Invincibility Begins with Mastery of Fist Techniques-Chapter 98: Celestial Heart Sect

"What? Did someone successfully challenge a champion in the last few days?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Zhou Yuanjue's eyes.

"Not exactly. He was injured in a challenge match three days ago and hasn't fully recovered yet. You probably wouldn't be interested in challenging him right now."

Lu Ming said, shaking his head.

"Someone injured him in a challenge match? Who?"

Zhou Yuanjue's interest was piqued. Given Ji Yunzhou's strength and presence, anyone capable of injuring him must be terrifyingly powerful.

"It's an old acquaintance of yours. You should be able to guess who."

Li Qingxuan gave him a helpless look and shrugged.

Zhou Yuanjue instantly understood who Li Qingxuan was talking about.

He Runlin.

While he was in secluded, arduous training, a recovered He Runlin had successfully advanced to Level 5 and challenged Ji Yunzhou.

'So that guy beat me to it. Forcing Ji Yunzhou to the point of injury... he must have gained quite a lot from that fight.'

"How is He Runlin now?"

Zhou Yuanjue asked.

"He was badly injured. Fractures in both arms, his abdomen was nearly torn open, and two broken ribs. He was unconscious in the hospital for half a day. As for Ji Yunzhou, He Runlin shattered his humerus. It was a truly spectacular match; both sides gave it their all. It's a shame you told us not to disturb you for any reason. Otherwise, you would have been able to experience so much more by being there."

Lu Ming said with a sigh.

"Is that so?"

Zhou Yuanjue felt a slight pang of regret, but he didn't dwell on the feeling for long.

At that time, he had just begun to grasp the true essence of the Hundred Acupoints Returning to Origin Technique. He had thrown himself into it completely. Naturally, he needed to be free of all distractions to advance so courageously and rapidly.

"Which of the champions can accept challenges right now? Give me their data."

Zhou Yuanjue said to Lu Ming. Since Ji Yunzhou was injured and couldn't accept a challenge, he wouldn't wait around and halt his own progress.

"One moment."

Soon, Lu Ming placed a data file in Zhou Yuanjue's hands.

He skimmed through it, his gaze finally settling on one particular data sheet.

"This is the one."

Zhou Yuanjue pulled out the data sheet and handed it to Lu Ming.

Lu Ming took it and looked. Several large, eye-catching words were written on the data sheet.

Celestial Heart Sect, Zhang Zhizhen.

"Are you sure you want to choose him?"

Seeing the data sheet Zhou Yuanjue handed him, Lu Ming's expression turned grim.

"What is it?"

Zhou Yuanjue asked, his face calm.

"The Celestial Heart Sect is considered one of the top three among all the Southern Eight Sects. And Zhang Zhizhen is one of the most outstanding successors of the Southern Eight Sects. To date, he has defeated three powerful challengers without sustaining a single injury. He's been handling it with ease, so you can imagine how terrifyingly strong he is. That's why no one has challenged him for about a week now."

Lu Ming said in a grave tone.

"If he weren't like that, why would I choose him?"

Hearing this, a slight smile touched the corners of Zhou Yuanjue's mouth.

'He needed the tempering of such a powerful opponent right now. Ordinary experts could no longer provide him with true growth.'

'As for winning or losing? That wasn't important to him.'

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「Shuntian City. Jieyun Mountain, Yunxiao Manor.」

This was the headquarters of the Celestial Heart Sect, one of the Southern Eight Sects.

In the backyard garden, the courtyard was deep and secluded. Lush flowers and plants thrived, birds chirped, insects hummed, and water trickled by, instantly relaxing the body and mind of anyone who entered.

"First Senior Brother! First Senior Brother! Are you here?"

Just then, a disciple in the Celestial Heart Sect's blue Martial Arts Uniform entered the backyard, calling out as he walked.

He saw a bird perched on the armrest of a lounge chair in an open area of the backyard, leisurely preening its feathers.

The disciple's eyes scanned past the chair, looking toward the treetops and rockeries in the backyard.

The courtyard seemed empty. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"First Senior Brother, are you here? There's something important! If you are, please let me see you!"

The disciple called out again, his words sounding a bit strange.

"Stop shouting blindly. I'm right here."

A voice spoke up, seemingly right next to him, startling the disciple.

Only then did he realize that a tall, handsome young man was now lying on the previously empty lounge chair.

Zhang Zhizhen held a Dao Scripture in his hand, seemingly reading at his leisure. The preening bird remained quietly on the chair, completely unfazed, as if the tall figure had been sitting there all along and had never left.

"How long have you been a disciple? You can't even find someone right in front of you. How embarrassing. Go back and practice your forms five times later."

Zhang Zhizhen said in a leisurely tone.

"Yes, First Senior Brother."

Hearing his words, the disciple's face flushed with shame. At the same time, he couldn't help but feel an irrepressible sense of awe and admiration for the figure before him.

He knew that Zhang Zhizhen had actually been there the whole time; he just hadn't been able to see him.

No, perhaps it wasn't that he couldn't see him, but that his own subconscious had automatically ignored Zhang Zhizhen.

In that moment, Zhang Zhizhen's spirit, will, and body all seemed to have merged with the surrounding environment, becoming one, in perfect harmony.

And in this state, his mind naturally diffused outwards, creating a powerful misdirection in the newcomer's spirit, as if the space were truly empty.

Unity of Heaven and Man; the heart of Heaven is my heart.

This person's mind was no longer in the same time and space as an ordinary person's. Even if they were in the same room, someone whose spirit wasn't sharp enough might not even perceive his existence.

His mind and body had reached a state of near-perfect fusion. In this state of Unity of Heaven and Man, he was unknowingly and constantly influencing the outside world, having reached an extremely terrifying realm.

In ancient times, he would be what's known as a profoundly mystical Terrestrial Immortal—able to appear and disappear at will, detached from the mortal world. He was just one step away from breaking through the barrier of a Celestial Being.

Among the successors of the Southern Eight Sects, Zhang Zhizhen of the Celestial Heart Sect was absolutely ranked among the very top in terms of power.

"So, what is it?"

Zhang Zhizhen put down the Dao Scripture and asked the disciple.

"Someone has issued a formal challenge to you. It's Zhou Yuanjue of the Red Falcon Fist."

The disciple said respectfully.

"Oh?"

Zhang Zhizhen raised an eyebrow. He had heard the name before, but besides a commendable first battle, he didn't know much more about him. He hadn't expected this person to suddenly pop up and challenge him.

"A little interesting. Have the arena make the arrangements. Let me know when there's news."

Zhang Zhizhen shook his head with a smile and looked back down at the Dao Scripture in his hands, seemingly unconcerned.

Without having faced him directly, his impression of Zhou Yuanjue wasn't very deep. Besides, there had been far too many challengers recently; at least two of them were so-called "seeds."

However, not a single one had been able to make him use his full strength.

As far as he was concerned, there was no fundamental difference between Zhou Yuanjue and the other challengers.

'I just hope this person can bring me a bit more of an unexpected surprise. Otherwise, simply defending the title like this is far too boring.'