https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-43-Martial-Arts-the-Art-of-Killing-Enemies/12972704/
Chapter 44: Two Branch Masters
Chapter 44: Two Branch Masters
In this era, advancements in materials science have made even hollow metal rods incredibly strong and resilient.
Most importantly, this Fish Spirit Clan member only possessed a physical quality of 10.2, barely entering the rank of Advanced Creatures. Their bones and muscles were tough, but not yet at the level of being impervious to ordinary weapons.
Li Yuan's first two strikes were lightning-fast, using the momentum to smash down with a single hand.
With two consecutive heavy blows, he precisely crushed the Fish Spirit Clan member's skull, causing blood to splatter.
The Fish Spirit Clan member lay motionless on the ground, their slender body still twitching.
Li Yuan didn't stop, well aware of the importance of delivering the finishing blow.
For the third strike, he gripped the rod with both hands, the optimal stance for maximum force with a heavy rod.
The force application in spear and rod techniques shared many similarities.
"Huff!" Li Yuan's entire body burst with energy, and without hesitation, he executed the 'Boulder Firmament' technique. The rod's tip became like a spearhead, fiercely chopping downward.
"Puff! Bang!!!"
With over a thousand kilograms of terrifying force, he precisely struck the same spot as before... causing the Fish Spirit Clan member's head to explode like a watermelon.
Blood splattered, scales scattered, and some even landed on Li Yuan's body.
The Fish Spirit Clan member lay completely still, devoid of any movement.
"Huff!"
"Huff!" Li Yuan tightened his grip on the metal rod, still cautious, as he stared at the Fish Spirit Clan member before him, "This should have finished it off."
This was Li Yuan's first life-and-death battle.
However, after thousands of life-and-death battles in the virtual network and numerous real combat practices with Fang Longhu, Li Yuan's heart had become incredibly resilient.
Gun techniques and body techniques, along with the innate combat instincts honed in life-and-death situations, had unknowingly become a part of Li Yuan's very being.
"I, Li Yuan, can single-handedly defeat Star Gate Creatures?" Li Yuan took a deep breath, his grip on the metal rod tightening involuntarily.
In his heart, he felt as if he had experienced a significant life event, a spiritual baptism.
Sometimes, life's transformations can be sudden and unexpected, catching everyone off guard.
All one can do is prepare early.
After years of martial cultivation, Li Yuan had mentally and physically prepared himself for life-and-death battles. He had passed a test that he found satisfactory.
There was no fear, no terror, only courage, decisiveness, and caution.
Li Yuan retreated further, still facing the direction of the Fish Spirit Clan's corpse, while his peripheral vision scanned the surroundings, alert for any sudden appearances of Star Gate Creatures.
"Young man, are you a Warrior?" The noodle shop owner, holding a kitchen knife, watched Li Yuan with shock, unable to believe that the youth he often saw in the mornings was so formidable.
In an instant, two small shadows darted out from the alley, causing Li Yuan's pupils to constrict before relaxing slightly.
They were two small combat robots, less than half a meter tall, resembling large spiders. Equipped with gun barrels, they were agile and compact.
Whoosh! Whoosh! The two combat robots scanned the area, then pointed their guns downward and gathered beside the Fish Spirit Clan's corpse, emitting red lights as if scanning.
Li Yuan retreated further and finally relaxed.
He realized that the gunshot wound on the Fish Spirit Clan member was likely inflicted during the pursuit by the combat robots.
Throughout Jiangcheng City, there were tens of thousands of large and small combat robots like these.
Except for some extremely powerful Star Gate Creatures, most could be eliminated with the combined efforts of combat robots and attack drones.
"Should we leave now?" Li Yuan thought to himself.
The next moment,
"Boom! Boom!" A loud explosion reverberated from high in the sky, causing Li Yuan to look up. Two aircraft resembling speedboats appeared in his line of sight.
In today's cities, buildings rarely exceeded 12 stories, so flying at a height of several dozen meters was extremely safe.
"Personal flight vehicles?" Li Yuan held his breath.
Before the aircraft could land,
Whoosh! Whoosh! Two figures in black combat suits jumped directly from the aircraft.
Like two phantoms, they moved with incredible speed, yet landed on the ground with agility, causing no damage to the surface.
With ease.
They then walked straight towards Li Yuan.
"At least thirty meters, and they jumped down directly?" Li Yuan watched the approaching figures in awe.
With Li Yuan's current strength, jumping from a height of five meters would still require a roll to dissipate the impact and avoid injury.
The two Warriors revealed only their eyes, the rest of their bodies concealed by the black combat suits.
The invisible aura they exuded caused Li Yuan's heart to palpitate, and he subconsciously activated the Divine Palace Probe.
Target Individuals, Life Tier Exceeds Sensing Limit (Current Sensing Limit is 17.8)
Both individuals exceeded Li Yuan's sensing limit, further exhausting his mental energy.
"We were chasing that Second Rank leader and missed this little guy, and he actually died?" One of the figures' heads shrunk, revealing a large, bald head.
A bald, burly man with chiseled features.
The other, relatively weaker figure, also shrunk their clothing, revealing a brown-haired, curly-haired woman with an exotic charm, appearing to be in her thirties.
"A foreign warrior?" Li Yuan silently wondered.
"Young man, I'm a genuine Chinese citizen," the brown-haired woman spoke fluent Mandarin and smiled, "My great-grandfather's generation had already naturalized."
Li Yuan was speechless. High-rank warriors indeed had exceptional hearing.
"Kid, the battle robot told me that you killed this Star Gate creature? Are you a student of Martial University?" The bald man approached Li Yuan, asking while simultaneously activating his smart wristband, "Let me check the surrounding surveillance."
"Yes, I killed it," Li Yuan replied directly, "I'm a senior in high school, from Guanshan's top high school."
The bald man didn't respond but turned to the holographic projection, reviewing the surveillance footage.
The brown-haired woman also looked over.
In less than ten seconds—
"Hmm?"
"What? That stick technique? No, it's more like a spear technique!"
"It's a spear technique." Both powerful warriors showed surprise, unable to resist glancing at Li Yuan.
They had initially assumed that the Fish Spirit Clan member was gravely injured and near death when Li Yuan found it.
But after watching the footage, they realized... The Fish Spirit Clan member was indeed injured but still retained most of its strength.
And Li Yuan, in a single encounter, had pierced and exploded its head with a metal pipe.
Then, he ferociously smashed its head.
This level of strength and ferocity surprised both the bald man and the brown-haired woman.
A high school senior? When did high school students become so formidable?
"What's your name?" The bald man asked, turning to Li Yuan.
"Li Yuan," Li Yuan replied.
"Li Yuan, are you willing to sign a contract with my Stellar Combat Palace?" The bald man, 'Lu Huai', revealed a smile he deemed friendly, "I'm the Branch Master of the Guanshan Branch of the Stellar Combat Palace."
Li Yuan was taken aback.
Was this bald man a Branch Master, equivalent in status to Grandmaster Wan? He should be an Origin Warrior.
"Greetings, Branch Master Lu," Li Yuan shook his head, "I've already signed an advance contract with the Starfire Combat Palace."
After a moment's thought, Li Yuan added, "A B-Class Contract."
"The Starfire Combat Palace? A B-Class Contract?" The bald man was surprised, "I haven't heard of this."
"A B-Class Contract? Li Yuan, from the first high school?" The brown-haired woman's eyes lit up, and she winked and nudged the bald man, "Old Lu, I remember now."
"Last month, Xing Zixuan mentioned it to me once. He said Grandmaster Wan signed a B-Class Contract with a high school student."
"I heard it was someone you snatched from your Stellar Combat Palace. It should be him."
"I was actually planning to ask Grandmaster Wan about it at the year-end meeting." The brown-haired woman smiled at Li Yuan, her eyes filled with indulgence, "But seeing this today, there's no need to ask. With this level of courage to take the initiative to save someone and remain fearless in a crisis, and with a spear technique close to the Fourth Level, a B-Class Contract is more than enough."
Li Yuan became increasingly confused as he listened.
But he vaguely understood that the brown-haired woman in front of him seemed to have a close relationship with Grandmaster Wan.
"Snatching from my Stellar Combat Palace? How come I don't know about this?" Branch Master Lu Huai frowned slightly.
Instinctively, he glanced at Li Yuan.
"Don't look at Li Yuan like that, don't scare our Combat Palace's little guy." The brown-haired woman glared at the bald man, "If you want to know, go ask your own Combat Palace members."
"Alright, I won't ask him." Branch Master Lu Huai shook his head.
"Li Yuan."
"Come, let's take a photo together and sign some documents." The brown-haired woman smiled at Li Yuan, activating her wristband's holographic display, "Rest assured, I'll quickly report your killing of the Star Gate creature. Then, I'll notify your school and strive to get you an honorary title and a reward."
"Thank you, senior," Li Yuan was still a bit dazed, allowing her to take charge.
They quickly took a photo with the Star Gate creature's corpse.
Then, Li Yuan signed on the woman's holographic display.
"Don't call me 'senior.' I'm Zuo," the brown-haired woman said, looking at Li Yuan, "I'm the Vice Branch Master of the Guanshan Branch of the Starfire Combat Palace, in charge of defense patrols and the extermination of Star Gate creatures."
"Vice Branch Master Zuo?" Li Yuan was surprised.
He had heard other warriors from the Starfire Combat Palace mention her, but he hadn't paid much attention and hadn't bothered to investigate her.
"You know me?" The brown-haired woman smiled at Li Yuan, "Is this your first time killing a Star Gate creature? Do you want to take a day off to rest?"
Many people would feel tense and even develop psychological issues after killing a Star Gate creature for the first time, especially one of a humanoid race.
"No need for leave," Li Yuan replied.
"Vice Branch Master Zuo, I still need to go to school," Li Yuan said seriously.
"School?" Vice Branch Master Zuo was taken aback, then smiled, "I'll take you there."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
