Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Copper Skin, Iron Bones! Double Buffs

"A true warrior? You think taking a pill makes you a true warrior?"

A light smile played on Chen Xuan’s lips. "I’m guessing that pill has a time limit, doesn’t it? I’d love to see what happens to you when it runs out."

"You!"

Zhang Lie’s face twisted in shock and rage. He actually turned to leave. "If you’re not going to fight, then this matter ends here for today! We’ll renegotiate another time!"

"And where do you think you’re going?"

Chen Xuan’s eyes flashed with cold light as he lunged forward, striking out with a palm at Zhang Lie’s back.

Zhang Lie spun around again. His twin claws moved in a dense flurry, like a blur of afterimages, aimed straight for Chen Xuan’s body.

SMACK.

The two clashed once more.

A flash of red light was clearly visible across Zhang Lie’s face, making it look incredibly unnatural. A flicker of pain crossed his features, but he suppressed the red glow in the next instant.

Chen Xuan saw it all clearly. He immediately channeled his Black Evil Palm, unleashing a barrage of strikes at his opponent.

The Black Evil Palm carried its own poison.

Though faint, landing a continuous series of strikes at such a strange and critical moment was bound to have an unexpected effect.

Just as he’d expected!

After Chen Xuan exchanged another dozen blows with Zhang Lie, Zhang Lie suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. A horrified look on his face, he quickly backed away. "I’m done fighting! The spirit fish farm is yours!"

He could no longer suppress the poison from his Blood Marrow Pill.

More importantly, Chen Xuan’s palms were poisonous.

With each palm strike, that poison entered his body through the numerous pinpricks on his arms. It actually merged with the toxins from his Blood Marrow Pill, making the already difficult-to-suppress poison even more potent.

The Blood Marrow Pill, which should have lasted for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, didn’t even hold out for half that time.

BANG!

Chen Xuan unleashed another palm strike, shattering Zhang Lie’s shoulder and sending him flying. Zhang Lie spat out another mouthful of blood and let out a wretched scream, starting to roll and wail on the ground.

At a speed visible to the naked eye, Zhang Lie’s entire body turned red. Large welts appeared on his skin, and the pain became unbearable as a toxic aura emanated from him.

’Such a potent poison!’

Chen Xuan thought in surprise.

Of course, this poison wasn’t from his own palms.

It was already inside his opponent’s body.

His Black Evil Palm merely acted as a catalyst for that virulent toxin.

[You have defeated Zhang Lie of the Giant Whale Gang. Your reputation begins to spread, shaking the docks. Retribution points +1200!]

A glint appeared in Chen Xuan’s eyes.

’So many points!’

’Excellent. This trip was definitely worth it.’

"It hurts! It itches so bad! Aaargh! It hurts like hell..."

Zhang Lie let out a shrill scream, repeatedly smashing his head against the ground.

THUD, THUD, THUD. Chunks of the ground shattered one after another from the impacts.

The onlookers were all horrified by the sight.

"What happened to Boss Zhang?"

"It’s over. Zhang Lie has been defeated!"

...

Chen Xuan strode forward and hauled Zhang Lie up from the ground. "Are you really giving up on the spirit fish farm?"

"I give up! I give up! It hurts so much! It itches! Aaargh! Quick, give me the antidote!"

Zhang Lie continued to scream.

Several members of the Giant Whale Gang behind him flinched, then quickly ran into the building.

Chen Xuan tossed his body aside. "Jia Gui, bring the contract. Have him make his handprint!"

Jia Gui, who had been watching from the side, was utterly horrified.

Hearing the order, he quickly pulled a pre-prepared contract from his robes and rushed over to Zhang Lie. He grabbed his hand and pressed it directly onto the contract, not even bothering with a cinnabar inkpad.

"You all saw it! The Giant Whale Gang has admitted defeat of their own accord! From this day forward, the spirit fish farm on the Qinghe River belongs to our Red Sand Gang! I ask you all to bear witness!"

Jia Gui shouted to the crowd, waving the contract in his hand.

The crowd was in a daze.

They were all still in a state of disbelief.

"Zhang Lie, your print is on the contract. I hope you won’t be so foolish in the future. If you dare to covet our spirit fish farm again, don’t blame me for what happens next!"

Chen Xuan warned him.

Since he was going to do this, he might as well do it right.

"Jia Gui, let’s go!"

With a wave of his hand, Chen Xuan walked straight out of the compound.

The expressions on the faces of the onlookers changed, and they subconsciously backed away.

When he had arrived, many of them had been filled with veiled hostility and scorn.

But as he left, every one of them lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.

This was human nature!

This was strength!

...

「In the carriage.」

Chen Xuan carefully flexed his wrists and palms, his expression growing serious.

’Zhang Lie truly lived up to his reputation as a notorious outlaw.’

’Those grappling techniques of his were so solid and powerful that even I nearly came out on the losing end.’

Even now, his wrists, forearms, and chest were aching.

Suddenly, he opened his status panel again, and a smile spread across his face.

Retribution Points: 1515.

’But it was all worth it.’

’Use retribution points, advance the Blast Palm!’

Chen Xuan recited inwardly.

[Ding! You have consumed 1300 retribution points to continue training the Blast Palm. Your Blast Palm advances by leaps and bounds. Through diligent cultivation, you have gradually grasped its true meaning. Finally, after an epiphany, your Blast Palm has reached the Perfection Realm, unlocking the ultimate technique: Soul-Shattering Palm!]

[Congratulations, Host. You have reached the Dark Force Fifth Layer!]

[Ding! Your fame has spread further, reaching the second stage: Minorly Famous. Unlocked Talent: Bronze Skin, Iron Bones!]

[Bronze Skin, Iron Bones: Your physical body is incomparably tough, as if you have cultivated the Golden Bell Shield. You automatically take 60% less damage from all external sources!]

A series of notifications rang out in his mind.

Chen Xuan’s eyes lit up.

’The Dark Force Fifth Layer?’

’I unlocked a new talent?’

’And a physical one at that—Bronze Skin, Iron Bones?’

’Excellent. Bronze Skin, Iron Bones combined with Innate Divine Strength... it’s like having two buffs active. I don’t even know how strong I am now.’

Chen Xuan looked at his own palms and clenched them into fists, producing a series of sharp CRACKS.

Name: Chen Xuan

Heart Method: None

Martial Arts: Blast Palm (Perfection · Soul-Shattering Palm), Black Evil Palm (Perfection), Thunderbolt Step (Perfection), Tongbei Fist (Mastery)

Cultivation: Dark Force Fifth Layer

Talents: Innate Divine Strength, Bronze Skin, Iron Bones (A new talent is unlocked with each new level of fame. Current Fame: Minorly Famous)

Retribution Points: 215 (Can be used to advance Martial Arts)

...

’A shame my Martial Arts are at the Perfection Realm again. I’ll have to find Su Qingliu when I get back and see if I can get a new technique,’ Chen Xuan thought to himself.

A short while later, Chen Xuan’s carriage returned to the Qingshui Sect.

Su Qingliu, wrapped in bandages, was pacing anxiously in the courtyard.

The moment Chen Xuan stepped out of the carriage, she hurried to meet him.

"Squad Leader Chen, how did it go? Did Zhang Lie give you any trouble? With your strength, you shouldn’t have had to fear him, right!" Su Qingliu said quickly.

"Relax. With me on the case, it was a piece of cake."

Chen Xuan casually handed a contract bearing a bloody handprint to Su Qingliu.

Su Qingliu’s eyes lit up. "Zhang Lie gave in!"

"Naturally. Not only did he give in, he was even kind enough to invite us to his funeral banquet!" Chen Xuan replied.

"Funeral banquet?"

Su Qingliu looked stunned.

Jia Gui gave a wry smile. "Squad Leader Su, Squad Leader Chen killed Wuu Biao... Wuu Biao of the Thirteen Golden Dragon Stronghold."

"What? You killed Wuu Biao?"

Su Qingliu’s expression changed drastically.

"Wuu Biao tried to kill me, so I killed him. What’s the big deal? We all live by the code of the streets. Is his life more valuable than mine?"

Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow.

’Don’t tell me he has some powerful backing.’

’Is the Red Sand Gang’s backing just for show?’

"But..."

The look in Su Qingliu’s eyes shifted as she paced back and forth, but in the end, she said nothing more.

The deed was done. Saying anything else wouldn’t change the outcome.

The only thing to do now was to find a way to mitigate the damage as soon as possible!

"I need to return to headquarters at once and report to the Gang Leader!" Su Qingliu said.

"Don’t be in such a hurry to go back. Do you have any more secret manuals on you? Give me another one," Chen Xuan said.

"A manual? Didn’t you just get the Blast Palm?" Su Qingliu asked.

"What if I told you I’ve already perfected the Blast Palm?" Chen Xuan replied.

"Perfected?"

Su Qingliu was stunned. She stared at Chen Xuan.

’That’s impossible.’

’It’s only been a short while.’

"Alright, I don’t have time for this. Do you have a manual or not?" Chen Xuan pressed.

"If you want a manual, with the merit you’ve earned, you can go back to the Scripture Pavilion and choose one yourself. However, the Qingshui Sect still needs someone to stand guard. Tell you what, I’ll lend you one for now."

Su Qingliu immediately pulled a new manual from her robes.

Vajra Fist!