Even men of supreme skill such as Huangfu Song and Long Zhentian could not hide their shock.
The Tiger Immortal, Ox Immortal, Horse Immortal, and Goat Immortal hurried forward, lifting the fallen Long Xianren away. They checked his pulse in alarm—his meridians were intact, but the blow had rendered him unconscious. His internal injuries were severe.
Murong Gui spoke without restraint:
"Huangfu Song—this youth's martial skill is extraordinary. A hero rarely seen in this age. No wonder Wu Tong chose him as successor. And yet—you call him an impostor?"
The arrogance of Huangfu Song and Long Zhentian visibly waned.
Still, as masters of great renown, neither could afford to lose face before the crowd.
Huangfu Song forced himself to remain composed.
"In combat, there is victory and defeat. Nothing more."
At that moment, Long Zhentian stepped forward.
His expression was stern, his gaze sharp as lightning.
"This boy has some skill. Jiuxiao Palace shall send true masters to test him."
He paused—
"Let the Left and Right Envoys of Heaven and Earth take the field."
Before his words faded—
Two figures shot forward like lightning.
The appearance of Li Han and Ling Yun—the Heaven and Earth Envoys—sent a chill through the crowd.
These were top-tier masters of Jiuxiao Palace, famed across decades.
And now—
They would join forces against a single youth.
Li Jian stepped forward.
He inhaled slowly, his gaze calm as still water.
"I am honored to receive instruction from two senior masters."
Murmurs rose among the crowd.
Two against one—
Unworthy of their status.
Murong Gui's expression darkened.
"Long Zhentian—sending two masters against a junior? Are you not afraid of ridicule?"
The crowd murmured in agreement.
Yet before the criticism could grow—
Huangfu Song cut in coldly:
"If he cannot withstand them, then he is nothing but a fraud. Let him taste their power."
Li Jian lowered his gaze briefly.
His mind became clear.
This battle—
Could not be avoided.
Murong Gui sighed.
"You still believe this is my doing? If I wished to deceive, why not recruit him instead of staging such a show?"
For a moment—
Huangfu Song hesitated.
But pride would not allow retreat.
"Enough! Whether real or false—he dared to injure my man. He will pay the price!"
Li Han and Ling Yun leapt forward.
"Boy—prepare to die!"
Their voices thundered across the field.
They attacked together—
One from above, one from below.
A perfect pincer strike.
Li Han's claw descended toward Li Jian's crown—
Ling Yun's twin palms struck toward his chest—
Li Jian moved.
Like flowing water—
Like drifting clouds—
He lowered his head—
Turned—
Struck—
Their blows met.
BOOM! BOOM!
All three staggered back.
The force dispersed.
Li Jian spoke calmly:
"We bear no enmity. I have no wish to harm you."
Li Han and Ling Yun exchanged a glance.
"This boy… is formidable."
Ling Yun said:
"Enough restraint. I use the Qian Palm—you take the Kun Palm. Combined, none can withstand us!"
The Heaven and Earth Palms—
A fusion of yin and yang.
Hard and soft.
Light and heavy.
Opposing forces united.
They attacked again.
Their movements surged like a storm—
One rigid, one fluid—
One above, one below—
Strikes overlapping endlessly.
The crowd held its breath.
Yet—
To Li Jian—
It was no longer a threat.
Having opened the Ren and Du meridians—
His mastery had reached completion.
He moved freely—
Effortlessly—
His strikes faster than lightning—
Sharper than thought—
Then—
He advanced.
Like a phantom.
His palms traced silent arcs through the air—
Simple.
Unadorned.
Yet—
Terrifying.
Pa! Pa!
Two soft sounds.
Two bodies flew backward.
Thud! Thud!
Li Han and Ling Yun crashed to the ground—
Defeated.
Silence.
Then—
Gasps.
No one could comprehend what they had witnessed.
Such a technique—
Unseen.
Unheard of.
And this—
Was the "impostor"?
Across the field—
A single thought spread among the crowd:
Where did Wu Tong find this youth…?
The jianghu—
Had just changed.