Strike Now or Never

"Alright, the stage is yours."

Lin Mo said casually, stepping back a dozen paces with his hands behind his back, completely yielding the open space in the center.

Leaving room for this senior brother to properly dote on his junior brother.

On the field, only the shivering Zhang Gonglian remained, facing Senior Brother Gong Yu, whose cultivation had been weakened but whose rage meter was completely full.

"Begin."

A faint smile hung on Lin Mo's face, like a spectator ready to enjoy a good show.

As soon as his voice fell, the atmosphere on the field suddenly froze.

Gong Yu clenched his fists, his knuckles letting out a soft pop. He stared fixedly at Zhang Gonglian opposite him, the corners of his mouth pulling into a cold arc.

"Junior Brother, do you know that even now, I still can't find where Master hid my collection? It's been ten years! Do you know how I've lived these past ten years?! Do you?!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried ten years of suppressed fury, every word seeming to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

Forced back two steps by this imposing aura, Zhang Gonglian turned pale and waved his hands in a panic.

"I... I don't know where it is either, Senior Brother Gong Yu. How about I go down the mountain and find you a few similar ones as an apology?"

"You don't understand!"

Gong Yu shouted angrily, interrupting him.

"That was out of print! There are no similar ones! My Fukada Haruharuko!"

Before his voice even faded, he stomped his foot heavily, shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow. His fist, wrapped in brilliant golden light, smashed straight toward Zhang Gonglian's face.

In the elders' seats on the viewing platform, Gong Shan's eyelids twitched as he watched, and he couldn't help asking Gong Yue beside him, "Is that... Fukada Haruharuko some kind of powerful cultivation manual?"

Gong Yue fanned himself cheerfully and lowered his voice, "I heard it's a gravure magazine that Senior Brother Gong Yu's older brother brought back for him from Hong Kong back in the day. He treasured it to death and even kept it tucked in his robes when he came up the mountain."

"Wouldn't such filthy things affect his cultivation?" Gong Shan's brow furrowed even tighter.

"Affect?" The smile on Gong Yue's face faded slightly. "That magazine is a memento from Senior Brother Gong Yu's late brother. He calls it a treasure, but I've never seen him actually open it.

Master probably confiscated it because he didn't want Senior Brother to dwell too much on the past."

Gong Shan was dumbfounded. "So our Heavenly Master junior brother is purely taking the blame for nothing?"

"What else?" Gong Yue spread his hands, looking as if it were only natural.

"Of course, Senior Brother Gong Yu is perfectly clear about this in his heart. It's just that a beating that needs to be given still has to be given.

After all, if he doesn't hit him today, he really won't have the chance in the future."

Gong Shan instinctively looked down at the number eighteen token in his hand and nodded heavily in deep agreement.

"You're right! If we don't beat him now, there really won't be another chance!"

At this moment, the wind from fists was already howling on the field.

Bang!

A muffled thud rang out.

Gong Yu's fist, radiating golden light, solidly smashed into Zhang Gonglian's crossed arms.

Zhang Gonglian only felt a surge of tremendous force. His arms went numb, and he slid backward uncontrollably for several meters, plowing two deep grooves into the ground.

Gong Yu had absolutely no intention of using other spells or talismans. He just relentlessly attacked in close quarters with solid punches and kicks.

His fists carried no killing intent, yet they were as heavy as mountains. Every strike landed precisely in the gaps of Zhang Gonglian's defense, forcing him into a frantic scramble.

"Is this all the progress you've made?!"

"Dodging? Keep dodging!"

"Has everything Master taught you been fed to the dogs?!"

Gong Yu cursed as he attacked, not holding back his fists in the slightest, as if using them to force this lazy junior brother to recall their past sparring sessions.

Zhang Gonglian was beaten into a steady retreat, complaining bitterly in his heart.

Lacking spiritual energy, he couldn't mount an effective counterattack and could only rely on his superhumanly tough physique to endure it.

With every punch that landed, he felt his internal organs tremble. If his foundation weren't thick enough, he probably would have collapsed from the very first strike.

Even so, he just gritted his teeth and endured it without a sound.

He knew this was the last time Senior Brother Gong Yu would guide him.

With another heavy punch, Zhang Gonglian could no longer hold on. He flew backward and crashed heavily onto the ground.

Gong Yu withdrew his fist and stood straight, the golden light slowly dissipating. He looked down condescendingly at the disheveled Zhang Gonglian, his chest heaving slightly.

"I'll collect the ten years of interest up to here for today."

He paused, his gaze turning complex.

"Next, it's time to see exactly how much weight you, the Heavenly Master, truly carry!"

Gong Yu took a deep breath, his eyes turning sharp, and launched another offensive.

He pushed off the ground, moving like the wind, lunging straight at Zhang Gonglian in the center of the arena. As his sleeves billowed, a talisman he had already pinched between his fingers shot out.

"Bind!"

With a soft shout, the talisman spontaneously combusted in midair, instantly transforming into several streaks of blinding purple light. Like living vines, they split up to attack Zhang Gonglian's limbs, intending to lock him down completely.

This was a sure-hit move, and the first step in his plan: trap first, then attack.

However, at the exact moment the purple light was about to reach him, Zhang Gonglian, who had been standing still, moved.

He didn't dodge, nor did he even look at the incoming talisman. He simply raised his right fist slowly.

The single remaining wisp of spiritual energy in his body, suppressed by layers of seals, burned without reservation at this moment.

Hum!

A ring of dazzling golden light exploded from the edge of his fist, so dense it was almost tangible, carrying an utterly domineering aura.

The moment those purple light vines touched the golden light, they were like snow meeting the blazing sun. Without even stirring a ripple, they shattered inch by inch and dissipated into nothingness.

After tearing apart the purple light, the golden light's momentum remained undiminished.

Zhang Gonglian took a step forward and threw a punch.

Simple, direct, and without any flashy movements.

The fist drove straight in, arriving first despite being launched later, and solidly smashed into Gong Yu's chest.

Thump!

A muffled sound rang out, like a heavy hammer striking a leather drum.

The confidence on Gong Yu's face instantly froze, then turned to horror, as he flew backward like a kite with a snapped string.

Just as he was about to fall miserably off the arena, a figure appeared behind him like a ghost. A hand gently raised and casually supported his back.

That violent impact force was cleanly neutralized by this effortless support.

It was Lin Mo.

Carrying the unconscious Gong Yu, his figure blurred, and he returned to the elders' seats, gently setting the man down.

"Contestant number one, challenge failed."

Lin Mo's voice wasn't loud, but it spread clearly throughout the entire venue.

He flicked his finger, and a faint light sank into Gong Yu's body, undoing the restriction placed on him for the sake of fairness.

Almost instantly, the previously unconscious Gong Yu gave a violent shudder and slowly woke up.

Clutching his fiercely aching chest, his first reaction wasn't to check his injuries, but to look up. With a complex gaze, he looked at the figure on the distant arena, a trace of bitterness appearing on his face.

"The power of the Heavenly Master... even if only a tiny sliver remains, that power is truly formidable."