9: Chapter 9: Wudang's ultimate martial arts shatter hearts and courage; a beauty bows her head to don new makeup.

Lu Chen looked at Zhang Cuishan, cursing in his heart: "This Hero Zhang the Fifth is indeed just like Zhang Wuji, both are weak-willed individuals. Otherwise, they wouldn't resort to suicide at every turn!"

Lu Chen knew that to control Zhang Cuishan, he had to make him lose all hope and completely break things off with Yin Susu!

"Hero Zhang the Fifth, think about it carefully!" Lu Chen looked at Zhang Cuishan, his tone carrying an air of undeniable authority.

"I naturally have a way to leave this Mystic Ice Island, but if you persist in your folly..."

"I will spread the word throughout the Central Plains. When the Wudang Sect is disgraced, I doubt it will look good for Daoist Master Zhang's Face!"

Lu Chen finished speaking and ignored Zhang Cuishan's reaction. He walked to the side and closed his eyes to rest, waiting for Zhang Cuishan's final choice.

Meanwhile, Zhang Cuishan fell into deep hesitation. He looked at Yin Susu and then at Lu Chen, his heart filled with conflict and pain.

He knew everything Lu Chen said was true. Once he and Yin Susu returned to the Central Plains, what awaited them would definitely be massive trouble.

However, he couldn't let go of Yin Susu; after all, she had saved his life.

"I... what should I do?" Zhang Cuishan wailed in his heart, feeling as if he had fallen into an inescapable quagmire.

"Hero Zhang the Fifth, stop overthinking!" Lu Chen looked at Zhang Cuishan, a playful smile curling at the corners of his mouth. "What you need right now is a release! You need a good fight!"

"I won't take advantage of you. I'll use your Wudang techniques against you!" Lu Chen pointed at himself, his tone full of arrogance. "If you can defeat me, I naturally won't make things difficult for you anymore!"

"As you know, I've only practiced your Wudang ultimate techniques for seven days!" Lu Chen added, his tone brimming with confidence.

Hearing Lu Chen's words, Zhang Cuishan's heart stirred. He looked at Lu Chen, his eyes filled with doubt and indignation. "Are you serious?"

"Dead serious!" Lu Chen looked at Zhang Cuishan, his eyes full of mockery. "I, Lu Chen, never break my word!"

Zhang Cuishan took a deep breath, his gaze becoming firm. If he defeated Lu Chen, the matter between him and Yin Susu wouldn't be leaked!

"Fine! I accept!" Zhang Cuishan roared. He gathered his Internal Energy and charged at Lu Chen, leading with the Wudang Long Fist.

Lu Chen watched Zhang Cuishan charge. With a faint smile, he slightly bent his legs, leaned forward, clenched his fists, and also used the Wudang Long Fist.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Their fists continuously collided in the air, creating bursts of explosive sounds that distorted the very air.

Zhang Cuishan's fists were fierce and overbearing, each strike carrying immense power. But Lu Chen's fists were even faster and more powerful, as if carrying an invisible force, every punch delivering an intense sense of pressure.

Initially, Lu Chen's combat experience was relatively poor, but as the battle progressed, with every move exchanged, his combat experience underwent a rapid Ten-Thousand-Fold Increase.

His understanding of the Wudang Long Fist grew deeper and deeper. His punches became more proficient and powerful!

"Bang!"

With a loud crash, Lu Chen landed a punch on Zhang Cuishan's chest, knocking him to the ground, but he withdrew his power in time to spare his life.

Zhang Cuishan clutched his chest, his eyes filled with shock. He hadn't expected Lu Chen to be so powerful. The Wudang Long Fist he took pride in was actually so fragile before Lu Chen!

"Again!" Zhang Cuishan roared. He picked up a branch from the ground to use as a longsword and charged at Lu Chen, using the Wudang Sword Technique.

Lu Chen also picked up a branch to use as a sword and employed the Wudang Sword Technique.

The branches in their hands clashed repeatedly. Their sword techniques were full of killing intent, every attack carrying immense power. Only the sound of branches whistling through the air could be heard, without the clanging of metal.

Zhang Cuishan's sword technique seemed gentle but hid lethal intent. Every strike was full of variations, the tip of his branch like a viper's tongue, constantly thrusting toward Lu Chen's vital points. He wanted to use his exquisite swordplay to defeat Lu Chen.

Lu Chen's sword technique, however, was like a storm lashing out at Zhang Cuishan, the tip of his branch seemingly possessing an invisible suction.

Every time, he could precisely strike Zhang Cuishan's weaknesses. His understanding of the Wudang Sword Technique had already far surpassed Zhang Cuishan's; his swordplay was more direct and effective.

Lu Chen's branch continuously parried Zhang Cuishan's branch. Each collision felt like it carried the weight of a thousand pounds, numbing Zhang Cuishan's arm and making the webbing between his thumb and forefinger ache. Meanwhile, Zhang Cuishan's attacks felt like mere tickles to Lu Chen.

After a round of combat, his combat experience received a Ten-Thousand-Fold Increase, and the Wudang Sword Technique held no more secrets for him.

"Smack!"

With a sudden flick of his branch, Lu Chen disarmed Zhang Cuishan, then kicked him in the chest, sending him flying.

Zhang Cuishan fell to the ground, clutching his chest, his Face pale. Despair filled his eyes; he knew he was no match for Lu Chen!

Someone who had only practiced Wudang ultimate techniques for seven days could actually crush him so easily?!

"How about it, Hero Zhang the Fifth? Do you want to continue?" Lu Chen looked at Zhang Cuishan with a faint smile, his tone full of mockery and disdain.

"It's not over yet! I, Zhang Cuishan, don't believe you can surpass me in just seven days!" Zhang Cuishan roared as he scrambled up. His hands curled into claws as he lunged at Lu Chen, using the Tiger Claw Absolute Severance Hand.

Lu Chen looked at Zhang Cuishan with a playful smile. He also curled his hands into claws and lunged back, using the same Tiger Claw Absolute Severance Hand.

Their hands constantly interlaced in the air, their fingertips carrying immense power as if trying to tear each other to pieces. Both used the Tiger Claw Absolute Severance Hand—vicious to the extreme, with every move being a life-or-death struggle.

But Lu Chen's tiger claws were swifter and more dominant. His fingertips seemed to carry sharp blades, each swipe delivering intense pressure.

"Bang!"

Lu Chen's claw caught Zhang Cuishan's shoulder, throwing him back and slamming him heavily onto the ground.

Zhang Cuishan clutched his shoulder, his Face pale and eyes full of despair. He knew he had lost completely.

"I don't accept this! You must have secretly learned my Wudang Sect's ultimate techniques and are here to toy with me. I don't believe you can defeat me in the Twenty-Four Character Sword Technique! You should know that even my Master only created this sword technique a few days ago!" Zhang Cuishan roared, picking up the branch and performing Wudang's Twenty-Four Character Sword Technique!

"Supreme in the Martial Forest, the precious Dragon Slaying Saber, commands the world, none dare disobey. If the Heaven Reliant does not appear, who can compete!" As Zhang Cuishan performed the Twenty-Four Character Sword Technique, his Aura surged instantly. He was going to give it his all in a final struggle against Lu Chen!

Watching Zhang Cuishan's Twenty-Four Character Sword Technique, Lu Chen smiled faintly. He also picked up a branch and used the exact same technique.

But Lu Chen's Twenty-Four Character Sword Technique was more exquisite and powerful. His swordplay was like flowing water and floating clouds; every strike precisely targeted Zhang Cuishan's vital points. His swordsmanship had completely surpassed Zhang Cuishan's!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Zhang Cuishan's confidence was utterly shattered. He never imagined someone could reach such a Realm in any martial art in just a few days; one could only say he was as wise as a demon!

Zhang Cuishan collapsed in dejection, his heart filled with infinite sorrow. He actually picked up the sword from the ground, intending to slit his own throat again!

Lu Chen kicked the sword away. His index finger moved like the wind, striking Zhang Cuishan's Sleeping Acupoint.

Then he unsealed Yin Susu's Acupoints for her.

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