Chapter 69: Cheng Xin
Chapter 69: Cheng Xin
Ji Jingqiu's internal energy surged like a mighty river, flowing downward along the contours of the mountains and rivers.
This punch was executed with such power and precision, showcasing the fruits of his recent intense cultivation.
Whether it was the initial success of his Blade Engraving Technique, which made his physical prowess more distinct and his energy flow faster and stronger than his peers; or his grasp of the ability to accumulate a thousand feet of power and move his fingers in an instant, both were factors that contributed to his victory over the long-haired man just now.
Moreover, Ji Jingqiu had a sense, though he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, that the man he had just fought was also a martial artist who had broken through the third limit. However, compared to him, the man's physique was not only inferior but significantly so.
Ji Jingqiu turned to look at the short-haired woman who had been watching from the sidelines.
"My name is Cheng Xin," she said, introducing herself. "Cheng Yan is my brother, but we haven't seen each other in seven or eight years."
People with high spiritual cultivation often have good memories.
Hearing the name Cheng Yan, Ji Jingqiu recalled the figure of a martial artist who had engaged in close combat with his senior martial brother and, in his eyes at the time, seemed almost inhuman.
Ji Jingqiu looked Cheng Xin up and down and said, "According to the Municipal Security Agency's records, Cheng Yan has no family."
Cheng Xin's expression remained stoic, "Because since our grandfather's time, our family has been living as fugitives."
Ji Jingqiu nodded, "Your grandfather was a criminal who evaded capture."
Cheng Xin fell silent for a moment before speaking softly, "But that has nothing to do with my brother and me."
The primary source of fugitives in the Federation is wanted criminals. Even if they change their identities and settle on a new planet, the Federation's database, with its iris and DNA records, remains an insurmountable hurdle.
Their descendants, born after their escape, also become fugitives, and it's challenging for them to regain their identities, even though legally, Cheng Xin and Cheng Yan are not at fault.
Cheng Xin raised her head.
They were in a narrow alley, just wide enough for two people to walk side by side, with the sky above them sliced open by the straight path.
"When we were young, we liked to look up at the sky," Cheng Xin said, "but in the lower levels, we couldn't see any stars, not even a glimmer of light. We had no path, no way out."
She lowered her head and stared at Ji Jingqiu, repeating, "We had no way out."
Ji Jingqiu nodded in agreement.
Indeed, life rarely offers numerous paths to choose from. In the past sixteen years, he had only two options before him.
Persevere.
Or die.
Ji Jingqiu asked, "So he kidnapped a girl younger than you?"
Cheng Xin's muscles tensed, and she glared at him coldly, "I dare not compare myself to the Lou family's daughter from the Starlight Corporation."
Ji Jingqiu fixed his gaze on her and said slowly, "After my senior martial brother subdued your brother, he said that your brother was seeking death."
He positioned himself in a fighting stance and continued, "If I'm not mistaken, both of you serve the Starlight Corporation. Then it's obvious who is truly responsible for your brother's death."
He began with the opening move of a combat technique, saying, "In fact, there's no need to say much. You just want to fight me, right?"
Cheng Xin took a deep breath, her eyes cold as ice, and said firmly, "Yes!"
No further reasons were needed; it was purely a fight.
If it meant deciding life and death, then so be it!
"Come on, martial artist. Let our fists do the talking."
Cheng Xin burst forward, charging towards Ji Jingqiu. With a simple yet powerful straight punch, she unleashed a mix of force and a piercing scream that sent shivers down the spine!
Ji Jingqiu raised his hand, effortlessly blocking the heavy punch, and his body retreated to dissipate the force.
The punch seemed lighter than he had imagined.
Cheng Xin's movements were swift as the wind, and she suddenly lifted her leg.
The wind grew heavy, and her well-proportioned leg, like a sharp axe, swung down with a violent release of force!
Ji Jingqiu lifted both hands to block the attack again, and his feet sank into the ground, causing the earth to crack beneath him, demonstrating the immense power of Cheng Xin's strike.
However, Ji Jingqiu showed no signs of being overwhelmed, and his blocking hands didn't even tremble, remaining as steady as Mount Tai.
The impact of this scene shook Cheng Xin's resolve as she retreated.
Cheng Xin had unleashed her anger without holding back, and with the support of battle techniques, how could she be so easily countered by Ji Jingqiu, who had only broken through the third limit?
The Celestial Human Five Limits represented five physical achievements.
Cheng Xin was just one step away from refining her body, and she had taken numerous body-enhancing elixirs provided by the corporation. How could Ji Jingqiu, a native of Dong Sanhuang Star, not only keep up with her physically but also overpower her?
Without waiting for her to think further, Ji Jingqiu's figure burst forth from the ground that was cracking inch by inch. With one hand, he swept away the hand she had raised to block him, and with the other, he pressed against her face, pushing her heavily to the side.
A loud bang echoed.
Mud and stones splattered, and Cheng Xin's head slammed into the wall, creating a large dent with cracks spreading like a spider web.
She let out a fierce howl, her arms whipping like whips and axes, aiming for Ji Jingqiu's vulnerable throat!
Ji Jingqiu leaned back, narrowly avoiding the attack, and grabbed Cheng Xin's hand that was pressing on her face, pushing it down heavily.
Another loud boom followed.
Cheng Xin's vital energy erupted, finally breaking free from Ji Jingqiu's large hand that was pressing on her face. Her body, like a shadow, melted into the night, quietly moving behind Ji Jingqiu. Her fists whistled with a sharp wind!
Ji Jingqiu turned his head, attempting to catch Cheng Xin's punch, but she dodged it, transforming her fist into claws and grabbing towards his neck.
At this moment, Ji Jingqiu finally felt the long-awaited pressure from Cheng Xin's body.
Even if his master brother held back, Ji Jingqiu knew in his heart that his master brother would never truly hurt him, and the pressure he felt was at most two or three-tenths.
This was also the reason why he had been clearing the Municipal Security Agency's tasks during this time.
The progress brought about by true close-quarters combat couldn't be compared to sparring.
And Cheng Xin's strength was the strongest among those he had seen who had received the True Seed.
Her footsteps, techniques, rhythm, and other aspects were ahead of Lin Donghe and the others by more than a star and a half.
At this moment, with all her power unleashed, she managed to suppress him for a while.
After realizing that her physique was not as strong as hers, Cheng Xin decisively chose to fight with speed, never giving him a chance to engage in a grappling battle.
If it weren't for their choice of a narrow alley, Ji Jingqiu might not only have been at a disadvantage but also suffered a little.
At this moment, Ji Jingqiu maintained a high-intensity state, countering with the Divine Tiger Technique.
The Divine Tiger Technique had its own system for alley battles, and this was the first time Ji Jingqiu had used it.
As he gradually adapted to Cheng Xin's offensive rhythm, he began to counter, and with each punch and kick, he unleashed a thousand feet of power.
As the vital energy within him flowed like rivers and mountains, it resonated with the meaning of this thousand-foot technique, adding another tenth of power!
Cheng Xin clenched her teeth tightly.
She understood why Pei Hanyang couldn't block even a single move—this person's physique was so resilient that even she, at the Fourth Limit, wasn't a match for him!
And most importantly...
This guy... this guy... this guy was still rapidly improving!
He was using her as a sparring partner!
Suddenly, thunderous sounds resonated within Cheng Xin's body. She forcefully used her vital energy to stimulate her internal organs, and amidst the piercing screams that tore through the air, she unleashed her strongest attack. Her fist, like a crane's beak, struck directly at Ji Jingqiu's throat.
In the blink of an eye, Ji Jingqiu controlled his mind and life body with his heart, and with a tranquil mind, he forcibly controlled his body to move sideways, causing Cheng Xin's attack to land on his shoulder instead.
Seizing the opportunity, Ji Jingqiu's straight punch, accompanied by a muffled wind like a tiger's roar, struck Cheng Xin's chest.
Cheng Xin's face instantly turned pale, and her chest slightly caved in, accompanied by the sound of breaking bones.
Seeing that this attack didn't take down Ji Jingqiu, but instead gave him the chance to strike and shatter her chest bone, Cheng Xin didn't hesitate. She leaped onto the wall, using it to escape swiftly.
Ji Jingqiu didn't pursue her.
He slowly straightened his body, his face calm and serene. The vital energy within him flowed like a dragon serpent in water, calming the turbulence of his body's vital energy. He watched as Cheng Xin, with her hand pressed against her chest, fled in disarray.
By forcibly controlling the movement of his life body with a tranquil mind, his tendons suffered some damage.
And Cheng Xin's attack had also injured him to some extent.
Additionally, although Cheng Xin's physique wasn't as strong as his, she excelled in agility and flexibility, making it unlikely for him to catch her in the city.
Moreover, if he couldn't defeat her today, their gap would only widen in the future.
He stood in his original position, regulating his breathing and feeling the surging vital energy within him.
This was a battle worth savoring. He used Cheng Xin's pressure to sculpt his own shortcomings, polishing certain weaknesses.
This feeling made him feel like a rough stone being polished by the internal and external worlds.
He had improved again.
(End of Chapter)
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