The elders of the Zhongnan Sect were greatly taken aback by my victory.
"How... how is this possible?!"
"This isn't the inner strength of a human...!!"
They seemed to be in shock at the incomprehensible level of inner strength I had unleashed. The slashes carved into the walls around us looked as if monsters had screamed in agony, a truly gruesome scene. The building had been scratched so fiercely that it was almost collapsing, which was to be expected.
After a while, as the commotion among the ordinary disciples subsided and the situation calmed down, one of the ten elders of the Zhongnan Sect stepped forward. It was the elder who had been talking to Senior Jin Suqing earlier.
"Jin Shu's skills are among the best among us. We hoped that he would either win or, at the very least, deplete Jin Suqing's stamina... but it seems the junior has surpassed even him."
His voice carried a faint sense of fear, and I realized that he no longer treated me like a child.
"He just fainted."
"Give us a moment. It will take some time to decide the next challenger among ourselves."
It seemed he had come forward on purpose to make this request. I chuckled and pointed at him.
"Why don't you step up yourself? You don't seem weaker than Jin Shu."
"Hehe. Of course, I'm not weaker than Jin Shu, but that's different from winning. Since you've invaded our stronghold, we should at least grant this tactical request, shouldn't we?"
"......"
You talk well.
He was incredibly smooth and persuasive. Moreover, the fact that he didn't easily get drawn into provocation suggested that he was one of the top strategists in the Zhongnan Sect. As I fell silent, Jin Suqing spoke.
"Do as you please. But I can't wait more than an hour."
"It won't take that long."
The elders then carried the unconscious Jin Shu away and seemed to be discussing something in a secluded place. I had no choice but to stand there in the training hall, and then I heard a telepathic message from my senior.
[Junior, come down now. I have a bad feeling.]
[What do you mean? I'm confident I can hold my own against anyone in a one-on-one match.]
I can do it. I've become stronger.
I wanted to take this opportunity to defeat the other elders and crush their morale. I was already quite agitated from the provocation. Then I heard another telepathic message.
[Didn't you see the elder's attitude just now? He's willing to use any means to win. If you fall for his dirty tricks, it won't be good for you or the Green Dragon Martial Hall.]
Jin Suqing's gentle persuasion and warning calmed the fighting spirit that had been boiling in my head. Reflecting on my life experiences, I realized that I was indeed in a dangerous situation.
"... I understand, Senior."
I nodded without further argument. If the opponent doesn't play fair, responding to each move would be foolish. Jin Suqing seemed confident that he could handle their schemes if he stepped in. I calmed my boiling blood and sat down.
"Well done."
"Who will be the next challenger?"
"They won't come out alone. It will likely be a combined attack formation."
"You can't be serious."
I was skeptical. This was supposed to be a friendly match, not a group attack by the Nine Sects and Eight Schools. I found it too outrageous to believe, but I soon realized that Jin Suqing was right.
"We will use the Six Harmony Moon Chasing Formation."
As he said this, six elders stepped forward simultaneously and formed the formation according to the six directions.
"......"
"Wow..."
Both I and Jin Suqing were speechless. We hadn't expected them to be so blatant. I was so stunned that my ears were trembling.
'What kind of people are these?'
To think that six peak experts from the Nine Sects and Eight Schools would gang up on one person! Moreover, the faces of the six elders who stepped forward showed no trace of shame. One of the elders forming the formation shouted confidently.
"Combine your strength as you wish. Of course, if you have more helpers, that's even better!"
I protested strongly.
"What kind of rule is this?"
"We never said we would fight one-on-one."
"......"
"Besides, the Six Harmony Moon Chasing Formation is a proud martial technique of the Zhongnan Sect. What do you have to say about us using our own martial techniques?"
Their brazenness left me speechless. A friendly match is traditionally a one-on-one duel, and using a regular formation like this, which is typically used in factional battles, was unprecedented. Even a two-person combined attack formation could be considered a martial technique, but a six-person formation was clearly against the rules.
'These madmen... Is this what the Nine Sects and Eight Schools are like?'
I was glad I had listened to Jin Suqing. If I had been standing there, I would have been too shocked to react and would have had to fight six-on-one. Even with my current strength, I couldn't win against six peak experts using a formation. Jin Suqing calmly stood up and said.
"Then we will also send two people."
"Do as you please. Hehehe."
The elders' eyes gleamed with triumph and malice. I had seen that look before and understood their intentions.
They have no intention of losing, no matter what means they use!
Moreover, they seem determined to take a limb or two from us in this fight.
I sent a telepathic message to my senior.
[Let's stop, Senior. This is madness. The world won't judge us if we don't accept this.]
[That's true. However, I don't think we will lose.]
[What do you mean?]
[Follow me. If you do as I say, we won't lose.]
"......"
I had no choice but to follow Jin Suqing.
'Well, it's a matter of life and death.'
Jin Suqing's insight into martial arts is far superior to mine. I came here prepared to die and train in martial arts. I can't afford to show fear in front of him. Given the situation, I have no choice but to trust him and see it through.
Rustle
The Zhongnan Sect disciples were surprised that we would challenge the Six Harmony Moon Chasing Formation. They probably thought we would admit defeat or run away in fear. The same thought seemed to be in the minds of the Zhongnan Sect elders, as their eyes widened in surprise.
The elder at the front said.
"Do you really think you can win? Once the formation is activated, we will have the power of ten peak experts."
His words were not just bravado. The effect of the formation was not simply additive. A two-person combined attack formation could have the power of four people, and a four-person formation could have the power of six or more. The Six Harmony Moon Chasing Formation, formed by six peak elders of the Zhongnan Sect, was a terrifying prospect.
Then Jin Suqing smiled and said.
"We'll see. By the way, can I ask one thing?"
"What is it?"
"Even with the numbers, 6-on-2 is too disadvantageous. I would like to have the first move."
The elders exchanged telepathic messages and, after a moment, nodded almost simultaneously.
"Fine!"
They seemed confident they wouldn't lose even if we had the first move. It was a reasonable assumption.
Swoosh
The positions were set. Jin Suqing and I stood side by side, facing the six Zhongnan Sect elders who were forming the formation and holding their swords. Each elder was in a different stance, likely representing the positions in the formation. From these stances, they would combine hundreds of movements to create the invincible Six Harmony Moon Chasing Formation.
'How do we attack?'
As I was pondering, I heard a telepathic message from my senior.
[These people are fools. Your presence here is a stroke of luck for me.]
[What do you mean?]
[Junior, activate the Heavenly Thunder Palm to its maximum. I will block any attacks from them, so focus on building up your power to the maximum.]
I instantly understood what my senior meant. It sounded fun, so I smiled and replied.
[Alright. I'll show them a taste of their own medicine.]
Rumble
"Haaa..."
I focused my mind and assumed the upper stance. Lightning blades began to form on my sword, and my inner strength grew more intense as it spread through my body.
Buzz!
My arms tingled with the powerful lightning energy.
The Zhongnan Sect elders, unlike before, seemed unaffected by my inner strength once the Six Harmony Moon Chasing Formation was activated. Their inner strengths likely complemented each other, amplifying the overall effect.
Boom
The air shook violently. Wind swirled around my sword, and a strange vortex began to form around me. The ground trembled, and a powerful energy swept through the room like a storm. The momentum was even more imposing than when I faced Jin Shu, and the elders forming the Six Harmony Moon Chasing Formation were visibly shaken.
"What are they planning to do...?"
One of them shouted and tried to charge, but Jin Suqing had already drawn his spear and blocked the elder's movement.
"Didn't we agree that we would have the first move? Is the Zhongnan Sect going back on its word?"
"Grgh...!!"
While they hesitated, I focused all my latent strength and concentrated on making the Heavenly Thunder Palm as powerful as possible. Normally, in a real fight, I wouldn't have the