Chapter 278 - 15: Senior Brother Lu, Mighty

"Let me give it a try?"

A calm, confident voice suddenly echoed in everyone’s ears.

Seeing Lu Chao walk over, Ge Hongfeng’s expression changed slightly. Worry filled his eyes, and he was about to shake his head.

But before he could speak.

"You?!"

Xu Ling’Er, wrapped in a luxurious khaki trench coat, her otherwise bright face filled with challenge and impatience, demanded, "Just you?"

"Are you kidding me? Even Senior Brother Yang wasn’t his match. What could you possibly do up there?"

She said it all in one breath, her gaze cold, as if she were venting all the dissatisfaction and frustration from her earlier encounter with the Blood Slaughterer onto Lu Chao.

The crowd was stunned. Lu Chao shot her a sideways glance.

"Brother Lu."

Xu Fengling saw something was wrong and quickly stepped forward.

He opened his mouth, wanting to both apologize and dissuade him.

’My little sister’s words were indeed harsh, but Yang Chengfeng’s strength is plain for all to see. He’s one of the best at the peak of the Elite Level, yet even he was defeated.’

’The Blood Slaughterer’s sinister and tenacious nature is obvious. If he goes up on stage and something goes wrong...’

"Xiaolu, don’t."

Ge Hongfeng came to his senses, having thought of the same thing.

If something happened to him, how would he explain it to Luo Qianshan?

At this thought, even though he knew Lu Chao meant well, he shook his head repeatedly. Softening his expression, he said, "The feud behind this runs deep. It has nothing to do with you."

"Listen to Master Ge, you should just..."

"Master Ge."

Suddenly, Lu Chao cut him off.

In a level tone, he met his gaze and said, "If my master were facing a problem and asked for your help, would you stand by and do nothing?"

"Of course not."

Ge Hongfeng replied subconsciously, without a second thought.

The moment the words left his mouth, he realized their implication.

But before he could say more.

"Exactly."

Nodding lightly, Lu Chao smiled. "Then tell me, if my master knew that you were in trouble today, but I stood on the sidelines and watched..."

"How could I possibly face him when I see him again?"

As his words fell, Ge Hongfeng’s expression grew complicated. He looked as if he wanted to speak but held back.

At the side, Old Feng, Xu Fengling, and the others also had complex looks in their eyes. They sized up Lu Chao again, their gazes filled with both admiration and respect.

No one could help but admire a person of loyalty and integrity.

But, thinking of that Blood Slaughterer’s methods...

"Besides."

Lu Chao smiled, not waiting for them to try and persuade him further.

He took a step, brushing past the crowd.

He walked toward the fighting ring, step by step. The people on either side of him subconsciously took two steps back, clearing a path.

’His eyes were bright. This time, I’m not just making a move for Master Luo, but for myself as well.’

’The Wandering Dragon Steps is a Mid-Level Martial Skill, and it’s quite valuable. Ge Hongfeng might have taught it to me as a favor to Master Luo, but I never felt entitled to it.’

’At the very least, he never held anything back in his Body Technique pointers over the past two months.’

’The Martial Skill he taught was complete and whole, no different from how he treated true disciples like Song Yan. He even secretly paid out of his own pocket to have training tools made and concoct secret medicines for me, all to speed up my Body Technique training.’

’If I were to just stand by and watch today, forget what others might think or say, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.’

’This guy’s methods have some tricks to them, but...’

Under the incandescent lights, he looked at Cao Lin on the stage. Meeting the other man’s sinister gaze and seeing the 99 points of Life Energy in his intuitive senses, he drew closer step by step and said calmly, "I don’t think I’ll be the one to lose."

THUD!

His foot landed. He was now on the stage.

The voice, filled with powerful confidence, echoed in all directions, causing Cao Lin’s eyes to turn fierce and reveal a bloodthirsty coldness.

Below the stage, Li Gusha also frowned. His gaze then turned cold as he said contemptuously, "Ge Hongfeng, it seems you’ve really run out of people."

"To actually let a martial hall outsider..."

SWOOSH!!

Before his words had even finished, Lu Chao suddenly vanished.

The crowd’s expressions turned to shock. On the stage, Cao Lin frowned slightly, glanced left and right, and then looked up into the air.

Lu Chao, dressed in a gray hoodie, had his feet on the incandescent light tube above, appearing as if he were hanging inverted in mid-air.

With his arms crossed over his chest, his expression was calm as he looked down upon the stage.

He met Cao Lin’s gaze.

But.

"The Wandering Dragon Steps."

Li Gusha’s face grew cold. He naturally saw that Lu Chao was proving his credentials.

A sinister, ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. He mulled it over for a moment, then gave Cao Lin a slight nod.

The latter understood his meaning and quickly assumed a fighting stance.

In an instant, Cao Lin placed one foot in front of the other, lowered his center of gravity, and tensed every muscle in his body, staring intently at Lu Chao.

His entire body was like a python coiling up, ready to strike a bird, all his power contracting as he gathered his strength.

Wisps of a blood-colored mist seeped from his pores and gathered on the surface of his skin, like some sort of strange phenomenon.

This formless aura actually interfered with the mental willpower of the crowd below the stage, projecting the illusion of a giant Blood Pattern Python into their minds.

"The Blood Python Skill!"

His expression sinking, Ge Hongfeng instantly recognized this Mid-Level Martial Skill. The well-informed Xu Fengling’s pupils also contracted in shock and suspicion.

Once this skill was unleashed, the user would become as powerful as an Advanced Mutant Beast—the Blood Pattern Python. Furthermore, their every move could interfere with their opponent’s mind, making it a truly bizarre and difficult technique to counter.

And yet, they had never seen this Cao Lin use it before.

"Brother Lu..."

He subconsciously started to speak, wanting to warn Lu Chao.

But.

SWOOSH!!

The air tore apart, the piercing wind whistling sharply!

Lu Chao had instantly vanished, taking the initiative to attack, and appeared right in front of Cao Lin, who was still gathering his power.

"You’re courting death!"

Cao Lin’s eyes narrowed, and a cruel glint appeared within them.

He hadn’t expected his opponent to be so foolish as to dare to attack him first.

WHOOSH!!

He thrust his palm forward, instantly activating Blood Slaughterer.

Martial Arts Power, as if drenched in fresh blood, covered the Palm Seal. Like a venomous python striking, it shot forward to bite at its prey, aiming straight for Lu Chao’s throat.