Chapter 321: Striking the Void
Chapter 321: Striking the Void
A circle of gray dust erupted from the broken wall, followed by a series of rapid impacts that quickly shifted elsewhere. But in a fleeting moment, it suddenly jumped to the other side.
Guo and Liang, the two students, struggled to identify the situation, even without the large cloud of dust obscuring their view. They could only rely on sound to barely discern the intensity of the battle, and a sense of awe rose within them. Was this Chen Chuan, their fellow student?
For a fleeting moment, they wondered if they had missed a lesson.
Chen Chuan, through the previous contact, realized he couldn't allow Jiang Laoshi to launch an offensive freely, as the latter's speed seemed to increase with each attack.
After interrupting Jiang Laoshi's attack with the stone wall, Chen Chuan wouldn't give him another chance. He needed to suppress or at least engage Jiang Laoshi from the front, limiting his ability to utilize his strengths.
As he charged forward this time, he unleashed his power, suddenly increasing his speed and strength, and directly blocked Jiang Laoshi's slashing stab while launching a counterattack.
It was as if two massive waves collided, causing layers of dust to swirl, leaving holes and flying stone fragments in their wake. Due to their rapid movements, the billowing dust seemed to reveal slash marks.
Jiang Laoshi sensed the change in Chen Chuan's body, understanding that he must have used some kind of explosive technique to maximize the effect of the medication.
Furthermore, Jiang Laoshi noticed that Chen Chuan's attacks were no longer as cautious and restrained as before; instead, they were becoming increasingly aggressive, and the pace was quickening. It seemed as if Chen Chuan was determined to suppress his opponent's offensive momentum.
Oh? Did he discover it so quickly?
No wonder the combat decision evaluation was so high...
Chen Chuan, with his senses approaching the third limit, observed Jiang Laoshi's breathing rhythm and movement trajectory. He realized that Jiang Laoshi's flashing movements weren't solely to prevent his opponent from predicting his position; they were also related to his power release technique.
Jiang Laoshi required rhythmic movements to build up force and maximize the power of his sword.
The initial strike before the official combat, when Jiang Laoshi had tapped Chen Chuan, was not without purpose. It was meant to make Chen Chuan believe that his casual strike carried immense power. In reality, that strike was also the result of a brief movement and a moment of gathering strength, all disguised within Jiang Laoshi's seemingly leisurely and relaxed gait.
This was a tactical deception, forcing Chen Chuan to adopt a conservative strategy, which was exactly what Jiang Laoshi wanted.
Zheng Laoshi often advised Chen Chuan that in combat, one should guide and control the opponent rather than be controlled. From the start, Jiang Laoshi had been attempting to guide and control Chen Chuan.
Upon realizing this, Chen Chuan's task was to prevent Jiang Laoshi from fully accumulating power during his movements. So, when the opportunity arose, Chen Chuan seized it, moving forward and switching to an offensive stance. He closely entangled with Jiang Laoshi, disrupting his rhythm, thereby limiting the force Jiang Laoshi could generate.
Of course, this didn't mean that Jiang Laoshi's attacks were devoid of lethality; they were just relatively weakened. As the situation shifted, Chen Chuan could accumulate advantages through continuous attacks, thereby releasing more power and speed.
The assistant instructor watched the match intently, surprised to see Chen Chuan engaging in a head-on clash with Jiang Laoshi. Not only that, but Chen Chuan had quickly identified a countermeasure. However, that was all he could do, as the medication had its time limit. Perhaps it would last three minutes, or maybe five?
If the time extended further, a second-limit body couldn't withstand the strain, and there was no way to win this battle. The concern was that Chen Chuan might stubbornly refuse to admit defeat and persist, which wouldn't be good.
Therefore, the assistant instructor prepared to intervene at any sign of trouble.
At this moment, Jiang Laoshi gracefully parried Chen Chuan's offense with his rapier. Chen Chuan had indeed found the right approach by consistently disrupting and altering Jiang Laoshi's movement direction, preventing him from building up his sword's momentum.
But this might not be enough.
Jiang Laoshi wasn't just capable of accumulating power during movement; he could also do so through the simple act of wielding his weapon. Although Chen Chuan's varying force on his sword did cause some trouble for Jiang Laoshi, preventing him from accumulating power smoothly and quickly, this only prolonged the inevitable outcome.
As Chen Chuan continued his relentless offense, his condition improved, and his senses sharpened. He noticed that Jiang Laoshi's aura was sinking, and his power became more restrained and stable, like a tightly drawn bowstring.
This indicated that even in such a high-paced battle, it was still challenging to fully accumulate power. However, Chen Chuan's strategy wasn't limited to this.
Without waiting for Jiang Laoshi to continue, Chen Chuan suddenly unleashed the dormant altered tissue on his body, and with a sudden burst of speed, he slashed forward.
Jiang Laoshi, who was well aware of Chen Chuan's two sets of altered tissue, was genuinely caught off guard by this move. With his exceptional coordination, Jiang Laoshi swiftly parried with his rapier, but this deflection wasn't in sync with his previous rhythm, causing the accumulated power to dissipate.
Jiang Laoshi inwardly acknowledged Chen Chuan's skill in this strike, especially as Chen Chuan's speed increased, and the subsequent attacks maintained this rhythm. He couldn't allow Chen Chuan to continue like this.
(End of Chapter)Chen Chuan adjusted his stance and seized the opportunity to strike at Chen Chuan's shoulder, aiming to curb his aggressive offense.
However, Chen Chuan paid no heed to this attack. The strike towards Jiang Laoshi remained unchanged, which seemed illogical. Despite having the upper hand in momentum, even if Chen Chuan countered with a sword strike, it wouldn't hinder Jiang Laoshi much. Instead, allowing the attack might lead to mutual injury, wasting a favorable situation.
Chen Chuan thought otherwise. Jiang Laoshi's power hadn't accumulated yet, and if he didn't use his second self, a clash might injure Jiang Laoshi, but the injury would be more severe for Chen Chuan.
Indeed, a Third Limit Fighter's vitality is formidable, and they might not suffer significant harm. Still, being struck by a learner, even resulting in mutual injury, was unacceptable to Jiang Laoshi.
Jiang Laoshi wouldn't let this happen. As an examiner, being injured by an examinee would be a joke. Even if Jiang Laoshi wasn't hurt, being forced to injure an examinee would still be ridiculed by other teachers. Thus, he had no choice but to defend again.
This change not only disrupted his smooth power accumulation but also further reduced the range of his weapon's movement.
Jiang Laoshi had no choice but to adopt a fully defensive stance. Although Chen Chuan seemed to exploit his psychological tendencies, Jiang Laoshi didn't feel annoyed; instead, he admired Chen Chuan even more.
Fighters should capitalize on any favorable factors. Sensing that the opponent was restrained by something, the logical strategy was to focus attacks on that weakness repeatedly.
Jiang Laoshi would do the same.
But admiration aside, the fight couldn't continue like this.
Jiang Laoshi had explosive techniques, but using them against a learner would be humiliating. Waiting for Chen Chuan's drug effects to wear off was an option, but that would also reflect poorly on him. Others might say that he only won because the learner's drug effects ran out.
That wouldn't do.
Jiang Laoshi started moving around, changing positions, and using the stone pillars to disrupt Chen Chuan's offense. But Chen Chuan stuck to him like glue, following every move.
As the two fought, one massive pillar after another collapsed, turning the entire pillar forest into a boiling cauldron of dust and shaking sounds.
After about ten breaths, they reached a broken pillar leaning to one side. As Jiang Laoshi moved away, he lightly brushed his hand.
Chen Chuan was about to follow, but the broken section above suddenly crumbled and fell.
Jiang Laoshi had calculated this, not aiming to stop Chen Chuan but merely to create a slight obstruction. Once free from entanglement, he could counterattack and then declare the fight over, saving face and maintaining the examiner's dignity.
Chen Chuan also realized this. He didn't want to give up. Staring at the impending obstacle, he concentrated, and his second self instantly merged with it. With a boom, he burst through the rubble, and a swift blade of light stabbed directly at Jiang Laoshi's chest!
Jiang Laoshi was startled by Chen Chuan's increased speed. His skin seemed to redden for a moment, and his retreat accelerated. Simultaneously, he flicked his wrist, and the elbow sword whipped around like a snake, coiling around the Snow Lady Sword's blade. After withdrawing dozens of meters, both sides came to a halt.
Jiang Laoshi let out a laugh and said, "Chen Chuan, you'll get a high score for this exam."
Chen Chuan looked at him and said, "Thank you, Teacher." He slowly released his power, and the elbow sword, which had been coiled around the Snow Lady Sword, unraveled, returning to its original straight blade.
The assistant teacher's tense heart finally relaxed. The last moment had been genuinely dangerous, and he had almost intervened. Fortunately, both fighters knew when to hold back. He glared at Jiang Laoshi, dissatisfied. As a teacher, he should have shown more restraint.
At that moment, Jiang Laoshi said, "Transformation ended."
The surrounding environment instantly vanished, along with the collapsed pillars and the dust on the ground. The arena returned to its pristine state, with the specially designed floor reflecting like a mirror.
Chen Chuan walked over, sheathed the Snow Lady Sword, and said to the two teachers, "Teachers, I'll take my leave now." After bidding farewell, he nodded to Liang and the other two students and left the arena.
Jiang Laoshi watched him leave, touching his chest where there was an almost invisible puncture, no larger than a pinhole. The sword tip had reached his skin, and if it were a real fight, the force could have been released with severe consequences.
However, Jiang Laoshi had one last technique, not just a disarm. With an explosive move, he could break the opponent's weapon or, at the very least, disrupt the force transmission. But using it would make him a laughingstock among the other teachers.
He sighed inwardly, "Students these days are getting more and more formidable..." At that moment, the assistant teacher's voice rang out, "What are you two staring at? Liang Xueyong, come back for another exam."
He thought for a moment, then retracted his previous statement...
...
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End of Chapter
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