Chapter 23: The Art of Combined Assault

Contempt! Blatant, unbridled contempt! Zhu Xiaofeng felt his anger surge, his fiery temper flaring uncontrollably. He had intended to probe Qin Chuan’s abilities before making a move, but now he thought such caution unnecessary; he could simply slap the arrogance out of him until he conceded.

“Wise words cannot persuade the doomed. Today, I’ll show you what I’m truly capable of,” Zhu Xiaofeng declared, preparing to act. Yet his disciples interjected before he could proceed.

“Master, why use a butcher’s blade to kill a chicken?”

“Exactly, Master! The few of us together can cripple him easily.”

“If First Senior Brother hadn’t been careless, he alone could have flattened him like a meat pie!”

Zhu Xiaofeng nodded after a brief consideration. His disciples made sense; Qin Chuan was merely quick, nothing more. His eldest disciple had inherited much of his skill—at least half—and was particularly gifted in physical cultivation. If not for his overconfidence, Qin Chuan might not even breach his defenses.

The remaining disciples had trained in combined attacks. Together, their strength surpassed that of the eldest. Letting them take his place seemed foolproof.

“Do not underestimate him, and spare no effort. Use the combined attack technique directly,” Zhu Xiaofeng instructed sternly.

His disciples nodded promptly. Truth be told, they didn’t need the reminder; none of them underestimated Qin Chuan.

“Are you lot arranging your funeral banquet, deciding who gets a seat at the table?” Qin Chuan’s words poured fuel onto their flaming rage.

“Cripple him!” The four young men in Daoist robes encircled Qin Chuan from the four cardinal directions.

Then, they began moving slowly, rotating around him. With careful observation, one could see their steps alternated between clockwise and counterclockwise, sometimes slow, sometimes swift, their movements precise and deeply mysterious.

“Oh? The Four Symbols Formation?” Qin Chuan’s interest was piqued. He hadn’t expected anyone to still master such an arcane formation.

“Young man, it seems you have some insight. This is a combined attack technique I devised, inspired by the ancient Four Symbols Formation of military strategy. I advise you to surrender early. Once this formation is unleashed, it’s a fight to the death. You’re young—why throw your life away?” Zhu Xiaofeng’s vigorous voice rang out from outside the arena, laden with mockery.

Qin Chuan’s lips curled into a scornful smile. “Since you have such faith in your so-called Four Symbols Formation, why bother trying to disturb my mind and disrupt my defense with words?”

“I...” Zhu Xiaofeng was momentarily speechless, stunned that Qin Chuan could expose his true intentions even while surrounded.

“Now!” The strongest, Second Senior Brother, suddenly shouted, and a figure lunged forward, swift as lightning, closing the distance in a blink.

“The Azure Dragon quadrant is meant to be swift, but you’re far too slow—like a sluggish snail. How can you claim the Azure Dragon’s position? Did your master teach you martial arts or just how to be thick-skinned?” Qin Chuan taunted, dodging the heavy punch with ease and slipping behind his opponent like a phantom.

“This is real speed—watch and learn!” Before the words faded, Second Senior Brother felt a palm strike his back, a fierce force piercing through, igniting a burning pain in his organs.

“Ah!” With a scream, he was sent flying, blood spraying from his mouth mid-air as he lost consciousness.

Thud! He crashed to the ground, raising clouds of dust, as if mocking his overestimation of himself.

“Second Senior Brother!” The other three cried out, seeing him unmoving. Their rage soared once more.

“You brat, if you’re so tough, don’t dodge! Stand still and take my palm!” Third Senior Brother challenged coldly. Qin Chuan’s terrifying speed unnerved him, so he hoped for a direct contest.

Qin Chuan smiled. “A crude provocation, but I’ll play along. Use your strongest palm strike—I’ll take it head-on.”

Third Senior Brother hadn’t expected Qin Chuan to agree so readily. A flash of joy crossed his eyes, but he quickly set the terms, “You said it! Whoever dodges is a coward.”

“Hurry up. I still have to deal with your master—I don’t have time to waste on you,” Qin Chuan beckoned impatiently.

Relieved, Third Senior Brother planted his feet, gathering all his strength into his right palm, and struck at Qin Chuan’s chest.

As the distance closed, a confident smile crept across his face. This strike could shatter stone; he wondered how Qin Chuan could withstand it with mere flesh and blood.

When only half a meter separated them, Qin Chuan extended his arm, meeting the attack with his own palm.

Smack!

Their hands collided.

There was no dramatic clash of internal energy as seen in martial arts dramas—just a dull thud of flesh meeting flesh.

Crunch!

Suddenly, the sound of breaking bones echoed. Third Senior Brother’s arm twisted grotesquely, visibly contorting before everyone’s eyes.

“How... how is this possible?” His eyes filled with disbelief as searing pain shot through him, sending him flying.

Unlike Second Senior Brother, he remained conscious after his heavy fall. Yet he might have preferred unconsciousness, for the agony of broken bones tormented him mercilessly; he writhed on the ground, rolling in pain.

“Ah!” His screams followed.

Qin Chuan, in the tone of a master critiquing a student, remarked, “The White Tiger quadrant is supposed to be about strength and attack power—it's the core of the Four Symbols Formation. But your strength isn’t even enough to scratch an itch. Did your master’s wife teach you this palm technique?”

Whether from pain or shame, Third Senior Brother finally fainted.

“Which of you is in the Black Tortoise position?” Qin Chuan asked the two remaining disciples, who were now completely bewildered.

Fourth Senior Brother, like a schoolchild called on in class, raised his hand. Before he could react, Qin Chuan vanished from sight.

The next instant, he appeared before Fourth Senior Brother, striking his chest lightly.

Thud!

Fourth Senior Brother flew backwards, spitting blood several times before succumbing to unconsciousness.

“The Black Tortoise quadrant is famed for defense—yet your defenses are pitiful. Who gave you the courage to claim the Black Tortoise position?” Qin Chuan scolded, as if disappointed in their lack of skill.

Only Fifth Senior Brother remained. Meeting Qin Chuan’s gaze, he shivered and retreated.

“I only handle linking attack and defense in the formation—surely there’s no need for me to fight?” He was completely terrified, finally hiding behind Zhu Xiaofeng.

“Your disciples are hopeless. Isn’t it time for you, the old man, to step up?” Qin Chuan asked with a gentle, smiling voice.