14: Chapter 14 Shifting Palaces and Changing Acupoints

Two giant ice crystal hands, one on the left and one on the right, burst through the cold mist and reached out!

The left claw grabbed toward Boss Wu's head, its five fingers spread wide, the tips of which were condensed with blue frost into foot-long ice spikes, tearing through the air with sharp whizzing shrieks.

The right claw grabbed toward Lu Zhao's chest and abdomen, a frost vortex spinning in its palm, suddenly generating a suction force that actually pulled Lu Zhao's sleeves forward!

This sudden change happened in an instant, just as both men were at the point where their old strength was exhausted and new strength had not yet arisen.

Boss Wu's single eye widened in anger. With a wild roar, he didn't dodge or avoid it. The black-red Evil Qi flames, fueled by burning his essence blood, surged violently, condensing into a flame shield above his head to hard-clash with the ice claw!

"Boom!"

Ice and fire collided, and the air waves exploded. The ground beneath Boss Wu's feet cracked, his feet sinking half a foot into the soil, but the ice claw was also scorched by the Evil Qi flames, making a hissing sound as the surface ice crystals melted, slowing its offensive.

On the other side, the choice Lu Zhao faced was even more dangerous.

Block it head-on? The power of the ice claw was no less than Boss Wu's full-strength strike. Having just suffered internal injuries from the previous palm exchange, blocking it head-on risked shattering all his Meridians.

Dodge? The suction of that frost vortex was strange, and his aura was already locked. Forcibly breaking free would inevitably reveal a flaw. If Boss Wu took the opportunity to attack together, it would be certain death.

In the blink of an eye, the Mind-Cultivation Technique of the Heaven and Earth Great Shift circulated on its own within his spiritual platform, and countless methods of exerting force and borrowing power flashed by like a revolving lantern.

He couldn't retreat.

He couldn't block it head-on either.

He had to "receive" without "absorbing."

A sharp light flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes as he actually took half a step forward toward the ice claw, raising his hands slightly with palms upward, as if lifting a thousand-pound weight.

Nine Yang True Qi surged from his Dantian, but it didn't rush straight to his arms. Instead, it sank down along the Three Yin Meridians of the Foot, pouring into the Yongquan Points on the soles of both feet.

"Buzz—"

The ground vibrated slightly.

Where his feet stood, the blue bricks silently sank half an inch, with cracks spreading outward like a spider web.

And that sinking True Qi did not dissipate. Instead, it borrowed the counter-shock force of the earth to surge upward, flowing back through the Three Yang Meridians of the Foot, passing through his waist and hips, crossing his spine, and splitting into two streams—one gathering at the Laogong Points of both palms, and the other dispersing into the skin and membranes of his entire body!

This circulation of True Qi seemed complex, but it actually happened in a mere instant.

The ice claw had already reached his chest!

The moment the five-fingered ice spikes pierced his clothes and touched his skin, Lu Zhao's palms suddenly pushed upward. Instead of a hard block, his palms stuck to the wrist of the ice claw, and following its momentum, he led and pulled it toward the diagonal rear!

"Shifting Palaces and Changing Points," shifting the enemy's force!

Seventy percent of the majestic cold force contained in that ice claw was led and pulled by this move, entering Lu Zhao's body through the Meridians of his arms—but it didn't run rampant. Instead, it was wrapped by the Nine Yang True Qi he had pre-deployed in his skin and membranes, like a clay ox entering the sea, dispersing into the air through his pores with a hissing sound!

The remaining thirty percent of the cold force was conducted through Lu Zhao's feet and blasted into the earth.

"Crack-crack-crack—"

Centered on his feet, the ground within a radius of several yards instantly froze into a layer of blue ice three inches thick! Beneath the ice, the soil and stones froze and cracked, making a tooth-aching sound.

As for Lu Zhao himself, besides his clothes being soaked by the cold air and his Face turning slightly pale, he didn't move an inch, not even retreating half a step!

Having failed its strike, the ice claw seemed stunned as well, hovering in mid-air with its five fingers slightly open, the blue cold light flickering intermittently.

The field was deathly silent.

Everyone was dazed.

Liu Three-Knives' triangular eyes widened, and the hilt of the knife in his hand creaked as he squeezed it.

He saw it clearly—Lu Zhao's push and pull just now was by no means an ordinary force-deflection technique. The subtlety of the force circulation and the precision of the timing were simply unheard of!

Boss Wu's single eye bulged. He even forgot to deal with the ice claw above his head, staring fixedly at the layer of ice under Lu Zhao's feet and then at his unharmed body, making a "he-he" sound in his throat as if he had seen a ghost.

In front of the ancestral hall, He Shan, Yan Meng, and the others held their breath, their hearts beating like drums.

"This... what kind of skill is this?" Zhong Tiegu murmured.

Granny Xue leaned on her cane, a sharp light flashing in her cloudy old eyes: "It's not a skill... it's the 'Dao'."

In that silence, Lu Zhao slowly withdrew his hands and placed them behind his back.

Five small holes had been pierced in the front of his robe by the ice spikes, revealing the skin underneath, yet there wasn't a single scratch, only a faint golden-red glow that flashed and vanished.

He looked up at the hovering ice claw, then turned to Boss Wu, his voice flat:

"Force rises from the ground, and power is born from the heart."

He paused.

"Your force... is hollow."

These words seemed nonsensical, but when they reached Boss Wu's ears, it was like a bolt from the blue!

He cultivated the Black Evil Skill, which followed the path of plundering blood qi and condensing Evil Qi. It seemed fierce and violent, but in reality, its Foundation was hollow, supported entirely by a surge of malevolent aura.

Burning his essence blood just now was even more like drinking poison to quench thirst; it seemed like a surge in power, but it was actually strong on the outside and weak on the inside.

Lu Zhao's phrase "force is hollow" struck right at his sore spot!

"Bullshit!" Boss Wu roared in rage, his single eye bloodshot. The Evil Qi flames above his head surged again, actually forcing the ice claw back three feet! He disregarded everything, abandoned the ice claw, and moved again, pouncing toward Lu Zhao like a mad tiger!

This time, he struck with both fists, the black-red Evil Qi flames on his knuckles condensing into two hideous ghost heads, one on the left and one on the right, biting toward Lu Zhao's shoulders! As the fists passed, the air distorted, emitting a ghostly shriek.

Lu Zhao, however, was unhurried.

That move of Shifting Palaces and Changing Points just now hadn't completely neutralized the cold force of the ice claw, but thirty percent of the cold air dispersed into the atmosphere had been captured by a sudden inspiration, wrapped in Nine Yang True Qi, and hidden within three feet of his body.

Now that Boss Wu's fists were arriving, his feet moved slightly, his body drifting half a step to the left like willow catkins in the wind.

At the same time, he reached out his right hand, pressing his index and middle fingers together, pointing toward the pulse of Boss Wu's right wrist like a sword.

This finger strike was light and seemingly powerless.

But the moment his fingertip touched the skin of the wrist pulse, Boss Wu felt a strange force—a mix of scorching heat and icy cold—surge up through the Meridians of his arm! Three parts of the force were as hot as a branding iron, while seven parts were as cold as profound ice. Wherever it passed, his painstakingly cultivated Black Evil Qi was like boiling water poured on snow, collapsing at every turn!

Even more terrifying was that the icy cold force faintly carried the aura of the subterranean malevolence, originating from the same source as the Evil Qi in his body, yet more pure and violent. It took control, frantically devouring his blood qi!

"This is... the cold air from the pit?! How could you..." Boss Wu lost his voice in horror.

Lu Zhao didn't answer. He withdrew his finger, turned his body again, and slid to Boss Wu's left. His left palm was like a blade, slashing toward the old injury on Boss Wu's left ribs.

With the Meridians of his right arm eroded by the strange force, Boss Wu's half-body was numb, and the offensive of his left fist naturally slowed down.

Seeing Lu Zhao's palm blade slashing toward him, he could only force a breath and sink his left elbow to block.

"Bang!"

Palm and elbow collided.

Boss Wu only felt a flexible, sticky force coming from his elbow, which actually absorbed all of his blocking power and then bounced back with even greater momentum!

Not only that, but the rebounding force also contained a wisp of the black-red Evil Qi that had invaded Lu Zhao's left arm during their previous palm exchange. Now, with most of its ferocity refined by Nine Yang True Qi, it had become a Sharp Weapon attacking him!

"Pfft!"

Boss Wu's left elbow shuddered violently, his arm bone felt like it was about to crack, and he staggered back. A sweetness rose in his throat as a mouthful of blood nearly sprayed out. He retreated seven steps, each step leaving a deep footprint on the blue bricks. At the edges of the footprints, blue frost and charred evil marks were intertwined, shocking to the eye.

When he stood still, the madness in his single eye was gone, replaced only by deep fear and disbelief.

The two exchanges just now seemed simple, but they were actually extremely dangerous.

Lu Zhao's single finger and single palm both contained mysterious methods of shifting the enemy's force, borrowing power to strike back, and even turning the enemy's force to his own use! Even more terrifying was that this youth could actually refine and fuse the Evil Qi he had attacked with, along with some characteristics of the subterranean cold air, and counterattack!

This was no longer within the scope of Martial Skills.

It was nearly Daoist Magic!

"You... who exactly are you?!" Boss Wu hissed, his voice carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling.

Lu Zhao stood with his palms withdrawn, his expression still calm, only fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead, showing that the exertion just now had taken a toll on his spirit. He slowly breathed, Nine Yang True Qi circulating within his body, dispersing the remaining cold air and smoothing his churning blood qi.

"Yangjiao Ravine, Lu Zhao."

It was the same answer.

Boss Wu's expression shifted. His single eye stared fixedly at Lu Zhao, then glanced at the predatory Liu Three-Knives, and then at He Shan, Zhong Tiegu, and the others waiting in battle formation in front of the ancestral hall. Finally, his gaze fell back on the deep pit where the blue cold mist was churning.

The subterranean creature had not retreated, powerful enemies surrounded him, and his side's morale was already dampened.

If the fight continued, even if he could kill Lu Zhao, he would certainly be severely drained. At that time, how could Liu Three-Knives pass up the opportunity?

A fierce light flickered in his single eye for a few breaths, then he suddenly grit his teeth.

"Fine! Fine, Lu Zhao! I admit defeat today!"

Having said that, he no longer lingered and turned to shout: "Funiu Gang, withdraw!"

The bandits had already been scared out of their wits by the exchange just now. Hearing this, they felt as if they had been granted a general amnesty, hurriedly supporting the wounded, collecting the bodies, and retreating toward the village outskirts.

Boss Wu walked last, giving Lu Zhao a vicious glare and then a cold sweep over Liu Three-Knives before leaping into the forest and disappearing.

With the bandits gone, the pressure in front of the ancestral hall decreased sharply.

But the atmosphere did not relax.

Liu Three-Knives slowly stepped forward, his triangular eyes sizing up Lu Zhao, then looking at the patch of ice on the ground, and suddenly he smiled.

"Kid, you've really opened my eyes." He lightly tapped his palm with his riding crop. "That fellow Boss Wu has run rampant in Black Mountain for over ten years; even my Liu Family has to give him some leeway. Today, he was actually scared by you into retreating voluntarily... impressive."

Lu Zhao turned to Face Liu Three-Knives and cupped his fists: "It was just Luck. If Steward Liu hadn't been here to oversee things, how could Boss Wu have given up so easily?"

These words gave plenty of Face, but how could Liu Three-Knives not hear the distance in them? His eyes turned slightly cold, but he didn't lash out. Instead, he looked at the deep pit.

"What do you think of the thing underground?"

Lu Zhao was silent for a moment and said: "The malevolence has taken form, born from the earth's veins, and can absorb energy from a distance; it already has spirituality.

Today, it was completely awakened by the stimulation of blood qi and Evil Qi. If it's not dealt with, I'm afraid there will be no peace within three hundred miles of Black Mountain."

Liu Three-Knives nodded: "Indeed. If this thing isn't removed, my Liu Family will have no peace." He paused and changed the subject, "But your Yangjiao Ravine is the first to bear the brunt."

Lu Zhao looked up: "What does Steward Liu mean?"

"Join forces." Liu Three-Knives was straightforward. "My Liu Family will provide the people, and your Yangjiao Ravine will provide the 'method'—that move you used to deflect the ice claw might be useful against this thing."

Lu Zhao sneered in his heart.

The so-called joining forces was nothing more than making him a pathfinder and a scapegoat. If it succeeded, the Liu Family would reap the benefits; if it failed and Yangjiao Ravine was wiped out, the Liu Family could still slowly find another way.

But on the surface, he remained calm: "This matter concerns the survival of the village. I need to discuss it with the villagers."

"Fine." Liu Three-Knives was surprisingly easy to talk to. "I'll give you half an hour. I want an answer in half an hour."

After saying that, he actually turned around and led the Black Armor Guards back to the village entrance to rest, no longer pressing forward.

Lu Zhao watched them leave and then slowly walked back to the front of the ancestral hall.

He Shan, Yan Meng, and the others gathered around, their expressions grave.

"Teacher, Liu Three-Knives has no good intentions," Yan Meng said in a low voice.

"I know." Lu Zhao nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "But in the current situation, we have no choice. Although Boss Wu has retreated, his strength is not yet depleted, and he could return at any time. Liu Three-Knives won't let it go either. That thing underground... is the greatest threat."

He paused and looked at Granny Xue: "Granny, you said just now that this thing is 'malevolence taken form.' Is there a way to restrain it?"

Granny Xue pondered for a moment and shook her head: "This old woman only knows some pharmacology. Such a malevolent thing born of heaven and earth cannot be resisted by human strength. Unless... you use a method of Utmost Yang and Utmost Rectitude to burn its roots and sever its source."

Utmost Yang and Utmost Rectitude?

Lu Zhao's heart stirred.

The Nine Yang Divine Skill is exactly an Utmost Yang technique, but my cultivation is still shallow. To burn that thing underground would be like an ant trying to shake a tree. Unless...

He suddenly remembered the eerie lines carved on the ground deep in the grotto that sealed the killing intent of the ancient battlefield. Those lines seemed to be from the same source as the thing under this pit.

If he used the lines as a guide, could he borrow their power to counter it?

While he was thinking, a cry of alarm came from the direction of the village entrance!

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a Liu Family Black Armor Guard had approached the edge of the pit at some point and was peering inside. The cold mist in the pit surged violently, and a smaller ice claw reached out, grabbed his ankle, and dragged him toward the pit!

The Black Armor Guard screamed and struggled. His companions nearby hurried to pull him, but the ice claw had immense strength, and in the blink of an eye, half of his body had been dragged into the pit!

Liu Three-Knives shouted: "Cut off his leg!"

Before he could finish, a crisp "crack" came from the bottom of the pit, and the screaming stopped abruptly. The cold mist retracted, leaving only half a blood-frozen calf at the edge of the pit, the cross-section as smooth as a mirror.

Everyone's spine went cold.

Liu Three-Knives' Face turned ashen. He suddenly turned his head toward the ancestral hall and said sternly:

"Lu Zhao! Half an hour is too long! I want an answer now!"

"Form the array! Explore the pit!"

At Liu Three-Knives' command, ten Black Armor Guards stepped forward quickly—three holding shields and seven holding knives—surrounding the deep pit in a certain formation.

The runes on the shields lit up, connecting into a faint golden light curtain that actually temporarily pressed the cold mist back into the pit! Liu Three-Knives looked at Lu Zhao and said coldly: "This array can only be maintained for fifteen minutes.

Within fifteen minutes, you go down the pit to investigate—otherwise, I will slaughter Yangjiao Ravine first and then slowly find another way!"