https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-149-A-Clash-of-Blades-and-Swords/12550844/
Chapter 148: Showdown at the Peak
Chapter 148: Showdown at the Peak
Amidst the crowd's envy, Ji Xinghuo straddled Zhao Manying's bike, sitting behind her.
The light-wheel motorcycle usually had a single seat, but with a bit of a squeeze, it could accommodate two. Ji Xinghuo appeared to be pressed against Zhao Manying, but he maintained a careful distance, leaving a slight gap between them.
After all, it was their first meeting, and he didn't want to come across as a hooligan.
Once he donned the spare helmet, Zhao Manying leaned forward, almost as if she was lying on the motorcycle, and twisted the throttle with her right hand.
Vrrrrrr...
The light-wheel motorcycle gradually accelerated, speeding down the highway, leaving a trail of faint blue light in its wake.
Soon, the bike entered the superconductor highway.
The speed continued to increase, and Zhao Manying maintained manual control. Driving on this highway required a stringent examination to obtain a special license. In less than half a minute, the light-wheel motorcycle reached the speed limit of the lower-level slow lane. At the next intersection, they switched to one of the faster upper lanes.
The high-speed superconductor lanes allowed speeds between 350 and 600 kilometers per hour, and the highway was suspended fifty meters above the ground.
Zhao Manying continued to accelerate.
Her light-wheel motorcycle was clearly modified, as its top speed far surpassed that of ordinary bikes. It, too, could reach a maximum of 600 kilometers per hour, matching the highway's speed limit!
Even with the helmet, the roar of the wind filled their ears.
The engine's rumble was almost drowned out by the rushing wind.
The scenery on both sides blurred as they sped by, the billboards on the buildings creating a colorful light show. Everything within their field of vision seemed to be in fast-forward!
The front end of the light-wheel motorcycle extended an invisible magnetic aerodynamic shield, reducing air resistance and deflecting the oncoming air pressure. If one were to look down from the sky, the superconductor highway would resemble a rainbow river, with the light-wheel motorcycles as fish swimming nimbly within it, their paths trailing brilliant blue lightning.
As he watched the motorcycle overtake one magnetic levitation car after another, Ji Xinghuo felt a thrill, yet he also knew that he was perfectly safe.
Zhao Manying was clearly an experienced driver.
Her driving skills were exceptional; even at this incredible speed, she remained calm and steady, seamlessly controlling the bike as if it were an extension of herself.
"Is this your first time riding a light-wheel motorcycle?" Zhao Manying's voice echoed inside the helmet.
"Yes," he replied.
"Aren't you scared?" she chuckled.
Ji Xinghuo maintained his composure. "Even if you flipped the bike over or crashed into another vehicle right now, I wouldn't die."
For an ordinary person, riding with Zhao Manying would indeed be dangerous.
But for him, it would be quite a challenge to be killed by a mere 600 kilometers per hour crash. Before any accident could occur, his danger-sensing abilities would alert him, giving him ample time to evacuate.
"You're much better-looking than I imagined." Zhao Manying suddenly said, "Handsome, skilled in combat, and the same age as me. If you weren't my heart demon, I might have even considered losing to you on purpose."
Ji Xinghuo's heart skipped a beat.
If her words got out, who knew how many people around the world would lose sleep over them.
Sword Immortal Zhao Manying had been famous for many years, and her life story had been dug up and scrutinized by the public. Her dedication to the martial path and her focus on competitions were well-known, but her romantic life was a blank slate. Countless men and women admired her, a number that could easily reach tens of millions.
When Ji Xinghuo was eighteen, he had been infatuated with her for several months. Back then, it was the prime of his youth, and it was only natural to be captivated by a beautiful woman.
He never imagined that one day he would cross paths with her.
It felt surreal, like a dream come true.
However, times had changed since he was eighteen.
Ji Xinghuo's mindset had matured, and he would not be swayed by a few casual words, nor would he display impatience.
"Thank you, you're very pretty too," he replied after a slight delay.
"Of course I am!"
Ji Xinghuo detected a hint of pride in her voice, likely due to his indirect response. He could also sense that she was more confident about her appearance than her strength.
After that, they rode in silence.
They continued eastward, speeding like a bolt of lightning.
The light-wheel motorcycle stayed on the superconductor highway, heading in the direction of Weihe River. In just over ten minutes, they had covered 120 kilometers and reached the foot of Mount Hua. Leaving the superconductor highway, the motorcycle continued on the ground-level roads, entering the Hua Mountain area and winding along the mountain roads.
Naturally, they had to slow down on the ground-level roads, often reducing speed to navigate the turns.
Even so, their average speed remained above 150 kilometers per hour.
Moments later,
The light-wheel motorcycle left the brightly lit city behind, venturing deeper into the mountainous area where the surroundings grew darker. Only occasionally did they encounter other vehicles.
Finally, the light-wheel motorcycle reached a secluded and deserted mountaintop.
This peak wasn't particularly high, just one of the many rugged mountains in the Hua Mountain range, and there were no towns or residential areas within a radius of several kilometers.
Aside from the highway, the area was sparsely populated, quiet, and secluded.
It was the end of winter and the beginning of spring, and the mountain evenings were cold. There were no casual hikers climbing at this time.
"How about here? What do you think?" Zhao Manying asked for his opinion.
Ji Xinghuo scanned the area several times with his magnetic field sensing ability and confirmed that no one would disturb them. About five hundred meters from the road, the mountaintop opened up to a large clearing devoid of vegetation. The ground was composed of giant rocks, a bit uneven but perfect for their duel.
"Okay," he nodded in agreement.
Zhao Manying slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road, turning off the engine.
Her eyes sparkled like stars, her nose was straight and delicate, her lips were pale and elegant, and her skin was as fair as jade. Her brows exuded a sense of intelligence and spirit, and her shoulder-length hair, dyed a light pink, added a unique touch to her exquisite features.
She wore a form-fitting black leather jumpsuit that blended purity with allure, exuding an indescribable and irresistible charm.
Bold and spicy, youthful and vibrant! Her attire was a stark contrast to her public appearances.
Ji Xinghuo had seen countless videos and photos of her, and at formal events, she usually wore her black hair long and tied back in a ponytail, with light makeup and slightly conservative clothing.
Typically, she opted for either a pantsuit or her club's combat uniform.
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would have found it hard to believe that Zhao Manying would dress like this in her daily life. If she added a pair of sunglasses to hide her face, he doubted even her fans would recognize her.
The disparity in her public and private image was startling.
Zhao Manying picked up the long sword that was attached to the side of the motorcycle. Noticing that Ji Xinghuo was staring at her, she spun around gracefully, showcasing her outfit, and said with a light laugh, "Do you like my look?"
"Beautiful!" Ji Xinghuo nodded honestly.
Not only was her face exquisite, but her figure was also tall and perfect. They were both 1.8 meters tall, but standing next to her, he felt she seemed even taller, which made him feel a bit pressured.
Among the women he knew or had met, only Ren Jie's beauty could rival Zhao Manying's. They were both breathtakingly gorgeous, unparalleled in the world.
Although their auras were vastly different, their physical appearances were equally stunning.
"Let's go," Zhao Manying said, holding her long sword and leading the way. She had also spotted the summit ahead, which would be a perfect place for their duel.
Ji Xinghuo followed her up the mountain.
From his height, his line of sight was level with her snug-fitting leather pants, which made him feel a bit awkward, so he quickened his pace to walk beside her.
Zhao Manying seemed to sense his unease and turned her head to ask, "What's your name?"
"I'll tell you if you win," Ji Xinghuo replied.
"Hehe..." Zhao Manying chuckled, unperturbed. "We've met in person, and you're still keeping secrets from me. But it doesn't matter. Whether I win or lose, I'll find out who you are."
If she wins, Ji Xinghuo thought.
And if she loses, she'll be my girlfriend. Surely she'll know her boyfriend's name then?
Soon, they reached the summit.
Although it wasn't very high, the peak offered a wide-open space with unobstructed views. The rocky ground spanned about two thousand square meters, and the slope was gentle, so even if someone fell, it wouldn't be dangerous.
The mountaintop was dimly lit, but it didn't matter as they both had night vision abilities.
They stood about twenty meters apart from each other.
Zhao Manying drew her sword, and her clear voice rang out in the darkness, "My sword is called 'Startling Rainbow', a Super Ability Level 3 weapon. If you've been following my recent activities, you should know its power."
"I've heard of it," Ji Xinghuo nodded.
The sword was custom-made for Zhao Manying by a globally renowned cold weapon manufacturer to secure her as their spokesperson.
It was a Super Ability Level 3 weapon worth over a hundred million dollars.
The Startling Rainbow sword was even more powerful and valuable than ordinary Super Ability Level 3 weapons.
The sword was incredibly sharp, capable of cutting through iron like mud. It was forged with six exotic materials, the most notable being "Shadow Clone" and "Flight," which allowed Zhao Manying to remotely control the sword, making it fly at high speeds and create multiple sword shadows, each possessing deadly force comparable to the real sword.
Other effects like "Feng Rui," "Refraction," "Metal Restoration," and "Empowered Stream" were also extremely practical.
Of course, the most important factor was the swordswoman herself!
Zhao Manying's initial profession was "Swordsman." After advancing to become a Super Being, she immediately took on the secondary professions of "Speedster" and "Kinetic Stringer."
Combining Swordsman with Speedster resulted in the advanced profession of "Swift Sword Master."
When Swordsman was combined with Kinetic Stringer, it formed the profession of "Sword Cultivator," akin to the mythical sword immortals of ancient legends, making her nickname truly fitting.
Although the ability templates of these two professions were not perfect, they provided her with their core abilities.
This caused Zhao Manying's strength to skyrocket.
Hence, she was able to shine in the Super League, repeatedly turning the tides of battle single-handedly, even when her teammates were wiped out. She would face off against five opponents and emerge victorious.
Her ranking as the number one player on the leaderboard was well-deserved!
Zhao Manying might be the strongest opponent Ji Xinghuo had faced since becoming an Otherworldly being, even more formidable than the legendary Great Kun.
Ji Xinghuo thought for a moment, then drew his own sword and said, "Thunderbolt, Super Ability Level 2; Devil's Scream, Super Ability Level 3."
He then turned and revealed the compound bow on his back, "Invisible Sting, Super Ability Level 2."
Surprise flashed across Zhao Manying's face.
She had already guessed that Ji Xinghuo's equipment was extraordinary, but she hadn't expected him to possess a Super Ability Level 3 weapon as well. She studied his sword closely and guessed that it wasn't of Earthly origin. However, at this point, questioning its origins seemed pointless.
"Do you mind if I record this?" Zhao Manying asked as she took out a floating camera. After receiving Ji Xinghuo's consent, she lifted her hand, and the camera floated into the sky, capturing the entire scene.
The mountaintop was enveloped in darkness, with only the cold wind blowing through.
The camera in the air started to flash, and on the third flash, Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying moved simultaneously.
(End of Chapter)
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