He Yuzhu returns in Siheyuan

Chapter 771 Zhang Qi’s True Strength

Zhang Qi's heart tightened, and his fingers, forming seals, sped up sharply, their knuckles turning white from the exertion, practically crushing the air. Spiritual energy raced through his body, sending a stabbing pain through his meridians, as if they would shatter at any second. But he knew he couldn't stop now—this was their last chance. The guards' footsteps drew closer, and he could even hear their heavy breathing and the rustling of armor. Zhang Qi finally formed the final seal. A flicker of desperate determination flashed in his eyes, and a blinding red light suddenly erupted from his body.

Xiao Bao stood not far away, his arms folded as he watched all this unfold, his expression as calm as a deep lake. He had been secluded within the sect for years, rarely appearing in public. This was the perfect opportunity to show those lurking in the shadows that the Tiger Sect's strength had never waned.

This was why he didn't hold back this time. Initially, he had considered subjugating Zhang Qi and He Yao. After all, they were both talented and, with a little training, might become useful talents. But just now, he keenly sensed several subtle fluctuations of spiritual energy around him—clearly, other cultivators were secretly observing. Given that, there was no need to hold back; this was a perfect opportunity to establish his authority.

Xiao Bao was waiting for Zhang Qi to gather strength. Only by completely defeating the enemy the moment they unleashed their most powerful force could he most directly demonstrate the Tiger Clan's deterrent power to the world, forcing those eager to make a move to consider the cost of becoming an enemy of the Tiger Clan.

Little did they know, deep in the dense forest on the other side, Lao Si was hiding in the hollow of an ancient tree, watching everything through the cracks in the branches. His brow furrowed, his mind aching with confusion: Are these law enforcement officers crazy? Even at this late hour, they're deliberately giving them time to gather their strength. If they had that much time, they should have rushed in and wiped them out immediately. Why all this detours?

The fourth elder glanced at Liu Qi, who was knocked unconscious at his feet. He was still unconscious, with blood still lingering at the corner of his mouth. He snorted coldly and muttered to himself, "Still thinking of running? You've offended the Sect Master, and ended up like this. It's already a good thing for you. You can't escape death in the end."

Xiao Bao was concentrating on staring at the scene at the moment and had no idea that Liu Qi had been quietly dealt with by the fourth brother.

The fourth brother didn't leave because he wanted to stay and see the outcome of this fight. He knew that the Fierce Tiger Sect was one of the few sects that could maintain a good relationship with the Demon Suppression Palace. If someone from the Fierce Tiger Sect fell here, word of it would be of no benefit to the Demon Suppression Palace. If the situation became desperate, he wouldn't mind lending a hand.

He was very confident in his ability to conceal himself, and was certain that no one present would be able to discover his whereabouts - after all, this skill was a unique secret method of the Demon Suppression Palace, specifically used for detection and lurking, and ordinary cultivators could not detect it at all.

In reality, with Xiao Bao's strength, he should have been able to detect any anomalies around him. The problem was that the members of his law enforcement team had been confined to the sect for years, unfamiliar with the dangers and detection methods of the outside world. Accustomed to operating under the protection of the sect, they were far less vigilant of their surroundings than the cultivators who traveled extensively.

If it were any of the powerful individuals navigating the various factions, they would have immediately cleared the area and confirmed there were no hidden dangers before taking action. However, Xiao Bao and his men were unconcerned. Their minds and eyes were completely focused on their opponents, and they had no idea that two pairs of eyes were hiding in the shadows, quietly observing the upcoming battle.

The fourth brother stood aside like a silent stone statue, emitting a cold aura that kept strangers away, watching the fists and kicks in the arena with cold eyes. In his eyes, Liu Qi's sneaky little actions were just the tricks of a clown, and he didn't take them seriously at all. To deal with such a person who relied on opportunism and exploiting loopholes, he had the patience and means to deal with him slowly, so there was no need to rush.

Xiao Bao stood at the edge of the circle, his hands behind his back, his face impassive, as if the fierce battle had nothing to do with him. In reality, he was already secretly worried—He Yao's skills were far more formidable than he'd expected, his attacks swift and brutal, putting his men in dire straits several times. But he was the leader, after all; if he showed even the slightest sign of fear, wouldn't it be a loss of prestige? So he stood straight, his gaze piercing as he scanned the men engaged in combat with He Yao. At first, they seemed a bit flustered, repeatedly forced back by He Yao's rapid punches. But after a few blows, they gradually figured out a pattern, learning to shield each other and exchange attacks. While they still couldn't gain an advantage, they were no longer as passive as before and were finally able to hold their own.

Seeing that his men had gradually learned to cooperate, Xiao Bao felt a little relieved and even a little satisfied - such a real fight could best hone the team's tacit understanding and force them to grow rapidly. In time, these people's strength would surely improve a lot.

At that moment, Zhang Qi, who had been slumped on the ground, suddenly pushed himself to his feet. He had appeared hunched over, but in reality, he had been secretly gathering strength and breathing. Now, his eyes gleamed, and his aura was several times more powerful than before. Even the bulging veins on his forehead betrayed a fierceness. He knew this was his prime. If he didn't seize this opportunity to confront Xiao Bao, his strength would be exhausted and he would have no chance of winning.

He stared at Xiao Bao intently, his fists clenched so tightly that they crackled, his tone filled with deliberately suppressed provocation: "Xiao Bao, you may not be my opponent right now! If you know what's good for you, just surrender honestly. Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy when we start fighting!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Bao's lips curled up in an undisguised mockery, his eyes filled with disdain. "Just you? The guy I just kicked away is nothing more than a clown jumping around in my eyes. A piece of trash. How dare you negotiate with me?"

These words were like a spark, instantly igniting the pent-up anger in Zhang Qi's chest. He hadn't expected Xiao Bao to be so disrespectful even at this moment! Rage surged to his head, nearly overwhelming his rationality. With a low growl, he exerted force with his feet, causing the ground to tremble slightly. Like a wild animal unleashed, he lunged at Xiao Bao. His fists carried a gust of wind that tore through the air, each strike aimed at Xiao Bao's vital points. The force of his punches was thick with murderous intent, clearly determined to kill him.

Zhang Qi knew that he didn't have much time left. If he failed, he would only die. He Yao, watching Zhang Qi rushing over, also became excited. After all, the disciples in front of him were cooperating better and better, and he was beginning to fall into a disadvantage. This was not a good thing.