Chapter 141: Palm Strike and Combat Power Control

What shocked Qin Wei even more was that Jing Wuchen actually took the initiative to cup his fists and bow in apology to Xia Jiuxuan.

He was the sovereign of a nation!
Even if there had been some impropriety, it was impossible for him to apologize to anyone.
Doing so would compromise his majesty!

Not only was Qin Wei stunned, but the crown prince slumped on the ground and the terrified seventh princess were also struck with immense panic.
The two of them felt as if they were plummeting into an endless abyss, gripped by extreme anxiety.

Just what kind of background did this young man possess?!
Not only did he wield terrifying sword intent, but even the sovereign was apologizing to him?
How terrifying.

Since the other party showed courtesy, Xia Jiuxuan did not hold back either.
He immediately stepped forward and cupped his fists toward Jing Wuchen. "Your Majesty is too polite; it was merely a small misunderstanding. I thank Your Majesty for stepping in to save me earlier. I will certainly repay this kindness heavily, Xia."

Jing Wuchen laughed heartily. "Truly a young hero. I have already heard your deeds from my nephew Qin, and I admire you greatly."

"Oh?" Xia Jiuxuan smiled. "Does Your Majesty not think I am a murderous fiend who deserves to be hacked into a thousand pieces?"

Jing Wuchen shook his head with a smile. "Whether you kill or not is not my concern. What I admire most is your courage—daring to single-handedly make enemies of a hundred external sects. Such courage is unmatched throughout ancient and modern times! Of course, this is also related to Young Friend Xia's exceptional strength. To be able to roam the world freely at such a tender age is something I deeply admire."

"Hahaha." Xia Jiuxuan gave a light chuckle. "Your Majesty flatters me too much."

"You are being too modest." Before Jing Wuchen could speak, Qin Wudao chimed in from the side.

Xia Jiuxuan's gaze fell upon Qin Wudao, pausing slightly.
"Uncle Qin is no ordinary man either."

In this lifetime, Xia Jiuxuan was merely a youth, so addressing a friend's father as uncle was entirely reasonable.

A strange glint flashed in Qin Wudao's eyes as he said, "Young Nephew Xia, I heard from Wei'er that it was entirely thanks to you that he managed to save his life. Let me thank you first."

Before Xia Jiuxuan could reply, Qin Wudao's tone shifted abruptly. "However, since you just now disrupted the order of the imperial capital and injured the crown prince, as a minister, I must naturally uphold the majesty of the royal family. Therefore..."

"Father!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Wei's expression changed drastically. He wanted to step forward to explain, but Qin Wudao rebuked him with a shout!

"Brother Qin, the youngsters had a minor misunderstanding; there is no need to take it so seriously," Jing Wuchen said indifferently, though it didn't sound like he intended to stop it.

"Father..."
Seeing this, Qin Wei once again wanted to step forward with an explanation.

"Step back!"
Qin Wudao barked harshly, forcing Qin Wei back with the sheer shock of his voice.

Qin Wei widened his eyes, a complex mixture of emotions surging within his heart.
Right now, he had no idea what he should do.

Xia Jiuxuan remained as calm as still water, seemingly having seen through Qin Wudao's intentions. "Could it be that Uncle Qin wishes to offer me a few pointers?"

"I wouldn't dare call it offering pointers; I merely wish to spar with Young Nephew Xia. If I, Qin, am defeated, I shall naturally implore His Majesty not to pursue the matter from just now. But if I win, I must ask Young Nephew Xia to offer an apology to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince," Qin Wudao said calmly.

Xia Jiuxuan smiled.

He understood Qin Wudao's intent.
First, Qin Wudao wanted to test his strength.
Second, he was trying to provide a graceful way out for them; otherwise, the royal family would lose all face.
Of course, whether or not a graceful exit was possible would be decided entirely by strength.
The one who lost did not deserve to save face!

"Does Your Majesty agree?" Xia Jiuxuan looked toward Jing Wuchen.

Jing Wuchen held his hands behind his back. "Since Brother Qin is inclined to spar with Young Nephew Xia, it is not my place to stop the two of you. Let it be as Brother Qin suggested."

"Very well!" Xia Jiuxuan nodded immediately.
After all, the other party had braved the enmity of a hundred external sects to clear a path for him; he still had to give them this face.

"Young Nephew Xia, please."
Qin Wudao made a gesture of invitation, and the crowd immediately stepped back, clearing a pathway.

Xia Jiuxuan followed Qin Wudao and flew to the outer plaza, the two of them standing opposite one another.

"Uncle Qin, how shall we spar?" Xia Jiuxuan asked.

"You and I will exchange three palms to decide the victor. How about that?" Qin Wudao stated directly.

"No problem." Xia Jiuxuan nodded.

"Make your move!"
Qin Wudao did not drag things out.
Channeling his true Qi, he immediately struck out with a single palm.

Xia Jiuxuan's eyes brightened. This palm appeared ordinary, but it was actually imbued with profound charm.
He had seen it earlier: this Qin Wudao was by no means an ordinary person.

"Xuanwu Strike!"
Xia Jiuxuan also unleashed a palm strike.
What he employed was not any lethal kill-move, but rather a palm technique leaning toward defense.
This palm technique lacked offensive might, but its protective defense was exceptionally steadfast.

Bang!
As the two palms met, shockwaves rippled outward, crashing against the protective barrier of the plaza.
The entire plaza trembled slightly.
Both of their figures retreated over a dozen yards.

"Good!"
Qin Wudao couldn't help but shout out in praise!
His previous palm strike was powerful enough to obliterate a Saint-realm cultivator!
He hadn't expected the other party to receive it so effortlessly.

Of course, upon first arriving here, he had witnessed Xia Jiuxuan's blazing sword intent and concluded that Xia Jiuxuan possessed the strength of a high-level Saint realm.
Therefore, he wasn't overly surprised that Xia Jiuxuan could block his palm.

"Young Nephew Xia, you must handle the next palm properly," Qin Wudao warned.

"Please, do not hold back," Xia Jiuxuan said with a faint smile.

Qin Wudao spread his palm, and the surrounding air condensed into a vortex centered around his hand.
The color of the vortex deepened continuously until it finally turned pitch black.

"A high-tier martial art, Netherworld Palm." Xia Jiuxuan recognized it at a glance. This technique was not something found within the mortal martial realms.
Even in the external realms, few people were able to cultivate it.
This palm technique was formidable, but Qin Wudao's cultivation level was not particularly high—merely in the Saint realm.
Thus, when wielding it, he could not bring out its maximum potential.

With a thought, Xia Jiuxuan selected a palm technique of the same tier.
"Quicksand Palm!"
This palm technique possessed a soft, yielding force, perfectly countering the rigid and fierce Netherworld Palm.

Bang!
Their palms met in mid-air.
The tremor caused this time was far greater than before, almost shattering the protective barrier of the plaza!

The surrounding spectators, including Jing Wuchen, were stirred with intense excitement.
"I never expected Xia Jiuxuan to be this heaven-defying!" Jing Wuchen praised sincerely.
Others might not know Qin Wudao's true strength, but he knew it all too well!
Among all the hundreds of mortal kingdoms, who dared claim they could definitely defeat Qin Wudao? None!

In truth, Jing Wuchen's boldness in opposing the hundred external sects was largely due to having Qin Wudao by his side.

After the commotion subsided,
In the sky, Xia Jiuxuan and Qin Wudao each retreated once more, the distance between them coincidentally being exactly ten yards again.

At this moment, the look in Qin Wudao's eyes as he gazed at Xia Jiuxuan changed.
He seemed to have realized something.

"Young Nephew Xia, you are deliberately controlling your strength!"
Qin Wudao saw through it. There was no way two consecutive clashes would result in them retreating the exact same distance of ten yards by mere coincidence!
The opponent had precisely estimated the power of his palm strike and chosen to respond with a palm of the exact same force, producing this outcome!

"Uncle Qin, aren't you doing the exact same thing?" Xia Jiuxuan's lips curled upward.
He had also realized that Qin Wudao was regulating his power as well, intending to cap his strength right at the threshold required to narrowly defeat him.

"Hahaha." Qin Wudao laughed heartily. "Young Nephew Xia is truly a dragon among men; I underestimated you after all. For this final palm, let us both use our strongest strike. How about it?"

"I wouldn't want it any other way." Xia Jiuxuan nodded.