Chapter 12
: Three Moves to Subdue the Enemy, Amazing Movement
The shock of the spirit stone's unusual movement enveloped the entire cultivation test.
Subsequent tests on disciples became completely irrelevant and secondary.
No one paid attention to the cultivation level of others; everyone's mind and attention were firmly focused on Xie Yanchen from beginning to end.
Even the elders on the viewing platform whispered among themselves, glancing repeatedly at the quiet gray figure in the corner, their expressions varied and their thoughts unfathomable.
Before long, the cultivation tests were all over, and the rankings were published.
Xie Yanchen's official record remains: Outer disciple, Xie Yanchen, Qi Refining Level 3, Four-element mixed spiritual root.
The data on paper was unremarkable, ranking only in the lower middle range among the hundreds of outer disciples.
The top twenty disciples of the outer sect are all firmly above the fourth level of Qi Refining, and several geniuses have even reached the threshold of the fifth level of Qi Refining. Any one of them, on paper, is far stronger than him.
Having witnessed the astonishing phenomenon of the spirit stone resonating just now, no one in the audience dared to judge his true strength based on this meager data on paper.
Everyone knew that this boy with mixed spiritual roots possessed unfathomable depths of knowledge, and his strength had long since transcended the limitations of his cultivation level.
Soon, the match-up schedule for the practical assessment was posted and made public.
Xie Yanchen was placed in the first round of the third group, and his opponent was Zhao Hanshan.
This person is a veteran expert of the outer sect, consistently ranking among the top fifteen. His cultivation has reached the peak of the fourth level of Qi Refining. He has a solid foundation and has been practicing the Mountain-Crushing Fist for five years. It is fierce, domineering, and powerful.
He mastered a basic set of Mountain-Crushing Fist techniques, capable of shattering bluestone and breaking through solid rock with a single punch. He was recognized by the outer sect as a master of close-combat and powerful attacks.
Upon seeing the match information, Zhao Hanshan, who was waiting by the ring, grinned coldly and clenched his fists.
Click!
A crisp cracking sound suddenly rang out, full of force.
He was tall and imposing, a head taller than Xie Yanchen, and stood on the stage like a small mountain, exuding a strong sense of pressure.
"Xie Yanchen." Zhao Hanshan looked down at him with scrutiny and disdain in his eyes and spoke loudly, "Others praise your unparalleled movement technique and the phenomenon that caused the spirit stone to appear. I don't care what unorthodox methods you used."
"On the ring, only strength and fists determine the victor!"
"My Mountain-Crushing Fist covers a range of three zhang (approximately 10 meters), its power and ferocity are unmatched. No matter how fast your movements are or how cunning your evasions are, you will have absolutely no chance to dodge!"
His voice was firm and resonant, brimming with confidence and arrogance.
Xie Yanchen slowly stepped onto the stage, stood opposite his opponent, neither arrogant nor impatient, and remained silent, simply assuming the initial stance of the Flowing Cloud Step.
His posture was relaxed, his breathing was steady, and there was no sign of tension or fear.
The arena was already surrounded by a dense crowd, three or four layers deep, making it impossible to move.
The outer disciples crowded on the outermost edge, standing on tiptoe to watch, holding their breath and concentrating. Many inner disciples who were not required to participate in actual combat also stopped to watch, all wanting to witness firsthand just how much real ability this mixed spiritual root, which overturned everyone's understanding, really had.
Elder Han Tiesong, the enforcer, stood to the side of the arena, his cold gaze sweeping over the two men. He said in a deep voice, "The contest begins!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Zhao Hanshan burst forth!
Without any probing, the attack was a killing blow from the very first move!
The first move of the Mountain-Crushing Fist – Shattering Stones!
He poured all his powerful Qi Refining Level 4 spiritual energy into his right arm, his fist enveloped in a thick, earthy-yellow spiritual light. The sound of it tearing through the air was ear-piercing and howling, carrying immense force as it struck Xie Yanchen's vital chest!
This punch was powerful and heavy, enough to shatter a millstone-sized bluestone. Ordinary outer disciples would not dare to take it head-on and could only dodge in a sorry state.
boom!
The heavy punch slammed into the bluestone slab of the arena, instantly causing the hard stone surface to crack and fly with fragments of stone, the force of which was terrifying.
The devastating blow that was anticipated did not occur.
Xie Yanchen's figure had already disappeared from the spot.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, he had already silently landed three steps to Zhao Hanshan's left.
The steps were light and silent, like willow catkins falling to the ground or a cat stepping on soft cotton. There was not a sound of wind or spiritual energy bursting, as if the cat had moved out of thin air, which was extremely strange.
Zhao Hanshan's pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart sank.
Before he could react, without retracting his right fist, he twisted his waist and swept out with his left fist, which carried even more violent spiritual power!
The second move of the Mountain-Crushing Fist – Earth-Splitting!
Specifically designed for agile opponents, it sweeps and blocks out a wide area, covering a radius of two zhang with the force of the punches, giving the opponent no room to dodge, and is extremely domineering.
The force of the punches was so strong that it almost blocked all escape routes.
However, it still didn't work out!
Just as the force of the punch was about to touch the hem of his clothes, Xie Yanchen slightly withdrew, taking only half a step back.
It was just a half-step difference, perfectly positioned at the very edge of the fist's reach.
The violent and fierce punches whistled past his clothes, making them flutter, but they couldn't hurt him in the slightest.
A collective gasp of astonishment erupted outside the arena.
A perfect half-step dodge, without the slightest error, is not only a testament to exquisite footwork, but also to the ultimate precision in predicting the opponent's speed, strength, range, and timing—precise to the millimeter!
After two consecutive punches missed their mark, Zhao Hanshan's rapid offensive came to an abrupt halt, and his breathing became slightly labored.
The Mountain-Crushing Fist is fierce and domineering, with unparalleled power, but the price is a huge consumption of spiritual energy.
After being hit by two consecutive heavy punches, he had to catch his breath briefly before he could continue his attack, creating a fatal opening in his offensive.
A once-in-a-lifetime flaw, fleeting in an instant.
Xie Yanchen seized this brief opportunity, no longer passively dodging, but taking the initiative to launch a sudden attack!
With the Flowing Cloud Step fully activated, his body suddenly lunged diagonally forward, abandoning the unnecessary side steps of the original technique. The optimized movement was more cunning, and his speed increased by more than 30%!
His figure moved like an arrow, instantly closing in on Zhao Hanshan's side.
Before his opponent could adjust his posture or defend, Xie Yanchen lightly raised his palm and precisely placed it on Zhao Hanshan's right rib.
This is precisely the core blind spot where the spiritual energy of the Mountain-Crushing Fist was pre-deduced and marked by the terminal!
The entire Crushing Mountain Fist technique has reached a point where the spiritual energy in the meridians is stagnant, making the defense extremely weak – an inherent flaw in the technique.
The force applied to the palm was gentle, lacking overwhelming power, yet it precisely severed the opponent's flowing spiritual energy.
With a soft hum, Zhao Hanshan's whole body trembled violently. The spiritual energy in the meridians of his right arm was instantly blocked, and the power he had been building up in his fist dissipated completely. His fierce strength was inexplicably depleted.
He staggered back two steps, unable to control his body, his breathing became disordered, and his mind was suddenly startled.
"The first move."
Xie Yanchen stood quietly, his tone calm, and slowly began to speak.
The entire venue fell into a deathly silence for a moment, then exploded with a deafening roar!
"One move! He broke Zhao Hanshan's offensive with just one move!"
"The Mountain-Crushing Fist was so easily countered? This is outrageous!"
"Zhao Hanshan couldn't even touch the hem of someone's clothes, and his spiritual power was easily disrupted!"
A commotion resounded throughout the area, and disbelief was written on everyone's face.
Zhao Hanshan's face flushed red, his heart filled with humiliation and resentment, and his eyes burned with rage.
After five years of dominating the outer sect and being invincible with his Mountain-Crushing Fist, he was now being crushed and toyed with by a Qi Refining Level 3 mixed spiritual root!
He gritted his teeth and shouted, forcibly suppressing his chaotic aura. His spiritual energy in his dantian boiled and poured into his arms without reservation.
Unleash your ultimate weapon, at full power!
The ultimate move of the Mountain-Crushing Fist – Mountain Collapse and Earth Shattering!
With both fists out, the earth-yellow spiritual energy frantically intertwined and condensed, transforming into a dense and thick giant net of spiritual energy that covered half of the arena, blocking all angles of evasion, determined to decide the outcome with a single blow!
This move is extremely powerful; it once blasted an opponent at the fourth level of Qi Refining three zhang away from the arena. It is Zhao Hanshan's winning trump card.
Faced with an overwhelming and deadly offensive, Xie Yanchen did not retreat but advanced instead.
With a light and agile figure, he weaved and shifted through the gaps in the dense and violent punches.
Without directly confronting or dodging, the movements are like flowing water piercing through stone or drifting clouds across the landscape. With each turn of the body, the most violent areas of spiritual energy are precisely avoided, perfectly taking advantage of the gaps in the opponent's attacks.
Amidst everyone's horrified gazes, he instantly broke through the giant net of spiritual energy and approached Zhao Hanshan's mouth!
Zhao Hanshan unleashed a barrage of punches, his offensive on the front line overwhelming, leaving his central defense completely vulnerable and revealing a fatal flaw.
Xie Yanchen extended his right palm and landed steadily three inches above the opponent's dantian.
This is the most fatal rhythmic flaw in the entire Bengshan Fist technique!
When spiritual energy flows to this point, a natural stagnation will occur, a fundamental flaw that no cultivator throughout history has been able to detect or avoid.
With a gentle push, the force is precise and subtle.
click-
The invisible chain of spiritual energy snapped instantly.
Zhao Hanshan's spiritual energy was completely disrupted, the protective aura around his body suddenly dissipated, and the circulation of spiritual energy in his dantian was directly interrupted.
His massive, burly body instantly lost its strength, his legs buckled, and he knelt heavily on one knee, panting heavily. His whole body was weak and sore, and he couldn't muster even a fraction of his spiritual power for more than ten breaths.
"The second move."
Xie Yanchen withdrew his hand, calmly took a step back, and remained composed.
The entire hall fell completely silent.
If the first move was luck or coincidence, then the second move was a naked display of overwhelming strength!
He defeated his opponent in two moves, clean and efficient throughout, without any intense clashes or overwhelming power, yet he precisely grasped all the flaws, weaknesses, and rhythmic shortcomings in his opponent's techniques.
This is hardly a battle between players of the same level.
This is clearly a top-level master who has mastered the origin of the cultivation method, crushing a novice who is clueless about cultivation!
After a dozen or so breaths, Zhao Hanshan managed to regulate his breathing and slowly stood up.
The rage, resentment, and humiliation on his face faded away, leaving only a deep sense of complexity and awe.
He knew perfectly well that he had lost completely and accepted his defeat wholeheartedly.
Not only was his opponent's movement technique far superior to his own, but his understanding and comprehension of the Mountain-Crushing Fist far surpassed the accumulation of his five years of arduous training.
"I lost."
Zhao Hanshan solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute to Xie Yanchen, his voice hoarse, and readily admitted defeat.
Han Tiesong remained silent for a long time by the ring, his expression shifting, before finally announcing in a deep voice: "Xie Yanchen wins the first round of the third group!"
Applause, cheers, and exclamations instantly swept across the entire spirit-measuring platform, the sound like waves reverberating through the mountains.
The outer disciples erupted in excitement, cheering and shouting with abandon.
Three years of obscurity, unknown to the world; one day of fame, astonishing all!
This once despised and trampled-on mixed-elemental trash, who was despised and trampled on by the entire sect, completely shattered everyone's preconceived notions with two extremely amazing duels!
Xie Yanchen stepped off the stage, his face calm, without a trace of pride or arrogance, and silently retreated to a corner of the waiting area.
His gaze swept over the bustling crowd and landed precisely on the inner waiting area.
Zhou Chong still hadn't shown up, but the playful expression on the face of the fifth-level Qi Refining inner disciple who had delivered the message had vanished, replaced by a gloomy and cold scrutiny, with the hostility in his eyes growing stronger.
Xie Yanchen lowered his eyes slightly, his mind calm.
The first round of matches was just a warm-up.
The real battles and the real conflicts are yet to come in the rear.
In his mind, the terminal asked softly: Host, you are already able to crush your opponent with all your might, so why did you deliberately hold back and not reveal your full combat power?
Xie Yanchen slightly opened his eyes, a faint, cold glint flashing in them, and murmured to himself:
"We've kept a plan. Many plans. Revealing all our cards too early will only attract endless scrutiny and suppression, which is counterproductive."
The most reliable way to break through this impasse is to proceed step by step and rise gradually.
Subsequent tests on disciples became completely irrelevant and secondary.
No one paid attention to the cultivation level of others; everyone's mind and attention were firmly focused on Xie Yanchen from beginning to end.
Even the elders on the viewing platform whispered among themselves, glancing repeatedly at the quiet gray figure in the corner, their expressions varied and their thoughts unfathomable.
Before long, the cultivation tests were all over, and the rankings were published.
Xie Yanchen's official record remains: Outer disciple, Xie Yanchen, Qi Refining Level 3, Four-element mixed spiritual root.
The data on paper was unremarkable, ranking only in the lower middle range among the hundreds of outer disciples.
The top twenty disciples of the outer sect are all firmly above the fourth level of Qi Refining, and several geniuses have even reached the threshold of the fifth level of Qi Refining. Any one of them, on paper, is far stronger than him.
Having witnessed the astonishing phenomenon of the spirit stone resonating just now, no one in the audience dared to judge his true strength based on this meager data on paper.
Everyone knew that this boy with mixed spiritual roots possessed unfathomable depths of knowledge, and his strength had long since transcended the limitations of his cultivation level.
Soon, the match-up schedule for the practical assessment was posted and made public.
Xie Yanchen was placed in the first round of the third group, and his opponent was Zhao Hanshan.
This person is a veteran expert of the outer sect, consistently ranking among the top fifteen. His cultivation has reached the peak of the fourth level of Qi Refining. He has a solid foundation and has been practicing the Mountain-Crushing Fist for five years. It is fierce, domineering, and powerful.
He mastered a basic set of Mountain-Crushing Fist techniques, capable of shattering bluestone and breaking through solid rock with a single punch. He was recognized by the outer sect as a master of close-combat and powerful attacks.
Upon seeing the match information, Zhao Hanshan, who was waiting by the ring, grinned coldly and clenched his fists.
Click!
A crisp cracking sound suddenly rang out, full of force.
He was tall and imposing, a head taller than Xie Yanchen, and stood on the stage like a small mountain, exuding a strong sense of pressure.
"Xie Yanchen." Zhao Hanshan looked down at him with scrutiny and disdain in his eyes and spoke loudly, "Others praise your unparalleled movement technique and the phenomenon that caused the spirit stone to appear. I don't care what unorthodox methods you used."
"On the ring, only strength and fists determine the victor!"
"My Mountain-Crushing Fist covers a range of three zhang (approximately 10 meters), its power and ferocity are unmatched. No matter how fast your movements are or how cunning your evasions are, you will have absolutely no chance to dodge!"
His voice was firm and resonant, brimming with confidence and arrogance.
Xie Yanchen slowly stepped onto the stage, stood opposite his opponent, neither arrogant nor impatient, and remained silent, simply assuming the initial stance of the Flowing Cloud Step.
His posture was relaxed, his breathing was steady, and there was no sign of tension or fear.
The arena was already surrounded by a dense crowd, three or four layers deep, making it impossible to move.
The outer disciples crowded on the outermost edge, standing on tiptoe to watch, holding their breath and concentrating. Many inner disciples who were not required to participate in actual combat also stopped to watch, all wanting to witness firsthand just how much real ability this mixed spiritual root, which overturned everyone's understanding, really had.
Elder Han Tiesong, the enforcer, stood to the side of the arena, his cold gaze sweeping over the two men. He said in a deep voice, "The contest begins!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Zhao Hanshan burst forth!
Without any probing, the attack was a killing blow from the very first move!
The first move of the Mountain-Crushing Fist – Shattering Stones!
He poured all his powerful Qi Refining Level 4 spiritual energy into his right arm, his fist enveloped in a thick, earthy-yellow spiritual light. The sound of it tearing through the air was ear-piercing and howling, carrying immense force as it struck Xie Yanchen's vital chest!
This punch was powerful and heavy, enough to shatter a millstone-sized bluestone. Ordinary outer disciples would not dare to take it head-on and could only dodge in a sorry state.
boom!
The heavy punch slammed into the bluestone slab of the arena, instantly causing the hard stone surface to crack and fly with fragments of stone, the force of which was terrifying.
The devastating blow that was anticipated did not occur.
Xie Yanchen's figure had already disappeared from the spot.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, he had already silently landed three steps to Zhao Hanshan's left.
The steps were light and silent, like willow catkins falling to the ground or a cat stepping on soft cotton. There was not a sound of wind or spiritual energy bursting, as if the cat had moved out of thin air, which was extremely strange.
Zhao Hanshan's pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart sank.
Before he could react, without retracting his right fist, he twisted his waist and swept out with his left fist, which carried even more violent spiritual power!
The second move of the Mountain-Crushing Fist – Earth-Splitting!
Specifically designed for agile opponents, it sweeps and blocks out a wide area, covering a radius of two zhang with the force of the punches, giving the opponent no room to dodge, and is extremely domineering.
The force of the punches was so strong that it almost blocked all escape routes.
However, it still didn't work out!
Just as the force of the punch was about to touch the hem of his clothes, Xie Yanchen slightly withdrew, taking only half a step back.
It was just a half-step difference, perfectly positioned at the very edge of the fist's reach.
The violent and fierce punches whistled past his clothes, making them flutter, but they couldn't hurt him in the slightest.
A collective gasp of astonishment erupted outside the arena.
A perfect half-step dodge, without the slightest error, is not only a testament to exquisite footwork, but also to the ultimate precision in predicting the opponent's speed, strength, range, and timing—precise to the millimeter!
After two consecutive punches missed their mark, Zhao Hanshan's rapid offensive came to an abrupt halt, and his breathing became slightly labored.
The Mountain-Crushing Fist is fierce and domineering, with unparalleled power, but the price is a huge consumption of spiritual energy.
After being hit by two consecutive heavy punches, he had to catch his breath briefly before he could continue his attack, creating a fatal opening in his offensive.
A once-in-a-lifetime flaw, fleeting in an instant.
Xie Yanchen seized this brief opportunity, no longer passively dodging, but taking the initiative to launch a sudden attack!
With the Flowing Cloud Step fully activated, his body suddenly lunged diagonally forward, abandoning the unnecessary side steps of the original technique. The optimized movement was more cunning, and his speed increased by more than 30%!
His figure moved like an arrow, instantly closing in on Zhao Hanshan's side.
Before his opponent could adjust his posture or defend, Xie Yanchen lightly raised his palm and precisely placed it on Zhao Hanshan's right rib.
This is precisely the core blind spot where the spiritual energy of the Mountain-Crushing Fist was pre-deduced and marked by the terminal!
The entire Crushing Mountain Fist technique has reached a point where the spiritual energy in the meridians is stagnant, making the defense extremely weak – an inherent flaw in the technique.
The force applied to the palm was gentle, lacking overwhelming power, yet it precisely severed the opponent's flowing spiritual energy.
With a soft hum, Zhao Hanshan's whole body trembled violently. The spiritual energy in the meridians of his right arm was instantly blocked, and the power he had been building up in his fist dissipated completely. His fierce strength was inexplicably depleted.
He staggered back two steps, unable to control his body, his breathing became disordered, and his mind was suddenly startled.
"The first move."
Xie Yanchen stood quietly, his tone calm, and slowly began to speak.
The entire venue fell into a deathly silence for a moment, then exploded with a deafening roar!
"One move! He broke Zhao Hanshan's offensive with just one move!"
"The Mountain-Crushing Fist was so easily countered? This is outrageous!"
"Zhao Hanshan couldn't even touch the hem of someone's clothes, and his spiritual power was easily disrupted!"
A commotion resounded throughout the area, and disbelief was written on everyone's face.
Zhao Hanshan's face flushed red, his heart filled with humiliation and resentment, and his eyes burned with rage.
After five years of dominating the outer sect and being invincible with his Mountain-Crushing Fist, he was now being crushed and toyed with by a Qi Refining Level 3 mixed spiritual root!
He gritted his teeth and shouted, forcibly suppressing his chaotic aura. His spiritual energy in his dantian boiled and poured into his arms without reservation.
Unleash your ultimate weapon, at full power!
The ultimate move of the Mountain-Crushing Fist – Mountain Collapse and Earth Shattering!
With both fists out, the earth-yellow spiritual energy frantically intertwined and condensed, transforming into a dense and thick giant net of spiritual energy that covered half of the arena, blocking all angles of evasion, determined to decide the outcome with a single blow!
This move is extremely powerful; it once blasted an opponent at the fourth level of Qi Refining three zhang away from the arena. It is Zhao Hanshan's winning trump card.
Faced with an overwhelming and deadly offensive, Xie Yanchen did not retreat but advanced instead.
With a light and agile figure, he weaved and shifted through the gaps in the dense and violent punches.
Without directly confronting or dodging, the movements are like flowing water piercing through stone or drifting clouds across the landscape. With each turn of the body, the most violent areas of spiritual energy are precisely avoided, perfectly taking advantage of the gaps in the opponent's attacks.
Amidst everyone's horrified gazes, he instantly broke through the giant net of spiritual energy and approached Zhao Hanshan's mouth!
Zhao Hanshan unleashed a barrage of punches, his offensive on the front line overwhelming, leaving his central defense completely vulnerable and revealing a fatal flaw.
Xie Yanchen extended his right palm and landed steadily three inches above the opponent's dantian.
This is the most fatal rhythmic flaw in the entire Bengshan Fist technique!
When spiritual energy flows to this point, a natural stagnation will occur, a fundamental flaw that no cultivator throughout history has been able to detect or avoid.
With a gentle push, the force is precise and subtle.
click-
The invisible chain of spiritual energy snapped instantly.
Zhao Hanshan's spiritual energy was completely disrupted, the protective aura around his body suddenly dissipated, and the circulation of spiritual energy in his dantian was directly interrupted.
His massive, burly body instantly lost its strength, his legs buckled, and he knelt heavily on one knee, panting heavily. His whole body was weak and sore, and he couldn't muster even a fraction of his spiritual power for more than ten breaths.
"The second move."
Xie Yanchen withdrew his hand, calmly took a step back, and remained composed.
The entire hall fell completely silent.
If the first move was luck or coincidence, then the second move was a naked display of overwhelming strength!
He defeated his opponent in two moves, clean and efficient throughout, without any intense clashes or overwhelming power, yet he precisely grasped all the flaws, weaknesses, and rhythmic shortcomings in his opponent's techniques.
This is hardly a battle between players of the same level.
This is clearly a top-level master who has mastered the origin of the cultivation method, crushing a novice who is clueless about cultivation!
After a dozen or so breaths, Zhao Hanshan managed to regulate his breathing and slowly stood up.
The rage, resentment, and humiliation on his face faded away, leaving only a deep sense of complexity and awe.
He knew perfectly well that he had lost completely and accepted his defeat wholeheartedly.
Not only was his opponent's movement technique far superior to his own, but his understanding and comprehension of the Mountain-Crushing Fist far surpassed the accumulation of his five years of arduous training.
"I lost."
Zhao Hanshan solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute to Xie Yanchen, his voice hoarse, and readily admitted defeat.
Han Tiesong remained silent for a long time by the ring, his expression shifting, before finally announcing in a deep voice: "Xie Yanchen wins the first round of the third group!"
Applause, cheers, and exclamations instantly swept across the entire spirit-measuring platform, the sound like waves reverberating through the mountains.
The outer disciples erupted in excitement, cheering and shouting with abandon.
Three years of obscurity, unknown to the world; one day of fame, astonishing all!
This once despised and trampled-on mixed-elemental trash, who was despised and trampled on by the entire sect, completely shattered everyone's preconceived notions with two extremely amazing duels!
Xie Yanchen stepped off the stage, his face calm, without a trace of pride or arrogance, and silently retreated to a corner of the waiting area.
His gaze swept over the bustling crowd and landed precisely on the inner waiting area.
Zhou Chong still hadn't shown up, but the playful expression on the face of the fifth-level Qi Refining inner disciple who had delivered the message had vanished, replaced by a gloomy and cold scrutiny, with the hostility in his eyes growing stronger.
Xie Yanchen lowered his eyes slightly, his mind calm.
The first round of matches was just a warm-up.
The real battles and the real conflicts are yet to come in the rear.
In his mind, the terminal asked softly: Host, you are already able to crush your opponent with all your might, so why did you deliberately hold back and not reveal your full combat power?
Xie Yanchen slightly opened his eyes, a faint, cold glint flashing in them, and murmured to himself:
"We've kept a plan. Many plans. Revealing all our cards too early will only attract endless scrutiny and suppression, which is counterproductive."
The most reliable way to break through this impasse is to proceed step by step and rise gradually.