Chapter 84 Shattering the High Wall

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Shattering the High Wall

Fixed Form, Fiore High Wall.

It was a Fixed Form derived from the "Iron Gate Stance," known as the most fundamental and perfect defensive counterattack stance in the Long Swordsmanship of the Battle Flower Sect. It was also the most favored technique of the sect’s founder, Sword Saint Fiore.

Chu Ming breathed evenly, his muscles relaxing to their maximum limit. In this state, his body could instantly respond to his intent.

In his imagination, several phantoms seemed to diffuse from Feng Yin’s body right before his eyes. These phantoms represented the most likely attack routes Feng Yin would take. In Chu Ming’s mind, each of these attack routes corresponded to a specific branching method of his Fixed Form.

He thought, "Come on. Attack, and then be instantly killed by me!"

Feng Yin quietly observed Chu Ming’s unmovable stance and slightly curled the corners of his lips. His opponent had already fallen into his trap. Chu Ming no longer intended to compete in basic skills and a battle of attrition, but had instead shifted to comparing Ultimate Techniques.

This was exactly what he wanted. After all, his current greatest shortcoming was combat experience, especially unarmored combat experience.

It was not that his techniques were unpracticed, nor that his reactions were too slow. In fact, the power and precision of his techniques were quite impressive now. His reflexes and eyesight far surpassed a normal Fierce Level, giving him a massive advantage. His disadvantage was simply as Senior Brother Huo Ming had stated: he had not yet established enough offensive and defensive instincts. When facing different combat scenarios, he still needed an extra step of problem-solving.

It was like memorizing the multiplication tables. Those who used them frequently could instantly come up with the answer "fifteen" the moment they saw "three times five." Meanwhile, someone who had just memorized them would have to run through it in their head, starting from "one times three is three," "two times three is six," and so on, until they reached "three times five is fifteen" before they could write down the answer.

To put it bluntly, he lacked experience. But if it was a competition of Ultimate Techniques, things would be completely different.

In the next second, Feng Yin slowly assumed the Hidden Blade Stance.

Nearby, Tang Jun stomped his staff on the ground and shouted once again, "Begin!"

This time, neither of them moved.

Chu Ming entered an immovable state. He calmly watched Feng Yin, letting his bodily strength circulate and accumulate as he waited for his opponent to strike. However, Feng Yin had already swiftly adjusted the rhythm of his Dragon Transformation Breathing Technique, entering the Hidden Performance Mode.

The Evil Flood Dragon in his mind roared, its form transforming in an instant.

Dragon Transformation!

THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP!

Amidst the roaring, rapid heartbeat, Feng Yin’s blood surged and circulated furiously. His nerves and blood vessels bulged, and his muscles and fascia were massively revitalized in this bizarre state.

Off the arena, Xiao Yu’s eyes lit up. She excitedly shouted, "Feng Yin activated the Dragon Transformation! The match is over!"

Dragon Transformation?

Although the other ordinary club members were also insiders in the circle, State Type Fixed Forms like the Dragon Transformation were extremely rare, even in the world’s top-tier tournaments. Now, seeing the ferocious and frenzied expression beneath Feng Yin’s transparent helmet with their own eyes, and hearing his heartbeat like rapid drumbeats, their expressions inevitably changed.

It was simply an inhuman visage!

Chu Ming was equally astonished. The Battle Flower Swordsmanship he studied had no such Fixed Form that could alter a person’s physical state.

Opposite him, Feng Yin merely spoke softly. "The Fiore High Wall looks like a defensive counterattack Fixed Form. My next move is also a Counterattack Skill. Let’s see whose is better."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure darted forward, and the distance between them drastically shortened.

Three meters. One of the potential attack routes in Chu Ming’s vision disappeared. He safely maintained his stance and did not draw his sword.

Two meters. The possibilities of attack routes reduced to only three. Chu Ming remained calm.

One and a half meters. Only one phantom representing Feng Yin’s possible attack route remained. The corners of Chu Ming’s mouth curled up, eager for action.

However, in the next instant, Feng Yin shockingly took another step forward but still did not strike.

All the opponent’s attack routes that Chu Ming had envisioned dissipated. This unexpected situation made his pupils shrink slightly. The distance between them was now only one meter!

Too close!

Chu Ming gritted his teeth. Even though Feng Yin had not yet attacked, letting him get any closer would mean missing the optimal response distance for his Fiore High Wall. He made a prompt decision. Stepping sideways and twisting his waist, he whipped his sword in a sweeping thrust, the tip driving straight toward Feng Yin’s chest and abdomen.

It was here!

Feng Yin’s eyes flashed. He also twisted his waist, executing a Washing Sword upward strike. His Sword Speed was astonishingly fast. The strong blade of the Dragon and Snake Sword perfectly clashed against the weak blade of Chu Ming’s Ousu Longsword.

Chu Ming thought, "Oh no—"

His eyes trembled violently. The strong blade utilized an effort-saving lever; it was slow but powerful. The weak blade utilized an effort-consuming lever; it was fast but weak. When strength met weakness, the outcome was self-evident.

In the split second their blades connected.

CLANG!

In the next instant, Chu Ming only felt a terrifying, tremendous shock crash through his opponent’s sword. Even with his three-person strength at the Fierce Middle Level, he still could not withstand the gap in power generation between them.

The webbing between his thumb and index finger vibrated fiercely, and his longsword was knocked high into the air by the massive force, nearly flying out of his grip.

Amidst Chu Ming’s horror, Feng Yin had already drawn back his sword for a rapid slash. With a single strike, he sent the completely defenseless Chu Ming flying backward.

THUD!

Landing on the ground, Chu Ming’s mind went entirely blank. For a moment, he lay there with only one thought left in his heart.

He had lost. He had lost in the reaction speed he was most proud of.

When it was a Counterattack Skill against a Counterattack Skill, the contest lay in who could seize that extremely brief window to strike later. Only at that ingenious juncture in time, combined with one’s ultimate striking speed, could they perfectly use their "strength" to strike the opponent’s "weakness." This would shatter the opponent’s movement structure and establish an absolute advantage for victory.

The crucial competition within this lay in courage and reaction time. Whoever dared to gamble in extreme conditions that they could strike later, and whoever had the stronger reflexes to grasp that attacking opportunity, would win.

Outside the arena, Xiao Yu’s joyous cheers echoed.

Feng Yin deactivated his Dragon Transformation State. Amidst his gradually slowing heartbeat, he looked down at Chu Ming and said, "There is still one more round."

With that, he walked back to his starting position under the complicated gazes of the crowd.

However, a muffled voice came from behind him. "No need. You won. If this were a true unarmored sword fight, I would have died twice already."

Feng Yin turned his head and saw that Chu Ming had already sat up. His face, now freed from the helmet, revealed his depression. He had clearly been deeply struck by the defeat.

Seeing Feng Yin looking at him, Chu Ming asked, "You look to be about twenty. Are you preparing to participate in the Rising Star Tournament next month?"

Feng Yin nodded.

Chu Ming gathered his spirits slightly. "I lost this time. At the Rising Star Tournament, we will fight again. Next time, I absolutely will not lose."

"Alright," Feng Yin replied without any victor’s mockery, simply nodding gently. "You are very strong. If you found the right method, it was actually possible for you to beat me this time."

Saying so, he turned around and packed up his belongings with the excited Xiao Yu to leave. Listening to Feng Yin’s words, Chu Ming fell deep into thought.

Then, he abruptly looked at Tang Jun. "Brother Tang, do you think our teacher could arrange for me to spar with geniuses from other sects?"

Looking at Chu Ming, who seemed to have reached some enlightenment, Tang Jun couldn’t help but reveal a gratified smile. "Oh? Why would you have such an idea?"

Chu Ming watched Feng Yin’s retreating back as he left with his things, his gaze firm as he said, "I want to see just how many geniuses there are in Celestial Essence..."

Tang Jun smiled faintly. "Then you might be disappointed. Although there are many geniuses, peerless talents like Feng Yin are few and far between."