… your skills much improved.”

Xiangzi stared blankly, unsure how to reply.

Weren’t only Clear Gang here?

How’d this lord show up?