C16 He Dug a Hole and Jumped into It!

Zhang Wuji spoke up, "Bat King Wey, after you."

With a smile, Wey Yixiao responded, "If I were to strike first against a junior like you, wouldn't I become the laughingstock of heroes everywhere? Tell you what, I'll give you a ten-move head start!"

Zhang Wuji, taken aback, asked, "You'll let me have ten moves? Are you certain, Bat King Wey?"

Wey Yixiao thumped his chest and roared with laughter, "My word is as good as gold. Go on, make your move."

Zhang Wuji replied, "Well then, I won't hold back."

With those words, Zhang Wuji sprang into action, closing in on Wey Yixiao with a palm strike infused with the fiery power of the Nine Yang Genuine Qi.

Wey Yixiao's face twitched as he hastily retreated using his Lightness Skill, causing Zhang Wuji's palm to swipe through empty air.

But now, Wey Yixiao could no longer afford to underestimate Zhang Wuji. Even though it was a casual palm strike, the sheer force behind it was something few in the martial arts world could match.

"Bat King Wey's Lightness Skill truly is without equal," Zhang Wuji complimented before lunging forward again, his aggressive palm technique striking out once more.

Having committed to allowing Zhang Wuji ten moves, Wey Yixiao was left with no choice but to defensively maneuver and evade.

Zhang Wuji's relentless assault flowed like a mighty river, relentless and suffocating.

Despite Wey Yixiao's Lightness Skill being incredibly refined and versatile, Zhang Wuji's speed was just as impressive, allowing him to effortlessly keep pace, shadowing Wey Yixiao's every move like a persistent pest.

"Wuji's martial arts prowess is astonishing!" Yinn Tianzheng exclaimed, his jaw nearly hitting the floor.

Yinn Yewang marveled, "Even Bat King Wey is hard-pressed to cope. Wuji's skills may have surpassed our own."

Lee Tianyuan was equally astounded, "The younger generation is to be feared indeed!"

All three turned their gaze to Lin Yuanjian, pondering the strength of a master who could train such a remarkable disciple. Having seen Lin Yuanjian defeat Yinn Yewang with a single move, they knew they had only glimpsed a fraction of his capabilities.

It was only upon witnessing Zhang Wuji's overwhelming dominance against Wey Yixiao that they fully grasped the extent of Lin Yuanjian's true power, a level so beyond their own they could hardly fathom it.

The same realization dawned on all three simultaneously: with a peerless expert like Lin Yuanjian on their side, the Bright Cult would easily repel the invasion of the six great sects.

Turning their attention back to the fray, they saw Zhang Wuji had already executed seven moves, backing Wey Yixiao into a corner.

Time and again, Wey Yixiao attempted to leverage his superb Lightness Skill to turn the tide, but Zhang Wuji anticipated his every move, intercepting him and steadily reducing the circle of combat.

Wey Yixiao was left with a bitter taste in his mouth, unable to voice his frustration.

He deeply regretted his earlier bravado, having arrogantly allowed Zhang Wuji ten moves, only to trap himself in his own pitfall.

Wey Yixiao doubted he would last long enough to retaliate.

Still, Zhang Wuji showed some courtesy, as the subsequent moves seemed to be pulled punches, hinting at a trace of leniency.

Wey Yixiao seized an opportunity, and with a spectral twist, he floated onto the beam above the great hall.

Zhang Wuji looked up with a smile, "Ten moves have passed, Bat King Wey. It's your turn to strike."

"The martial arts of Young Master Wuji are indeed formidable. I, Wey Yixiao, have been shortsighted and underestimated you," Wey Yixiao said, his face etched with gravity. Even with the chance to attack, he harbored little confidence in his heart.

Defeat without a struggle was not the Bat King's creed. No matter the likelihood of victory, he would give it his all, holding nothing back.

Zhang Wuji's toes lightly touched the ground, propelling him onto the beam.

"Be cautious, Young Master Wuji," Wey Yixiao called out, as a chilling aura burst forth from his palm. Like a bat unfurling its wings, he swooped down on Zhang Wuji, the icy force so intense it seemed to solidify the very air.

Yinn Yewang's face turned pale as he sensed the dreadful chill, "Has Wey Yixiao lost his mind? He's even using the Ice Palm!"

"Bat King Wey, please be merciful!" Yinn Tianzheng cried out, alarmed. The Ice Palm was a technique of extreme Yin and cold, capable of turning a person's blood to ice in an instant, rivaling the Deer Staff Guest and Crane Brush Elder's Deer Staff God Palm.

Lee Tianyuan chuckled, "Relax, Sect Master. Your grandson hasn't even begun to exert his full strength." Yinn Tianzheng and his son, being kin to Zhang Wuji, lacked the clarity of Lee Tianyuan, an outsider.

Indeed, Zhang Wuji didn't flinch or dodge the icy assault; instead, he raised his palm to meet it head-on.

For Wey Yixiao, it was a first to see someone dare to directly counter his Ice Palm. His heart surged with excitement, and far from withdrawing, he redoubled the flow of his chilling Yin power!

With a thunderous crash, their right palms met, sending waves of opposing Qi—one hot, one cold—rippling outward.

"Dad, do you see? Wuji's inner strength is scorching, like fire!" Yinn Yewang said, astonished.

Yinn Tianzheng breathed a sigh of relief. "Indeed, that's why he's unfazed by Bat King Wey's Ice Palm. His inner force is the nemesis of all Yin martial arts." He glanced at Lin Yuanjian, who appeared nonchalant, as if he had anticipated this outcome, and Yinn Tianzheng's respect for him grew.

Wey Yixiao's palm felt as though it was pressed against a red-hot furnace, his cold Yin forces dissolving like winter snow under the spring sun.

He knew the battle was lost.

"There's no need to continue, Bat King Wey," Zhang Wuji stated.

"I am the one who has lost," Wey Yixiao conceded with forthrightness, refusing to make excuses and accepting his defeat graciously.

In perfect sync, they ceased their combat and floated gently to the ground.

"Hahaha, Bat King Wey, was I not correct?" Yinn Yewang laughed triumphantly.

Annoyed, Wey Yixiao retorted, "Oh, Yinn Yewang, you really set me up for embarrassment."

"Still, I wholeheartedly accept my defeat. I've always prided myself on my martial arts, never imagining someone superior. Today, I've truly witnessed what a peerless expert is. I couldn't even surpass my own disciple, let alone challenge Young Master Lin, my master. How shameful."

Lin Yuanjian chuckled, "Bat King Wey's mastery of Lightness Skill is truly an eye-opener. It's no surprise that the martial arts world hails the Green-winged Bat King, Wey Yixiao, as the foremost expert in Lightness Skill."

Wey Yixiao, basking in the praise, replied with a smile, "How could I, Wey Yixiao, claim to be the best in the world in the esteemed presence of Young Master Lin?"

The crowd shared a laugh, basking in the congenial atmosphere.

In contrast to his interactions with Soong Yuanqiao and the rest of the Wudang Sect, Lin Yuanjian found the company of these so-called 'Devil Cult' members to be much more relaxed.