Chapter 744: The Surging Tide
Chapter 744: The Surging Tide
Qi Qianyang had initially believed that his previous growth in strength was sufficient to deal with Chen Chuan, but he never expected to be slashed and sent flying with just one strike. So, when he returned this time, he unleashed all the accumulated power he had stored.
This fusion wasn't merely a crude increase in strength; it was a true integration with his body, enhancing his mental and technical abilities as well. With sufficient psychic power and exceptional physical qualities, he could execute intricate and complex movements with ease.
However, with such a sudden surge in power, he needed some time to adapt. Fortunately, the more force his Willful Power endured, the more refined his altered body became. After enduring a series of blows and with his current recovery ability, his resilience and defense had significantly improved.
Chen Chuan noticed that Qi Qianyang didn't seem injured; instead, he appeared more energetic and agile than before, clearly much stronger than the last time they fought. He guessed that Qi Qianyang must have used some kind of special secret technique.
But Chen Chuan wasn't intimidated by his opponent's strength; a powerful enemy would only help him ascend to greater heights.
Holding his sword, Chen Chuan stood there, the white vapor rising from his body becoming denser and gathering above him without dispersing.
Qi Qianyang finally took his position in front of Chen Chuan, and his body also emitted wisps of vapor, indicating that he was using the Forge Breath Technique as well.
However, there was a difference between them. The vapor emanating from Qi Qianyang's body was black, like ash floating in the air.
At this moment, Qi Qianyang reached for his waist and pulled out a retractable whip, which he shook outward, causing the layered coils to extend swiftly.
As the two men prepared to engage, the Linax and Coalition forces stood on the sidelines, their eyes fixed on the impending battle.
In their eyes, both Chen Chuan and Qi Qianyang were highly dangerous individuals. Since the two were about to fight, there was no need for interference. The death of either one would be beneficial, and if they both perished, it would be even better.
On the hillside, Xu Chan and the three captains witnessed the scene. Captain Lu and the others were still in awe of Chen Chuan's display.
What had they just seen? The previous battle had been so swift that in just a brief moment, the Linax and Coalition forces had been swiftly defeated and killed by Chen Chuan.
They suddenly felt that Chen Chuan alone could handle the situation, and the imagined need for rescue and reinforcement seemed unnecessary.
Below, after a brief standoff, Qi Qianyang made the first move. He bent his upper body forward, spread his arms, and spun towards Chen Chuan. The momentum of his body caused the whip on his arm to lash out, drawing a large circle in the air with a series of loud rumbling noises, creating an incredibly intimidating spectacle.
Chen Chuan didn't dodge or retreat; instead, he stepped forward and slashed with his Snow Lady Sword, striking the whip's coil. Upon contact, a faint flash of light briefly appeared.
The whip was extremely flexible, and if one section was hit, the other half would usually snap back to strike the enemy or entangle their weapon. The wielder could then pull the whip to seize the opponent's weapon.
However, this time was different. As soon as the two weapons made contact, a force emanated from the Snow Lady Sword, interrupting the smooth flow of power along the whip. Even if the latter half of the whip could be snapped back, it would have no offensive power. Moreover, Chen Chuan's strike was an upward slash with a lifting motion, causing the rear section of the whip to fly away.
Qi Qianyang's eyes widened as his attack was thwarted. He shook his arm and spun again, bringing the whip back. The whip was long and could be used for both long-range attacks and powerful close-range strikes. To maximize its effectiveness, he needed to swing it continuously, transferring his power through the whip's momentum. This required a process, and he needed to maintain a continuous whipping motion to compensate.
But a gap in his defense appeared, and Chen Chuan seized the opportunity. He followed the recoil of the whip, moving towards the inner circle, and in a flash, he was already close to Qi Qianyang. Then, he thrust his sword forward!
Qi Qianyang's eyes widened again, knowing that he couldn't let Chen Chuan advance any further. He spun backward, causing the rear end of the whip to block the incoming Snow Lady Sword.
In that instant, the whip transformed from flexible to rigid, becoming as hard as stone.
A loud bang echoed as the two weapons clashed, and where they touched, faint sparks burst and vanished, like flickering lights.
However, since the whip's power hadn't reached its peak, it could only maintain its rigidity for a moment. As Qi Qianyang saw the sword's gleam bending, he knew a strike was coming through the exposed gap.
Qi Qianyang's expression changed; he had initially believed he had a higher chance of winning against Chen Chuan. During their previous encounter, his Willful Power had withstood Chen Chuan's force, so this time, he had let loose, planning to catch Chen Chuan off guard and seize the advantage.
But he soon realized that Chen Chuan's force was different from their last encounter. This slight difference forced him into a defensive position after his first move.
At their level, once such a disparity emerged, it was nearly impossible to turn the tide. Now, Qi Qianyang could only resort to passive defense.
He spun backward again, causing the whip to rotate and lash out repeatedly, blocking the relentless sword attacks. Each clash of the weapons distorted the air with vibrations.
The situation grew increasingly dire as Chen Chuan's sword techniques encroached further, posing a greater threat with each move. Chen Chuan systematically eliminated the advantageous space around Qi Qianyang, and as he drew closer, the outcome seemed inevitable—a beheading with a single stroke.
Qi Qianyang had no choice but to focus all his energy on countering each of Chen Chuan's attacks, leaving him no opportunity to make other decisions. It seemed he could only wait for his inevitable demise.
Qi Qianyang, unwilling to surrender, felt his eyes turn bloodshot, and his skin flushed red. A faint red hue seemed to emanate from the black smoke that rose from his body, indicating he was about to unleash his final trump card. He hadn't anticipated being pushed to such a desperate situation so early on.
Just then, a flash of light caught his attention. A short spear was hurled into the fray, causing Chen Chuan's sword to deflect with a clang, sending the spear flying.
Qi Qianyang's eyes, which had been glowing red, now dimmed as he seized the opportunity to create some distance. He turned to see Heros rising from the ground, having thrown the spear. Heros had recognized the dire situation Qi Qianyang was in, and with his intervention, Qi Qianyang managed to escape the perilous predicament.
Chen Chuan also glanced at Heros, but his expression remained unreadable. His gaze quickly returned to Qi Qianyang.
Qi Qianyang let out a 'hey' and shook his whip again, focusing intently on Chen Chuan. This time, he was determined not to repeat his previous mistake.
Just then, a commotion erupted in the distance, drawing the attention of Qi Qianyang, Heros, and everyone nearby. In the dense forest, a multitude of birds and insects took flight in all directions, darkening the sky.
The unusual behavior of these creatures, seemingly fleeing from something, caught everyone's attention. They flew overhead like a passing cloud, while other creatures emerged from the forest, running wildly. The scene left everyone with a sense of unease.
After a brief moment, the ground began to tremble, followed by a loud rumbling sound, akin to a tidal wave or a massive amount of sand rolling.
Qi Qianyang's expression changed as he had lived in the Convergence Zone for a long time and was familiar with such occurrences. He had never encountered this particular phenomenon before, but he had heard tales of it.
A few seconds later, everyone witnessed a black line appear in the distance, rapidly spreading outward like a tidal wave. Despite their remarkable vision, it soon became clear that this was not a wave but an endless swarm of black beetles.
The swarm was heading straight for them! Chen Chuan's eyes narrowed in concentration.
Was this the Sandworm Swarm?
The Convergence Zone was known for two terrifying insect swarms: the Mothglory Swarm and the Sandworm Swarm. Regardless of their type, these swarms were truly overwhelming, covering the sky and earth. Anyone caught in their path would be devoured in an instant, leaving nothing behind.
The Sandworm Swarm was an extremely rare occurrence, and its appearance here suggested it might have been drawn by the presence of a Relict.
Everyone's faces paled, even those who didn't know what it was, realizing they stood no chance against such a massive insect swarm.
Qi Qianyang turned to Chen Chuan and said, "Supervisor Chen, it seems our duel will have to be postponed." As he spoke, he turned and blew a whistle. A large bird circling overhead descended slightly, indicating it was ready to retrieve the item and retreat.
Qi Qianyang had barely taken a few steps when he felt something amiss behind him. He turned and blocked an incoming attack, causing a stone to explode on his whip with a loud bang. The force was immense, like a cannonball, causing his whip-holding hand to jerk, and he nearly lost his balance, stumbling forward.
He spun around and saw a sword flash heading straight for him, showing no signs of withdrawing from the battle. He cursed under his breath and swung his long whip forward, creating a massive arc that lashed out at the approaching figure!
A deafening blast echoed as their weapons clashed.
This time, the impact wasn't limited to the point of contact between their weapons. Beneath their feet, something seemed to awaken, causing a large section of the ground to rise, accompanied by a deep rumbling sound. Simultaneously, the Relict rolled into a nearby ground fissure.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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