Chapter 674: Chapter 223 The Number One in the World (Please Subscribe)_4

The various traits displayed by Leonard Churchill made him an ideal candidate for succession.

For a person who is halfway into the grave, if there is something they are truly obsessed with,

one would be martial arts;

the other is to find a suitable successor for the martial path they have dedicated their life to.

Intelligent, aware of the bigger picture, rational, exceptionally talented, determined will, and of good character…

What reason is there to refuse?

But Barre Shepherd had a secret burden in his heart.

He had sworn that he would never take on another disciple in this life.

Moreover, when he looked at Leonard Churchill, he always felt there was something about the boy he didn’t quite understand.

“Your words do make a good reason,”

Barre Shepherd didn’t rush to agree, but stood up and pointed to his belt, saying, “Since I’ve drunk your wine, I won’t take advantage of you. If you can touch my belt, I will pass on to you the Gluttony Secret Method.”

He gave the other person a chance, and gave himself an out.

He thought that if this young man could really do it, even if he didn’t take him as a disciple, he would still teach him earnestly.

When Leonard Churchill heard this, he didn’t beat around the bush but bowed respectfully, “Please bestow your teaching, senior!”

With the opportunity before him, there was no room for hesitation.

…

Before the words even settled, Leonard Churchill had vanished on the spot.

In front of a master of this level, sneak attacks carry no psychological burden.

Almost as soon as he spoke, a huge werewolf had already lunged for the old man’s belt with one swipe.

Barre Shepherd watched Leonard Churchill in his werewolf form, seemingly surprised by his exaggerated physical fitness, and his heart admired, “Quite interesting…”

To see such strength in a body of the Third Tier was a first in his life.

At such a close distance, touching the belt seemed to be within Leonard Churchill’s reach.

However, just as he reached out, he found his hand grasping at air; the elder had dissipated into an illusion.

“Such swift movement!”

Leonard Churchill thought urgently, but he wasn’t surprised.

Although the opponent was moving faster than his senses could track, by observing the leftover footprints and weight distribution to the right, Leonard Churchill predicted the elder’s dodge would be to the left.

Leonard Churchill decisively reached out to the left.

“Whoosh!”

The wolf claw sliced through the air, leaving behind a trail of shadows.

His prediction was correct.

But regrettably, he still only touched afterimages.

Leonard Churchill changed direction again, unleashing the Wolf Fang Wind Fist like lightning, his wolf claws filling the sky.

The senior didn’t attempt to run far; with a playful mindset, he just circled and dodged.

As soon as the two clashed, a miraculous scene unfolded.

Leonard Churchill flailed on the spot, his feet barely moving, but his claw shadows filled the air.

And even more astonishingly, around him, it seemed as if seven or eight emaciated elder afterimages appeared, moving in all directions…

It seemed so close within reach, but not a piece of clothing was touched.

However, after getting familiar with the close-range dodging rhythm, Leonard Churchill suddenly switched his punching technique, from the high-frequency Wolf Fang Wind Fist to a close-body, entangling palm method like a snake.

This change made Barre Shepherd involuntarily exclaim in surprise, “Eh… You’ve even mastered the ‘Wandering Body Palm’ at your tier?”

However, the surprise was only momentary.

As he spoke, the elder didn’t forget to quip, “Fancy tricks.”

In the eyes of outsiders, Leonard Churchill’s martial skills were techniques for killing.

They were both mysterious and legendary moves…

But in Barre Shepherd’s eyes, they were just riddled with flaws and of little value.

But grumbling aside, Barre Shepherd actually thought highly of him.

For his age, the standard was indeed rare.

The two exchanged blows in a matter of moments dozens of times.

After all, the seventh level of this mine was severely contaminated with mental pollution, and he could see that Leonard Churchill would not hold out much longer.

The assessment was already sufficient; he planned to give in to give himself an out.

But as his mind was still contemplating how to throw the fight gracefully, an accident occurred in an instant.

“This…”

Barre Shepherd, who thought he had definitely evaded that grasp, watched as his belt stretched out uncontrollably.

Right then, Leonard Churchill’s fingers touched the belt.

Touched it?

The elder’s expression also revealed an unprecedented surprise.

But a moment later, it turned into a self-deprecating and hearty laugh, “Hahaha… Quite interesting indeed!”

This “interesting” referred to the Gravitational Force forbidden technique.

It also referred to the person using the technique.

He certainly hadn’t expected that this young man would really achieve it.

It was both self-mockery and satisfaction.

…

Leonard Churchill was very clear from the beginning that if the senior were to get serious, he would stand no chance whatsoever.

After seeing the “circling” method, he also guessed that the other party was actually holding back, giving him a chance.

Leonard Churchill even suspected that, even if he really couldn’t touch the belt, the other party would ultimately “show a flaw”.

But with pride in his heart, Leonard Churchill didn’t want to take that shortcut.

He thought of the only possible method that might break the situation.

Leonard Churchill felt that the vision of such a master of martial arts must have already seen all sorts of routines.

So to truly achieve success, it had to be unexpected.

Unexpected meant something the opponent couldn’t anticipate.

Leonard Churchill thought about all the skills he mastered, things the other might not expect…

That left only the “Celestial Godfall,” a long-lost forbidden technique of the Demon God.

So Leonard Churchill had not exposed this secret skill before; he was getting used to the opponent’s movements while looking for a chance.

The previous attempts were indeed with all his effort, but still, they did not touch even the edge of the clothing.

However, that was not completely futile; at least it gave the impression that this was all he was capable of.

Then, at one moment, Leonard Churchill made his move.

The elder never intended to trouble him, but due to his own ability, he had an absolute confidence.

So much so that every time, it was almost when Leonard Churchill’s fingernails were about to touch the belt that he would accurately dodge.

But this time, a strange gravitational force suddenly appeared on Leonard Churchill’s fingertips, pulling the belt straight out.

And then it was touched.

Leonard Churchill stopped, smiling slightly, and respectfully said, “Thank you, senior, for giving me the opportunity.”

Hearing this, the elder laughed as well.