Chen Guan felt as if his palm had been struck by a steel hammer, involuntarily retreating two steps. His hand throbbed intensely, trembling uncontrollably.
Duan Shulin wasn't faring much better, also stumbling back two or three paces. His fist twitched spasmodically, veins bulging like tiny snakes beneath the skin.
Duan Shulin looked surprised. He hadn't expected Chen Guan to withstand his punch head-on, let alone achieve a draw in their exchange.
The Great River Demon Fist was an epic-grade secret skill. Just its first level consumed 5 Primordial Energy points. The destructive force unleashed by concentrating 5 Primordial Energy points far surpassed techniques that utilized only one or two points.
Normally, Blood Palm couldn't compare to the Great River Demon Fist. But Chen Guan's Blood Palm was extraordinary - enhanced by The First Secret Technique, its second-level power doubled, barely managing to counter the first-level Great River Demon Fist without significant disadvantage.
Duan Shulin remained unconcerned. The Great River Demon Fist's status as an epic-grade secret skill wasn't due to its ability to unleash 5 Primordial Energy points at once. Many techniques could release 5 or more points - like the Profound Nether Yin Fire Palm which could discharge 21 points, generating vicious yin fire energy, yet it remained merely a rare secret skill.
The Great River Demon Fist's true uniqueness lay elsewhere.
"Chen Guan, you're already finished." Duan Shulin maintained his punching posture, head lowered, yet a victor's smirk played at his lips.
"The Great River Demon Fist flows like an endless river, clinging like an inescapable curse. Once struck, its demonic energy lingers within you, delivering continuous blows. You might withstand one strike, but never ten or a hundred. From the moment my fist touched you, your fate was sealed." Duan Shulin slowly straightened, crossing his arms with a conqueror's disdain.
With each of Duan Shulin's words, explosions erupted in Chen Guan's palm, driving him backward as if struck repeatedly by a giant hammer.
Yet Chen Guan neither fell nor suffered shattered hands. Instead, Duan Shulin's expression began changing.
His first-level Great River Demon Fist couldn't truly deliver endless strikes as described. In reality, it could only unleash five consecutive shockwaves.
Still, Duan Shulin believed these five waves would leave Chen Guan either dead or crippled. At Chen Guan's level, resisting five consecutive Great River Demon Fist shockwaves should be impossible.
The critical factor was Primordial Energy reserves. Since Chen Guan's secret skill could match the Great River Demon Fist, its energy consumption must be substantial - Duan Shulin estimated four or five points per use.
Even if Chen Guan were level 10 with a 2.0 growth rate epic-grade secret technique, his maximum Primordial Energy would only reach 19 points.
Using 5-point techniques consecutively would exhaust his reserves after four uses - insufficient to withstand five Great River Demon Fist shockwaves.
At level 4, Chen Guan should only manage to block two shockwaves at most. Yet he'd already resisted four and showed no signs of exhaustion, astonishing Duan Shulin.
Chen Guan's Blood Palm consumed less energy than Duan Shulin assumed. With 16 Primordial Energy points total, he countered each shockwave with Blood Palm, enduring all five Great River Demon Fist impacts.
"The Great River Demon Fist has some merit, but not enough." Chen Guan had anticipated that at low levels, the technique couldn't deliver endless strikes as Duan Shulin claimed.
Though limited to five shockwaves, its power remained formidable. Most practitioners at this level would have shattered hands if not killed outright - confirming its epic-grade status.
Duan Shulin remained calm despite Chen Guan's taunt. "Psychological warfare won't work on me. You can't shake my resolve."
With these words, Duan Shulin launched another Great River Demon Fist, doubting Chen Guan could withstand a second full assault. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs ⓝovelFire.net
Chen Guan appeared to raise his palm in defense, but as Duan Shulin's fist neared, his figure blurred unexpectedly. The punch only struck empty air as Chen Guan materialized at Duan Shulin's left flank, Blood Palm aimed at his waist.
Duan Shulin twisted with unnatural agility, narrowly avoiding the strike.
"You're not the only one with movement techniques..." Duan Shulin's boast died mid-sentence as he sensed danger.
Chen Guan's afterimage blurred as another Blood Palm struck with astonishing speed.
Having exhausted his Primordial Energy through consecutive techniques, Duan Shulin couldn't activate another movement skill. At level 5 with depleted reserves, not even energy-restoring pills could help now.
"How... how is his energy recovering so fast?" Duan Shulin blocked in panic, forced to meet the Blood Palm head-on without energy for his Great River Demon Fist or other enhancements.
His ordinary punch stood no chance against the Blood Palm. Multiple finger bones fractured audibly, leaving a vivid crimson handprint on his fist.
Duan Shulin screamed, stumbling backward.
Chen Guan pursued like a specter using Forest Net Ghost Steps, unleashing Blood Palms relentlessly.
Duan Shulin grew numb with disbelief as Chen Guan spammed secret skills without using basic attacks, defying all logic.
Energy-starved and unable to deploy his epic-grade techniques, Duan Shulin felt utterly helpless, frustration churning in his gut.
"What divine elixir did he take? How does he recover energy so rapidly... Could it be something like Nine-Life Mystic Ginseng?" A palm strike to his chest sent Duan Shulin flying into the cave wall, blood spraying from his mouth.
As Chen Guan advanced for the final blow, Duan Shulin shut his eyes and screamed:
"Brother Guan! Stop! Keep the Nether Lotus! I'll return the Tomb Lord! Just spare my life!"
The bloody palm halted just before his face, casting a crimson shadow over his features.
"Return the Tomb Lord first," Chen Guan withdrew his hand, gazing down at the cowering Duan Shulin slumped against the wall.