Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Struggle for Supremacy

The golden hue spreads across the world's finest lands, rural paths are fragrant with blooming vegetables. One lingers, unwilling to leave, unaware of the way, as the Ark sails with rippling waters of green and yellow. Thank you all for your clicks and support...

The earth bee king swarmed toward the people in a vast cloud, stinging anyone it found. The flashlights in every person's hand were encircled by the bee king, drawn to the light and attacking relentlessly.

Some people were covered in earth bee kings. The clever ones immediately tossed their flashlights aside, fearing the bees would crawl through every gap—clothes, buttons, pants cuffs, the junctions of neck and scarf. If they got inside, no amount of crying would help.

For a moment, everyone was in chaos, flailing with sticks or freshly cut branches, beating back the swarming bees. Five or six groups scattered across the area were caught up in battle, their helmets, glass visors, bodies, and legs crawling with bees. Humans and the flying bee king engaged in a fierce and unusual struggle.

Though He Zhixing and his companions were a bit farther away, they were not spared; the earth bee king surrounded and attacked them too. They gave up what they were doing, stood up, broke off branches, and joined the fight. All unleashed their skills, battling the bee king, and earth bee kings dropped dead or dying to the ground in droves.

Gradually, the scattered groups of people hurriedly fought off the bees, slowly gathering together. The martial artists realized that it was better to unite than to fight alone, and together they aimed to destroy the thousands of earth bee kings.

He Zhixing began to recognize these people. To his surprise, apart from the familiar Liu Tian and his son, and the underworld boss from Le City whom he had encountered before, along with the one-armed acupoint uncle and his master, there were several formidable strangers.

Liu Tian and his son seemed even stronger than before. Had they discovered the spiritual grass at the bottom of the rectangular pit and eaten it? If only he'd known, he would have picked all the grass before leaving last time. He was once again astonished at their progress.

This time, Le City's underworld boss brought an unknown fighter, who fought the bees without using branches, relying solely on his arms. Could he be wearing iron guards? Was he the so-called Iron Arm King?

The master of the one-armed acupoint uncle was a thin elder with a long black goatee. His fingers moved as gracefully as the legendary gestures of Guanyin or the Buddha, picking flowers and holding vases. Wherever his fingers touched, there was a “pop, pop, pop” sound, and bees dropped to the ground in masses.

He Zhixing watched in amazement, quietly wondering: if the uncle’s master ever came to seek revenge, would he stand a chance against this acupoint grandmaster? The thought made him break into cold sweat.

He looked toward Master Jingyun and Jiang Ni. Jiang Ni, the beautiful nun, was no weakling; her branch wielded with such finesse that no bee could get through, and bees fell all around her, dotting the ground with black and white corpses. Master Jingyun, meanwhile, moved with ease. Unexpectedly, his weapon was his embroidered robe; the wide sleeves of his monk’s garment became his secret tool against the bees.

His broad sleeves swept through the air, drawing all the earth bee kings inside, then flinging them out dead. Swarms went in alive and came out lifeless. He Zhixing had never seen such powerful sleeve technique and felt a yearning for the mastery.

Seeing how effortlessly Master Jingyun fought, He Zhixing followed closely, hoping to learn by imitation. Master Jingyun noticed him and smiled. He Zhixing quickly asked, “Master, aside from Liu Tian and his son, the one-armed acupoint uncle and his master, and the underworld boss from Le City, I don’t know the others. They all seem formidable. Where are they from?”

Master Jingyun pointed to a tall, fair-skinned man in monk’s robes, “That’s Master Park Jungjin from Korea. He’s very skilled, a karate grandmaster capable of channeling true energy. He should not be underestimated. Beside him is his attendant, a female disciple, also formidable—she’s a twelfth-degree karate black belt.”

He then gestured toward a burly, slightly dark-skinned man nearby, “This is King Kong Mo Rang, a local. His hard qi technique is incredible, refined to perfection. When he channels his energy, he’s impervious to blades and bullets.”

Jingyun pointed again, “That man is the underworld boss from Province H, skilled in Shaolin hard qi. He’s very strong. Next to him is a man with blue-tinted eyes called Blue Snake, his enforcer, known as the ‘Iron Sand King.’ When he strikes with his iron sand palm, his hand turns black-red, and it can burn you.”

“And that’s the underworld boss from Province Z, a descendant of the Elder of Hook Mountain Fist. His enforcers are all formidable, especially the one skilled in long fist technique.”

“Over there is Li Kaishan, descendant of the Mantis Fist, and beside him is his junior disciple and wife.”

As He Zhixing listened, Master Jingyun fought the bees and introduced these martial artists, none of whom were easy opponents. He Zhixing marveled once more, resolving to be extra cautious should he ever encounter them again.