Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3423: Huang Moon

The disciple walked with the gait of a man who had fought countless battles and had won most of them. His confidence was not arrogance.

It was earned.

Many cheered his arrival. Huang Moon was a favorite among sect members and a respected fighter among independents. Even those rooting for Lin Mu felt a surge of anticipation.

Finally, Lin Mu had a worthy starting opponent.

Huang Moon stopped before Lin Mu and cupped his fists respectfully.

"Disciple Huang Moon greets fellow contestant Lin Mu. May our match be honorable."

Lin Mu mirrored the gesture with calm sincerity. "Lin Mu greets Core Disciple Huang Moon. Let us give it our best."

The respect between them was real. And it only fueled the excitement in the arena.

The referee raised his hand.

"Contestants, take your positions."

They walked to their starting marks.

The referee dropped his hand.

"Begin!"

Huang Moon moved instantly.

Lin Mu did not.

The difference in their approach made the audience lean forward with wide eyes. Huang Moon surged forward with a controlled burst of strength. His aura erupted outward like a cracking mountain. Immortal essence flooded his limbs and the distinct golden sheen of the Martial Fist King Sect’s famous body cultivation technique shone on his arms.

A ripple passed over the ring. Dust lifted from the ground. The air trembled.

"It is the Fist King Battle Technique."

"Look, he is preparing the Charging Fist."

"That is a proper opening move. He is not underestimating his opponent."

"That is good. But why is Lin Mu not moving?"

"Is he scared? Nervous? Frozen?"

"No, look at his breathing. It is steady."

"He is waiting."

Indeed, Lin Mu did not shift his stance in the slightest. He simply watched.

Huang Moon cocked his arm back and the golden ripple behind him thickened. It was a technique that built momentum in a single heartbeat. The arena shook as he punched forward.

"Charging Fist!"

The punch was fast. It was strong. It was vigorous enough that many cultivators in the audience felt their bones vibrate from the shockwave.

It was not a simple punch. It was a signature strike of the Martial Fist King Sect, built to overwhelm body, spirit, and technique in one blow.

BANG

It struck Lin Mu square in the chest.

And everything froze.

The dust settled. The shockwave dissipated.

Lin Mu stood exactly where he had been.

He had not shifted even half a finger in response.

His clothes fluttered a little from the air pressure, but that was it. His body had not budged. His expression remained unchanged.

A fist rested against his chest.

Only Huang Moon’s expression had changed.

He looked down at his shaking hand. He felt pain radiating up his wrist and into his arm. His knuckles burned. His skin felt bruised. His bones trembled.

It felt as if he had punched a steel mountain. No, a steel mountain would have given a little. This felt like punching a mountain made from divine adamantium.

The crowd erupted in gasps.

"He did not dodge."

"He did not block."

"He took it head on."

"How is that possible?"

"Huang Moon’s Charging Fist is enough to crack a Mid Grade defensive formation."

"This Lin Mu is insane."

Up in the private viewing box, Cattaleya burst out laughing.

"That is our Lin Mu."

Meng Bai nodded proudly. "Master is the strongest."

Dongxu Ning watched wide eyed. "He took that without even adjusting his stance. Incredible."

Elyon smirked. "This is going to be interesting."

Daoist Chu muttered, "I feel bad for Huang Moon now."

Lin Mu finally spoke.

"Nice hit."

His tone was plain. Almost gentle. He placed one hand on Huang Moon’s fist and removed it from his chest as if brushing away lint.

Then he added, just as calmly,

"My turn."

Huang Moon’s heartbeat skipped.

The arena held its breath.

And Lin Mu finally began to move.

Lin Mu stood in the ring, Huang Moon’s fist just a couple inches from his chest. The audience held its collective breath, uncertain what Lin Mu would do next.

He had said, "My turn," but had yet to move.

Inside, Lin Mu pondered something unexpectedly trivial.

Should he flick him away like Cattaleya?

The idea came to him naturally. After watching Catt send thousands of cultivators flying with a single flick, it felt almost normal. He imagined raising a finger and sending Huang Moon tumbling through the air like a pebble hit by a sling.

But then Lin Mu hesitated.

Huang Moon had shown him respect. He had saluted properly, had not looked down on him, and had fought with sincerity. To flick him away as if he were an insect would feel crude and disrespectful.

Lin Mu decided quickly that he should give Huang Moon a dignified defeat.

’A punch would be better.’

A proper punch. No technique, no enhancement, no use of body cultivation, no Dao. A simple blow delivered by the strength of his body alone.

Lin Mu fully removed the trembling fist from his chest with a gentle motion, then stepped forward with a small shift of weight.

He mirrored Huang Moon’s earlier stance, cocking his fist back.

The audience leaned forward as one.

"Is he using a fist skill?"

"No. I cannot sense any Immortal essence gathering."

"Then what is he doing?"

Elyon smirked. "He is being polite."

Cattaleya cracked her knuckles with pride. "That is our Lin Mu."

Daoist Chu shook his head. "No mercy."

Meng Bai whispered with awe, "Master is really something else."

Even Dongxu Ning watched as if observing a legendary story unfold.

Lin Mu’s fist was calm. There were no swirling energies. No glowing aura. No shockwaves distorting the air. It did not look like preparation for an attack powerful enough to shatter another cultivator’s body.

If anything, it looked gentle.

Then he punched.

SHUA

There was no delay between preparation and action. No dramatic pause. His fist simply flashed forward.

Huang Moon did not even see it.

One moment Lin Mu’s arm was cocked back. The next instant, his fist was embedded in Huang Moon’s chest.