It was completely silent in the stone chamber.
Cheng Shilu was soaking in the pool without moving a muscle. Wisps of mist were floating on the water surface. His bronze-colored skin had turned a reddish hue, as if it had been soaked in boiling water.
Dong dong dong...
The sound of footsteps and knocking on the door came from outside:
"Master? Master? Something terrible has happened..."
Hua la—
A look of anger appeared on Cheng Shilu's face. He flipped up and quickly put on his robe. Then he came out of the stone chamber and into the study, shouting angrily:
"What are you wailing about in the middle of the night? Is your father dead?"
"Master, someone from the Honghua Tower has come. It's Ye Silang."
?!
Cheng Shilu's angry expression paused, and he touched his bald head:
"What is he doing here at Tiefo Ridge? The Baoyuan Sect is in Guangji. Is he planning to make an example of me?"
"I don't know. Ye Silang is waiting in the main hall. Master, please go over quickly..."
The Honghua Tower was a powerful family in the martial arts world, much larger in scale than Tiefo Ridge. Tiefo Ridge could at most be compared with a single branch of the Honghua Tower.
However, the Honghua Tower was too scattered, and Cheng Shilu had the backing of the imperial court with very strong connections. At the foot of the Son of Heaven in Yunzhou, he didn't fear the Honghua Tower too much.
Cheng Shilu couldn't figure out the other party's intention. After thinking for a while, he picked up the long-handled copper hammer, handed it to the butler when he went out, and then walked towards the main hall of the villa.
The silver moon was like frost, casting its light over the elegant villa.
Outside the large main hall, more than a dozen disciples of Tiefo Ridge were standing, holding torches. Their faces showed a hint of nervousness, and they didn't dare to act rashly. They were silently waiting for the arrival of the sect master.
There were no lights in the spacious main hall. Eight mahogany armchairs were placed on both sides. A painting of seven fine horses was hung on the central wall. On either side of the square table were two large chairs.
A long spear wrapped in black cloth was leaning against the back of one of the large chairs.
A guest wearing a black robe and a wide-brimmed hat was sitting upright in the host's seat. His face couldn't be seen clearly. A white porcelain tea cup was placed beside his hand, and his fingers were gently tapping on the mahogany square table.
Dong~
Dong~
After waiting for only a short while, the sound of footsteps came from outside the main hall, and a sonorous voice rang out:
"Master Ye has come in person. I, Cheng, failed to greet you from afar. Please forgive me."
Cheng Shilu was wearing a brocade robe and strode into the hall. When he saw Ye Silang sitting in the host's seat, his footsteps paused, and there was obvious dissatisfaction in his eyes:
"A guest is welcome, but it's not right to take the host's place. Master Ye, you seem to have sat in the wrong seat."
The host's seat was like the "upper seat". Only the person with the highest status in the martial arts world was qualified to sit there. Cheng Shilu's words clearly showed that he thought he was on the same level as the head of a branch or the young master of the Honghua Tower, and he should be the one to sit in the upper seat in his own home.
Ye Jingtang's trip this time, finding the clues about the Minglong Diagram was a secondary task. The main task was to let the people in the martial arts world of Yunzhou understand the weight of the words "Honghua Tower".
Hearing these words, Ye Jingtang slightly lifted his hat and said in a suppressed voice:
"Do you have any objections, Sect Master Cheng, to me sitting in the host's seat?"
"If the Red God of Wealth came, I wouldn't say anything about him sitting in the host's seat. But Master Ye has just entered the martial arts world and doesn't have enough weight. In the martial arts world, seniority is earned through fighting, not given by elders."
The hall fell silent.
Ye Jingtang didn't stand up either. He beckoned with his hand.
Cheng Shilu had a bad temper to begin with. At this moment, he didn't waste any words and raised his hand.
Hoo—
Seeing this, the steward outside quickly threw the long-handled copper hammer into the room.
Cheng Shilu's upper body muscles were bulging. Before the weapon even reached him, he took a step forward and grabbed the long-handled copper hammer in mid-air, ready to smash it at Ye Jingtang.
But the moment the long-handled copper hammer was in his hand, a loud explosion sounded in the hall.
Peng—
Ye Jingtang, who was sitting on the large chair, didn't seem to exert much effort, yet his figure suddenly shot up. His left hand held the tip of the spear, and his right foot delivered a powerful side kick that landed on Cheng Shilu's broad chest.
This move was not an ordinary martial arts move but the "Fierce Horse's Kicking Hooves" in the Leigong Baji Boxing. The kick hit the chest directly, and the force penetrated through the chest and back. With a "Peng!" sound, the robe on his back burst open, revealing his muscular and robust back.
As soon as Cheng Shilu grabbed the weapon, his figure was kicked back three steps by this extremely powerful kick and crashed into the mahogany armchair.
Hua la—
After Ye Jingtang kicked out, he held the spear with both hands and slashed forward fiercely. The black cloth wrapped around the spear was instantly torn apart by the force of his qi, revealing the jet-black spear tip. The fragments scattered and were carried by the spear tip, crashing towards Cheng Shilu in front.
A look of horror flashed in Cheng Shilu's eyes. He realized that this Ye Silang was even more powerful than the Ye Jingtang he had encountered a few days ago. How dare he be careless anymore? He immediately retreated with all his might and raised the long-handled copper hammer.
Cheng Shilu was incredibly strong, and the copper hammer in his hand had an iron rod. But he knew what the effect would be when the famous spear "Black Lin" was used with the "Yellow Dragon Lying on the Path" move. He didn't dare to block the spear tip at all but instead blocked the spear shaft.
Hong long—
The sound of the explosion of qi filled the hall, and in an instant, the doors and windows were pressed against the walls.
Cheng Shilu's figure was extremely imposing, half a head taller than Ye Jingtang. But when the spear slashed down, he still couldn't hold his ground and was pushed backward. His feet crushed the ground, leaving two half-zhang-long grooves on the ground. The tables and chairs along the way were shattered.
After Ye Jingtang slashed out with the spear, he didn't give the slightest chance. He raised the spear and immediately executed the move "Azure Dragon Offering Its Claws", stabbing straight at Cheng Shilu's shoulder.
Pu—
Cheng Shilu hadn't even stabilized his stance. How could he defend against this spear thrust as fast as a thunderbolt? Half of the spear tip instantly pierced into his flesh and stuck into his shoulder bone.
Cheng Shilu's eyes were wide open with raging anger. He didn't even think about defending against this spear thrust. The moment the spear tip entered his flesh, he tensed his muscles, turned his body, and used his body to clamp the spear tip. Then he raised his hand to grab the spear shaft.
Ye Jingtang rotated the spear shaft. Under the great force, the spear shaft was twisted a bit, but the spear tip stuck in the flesh didn't move at all.
"He—"
Cheng Shilu grabbed the spear shaft with his left hand and, with a furious shout, held the long-handled hammer in his right hand and smashed it down at Ye Jingtang, trying to force Ye Jingtang to abandon the spear and jump away.
But to Cheng Shilu's surprise, this Ye Silang of the Honghua Tower didn't dodge but directly raised the spear shaft and prepared to take the blow head-on.
Hong long—
With a full-force hammer blow, the floor tiles under Ye Jingtang's feet instantly shattered, forming two depressions.
Ye Jingtang's whole body was pressed down by an inch, but his figure remained as steady as an unshakable pine and didn't sway at all.
?!
A look of astonishment flashed in Cheng Shilu's eyes. He completely didn't expect that the other party's "thin and weak" body could withstand his hammer blow. He immediately wanted to strike again.
But Ye Jingtang didn't give him the chance. He held the spear in his right hand and stabbed forward with it under his armpit. His left hand grabbed the long hammer and pulled it hard.
Cha—
The spear tip pierced into the flesh by another inch.
Cheng Shilu pulled hard but didn't let Ye Jingtang let go of the spear. And he didn't dare to let go of the Black Lin Spear. So, like a wild ox, he charged forward with the two weapons:
"Ya—!"
There was a huge difference in their weights. Ye Jingtang could stand firm against the brute force of the pressure from above by stepping on the ground, but it was difficult for him to stand firm against the frontal thrust.
Hua la la—
Ye Jingtang's body didn't move at all, but his feet slid rapidly backward on the smooth floor tiles. The tables and chairs under the central hall were instantly smashed, and a hole was knocked out in the wooden partition wall. In an instant, he was pushed out of the crosshall door.
"He!"
Cheng Shilu pushed forward with all his might, trying to push Ye Jingtang to the ground when he stepped down the stairs.
But the moment Ye Jingtang's right foot slid down the stairs, he clamped the long spear and raised his right hand, lifting the spear with the momentum of the Overlord Spear:
"Up!"
Cheng Shilu reacted quickly and tried to use the technique of the "Thousand-Jin Weight Drop" to firmly plant himself on the ground.
But Cheng Shilu was only powerful in his invulnerability to weapons and his great strength. In terms of martial arts attainments, he was really not very high.
Ye Jingtang lifted the spear with one hand. The long spear instantly bent into a half-arc and forcefully lifted the huge Cheng Shilu off the ground, then smashed him backward.
Hong long—
Cheng Shilu held the long spear, and his figure traced a half-arc in the air, smashing the white stone ground to pieces.
Taking this opportunity, Ye Jingtang held the long spear with both hands, channeled the force from the ground, and bent the spear shaft again:
"He—"
Peng peng peng—
Cheng Shilu was lifted on the spear tip. With great inertia and having lost his balance, he couldn't swing the hammer at all. In an instant, he was smashed three times, crashing through the steps and flower beds in the courtyard.
When Ye Jingtang lifted the long spear again, Cheng Shilu finally let go of his left hand, and the spear tip stuck in his shoulder was pulled out from the flesh.
Hong long—
Cheng Shilu's robust figure spun in the air, smashed through the side wall of the courtyard. Before he could get up after landing, a cold glint had already reached his face.
This time, Ye Jingtang learned his lesson. He didn't try to pierce through with brute force again. Instead, the spear was like a swimming dragon, stabbing continuously in his hand and aiming at Cheng Shilu's chest.
Cha cha cha cha...
Cheng Shilu was lying on the ground, using the copper hammer to block. His feet pushed against the ground and he retreated backward. In an instant, a dozen bloodstains were stabbed on his chest. The wounds were very shallow, but there was blood.
While stabbing continuously, by the bright moonlight, Ye Jingtang finally saw clearly that every time the spear tip pierced the skin, just like with Second Master Cheng, there would be cracked patterns around the wound, as if porcelain had been pierced by a sharp object. Although it disappeared in an instant, it was definitely not an illusion.
Cha cha cha—
In an instant, more than a dozen spear thrusts forced Cheng Shilu to the bottom of the courtyard wall. There was nowhere to retreat, and he couldn't get up at all. He quickly shouted:
"I admit defeat! I admit defeat! Hold your hand!"
Ye Jingtang stopped the spear tip. He held the spear in his right hand and pointed it at Cheng Shilu. With his left hand behind his back, he stood upright in the moonlight:
"Now, do I have enough weight to sit in the host's seat?"
Although Ye Jingtang had stabbed many times, they were all superficial wounds. He didn't aim at the vital points. Otherwise, with the first spear thrust at the throat, Cheng Shilu would have been killed directly.
Cheng Shilu was panting heavily. When he tensed his muscles, the bleeding wounds stopped. He threw away the weapon:
"Enough. I hope Master Ye will forgive my offense just now."
Ye Jingtang didn't put away the long spear but examined Cheng Shilu's wounds:
"Your body is unusually tough."
Hearing this, Cheng Shilu frowned, and the movement of getting up stopped:
"Does Master Ye suspect that I'm hiding the Minglong Diagram?"
Ye Jingtang put away the spear tip and stood with his hands behind his back:
"I'm just curious."
Cheng Shilu supported himself against the wall and stood up:
"My father practiced the Minglong Diagram. My father was originally a member of the Beiliang Army. Decades ago, he stole the Minglong Diagram and fled to the Great Wei. Because his body was too strong, he was suspected and was killed by someone who came to his door. I don't know who the murderer was, but Jiang Zhahu only entered the Eight Great Champions after my father's death."
Cheng Shilu confessed so readily. Obviously, it wasn't the first time that people from the martial arts world had come to his door. Since he didn't have the Minglong Diagram anyway, he directly confessed to avoid being tortured.
Ye Jingtang nodded slightly. In his heart, he also thought that Jiang Zhahu's Invincible Golden Body was more in line with the description of the Golden Scale Diagram. After thinking for a while, he asked:
"Have you ever practiced the Minglong Diagram before?"
Cheng Shilu shook his head: "My father didn't even dare to tell my brother and me about this. I only found out after his death. I became famous twenty years ago. The Golden Scale Diagram can't be hidden. If I had practiced it for twenty years and only achieved this level, then the Golden Scale Diagram wouldn't be worthy of its reputation.
"I practice a unique horizontal training technique. I can reach this level because I was born with thick skin and great talent. My younger brother is the same. I guess it has something to do with my father having practiced the Minglong Diagram. Like father, like son. If I had the Minglong Diagram, even if I showed it to my younger brother, I definitely wouldn't show it to my disciples. There are more than three hundred people at the foot of the mountain, and they all practice the same technique, just not as well as me."
Ye Jingtang looked at the wounds on Cheng Shilu's body:
"With horizontal training techniques, when practiced well, one can indeed be as powerful as you. But skin and flesh are just skin and flesh. They can't be shattered. When the wounds on your body appeared, the skin shattered. How did this happen?"
"..."
Hearing these words, Cheng Shilu fell silent for a moment, and his eyes changed. After a while, he let out a soft sigh and nodded in approval:
"Master Ye has sharp eyes. You're the first person to notice this. Since Master Ye has seen it, I won't hide it from you. My father was originally a guard of Beiliang. When he stole the Minglong Diagram, he also took a precious bead. The bead is a strange object refined by a powerful person in Beiliang. Just like jade, carrying it all year round can strengthen the body, but the effect is much stronger. I often take this thing and soak in the bath, which is how I got this tough skin."
Ye Jingtang was slightly surprised: "Aren't you afraid that I'll kill you and take the treasure, Sect Master Cheng, by being so candid?"
Cheng Shilu wasn't afraid because it wasn't certain who would kill and who would take the treasure!
Cheng Shilu might look big-headed and thick-necked and seem reckless, but in fact, he had deep thoughts.
This Ye Silang suddenly appeared in the Honghua Tower, and there had been no news about him before. Most likely, his martial arts skills had advanced rapidly in a short period of time.
Now Ye Silang was asking about the whereabouts of the "Minglong Diagram", obviously wanting to find it. This inevitably made people wonder if he had practiced the Minglong Diagram.
He had already suspected this before, but this suspicion wasn't enough to make him take risks. However, Ye Silang's discovery of the clue in his wounds touched on the vital point.
Cheng Shilu had no weak points all over his body. The only weak point was the Tianlang Pearl hidden in the secret chamber.
This pearl, for him, actually didn't have as much use as his connections in the imperial court. But this pearl was involved in a secret matter that happened many years ago. If the news leaked out, it might bring the disaster of exterminating his family.
There had been two other people before with extremely sharp eyes who had discovered the peculiarity of his wounds, and he had silenced them both.
And today, it had to be the same. There was a possibility of obtaining a "Minglong Diagram", which could be considered an unexpected gain.
Facing Ye Jingtang's question of "aren't you afraid of being silenced", Cheng Shilu had a calm expression and turned to walk towards the back:
"I've used it for more than twenty years, but Master Ye still easily made more than a dozen holes in my body. For such a strange object, I'm afraid Master Ye wouldn't even look at it if I sold it to you. As the saying goes, no discord, no concord. I'm not stingy either. I'll let Master Ye take a look at it, so that you won't be suspicious someday and come to teach me the rules again."
Ye Jingtang thought that Cheng Sh