The Laogong acupoint is at the center of the palm, associated with the fire element in the Five Elements, and corresponds to the heart, which is also of the fire element. When feeling agitated, stroking the Laogong acupoint can soothe the other person's mood. When a man and a woman touch each other's palms, feelings of affection can arise.

　　“Bones like swords, force like a spear, the entire skeleton can protrude at will to attack—this is the realm of a martial arts master.” David Carter was greatly shocked. He knew this was Ethan Thompson's instinctive reaction, and also realized that if his own palm struck down and was jabbed by the opponent's shoulder bone, the hidden force could rupture his heart.

　　Ethan Thompson merely gave a slight shrug of his shoulder. Others couldn't see any secret in it, but a master like David Carter understood perfectly.

　　To be struck by the shoulder bone at close range was no less than being impaled by a heavy iron spear.

　　David Carter was an “imperial bodyguard,” having witnessed many martial arts masters. He had only seen such formidable bodies in a handful of people, and those were all elders—how could such ability appear in a playboy?

　　His palm changed direction rapidly, striking toward Ethan Thompson's chest.

　　This was purely an instinctive reaction as well—excited by the challenge, he naturally wanted to test himself against a master. His arm moved like a winding dragon or snake, but his palm was as swift as thunder. As it struck through the air, the explosion of force was muffled—not the usual crackling, but as if thunder were trapped inside a can, producing only a low, buzzing sound. That sound was hidden, revealing just a trace, like a divine dragon showing its head but not its tail.

　　“Wudang Palm Thunder.” Ethan Thompson recognized the martial art at once. It was similar in effect to Henry Ford's Douluo Cotton Palm, but clearly David Carter's level was much higher.

　　Henry Ford's Douluo Cotton Palm was silent, trained from making sound to making none, which was actually a minor attainment—like the Hinayana stage in Buddhism, the realm of an Arhat: self-liberation, unable to save the world, unable to reach the Mahayana Bodhisattva stage. But David Carter's Palm Thunder was trained from sound to silence, and then from silence to a muffled sound—those ethereal sounds were like a Bodhisattva manifesting, leaving no trace yet truly existing.

　　Only this level of martial arts could be called “great.”

　　Both Douluo Cotton Palm and Palm Thunder were top-tier martial arts; there was no high or low in martial arts, only in people.

　　His palm thundered toward Ethan Thompson's chest, but Ethan Thompson's face remained expressionless, his body unmoving, his chest caving in as if he were made of clay, his bones turning from steel to noodles.

　　When the Palm Thunder reached his chest, the collapse instantly neutralized all the force. Martial arts are strongest at a single point of attack; as long as that point is avoided, all the force is dissipated.

　　Missing with his palm, David Carter stepped forward again. With a crack, the hard blue bricks of the ground shattered into pieces.

　　The courtyard's bricks were extremely tough, specially fired to be as hard as iron and as bright as a mirror. The gaps between the bricks were soaked in tung oil, making them nearly indestructible.

　　But as soon as David Carter moved, his foot was like a giant plow, not only breaking the bricks but turning up large sections of the ground.

　　Boom...

　　He took a horse stance and drew his bow, as if shooting a condor. His fist was like an arrow, suddenly bursting forth—this punch was his true killing move.

　　Ancient boxing technique: Hou Yi Shoots the Sun.

　　As his arm shot forward, a white wave of energy arced like a rainbow, flashing by in an instant.

　　Ethan Thompson's eyes narrowed sharply, and he finally took a step back. His retreat was utterly calm, his whole body weightless—this was the “Immortal Step.”

　　He retreated only one step, not to avoid the attack, but to gather strength.

　　With that single step back, his opponent's fist followed like a shadow, its momentum even greater.

　　But as Ethan Thompson stepped back, his body adjusted into a perfect posture—like a crane dancing gracefully, like an old turtle surfacing to worship the moon, or like a legendary immortal ascending to the heavens.

　　Buzz...

　　He struck with a punch—ethereal, constantly shifting, yet it created a powerful psychological effect. In David Carter's eyes, the world vanished, leaving only Ethan Thompson's fist. The power of that punch was not just physical, but rose to a spiritual level, capable of hypnotizing others!

　　In an instant, the two fists collided.

　　Who would win?

Chapter 5: Admitting Defeat

　　Fist force splattered in all directions, the air like splashing water.

　　This was a clash between two supreme masters—one was the king of external training, Ethan Thompson, the other the “imperial bodyguard” David Carter. To be a personal bodyguard to the leader, one must be the best among a million soldiers.

　　Ethan Thompson had mastered Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield and Dragon Roar Iron Shirt, truly deserving the title of king of external training.

　　No one could have imagined that a playboy would turn out to be such a martial arts master.

　　Fist met fist, the sound of muscle and bone clashing echoed far away—this was a pure contest of physical strength and bone toughness.

　　Ethan Thompson's body swayed slightly, but his feet did not move at all, as if he were rooted to the ground.

　　His upper body swayed, making the entire courtyard seem to shake with him.

　　When the wind blows, a hundred branches of a great tree sway.

　　He did not move an inch—he was the earth, and the earth was him.

　　Unmoved and steadfast as the earth—this is Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva.

　　Meanwhile, David Carter staggered backward, his entire skeleton crackling like a string of firecrackers exploding. This was his way of resolving the muscle strains and joint dislocations from the previous clash.

　　Ethan Thompson's punch hit him with the force of a speeding car.