Chapter 319: Duel and Duel II

~~~

“Xiao Fang of the True Xiao Sect vs. Qing Jin of the Eternal Flame Clan.”

Liu Jin and Xiao Fang stand mere yards away from each other. The air is charged with their Qi, yet the ring is completely silent. Everything is in a state of perfect stillness. However, it’s a different story outside the ring. There, the people cheer and shout without pause.

“Obviously, Emperor Qing Jin will win!” says someone in the audience.

“Do not underestimate the Young Master of the Xiao Sect! Did you not see his battle? It was far more impressive than Emperor Qing Jin’s match!”

“Only because of how decisive Emperor Qing Jin’s victory was! Unlike this Xiao Fang, Emperor Qing Jin has yet to reveal his true power!”

“You are all not thinking properly,” someone a few seats to their left chastises them. “Don’t you know they are brothers-in-law? It is obvious this will not be a serious fight!”

“That’s right! That’s right! The Young Master must step down to show his respect for his brother-in-law and the Eternal Flame Clan! At best, they will exchange a few moves, but there is no point in them fighting seriously!”

[Void Fist]

The attack strikes the spot Liu Jin is standing on with merciless force, silencing those who thought this would not be a real fight. Having revealed his cultivation during the first round, Xiao Fang sees no reason to disguise it again. The entire stadium can feel his full might as a cultivator in the Seventh Level of the Earth Realm.

When Xiao Fang’s attack fades, the young Emperor is no longer there. Xiao Fang’s eyes search the ring for Liu Jin, but they do not see him. His senses try their hardest to locate him, but they cannot find him.

However, his mind still knows Liu Jin is in the ring with him, and that is all he needs.

[Void Territory]

The area within ten feet of Xiao Fang shimmers as his Qi rises. Cracks appear in the ring under him, and the air becomes distorted. A constant noise accompanies the technique.

Liu Jin steps back.

“That is new,” Liu Jin says. His voice is soft. Interested yet unimpressed. An outsider would probably find him dismissive, but Xiao Fang knows better. Those red eyes are carefully studying his barrier technique, trying to pick it apart and find any weaknesses.

“It is hardly worth noting,” Xiao Fang says. “You can call it a weaker variant of [All Consuming Heavenly Void] made with defense in mind. The power and range are sacrificed to make it easier to maintain for prolonged periods of time.”

“You came up with it to counter Art of the Roaming Thief,” Liu Jin deduces. He is right, of course. “Not many would have figured out a counter in such a short amount of time.”

“I have been thinking about it for years.”

Liu Jin stares at him.

“Since the spar?” Liu Jin asks with equal parts disbelief and exasperation. “We were children!”

“I was, perhaps, somewhat unnerved when I saw how proficient you had grown with that little trick,” Xiao Fan continues, savoring Liu Jin’s reaction. “However, you cannot make me forget you exist. As long as I know you are in the ring with me, it does not matter if I cannot see or sense you. Until I am declared the winner, I have no reason to stop using [Void Territory]!”

~~~

“Xiao Shuang’s brother is not bad at all,” Meng Yue comments, leaning forward with interest. “Of course, it is a different story if the Emperor can go beyond the Fifth Step.”

“It is an acceptable temporary measure,” Bai Lianshi says. “However, it falls short of being a true solution. He has put himself in a situation where he must constantly use that technique. That means he’s guaranteed to lose any endurance contest. He’d have better luck if he could fully command his Upper Dantian.”

Meng Yue laughs. “Sister, that’s too harsh!”

~~~

“…I am reluctantly impressed,” Liu Jin says. “I never once expected you to put so much thought into anything.”

Xiao Fang’s eyebrow twitches.

“You have become quite skilled at insulting others.”

“That is not the only thing I have become skilled at,” Liu Jin says as arcs of gold lightning appear around him, crackling in the air and leaving burn marks on the ring. “If you think stealth is my only tool, you will be greatly disappointed.”

[Lightning Spear]

Liu Jin grabs the golden lightning and throws it at Xiao Fang. The heir of the Xiao Sect strengthens his [Void Territory] as the lightning sails through the air and strikes his barrier.

It passes right through.

Shock colors Xiao Fang’s face as the lightning strikes him in the chest, sending shocks throughout his body. Dozens of lights fill Xiao Fang’s vision as even more lightning spears accelerate toward him. A burst of [Ground Contraction] carries him out of the way without dropping [Void Territory]. His senses try their best not to lose track of Liu Jin.

He finds him several meters above him, holding a massive lightning bolt.

He hurls it down at Xiao Fang.

[Lightning Spear]

[Void Fist]

The Xiao Sect’s signature technique manifests and distorts the lightning’s path, making it veer away from Xiao Fang. The ring explodes as the lightning strikes. Dust and debris are scattered inside the barrier, but a burst of Xiao Fang’s aura blows it away. The young man glares at Liu Jin, whose body still crackles with lightning.

“You are looking down on me,” Xiao Fang says.

“I almost want to ask how you arrived at that conclusion, but I suppose I should not be surprised,” Liu Jin says. “You have always been terribly self-centered.”

Xiao Fang spits to the side.

“First of all, you have only used gold lightning,” Xiao Fang says. “The tales of the Emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire using purple lightning have traveled far. Second, you only threw one lightning spear for your first attack.”

Xiao Fang is still not sure of the logic behind it, but it is undeniable that Liu Jin’s [Lightning Spear] penetrated his [Void Territory]. Xiao Fang was so unprepared for it that he failed to dodge it. Had Liu Jin thrown several spears instead of just one, the damage would have been more extensive. Instead, Liu Jin wasted the element of surprise on a warning strike.

“Had I thrown more, you would have been more cautious,” Liu Jin says.

“Third,” Xiao Fang says, knowing better than to listen to Liu Jin’s excuses. “You have yet to reveal your cultivation.”

“This is a tournament,” Liu Jin says flatly. “Do you really expect me to reveal everything I can do to satisfy your ego?”

Xiao Fang laughs.

“Do you hear yourself? You speak of my ego while being completely confident in your victory,” Xiao Fang says. “You actually believe you can fight me while holding back something so important! That is how I know you are looking down on me!”

[Void Fist]

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By the time the technique materializes, Liu Jin is already moving. Someone as familiar with the Xiao Sect as he is can immediately recognize the moment Xiao Fang’s Qi starts forming the technique. If [Void Fist] has any weakness, it is precisely that. The technique gives far too much forewarning.

[Void Fist] [Void Fist] [Void Fist] [Void Fist] [Void Fist]

Xiao Fang compensates by creating several Void Fists at once, leaving Liu Jin no choice but to keep moving. His body leaves behind a trail of lightning. Xiao Fang is clearly trying to lead him somewhere, but Liu Jin cannot do much about it without taking unnecessary damage.

Suddenly, the air changes. Liu Jin’s instincts, previously silent, tell him to move.

He steps on sand.

Liu Jin’s feet immediately sink into it. He tries to free himself, but something is off. His aura cannot push the sand away. His Qi does not react as it should.

Xiao Fang is above him.

[Roaring Void]

Something explodes, and a wave of pure force slams Liu Jin into the sand. The more analytical part of Liu Jin’s mind notes that the technique is different from [Void Fist] or [All-Consuming Heavenly Void]. It does not use the distortion to do direct damage. Instead, the distortion creates a wave of focused force and launches it at a target.

The rest of him feels pain.

[Roaring Void]

Liu Jin bites back a scream as the second strike hits. A snake construct manifests around him to take the brunt of the blow. Thunder roars as his Qi rises.

Purple flashes.

~~~

“Impressive,” a Branch Master of the Xiao Sect says. “The Young Master is certainly creative.”