Quickly conquer the martial arts world, and let your fists dominate the heavens!

After three rounds, Song Caichen figured out one thing.

The opponent's fist techniques were all extremely refined. The four moves, namely the Bengquan, Zuanquan, Longxing, and Paoquan, came from different systems of Xingyiquan and were used by Chen Zhan at four completely different times and angles. Each move was exactly the optimal solution under the circumstances.

He started to get into it.

With faster footwork, the frequency and power of his attacks increased by 20%, transforming the exchange from a tentative sparring match into a serious contest.

"Mountain-splitting blast!"

The fist came crashing down from above with tremendous force.

Chen Zhan raised his hand to block, unleashing a Xingyi "splitting fist" strike. The two powerful forces collided with a muffled "bang," and the energy dispersed in all directions.

Song Caichen launched a continuous attack, unleashing a barrage of attacks—the Mountain-Splitting Cannon, the Sky-Piercing Cannon, and the Head-Back Cannon—one after another, growing fiercer and more urgent with each strike, his strength already reaching seventy or eighty percent.

He knew he shouldn't do this; a friendly spar wasn't a life-or-death struggle, and it should stop when the point was reached. But the other person's nonchalant demeanor kept him on edge.

Having been on the field for so long, I haven't even managed to force my opponent to show their true skills. It's embarrassing.

The disciples on the sidelines could all see that the deputy chief镖头 (bodyguard/escort) was really angry.

Cheng Shaojiu frowned.

Chen Zhan remained the same, unhurried and unhurried, responding to every move his opponent made. He used Xingyi Five Elements Fist in rotation, occasionally incorporating Bagua evasion techniques, completely neutralizing Song Caichen's fierce attacks.

But his counterattacks were also intensifying, with his palms and fists gradually increasing from 30% to 40% and then 50% of their force.

Song Caichen could feel that with each punch and palm strike, the force transmitted from the opponent was increasing, and his arms, shoulders, and chest were experiencing increasingly heavy vibrations.

After a few more moves, Song Caichen unleashed a powerful punch to the heart, and Chen Zhan slashed in from the side with his right hand.

"Side punch".

The horizontal punch travels in an arc, with the fist sweeping out from the side of the body, using the twisting force of the waist and hips to specifically break through the straight punches coming from the front.

The cannonball was deflected by the horizontal arc force, missing its target and losing its power in the air.

Song Caichen swayed, revealing an opening in the center.

Chen Zhan followed up with his left hand, unleashing a devastating "Crushing Fist that Shatters the Heart".

This punch was delivered without restraint; the fist rotated, and internal energy surged in, making it more than twice as powerful as all the previous punches.

Song Caichen crossed his arms in a cross-shaped defensive stance, but the difference in strength was too great. The force of the Beng Quan (a type of fist) forced a gap open in his arms, and the wind from the punch entered through the gap and struck his chest.

"Boom!"

Song Caichen grunted and staggered back three steps, his back slamming into a weapon rack at the edge of the arena. The swords and spears rattled and a single-edged sword fell from the rack and crashed to the ground with a clatter.

He steadied himself by holding onto the weapon rack, his chest heaving, and a metallic taste rising in his mouth.

The disciples in the arena gasped, and some even shouted out.

Song Caichen's face flushed red. He gritted his teeth, swallowed the metallic taste in his mouth, and took another step forward, ready to continue charging forward.

I've already mentally arranged the most ruthless moves from the Twelve Cannon Techniques, and I'm determined to win this round no matter what.

Just then, two footsteps came from the front gate. "Caichen, don't embarrass yourself!"

After that sound, the two people walked into the front yard, following the footsteps.

They were all around sixty years old.

The one walking in front was tall and imposing, with a broad forehead and graying temples, but his back was ramrod straight, and every step he took carried the composure that had been ingrained in him for decades in the military.

He wore a dark blue long gown, with short trousers and cloth boots underneath. His hem didn't sway when he walked, his steps were extremely steady, and his center of gravity was very low.

Zhang Dianhua.

His courtesy name was Rongjin, and he was the chief镖头 (bodyguard/escort) of the Huiyou镖局 (escort agency).

The eldest disciple of Song Mailun, the Divine Fist, was the top martial arts scholar during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty. At the age of twenty-one, he passed both the provincial and imperial examinations and achieved the highest rank in both martial arts and imperial examinations. The emperor personally appointed him as the top martial arts scholar, made him a first-class imperial bodyguard, and granted him the privilege of serving at the Qianqing Gate.

Together with his master, Song Laomai, he developed the escort agency from a small operation with dozens of people into the largest escort agency in Beijing, with nearly a thousand disciples and branches all over the country.

Behind him followed a tall, kind-looking old man with a long, white beard. He walked with his hands behind his back, looking like a schoolteacher, but the heavy weight of his footsteps revealed his true nature.

As soon as the two entered the front yard, they sensed the commotion. Zhang Dianhua immediately saw Song Caichen, whose face was flushed and whose blood was surging. He was clearly enraged, so he spoke up to stop him.

The two then approached.

Song Caichen was gathering his strength when he heard this voice, and he stopped abruptly.

He looked up and saw Zhang Dianhua. The urgency on his face vanished instantly, replaced by embarrassment and shame.

"Senior brother."

Zhang Dianhua didn't look at him, but instead focused his gaze on Chen Zhan. After a few moments, he saw that Chen Zhan's hands were hanging at his sides, his breathing was even, his expression was normal, and his breathing was not disordered at all.

Song Caichen is a master of the Transformation Realm, and it would be difficult for an ordinary martial artist of the Transformation Realm to fight him to a draw.

The young man in front of him had forced Song Caichen to fight with all his might and unleash his full power, while he himself remained nonchalant.

Zhang Dianhua had seen this kind of person before. In the palace, in the inner palace, he had seen this kind of composure in a very few old monsters.

Danjing (丹境).

Actually, there is no such thing as "Baodan" yet. It's just that people have different names for things above the level of Huajin, and even different names within some sects.

His gaze shifted slightly, and he raised his hand, cupping his fists towards Chen Zhan. His tone was steady and solemn: "Brother, my name is Zhang Dianhua, the chief镖师 (bodyguard/escort) of Huiyou镖局 (Huiyou Escort Agency). I was quite rude just now; my junior brother was ignorant and made a fool of himself."

The chief镖头 (chief镖师) personally came out to apologize, which is extremely rare in the history of Huiyou镖局 (Huiyou Escort Agency).

The disciples and bodyguards present were all stunned.

Chen Zhan looked at Zhang Dianhua, smiled slightly, and returned the greeting with clasped hands: "Chief镖头 Zhang is too kind. Brother Song's martial arts are excellent; I have offended you."

Chen Zhan maintained utmost politeness, showing no arrogance whatsoever towards Song Caichen and Zhang Dianhua.

Zhang Dianhua served in the palace and worked for the Qing Dynasty for many years, but he did not do anything evil. On the contrary, his Huiyou Escort Agency sheltered many desperate martial artists in the capital. His reputation of being open to all and welcoming guests was not just empty talk.

Over the years, countless boxers, bodyguards, and down-on-their-luck martial artists who fled from other places to the capital have found a place to stay at Huiyou Escort Agency, thus avoiding ending up on the streets.

For this reason alone, Chen Zhan was willing to give him some face.

Zhang Dianhua clicked his tongue in amazement, looked Chen Zhan up and down, and shook his head: "This brother doesn't look very old, probably over forty, right? Such skill is truly rare."

He paused, then asked, "May I ask your esteemed name?"

Chen Zhan smiled and said, "I dare not presume to give my esteemed name. My surname is Chen, and my given name is Sanshui. I am a simple country bumpkin with rudimentary martial arts skills, and I have never been to the capital before."

Sanshui was an alias he used before, derived from the split character "Zhan".

Zhang Dianhua shook his head and said, "Brother Sanshui, your words are so hurtful that we are ashamed. If you consider your skills to be rudimentary, then what about the people in my escort agency?"

One was modest, the other obsequious; everyone knew the truth and didn't delve into it.

Chen Zhan shifted his gaze from Zhang Dianhua to the elderly man who had entered with him. Zhang Dianhua's skill had been absorbed into his dantian, his divine brilliance concealed, and his aura extremely restrained, placing him a whole level above Song Caichen.

But what Chen Zhan really cared about was the person behind him.

The old man was in his fifties or sixties, wearing a melon-shaped hat. He was tall and broad-shouldered, and his face did not look old. He had high cheekbones, thin cheeks, and extremely bright eyes that were disproportionate to his age.

He wore a blue cloth robe, his hands behind his back, standing there without revealing any strength, his breathing long and even, like an ordinary old man on his way.

But Chen Zhan saw it clearly.

In this person's dantian, the qi and blood are concentrated like lead and mercury, a characteristic that only appears after sitting with the dantian in a seated position.

All vital energy and spirit are locked into the dantian, neither leaking outwards nor dissipating inwards, forming a perfect whole.

This was the first time he had ever met a master of the Core Formation Realm since arriving in the capital.

And I met with both of them at once.

Zhang Dianhua is one, and the person behind him is also one.

"Who is this senior?" Chen Zhan asked.

When I looked over again, I felt that this person was somewhat familiar, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

The old man in the green robe was also looking at Chen Zhan, a smile on his lips, his eyes showing a hint of interest, as if he were examining a rare and valuable item.

He spoke, his voice booming and full of energy, not at all like an old man: "I am Guo Yunshen of Xingyi Quan. Judging from your skill just now, we seem to be from the same school, Brother Chen."

Guo Yunshen.

Chen Zhan was stunned for a moment.

He was so familiar with the name that he would pause for a few moments whenever he heard it in any era or in any world.

Guo Yunshen, courtesy name Yusheng, was a native of Shenxian County, Zhili Province, and the foremost of the eight disciples of Li Luoneng, the master of Xingyi Quan.

In his early years, he was a chivalrous hero who accidentally injured someone and was imprisoned. In prison, due to the confined space, he was unable to use his fists and feet, but he managed to create the technique of Half-Step Bengquan in that small space.

After his release from prison, he used this technique to defeat "Ghost Bagua" Jiao Luofu three times, and from then on, the name "Half-Step Bengquan" resounded throughout the martial arts world.

In the third year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign, he taught at the Western Tombs and later served as the martial arts instructor for Qing imperial family members Zai Chun and Zai Lian.

During his teaching career, he fought with Dong Haichuan, the founder of Baguazhang, for three days and three nights without a clear winner. This story became a legend in the martial arts world and is still talked about by later generations.

Among all those who practice Xingyi Quan, there is no one with the highest martial arts skills.

Master Lao Neng has many disciples, spread all over the country, but Guo Yunshen is recognized as the number one second-generation master. He is the only one in history who can fight to a draw with Bagua master Dong Haichuan and Taiji master Yang Luchan.

One of Chen Zhan's purposes in coming to the capital was to find this person.

Unexpectedly, we ran into each other at Huiyou Escort Agency.

He composed himself, stepped forward, solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute, and bowed deeply: "It is truly an honor to meet Mr. Guo. I am also a disciple of Xingyi Quan, but my knowledge is vast and varied, so according to seniority, I must address you as my senior uncle."

He was telling the truth.

It is true that I am honored, that I am a disciple of Xingyi, and that my knowledge is vast and complex.

However, some of his seniority is impossible to determine, as he has too many identities spanning several eras. If we were to trace his lineage back, he would be of a higher seniority than Guo Yunshen's master, Li Luoneng.

Guo Yunshen naturally recognized the depth of Chen Zhan's skill.

He had been in the martial arts world for over forty years, and he had seen all kinds of masters. He could tell what level of martial artist a person was just by looking at them.

The young man before him possessed a deep and profound aura in his dantian, comparable to his own, and even more refined in certain subtle aspects.

As for Chen Zhan's humble words, he didn't take them seriously at all.

"well!"

Guo Yunshen said "good" twice, his smile growing wider and wider. He took two steps forward, reached out and patted Chen Zhan's shoulder with considerable force, carrying a hint of probing.

Chen Zhan's shoulders remained motionless. The force transmitted to him touched his muscles like ripples on a riverbank, spreading out silently.

Guo Yunshen's eyes shone even brighter.

"Xingyi Kung Fu has been passed down in many rural areas, but I never expected to find a master like you. It's truly a blessing for the Xingyi school."

Given his perspective, even if Chen Zhan wasn't from the Xingyi school, he would still be happy. The more martial artists there are, the more strength they have, and no one would complain about having too much.

Zhang Dianhua stood aside watching the two exchange pleasantries, a smile appearing on his face.

Guo Yunshen was his old friend. The two had known each other for many years. Although they belonged to different sects, they were both martial artists and people struggling to survive in this chaotic world. They cherished each other.

"Come on, come on, let's go inside and talk. What kind of behavior is it to stand in the courtyard?" Zhang Dianhua called out to everyone as they walked into the second courtyard.

The group walked through the front yard and entered the main hall of the second courtyard.

The main hall was much more impressive than the side rooms in the front yard. An incense burner and offerings were placed on a long table, and a portrait of Song Mailun hung on the wall. The old man in the portrait was thin, with piercing eyes, and held a long sword in his hand.

Inside the hall was a large round table, with a dozen armchairs arranged around it. Tea sets and snacks were already laid out on the table, prepared in advance by Zhang Dianhua.

Chen Zhan, Guo Yunshen, and Zhang Dianhua sat in the main seats, while Cheng Shaojiu and Lu Jun sat below them.

Song Caichen also changed into clean clothes and came in. The internal injury in his chest had been suppressed, and his complexion had improved a lot. He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Chen Zhan, without any resentment, but rather with more admiration.

Losing to a master is not shameful; what is shameful is losing and then refusing to accept it.

Tea was served, and the group chatted as they drank.

Chen Zhan said he came from Shandong, traveled north through Tianjin to Beijing, and planned to find a job and settle down.

He, Cheng Shaojiu, and Lu Jun had already rehearsed this story, and the three of them kept a tight seal of their words, so there would be no slip-up.

His actions in Tianjin were too significant; both foreigners and the Qing government were searching for the "Flying Thief." Although he was using a disguised appearance, he couldn't afford to reveal any connection, lest it implicate the Huiyou Escort Agency.

Zhang Dianhua didn't ask any further questions. There were plenty of martial arts people from other places who came to the capital to make a living, each with their own background. Some things were inconvenient to talk about; that was the rule of the martial arts world.

After chatting for a while, the topic turned to the current state of the martial arts world in Beijing.

Zhang Dianhua sighed, his tone tinged with emotion: "The martial arts scene in the capital is bustling these days, with martial arts schools, escort agencies, and boxing rings springing up everywhere. But in reality, the real masters are concentrated in the palace and the residences of a few princes."

"Tai Chi is the most prestigious, followed by Bagua. The heads of these two families hold positions in the palace and the royal residences. On the Tai Chi side, there is the Yang family. Although Yang Luchan has passed away, the brothers Yang Banhou and Yang Jianhou are still supporting it. The Yang family's Tai Chi position in the palace is as stable as Mount Tai."

"Over there, Mr. Dong Haichuan has also passed away. He had many disciples, with Cheng Tinghua and Yin Fu each leading a branch. They were relatively harmonious a few years ago, but in the last two years, the open and covert struggles have increased, and they will eventually split up."

At this point, Zhang Dianhua shook his head, his tone becoming heavier: "Speaking of Yin Fu, news came from Tianjin a few days ago that he was beaten to death there."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Guo Yunshen paused, his brow furrowing slightly. "Yin Fu's martial arts are not weak. He's been at the peak of the Transformation Realm for over a decade. In the capital, you can count the number of people who can defeat him on two hands. Who in Tianjin could kill him?"

Zhang Dianhua shook his head: "The news says it was a foreign expert who caused a great commotion in the concession. The foreigners asked Yin Fu to help them, but he lost and died in the rainy night. The specifics are unclear." (End of Chapter)