https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-990-A-Fine-Line-Between-Victory-and-Defeat/13058147/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-992-Breaking-the-Flow-Slashing-the-Light/13058149/
Chapter 991: The Intricate Plan Unveiled
Chapter 991: The Intricate Plan Unveiled
Chen Chuan's perception of power was equally sharp. As he slashed down with his sword, he immediately sensed something amiss; the impact of his strength on Zhao Zhenye was diminishing.
His eyes flickered slightly, "Is it the Life-Order Power?"
With Zhao Zhenye's abilities, he could have easily concealed this, allowing him to be caught off guard. But now, he was openly displaying it. Was it his unwavering pride from the start, or did he feel there was no point in hiding it from Chen Chuan? Regardless, none of this mattered.
Previously, Chen Chuan had crossed paths with Zhao Zhenye's disciple, Qi Qianyang. Now, facing Zhao Zhenye himself, he wouldn't overlook this detail.
When he had fought earlier, he primarily used the Vast Sky Technique's force field and power projection. Sensing the diminishing effect, he swiftly switched to the Bright Light Technique's power projection.
As his sword slashed down, clashing with Zhao Zhenye once more, the latter couldn't withstand it as easily as before. His defensive stance trembled, even though he tried to avoid direct confrontation with Chen Chuan. Being on the defensive, he couldn't help but be affected more.
A shock ran through Zhao Zhenye's mind. Although he had clearly seen Chen Chuan using the Bright Light Technique's power, as he hadn't practiced it himself, he couldn't gauge Chen Chuan's proficiency. But to his surprise, the Bright Light Technique's power was no weaker than the previous Vast Sky Technique's, implying that Chen Chuan had also mastered this style.
A sense of disbelief arose within him. Such physical attributes, talent, and aptitude...
This unexpected development disrupted his tactical plan, causing the intended counter-attack rhythm to be suppressed. His inability to act meant conceding the opportunity to his opponent.
After a rapid exchange of several moves, the Heart-Pounding Pillar in the sea sounded again.
This time, unlike the previous two occasions, what was forgotten was their legs. Both Zhao Zhenye and his Spirit Form instantly lost memory of their own legs.
Even though Zhao Zhenye was currently floating in mid-air, relying entirely on his force field, the fact that he forgot his legs, which still existed, affected his self-balance and overall coordination, just like when he had forgotten his hands earlier.
His body stiffened involuntarily, which could be fatal in the midst of battle.
Chen Chuan's eyes flashed with anticipation; this was the opportunity he had been waiting for. With both hands gripping the sword handle, he executed a spinning slash!
Zhao Zhenye, caught off guard, couldn't block this attack in time. The slash broke through his defense and struck his waist and ribs, causing the Spiritual Flame there to burst and scatter.
Zhao Zhenye's body was knocked sideways by the force, but he reacted swiftly, attempting to escape the battle circle by using the force to his advantage. This way, he could avoid the next impact from the Heart-Pounding Pillar.
However, Chen Chuan, now in control, wouldn't give him that chance. Another slash came from a different direction.
This attack utilized the Soft Blade technique, not only blocking Zhao Zhenye's retreat but also dissipating the weakening Spiritual Flame on his body.
In the subsequent attacks, Chen Chuan increased his offensive, continuously weakening the Spiritual Flame on Zhao Zhenye's body. He then used the Hard-Soft Transformation to restrict Zhao Zhenye's movements.
When the Heart-Pounding Pillar sounded, not only Zhao Zhenye's physical body but also his Spirit Form was affected, causing him to be smashed by a heavy mace. Now, he appeared disheveled, seemingly unable to resist Chen Chuan's offense.
Even in this state, Zhao Zhenye maintained a solid defense, showcasing his well-honed fundamentals. Aside from the initial two strikes when he was caught off guard, he managed to block all subsequent attacks. Despite the dire situation, he remained calm, searching for opportunities and strategizing.
At this moment, a female voice sounded in his ear, "Do you need my help?"
Zhao Zhenye didn't respond.
The voice persisted, "What are you hesitating about? You didn't kill Zuan Liang earlier. After this, the news of your Longevity Perception Realm breakthrough will spread. What does it matter if you kill one more person? Are you worried that my intervention will be noticed? Kill them, clean up the area, and no one will know I was here."
Zhao Zhenye replied mentally, "It's the Bright Light Technique. Even if you help me, you might still be affected by its power."
"That's fine. I'll just help you block it for a moment. Even if I suffer a little, it won't be a big deal. Once you recover, be more cautious, and dealing with this person shouldn't be difficult, right? I'm serious. If the Heart-Pounding Pillar makes you forget something you shouldn't, how will you cope?"
Zhao Zhenye's heart skipped a beat. He said solemnly, "Alright, block it for me momentarily."
This entire exchange occurred mentally, so in reality, it was just an instant. Zhao Zhenye lifted his head, only to see a sword slash heading towards him. He raised his hand to block it.
As Chen Chuan executed his strike, he sensed something amiss, despite his opponent's seemingly unchanged reaction. Although the opponent seemed to be impacted by his attack, their aura remained unaffected, and even his Second Self exhibited faint signs of fading, an unusual occurrence that heightened Chen Chuan's alertness.
In the next instant, Zhao Zhenye's spiritual flame erupted, not only replenishing the previously weakened flame but also unleashing a continuous surge of hidden power.
After a brief respite, Zhao Zhenye swiftly regained control of himself and even managed to lend some support to his nearly collapsing Spirit Form. Most importantly, he had broken free from the passive situation he had been in since the battle began.
Chen Chuan noticed the changes in Zhao Zhenye, his eyes narrowing slightly. He hadn't anticipated this situation, as his tactics were based on analyzing and arranging existing intelligence. Without any prior knowledge, he couldn't prepare for something unseen.
With Zhao Zhenye's spiritual flame blazing stronger and seemingly countering his tactics, continuing to suppress him would only waste his own strength, making it unlikely to achieve his initial tactical objectives.
But it wasn't as simple as that.
A glint of light flashed in the depths of his eyes, as his ultimate goal was almost within reach.
While judgment of the battle situation, mastery of techniques, and combat experience were indeed crucial, he believed that the decisive factor was absolute power.
Overpowering the weak with strength and overwhelming the outnumbered with numbers was the correct approach. Therefore, in this battle, he needed a decisive move.
Fortunately, he had one.
After achieving proficiency in both styles, he had vaguely sensed that combining the two opposing forces could unleash a more formidable power. However, he had struggled to control it because it required an all-out, no-holds-barred release of mental and physical strength.
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Under normal circumstances, utilizing this power was extremely challenging, and he rarely encountered opponents who pushed him to the limit.
But the situation was different now.
Facing a formidable opponent like Zhao Zhenye forced him to tap into this power, aligning his self-awareness with the Alienation Organization's goals.
However, this power might exceed his control, and he couldn't simply summon it at will. He needed to continuously employ both styles, pushing his strength to the limit through relentless self-driven bursts, until he broke through a critical threshold.
Everything he had done up to this point was indeed aimed at seizing the initiative, suppressing the opponent, or even finding a chance to win.
Achieving these goals would be ideal, but failure wasn't a concern. They were merely preparatory steps.
Now, he felt a hidden power forming, but his reserves were still insufficient. He had to keep attacking, even though Zhao Zhenye had somehow recovered. As long as he maintained this momentum and didn't lose his advantage, the final outcome wouldn't be affected.
Not only could he not retreat, but he also needed to press forward. To ensure the offensive didn't falter, he had to take an extra precaution.
Fixing his gaze on the white light emanating from his opponent, Chen Chuan raised his blade and unleashed a powerful slash, causing the white-golden light surrounding him to surge downward.
Zhao Zhenye, instead of backing down due to his recovery, intensified his attack, surprising Chen Chuan while also earning his admiration.
In Zhao Zhenye's view, this was the right choice. If he retreated now, he would be forced into a defensive position. His best chance was to gamble that Chen Chuan's state was a temporary burst, and he needed to seize the initiative by attacking aggressively, hoping to overpower him.
However, Zhao Zhenye sensed that Chen Chuan had somehow enhanced his strength, perhaps through a secret technique or a new skill. Regardless, it couldn't be sustained indefinitely. If Zhao Zhenye could hold on and prevent Chen Chuan from finding an opening, he would ultimately gain the upper hand.
As the blade aura rushed towards him, Zhao Zhenye dodged it by moving sideways, evading several slashes before raising his hand to block. He tried to dissipate the force rather than directly countering it, relying on his Life-Order Power to adapt to Chen Chuan's increasing power.
Just as he blocked the blade aura, a red figure flashed in the field, and a veiled woman in red appeared at his side. With her skirt fluttering, she gracefully wielded a long-tailed quill feather saber, executing a visually pleasing strike towards him!
...
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(End of Chapter)
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