Chapter 48

The sound of palms striking stone echoed continuously at the summit of Mount Hua, accompanied by exclamations of surprise or sighs of regret.

An imprint on the stone! It seemed simple, but it tested one's internal strength and palm technique. Of course, if you practiced leg techniques, you could use your leg instead of your palm. Even so, there were few who could leave an imprint on the stone.

Upon closer inspection, all the older generation could do it. They had practiced for a long time and had deep internal strength. Even if their palm techniques were not high, they could still forcefully leave a palm print on the stone with their profound internal strength.

There were fewer among the younger generation. To be fair, people like Huang Laoxie were only in their thirties, considered part of the younger generation. Below them, no one had yet managed to leave an imprint on the stone.

"Old Fool, are you going to go, or should I?" Bai Xiaosheng, seeing that there were few people left, said to the Old Fool who was watching from the side.

The Old Fool chuckled and said, "You go first, Old Fool isn't in a hurry." Seeing his sly smile, Bai Xiaosheng shook his head speechlessly and quickly stepped forward. He stood on a large green stone, narrowed his eyes, and exerted force with his feet. His right palm slapped the green stone with a loud *slap*. When he removed his palm, a shallow handprint appeared on the stone. His handprint was naturally not comparable to the five people like Wang Chongyang, but it was no less than those of the older generation.

For a moment, everyone looked at Bai Xiaosheng. He was too young, even younger than the youngest of the five, Huang Yaoshi.

"Who is this person, to have such power?" Everyone began to discuss, and even the five people like Wang Chongyang glanced at him. At Bai Xiaosheng's age, if he reached their age, he might well become a new top expert.

"Kid, this time it's Old Fool's turn to show off!" As he passed by the Old Fool, the guy whispered, then walked proudly to the green stone and, beside Bai Xiaosheng's handprint, struck the stone with all his might. He felt the imprint he had made and proudly removed his hand. Everyone saw that his handprint was two points deeper than Bai Xiaosheng's, second only to the five people like Wang Chongyang.

"Amazing, worthy of being the junior brother of Master Chongyang."

"Yes, yes!"

For a moment, everyone praised, which made Zhou Botong even more proud. He walked up to Bai Xiaosheng, his legs waddling like a crab, clearly showing off.

"Are you forty this year?" Seeing his proud look, Bai Xiaosheng suddenly asked. Zhou Botong was slightly stunned and nodded blankly. Bai Xiaosheng chuckled and said, "I'm only twenty-four."

"So what?" The guy was a bit slow, and after a moment, he glared at Bai Xiaosheng with a sour face. "You little brat, are you saying I took advantage of your age?"

"Isn't that the case?" Bai Xiaosheng asked matter-of-factly, leaving Zhou Botong speechless. He was so angry that his face turned purple, and he pointed at Bai Xiaosheng, stuttering, "You... you... you..."

"Hehe..." Smiling at him, Bai Xiaosheng turned his attention to the scene. After Bai Xiaosheng and Zhou Botong, the hundred people quickly finished their tests. Only thirty-seven people could leave a handprint on the stone. Apart from the five people like Wang Chongyang, only three people under forty could do it, including Bai Xiaosheng.

At this moment, Ouyang Feng stepped forward again. He said to Wang Chongyang, "Wang Chongyang, there are still thirty-seven people. How should we proceed next?"

"Next, everyone will freely engage in combat. The winners advance, the losers retreat. We are all martial arts practitioners, so please hold back a bit during the fights and don't do anything that would make your friends sad and your enemies happy."

After saying this, he stepped back. Ouyang Feng chuckled, his body flashed, and he rushed to a person, shouting, "This is perfect! I'll clear out these extra people first."

"What are you doing?" The person in front of him was startled, retreating and shouting in alarm. However, he underestimated Ouyang Feng. Ouyang Feng sneered, leaped forward, and tightly pressed against this person, striking him with a palm.

"Old Poison, your move is ruthless!"

At the critical moment, the Old Beggar jumped out, kicking the person away and saving his life from Ouyang Feng's palm. The guy was smart and immediately said, "I concede!"

Ouyang Feng sneered, not even looking at him, but staring at Hong Qigong with a fierce expression. Hong Qigong was not afraid of him and responded provocatively.

At this moment, Huang Yaoshi interrupted the two. He bent his fingers and shot two stones at their shoulders. *Pang* *Pang*, both were knocked to the ground and could not get up for a while.

"Haha... Lord of the Island, your finger technique is excellent!" Duan Huangye laughed and used the One Yang Finger, the force of which was like a laser, astonishingly powerful. In an instant, two more people were eliminated.

Seeing that the three had acted, Hong Qigong laughed loudly and said, "Since the three of you have acted, the Old Beggar won't be polite either!" Ignoring Ouyang Feng, he formed his hands into palms, leaped up, and swept horizontally in the air, sending three people flying with the palm wind.

"Good palm technique!"

Duan Huangye and Huang Yaoshi both praised, but Ouyang Feng sneered and waved his palm, also sending a person flying. His move was much harsher, making the person spit blood continuously.

In the crowd, Bai Xiaosheng was speechless. This wasn't a martial arts competition; it was clearly a performance by the five people!

He thought for a moment, and his long sword instantly unsheathed. He leaped up and came to Huang Yaoshi, pointing his sword and saying, "I have heard that Lord Huang of the Island is also proficient in sword techniques. I hope you will not withhold your teachings."

Huang Yaoshi was slightly stunned, his handsome face showing a playful smile. He said, "Good, good, the kid has guts!"

Smiling, Bai Xiaosheng did not waste time with formalities. He thrust his sword, the sword light blinding, and aimed at Huang Yaoshi's chest. *Ding*, the sword reached its target, and Huang Yaoshi bent his right finger, the immense force instantly deflecting Bai Xiaosheng's sword. He was slightly surprised, not expecting Huang Yaoshi's finger to have such power. The sword flipped, and Bai Xiaosheng used the force to rise, changing the thrust to a slash, blocking Huang Yaoshi's path.

Seeing this quick change, Huang Yaoshi smiled and extended his hand, inserting a palm through the sword curtain and striking quickly. Bai Xiaosheng's sword technique changed again, the slash turning upward, forcing Huang Yaoshi's palm technique to change as well.

The two exchanged blows, moving only a few inches, but the changes in sword and palm techniques were dazzling, leaving the crowd speechless. In just a dozen moves, there were dozens of changes, truly a dazzling display!

"Kid, your sword technique is good. Let me show you my Jade Flute Sword Technique!" Huang Yaoshi laughed, and his green jade flute shot out from his waist, pointing at Bai Xiaosheng's chest. Bai Xiaosheng did not yield, bending his sword and thrusting upward at Huang Yaoshi's navel. His sword was longer than the flute, and if Huang Yaoshi did not change his move, he would be at a disadvantage. However, the reality was unexpected. Huang Yaoshi leaped, seemingly avoiding Bai Xiaosheng's sword, but his jade flute still pointed rapidly at Bai Xiaosheng's chest.

Bai Xiaosheng's pupils contracted, and he exerted force with his feet, quickly retreating. At the same time, his sword turned, slicing upward at the jade flute.

Huang Yaoshi's jade flute did not dodge. Instead, his left hand suddenly shot out, and *peng*, a stone hit Bai Xiaosheng's wrist, making him unable to exert force, and his sword flew out. His feet slowed, and he was struck by Huang Yaoshi's jade flute on the chest.

Looking at the jade flute, he smiled bitterly and said, "Lord Huang, I have lost."

Nodding, Huang Yaoshi did not say more but walked to the side. Bai Xiaosheng picked up his sword and walked to the side, somewhat disappointed. Eighteen moves... Haha... He thought he could last a hundred moves, but he only lasted eighteen. Thinking about it, Bai Xiaosheng shook his head and looked at the Old Fool. He remembered that in "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," the Old Fool lasted forty-five moves against Ouyang Feng. Why could he only last eighteen moves against Huang Yaoshi?

The more he thought, the more confused he became. It shouldn't be like this. What went wrong?

Just as Bai Xiaosheng was lost in thought, the Old Fool appeared beside him, patted his shoulder, and startled him. He looked at Zhou Botong and said irritably, "What? Enjoying my brother's embarrassment?"

"Go! Who's enjoying your embarrassment. Old Fool is going to fight, and you better cheer for me, don't be distracted." Chuckling, the Old Fool suddenly said, "Your master said your sword technique is fierce, but too aggressive, which is why you lost in just eighteen moves." With that, the Old Fool jumped into the arena and challenged the Old Beggar to taste his Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.

Bai Xiaosheng was stunned!

Too aggressive... He was using offense as defense. What was wrong with that? The Nine Swords of Dugu were all offensive. Thinking about it, Bai Xiaosheng slapped his head and cursed, "I'm really stupid. My offensive moves are fierce, but against experts, they are not enough. If I had focused on defense against Huang Yaoshi, it wouldn't have been like this." He thought about the move Huang Yaoshi used to dodge his sword, which was a step technique. In that situation, most people could only avoid, but against an expert like Huang Yaoshi, it was different.

'It seems I have been too deeply influenced by the Nine Swords of Dugu. Although the technique is powerful, it depends on the person. In Linghu Chong's hands, it is not as good as Feng Qingyang's. My sword technique is the same. Against those who are not as good as me or are about the same, I can have the upper hand, but against those who are better, I have many flaws. The sword technique should be integrated, but the premise is the person.'

Cursing himself, Bai Xiaosheng no longer dwelled on it and focused on the fight between Hong Qigong and Zhou Botong in the arena.