Chapter 321: Striking the Void
Chapter 321: Striking the Void
A circle of tumbling dust exploded from the shattered wall, and the continuous clanging sounds swiftly moved elsewhere, only to leap to the other side in the blink of an eye.
Guo and Liang, the two students, struggled to discern the situation, even without the large cloud of dust obscuring their view. They could only vaguely gauge the intensity of the battle through sound, and a sense of awe arose within them. Was this Chen, their fellow student, truly on par with them?
For a fleeting moment, they wondered if they had missed a lesson.
Chen Chuan, through his initial contact, realized he couldn't afford to let Teacher Jiang launch an offensive, as the latter's speed seemed to increase with each attack.
Finally managing to interrupt with the stone wall as a barrier, he wouldn't give such an opportunity again. He needed to suppress Teacher Jiang head-on, at the very least restricting him to neutralize his advantages.
As Chen Chuan charged forward, he unleashed his full strength, breaking free from the constraints of the altered organ. His speed and power surged, instantly blocking Teacher Jiang's slashing stab and launching a counterattack.
It was as if two colossal forces collided, churning up layers of dust, creating craters and scattering stone fragments. Due to their rapid movements, the billowing dust clouds seemed to reveal streaks of residual slash marks.
Teacher Jiang sensed the change in Chen Chuan's body, recognizing the use of an explosive technique to maximize the drug's effects.
Chen Chuan's attacks were no longer cautious and restrained but became increasingly aggressive, with a faster pace. This suggested an attempt to suppress Teacher Jiang's offensive and pressure.
Oh? So soon?
No wonder the combat decision evaluation was so high...
Chen Chuan, with his heightened senses approaching the Third Limit, observed Teacher Jiang's breathing rhythm and movement trajectory. He realized that each attack, flash, and movement served a dual purpose: to make it difficult to predict his position and to maximize his force.
A certain rhythmic movement was necessary to build up momentum and unleash the full power of the sword.
The initial strike before the formal combat wasn't without purpose. It was meant to create the impression that even a casual strike carried immense force, but in reality, it was also a result of a well-timed strike and buildup, hidden behind a seemingly relaxed posture.
This was a tactical deception, forcing a conservative approach, which was exactly what the opponent desired.
Teacher Zheng often emphasized the importance of guiding and controlling opponents in combat, rather than being controlled. And Teacher Jiang was already attempting to do just that from the start.
Once Chen Chuan understood this, his goal was to prevent Teacher Jiang from fully accumulating power during movement. So, he seized the opportunity, advanced, and disrupted Teacher Jiang's rhythm by sticking close and entangling him, limiting the force he could exert.
This didn't mean these forces were harmless, but they were relatively weakened, allowing Chen Chuan to accumulate advantages through continuous attacks and release more power and speed.
The assistant teacher closely monitored the battle, surprised by Chen Chuan's ability to engage in a counter-offensive against Teacher Jiang. Not only that, but Chen Chuan quickly adapted, possibly within three or five minutes, as the drug had a time limit.
If the battle extended, even a Second Limit body would be unable to win, and stubbornly continuing could lead to unfavorable outcomes.
Therefore, the assistant teacher was prepared to intervene at any sign of trouble.
Teacher Jiang gracefully deflected Chen Chuan's attacks with his rapier, and Chen Chuan's strategy was effective in disrupting Teacher Jiang's momentum.
However, this might not be enough.
Teacher Jiang's skill wasn't limited to accumulating power during movement; his weapon's swings alone could achieve similar results. Although Chen Chuan's changing blade force caused some trouble, it only prolonged the battle, not altering the outcome.
As Chen Chuan's continuous attacks built momentum, his senses sharpened, allowing him to perceive Teacher Jiang's sinking energy and restrained strength, suggesting a gradual buildup of tension.
This indicated that even in such a high-paced battle, controlling Teacher Jiang's force accumulation was challenging. But Chen Chuan's strategy didn't end there.
Before Teacher Jiang could continue, Chen Chuan suddenly unleashed the power of his altered organ, and with a swift slash, he executed a face-to-face chop.
Teacher Jiang, well-aware of the two sets of altered organs, was genuinely caught off guard this time.
With exceptional skill, Teacher Jiang's rapier swiftly parried the attack, but this deflection disrupted his rhythm, dissipating the built-up force.
Chen Chuan's move impressed Teacher Jiang, especially with Chen Chuan's increased speed and sustained rhythm in subsequent attacks. Teacher Jiang couldn't allow Chen Chuan to dominate, so he adjusted and seized an opportunity to strike, aiming for Chen Chuan's shoulder to suppress his offense.
(Chapter End)
Despite the initial advantage, Chen Chuan's attack on Teacher Jiang seemed to have no effect. This strike appeared illogical, as Teacher Jiang had not yet gathered his strength. Even if he used his second self, he might get injured in the clash, but the opponent would suffer more severe injuries.
Indeed, the third-limit fighter possessed formidable vitality and might emerge unscathed. Still, being struck by a student, or even ending in mutual injury, was something the opponent would never accept.
Teacher Jiang would not allow such a scene to unfold. As an examiner, being injured by an examinee would be a loss of face. Even if he remained unharmed, being forced to injure an examinee would still invite ridicule from his colleagues. Thus, he had no choice but to retract and block again.
This change not only disrupted his smooth momentum buildup but also further compressed the range of his weapon's movement.
Teacher Jiang was forced to adopt a fully defensive stance. Although Chen Chuan seemed to have exploited his psychology, Teacher Jiang did not feel annoyed; instead, he admired the student even more.
A fighter should take advantage of everything favorable to them. Upon noticing the opponent being constrained by something, the logical strategy was to focus attacks on that weakness repeatedly.
Teacher Jiang would have done the same.
However, admiration aside, the fight could not continue this way.
He had means to unleash a burst of power, but doing so against a student would be humiliating. He could wait for Chen Chuan's medicine to wear off, but that would also be unacceptable. Others might say that he only won because the student's medicine had run out.
That wouldn't do.
Teacher Jiang began to move around, changing his position and using the stone pillars to disrupt Chen Chuan's offense. But Chen Chuan stuck to him like glue, following his every move.
After 16 moves, the two reached a broken pillar leaning to one side. As Teacher Jiang moved away, he lightly brushed his hand.
Chen Chuan was about to follow, but the broken part of the pillar above suddenly crashed down.
Teacher Jiang had anticipated this, not expecting to block Chen Chuan completely, but just enough to create a slight obstruction. By breaking free from the entanglement, he could counterattack and declare the fight's end, preserving his dignity and face.
Chen Chuan realized this too, but he didn't want to give up. Focusing on the impending obstacle, he merged his second self with it, and with a boom, he burst through the rubble, unleashing an incredibly swift sword strike toward Teacher Jiang's chest.
Teacher Jiang, startled by Chen Chuan's increased speed, took a step back, his skin briefly flushing red. His wrist twitched, and he whipped his rapier in a serpentine motion, coiling around the Xuejun Blade's blade. After retreating several dozen meters, both fighters came to a halt.
Teacher Jiang let out a 'hey' and said, "Chen Chuan, the exam is over. Well done, I'll give you a high score."
Chen Chuan thanked him and slowly released his tension, while the rapier uncoiled from the Xuejun Blade, returning to its original straight form.
Assistant Ling Zhili's heart finally eased. He had been ready to intervene during the final moments, as the situation looked perilous. Thankfully, both fighters knew when to hold back. He glared at Teacher Jiang, dissatisfied. As a teacher, he should have shown more restraint. Students might be immature, but he should know better.
Teacher Jiang then declared, "The mimicry is over."
The surrounding environment vanished instantly. The collapsed stone pillars and the dust on the ground disappeared, leaving the arena empty. The specially designed floor gleamed, reflecting shadows.
Chen Chuan sheathed the Xuejun Blade and bid farewell to the two teachers, "Teachers, I'll take my leave now." After the farewell, he nodded to Liang and Guo, his classmates, and departed.
Teacher Jiang watched him leave, then touched his chest where a tiny puncture wound, no larger than a pinprick, marked the spot where the sword tip had touched his skin. In a real fight, the force could have been unleashed with dire consequences.
However, Teacher Jiang had one last move, a breaking force that wasn't just disarming but powerful enough to break the opponent's weapon or, at the very least, disrupt the force transmission. Doing so would only invite ridicule from his peers.
He sighed, thinking, "Students these days are getting more and more impressive..." At that moment, Assistant Ling's voice broke the silence, "What are you two staring at? Liang Xueyou, get ready for your exam."
He nodded in agreement and recalled his rapier.
...
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Chapter end
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