The Mirror Master

Business near the Martial Arts Discussion Platform was always a bit better than elsewhere.

Even though it wasn’t in a bustling area, as soon as someone stepped onto the Martial Arts Discussion Platform, a crowd would gather nearby to watch the excitement.

The prices for rooms in the surrounding inns and taverns with the best viewing angles would also rise accordingly.

"This is quite a commotion. Who’s fighting on the platform?"

"Sun Bohan of the Sun Family, an Inner Strength Eight Acupoints Martial Artist. The other is Lu Bai, whose reputation has been on a rollercoaster these past few days."

"The Black Hand Young Hero?"

"Heh heh, whether he’s a ’young hero’ or not depends on if he can win."

Inside the tavern, the crowd was buzzing with discussion.

Before long, a crowd stirred in the distance. A young man, surrounded by his entourage, walked with his head held high and his chest out. His steps were steady and powerful, and despite his youth, he already possessed the air of an Inner Martial Artist. It was none other than Sun Bohan.

The person leading the other group was tall and burly, standing out in the crowd like an iron tower.

"This Lu Bai doesn’t look weak either. I heard he’s already stepped into the Inner Strength Realm."

"A big frame is useless. If being tall and strong made you powerful, what would be the point of practicing martial arts?"

"That’s right. Inner Martial Artists compete with Inner Strength. A single palm strike can channel Inner Strength straight to the Internal Organs. You could have Copper Skin and Iron Bones and still not be able to take it."

The surrounding crowd was clamorous.

Luo Qing said, "Sun Bohan cultivates the Six Harmonies Skill. Although it’s a Yellow Tier Inner Strength, this technique has a corresponding Yellow Tier Fist Technique, the Liuhe Fist."

"The Inner Strength and the Fist Technique are compatible and enhance each other, making them almost as strong as a Profound Tier Technique. You need to be careful."

Lu Bai had already accepted this battle, and there was no backing out. Luo Qing could only share as much information about Sun Bohan as possible so Lu Bai could be prepared.

"Xiaolu, what kind of fist technique are you cultivating? What level have you reached?"

Luo Qing asked.

Lu Bai replied, "The Five-Step Fist, at the Minor Success stage."

"This..."

Luo Qing’s worry deepened.

The Five-Step Fist was unranked, not even considered a Yellow Tier Martial Technique, and he had only cultivated it to the Minor Success stage.

His only chance of winning now might lie with the Dragon Elephant Skill.

But whether a Celestial Tier Inner Strength technique could bridge a power gap of six or seven acupoints was something no one could say for sure.

"You definitely won’t be able to match him in terms of technique."

Luo Qing pondered for a moment, his expression turning cold. "Once you’re on the Martial Arts Discussion Platform, strike first. Don’t waste time with words! Hit him before he can even get his footing and catch him completely off guard!"

"If you exchange a few blows and feel you can’t match his power, don’t get tangled up with him. Concede defeat and jump right off the Martial Arts Discussion Platform."

"The future is long. Your talent in the Martial Dao far surpasses his; there’s no need to get caught up in winning or losing this one time."

Lu Bai just smiled and nodded in agreement.

As they spoke, the group arrived at the Martial Arts Discussion Platform.

The Martial Arts Discussion Platform of Bluestone County was built from massive bluestone blocks, each side measuring ten zhang in length and the platform standing about one zhang high.

For Martial Artists of the Inner Strength Realm and Innate Realm, it was more than enough space to maneuver and execute their techniques.

Sun Bohan arrived before the Martial Arts Discussion Platform, took a few quick steps, and leaped half a zhang into the air.

He kicked off a crevice in the bluestone, using the slight leverage to boost himself up again with a surge of qi, landing stylishly on the platform.

"Great skill!"

A cheer rose from the crowd.

Sun Bohan scanned his surroundings, gave a slight fist-and-palm salute, seizing the crowd’s attention!

Lu Bai, on the other hand, dutifully went to the stone steps at the side and walked up one step at a time, muttering, ’There are stairs right here. What’s he hopping around for...’

Once both men were standing in the center of the Martial Arts Discussion Platform, Sun Bohan said coolly, "Let’s dispense with the usual martial arts formalities. Let’s begin!"

"Fine!"

Lu Bai uttered a single word, raised his fist, and threw a punch straight at Sun Bohan’s face!

’Using the Five-Step Fist to embarrass yourself!’

Sun Bohan sneered inwardly.

In his eyes, the punch was riddled with openings; he could easily dodge it.

But he was an Eight Acupoints Martial Artist, after all. There was no need for him to dodge.

In a flash, Sun Bohan decided to let Lu Bai have a taste of his Six Harmonies Force!

The Six Harmonies were divided into the Three External Harmonies and the Three Internal Harmonies.

The Liuhe Fist trained the Three External Harmonies: the coordination of hands with feet, elbows with knees, and shoulders with hips.

The Six Harmonies Skill trained the Three Internal Harmonies: the coordination of the heart with intent, intent with qi, and qi with force.

When internal and external become one, that is the Six Harmonies!

This integration of the body’s power gives rise to a potent Inner Strength, known as the Six Harmonies Force!

"HA!"

Facing Lu Bai’s punch, Sun Bohan neither retreated nor dodged. He let out a sharp exhale and met the incoming fist with one of his own.

BANG!

Fist met fist.

Sun Bohan’s expression changed drastically. A jolt shot through his entire body as an intense pain radiated from his fist.

His Six Harmonies Force instantly shattered. His entire arm went numb and hung limply at his side, rendering him unable to execute even the most exquisite Fist Technique.

’That’s it?’

Lu Bai blinked.

He had been worried about killing the man with a single punch in front of everyone and getting into legal trouble, so he had only used thirty percent of his strength.

He hadn’t even used the power of his Dragon Elephant Suppression Skill.

’What’s happening?’

Sun Bohan subconsciously retreated, mentally reciting the Six Harmonies Skill’s Heart Method, ’The heart moves with intent, the intent with qi...’

Before he could even begin to circulate his energy, his vision went dark.

Lu Bai’s huge palm descended, landing directly on his Skull.

Sun Bohan tried to resist, raising a hand to counterattack.

But Lu Bai was tall, with long arms and legs. He simply stretched out his long arm and large hand, pressing down on the man’s head.

With one arm hanging limp, Sun Bohan could only flail his other one, swinging it through the air but unable to even get close to Lu Bai.

The crowd burst into an uproar!

The scene was rather comical.

This was nothing like the imagined duel between Inner Family Masters. There was no exquisite footwork, no exchange of moves—it was like a grown man scolding a small child.

He had been subdued in the very first exchange.

Seeing that his arm couldn’t reach, Sun Bohan tried to lift his leg.

Lu Bai applied a bit more pressure with his arm.

Sun Bohan’s expression changed.

He was already struggling to remain standing on both legs.

The moment he lifted one leg to kick, he was left on the other.

With a THUD, Sun Bohan fell to his knees directly in front of Lu Bai.

He looked like a child being scolded by a grown-up, his head bowed as if admitting his mistake.

"Yeah!"

Seeing this, the brothers Luo Ben and Luo Xiao burst out laughing and cheered loudly.

"Young Master Lu is amazing!" Xiaodie shouted excitedly, clapping her hands.

Luo Qing let out a sigh of relief, his worries finally put to rest.

The duel had reached its conclusion. The winner was clear.

Anyone could see that the gap in power between them was simply too vast.

’That wasn’t very satisfying at all,’

Lu Bai muttered. He shoved Sun Bohan to the ground, straddled his body, and began pummeling Sun Bohan’s head with his sandbag-sized fists.

"Stop... please, stop..."

After just a few blows, Sun Bohan’s face was a bloody mess.

At first, he could still beg for mercy, but soon he was barely conscious.

The onlookers grimaced at the sight.

"No wonder they call him the Black Hand Young Hero. His methods really are vicious."

"Sun Bohan brought this humiliation upon himself."

"I knew all along the Black Hand Young Hero was extraordinary! Those previous rumors must have been slander planted by someone!"

"Oh, give me a break. You were the one just a few days ago saying he was a fraud, undeserving of his reputation."

The crowd chattered amongst themselves, the area buzzing with conversation.

"How could this be happening?"

"Brother Han is an Eight Acupoints Martial Artist!"

A few Sun Family disciples looked on in utter disbelief.

Chen Xiaofeng felt a sense of schadenfreude as he said, "I warned Ji Fang about this. Why did you guys have to go and provoke him for no reason?"

"Was he this formidable back in Liuxi Town?"

one of them asked instinctively.

"He was decent," Chen Xiaofeng said, affecting an air of nonchalance. "In any case, my dad specifically warned me to stay on his good side."

Chen Xiaofeng put on a profound air, mimicking his father’s tone as he sighed. "Ah, you all are still too young."

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure flashing past in the crowd.

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