Chapter 610 - 263: Clouded Leopard Book?
Chapter 610: Chapter 263: Clouded Leopard Book?
Gongyang Shang took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and then opened them again, exhaling sharply.
"I don’t know who that man was... He was a madman!
"He attacked without a word. His methods were endless, and he was even proficient in the Eighteen-Path Rushing Thunder Unfettered Hand.
"His Martial Arts were superb, and his techniques were incredibly refined. Although his Inner Strength was on par with mine, his combat experience was so vast that I was no match for him at all...
"I barely managed to escape with my life by fleeing into the sea."
Fang Shuwen glanced at Xia Weiyuan.
For some reason, Xia Weiyuan immediately understood his meaning and quickly spoke up:
"The Eighteen-Path Rushing Thunder Unfettered Hand is one of Yuchi Ting’s Martial Arts."
Fang Shuwen nodded and said to Gongyang Shang,
"Continue."
"I killed that group from Wuyan Island because my master sent a message ordering me to do so. The goal was to frame..."
As he spoke, it was as if a delayed realization dawned on him. He suddenly reacted,
"You’re the Human World Demon God!?"
Fang Shuwen was taken aback.
"You didn’t know?
"Then you deserve to die even more."
He had assumed this scoundrel knew his identity and had used the opportunity when he was being rescued to launch a vicious attack.
It turned out this bastard had no idea who he was. That meant his actions were born of pure malice.
For a naturally evil person like him, death by a thousand cuts wouldn’t be excessive.
Gongyang Shang laughed loudly.
"Good! At least I’ll die at your hands, Fang Shuwen, and not at the hands of some secretive, cowardly madman. It’s a fair trade!
"My master’s message was brief. It just told me to arrive at a certain location at a certain time on a certain day and kill that group of people.
"At most, it specified which Martial Arts I should use for the killing.
"After I was done, I was to leave... I know nothing else."
After a pause, he added,
"As for the inescapable trap on Wuxia Island you mentioned... I know even less about that. I haven’t been back to Wuxia Island in a long time... Master won’t let me return.
"And as for the Four Saints of the East Sea, I have no idea what my master and the others are planning.
"Master taught me Martial Arts solely so I could help him kill people at critical moments.
"He never told me anything else."
Fang Shuwen had a good idea why Yuchi Ting never told him more.
’It’s probably because this guy is an idiot...’
But this meant that getting any useful information out of him would be difficult.
Still, he was Yuchi Ting’s disciple, so it was easy enough to ask him about the situation on Wuxia Island.
For example, the layout of the buildings, any dangerous areas on the island, and so on...
Gongyang Shang knew all of this.
Fang Shuwen asked about each detail, and Xia Weiyuan and Luo Shuqing recorded it all.
Once he had asked just about everything he could, Fang Shuwen finally inquired about the details of the previous battle.
Expecting Gongyang Shang to remember too many details was a fool’s hope.
However, with Fang Shuwen’s patient guidance, he managed to recall some of the man’s features.
The man wore black clothes and a bamboo hat, the brim of which was lined with black cloth.
He carried no weapon. Although the Martial Arts he used were primarily fist and foot styles, it was clear that his knowledge was incredibly diverse, as if he had mastered the arts of every school and sect.
He could even use the Eighteen-Path Rushing Thunder Unfettered Hand, a technique Yuchi Ting never taught to outsiders.
"But the way he performed the Eighteen-Path Rushing Thunder Unfettered Hand was a bit strange. The Inner Strength he used was different from mine."
Gongyang Shang frowned as he tried to recall this part.
"You must understand, all Martial Arts in this world have their own origins and foundations. For some techniques, if they aren’t powered by their corresponding Inner Strength, their might is greatly diminished.
"In some cases, they’re completely ineffective.
"But when this man used it, despite his Inner Strength being different, not only did he perfectly capture its form and spirit, but his version was even more powerful than mine.
"Coupled with his immense combat experience, I couldn’t resist him even with everything I had..."
He was Yuchi Ting’s disciple, after all. Though a bit stupid, he still had some insight when it came to Martial Arts.
Hearing this, Fang Shuwen nodded as well.
As someone with a System, he had only obtained a few Martial Arts so far.
Blending them and creating new variations was already the limit of what he could do.
To master hundreds or thousands of Martial Arts was basically wishful thinking.
According to Gongyang Shang, that man had only mastered the external techniques of those Martial Arts and was powering them with a different kind of Inner Strength.
But by doing so, he could not only replicate the original power of the Martial Arts but even surpass it.
This was rather astounding... Fang Shuwen’s first thought was of the Lesser Formless Art, but even that paled in comparison to the original Inner Strength it was meant to mimic.
Fang Shuwen sighed.
"It seems my lack of knowledge is a real disadvantage."
Luo Shuqing shook her head helplessly.
"I’ve read many books, but I’ve never come across such a wondrous art in the Jianghu."
As she spoke, she looked toward Xia Weiyuan.
Xia Weiyuan came from Celestial Prison Island, which had collected numerous martial arts scriptures.
She might have some different insights.
However, Xia Weiyuan also shook her head, clearly unfamiliar with it as well.
Gongyang Shang’s eyes darted back and forth.
"Are you trying to figure out what Inner Strength he used?"
Fang Shuwen nodded, then suddenly froze.
"You know?"
"Of course, I do."
Gongyang Shang nodded as if it were obvious.
Fang Shuwen was a little surprised.
"You really are Yuchi Ting’s disciple, to have such keen perception?"
"It has nothing to do with that..."
Gongyang Shang said,
"Back then, when I saw him perform my sect’s Martial Arts so flawlessly, with its power not just matched but enhanced, I just asked him what Inner Strength he was using."
"..."
The corner of Fang Shuwen’s mouth twitched.
"And he told you?"
"Yep."
Gongyang Shang nodded.
"He said the Martial Art he practices is called the Clouded Leopard Book!"