Chapter 160: The Pyromaniac

Chapter 160: The Pyromaniac

"What's your code name at the Sword Bureau?" Shen Yucheng suddenly asked.

Ji Xinghuo was puzzled.

Shen Yucheng's behavior didn't resemble that of a deserter at all. He remained calm and unruffled, showing no signs of panic at being found by a Sword Bureau swordsman. Instead, he chatted casually as if they were friends.

"I hope you can tell me," Shen Yucheng said earnestly. "It's not for my sake, but for yours."

"What do you mean?" Ji Xinghuo finally spoke.

"Whoever found me first in the Immortal City, with such capability, would definitely not be an ordinary swordsman." Shen Yucheng studied Ji Xinghuo's face, as if trying to see through his disguise and find his true appearance beneath the fake face. "You arrived much faster than I expected, a lot faster. I thought it would be at least tomorrow night before any swordsman could locate this place."

He nodded again, "That's good."

"It shows that your strength is exceptional, and you might be able to handle future challenges and enemies."

"Now, tell me your code name."

Shen Yucheng continued speaking as if he were lost in his own thoughts, leaving Ji Xinghuo confused. However, it seemed that he was not bluffing, and his words carried a hidden meaning.

Ji Xinghuo thought for a moment before replying, "New Heaven."

"New Heaven." Shen Yucheng smiled faintly, "Today, whether finding me is your luck or misfortune depends on whether your strength is sufficient. I have a gift for you."

As he spoke, he slowly pulled out a thin, lightweight metal chip from his pocket.

It was a storage device.

Ji Xinghuo's pupils contracted. The storage device bore the logo of the Star Sector Bureau, and as expected, Shen Yucheng had used it to copy the vast amount of data from the Star Sector Bureau and carry it with him.

It was the most important objective of this mission, even more critical than capturing Shen Yucheng himself.

"Take it."

Shen Yucheng suddenly tossed the storage device over.

Ji Xinghuo reached out and caught it. He had already scanned it multiple times with his magnetic field sensing ability, and it was indeed just a storage device with no tricks or traps.

After holding it in his hand, he confirmed that it was safe.

He looked at the storage device in his hand, even more perplexed. What had initially seemed like a mission to capture a deserter had now become increasingly enigmatic.

"The data inside is intact, and I haven't made any copies. Someone at the Sword Bureau will definitely be able to crack the password and verify its authenticity." Shen Yucheng said. Nowadays, whether data was stored in the cloud or offline, blockchain technology was used, leaving a record of every read, write, and modification.

"Lastly, let me remind you one more thing: Beware of the Qian Yuan Society." Shen Yucheng said cryptically, his smile fading, "Good luck to you!"

As he finished speaking, his eyes suddenly turned red, like two flaming embers.

Boom!

Shen Yucheng's skin turned crimson, his body resembling a red-hot iron block. Intense flames erupted from his body, and his hair ignited, burning fiercely.

His clothes were made of high-temperature-resistant materials, and he wore a pair of special gloves on his hands, gathering the crimson flames. His fists became like shooting stars, and his entire body transformed into a blazing inferno. In an instant, he closed the distance of several meters and threw a punch at Ji Xinghuo's face. A scorching gale swept through the room, causing the temperature to soar as if they were in a furnace.

Ji Xinghuo had been on guard against him.

He immediately tucked the storage device into his pocket, which was, in fact, a dimensional pouch.

At the same time, he swiftly drew the "Iron Hammer" from his waist with his left hand and aimed at the approaching Shen Yucheng, firing a calm and precise shot.

Bang!

In the deafening blast of the gun, Shen Yucheng's figure stalled.

The high-explosive bullet detonated on his chest, and a substantial-looking flame shield appeared, neutralizing most of the bullet's power. It failed to inflict much damage, only momentarily halting his momentum.

However, his fist had already reached Ji Xinghuo.

A punch burst forth!

Ji Xinghuo was astonished. He knew the power of the Iron Hammer all too well, and among superhumans, very few could withstand it. Yet, the hit on Shen Yucheng seemed to have no effect.

His microscopic perception showed clearly that the shield on Shen Yucheng's chest was not a continuous defense but rather an instant burst, similar to a combination of flames and stellar energy. It was a clever technique that used an explosion to counter an explosion, but it consumed a large amount of stellar power.

Shen Yucheng's profession was Pyromaniac.

The core ability of the Pyromaniac, "Internal Combustion," was a frenzy of power that used stellar power as fuel to enhance strength, defense, and speed.

Ji Xinghuo's gunshot had been a test, and with Shen Yucheng's speed, it would have been easy for him to dodge.

Yet, he hadn't done so.

Instead, he had chosen the most star power-consuming way to withstand the bullet from the Iron Hammer, which was an unwise decision for a superhuman.

The Pyromaniac's fighting style seemed insane, but the stronger the Pyromaniac, the more adept they became at utilizing their star power efficiently, making precise calculations to achieve the greatest effect with the least amount of expenditure, prolonging their "burning" time and maintaining formidable combat strength.

Ji Xinghuo's thoughts raced, and he took a quick step back, retreating more than two meters to the doorway.

Boom!

Shen Yucheng's punch missed, but the force of his fist caused a high-temperature shockwave to sweep forward like a rocket's tail flame, scorching everything within a dozen meters. Debris in the hallway was reduced to ashes, and the fiery punch blasted a hole over two meters high in the wall of the opposite room, causing the entire building to shake.

"Ahhh..."

"Help!"

"Run! There's a battle between aliens!"

The commotion immediately startled the residents on this floor. Screams echoed from the neighboring room as people fled in a panic, like ants from a stirred anthill.

Ji Xinghuo, within the range of the fiery punch, had his greenish-gold scales emerge. He withstood the flames and moved closer, his figure flashing to appear at Shen Yucheng's side. The Thunderous Battle Blade slashed out, accompanied by several thick lightning bolts that enveloped the surrounding space.

Boom!

Shen Yucheng's body was engulfed in flames that vanished in the next instant.

His speed was unbelievably fast; even the lightning couldn't keep up. Ji Xinghuo's blade only slashed through a fiery afterimage.

Ji Xinghuo's eyes narrowed.

"That speed..."

According to the information provided by the Sword Bureau, Shen Yucheng was a Pyromaniac. But now, it seemed only half-true. Shen Yucheng was not just a Pyromaniac; he had also trained in "Swift Step." These two templates, when combined, formed an extremely powerful profession called the "Fiery Maniac"!

A Fiery Maniac possessed formidable strength, explosive power, and incredible speed. Their speed, in particular, was unparalleled, whether in long-distance running or short-distance bursts.

In the next moment, Shen Yucheng abruptly changed direction!

Retreating to advance.

Shen Yucheng unleashed another fiery punch, and Ji Xinghuo fired two shots in rapid succession. Bang, bang! The bullets struck Shen Yucheng's body, but the fiery explosions negated their impact.

Although this stalled his speed momentarily, he still managed to land a punch on Ji Xinghuo.

"Too fast!"

Ji Xinghuo exclaimed inwardly. He raised the Thunderous Battle Blade to block, but Shen Yucheng ignored the blade and punched it, sending a powerful force that knocked Ji Xinghuo's chest.

Boom!

Ji Xinghuo was sent flying, his body crashing through two walls. A scorching energy surged into his body, but it didn't cause much damage.

The Iron Shirt Technique and Golden Scale Iron Spine defense had mitigated most of the fiery punch's impact.

The rotating magnetic field immediately healed his injuries, and Ji Xinghuo landed steadily.

On the other hand, Shen Yucheng's body went numb. The punch he had landed on Ji Xinghuo conducted a strong electric current throughout his body, causing immense pain and momentarily halting his star power. The flames on his body dimmed, and his frenzied momentum was interrupted.

Ji Xinghuo had anticipated this and raised his gun to shoot.

Bang, bang, bang!

Three consecutive shots, all aimed at Shen Yucheng's forehead, detonated high-explosive rounds one after the other. Shen Yucheng screamed as he was blown backward, his body covered in blood. Although the fiery explosion shield protected him, mitigating most of the damage, the third shot penetrated the shield and exploded upon impact.

Shen Yucheng's head almost exploded, leaving a terrifying crater on his forehead.

Yet, he didn't die.

Not only did he survive, but he also retained his consciousness. The blood flowing from his head and face became fuel, intensifying the flames on his body.

Ji Xinghuo frowned. This was a completely reckless fighting style.

"As expected, you are strong!"

Shen Yucheng's voice was deep, but there was a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. "The stronger you are, the better. That way, I can rest assured."

Assured about what?

Since meeting Shen Yucheng, Ji Xinghuo had felt that this deserter was like a riddle, speaking words that were difficult to understand, yet he didn't seem mentally unstable.

However, Shen Yucheng had no intention of explaining and launched another assault.

Boom! Boom! Boom...

Shen Yucheng's fists were like shadows, and his star power seemed inexhaustible. He unleashed punch after punch in a frenzy, striking at Ji Xinghuo from a distance.

The scorching flames swept through the area, causing walls to collapse and the ground to become pitted. Fortunately, the residents had fled, preventing any innocent casualties.

His speed was incredible, and the range of his fiery fists was vast.

His martial arts rank was at least ninth dan, approaching the level of a martial arts master.

For others, facing such a frenzied and relentless enemy would be extremely challenging to dodge. But for Ji Xinghuo, it was not difficult.

The closer Shen Yucheng got, the stronger Ji Xinghuo's microscopic perception became.

Ji Xinghuo executed consecutive swift steps, his figure flickering like a leaf boat in a sea of fiery rage. Although it appeared dangerous, he moved with agility, always finding gaps between the fiery fists and emerging unscathed.

Bang, bang, bang...

Ji Xinghuo fired all the bullets in one breath, each shot at point-blank range, hitting the target. Shen Yucheng was hit consecutively and forced back. After the sixth shot, he was backed into a corner, his back hitting the wall. The explosive power of the high-explosive rounds left him weak and sore all over, and his flame shield was on the verge of collapse.

However, Ji Xinghuo's left hand, which held the gun, did not lower, nor did he reload. Instead, he kept the gun aimed at Shen Yucheng.

"What's the use of being out of bullets..."

Before Shen Yucheng could finish his thought, a tiny snake head emerged from Ji Xinghuo's left wrist, its mouth opening towards him.

A lightning bolt that had been building up burst forth, illuminating the dim room as bright as day.

Boom!

The thick lightning bolt struck Shen Yucheng, engulfing his body.

The wall was pierced through.

Shen Yucheng fell through the hole in the wall, his body charred black, falling from the 39th floor towards the ground.

Ji Xinghuo watched as Shen Yucheng fell, and when he was about 20 meters from the ground, flames erupted from his body again, and he punched downwards, using the reactive force from the impact to slow his descent. After punching several times, he landed on the roof of a dilapidated building right next to the skyscraper and fell inside.

Through his magnetic field sensing ability, Ji Xinghuo could tell that Shen Yucheng was not dead.

"Trouble," Ji Xinghuo muttered.

He jumped down as well, activating his Gale Boots in mid-air and landing on the roof of the building a few seconds later.

Boom!

Before he could steady himself, the cement floor beneath his feet was blasted open, and a fiery figure shot out.

However, Ji Xinghuo had anticipated Shen Yucheng's ambush and quickly used a Swift Step to create distance. Immediately after, he turned back with a Flash Step, and his Thunderous Battle Blade slashed out.

Clang!

The battle blade collided with Shen Yucheng's fist, sending him flying horizontally.

He tumbled across the cement roof for over ten meters, then flipped and jumped up, his body charred black and covered in wounds. His eyes widened in disbelief as he exclaimed, "You actually dodged that punch!"

Ji Xinghuo did not answer him.

With his magnetic field sensing ability, it was impossible for an enemy to launch a sneak attack.

At this moment, Shen Yucheng was in a terrible state, severely injured and his stellar power nearly depleted. In half a minute, his burning would end, and the victor would be decided.

"I suggest you surrender and come back to the country with me," Ji Xinghuo said.

"I can't go back," Shen Yucheng said with a faint smile. "From the moment I left, I was prepared to never turn back."

Ji Xinghuo was about to say something more when he suddenly looked up at the distant night sky. Five or six kilometers away, three Sky Fighter jets were approaching at high speed and would arrive soon. Each jet was accompanied by a fully armed squad of mechanical rebels led by a super alien.

This was the Americ Federation's garrison in the Immortal City.

Judging from their configuration, the three super aliens were undoubtedly "Omni-Warriors," arch-nemeses of the Titanium-Cobalt Dragons from the Asia-Pacific Community.

Omni-Warriors were not to be trifled with.

Moreover, as a swordsman of the Sword Bureau, his identity was sensitive, and the Immortal City was the enemy's territory.

"Since you won't go back, then you must die."

Ji Xinghuo decided to end the battle quickly. Shen Yucheng must not fall into the hands of the Americ Federation. If he couldn't be brought back, then he had to be eliminated.

Before he finished speaking, Ji Xinghuo used a Flash Step to close in on Shen Yucheng, his right eye pupil flashing with a glowing circle.

"Come on!" Shen Yucheng shouted.

He gathered the last of his stellar power, his body engulfed in flames, and threw the most powerful punch of his life at Ji Xinghuo.

Boom!

The air exploded, the sound like rolling thunder.

Ji Xinghuo's Flash Step suddenly halted halfway, perfectly avoiding the peak of Shen Yucheng's punch. In an instant, he used another Flash Step, his figure passing through the fiery shockwave. His Thunderous Battle Blade slashed out, but not directly at Shen Yucheng; instead, it aimed at a spot several meters to Shen Yucheng's left.

A fiery afterimage appeared, and Shen Yucheng's body materialized under the blade.

Shen Yucheng had intended to throw a punch and then immediately sidestep and throw another punch to attack Ji Xinghuo. However, this sidestep seemed more like he was deliberately putting himself in harm's way.

Puchi!

The Thunderous Battle Blade's blade flashed with electric light, incredibly sharp, instantly slicing through Shen Yucheng's waist and cutting him into two pieces.

The fiery fist shadows that filled the sky instantly dissipated.

Shen Yucheng's upper body fell to the ground but did not die immediately. His eyes fixed on Ji Xinghuo, and he said in admiration, "Good sword skill..."

As he finished speaking, the light in his eyes dimmed, and he died.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end