Chapter 778 - 778: 778
At the Southern Xingyi School, everyone was extremely tense. When Du Tianyi was at close range with Du Fei during the fight, this round was already secured for victory. However, now that they had distanced themselves, the Southern Xingyi School couldn't fully display its skills. On the other hand, the imposing fists and feet of the Northern Xingyi School could be executed freely, making the situation somewhat unpredictable.
Among the crowd, only Ye Qing remained utterly calm, as he knew the situation the best. What use was Du Fei's distancing himself? Du Tianyi had practiced both North-South Xingyi Quan and was personally taught by the Southern Fist King Shen Tianjun. He definitely wasn't much weaker than Du Fei.
After Du Fei increased their distance, he immediately changed his weakening momentum, displaying his fists and feet wildly as he attacked Du Tianyi. At the same time, he was extremely cautious, not getting too close to Du Tianyi to avoid disadvantage.
However, after fighting for a while, he suddenly sensed something was off. Because, as Du Tianyi fought, he noticed the moves were quite similar to his own, even more powerful in fists and feet, exactly imitating the Northern Xingyi School's boxing technique!
"How... how could this be?" Du Yongwu couldn't help but shout, "This is clearly our Northern Xingyi School's boxing technique, Wei Hua. Your people from the Southern Xingyi School have actually stolen our Northern Xingyi School's techniques!?"
Wei Hua himself was also very surprised, unable to understand what exactly was happening. The boxing technique Du Tianyi was using was indeed Xingyi Quan, but it was indeed the Northern Xingyi School's technique, completely different from that of the Southern Xingyi School.
"Stealing our techniques, no wonder you can defeat our men. Your people from the Southern Xingyi School are too despicable!" another person shouted loudly.
"Exactly, Big Brother, there's no need to fight them anymore, what's the point of continuing with these despicable and shameful people?"
As Du Yongwu's disciples shouted out, Du Yongwu frowned deeply, his gaze fixed on Wei Hua as he spoke sternly, "Wei Hua, explain this to me!"
Stealing martial arts was a great taboo in the martial arts world, and this matter was of great significance. With no advantage on Du Yongwu's side, he simply shifted to the topic of stealing martial arts, seeking to use this to leverage against the people from the Southern Xingyi School.
"Don't slander us, when did my Junior Brother steal your martial arts?"
"That's right, the boxing techniques of the South and North Xingyi Gate are quite similar. What do you mean by us stealing yours, I might as well say you stole ours!"
"Junior Brother, don't bother with them, continue fighting!"
The people from the Southern Xingyi School retorted, but Du Yongwu completely ignored them, just staring down Wei Hua. The matter of stealing martial arts isn't something you can just deny, so he didn't need to argue on this point, just needed an explanation from Wei Hua.
Right then, as Du Tianyi was engaging Du Fei, he shouted loudly, "Uncle Du, I haven't stolen your Northern Xingyi School's boxing techniques. Because, the boxing technique I practice is not the same as your Northern Xingyi School's!"
"At this point, you still want to argue?" Du Yongwu shouted in anger, "This is clearly my Northern Xingyi School's technique. Even if you deny it, can you deny it? The heroes of the world are not blind, they can see for themselves!"
"Then watch closely!" Du Tianyi shouted loudly, suddenly stepped to the side, his hands positioned one in front and one behind, both striking out.
Seeing this, Du Yongwu immediately shouted in anger, "This is exactly my Northern Xingyi School's technique, Double Thunder Charging the Heavens, no mistake there!"
"Look again!" Du Tianyi shouted back, his fists already fast approaching Du Fei's face.
This was a technique of the Northern Xingyi School, and Du Fei was very familiar with this move. He reflexively went to block, raising his foot to kick Du Tianyi away. However, just as he thought he had caught Du Tianyi's hands, Du Tianyi's fists suddenly changed direction, wrists subtly twisting to dodge his hands. Simultaneously, one fist struck his raised leg and the other went straight into his chest, sending Du Fei staggering back several steps, almost out of the ring.
This stunned Du Yongwu momentarily, his eyes widened, not responding for a long while. The Double Thunder Charging the Heavens he knew was clear, but what Du Tianyi executed was somewhat different from their Northern Xingyi School's method. The final transition was incredibly clever, utterly beyond his expectations and something he had never seen before.
What exactly was going on? If Du Tianyi had stolen the Northern Xingyi School's techniques, how could there be such a variation? It must be known, the variation Du Tianyi used at the end, none in the Northern Xingyi School knew it. Yet, if he hadn't stolen from the Northern Xingyi School, where did he learn this set of Northern Xingyi Fist from?
"Uncle Du, this move is not actually called Double Thunder Charging the Heavens, but is called Double Thunder Charging the Heavens, Divided Above and Below!" Du Tianyi calmly looked at Du Yongwu, "You should have heard of this name, right!"
Du Yongwu's expression changed drastically as he looked at Du Tianyi in astonishment and said, "You...you...how do you know the full name of the Double Thunder Charging the Heavens's upper and lower moves?"
Indeed, that was the complete name of the technique. However, the Northern Xingyi School had suffered heavy losses in the past. The boxing manuals of the Northern Xingyi School had gone missing, and many experts in the school had died or been injured, leaving only a few who rewrote the boxing manuals of the Northern Xingyi Fist. However, these few weren't very strong, and many powerful techniques of the Northern Xingyi Fist were not fully restored. Double Thunder Charging the Heavens was one such incomplete technique. Due to the modifications, the few who remained were unable to record the subsequent variations, so the technique morphed into what it was now, even the name was changed.
When Du Yongwu was learning from the elders in the school, he had heard about these past events and naturally knew some of the original names of the techniques. But, he had never actually seen this complete technique performed, not even the senior members in his school could execute it. Now, seeing it resurrected in a young man, the shock in his heart was imaginable!
Seeing Du Yongwu's silence, the people of the Southern Xingyi School were also extremely astonished. They had thought that Du Tianyi's Northern Xingyi Fist was merely imitated, but now, it seemed that things were not as they had imagined.
In the arena, Du Fei was also stunned for a moment but quickly charged again, engaging in combat with Du Tianyi. This time, he still kept his distance, but his Northern Xingyi Fist was not as complete as the one Du Tianyi was using. How could he be a match for Du Tianyi? It didn't take long before he was pushed out of the circle by Du Tianyi, who won another round.
After this match, everyone in the place was still in shock, pondering the earlier claims by the Northern Xingyi School that Du Tianyi had stolen their martial arts. Thus, it took quite a while for everyone to come to their senses. The Southern Xingyi School's members immediately cheered, while the Northern Xingyi School's members were extremely dejected.
With this victory, Du Tianyi had won another match, totaling five victories for the Southern Xingyi School. Out of ten matches total, this meant that even if the Southern Xingyi School lost all the remaining matches, they would at least tie, securing an unbeatable position for themselves!
Wei Hua was grinning so wide his mouth could hardly close. He had thought that the Southern Xingyi School was doomed to fail by his hand. Unexpectedly, such a change had occurred, and now the Southern Xingyi School was already in an unbeatable position, completely beyond his expectations.
"Uncle Du, shall we continue?" Wei Hua asked with a light smile, the shift in the situation giving him more of a desire to keep going. If the Southern Xingyi School won, wouldn't the Northern Xingyi School have to submit to them?
Staring intensely at Du Tianyi in the arena, Du Yongwu saw that move by Du Tianyi, and could no longer accuse him of stealing their martial arts. Moreover, now that the Southern Xingyi School was in an unbeatable position, continuing the fight would only make it much harder for them. But, if they chose not to continue, wouldn't that be akin to admitting defeat?
After hesitating for a moment, Du Yongwu gritted his teeth and said, "Of course we'll continue. This time I will send..."
Before he could finish, Wei Hua interrupted, "Uncle Du, if we continue, there's no need to rush. It's already noon, and since we still have two matches to go, why don't we all have lunch first?"
Du Tianyi had fought two matches in a row, and his strength was considerably depleted. Wei Hua was clearly buying time for Du Tianyi to rest, preventing Du Yongwu from employing the tactic of fighting him in quick succession.
Ye Qing patted the Taekwondo Gym Master's shoulder and laughed, "Master Tie is right, we're all pretty hungry by now. We should eat first, don't you think?"
The Taekwondo Gym Master, with a mournful face and Ye Qing standing beside him, dared not remain silent and could only helplessly nod and say, "Yes, yes, let's eat first, eat first..."
The other heads of martial arts schools, noticing the situation, knew that the Southern Xingyi School was essentially unbeatable. These people were like reeds swaying with the wind, quick to kowtow to the prevailing force. Seeing the Southern Xingyi School holding the upper hand, they all immediately voiced their support for the meal, indirectly backing the Southern Xingyi School.
Thus, although Du Yongwu really wanted to take this opportunity to defeat Du Tianyi, with everyone agreeing on having a meal, he could hardly oppose the group and could only reluctantly nod in agreement, all the while feeling extremely frustrated inside. He had just fought several of the Southern Xingyi School's members consecutively, and now he had been countered with his own strategy. With Du Tianyi's skills, if he were allowed to rest adequately, who in the Northern Xingyi School could beat him?
Even though Du Tianyi was not particularly tired, having a chance to rest was certainly the best scenario for him.
Wei Hua instructed his men, and the people of the Southern Xingyi School immediately went down to prepare the meal. Before long, several tables laden with abundant dishes were set up.
"Uncle Du, you are an elder, please take the seat of honor!" Wei Hua specifically went over to invite Du Yongwu.
However, Du Yongwu waved his hand and said, "No need, we brought our own dry food!"
As he spoke, Du Yongwu turned and walked straight out to the courtyard, sat down on the ground with a group of disciples, and started gnawing on the dry food they had brought.
Seeing this, Wei Hua couldn't help feeling a bit annoyed and said, "Is Uncle Du afraid that we might poison the food? Although Tie is not strong, he wouldn't stoop to such shameful acts!"