C25 Is There No End to It?

"You're pushing me too far."

Xiao Shiming felt like he was on the verge of a mental breakdown. The kid had clearly honed his Vigorous Vajra Legs to an advanced level, yet he had the audacity to claim it was his first time using them. It was nothing short of blatant sophistry.

It's like slapping someone hard and then insisting it was an accidental brush.

"Identify yourself. Today, I'm going to personally step in and teach you a lesson. You'll learn that we of Half-immortal Street aren't to be trifled with."

Xiao Shiming got into position, ready to take matters into his own hands.

"I am Chiang Hao, the God of Fortune. Please, don't get the wrong idea. I'm not here to fight; I'm just trying to make a living."

Chiang Hao quickly gestured with his hands, preferring to keep things amicable. Though he feared no one here, he had no desire to make enemies of everyone.

"Enough talk. You've attacked my disciple, and there will be no reconciliation."

With a loud cry, Xiao Shiming clenched his right hand into a fist and hurled it at Chiang Hao.

His fist ripped through the air, emitting a dull whoosh.

This was the Trajectory Fist he'd perfected since his youth at Mount Mao.

He had mastered this technique to the Master Level, capable of delivering a blow with over 200 kilograms of force.

Moreover, the Trajectory Fist earned its name because, at the Divine Level, its speed rivals that of a bullet.

He was confident his fist would connect with the insolent youth before him.

As expected, when he launched his attack, Chiang Hao stood still, not bothering to dodge. Xiao Shiming's heart swelled with triumph. Clearly, the kid was too slow to react to his Trajectory Fist.

Then, to his astonishment, Chiang Hao countered with two fingers shaped like a sword, meeting his fist head-on.

Xiao Shiming's smugness grew.

Hmph! Experience always trumps youth.

He was convinced Chiang Hao had resorted to a desperate defense, using his fingers to counter the fist in a moment of panic.

This punch was going to shatter those fingers.

That's the price for crossing Xiao Shiming!

But the turn of events that followed left him utterly astounded.

At the instant their fist and finger met, a sharp pain shot through him. A crisp "crack" echoed, followed by Xiao Shiming's agonized scream. Clutching his fist, he could hardly believe the hardness of Chiang Hao's fingers; they felt more like steel rods than human digits. Yet, had he witnessed Chiang Hao bending a three-millimeter-thick steel pipe to a ninety-degree angle with his bare hands, this wouldn't have seemed so extraordinary.

"Ding! Two fingers overcome the Bullet Fist, +200 Exclamation Points."

The Taoists and bystanders alike stared in astonishment.

"Daoist Xiao, what happened?"

"He's so strong, daring to counter Daoist Xiao's Bullet Fist with just his fingers!"

"Daoist Xiao's Bullet Fist is at Master Level, and to be defeated in a single move is simply inconceivable."

The crowd pressed in to assess Daoist Xiao's condition, their exclamations of disbelief filling the air. Xiao Shiming was a formidable figure in their minds, the most skilled fighter on Half-immortal Street, where ordinary folks couldn't even come close to challenging him. Yet today, he had been bested by a single move from a slender young man in his twenties.

The youth was dressed in a plain shirt and blue jeans, his bare arms devoid of any noticeable muscle—just an average young man. Amid their shock, the onlookers were also deeply puzzled.

"You're quite impressive, but you still fall short of my level," Chiang Hao said, shaking his head with an air of confidence. But his victory had not come easily.

Using the Telepathic Finger technique had required his utmost effort. His finger was now swollen and throbbing with pain. Another punch from his opponent, and it might have snapped. Time was of the essence for healing.

With a mere thought, a bottle of Immortal Grass Water materialized in his hand. The size of two adult fingers, the green porcelain bottle was uncorked by Chiang Hao, who downed the contents in one swift motion. Almost immediately, the redness in his finger subsided, replaced by a cool, refreshing sensation that coursed through, bringing immense relief. The pain had vanished completely.

The System's creations truly lived up to their reputation as top-notch!

A single dose of Immortal Grass Water miraculously soothed the swelling and pain in his fingers—a feat unmatched by any medicine known to man.

"Care for another round?" Chiang Hao, fully recovered, stepped forward with a grin, addressing the Taoists.

"Don't... don't come any closer. I concede," Xiao Shiming stammered, his heart tightening as Chiang Hao approached.

"Well then, considering the years of martial arts training your body has undergone, your injuries should heal with some rest. I won't bother treating you. And don't pester me again—I've got money to make." Chiang Hao spoke with an air of nonchalance, as if the recent scuffle between them had never occurred.

With Xiao Shiming conceding, Chiang Hao, not one to kick an opponent when they're down, turned and made his way deeper into Half-immortal Street.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he turned his back, Xiao Shiming gestured covertly and whispered, "Attack him all at once. We have to cripple this kid."

Among the spectators were many ordinary citizens who had come to seek the Taoists' services for exorcisms and ghost hunting. The sight of Half-immortal Street's Taoists being pushed around by a young upstart, too intimidated to retaliate—if word got out, who would turn to Half-immortal Street for help in the future?

For the welfare of Half-immortal Street, Xiao Shiming resolved to take a gamble and issue another challenge to Chiang Hao.

"I might not be able to defeat you on my own, but I refuse to believe that an ambush by this crowd won't do the trick!" he thought.

At Xiao Shiming's command, the Taoists united in their assault on Chiang Hao. They came at him with bare fists, copper coin swords, and whisks in hand.

Having experienced Chiang Hao's formidable prowess, none took him lightly. They rallied their spirits and charged.

The sound of approaching footsteps caused Chiang Hao to glance back, only to see a swarm of Taoists, clad in an array of Taoist robes, converging on him in attack.

Xiao Shiming's underhanded tactics took him by surprise. His expression hardened, and with a forceful pinch of his fingers, the porcelain bottle shattered into dozens of tiny fragments.

He swiftly raised the shards of the porcelain bottle in his hand and flung them backward. The fragments transformed into a flurry of flying daggers, each one embedding itself into the bodies of the Taoists.

In a flash, several Taoists collapsed, while others clutched at their wounds, issuing agonized screams.

The ideal was lush, but the reality was stark.

They hadn't anticipated that Chiang Hao was not only skilled in hand-to-hand combat but also adept with flying daggers.

"Ding! Young Li's Flying Dagger, never misses. +200 Exclamation Points."

"Are you lot finished with this nonsense?" Chiang Hao sneered contemptuously.

Striding over to Xiao Shiming, he hoisted him off the ground and demanded, "What more do you want?"