Chapter 504: A Luxurious Array of Techniques

Although he had mastered both “Eighteen Palms to Subdue Dragons” and “Ten Styles of the True Dragon,” and the Mad Monk had confirmed that there were indeed remarkable similarities between them, Happy and the Mad Monk still couldn’t combine them into the true “Twenty-Eight Palms to Subdue Dragons.”

In the Mad Monk’s view…
While the Twenty-Eight Palms were powerful, it might have been precisely because their effects were different and conflicting that thebeggar gang leader resolutely abandoned one of them, choosing the more independent and straightforward “Eighteen Palms to Subdue Dragons.” Yet, Master Xuan Kong, by chance, realized that the other ten moves of the Twenty-Eight Palms could stand on their own, and after adapting them, they became the uniquely styled “Ten Styles of the True Dragon.”

Though both originated from the same source, they couldn’t be combined for use!

“I believe the ‘Twenty-Eight Palms to Subdue Dragons’ aren’t two separate master techniques… If they could be compiled together, the person who originally created this technique must have known how to use them together. But… this requires the young man to explore and understand on his own to see if he can restore the grandeur of the original Twenty-Eight Palms.” As he descended the mountain, Happy’s mind was still filled with the Mad Monk’s final advice.

Reflecting on the vastly different styles of the “Eighteen Palms to Subdue Dragons” and the “Ten Styles of the True Dragon”…
Throughout his descent, Happy didn’t even notice that the number of players along the way kept increasing. Countless gazes swept from both sides of the woods from time to time—filled with subtle killing intent and coldness, along with endless wariness and caution—creating a dangerous and tense atmosphere that grew increasingly heavy.

The Shaolin disciples along the way also sensed the abnormal atmosphere on the mountain and retreated one after another.

Yet to their disappointment, despite the growing crowd that seemed to surround him, Happy continued to walk calmly down the mountain, seemingly uninterested in anything around him.

Everything remained peaceful…
It wasn’t until he reached the foot of Songshan Mountain and arrived in front of a pavilion familiar to Happy that his attention was finally drawn by two familiar figures standing up inside the pavilion.

His pupils contracted slightly!
“Master Meng of Mengtang, Vice Master Xue…”
It was Meng Yun, the leader of Yipin Tang who had followed him all the way from the capital, along with his old enemy “Bloodclothes.” Happy quickly scanned the surroundings and realized that while he had been immersed in the power of the “Twenty-Eight Palms to Subdue Dragons,” he had unknowingly fallen into a tight encirclement by Yipin Tang.

But the joy at this moment wasn’t the first time he had witnessed such a scene. Though surprised, he showed no outward reaction. His gaze shifted again, falling on two familiar figures outside the pavilion.
Zhou Yu?
He seemed somewhat different from the man he had met before, whose demeanor was comparable to Zhou Yu’s. Right now, Zhou Yu looked disheveled—his hair messy, his eyes blurred from drunkenness—as he slumped outside the pavilion, continuously pouring liquor from a flask into his mouth. A strong smell of alcohol wafted over from afar.
It seemed that the battle with the “Emperor” had dealt a heavy blow to Zhou Yu.
Standing by his side was also Tang Feng, the leader of the Assassins’ Guild, whom he had met before! The senior master of the Tang Sect from Western Shu, who hadn’t founded a gang in his past life but still stood as a powerful figure in everyone’s eyes. At this moment, he watched this side with a complex expression.
“Kai Xin.”
“This is the true aura of the First-Class Guild as I envision it.”
Kai Xin ignored Tang Feng’s sharp gaze and the intense stares around him. He paused briefly before calmly walking toward the pavilion…
“…”
Meng Yun, sitting quietly inside the pavilion, finally showed a slight look of shock that was hard for others to notice.
Seeing Kai Xin walk down the mountain with such composure and walk outside the pavilion without showing any change in expression, he could still understand that Kai Xin was bold and skilled. But here, with all three top experts of the First-Class Guild present! Plus Tang Feng, the leader of the Assassins’ Guild, famous for his assassinations!
Kai Xin actually headed straight for the pavilion where those four powerful figures were standing. Including Xue Yi… Their gazes immediately turned serious and intense as they stared at Kai Xin, who moved calmly, hoping to spot even the slightest sign of nervousness or panic in his eyes.
But!
Even as Tang Feng, the feared leader of the Assassins’ Guild, passed by, Kai Xin’s steps remained steady. Instead, it was Tang Feng who stepped back slightly, holding something hidden in his hand, his gaze wary.
At that moment…
The members of the First-Class Guild were terrified.
The drunk Zhou Yu unconsciously put down his liquor bag, his blurred drunken eyes revealing a hint of clarity and caution.
“Truly worthy of being the best among the best. I admire such courage.”
Meng Yun, seated at the stone table, raised his cup toward Kai Xin and drank it in one gulp!
But Kai Xin continued walking past Meng Yun without stopping, stopping behind him, leaving Meng Yun’s tall figure standing in empty space.
Outside the pavilion, thousands of top experts from the First-Class Guild watched this scene in disbelief.

It was still the same person—someone bold enough to entrust his back to four experts like Meng Yun, Xue Yi, Zhou Yu, and Tang Feng. In their eyes, this was nothing short of seeking death. Yet, Kai Xin did it anyway… Not only did Xue Yi and Meng Yun remain motionless, but even Zhou Yu and Tang Feng could sense an invisible pressure from the sharp, menacing metal finger guards crossed on his back, facing away from them. He possessed a complete set of gold-grade equipment at the fourth level, gold fist guards at the fourth level, and the ultimate Golden Bell Shield. With two masterful techniques at his disposal, if he couldn’t kill Kai Xin instantly, the four of them would face his fierce counterattack—a skilled fighter who acted with ruthless determination. At that moment, Kai Xin spoke… His calm, steady voice slowly reached Meng Yun and the others from behind: “After parting at Guangming Summit, I originally had some matters to settle with Master Meng. Unfortunately, I was tied up with tasks and couldn’t discuss them in detail… Here, I would like to apologize to Master Meng.” Meng Yun slowly poured herself a cup of wine. “I came here today for the same reason. I just want to ask… Is there any possibility of reconciliation between us?” “Reconciliation?” Kai Xin’s tone turned colder. “Master Meng, I suppose you’re here for reconciliation. If I refuse, you’ll swarm me, keep me on Songshan, and then outside the Martial Temple, risk being hunted by the Jinyiwei just to kill me, right?” “…” Xue Yi had been sitting quietly at the stone table. Hearing Kai Xin’s words, her body trembled slightly as she instinctively glanced at Meng Yun. Meng Yun’s face was covered by silver gauze, making it impossible to tell her expression, but her eyes still revealed a hint of shock. Near the Martial Temple recently, there wasn’t a single disciple from the First-Class Hall—only assassins from the Assassin Hall lurking around, all to prevent any leaks. Who would have thought Kai Xin would expose it so clearly! Xue Yi and Meng Yun secretly channeled their internal energy, while Tang Feng tilted slightly to the side. Together with Zhou Yu, who was sitting drunk outside the pavilion, they formed a net ready to pounce at any moment. In an instant, the atmosphere inside the pavilion became extremely tense!