chapter 36 This is the gap ===

"Doctor, where's the doctor?" Eddie Zou was shocked. "This is an expert. Only the doctor could handle this." "No need to call the doctor. This is an expert on the verge of breaking through the martial true realm, the doctor probably has been taken down already," Thorpe Chen shook his head and said. The martial path is divided into three stages. The beginner level is the warrior, where energy flows through the body and can be controlled, but the internal energy only circulates within and cannot be emitted. Further in, there's the Extreme Martial True Realm, where one can hurt others with hidden energy. As for the highest realm of martial arts, known as the Xuanwu sect realm, also called the martial sect, these are the peak warriors who can condense their energy into a sword. Even fallen leaves and flowers can be used at will. This old man has reached the peak of warrior stage, emitting a small amount of internal energy. One more step, and he'll be in the martial true realm, a true expert. "Heh, the young man has sharp eyes, able to discern my level at a glance," Qing Zhou said arrogantly, glancing at Thorpe Chen. "Mr. Chen, save me," Eddie Zou, trembling all over, pleaded. The elder was only two meters away. With a flick of his wrist, he could take Eddie's life. "Mr. Zou, this is a matter of martial world feuds. I shouldn't intervene," Thorpe Chen shook his head. "Mr. Chen, if you can save me, I'll reward you handsomely," Eddie Zou's face turned pale as he begged. "Eddie Zou, with the second in command of the Azure Dragon Society here in person, do you think this young man can save you?" Qing Zhou sneered, "None of the people here today will leave alive." "What did you say?" Thorpe Chen looked at Qing Zhou slanting. "Mr. Chen, the Azure Dragon Society doesn't follow the martial world's rules. They can't let word get out, so they will kill everyone here. If you have a way, please save me," Eddie Zou said with trembling hands. He wasn't sure if Thorpe Chen could save him, after all, this was a martial arts expert. But now, he could only pin all his hopes on Thorpe Chen. "How much did you say you'd give me if I saved you?" Thorpe Chen stood up. "50 million, and if you save me, I'll be your dog from now on," Eddie Zou gritted his teeth. "Deal," Thorpe Chen nodded. "Heh, young pup, you probably don't know what martial arts or a real expert is," Qing Zhou laughed, his eyelids drooping, not even looking at Thorpe Chen, "Your eyesight is good for recognizing my realm." "If you're to blame, it's only because of your bad luck. You saw things you shouldn't have and got involved in matters you shouldn't," Qing Zhou said leisurely. "Honestly, I initially didn't want to get involved in your affairs, but now it seems that I have no choice," Thorpe Chen said reluctantly, "I'll give you a chance." "You? Giving me a chance?" Qing Zhou thought he heard wrong. "Yes, I'm giving you a chance. Destroy your diaphragm, sever both your hands and I'll spare your life," Thorpe Chen said indifferently. "Arrogant. I've practised martial arts for over forty years, and my breakthrough is imminent. Since you're being disrespectful, I'll take you down today," Qing Zhou was enraged, "I'll show you what a true warrior is." With a loud shout, Qing Zhou stepped forward, his body making crackling noises. His energy concentrated in his right fist, and he threw a punch. Qing Zhou's realm was already at the true peak of the warrior. With decades of cultivation, his practice was extremely profound. Especially with a full-force punch, he could dent steel, let alone human flesh. Thorpe Chen stood still, treating Qing Zhou's terrifying punch as nothing. In an instant, the punch was almost upon him, and it seemed Thorpe Chen was about to be struck down. Suddenly, Thorpe Chen extended his right hand, firmly gripping Qing Zhou's punch. "You..." Qing Zhou's face changed drastically. He never considered Thorpe Chen as an opponent, believing that his decades of cultivation would allow him to knock Thorpe Chen out with a single punch. However, he never expected that the seemingly young Thorpe Chen could withstand his full-force punch. "At the peak of a warrior, just one step away from reaching the pinnacle of martial arts. Not bad." Thorpe Chen smiled slightly, "Today, I'll show you that there's always someone better out there." As Thorpe Chen's voice fell, he twisted Qing Zhou's fist slightly, and with a series of cracking sounds, Qing Zhou's sleeve burst open, his arm twisted like a twist. "Ah..." Qing Zhou screamed as his arm broke inch by inch. Thorpe Chen condensed his internal energy in his right hand and chopped at him in mid-air. With a splash, Qing Zhou's body was sent flying by Thorpe Chen's hand chop, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and all the ribs in his chest were broken. "It's impossible... How can you project your inner energy outward? This is a skill only masters at the second level of martial arts, the true martial realm, can achieve." Qing Zhou knelt on one knee, looking at Thorpe Chen in shock. He had been practising martial arts for over forty years and had barely reached the peak of a warrior. Whether he could break through to the next realm was another matter. But for Thorpe Chen to be able to project his energy outward and hurt people with it? Given his age, even if he started cultivating from the womb, it would be impossible to achieve such a state. Thorpe Chen's figure flashed, and he was already next to Qing Zhou, "I told you to end it yourself, but you wouldn't listen and forced me to make a move." "I am the second leader of the Azure Dragon Society. If you hurt me, the Azure Dragon Society will never let you go... Ah..." Before Qing Zhou could finish his threat, both his arms were twisted behind his back like chicken wings. At the same time, Thorpe Chen pointed at a specific acupoint on him, using the domineering energy of the Tai Xuan Holy Scripture to destroy his energy centre. "Look at my face closely. My name is Thorpe Chen." Thorpe Chen smiled, "If the Azure Dragon Society wants to take revenge, make sure you don't get the wrong person." "Alright, alright, I recognize you. The Azure Dragon Society will never let you go." Qing Zhou gritted his teeth, glaring at Thorpe Chen. "Get out," Thorpe Chen said coldly, glancing at him. Biting his teeth, Qing Zhou struggled to stand up. Now that his energy centre was destroyed, his life's cultivation was lost. He seemed to have aged by a decade and had lost his martial path forever. "Mr. Chen, it's always better to nip the problem in the bud. If you let him go, he will come back for revenge," Eddie Zou said urgently. "If you kill him, will the Azure Dragon Society not come back?" Thorpe Chen replied with a grin, "If he doesn't report back, how can we have a reason to wipe out the Azure Dragon Society in one go?" "Mr. Chen, the Azure Dragon Society is very powerful," Eddie Zou's face changed colour. "So what?" Thorpe Chen said indifferently, "I broke Qing Zhou's arms and destroyed his energy centre. Even if I didn't kill him, to a martial artist, this is worse than death." "If I dare to do this, it means I don't take the Azure Dragon Society seriously. Besides, your nemesis has colluded with the Azure Dragon Society. Can you sleep at night knowing they're still out there?" Eddie Zou came to a sudden realization. He hurriedly bowed and presented a check, "Mr. Chen, here's 50 million. From now on, my life is yours." The more Eddie Zou interacted with Thorpe Chen, the more he felt Thorpe Chen was not simple. He had witnessed Qing Zhou's strength; a punch from him could kill a bull. His nemesis, Noah Du, had teamed up with the Azure Dragon Society. If he didn't cling to Thorpe Chen, he would meet a tragic end. Thorpe Chen took out an apricot-coloured piece of paper and a pair of scissors. Moments later, a paper figure appeared in his hand. "Give me your hand." After shaping the paper figure, Thorpe Chen looked up at Eddie Zou. Eddie Zou stretched out his hand. Thorpe Chen pointed his sword finger, making a small cut on Eddie Zou's palm. Blood oozed out. Thorpe Chen grabbed his hand and smeared the blood on the paper figure.