A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 89 - 88: Muscle and Bone Separation, Fierce Dragon Crossing the River

"Play? Play the hammer!"

The thin, dark peddler tossed aside the basket of pancakes and turned to run.

The towering, strong man with him practiced Tiger Form Fist to great success, his muscles robust and powerful, yet he was killed with just a few strikes.

Bear in mind, from the moment he entered this narrow alley to the time his accomplice's breath ceased, barely twenty breaths had passed.

"Only practiced for three months... Zhang the Fifth is truly full of nonsense! Fooling ghosts!"

The thin, dark peddler practiced the Earth Dragon Fist, also commonly known as "Dog Fist," a style known for its agility and variability.

With a backward slide of his foot, he quickly gained several meters!

But unfortunately, what Bai Qi practiced, the Dragon Palm, also excelled in body techniques.

Dragon Claw, Snake Waist, Shuttle Step!

He drew his whole body upward, with muscles exploding like fireworks, boots crossing in a great stride.

In an instant, he tread a path through the mud!

In the blink of an eye, he already caught up with the Red Eyebrow Bandit disguised as the thin, dark peddler.

The two were only an arm's length apart!

"Bad luck! Truly bad luck! Out of nowhere, provoked a deadly star!"

The narrow alley wasn't long, within five breaths, the thin, dark peddler was seemingly about to burst forth.

His eyes rapidly turned as he contemplated his escape, suddenly using a technique called "Dog Sect Body"!

The so-called Dog Sect Body mimics a dog emerging from water, shaking its body dry of water droplets, a carefully developed fighting secret.

Although it sounds ordinary, it is actually insidious and deadly, truly difficult to counter!

The essence of the Earth Dragon Fist lies in retracting the neck, focusing the head, a shrimp-like body folding its bones!

Due to a particular training method, the practitioner's fists and palms possess a bone-penetrating tremor force.

Masters of the technique can suddenly shake off multiple foes who cling to them, striking them down!

Bai Qi's footsteps were swift, waist muscles wrapped around his spine, rising and falling like a dragon leaping, closely pursuing the thin, dark peddler.

He saw the man's body suddenly tremble, lowering downwards, similar to a yellow dog squatting to urinate.

As if his bones folded and contracted, the entire shape shrank a circle, extremely bizarre!

"Heavenly Dog Shaking Water and Shaking Body Skill, gathering Qi of the Dantian; force originates from the heel and grows with waist power, shaking head and wagging tail causing limbs to extend... this guy is going to kick!"

Bai Qi's back hair stood on end, a piece of text from a book he somehow remembered flashed in his mind.

The Arhat Hand technique, initially learned, manifested once again, that elusive and profound Spiritual Sense allowed him to detect a hint of danger!

As if a graceful form of a charging horse paused, waist and hips combined, muscles tightened, resembling a python turning over.

His back tightly pressed against the dusty mud wall, robe rubbed off large patches of dust, just managing to evade an explosive kick, like a spring compressed to its limit suddenly bursting forth!

The strong wind from it caused a slight sting to his skin, showing the terrifying power of the thin, dark peddler's kick!

"Where did a practitioner come from? Merely two lookout posts, equipped with skills worthy of opening a martial arts hall?"

Bai Qi's heart skipped, knowing full well that direct disciples of the Inner City's three Great Martial Arts Halls are only of this caliber.

Moreover, if it came down to combat experience, locked in a one-on-one fight, he might not even be their match!

"Misunderstanding! Young man, it's all just a misunderstanding, why resort to life and death so quickly!"

The thin, dark peddler, after a failed strike, changed his demeanor rapidly, bowing low, vastly different from his previously aggressive aura.

At that moment, he resembled Uncle Changshun, appearing honest and harmless, making it hard to imagine this guy was the one who lorded over Black River County, living a life of luxury like a martial artist master.

"Your friend shouldn't have given me that extra glance."

Bai Qi dusted off the wall dust on his shoulder, speaking calmly:

"His murderous intent was too strong to conceal, seemed fiery and impulsive, so I had to cool him down a bit.

Who are you? Any famous titles in the martial circle, care to share?"

The thin, dark peddler chuckled dryly:

"I don't know him, we were just passing along the way, hardly exchanged a few words."

Bai Qi adjusted his breathing, lightly snapping his fingers:

"Earth Dragon Fist, quite an obscure style, not passed down throughout Black River County. Judging by your accent, you're an outsider? Here for the temple fair?"

"Yes, just trying to make a living, not looking for trouble."

The thin, dark peddler kept his eyelids low, only staring at Bai Qi's footsteps.

Afraid that this youthful yet fierce fighter might suddenly charge towards him.

"Oh, I operate a fish stall, currently in need of good hands. Would you like a meal with full bowl, interested?"

His gaze swept over the sparse eyebrows of the thin, dark peddler, teasing a suspicion within Bai Qi.

Could remnants still exist of those bandits that were jointly eradicated by Yihai County City's Daoist Officials and Pai Bang?

"I have a small appetite, earning a few copper coins keeps me satisfied, I can't handle the bowl from your place, young man."

The thin, dark peddler felt puzzled, he was babbling away to catch a breath.

The unique kicking technique he used earlier, with a rustic name called "Dog Leg Kick," along with another move "Bat Hand," are Earth Dragon Fist's two lethal moves.

Both moves are hard attacks that require cunning, aiming to catch the opponent off guard for a lethal strike.

Yet they also consume a lot of energy, hard to execute consecutively.

"Perhaps you just arrived at Black River County, don't know who I am.

I'm usually arrogant and domineering, so I dislike it when others defy me.

Your refusal, indeed, is a way of finding death!"

Bai Qi's peculiar words made the thin, dark peddler's eye twitch.

Seeking to kill doesn't necessarily require a reason, especially not such a clumsy one?

"Rested up? Earlier you surely thought you were recovering your Qi and Blood Power, while wondering what I was waiting for?"

Bai Qi's shoulder slightly dropped, grinning:

"To be honest, I'm contemplating how not to kill you, but to leave you half alive."

The thin, dark peddler knew this couldn't end well, so he no longer bothered with pretense, baring his teeth, revealing a touch of cruelty.

Regarding the Earth Dragon Fist, the martial circle has a saying, called "Neither attach nor retreat, no void they won't enter."

The implication is that when crossing fists with him, you must not show any flaws.

Because the practitioners of Dog-Beating Fist have fierce and crafty moves, they are the best at exploiting openings.

"A toad yawning, only trained for a few months, and you're already this arrogant? Young man, don't be so rash!"

This Red Eyebrow Bandit disguised as a peddler, with the Dog Form deep in his bones, had initially planned to avoid trouble by appearing unassuming. Now, cornered with nowhere to go, his true nature was revealed, like a vicious dog.

"The Red Eyebrow Bandits are making a comeback? How many of you are there?"

Bai Qi turned a deaf ear, only asking casually.

"... Those who are too smart don't live long!"

The dark skinny man felt a real urge to kill now. Originally just following, it had cost a comrade's life, and might ruin important plans.

Thinking of the Fourth Leader's ruthless methods, he couldn't help but shiver, as the muscles of his waist, hips, abdomen, and back wriggled vigorously, causing his qi and blood to surge.

This boy!

Cannot be allowed to live!

The training of Earth Dragon Fist involves light falls and twists, being flexible, often striking from a forward lunge.

Before Bai Qi could respond again, the dark skinny man exerted force on one foot, causing mud and water to splash, his five fingers hook-like and knuckles prominent. He flashed forward with an eerie posture, quickly closing in to gain the upper hand.

"Bat Hand? You're quite skilled at it!"

After practicing with the tall sturdy man, the heat swelling within Bai Qi's chest grew more intense, and the methods of Arhat Hand flowed in his mind, one move after another, continuously presenting itself.

"Like to play short punches? Try my Muscle and Bone Separation!"

The Five Grand Captures, each one top-notch, blend the strengths of various schools.

The Arhat Hand entry-level is the Horse Stance; minor success is practicing the Horse Form.

But true mastery, stepping into great success, lies in Muscle and Bone Separation, dislocating joints, and breaking muscles!

Apart from the six methods of leg techniques, the hand skills are consolidated into three: Bone-breaking Branch, Crippling Technique, Tendon-cutting Saber.

The most precious and detailed thing in the secret manual Uncle Dao passed down, is a diagram of the human body.

Starting from the twelve crucial spots: neck bone, collarbone, pipa bone, et cetera.

Next are the eight major tendons: waist, shoulder, arm, et cetera.

One must constantly touch bones, and rub tendons to fully recognize them.

Bai Qi had never imitated predecessors by buying corpses from Yi Manor to familiarize himself with tendons and bones.

He had insights stored in his black talisman, allowing him to slowly absorb and digest, without wasting such time.

Bam!

The shoulder shook off the tearing grappling hook, as if five fingers as sharp as a bat's claws. Bai Qi pressed against that not-so-sturdy mud wall, stomping to block the stabbing leg technique, then used both hands to grab the dark skinny man's two arms.

"Muscle and Bone Separation? Do you have enough skill?"

The dark skinny man was stunned, then angry.

Both having achieved Muscle Training Great Success, on equal level, you dream of relying on strength to break my bones, and tear my tendons?

That's unreasonable!

You must know, Muscle and Bone Separation relies heavily on skill!

If not practiced thoroughly, missing the chance to seriously injure the opponent, it's easy to be countered by their follow-up move.

He sneered, exhaled fiercely, both arms bulging with thick blue veins like writhing earthworms!

He once again used the Dog Sect Body, attempting to break free from Bai Qi's grip, and seize the opportunity to tear the boy's throat.

"Less than three months of skill, you try it!"

Confident Bai Qi, with the Demon Fish Inner Pill, precious fish flesh, plus a body nurtured by ripe Huangjing, how could he lose to you?

You don't understand the power of a pay-to-win player!

Before his voice fell, power surged through his body, fierce energy rising from the ground, aiming at hips, then up the spine, circulating through the back and chest.

At this moment, it seemed as if Arhat Hand, Dragon Hand, Golden Core Great Strength Skill, and various training methods were melded into one.

Bai Qi exhaled two streams of hot air as thick as little snakes from his nose, his breath rumbling like thunder.

The tall and broad-shouldered figure magnified a hundredfold, transforming into a towering and formidable giant spirit!

The terrifying illusion brought by this aura made the dark skinny man's face twitch wildly:

"You trained this skill from the womb?"

His proud ten-year-honed Dog Sect Body couldn't break free from this boy's grip.

Even though both arms twisted like pythons, it felt as if they were caught in the jaws of a ton-heavy iron trap!

Rip!

A sharp pain struck!

One right arm was forcibly torn off!

Blood, bone shreds, and tendons, all exposed!

Bai Qi stared, letting the blood fountain splash onto him.

His five fingers clenched and shook!

Crack!

Like a hunter grabbing a grass snake's tail and shaking it hard, snapping its joints, inch by inch!

The dark skinny man's other hand was also crippled!

"Thank you both, I now realize, that I'm this fierce."

Bai Qi, holding the Red Eyebrow Bandit like a dead dog, eyes coldly hooded, walked into the narrow alley, and pushed open one of the dilapidated wooden doors:

"Borrow your house for a bit."

The slim long-faced man, hiding inside and not daring to make a sound, quickly covered his eyes:

"Hero! I understand the rules! I saw nothing!"

Bai Qi casually threw the man on the ground, facing inside, lowered his voice:

"We've done business before, remember? A little favor, give me some water to drink."

The long-faced man was startled, managing a great effort to remember:

"You're... Eight Duan Gong? My good heavens, can martial skills really be trained to be this fierce?!"