Tang Bai Li

Chapter 21 Tai Chi Style

Tai Chi, its name originating from the Way of Tai Chi on the Blue Star.

Charles had taught Xu Mu various martial arts. While Tai Chi was not the most destructive, it was undoubtedly the most effective for overcoming superior strength with inferior strength, and yielding with hardness.

"The Great Elaboration has fifty methods; from the void comes the Tai Chi. The Tai Chi moves and produces Yang; when movement reaches its extreme, it becomes still. Stillness produces Yin; when stillness reaches its extreme, it moves again. Movement and stillness are the root of each other, dividing Yin and Yang."

"While this style is effective, it also depends on who is using it."

Charles shook his head slightly, not optimistic about Xu Mu.

Prior to this, he had required Xu Mu to practice Tai Chi for half an hour every morning during his training.

During this period, Xu Mu had always been half-hearted.

According to Xu Mu, compared to these "weak and soft" techniques, he preferred direct and forceful martial arts. Therefore, he had only learned the form of Tai Chi, not its spirit.

Thus, his encounter with Feng Tianzhu was Xu Mu's debut battle with Tai Chi.

"Roar!"

Feng Tianzhu had just charged in front of Xu Mu, slamming both fists down simultaneously.

In an instant, Xu Mu opened his right palm, then used his left hand to grip his right wrist. His left foot toe lifted slightly, and his center of gravity shifted to the side.

*Crack!*

Feng Tianzhu’s powerful punch landed. Xu Mu's right arm vibrated intensely, and this tremor then spread throughout his body until his right foot pushed the force into the earth.

Xu Mu's body then slid backward, retreating more than thirty paces diagonally. Rainwater and dead leaves were constantly splashed up, like waves in a river.

*Whoosh!*

Stabilizing himself, Xu Mu slowly exhaled, then vigorously shook his arm, a slight smile playing on his lips.

This method indeed worked. He used Tai Chi's principle of yielding to overcome hardness. Feng Tianzhu's heavy punch was deflected by his skillful application of force, like an iron fist hitting cotton.

If it hadn't been raining, his shoe soles would have been worn through by the sand!

Feng Tianzhu, watching Xu Mu fly backward, froze for a moment, seemingly confused as to why this human was unharmed after taking a punch from him.

He charged again, striking left and right, his fists raining down on Xu Mu like meteors.

*Crack, crack, crack!* A series of impacts followed. Xu Mu alternated between fists and palms, his feet constantly shifting positions. His arms moved with extreme speed, but his punches were not direct. Each clash left room for maneuver, evading Feng Tianzhu's sharpest blows.

They engaged in close-quarters combat. Xu Mu was like a fish swimming in water, impossible for Feng Tianzhu to catch. Xu Mu, however, seized an opportunity, using an elbow strike to leverage force and push Feng Tianzhu's punch away, then landed a heavy punch on his chest.

*Puff!*

Feng Tianzhu stumbled back several steps, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

He had only mutated; his injuries healed quickly, but the hole in his chest remained. The altar had only repaired the surface!

Through the wound, Xu Mu could see his heart beating like a massive bell within his chest.

All his wounds were healing at a visible rate, but the one on his chest was the slowest to recover.

"This is it!" Xu Mu's expression became excited. He had found the weakness. His previous shot with a sniper rifle through the chest had not been in vain.

A plan formed in his mind, and Xu Mu attacked proactively.

His feet moved like the wind, his Tai Chi transforming him into a dancing spirit with peculiar footwork, as he aggressively advanced towards Feng Tianzhu.

Feng Tianzhu exhaled white mist from both nostrils like a giant ape. He opened his claws, flailing them wildly in front of him, as if trying to impale Xu Mu.

But Xu Mu timely raised his hunting knife. Upon impact, Xu Mu directly grabbed the surface of the altar's stone pillar, spun, and delivered a roundhouse kick to Feng Tianzhu's head.

*Crack!*

With a loud bang, Feng Tianzhu staggered. Xu Mu seized the opportunity, jumped onto Feng Tianzhu's head, clenched his right fist, and slammed it down on the crown of his head.

*Crunch!*

The sound of a cracking skull echoed. Feng Tianzhu's brain was directly smashed open by Xu Mu, yet he was not dead and still capable of movement, though he had lost his vision, his large hands flailing randomly over himself.

At this moment, Xu Mu had already returned to the ground.

He picked up the hunting knife, put his back into it, and instantly leaped into the air, plunging the knife into Feng Tianzhu's chest. Then, gathering his strength, he punched the handle of the hunting knife.

*Screech!*

The immense force drove the blade through his chest. Feng Tianzhu's nearly two-meter-wide body was pierced again, tearing away much rotten flesh, and a large hole reappeared.

"You should die now!"

Xu Mu, his face covered in blood, both red and green, took out a grenade. Expressionlessly, he pulled the pin with his mouth and forcefully shoved it into Feng Tianzhu's body.

*Bang!*

At this moment, in his pain, Feng Tianzhu finally swatted Xu Mu away with a wild palm strike.

But the grenade with its pin pulled was already inside him.

*Boom!*

A terrifying explosion tore through the night sky. Gunpowder erupted from Feng Tianzhu's torso, his massive body instantly vaporized, flesh and blood flying, splattering onto the altar.

Xu Mu, coincidentally, was flung to the center of the altar. He had been thrown over ten meters away by the palm strike, his stomach nearly ripped open by the claws, his bones and liver seemingly shattered.

But to his relief, Feng Tianzhu could not revive this time. The lower half of his body had been blown into mince, and the remaining small portion was incomplete and mangled. Even his head was only half there. The Wolf Totem had turned to dust!

Xu Mu lay in a pool of blood, staring at the remaining half of Feng Tianzhu's head.

A dense altar energy surged into his body, repairing his injuries. Instantly, the pain within him seemed to be temporarily alleviated.

Feng Tianzhu was also receiving treatment, but it was utterly useless. He was an Abomination, not immortal. The alchemy potions had pushed his potential to its absolute limit, and the mystical totem power had vanished into thin air...

Feng Tianzhu was no longer the terrifying Abomination, but an ordinary person on the verge of death!

Xu Mu finally felt at ease and slowly closed his eyes. He was utterly weak and needed rest. Forcing himself to move would only worsen his injuries.

"Revenge... revenge..."

At this moment, Xu Mu suddenly heard a voice, and he opened his eyes again.

Feng Tianzhu's Abomination form was slowly receding, and the shape of a human face was faintly discernible.

"You have the nerve to say those words?"

Xu Mu coughed up blood, looking at Feng Tianzhu with a sneer. This man had slaughtered the entire Kang Village and killed Wu Kui. How could he utter the word "revenge" before his death?

How dare he!

"Tell me, what is this altar built for? What is your conspiracy in creating the pollution source in Xishan? Why did you attack Fengqing Village, and why did you massacre Kang Village!"

Xu Mu, regaining a sliver of his senses, took out a hemostatic pill from his懷 and swallowed it. He staggered towards Feng Tianzhu.

Feng Tianzhu, hearing the rapid-fire questions, gave a pained smile.

As a dying man, how could he answer these questions? Xu Mu had ruined his plan, destroyed all his hopes. So he would find a way to make Xu Mu suffer as much as he did!

Enduring agonizing pain, Feng Tianzhu used the last vestiges of his power to control his shadow, which crawled onto Xu Mu's body:

"Within Fengqing Village lies a pollution source. The Abyssal Night is approaching, and the village will soon become a wasteland, with everyone turning into Abominations."

Feng Tianzhu's chest cavity was gone, so he could only speak in this manner.

"There is also a pollution source in Xishan. Lord Virithan has already laid an ambush. Those fools from the Demon Extermination Division will die if they dare step foot into Xishan!"

"The Abyssal Night is about to descend. Will you return to save the villagers, or will you save those invaluable异人, Guardian?"

Feng Tianzhu opened his mouth and smiled silently at the air, his expression filled with mockery.