Volume Four: Fame Spreads Far and Wide Chapter 132: Warming Up for the Martial Arts Grand Gala (1)

The Tyrant Fist was a technique imbued within the Frenzied Demon Tyrant Body. Qin Yang had never practiced it before, but seeing Tie Niu had piqued his interest. Soon, the essence of the Tyrant Fist was deeply etched into his mind, and a faint smile played on his lips. With the Tyrant Fist combined with his attribute-doubling ability, even the physically formidable Tie Niu would likely find it unbearable.

Seeing the smile on Qin Yang’s face, everyone knew that Tie Niu was finished.

"Be careful," Qin Yang said. This statement shocked everyone; the "God of Slaughter" was actually warning his opponent? Could it be that Qin Yang of Beihai preferred men? A chill ran through the male onlookers, and they were filled with doubt. "It couldn't be true, could it?" Qin Yang was naturally unaware of their thoughts; had he known, he surely would have vomited blood.

Tie Niu looked at Qin Yang and nodded heavily. Since his opponent had warned him to be careful, the next attack would undoubtedly be powerful. His eyes widened, and he let out a loud shout, deciding to strike first. However, while Tie Niu possessed immense strength, his speed was lacking—a result of his cultivation technique being neglected. Such a talent was being wasted.

Qin Yang moved with the grace of a dragon and the agility of a snake, charging forward rapidly. The spectators stared in amazement, unable to discern the footwork he was using. "Damn, that’s intense," a one-armed youth muttered to a thin youth beside him as Qin Yang vanished from his spot. In a crowd of tens of thousands, the sudden disappearance of one person went almost unnoticed.

Wang Kun and the others arrived in a rush, only to be stunned by the sheer number of people. It was impossible to squeeze through, and the crowd wouldn't budge. Seeing that Qin Yang was still safe, they breathed a sigh of relief. Ye Mei'er and Zhang Mengqi were anxious, at a loss for how to reach him. Would shouting "I am Qin Yang's girlfriend" work? Probably not; no one would believe them.

A sudden gasp erupted from the crowd as everyone began to cheer. Qin Yang unleashed the Tyrant Fist. He stood like a true overlord, his fist energy rippling in three distinct waves, sending Tie Niu flying instantly. This was the first time Tie Niu had been sent airborne during their spar; he slammed into a boulder, shattering it upon impact.

Dusting himself off, Tie Niu grinned sheepishly. "What kind of fist technique is that?"

"The Tyrant Fist."

Tie Niu’s eyes lit up, but they quickly dimmed. His thoughts were simple: if he learned such a powerful technique, he would be strong too, but the technique belonged to someone else. Why would Qin Yang give it to him? Should he kill Qin Yang like everyone else to take his techniques? He couldn't bring himself to do that.

"Heh, the Tyrant Fist is indeed overbearing. I have a set of techniques, too—why don't you try them?" Tie Niu chuckled. "This set is called the Stone Fist."

Stone Fist? Qin Yang finally understood why it was named that. Tie Niu had attained the Dao of Earth—specifically, the Dao of Rock and the Dao of Mud. The two complemented each other, creating a terrifying combination. Qin Yang wanted to curse out loud; what on earth was the Sacred Fire Temple doing? If these two Daos were fully integrated, Tie Niu’s combat power would skyrocket, allowing him to insta-kill peers and even hold his own against those in the Profound Realm.

Tie Niu’s massive arms were encased in a layer of rock. He seemed satisfied with this display, which was more powerful than anything he had shown before, and locked his eyes on Qin Yang. "Let’s see how my Stone Fist fares."

Qin Yang had never seen the original Stone Fist, but he knew it couldn't possibly be like what Tie Niu was displaying. Facing the crowd's skepticism, Tie Niu offered no explanation—he couldn't very well admit he had modified it himself. Qin Yang watched him, seeing a piece of unpolished jade. Such a talent had to be brought to his side; he would be a powerful asset. But how to convince him to switch allegiances? It was a headache, especially since Tie Niu was already part of another faction.

Qin Yang realized that Tie Niu’s modifications had subtly steered the technique toward the nature of the Tyrant Fist. Modifying a martial art was something few could do, and fewer still dared to attempt. As Tie Niu’s fist struck, his power increased by fifty percent—a terrifying margin—while the stone casing protected his arm from injury. The crowd was baffled. Could the Stone Fist be played like this? Why had no one noticed before?

Qin Yang remained composed, but his resolve to recruit Tie Niu grew stronger. The one-armed youth watched Tie Niu in a trance. He had never expected that the youth despised by everyone in the Sacred Fire Temple possessed such talent. Even if he failed to kill Qin Yang, reporting Tie Niu to the higher-ups would likely earn him a reward rather than punishment. He had long coveted the temple's secret techniques; it was the only reason he stayed there.

The two battled intensely, trading blow for blow—a pure clash of raw power that left them both exhilarated. Qin Yang struck again, sending Tie Niu flying and causing him to cough up blood, his dark complexion turning pale. As Tie Niu’s body seemed on the verge of collapsing, a shadow suddenly appeared beside Qin Yang, a long sword thrusting toward his heart.

"Look out!" Tie Niu cried, horrified that his Senior Brother would resort to such a cowardly sneak attack.

Qin Yang smiled at him. Seven Silver Fox blades floated behind him, instantly forming the Thousand Leaf Blade Array to intercept the attacker. His eyes grew cold as he looked at the assailant. The blades slashed wildly, and Qin Yang leaped into the air, drawing his Meteor Blade and unleashing the fifth form of the Thunder Blade Scripture. A purple streak of light flashed through the air, blinding the spectators.

"Stop!"

Qin Yang laughed. "You ambush me, and then you tell me to stop? Who are you? Show yourself." He didn't hold back; the Meteor Blade swept through the air. As the one-armed youth emerged, his head rolled to the ground at Qin Yang’s feet.

Qin Yang looked at the figure standing before him, slightly surprised. "I didn't expect this. It’s an old acquaintance. Yu Chen."

"No way, is that Yu Chen of the Yu family? One of the four masters of the ancient martial arts world? But the Yu family is gone, and look at him now."

"I heard the Yu family's downfall was all thanks to Qin Yang. This just goes to show that offending him leads to a grim end."

"Indeed. Do you think the title 'God of Slaughter' was given for nothing?"

"Hmph, Qin Yang, you dare kill a member of the Sacred Fire Temple? Prepare for our pursuit. No matter how strong you are, you will die. The foundations of the Sacred Fire Temple in the Northwest are beyond your imagination," Yu Chen sneered. He turned to Tie Niu, his voice stern. "Tie Niu, why are you standing there? Qin Yang killed your Senior Brother Qingshui. Come back to the temple with me."

Tie Niu stood motionless, head bowed. It was clear he was reluctant to leave with Yu Chen. "Why did Senior Brother Qingshui launch a sneak attack?" Tie Niu demanded, his eyes fixed on Yu Chen.

"This..." Yu Chen was stumped. Could he admit it was to kill Qin Yang?

"Hahaha, does that even need asking? Obviously, he wanted to kill the great Qin Yang of Beihai to steal his treasures!" the crowd jeered.

"Is... is that true?" Tie Niu asked again, but Yu Chen remained silent.

"Forget it. You go. I’m not going back. Nobody in the temple ever respected me anyway."

"Tie Niu, that’s not true! I promise you!" Yu Chen panicked. If Tie Niu didn't return, his mission would fail, and he would face brutal punishments—punishments he shuddered to even think about.

"Did you realize his potential and want to use him to make up for your failed mission?" Qin Yang asked with a chuckle. Since Tie Niu didn't want to leave, he would do everything in his power to help. Such talent would be a waste if he didn't snatch it up. With proper training, Tie Niu would be a master.

"Shut your mouth! This is a matter for the Sacred Fire Temple. If you interfere, you are completely burning your bridges with us," Yu Chen threatened sharply.

"Hahaha, aren't they already burned?" Qin Yang countered. "I’ve already killed your people. Do you think you’ll let me go? Besides, we have some old scores to settle. Shouldn't we finish those now?"

Yu Chen stepped back in fear, his eyes wary. "Qin Yang, don't forget, I am a disciple of the Sacred Fire Temple."

"Heh, don't try to scare me with that name. I know who you are, but so what?"

"But so what?" The words echoed for miles. The crowd watched Qin Yang with newfound respect; they knew they could never face such pressure with his level of ease.