Chapter 291: The Decisive Strike
Chapter 291: The Decisive Strike
Chen Chuan noticed that Youshang's breathing, though relatively steady, had a slight irregularity. As a fighter, this indicated that his injuries were more severe than they appeared, possibly affecting the xenomorph organ within him.
With his experience, Chen Chuan deduced that the injury was no more than half an hour old, but there were no signs of a fight in the area. Unless Youshang had a penchant for self-harm, this was most likely related to the monster.
It seemed that his successful resistance was now causing trouble for Youshang.
However, Chen Chuan could help alleviate his condition.
He looked at the long staff pointing at him, planted the Xuejun Blade into the ground, gripped the hilt, and walked forward. With a scraping sound, he slowly drew the blade out.
Before Chen Chuan could fully unsheathe his sword, Youshang pushed off with his supporting leg, causing his body to jerk. With a push from his other hand, he thrust the staff forward, aiming directly at Chen Chuan.
Chen Chuan deflected the staff with his blade, feeling a powerful force pressing against him. The force, layered with energy, first traveled along the sword and then seeped through his arm, making him feel rooted to the spot, unable to maneuver.
If not for his mastery of force dissipation techniques and the use of the xenomorph organ to neutralize these forces, he might have lost his grip on the sword without the aid of his second self.
A technical opponent?
He couldn't help but recall Teacher Zheng's words; such opponents were his least favorite, and he had to eliminate them quickly.
Youshang, holding the end of the staff with one hand, maintained a steady forward motion. In a hushed voice, he said, "You've taken the medicine."
This was just a test; without the medicine, a fighter below the Triple Limit wouldn't stand a chance against Youshang's previous move. A single strike with the staff could have been fatal.
Although the effects of the medicine usually didn't last long, and waiting for it to wear off seemed like an easier option, Chen Chuan dared not delay.
Since Youshang had come alone, he must have prepared for this encounter. There might be reinforcements on the way, and this location was clearly exposed. Chen Chuan needed to defeat him quickly and retreat.
Chen Chuan stared ahead, knowing that Teacher Zheng was right, but he lacked the teacher's skills. Moreover, this was a rare opportunity to hone his sword skills against a worthy opponent.
In the past, the heightened state after the second self's overlap had been time-limited, but now his primary self could achieve that state, and the second self could withstand various assaults. There was no need to rush for a result.
After all, finding a sparring partner wasn't easy.
With a slight exertion of force, the Xuejun Blade was fully drawn out, and he slowly raised it, pointing it forward.
At a certain distance, the tips of the two weapons slowly drew closer. Both fighters maintained their stances, breathing evenly, and just as the weapons were about to clash, they moved simultaneously!
With a loud clang, the weapons collided. Youshang, using the staff to knock the blade aside, and the end of the staff tilted slightly outward.
Youshang's arm remained steady, but he shifted his center of gravity, sinking and rising, twisting his wrist. A spinning force emerged from below, gathering layer upon layer, and transferred to the staff.
In that instant, the staff, which had been slightly bent outward, snapped straight. Youshang stepped forward and thrust the staff towards Chen Chuan's head once more.
Chen Chuan deflected the impact that had penetrated the blade, then lifted the sword and blocked the staff's path. Although he managed to deflect the staff, the force transmitted through it caused the sword to vibrate. The force, though subtle, continuously penetrated his body, and despite his attempts to dissipate it, he felt a tingling sensation.
The end of the staff pierced through the rain curtain, exposing it to the rain blowing from behind. The raindrops seemed to explode outward, indicating the strength behind the strike.
Youshang adjusted his grip, changing from a thrust to a sweep, and slashed horizontally. Chen Chuan ducked to avoid the strike, ready to bring his sword close for a downward slash. But the staff's momentum indicated a reverse sweep, so he retreated again. A gust of force swept past his face, even stirring the hair on his forehead.
Chen Chuan had backed into the rain curtain, so he took a few steps back onto the flat ground outside.
Youshang seemed to be following a pattern, maintaining the distance between the staff and Chen Chuan. After stepping out of the door, he quickened his pace, and the staff slashed diagonally. This time, Chen Chuan seized the opportunity as Youshang passed through the doorway, taking a quick step forward to block the staff with his sword and attempt to enter the inner circle to execute his sword techniques.
As the force connected with the staff, it vibrated, instantly dissipating the force and pressing down on Chen Chuan's raised sword. There was a sticky force on the staff, and Chen Chuan struggled to counter it. The staff twisted his sword twice, then swiped it aside.
This move, after two preparatory motions, was meant to launch a powerful force that could have disarmed Chen Chuan and even thrown him off balance. However, Youshang's damaged xenomorph organ prevented him from delivering the full force.
Chen Chuan felt a powerful force transmitted through the sword, as if someone had grabbed the blade and was pulling it forcefully. He stepped back, sinking his weight, and his two xenomorph organs generated a sinking force, firmly holding onto the sword without a single wobble.
Just then, the water mist from the initial staff strike finally dissipated in the air, and the cool water droplets, carried by the wind, landed on both of them. The surrounding branches and rain curtain swayed gently.
Youshang's staff whirled, his hands pulling back as he slightly caught his breath.
Chen Chuan, on the other hand, tore off his outer garment, revealing a black casual outfit underneath. As the rain fell, it landed on his body, and faint white mist emanated from his skin. Under the light of the gate, he seemed enveloped in a white aura.
Chen Chuan held his saber with one hand, supporting its back, as he stared intently ahead. This was the opponent he had been anticipating, and through this battle, he could gain more insights.
Youshang's bloodshot eyes fixed on him, and behind him, the monster watched. He wanted to end the fight quickly and resolve the imminent crisis. After a brief adjustment, without any unnecessary words, he rushed forward a few steps, shifted his hands forward, and then held the staff behind his back. With a swift turn, harnessing the spinning force, he swung the staff, slicing through the rain in front of him as if with a sharp blade, creating a semi-circular shockwave.
Chen Chuan retreated to avoid the attack, then seeing the wide range of the move, he seized the opportunity to block the staff to one side with his saber while stepping forward. His foot stomped down, shattering the bricks beneath him. Before the debris could land, he surged forward, carrying the fragments with him.
Youshang, with one hand on the staff and the other as a pivot, pressed down, intentionally exposing the end of the staff. With precision, he struck the front end of the saber, deflecting it while also pressing down with his other hand. The staff, following the momentum, spun and smashed towards Chen Chuan.
Chen Chuan, guided by his opponent's subtle force, couldn't help but lift his saber upwards, creating an opening. However, instead of forcefully pressing down, he went with the flow, raising his hand to meet the incoming staff. He continued to step forward, lifting the saber's hilt upwards, causing the staff to clash against the saber's hilt with a resounding clang.
In that moment of collision, a surge of power coursed through the staff, causing the ground beneath Chen Chuan's feet to shatter, his feet sinking deep into the debris.
Chen Chuan didn't rely solely on his altered organs to withstand this attack. Instead, he chose to endure it with his own body, ensuring his altered organs remained in a fully responsive state.
Techniques weren't his forte, but sheer strength was. This clash of forces was what he had been waiting for. As he inhaled sharply, his altered organs surged with power, unleashing an unstoppable force through the point of contact between the staff and saber.
Youshang immediately felt the force, and although he could have dissipated it, the damage to his altered organs prevented him from making such a subtle and timely adjustment. The staff was knocked upwards, and the force behind it pushed him back two steps.
Chen Chuan seized this opportunity, raising his saber and swiftly bringing it down" towards Youshang. As Youshang retreated, he spun the staff horizontally in front of him.
With a clang, the downward force of the saber caused Youshang's knees to bend and his feet to sink into the ground, not only penetrating the floor but also burying his ankles in the soil beneath.
He instantly realized that without the momentum of his body, the staff's power would be significantly reduced.
Chen Chuan intended to force a direct confrontation, and Youshang's pause gave him the rhythm he had been practicing.
Chen Chuan pressed down, then stepped back, twisting his wrist for a reverse sweep. Youshang's eyes narrowed, and he gripped the staff, pushing it to the side. He intended to block the saber and use the momentum to propel himself, but the force from the saber was weak, lacking the previous intensity.
Youshang's misjudgment didn't lead to excessive force, but his injuries prevented him from escaping. Chen Chuan shifted his saber, and Youshang could only block again.
Chen Chuan slashed down repeatedly, and although Youshang was rooted in place, he managed to block each strike with heart-stopping precision. His solid fundamentals ensured he made no mistakes and maintained a tight defense.
The intense battle caused a whirlwind of power, sweeping away the rain before it could land on them and scattering the shattered debris. The overhead light swayed violently, as if a vortex was forming around the two combatants.
Youshang had reached his limit due to his limited mobility, making it difficult to execute his techniques. Chen Chuan's saber transmitted solid force, and although the altered organs dissipated some of the impact, each blow drove Youshang deeper into the mud, now reaching his shins.
Having lost the initiative, Youshang's injured altered organs couldn't recover without rest. As the twenty-first strike descended, Youshang's strength faltered, and the staff slipped from his grasp, flying away. His chest was wide open, and a cold glint flashed. Before he could react, the saber had pierced his heart.
Looking up at Chen Chuan's calm eyes, Youshang knew what was coming. Fear flashed in his eyes, and he said, "Wait, wait, I..."
"Sorry to disturb you," Chen Chuan apologized, his other hand pressing against the saber's hilt as he stepped back. Withdrawing the saber, he swung it behind him, slicing through the air. A hissing sound accompanied Youshang's head as it flew off, rolling towards the cat statue and bouncing back before coming to a stop.
...
(End of Chapter)
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