NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1120: Slapped in the Face
"What a fine display of Wudang Tai Chi."
In the audience, those who knew martial arts couldn't help but be impressed by the moves on the stage. Liao Qingyang's Tai Chi was executed as naturally as a fish swimming in water.
No wonder he is the top figure in Wudang.
Li Feng, pulled by the adhesive force of the "Four Ounces Move a Thousand Pounds" technique, faltered and couldn't help but exclaim.
Liao Qingyang's strength is impressive.
To use Tai Chi to such a skillful and natural extent, even Li Feng fell into the trap if not careful.
Li Feng had practiced Wudang's Tai Chi himself, fully understanding its essentials. After all, Tai Chi isn't mysterious.
But Tai Chi is easy to learn and difficult to master.
Otherwise, you'd see groups of old men practicing Tai Chi for health in the morning, because it's easy to start with. But using it in actual combat is another story.
However, Li Feng is no novice either. He was aware of Wudang's expertise and was prepared. At the moment of imbalance, he used a peculiar waist maneuver to regain balance and swiftly aimed an elbow strike at Liao Qingyang's lower ribs.
Liao Qingyang let out an "Oh."
Evidently, he didn't expect Li Feng to adjust so quickly. This live-in son-in-law hugging a woman's thigh had some tricks up his sleeve.
Just now, Li Feng had crossed several yards with one powerful punch. According to the inertia of the punch and being led by Tai Chi, one would expect him to fall face down.
Yet Li Feng, almost half a step forward, strangely halted and continued his attack, surprising Liao Qingyang.
Caught off guard by Li Feng's swift attack, Liao Qingyang instinctively raised a hand to block but lacked the power, resulting in taking the elbow fall on his face and stumbling a few steps back.
The crowd, seeing Liao Qingyang hit in the face, was dumbfounded. Everything happened so quickly that even Liao Qingyang couldn't react, so naturally neither could they. It seemed as though Liao Qingyang intended to let Li Feng make three moves but ended up getting slapped in the face.
Hiss.
"Wasn't Liao Qingyang said to be the number one in Wudang? What's this then?"
The person who had been bragging about Liao Qingyang's prowess felt a bit awkward, swallowing hard.
"Hmph, why are you looking at me? Liao Qingyang was indeed Wudang's number one ten years ago, but he was seriously injured back then, and there's been no news for a decade. Who knows if his skills have progressed or regressed since?"
The young man spoke with assurance.
This Liao Qingyang might actually lose, and he bet five thousand on him. If there's another upset, he'd be sleeping under the bridge tonight.
Liao Qingyang steadied himself, looked up at Li Feng who hit him on the face, but didn't get angry; instead, he smiled slightly.
"Interesting, come again."
"Are you sure?"
Li Feng squinted at Liao Qingyang, sensing an air of arrogance in him.
"I said I'd let you make three moves, so three moves it is. Come again."
Li Feng smirked, "Here I come then."
"Who is this Li Feng?"
The majority in the audience didn't catch Li Feng's movements. Visually, a phantom seemed to have appeared; he was just a couple of steps away, and suddenly he was right in front of Liao Qingyang.
Most spectators were from the martial world, but their strength was generally below Innate, naturally limiting their eyesight. Only some sect leaders and elders present saw Li Feng's actions clearly.
"Li Feng's footwork looks somewhat like the Mist Steps of the Eight Diagrams Sect."
In the Wudang section, an elder squinted at Li Feng's movements.
"The Eight Diagrams Sect?"
"It looks like it, but also different. I've known a bit about the Mist Steps of the Eight Diagrams Sect, yet this youngster's footsteps seem coordinated with his movement technique. His body seems still but actually sways side to side. His feet seem to move, but the movements are rather deceptive."
The elder nodded solemnly, "Li Feng has frightening body coordination. We underestimated this youngster. It's unclear who his master is, and how such a talented young man ended up as a live-in son-in-law."
The Wudang people all watched the stage silently. Many previously looked down on Li Feng, believing with Liao Qingyang's strength, dealing with him would be a breeze. But the recent exchange revealed something different.
This Li Feng seems to have some skills.
During the conversation,
the two on stage clashed again. This time, Liao Qingyang dared not let his guard down, circulating his Inner Qi to the utmost, enveloping himself in an aura that made Li Feng's moves no longer obscure.
Li Feng's moves remained straightforward and direct, yet highly efficient. His rapid punches flashed like waves crashing violently.
The audience thrilled by the tempestuous offense, found this straightforward style more appealing for onlookers.
Amateurs watch the excitement, experts watch the technique.
Even sect experts in the VIP section paid close attention to the pair on stage. Li Feng's attack seemed simple yet carried profound control. Each punch withdrawal into another attack was smooth, showing high-level mastery, exemplifying 'great complexity within simplicity.'"
Just this level of skill elevated his reputation. Indeed, no one in the national Martial Arts Tournament was there by chance.
Li Feng maintained an incessant offensive, seemingly on the verge of toppling Liao Qingyang at any time.
In reality, Liao Qingyang's Tai Chi created an impenetrable defense.
Exerting full effort, Liao Qingyang indeed was Wudang's number one. His Tai Chi moved fluidly, elegantly, executing techniques like Single Whip, Lift Hands, White Crane Spreads Wings, Brush Knee Twist Step, each neutralizing Li Feng's strikes.
Their fight remained locked in a stalemate.
"Hiss, is this real? Li Feng can match Wudang's Liao Qingyang! Surprising anyone."
"Yes, we underestimated this Li Feng. Is this the same person mentioned in the information, or just a namesake?"
"Oh, come on, intelligence gatherers aren't foolish to give us such misleading information. Looks like this Li Feng is quite the strategist, staying hidden."
In a blink, short bursts of impact echoed between them.
Wudang Tai Chi indeed lived up to its reputation; its power control wasn't just talk, and this Liao Qingyang—
Admittedly, there weren't much data on him. He directly entered the national Martial Arts Tournament, not appearing on earlier lists.
Wudang, acclaimed sect with deep foundations, had already surprised with Luo Qingyun, now unveiling another formidable opponent.
Li Feng thought, seeing how it might take many moves to determine the outcome. He pretended impatience and aggressively attacked Liao Qingyang, showing a slight opening on purpose.