Chapter 572: Broken Machine
Chapter 572: Broken Machine
Xiang Tiancheng noticed Chen Chuan's attire and stroked his chin. "The Processing Bureau? Are they government people? This is going to be tricky."
Fighters could gauge each other's level of skill, even without physical contact, based on their experience.
At this moment, facing Chen Chuan, Xiang Tiancheng's expression wasn't as relaxed as it had been when facing Che Gaoyi. He could sense a danger signal from Chen Chuan.
Only someone of the same caliber could give him this feeling.
It seemed that the suitcase Chen Chuan was carrying indeed contained what he was looking for. Otherwise, it wouldn't have attracted so much attention from the company and the government, sending such powerful personnel.
He had to get that back.
Furthermore, why should he work hard only for others to reap the benefits? The thought made him feel extremely displeased.
He fixed his gaze on Chen Chuan, took a step back, and slowly opened his hands.
Just as his internal energy was about to surge and he was about to make his move, a vibration came from the ground in the distance. He glanced over and saw Number Nine running towards them, heading straight for Chen Chuan, attracted by the suitcase in his hand.
Xiang Tiancheng gave a soft chuckle and paused briefly before standing still.
Chen Chuan also noticed Number Nine running towards them. He planted the Snow Lady Saber into the ground, freeing up one hand, and stood calmly.
Number Nine was running at an incredible speed, and his bulky figure created a powerful gust of wind. The leaves and debris on the ground were swept up in his wake, forming a rolling cloud of dust.
Chen Chuan lowered his center of gravity slightly, and as Number Nine approached, he swiftly extended his hand and accurately grabbed Number Nine's outstretched wrist. With a swift spin, he flung Number Nine away.
This throw not only utilized Number Nine's momentum but also incorporated a powerful swing. Number Nine flew and collided with several trees, leaving a long trail of marks on the ground before finally slamming into a dirt mound with a loud thud, sending up a cloud of dust and dirt.
After a while, Number Nine's biological fiber skeleton quickly reset his dislocated arm. His impact and abrasion injuries also healed rapidly, and he nonchalantly stood up.
But as he took a step forward, he suddenly stopped.
When Chen Chuan threw Number Nine, the last swing not only incorporated a capture technique but also a heart force.
This force would linger within the target, and if not dissipated in time, it would cause greater internal damage. So, at this moment, Number Nine suffered secondary harm, even more severe than the initial collision, rendering him temporarily immobile.
As Chen Chuan threw Number Nine away, Xiang Tiancheng on the other side also made his move.
He wasn't concerned with fair play. The Resistance Alliance Front and the government were clearly enemies, so there was no reason to pass up an opportunity.
They were initially not far apart, and with a sudden rush, Xiang Tiancheng kicked sideways.
Chen Chuan swiftly raised his hand to block, and their fists and feet collided, creating a loud boom as the air exploded, sending dirt and grass flying.
Xiang Tiancheng's eyes narrowed, sensing the heart force...
Seeing his kick blocked, Xiang Tiancheng's eyes sharpened. Heart force?
His casual expression vanished, replaced by a focused gaze. A fighter skilled in heart force was not comparable to the previous two opponents. Usually, unless one had cross-trained in heart force, a single strike could end the fight.
However, Xiang Tiancheng was an exception. His cyclonic force could, to some extent, convert the opponent's force. So, even if his opponent was powerful, he didn't need to be overly cautious.
Twisting his body, Xiang Tiancheng kicked again, followed by a series of punches and kicks. Taking advantage of the moment when Chen Chuan threw Number Nine and hadn't yet adjusted, he launched a relentless offensive.
This aggressive approach was Xiang Tiancheng's favorite. He could keep his opponent on the defensive, and typically, the opponent, unaware of his force's intricacies, would focus on stabilizing themselves rather than hastily counterattacking.
They would wait until Xiang Tiancheng's momentum waned before striking back.
Xiang Tiancheng was well-versed in this pattern. He knew that his opponents would unleash their force after regaining their composure, but he would use his cyclonic force to send it back, suppressing their momentum even if he couldn't inflict severe damage.
Based on past experience, after a few such exchanges, the opponent would often lose their rhythm, allowing Xiang Tiancheng to take control of the situation.
Chen Chuan calmly blocked each of Xiang Tiancheng's attacks, but he noticed a detail. After their heart forces clashed, instead of retreating, Xiang Tiancheng rushed forward without hesitation.
Each subsequent attack was a solid, fearless collision, as if Chen Chuan's force posed no threat.
This situation was unusual, as most fighters couldn't guarantee immunity from harm during heart force clashes, a clearly disadvantageous move.
Therefore, Xiang Tiancheng's opponent either had absolute confidence in their force or possessed a unique force, like Nie Guanshan's type, unafraid of a direct confrontation.
As he analyzed his opponent's seemingly unremarkable force, Chen Chuan believed that the latter's true strength lay in his ability to conceal his power. Despite this realization, he remained unfazed and continued to follow his own rhythm. After a series of defensive maneuvers, he sensed a brief lull in his opponent's attacks and seized the opportunity to strike with a punch, directly hitting his opponent's weak spot.
Xiang Tiancheng's eyes lit up, as he had been waiting for this moment. He countered with a palm strike, redirecting the powerful force back into his own body, and then kicked out, combining his own strength with the incoming force.
Chen Chuan lifted his hand to block the kick, allowing both forces to enter his body. He maintained his composure, and with a surplus of force, he pointed forward, striking his opponent.
Xiang Tiancheng was surprised that his counter didn't have the intended effect. Although his mind misjudged the situation, his body reacted correctly, and he quickly twisted his body to dodge the strike, raising his elbow to block.
Chen Chuan's fingers quickly tapped on Xiang Tiancheng's arm. Due to the hasty defense, the insufficient force couldn't withstand the heart force, causing the skin on his arm to tear open. The force then penetrated deeper, fracturing his arm bones and continuing to spread throughout his body.
If the force were allowed to continue, it could cause serious injury. However, Xiang Tiancheng finally managed to adjust and regain control.
His body's altered tissues could activate from any part, and he used his arm to block and redirect the force. The altered tissues throughout his body twisted, dispersing the force to other areas, preventing further harm.
He dared not redirect the force downward, as it could cause the ground to sink and disrupt his balance. In the heat of battle, he chose to endure the force rather than compromise his footing.
Although he averted the fatal crisis, he still lost a move.
Chen Chuan's next move was swift. He grabbed Xiang Tiancheng's arm, transforming his loose hand force into a capture force.
Earlier, Xiang Tiancheng could easily manipulate forces when facing Che Gaoyi. However, against Chen Chuan, he felt helpless.
At this moment, his altered tissues were fully engaged in self-defense, unable to restrain external forces, especially a capture heart force. Half of his body went numb, and this sensation quickly spread throughout his body.
Xiang Tiancheng's wages, training costs, and equipment, and other expenses.
Xiang Tiancheng realized he was in a dire situation. In a battle between experts, a single misjudgment could mean life or death.
Just then, a gust of wind blew, and a shadow loomed over them. It was Number Nine, charging straight at both of them.
Chen Chuan kicked out, and a powerful force exploded on Number Nine's neck, causing it to crack and his body to fly sideways.
Xiang Tiancheng felt like he had grabbed a lifeline. Half of his altered tissues seized the opportunity to redirect the capture force away. He then struck towards Chen Chuan's face.
Chen Chuan felt his force being led astray. He released his grip, raised his hand to block, and Xiang Tiancheng's palm struck him without releasing a shockwave. Instead, he used the force to push himself backward, creating distance between them.
As he landed, Xiang Tiancheng's arm injury and numbness were rapidly recovering. He looked at Chen Chuan, acknowledging the strength of his opponent. He vowed not to make the same mistake again.
The battle was far from over.
Chen Chuan glanced at Xiang Tiancheng and then turned his attention to Number Nine. In just a short while, the creature's broken neck had healed, and it rose from the ground.
Chen Chuan understood that Number Nine's resilience was extraordinary. To prevent further interference, he took a deep breath, and white smoke rose from his body.
Xiang Tiancheng felt a chill run down his spine. Ignoring his offense, he jumped backward.
Number Nine, lacking such awareness, focused solely on its mission. As long as the target was with Chen Chuan, it would continue to attack.
Chen Chuan's gaze intensified, and his figure vanished from its original spot. In an instant, a thunderous boom reverberated across the empty space, followed by a resounding explosion. Smoke billowed, and Chen Chuan maintained a pressing palm stance, with wisps of smoke rising from his outstretched fingers.
Across from him, Number Nine lay on the ground, its upper body and head torn open from the inside, its artificial altered tissues feebly writhing in an attempt to repair the extensive damage.
(End of Chapter)
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