Chapter 217: Chapter 207: Internal Competition (5)
The second match was Chao Duan versus Liu Feiyang.
Zhao Lin walked to the edge of the arena, sizing up Liu Feiyang. ’I want to see what’s so special about a Wind Attribute Cultivation Technique.’
Liu Feiyang casually swept back his long hair. Though there was no wind, his robes suddenly began to stir. Without making any discernible motion, he glided forward in a straight line for several yards, his feet seeming to skim the ground, and came to a steady stop in the center of the arena.
"Look, it’s Senior Brother Liu’s Catching Wind and Grasping at Shadows!"
"Such an elegant technique."
This masterful display of footwork immediately drew cheers from the spectating disciples, with those from the Southern Suppression Sect being the loudest.
From the sidelines, Zhao Lin saw it clearly: Liu Feiyang’s feet were hovering just a finger’s width above the ground. His glide was perfectly smooth, without the slightest tremor.
’Wind Attribute Cultivation Techniques certainly are unique. I can walk on air too, but I can’t control my power with such precision, much less move so effortlessly.’
Chao Duan frowned, clearly unimpressed by Liu Feiyang’s showboating. He offered a stiff, cupped-fist salute.
"Li Yang Sect, Chao Duan."
"Southern Suppression Sect, Liu Feiyang."
As the match began, Liu Feiyang immediately activated his Body Technique and began circling Chao Duan at high speed.
Currents of wind flowed around his body, as if an invisible hand were holding him aloft. His speed was astonishing, creating several afterimages.
Zhao Lin was secretly impressed. ’Xiang Shaofeng once said Liu Feiyang was faster than him, and I thought he was exaggerating. Seeing it for myself, I know now he wasn’t lying.’
His own speed came from two things. First, the physical transformation from his Golden Leopard Essence Soul, which gave him explosive power. Second, his Cloud-Flipping Body Force, enhanced by the acceleration from expelling force from his acupoints.
Liu Feiyang seemed to possess both as well, moving with startling speed and grace, yet with an air of complete effortlessness.
Chao Duan had no way of knowing which shadow was real and which was fake. All he could do was move his hands in a blur, maintaining an impenetrable defense.
A question formed in Zhao Lin’s mind. ’With a Body Technique that fast, how is Liu Feiyang only ranked fifth in the Southern Suppression Sect?’
After watching for a while, however, he figured out why.
Liu Feiyang seemed completely obsessed with his Body Technique. His palm techniques were unrefined and lacked power. The few times he attacked, it was just a light touch before he immediately retreated, never daring to clash head-on with Chao Duan.
He was a classic one-trick pony.
’What a waste. He only has speed. Against an opponent with overwhelming force, he can only dodge and hide like a clown.’
Chao Duan either didn’t notice this weakness, or he did but lacked any area-of-effect techniques, leaving him with no choice but to defend passively.
He really had some bad luck, running into two opponents who specialized in speed: Zhao Lin and Liu Feiyang.
Defending consumes far more energy than attacking. As time wore on, he began to falter.
When the hourglass was halfway down, Liu Feiyang finally found an opening in Chao Duan’s defense. In a flash, he cut in from the side and struck Chao Duan’s collarbone with his palm.
His movements were as elegant as a butterfly flitting through flowers.
The Southern Suppression Sect disciples cheered again.
Up in the stands, however, Zhong Yuntian shook his head. "Junior Brother Chu," he said in a regretful tone, "don’t blame me for being blunt, but that disciple of yours hasn’t improved one bit in the last three years!"
"Wind Attribute Cultivation Techniques are difficult to master. He poured all his effort into his Body Technique, ignoring the very fundamentals of the martial way. He’s completely wasting his superb talent."
Zhu Hong gave a bitter laugh. "You’re right, Brother Zhong. Do you think I don’t know? But he’s always been one to take shortcuts, ever since he began his training. Once he learned this Cultivation Technique, he could fight anyone without fear of losing."
"Once he got a taste of that, he lost all interest in practicing any other Cultivation Technique."
"Even when he loses, he just assumes it’s because he wasn’t fast enough, which only makes him more obsessed with his Body Technique."
"Sigh... I’ve tried to warn him many times, of course. But the boy is stubborn, and he’s the Sect Leader’s nephew. He won’t listen to anyone."
Zhong Yuntian said no more, only offering a quiet, "Oh."
Yang Lin couldn’t listen to any more of this. He sneered, "That’s because he’s not one of my disciples. Still daring to wear his hair long? I... This old man would break every bone in his body!"
A glint appeared in Zhu Hong’s eyes, as if he had made up his mind. "Brother Yang, I have a favor to ask of you."
"What is it?"
"Teach him a hard lesson. Everyone in the sect indulges him, and it’s made him completely unruly. Only a harsh beating has any chance of making him see the error of his ways."
Yang Lin fell into a thoughtful silence.
Zhu Hong glanced down at the tournament grounds and saw Zhao Lin walking into the arena. The two were about to fight. "He’s still young," he said hurriedly. "We can’t just stand by and watch him waste his potential, can we? If this succeeds, it will be a great boon for the Great Yue."
Yang Lin was finally convinced. "How can I help?" he asked.
Zhu Hong’s expression visibly relaxed. "Your disciple, Zhao Lin, is stronger than him. When he wins, I want him to show no mercy. In fact, it would be best if he could humiliate him thoroughly."
He quickly added, "Don’t worry. No matter what he does, you won’t hear a single word of complaint from me."
Yang Lin nodded. Using a voice transmission, he relayed Zhu Hong’s exact words to both Zhao Lin and Liu Shengnian.
Zhu Hong also sent a voice transmission to the instructors of his sect, telling them not to interfere.
Both Zhao Lin and Liu Shengnian were taken aback. They simultaneously looked up at the stands. ’What kind of request is that?’
Yang Lin’s voice transmission continued, "Zhao Lin, humiliate him. I’ll take responsibility for whatever happens."
Zhao Lin nodded silently. ’If the Director is asking,’ he thought, ’then I’ll teach this Liu fellow a lesson.’
To be honest, it was one thing for Liu Feiyang to be handsome, but the long hair on top of it really made Zhao Lin want to punch him.
Seeing that Zhao Lin seemed distracted, Liu Feiyang suddenly grinned. "Junior Brother Zhao, how about we see who’s faster?"
Zhao Lin suddenly shouted, "Fast is useless! Winning is the only thing that takes skill."
Liu Feiyang’s expression darkened. "Fine. Let’s see how you’re going to beat me."
Zhao Lin didn’t want to waste any more words with him and looked directly at Liu Shengnian.
Liu Shengnian took the hint and shouted, "One, two, three!"
Liu Feiyang stood with his hands clasped behind his back, making no move to attack.
Without a word, Zhao Lin leaped forward, charging toward Liu Feiyang like a leopard.
Liu Feiyang chuckled, executing his Catching Wind and Grasping at Shadows Body Technique. He instantly split into three figures.
Zhao Lin sneered inwardly. ’Others might be fooled by this trick, but with my echolocation, I can easily find his real body.’ He threw a direct punch.
Liu Feiyang was stunned. He had no choice but to block with his palm, retreating to dissipate the force of the blow.
Even so, the chill from Zhao Lin’s Celestial Frost Fist Force made him shudder.
’Impossible! It must have been a lucky guess!’
Liu Feiyang quickened his pace. He executed the technique again, this time splitting into five figures.
Zhao Lin threw another punch, once again striking the real Liu Feiyang.
"You... how did you find me?"
Liu Feiyang said in astonishment.
Zhao Lin disliked wasting words in a fight. Ignoring him, he unleashed three quick claw strikes, each one aimed at a vital point.
"Fine! Let’s see what you’ve really got."
Liu Feiyang refused to believe it. He pushed his Qi and Blood to their absolute limit, his body ricocheting left and right until seven figures appeared, each only half a step from the next, forming an interconnected chain!
Many of the disciples below were left dumbfounded. ’If I were up there,’ they thought, ’I’d probably get dizzy just trying to follow him.’
Zhao Lin was unmoved and suddenly threw a punch.
Just when Liu Feiyang thought he had finally bewildered his opponent, Zhao Lin’s fist suddenly twisted. He raised his elbow and slammed it viciously toward Liu Feiyang!
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