The newcomer was none other than Qi Xiangtian, the head of Yingyan Martial Arts School.
With hands clasped behind his back, he strode over. His voice was not loud, yet it carried an air of authority. His face was unsmiling, his gaze cold and stern, with a hint of killing intent barely concealed.
Upon reaching Luo Yang, he bowed with a fist and said, "May I ask for your esteemed name, friend?"
Luo Yang returned the gesture with a clasped hand salute, "Luo Yang, Yang as in the sun. I have long heard of Master Qi's great reputation, and it seems meeting in person truly surpasses the fame. I've looked forward to this, much admired."
He was merely being polite with these courteous words.
However, having just defeated Wu Yinghong, especially inside the Yingyan Martial Arts School, his complimentary words to Qi Xiangtian now sounded almost mockingly.
At least, that's how Qi Xiangtian perceived it—as a veiled insult.
Before, obstructed by the crowd, he hadn't been able to clearly see the appearance of the person challenging his school and wondered which renowned martial master was creating a disturbance. Only now, seeing Luo Yang as a mere youth and hearing the name Luo Yang, he couldn't recall any notable figure with the Luo surname in Honghai County.
The moment Wu Yinghong was defeated, Qi Xiangtian's face was, figuratively, slapped. What dignity could a teacher have if his disciples were outperformed?
By then, Qi Xiangtian was already fuming with anger but managed to contain it, asking coldly, "What guidance does Friend Luo have for our martial school?"
Though the question was polite, the murderous look in his eyes intensified.
Luo Yang pointed to Wu Yinghong and explained, "I wanted to discuss some matters with him. If it's allowed, I'd like to talk with him privately downstairs."
Qi Xiangtian replied unhappily, "You claim to be looking for someone, but you're actually here to challenge our school, aren't you?"
To start a fight in Yingyan Martial Arts School was indeed to issue a challenge.
Luo Yang explained with a bow of his fists, "Master Qi, you misunderstand. I truly came to talk to him, not to challenge your school."
At this moment, Qi Xiangtian glanced at Wu Yinghong, noticing his poor complexion, and realized he'd been defeated by Luo Yang.
Surrounded by a host of disciples, Qi Xiangtian couldn't just let Luo Yang walk away without losing face.
"He is my disciple; if he has erred, it should be I who punish him! Do you come here to confront me, thinking the Ying Zhao Yan Xing Sect has no one left to stand?" Qi Xiangtian's face grew even more somber.
"Master Qi, my apologies for any offense. I ask for your understanding," Luo Yang said as he gave another salute.
If the matter could be settled peacefully, Luo Yang preferred not to resort to violence.
"Who is your master?" Suddenly changing his tone, Qi Xiangtian asked.
Upon hearing this, Luo Yang's mood took a turn for the worse. He exchanged a look with Hong Jiaxin and understood she also recognized the malicious intent behind Qi Xiangtian's question. She nodded slightly, signaling her support for him to teach Qi Xiangtian a lesson.
Qi Xiangtian wanted to find out Luo Yang's master first. If Luo Yang was from an unknown background, Qi Xiangtian would deal with him harshly; if he was a disciple of a prestigious master, then Qi Xiangtian would show restraint.
Luo Yang remained so courteous because he took into consideration the long-standing reputation of Yingyan Martial Arts School, not wanting to tarnish its name.
"I have no master. If Master Qi wants to make a move, there's no need for any reservations—just go ahead. I, Mr. Luo, am ready to accompany you to the end," replied Luo Yang with a light smile, composed.
"In that case, I ask for your instruction, Friend Luo!" said Qi Xiangtian, bowing with his fist.
Immediately, all the bystanders stepped back.
"Please."
Qi Xiangtian was confident that he could easily defeat Luo Yang and planned to use the "Tendon Separating and Bone Misplacing Technique" to dislocate his arm bones and make him kneel and beg for mercy to boost his prestige.
Thus, he attacked with the Minor Capture Technique, pressing fiercely and without the slightest mercy.
In terms of martial arts techniques, Qi Xiangtian's were naturally more varied and colorful; in terms of strength, he was no match for Luo Yang; in terms of speed, he could only look up to Luo Yang.
Without strength or speed, even the most complicated techniques ultimately amount to mere show.
Luo Yang's Shadow Fist had broken through to the second level of the "Body Moves with the Qi" realm. Even if his hands were tied behind his back, he could still effortlessly dodge. Seeing Qi Xiangtian aiming for his vital points with every move, Luo Yang found it very unpleasant.
However, Luo Yang possessed an extraordinary memory. As long as Qi Xiangtian used a technique, he could remember it. This way, he could learn the entire Eagle Claw Technique.
Therefore, Luo Yang only defended and did not counterattack, even pretending to almost be hit, showing signs of increasingly disordered footsteps to lure Qi Xiangtian into overreaching.
The two of them fought rapidly, exchanging dozens of moves in an instant.
At first, Qi Xiangtian was sure he could end the fight within 10 moves, but his calculations fell through, and he became anxious. Fortunately, seeing that Luo Yang had no power to counterattack, he felt relieved.
However, each time he almost touched Luo Yang, yet Luo Yang always seemed to coincidentally dodge it. Qi Xiangtian did not think it was due to Luo Yang's extraordinary stepping techniques, so he pushed forward move by move, exhausting almost all the moves of the Eagle Claw Technique.
As a result, Luo Yang remained unscathed. If he couldn't repel an opponent who came to challenge his school, Qi Xiangtian, as the head of the school, would be utterly humiliated.
In front of all his disciples at the Yingyan Martial Arts School, Qi Xiangtian was extremely anxious, wishing only to take down Luo Yang. He even resorted to his seldom-used trump card.
He was seen stepping into the air as if climbing a water ladder and immediately launched the "Four Geese Flying South," the secret move of the Ying Zhao Yan Xing Sect, kicking out four continuous kicks in mid-air towards Luo Yang.
After witnessing the "Four Geese Flying South," Luo Yang suddenly remembered the consecutive foot techniques on the walls of the cave in the Shennong Scripture. Previously, he had no idea how to kick out so many times in the void. Today, he understood.
The "Four Geese Flying South" from the Ying Zhao Yan Xing Sect, compared to the foot technique on the cave wall, was minor by comparison.
Luo Yang's reflection was only in the blink of an eye. After Qi Xiangtian finished his four kicks, he still couldn't touch Luo Yang's clothes, which made him both shocked and enraged. He let out a low shout, somersaulted in the air, and with his head down and feet up, like an eagle swooping on a rabbit, his claws aimed to seize Luo Yang's head and hurl it away.
In the eyes of the Yingyan Martial Arts School's disciples, Qi Xiangtian was all about offense, appearing mighty and forcing Luo Yang to retreat constantly. Regrettably, he just lacked that little bit of timing to hit Luo Yang, much to their frustration.
But to Hong Jiaxin, who had a slight understanding of martial arts, it was already obvious that Qi Xiangtian was no match for Luo Yang. She just didn't understand why Luo Yang wasn't attacking.
Seeing Qi Xiangtian plummeting straight down from above, Luo Yang remained calm and collected, his figure suddenly flicked aside, deftly moving out of the way, while his right arm lifted up, intending to let Qi Xiangtian's claws grasp his arm.
Considering that he had learned the Eagle Claw Technique without spending a penny and had even mastered the sect's secret move "Four Geese Flying South," and from it, had realized the footwork from the cave walls, Luo Yang thought to spare Qi Xiangtian by using his True Qi to force open his claws, hoping to make him back off knowing he was outmatched.
However, Qi Xiangtian lacked self-awareness. Regretting that he didn't grip Luo Yang's head, he then saw Luo Yang's right arm raised, and, delighted, grabbed the arm as soon as his claws dropped, applying the "Tendon Separating and Bone Misplacing Technique" to dislocate it.
Just after landing behind Luo Yang, grasping his right arm, he went through a burst of maneuvers, fiercely confident that he had triumphed.
To everyone's surprise, Luo Yang turned his head and gave a slight smile, utterly composed.
Qi Xiangtian was taken aback.
Before being caught, Luo Yang had already circulated True Qi in his right hand, and when Qi Xiangtian used the "Tendon Separating and Bone Misplacing Technique", he did not understand it. But since Qi Xiangtian was still using a Claw Technique, and aimed to dislocate someone's arm, he knew this technique was used to dislocate joints.
Though he was hit by the technique, he learned it instinctively and gained considerable benefit from it.
As he constantly retreated, Qi Xiangtian remained clueless. Luo Yang sneered inwardly, shook his right arm to release his Inner Strength and force Qi Xiangtian's claws open, intending to teach him a lesson.