Top-Tier Perception Starts From Basic Fist Techniques-Chapter 44: The Terrifying Man in Iron Armor!

Lu Changsheng swiftly reacted by thrusting his shortsword straight toward his attacker.

Ding!

A light ringing sound followed as Lu Changsheng's sword struck something hard, likely refined steel. The next instant, his opponent seized the shortsword with his massive hand and gave it a slight twist.

Crack!

The blade snapped, and at that same instant, an enormous metallic fist came crashing down toward Lu Changsheng. The gust that followed was so fierce it whipped across his face, and he could already feel the crushing force of the blow before it even landed. Without a second thought, Lu Changsheng leaped backward.

Whoosh!

Lu Changsheng vaulted through the air and landed in the spacious main hall below, not far from the man in the crimson robe. The swirling dust soon began to settle, revealing the burly figure from before, and everyone finally saw his true form.

The man was covered head to toe in iron armor, not even his eyes visible. Seeing his figure, Lu Changsheng wasn't surprised that his sword had failed to pierce him.

"Useless... You needed me to step in for these two rats." The burly man's rough voice boomed like thunder, carrying an overwhelming presence.

Great Benevolent Xu quickly bowed and said, "Honored Envoy, these two are likely top-tier Organ Refinement martial artists. My men truly cannot handle them, so I had no choice but to summon you."

Lu Changsheng's eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed Great Benevolent Xu was actually the subordinate of the man in iron armor.

At that moment, the man in red said coldly, "Remnants of the Myriad Poison Cult... it really is you. If I'm not mistaken, you must be the sect's Left Envoy[1], Zhao Xing?"

The iron-armored man immediately turned his gaze toward him and sneered. "Oh, someone who remembers my name? Since that's the case, you'll both die here today!"

The man in red showed no trace of fear; if anything, he seemed exhilarated, even bursting into laughter. "Hahaha! So the heavens truly have eyes. At last, I've found you!"

Zhao Xing asked, "Oh? So you have been tracking the holy sect. Tell me your name."

"You scum of the Myriad Poison Cult," the man in red spat. "Do you remember Shen Manor in Taicang County?

"Years ago, you slaughtered all 318 people there to refine your Myriad Poison Pill. I jumped into the lake and was carried away by an undercurrent. By a miracle, I survived. I have been hunting you for thirteen years. When I saw the Blood-Strengthening Pill in Nanyang Prefecture, I knew it was the work of your sect. Turns out it was really you, filthy scum!"

Zhao Xing fell into thought, and a wry smile creased his face as the memory returned. "So it's you, huh? Yeah, I remember you—the brat from Shen Manor who plunged into the lake. We assumed you drowned. To think you lived...

"But how foolish you are. Fate spared you, and instead of spending your life in hiding, you come here to court death. Since you've come before me, allow me to reunite with the people of Shen Manor!"

With that, Zhao Xing leaped forward. Given how heavy his iron armor looked, he was astonishingly agile. It was clear he possessed a terrifying physique.

Boom!

Zhao Xing landed in the main hall, leaving a large crater in the floor. He then rushed forward with great strides, quickly closing the distance between himself and the crimson-robed man, Shen Ying.

Shing!

Shen Ying drew his saber and swung it forward with great force. The blade struck Zhao Xing’s arm, but it only scraped across his armor, sending up a burst of sparks.

Clang!

Zhao Xing stepped through the scattering sparks and delivered a powerful kick to Shen Ying, sending him crashing to the ground. The impact shook the entire hall.

Even though he was at the Organ Refinement Stage, the blow had left Shen Yin in unbearable pain, his organs feeling as though they had shifted inside his body.

Zhao Xing sneered. "With such pitiful strength, you dare seek vengeance against the holy sect? You truly overestimate yourself."

Blood flowed from Shen Ying's mouth as he glared at Zhao Xing with venomous eyes.

"Boy, there is no need to hide," Zhao Xing said in a low, menacing tone, turning his head toward Lu Changsheng. "Since Shen Ying wishes to die, you will die with him."

Lu Changsheng had refrained from joining Shen Ying’s assault. Instead, he took his time to observe Zhao Xing’s movements, searching for a flaw in his fighting style, some vulnerability he could exploit. He understood that if he made any reckless move, he would end up in the same dire situation as Shen Ying. However, even after scrutinizing Zhao Xing from head to toe, he found no weakness whatsoever.

Zhao Xing was completely encased in iron armor that rendered him impervious to sabers and spears, and he could move seamlessly despite the apparent weight of that armor. It was clear that he possessed an extraordinarily powerful physique. Indeed, a warrior of such caliber wouldn't display any obvious weaknesses. The only viable way to defeat Zhao Xing would be to confront him head-on and crush him with overwhelming force.

"In all my years of martial practice, I've never encountered a worthy opponent," Lu Changsheng remarked. "You barely qualify as one."

Lu Changsheng tossed aside the broken half of his shortsword. Against an opponent like Zhao Xing, encased in iron armor, neither the shortsword nor the dagger would be of any use.

His Deathflash technique excelled in speed, and against martial artists below the Divine Strength Realm, it was nearly unstoppable. Yet now, before Zhao Xing, its limitations were laid bare.

Of course, Lu Changsheng did not rely solely on Deathflash. He had already undergone Blood Replacement once, greatly tempering his physique. Not to mention, he had also attained the Jade bones. His defense and strength were both exceptional, and he believed he was no weaker than the Saber-Dragging Heavenly King, Li Ji, famed for his innate divine strength. No, perhaps he even surpassed Li Ji!

In the end, whether he used Deathflash or not made little difference.

"Hmph, still mouthing off? I'll rip your head off and see if it's as unyielding as that tongue of yours."

Boom!

Zhao Xing kicked off the ground, leaving behind a crater from which cracks spread akin to a spider's web. In the next instant, he shot up into the air, then came crashing down with a massive fist aimed straight at Lu Changsheng.

A sharp gleam flashed in Lu Changsheng's eyes. He was no fool; no matter how mighty his physique was, he wouldn't withstand a direct hit from this iron-clad powerhouse.

Whoosh.

Lu Changsheng used his footwork, dodging the attack in an instant. At the same time, he reached the stone table where Shen Ying had previously taken cover. He gripped the table with both hands and wrenched it up toward Zhao Xing, tanking his powerful punch.

Crash!

The stone table shattered into fragments, and Lu Changsheng rushed in through the billowing dust.

"Mighty Vajra Palm![2]" he shouted as he delivered several rapid strikes to Zhao Xing's chest.

The Mighty Vajra Palm was a third-tier martial technique, not particularly powerful on its own. However, its force could penetrate the opponent's body like a shockwave, inflicting internal damage rather. Now, Lu Changsheng was employing this technique in order to bypass Zhao Xing's armor.

Zhao Xing staggered back several paces, yet he appeared completely unscathed despite having taken the palm strikes head-on. In the next instant, he retaliated with a fierce punch.

Lu Changsheng relied on his movement technique once more to narrowly evade the blow, then retreated to create distance.

So the Mighty Vajra Palm won't do either, huh? I guess there's no way to harm Zhao Xing with just refined force.

Frustration set in as he realized what the real problem was. He simply didn't have a weapon suitable for this duel. If he had a heavy hammer weighing several hundred jin, he could simply smash through that iron armor, but he had nothing of the sort at hand.

Wait... that pillar...

Lu Changsheng's eyes suddenly brightened. There were several supporting pillars in this underground hall.

"Boy, it's useless. Those pitiful shockwaves can barely scratch an itch.. You're done," Zhao Xing sneered before charging at Lu Changsheng in great strides.

Whoosh!

Lu Changsheng dashed forward in several quick steps and stopped before one of the pillars. He glanced up and down at it, wrapped his arms tightly around the column, and took a deep breath.

Boom.

In that instant, Lu Changsheng's blood qi erupted violently, surging through his veins like raging waves. It seemed as though the entire underground hall had been dyed crimson by his blood qi. Even the temperature of the hall rose sharply, revealing the sheer heat and intensity of his qi.

From deep within his bones came a swelling tide of strength, a force that resonated through every part of his body. The combined might of his blood qi, Jade Bones, and every muscle and vein converged into his arms.

"RISE!" Lu Changsheng roared, veins bulging all over his body. The massive pillar trembled in his grasp, and the entire hall shook as though it might collapse.

1. In Chinese tradition, left envoy (左使) often symbolizes a primary or senior rank and is sometimes more prestigious than right. It is usually one of the two chief envoys directly beneath the sect leader. ☜

2. Vajra is an important and pervasive concept in Buddhism. It often has two primary, interconnected meanings. 1) Diamond: Symbolizing indestructibility, permanence, and clarity, and 2) Thunderbolt: Symbolizing irresistible force, power, and swiftness. ☜