Chapter 123: Altered Tissue
Chapter 123: Altered Tissue
The Maraka student who had obtained the oak leaf struggled for a moment, glanced at Duoma with determination, and then swiftly departed with the leaf, followed by several companions.
However, many Maraka students chose to stay, keeping a cautious eye on Guan Xinyin, Luo Kaiyuan, and the others.
Duoma didn't try to persuade them further, merely sighing.
Chen Chuan stood still as the students left. He wasn't concerned about the oak leaf, and with Duoma blocking the way, there was little he could do to stop them.
Guan Xinyin and Luo Kaiyuan also remained still, their gaze fixed on Duoma and the departing students.
Chen Chuan didn't take the initiative to attack. If Duoma and the others were willing to stand their ground, there was no need to rush. The longer the standoff, the more reinforcements would arrive, and the Maraka side would be the ones feeling the pressure.
Duoma waited until the students were out of sight, riding away on their motorcycles, before he finally stopped waiting.
He spread his arms wide, like a bird spreading its wings. His muscles rippled with a rhythmic pulse, and the light glistening on his body seemed to flow like water, especially around his fingers, as if plucking invisible strings.
His breathing and movements were in sync with a unique rhythm, as if his body were playing a musical score.
At that moment, Guan Xinyin and Luo Kaiyuan felt a sense of discomfort. Each muscle expansion and contraction of Duoma's limbs perfectly coincided with the gaps in their breathing rhythm.
The key to a fighter's power lies in their breathing. By accurately timing his movements with their breathing, Duoma could launch attacks during these gaps.
Unconsciously, Guan Xinyin and Luo Kaiyuan felt the need to adjust their breathing, but no matter what they tried, Duoma's rhythm always caught them off-guard, making their breathing even more chaotic, and their chests became increasingly congested.
Duoma's eyes were fixed on Chen Chuan, and one of the key aspects of Meridian Studies is sensing the opponent's changes, guiding, and controlling them.
He could perceive the blood flow, breathing, and power transmission of everyone around him, including their altered tissue. It was as if his opponents were transparent to him, allowing him to allocate his techniques and strength effectively and control the battle's direction.
Sometimes, when the gap in skill was significant, he didn't even need to fight; he could disrupt his opponents' breathing rhythm, causing them to injure themselves.
However, Chen Chuan was an exception. Although Duoma had tried to influence Chen Chuan's breathing, Chen Chuan remained unaffected, maintaining his original breathing pattern. This put Duoma at a disadvantage, like trying to grasp a line drawn on paper—visible but impossible to grasp.
At that moment, the entire street was deserted due to the initial gunfire and subsequent fighting. People watched cautiously from the windows and doors of the buildings on both sides of the street.
Realizing he couldn't control Chen Chuan, Duoma knew he couldn't continue like this.
They were only a ten-minute drive from the city center, and the police department was surely aware of the situation by now. They were probably dispatching officers, and teachers from Wu Yi Academy might also be on their way.
Time was running out for Duoma.
If possible, he didn't want to be captured. He needed to quickly deal with the obstacle before him, so he approached Chen Chuan, intending to resolve the issue with his fists and feet.
Chen Chuan didn't back down. He stepped forward to meet Duoma, and as they neared each other, Chen Chuan struck first, kicking out swiftly. The kick was incredibly fast, and even in Duoma's eyes, it was a threatening move.
Duoma attempted to dodge by lowering his body, preparing for a forward collision, but he soon realized this was a feint. He slightly sidestepped and raised his hand to block, feeling a powerful force transmitted from Chen Chuan's leg.
Although Duoma managed to block the attack, he felt the force penetrating inward, as if someone was constantly pushing him. In the moment of resistance, he couldn't execute any other movements.
After pinning Duoma in place with his kick, Chen Chuan took a step forward, reaching out to grab Duoma's raised forearm. Normally, this would lead to a joint lock and throw, but Chen Chuan didn't follow through. Instead, he tightened his grip!
Tai Chi's 'Silk Curtain' technique wasn't limited to the face; the force of his fingers could tear flesh. But as he exerted his strength, Duoma's arm muscles tensed, becoming slippery and resilient. Chen Chuan's fingers were forced open.
Duoma countered by extending his hand, fingers together, and struck towards Chen Chuan's chest like a venomous snake. The speed was astonishing, and Chen Chuan, realizing he couldn't block in time, slightly sidestepped, using his body to collide with Duoma's hand.
Duoma, sensing something amiss, opened his fingers, transforming the strike into a palm and pushing Chen Chuan away. With his other hand, he batted away Chen Chuan's grasping hand and grabbed Chen Chuan's chest, intending to disrupt his balance.
Chen Chuan kicked Duoma's ankle, forcing him to lift his foot.
Duoma, having dodged, couldn't execute his intended technique. At the same time, Chen Chuan reached out to grab Duoma's fingers, and Duoma, recalling the strength in Chen Chuan's fingers, knew that without the support of muscles and altered tissue, his fingers would be torn apart if grabbed. He quickly released his grip.
Chen Chuan immediately advanced as Du Ma retreated, his hands drawing arcs aimed directly at Du Ma's ears. Du Ma crouched and seemed to employ a technique, instantly backing away two steps. He bent his elbows, curved his knees, and his entire body coiled like a spring, only to suddenly release and strike upwards with a spinning drill-like technique.
Du Ma sidestepped and blocked with his forearm, the first time they had clashed head-on. A loud bang echoed as if two heavy, solid objects collided.
The result of this clash was that Chen Chuan stood firm while Du Ma stumbled back several steps. This left the watching Maka students behind them in disbelief.
Du Ma was a strong young teacher at their academy, which was why he led the team this time. Yet, he was forced back in a direct confrontation with a Wu Yi student? This outcome was unacceptable to them, and they felt something must be amiss. The reality before them clashed with their expectations, plunging them into a state of anxiety and fear.
Guan Xinyin and Luo Kaiyuan, however, had a different perspective. They had personally experienced or witnessed Du Ma's prowess, but Chen Chuan had managed to repel him. Beyond their surprise, a sense of admiration arose within them.
Chen Chuan watched Du Ma retreat, knowing he hadn't truly won. His Second Self had materialized on his shoulder, while Du Ma had merely used his retreat to dissipate the force, suffering no harm.
The difference was that on the surface, this time, Chen Chuan seemed to have the upper hand.
From their previous exchanges, Chen Chuan had a rough understanding. In terms of pure strength, he might not surpass this teacher who had reached the Second Limit. However, his reflexes and speed were likely not inferior and might even surpass his opponent's.
With this advantage, Chen Chuan could utilize his superior speed to launch an aggressive offense, trading blows.
He straightened up and continued to advance. In the eyes of the onlookers, as he pressured Du Ma, an aura of oppression emanated from Chen Chuan.
Du Ma, witnessing Chen Chuan's unscathed state, displayed a mix of shock and admiration. He wondered silently, "Is it talent...?"
It wasn't just their final clash; throughout their entire exchange, they had constantly exerted Chi Power. Logically, a First Limit practitioner would struggle to withstand the strain of exerting so much Chi Power.
This was why First Limit practitioners couldn't defeat Second Limit warriors. Aside from overall physical enhancements, the frequency at which they could exert Chi Power was on entirely different levels.
Chen Chuan seemed to defy this rule, leading to the conclusion that he possessed an extraordinary talent beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Du Ma felt troubled. Encountering such talent at the Wu Yi Academy's branch in Dashun Republic was unexpected. Despite their nationwide search, they hadn't found anyone like Chen Chuan.
After taking two steps, Chen Chuan suddenly accelerated, raising his hand to punch. Du Ma clearly saw the attack and slightly retreated to evade the blow while simultaneously kicking towards Chen Chuan's head. However, Chen Chuan ignored the kick, continuing his advance and striking Du Ma's chest with his other hand.
Du Ma's chest took the blow, his breath momentarily blocked. Knowing he was in trouble, he hastily blocked with both hands, deflecting Chen Chuan's subsequent barrage of punches, elbows, and knee strikes, forcing Du Ma to retreat further.
On the other side, Nali, engaged with Zhuang Zhi, took a punch and forced his opponent back. He glanced over and saw Du Ma being suppressed. Nali felt both anxious and puzzled. Why wasn't Du Ma using his signature Maka Meridian Fist, instead relying on Dashun's martial arts? Wasn't he abandoning his strengths?
Du Ma, too, felt helpless. If he could, he would have used that method already. He could sense Chen Chuan's aura, blood flow, and the strength of each strike, but Chen Chuan's actual power and speed were completely different. This left Du Ma unable to make a genuine assessment.
He was also in distress. After two to three decades of training, he had grown accustomed to relying on his senses to control his opponents. Now, facing someone whose actual performance differed from his perceived abilities, Du Ma's mind knew what to do, but his body instinctively reacted with what he deemed "reasonable" responses, forcing him to correct his habits with each move, always a beat too late. This was a critical issue.
Despite Chen Chuan's strength not quite matching Du Ma's, the difference wasn't significant. Chen Chuan's reflexes and speed seemed even faster. Even with Du Ma's ample stamina and lack of injuries, he appeared to be on the receiving end of the fight.
Du Ma realized he might not escape, but his students shouldn't face this outcome. They needed a chance to retreat, and he would shoulder all the blame.
With this resolve, Du Ma's eyes hardened. He clashed with Chen Chuan once more, using the momentum to retreat. He inhaled deeply, crossing his arms before him. His muscles began to twitch.
In an instant, veins surfaced on his skin like the delicate stems of leaves, and his body turned red and hot, emitting a dangerous aura.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
