Chapter 171: A Gorgeous Exterior Hiding a Rotten Core

That punch just now was a strike in which Zhang Meng had concentrated all his strength, yet it was so effortlessly caught by the opponent that Zhang Meng could hardly believe his own eyes.

“Husband, you’re so handsome!” Ji Xiaorui, seeing Lin Le effortlessly neutralize Zhang Meng’s fierce blow with a single palm, was overjoyed, completely forgetting that she had nearly been seriously injured moments before.

“Xiaorui, watch closely. Let me show you what true hidden energy really is,” Lin Le said calmly in a low voice.

No sooner had he spoken than, without any visible movement, a muffled “thud!” echoed as an invisible force suddenly burst forth from Lin Le’s palm.

Zhang Meng felt as if a raging torrent of power had erupted from Lin Le’s palm, colliding directly with his own fist.

Before he could react, the tremendous force hurled Zhang Meng backward.

His tall frame flew seven or eight meters before crashing heavily to the ground, rolling several times before coming to a halt. He struggled to rise.

Everyone present was stunned by the scene.

Ordinary people had no understanding of what Lin Le meant by hidden energy; all they knew was that Lin Le hadn’t even moved, yet he had sent the burly Zhang Meng flying through the air!

Such strength was reminiscent of the legendary heroes from wuxia tales.

All eyes were fixed on Lin Le in shock and disbelief, faces filled with admiration.

Especially the foreign friends—they had thought Zhang Meng’s fierce punches were already impressive examples of Chinese martial arts, but witnessing Lin Le’s move, they truly grasped what genuine Chinese kung fu was.

Compared to Lin Le’s immovable calmness, Zhang Meng seemed more like a reckless brute.

Ji Xiaorui’s eyes widened with amazement, her delicate cherry lips parted in surprise and delight.

“Husband, you’re amazing!” she exclaimed, grabbing Lin Le’s arm and shaking it enthusiastically.

Ordinary martial artists can only emit ordinary visible energy.

Only masters who have fully cultivated internal energy can truly unleash the power of hidden energy. Even then, the ability to release it is quite limited for most martial artists. For someone like Lin Le to display hidden energy with such astonishing potency, only a grandmaster or higher could achieve that.

The members of the Shen Dan Sect nearby watched Lin Le with astonishment. Being martial practitioners themselves, they understood the terrifying strength behind Lin Le’s display of hidden energy.

At this moment, the Shen Dan Sect members dared only to observe from afar; not a single one ventured closer.

Not far off, Zhang Meng groaned in pain, struggling with great effort to rise from the ground.

“Brat, I’ll kill you!” Zhang Meng snarled.

His expression hardened as he suddenly stomped the ground with such force that the earth beneath him cracked with a thunderous “boom!”

Like a wild beast gone mad, his eyes bloodshot, Zhang Meng charged fiercely toward Lin Le and Ji Xiaorui.

His murderous intent was unmistakable—he was determined to end Lin Le’s life.

Feeling the overwhelming pressure emanating from Zhang Meng, Ji Xiaorui instinctively hid behind Lin Le.

In the next instant, Zhang Meng’s towering figure loomed close, about to knock Lin Le to the ground.

Ji Xiaorui didn’t even see how Lin Le moved. A muffled “thud!” sounded, and Zhang Meng was sent flying sideways like a ball.

With a tremendous crash, Zhang Meng’s head slammed against a car window, half his body shoved into the vehicle, unable to get up again.

One punch ended the fight.

Everyone was speechless with shock, staring at Lin Le as if they had just witnessed an unparalleled hero from a wuxia novel come to life.

The entire parking lot fell into complete silence.

Throughout it all, Lin Le’s face remained serene and indifferent. The Shen Dan Sect members were quite different from what he had anticipated; defeating Zhang Meng did not stir any particular interest in him.

Yet, Lin Le’s mind was now focused on the Shen Dan Sect.

“Go back and tell your sect leader that if you cause any more trouble, I will destroy your Shen Dan Sect!” Lin Le’s voice was calm and steady, but to those present—especially the Shen Dan Sect members—it was like thunder crashing down, sending shivers through them.

Everyone looked at Lin Le with awe. If anyone else had made such a threat, it would have been dismissed as empty talk.

But coming from Lin Le, those words carried immeasurable weight, like an imperial edict—unquestionable and final.

No one doubted his capability.

The Shen Dan Sect members had already been thoroughly intimidated by Lin Le’s display of power. Now, faced with his warning, not a single one dared utter a word of defiance.

“Enough. Now all of you get lost!” Lin Le commanded coldly.

Upon hearing this, the Shen Dan Sect members felt as if they had been granted a great pardon. They dared not linger any longer. Dragging the unconscious Zhang Meng from the car, they fled the scene with haste.

“We should leave as well,” Lin Le said quietly.

Only then did Ji Xiaorui come to her senses and hurriedly start the car. After Lin Le and Liang Qiuyang got in, they departed amid the astonished gazes of the onlookers.

“Master, the way you handled that guy just now was incredible! You knocked him down with a single move!” Ji Xiaorui said excitedly as she drove.

“But that big oaf was really strong. I thought he was just a fool, but his power was impressive,” she reflected, still amazed by Zhang Meng’s strength.

“That man seemed to be just a minor leader within the Shen Dan Sect, yet he possessed such formidable power. This Shen Dan Sect truly hides some fierce talents,” Liang Qiuyang added with admiration.

Though Liang Qiuyang was not well-versed in martial arts, he had witnessed Zhang Meng’s technique and recognized that such strength was beyond that of an ordinary martial artist.

While Ji Xiaorui and Liang Qiuyang marveled at Zhang Meng’s prowess, Lin Le snorted disdainfully. “Master Liang, you overestimate the Shen Dan Sect. In my opinion, they are all glittering on the outside but rotten within.”

“Oh?” Both Liang Qiuyang and Ji Xiaorui were taken aback, surprised by Lin Le’s assessment.

“But Master, that guy’s strength was undeniably impressive. From what I saw, he’s at least a martial artist who has fully cultivated internal energy. Why would you say they’re just all show and no substance?” Ji Xiaorui asked, puzzled.

“His true cultivation level is only at the peak of internal energy entry, and he might not even have reached the initial stage of internal energy cultivation. By genuine standards, he’s no match for you,” Lin Le dismissed her assumption outright.

“What?” Ji Xiaorui was incredulous. “But his strength was clearly evident…”

Liang Qiuyang was equally confused.

“That apparent strength isn’t truly his own. It’s merely an illusion created by external stimulation,” Lin Le explained.

“External stimulation…” Ji Xiaorui still didn’t understand.

At that moment, Liang Qiuyang suddenly realized something and exclaimed, “Mr. Lin, by external stimulation, do you mean…”

“Yes. Precisely, medicinal pills,” Lin Le said coldly.