Chapter 318: Civil War Between Lovers

Chapter 318: Civil War Between Lovers

After seeing his family off, Ji Xinghuo retired to his bedroom and spent some intimate moments with Zhaomianyin. However, he sensed that she seemed somewhat distracted.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked.

Zhaomianyin gently pressed his hand beneath her sleepwear and, tilting her head back, said, "I want to challenge you to another duel."

"Ha! Now that you've merged with the Eye of Truth, you want to challenge me?" Ji Xinghuo laughed.

"Yes," Zhaomianyin straightened up, her eyes sparkling with confidence and determination. "I know I'm probably no match for you, but I want to know how far I lag behind, and at the same time, test the effectiveness of the Eye of Truth."

Ji Xinghuo lifted her chin with his finger. "It's reasonable for the second-ranked on the Tower to challenge the first. I accept."

He didn't feel the slightest bit upset.

Instead, he felt that this was what he admired most about Zhaomianyin.

She possessed a true heart of a strong person and would never rely completely on another because of their romantic relationship.

"Let's go now," Zhaomianyin said as she jumped off the bed. "We'll go to Mount Hua, to the peak where we first dueled last year."

She quickly changed into a black leather outfit and slung a longsword on her back, preparing to go downstairs and drive, but Ji Xinghuo stopped her.

"We'll fly there directly," he said.

Ji Xinghuo swept her into his arms and, stepping out onto the balcony, immediately took off into the air.

Boom!

With a violent sonic boom, Ji Xinghuo reached supersonic speed in an instant and flew high in the sky toward Mount Hua in the east.

Zhaomianyin hugged Ji Xinghuo's neck, marveling at the bubble-like shape that enveloped them, a fluid-form barrier that deflected the violent air currents. This barrier was a result of their cultivation.

She had also recently merged with a fluid-form barrier.

However, to reach Ji Xinghuo's level, where it was as sturdy as steel and could be manipulated to change shape, would likely take a very long time.

At this moment, their flight speed had reached Mach 2, and the city below was retreating rapidly from view, the lights streaking like flowing light.

"So fast!" Zhaomianyin exclaimed.

As a kinetic stringer, she could master the ability to fly with just a little practice, without needing to merge with another exotic species. However, her spiritual energy was not yet strong enough, and her flying speed and agility left much to be desired.

"Should I also merge with a flying exotic species?" Zhaomianyin asked, feeling the thrill of extreme speed.

Ji Xinghuo thought for a moment. "You can try. It definitely won't hurt to be faster."

If a kinetic stringer also merged with a flying exotic species, their spiritual energy and flight capabilities would combine, resulting in even greater speed.

Zhaomianyin nodded slightly.

She had considered this before, but as merging opportunities were precious, she hadn't made up her mind yet.

Now that Ji Xinghuo had given her three expansion curios, granting her four merging opportunities, and she had already used two for the Eye of Truth and the fluid-form barrier, she had two remaining.

"I have a few feathers from the winged humans. Do you want them?" Ji Xinghuo asked.

"What level are they?"

"They're just ordinary winged human feathers, super-limit exotic species."

"Then forget it," Zhaomianyin shook her head. Feathers from winged humans could be purchased directly, and although they were worth hundreds of millions, they weren't particularly rare to her.

She wasn't interested in "Flight," either.

Because, in essence, flight was an ability to apply kinetics, without the need for spiritual energy to drive it. It was useless to a kinetic stringer.

As the two talked, they arrived at their destination.

Ji Xinghuo slowed down and landed on an inconspicuous mountain peak among the tall mountains surrounding Mount Hua. After landing, Zhaomianyin looked around. Even in the darkness of night, she could see everything clearly, as if it were daylight.

This rocky mountaintop hadn't changed much, and the traces of their duel from last year were still visible.

This was where their romance had begun.

Recalling those events, a slight smile curved Zhaomianyin's lips.

"Are we starting?" Ji Xinghuo asked.

Zhaomianyin composed herself and regained her calm. She walked to a spot about fifty meters away from Ji Xinghuo and stopped. She drew her Startling Rainbow sword, and the Spirit Sword bracelet on her wrist also fell off, transforming into four dazzling sword lights and condensing into eight more icy swords.

Startling Rainbow also created four sword shadow clones, and in the blink of an eye, sixteen colorful sword lights surrounded her.

"Give it your all and don't hold back," Zhaomianyin said seriously. "Otherwise, our duel will be meaningless."

Ji Xinghuo nodded. "Okay."

"Begin!"

As Zhaomianyin's voice fell, Ji Xinghuo vanished.

In an instant, he crossed the distance of several dozen meters and appeared in front of Zhaomianyin.

He was bare-handed, and a thick layer of three-colored scales appeared on his right hand, with electricity crackling as he unleashed an electric spiral punch.

In the past, most of Ji Xinghuo's opponents had been unable to react in time. However, Zhaomianyin's eyes sparkled like stars, and instead of retreating, she took a step forward to meet Ji Xinghuo's attack, thrusting the tip of Startling Rainbow toward him.

Faster than Startling Rainbow was the sword light.

The four icy swords seemed to possess foresight, blocking Ji Xinghuo's path.

At the same time, the "light sword" above him flashed, erupting with intense brightness and illuminating the entire mountaintop.

Ji Xinghuo closed his eyes.

Without needing to see, he could still sense everything and punched out without hindrance.

Bang!

The four icy swords exploded on their own, turning into a lot of cold air and ice shards that pelted Ji Xinghuo's body, only to be deflected by his fluid-form barrier. Although they didn't cause any harm, the coldness slightly delayed Ji Xinghuo for a moment.

It was in this fleeting moment that Zhaomianyin seized a fleeting opportunity.

The Startling Rainbow sword was like a nimble snake, slipping past Ji Xinghuo's fist and piercing his chest.

A soft sound escaped his lips.

The sword tip erupted with astonishing penetration power, forcing its way through the electricity triggered by the fluid-form barrier and penetrating his body, but it was stopped by the sacred scales and couldn't advance any further.

Ji Xinghuo ignored the sword in his chest, and his right fist continued to punch out, only to slam into a barrier formed by the superimposition of multiple sword lights. The electric spiral punch exploded, and the sword light barrier immediately shattered into pieces, scattering like falling petals.

In the midst of the electric light, Zhaomianyin withdrew and retreated, evading the lethal damage of the electric spiral punch.

Ji Xinghuo was about to pursue, but his body stiffened.

He looked down at his chest. Although the sacred scales hadn't been pierced by the sword, the spiral punch that was attached to the sword had drilled into his body and wreaked havoc.

"Amazing!"

Ji Xinghuo praised inwardly.

Zhaomianyin's spiral punch was something he had taught her himself. Although it was just an ordinary spiral punch, unlike his own, which possessed electromagnetic properties, her cultivation was higher than his, having reached the "ultimate simplicity" realm.

Every movement, every gesture, and every step could contain unimaginable starlight power.

This required not only a starlight power level of five or above but also a heaven-defying martial arts talent.

Ji Xinghuo's starlight power was also at level five.

However, after practicing for several months, his spiral power was still at the "Extremity" realm, and he felt that he was far from achieving Ultimate Simplicity.

On the other hand, Zhao Manying had mastered the spiral power in less than a year and had already reached Ultimate Simplicity, which was undoubtedly aided by the Quantum Heart, but it also showed that her martial arts talent far surpassed his own.

"No wonder a single sword strike was able to penetrate my fluid-form barrier..."

As these thoughts flashed through Ji Xinghuo's mind, the spiral power surging within him caused a sweet taste in his throat, and blood welled up.

At this moment, Zhao Manying seized the opportunity to counterattack with a Flash Step.

A tremendous force compressed from all directions, like an invisible giant hand restraining Ji Xinghuo and preventing him from moving.

Even faster than her longsword were the sword lights, converging into a rainbow-like giant sword, flashing like lightning and slashing from the side.

Boom!

Thunder rumbled in the sky, and several bolts of lightning struck down, targeting both Zhao Manying and the giant sword under her control.

A wall of kinetic energy appeared above Zhao Manying's head, acting as a protective shield against the lightning. Simultaneously, the rainbow-like giant sword instantly dispersed, causing the lightning to strike empty air before reforming and slashing towards Ji Xinghuo's back.

This series of reactions and maneuvers left Ji Xinghuo in awe.

Yet, his eyes remained calm.

However, he had already drawn out Moyin, and in the half-second before being attacked from both front and back, the influence of the physical spiral power was neutralized, and he instantly sidestepped to the left, breaking free from the invisible kinetic energy restraint.

Zhao Manying pursued relentlessly.

Ji Xinghuo turned to face her, and as they moved at high speed, they maintained a distance of about three steps apart, rapidly exchanging sword strikes.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Moyin and Jingming clashed, sparking like fireworks, and the metallic clangs echoed continuously.

Zhao Manying's sword was infused with spiral power, and although Ji Xinghuo's strength surpassed hers, Moyin lacked explosiveness. He could only rely on his super-frequency thinking to counter her torrent of sword strikes.

He lightly tapped with his left hand, and his fingertip burst forth with electricity.

A powerful Thunderclap Hand was unleashed, but Zhao Manying nimbly sidestepped, and the lightning bolt curved, striking the rainbow-like giant sword that was slashing from the right, causing it to explode into numerous sword lights.

Ji Xinghuo immediately changed direction at a right angle.

Zhao Manying couldn't keep up with his speed and managed to last for less than two seconds before being left behind.

Her eyes sparkled, and her kinetic energy erupted, forming an invisible kinetic energy cage around Ji Xinghuo.

Boom! Ji Xinghuo instantly accelerated, breaking through the kinetic energy cage, but as his speed slowed, three sword lights flew towards him, their speed and direction changing in real-time. He repeatedly changed direction, yet the sword lights shadowed his every move.

Moyin struck out, attempting to sever the sword lights.

However, these sword lights were as slippery as eels, deftly deflecting the force of the blow at the moment of collision, avoiding any damage.

Moreover, each time he struck out with his sword, he was met with an invisible kinetic energy barrier, as if he were underwater, weakening his strength and speed, preventing him from exerting his full power. He was constantly interfered with and suppressed by the kinetic energy.

Such intricate and ingenious manipulation of spiritual energy was complex and ever-changing, far beyond the capabilities of an ordinary spiritual energy stringer.

The sheer amount of calculations involved would cause an Esper's brain to crash.

Yet, Zhao Manying remained relaxed and unperturbed.

Ji Xinghuo maneuvered in the air for a few seconds before being forced to land, surrounded by the sharp sword lights.

Compared to before, Zhao Manying's strength had increased severalfold! If it had been the Ji Xinghuo of last year, he would have had almost no chance of victory against her. But now... Ji Xinghuo suddenly smiled brilliantly at her.

"It ends here."

Boom! Ji Xinghuo suddenly activated his rotating magnetic field with full power, with the magnetic spirit star core outputting at maximum capacity, triggering the Dragon Madness, causing his strength to soar. His body seemed to teleport as he entered full speed, and the air where he had been standing exploded with a loud blast.

Zhao Manying's expression remained as calm as still water, but her eyes saw everything clearly.

Her starlight spiritual energy erupted completely.

Sword lights tried to block Ji Xinghuo's path, but they couldn't keep up with his speed, and the multiple layers of kinetic energy walls formed between them were broken through one after another, like a bamboo stalk being crushed.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Ji Xinghuo instantly tore through the obstacles and unleashed an ordinary-looking electric spiral power strike, piercing the air and creating a booming explosion.

Zhao Manying had no way to evade.

She could only block with her longsword, and her fist collided head-on with the sword blade.

Time seemed to freeze for a fleeting moment, and then countless electric lights exploded, sending the Jingming sword flying back and striking Zhao Manying's chest. The terrifying force exploded, sending her flying off the mountaintop.

Even as Zhao Manying fell through the air, she continued to manipulate her flying sword to attack.

The rainbow-like giant sword finally struck, and Ji Xinghuo suddenly turned, dodging the sword tip at the last moment and appearing at the giant sword's side. He unleashed another electric spiral power strike on the sword, causing it to immediately disintegrate.

Ignoring the scattering sword lights, he flew backward, tracing a bizarre right-angle trajectory, evading the kinetic energy restraint, and chasing after Zhao Manying.

Then, he threw another punch.

Amidst the bursting electric lights, Zhao Manying's black leather outfit scattered like snowflakes, and her body fell towards the mountain gorge.

Ji Xinghuo fell even faster, catching up with her in the blink of an eye.

However, he didn't throw another punch but instead caught Zhao Manying. Her kinetic energy armor and fluid-form barrier had been blasted apart, and she was severely injured.

The outcome of the battle was clear.

"Do you want to continue?"

Ji Xinghuo held Zhao Manying in his arms, hovering in mid-air, and asked softly.

Blood trickled from the corner of Zhao Manying's mouth, her whole body numb from the electricity, her face pale. It took her a few seconds to recover.

"No more," she replied. "You win again." There was no hint of regret in her eyes, only focus and a hint of obsession as she looked at Ji Xinghuo, feeling the solid and powerful chest of the man. Suddenly, she said, "Love me!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end