Chapter 21

Xiang Wentian sneered, his large, muscular iron palms fluttering, transforming into a hundred shadows as they descended through the air, enveloping Chen Ang's entire body. Under the force of his strength, his palms curved into tiger claws, faintly tinged with a bluish-gray color, like tempered steel, bizarre and formidable.

"I want to see what skills you have to dare speak such arrogant words!"

Xiang Wentian hooked his hands and used the move "Hungry Tiger Pounces," grabbing down.

"Good move!" Chen Ang's eyes lit up as he saw the iron claws.

A pair of clean, white hands, without a single callus, with neatly trimmed nails, looked more like those of a scholar who had never held a pen than a martial artist. Compared to Xiang Wentian's iron claws, they were like tofu to steel.

But these hands moved with the force of a thunderclap. The move was a simple Eagle Claw technique, which could be learned for a few silver coins at any martial arts school on the street. In Chen Ang's hands, however, a simple stretch, a probe, and a grab had endless variations!

The tiger claws tore through the air with a "swoosh," aiming straight for Chen Ang's chest, ready to rip him open.

Halfway through, Chen Ang's right hand met the attack. Xiang Wentian's eyes lit up; the tiger claw was excellent for breaking through defenses, powerful and unstoppable, though not as sharp as the eagle claw. He increased his strength, and the iron claws tore through the air with a ghostly howl, displaying the power to split mountains and rocks.

Chen Ang's right hand moved silently but with lightning speed. In the blink of an eye, it was in front of his chest, meeting Xiang Wentian's tiger claw. As they neared, he thrust forward forcefully, like a venomous dragon emerging from its cave, swift and ruthless.

The speed was so fast that Xiang Wentian could only see a blur. The eagle claw struck under his tiger claw, a weak point, giving Chen Ang the upper hand and forcing Xiang Wentian's tiger claw away.

"Such a powerful eagle claw!"

Xiang Wentian felt a shock in his hands, as if he had hit an iron wall, but in the most vulnerable spot. His move was old and awkward, and he saw Chen Ang's next grab.

Just as his move seemed to have run its course, it suddenly turned, creating an unexpected change. As the old force waned, a new one emerged, and Chen Ang's hand speed increased, truly embodying the essence of thunder and lightning. His hand tore through Xiang Wentian's protective qi, and with a reverse grab, he caught Xiang Wentian's wrist.

Xiang Wentian was shocked, his fear uncontrollable. He couldn't believe his eyes, thinking it was a naturally perfect strike, like a deer hanging from a branch, leaving no trace.

But he was resolute and, without hesitation, lunged forward, his body like a rock, crashing down with all his might. His shoulder struck with such force that it could shatter a boulder, and anyone hit by it would be reduced to a pile of mush.

Seeing the fierce attack, Chen Ang smiled, his fingers moving on Xiang Wentian's muscles, applying a subtle force that twisted the muscles together. Xiang Wentian's entire body tightened, his muscles contracting, causing excruciating pain with every movement. His legs gave out, and he stumbled to his knees before Chen Ang, pale and sweating profusely.

Chen Ang struck and manipulated the muscles and bones, following the body's structure, disassembling Xiang Wentian. Xiang Wentian felt much better but was completely immobilized, unable to move a finger.

"Bone Separation Hand!" Qu Feiyun exclaimed excitedly.

Xiang Wentian lay on the ground, a heap of helplessness, and hearing her words, he laughed bitterly, "This person's martial arts are probably unmatched in the world! He defeated me in dozens of moves with just an eagle claw, and now this divine Bone Separation Hand..."

He sighed, "Even Ren Jiaozhu might not be his match! The title of 'First Under Heaven' is only between him and Dongfang Bubai! He is so young, not even a fraction of my age, and to have such skills, unheard of in history!"

Lan Fenghuang, holding a green sword, smiled at Xiang Wentian, "Left Envoy, are you alright?"

Xiang Wentian laughed bitterly, "I'm just a defeated dog, not really well. Lan Fenghuang, why are you here instead of serving Holy Maiden?"

"Hehe!" Lan Fenghuang covered her mouth and laughed, "Left Envoy, don't play games with me. I don't believe you don't know what happened on the Yangtze River. I was utterly defeated!"

"I've heard about it, but it's hard to believe that over a hundred of you were captured without a single escape. I'm half-convinced!"

Xiang Wentian said frankly, "A well is too deep to know the sky. It's said that most of you were knocked out by a potion, and a few were subdued by a sword. From your appearance, his sword skills must be terrifying!"

Lan Fenghuang seemed to recall something distant, her eyes looking far away, "That sword skill was even more powerful! I've never seen such brilliant sword light, nor imagined such a terrifying sword skill!"

Hearing this, a strange light appeared in Xiang Wentian's eyes, and he murmured, "Is there really such a terrifying sword skill?"

"Even more so than what I described!"

"Ha ha ha!" Xiang Wentian suddenly laughed wildly, his body convulsing. Lan Fenghuang quickly held him down, shouting, "Do you want to die? Stop it!"

Xiang Wentian ignored her, continuing to laugh wildly. Qu Feiyun, angry, walked up to him, grabbed a pastry, and was about to stuff it in his mouth. Lan Fenghuang quickly stopped her, whispering, "Qu sister, don't argue with him!"

This was rare for her, and Qu Feiyang was surprised, asking, "You have no close relationship with him, why are you speaking for him?"

"He is Holy Maiden's uncle and has taken care of her. I owe her a great debt and must repay her kindness by taking care of him!" Lan Fenghuang sighed and tidied Xiang Wentian's appearance.

Hearing Ren Yingying's name, Qu Feiyun put down her hand and stomped her foot, "For Aunt Ren's sake, I'll let you off this time!" She bent down and reconnected Xiang Wentian's joints.

Xiang Wentian, though still unable to move, felt much better. He smiled and declined Lan Fenghuang's offer to help him, leaning against the table, his demeanor more genuine and free.

Chen Ang handed him a bowl of wine, which Xiang Wentian drank with his teeth, his body trembling, most of the wine spilling on his chest. He shouted loudly, "You were right! I, Xiang Wentian, am indeed a faithless man. Many heroes consider me a brother, and I am willing to risk my life for them, but in big matters, I betray them!"

"Calling me a faithless man is fitting! I must speak of my sworn brothers, who would give their heads for me, but for Ren Jiaozhu's great cause, I must betray them!"

"You are despicably honest!" Chen Ang laughed, raising his wine cup, nodding to him, and drinking it all.

Xiang Wentian laughed heartily, then grew serious, staring at Chen Ang, "Chen brother, today you want to kill me, a mortal enemy, but for Ren Jiaozhu's great cause, can you set aside your hatred? I have an important message for you today!"

"Is it the Cult of Devils coming for me?" Chen Ang smiled, "I have their lifeline in my hands. For the Three-Corpse Brain Spirit Pill, they should have found me long ago!"

"It's more than that!" Xiang Wentian laughed, "The Cult of Devils hates you so much that they have even allied with their mortal enemies, playing a silent game. Five of the ten elders of the Cult of Devils and most of the thirteen heroes of Mount Song are here, waiting for you outside the city!"

"Ah! The Left Sect Master of Mount Song is truly a despicable man, probably planning to let me and the Cult of Devils weaken each other before capturing us all. He must have already set up an ambush outside the city! Dividing his forces, he is using a clever strategy!" Chen Ang said calmly.

"Ha! You know him better than I do. Now, thinking about it, Zuo Lengshan might indeed do that. But no matter how cunning they are, they won't expect that Chen Ang, trapped in their net, has already grown wings and will soar to the sky!" Xiang Wentian laughed until tears streamed down his face.

"I understand your meaning, no need to provoke me! The ten elders of the Cult of Devils and the Mount Song Sect are Ren Yingying's great enemies, while Dongfang Bubai trusts her. You want me to eliminate them so Ren Yingying can focus on a big task!" Chen Ang laughed, looking at Xiang Wentian's increasingly cold eyes, and suddenly laughed.

"Then I will do as you wish and meet the experts of these two sects!" Chen Ang stood up, laughing, took the sword from Lan Fenghuang, and bid farewell to Xiang Wentian.

"You won't kill me?" Xiang Wentian suddenly asked.

"I generally don't like killing, for people are the wealth of the world, and you never know what surprises they might bring. Xiang Wentian, I have a medical treatise to be published soon, explaining my medical and martial arts philosophy. I hope you will study it diligently and derive new insights!"

"Next time we meet, I hope you can surprise me!" Chen Ang's figure was already far away, but his words still echoed clearly in Xiang Wentian's ears. Xiang Wentian looked at the clear tiger claw print on the table and suddenly burst into laughter, his body growing taller, standing up.

He touched the tiger claw print, more powerful and flexible than his own, tears streaming down his face, his lips curling in a smile. Suddenly, he struck the table, breaking off a large piece with the print, put it in his pocket, and walked out.

---

Page Flip AD Start

Page Flip AD End