Chapter 199: Chapter 191: Qi Union (Part 2)
Black and white stood in opposition.
"After this match, this so-called ’World Martial Arts Tournament’ will be over. And it’s only the fourth round. I thought you might have lasted a little longer."
Shechuan Ancient said calmly.
"It’s too early to be saying that. Talk after you’ve won. Make your move."
Zhao Xuanqi’s eyes were downcast, his tone peaceful.
HISS!! ROAR!!
But from within his body, it was as if countless beasts were roaring—the sound of his internal organs thrumming as his Evil Qi surged and his five viscera began to operate at full capacity.
Crimson, dark green, blue-black, platinum, and ink-black.
The five dark colors blended together as his aura condensed, spreading out like a swamp. A powerful, malevolent intent blanketed the entire stage. A pair of terrifying eyes lurked within the mire, observing everything, gathering power, ready to unleash a devastating blow at any moment.
"Oh? The Evil Qi of the five viscera, all circulating in harmony. Interesting, very interesting... But you want to compete with me in Evil Qi?"
A smile touched the corners of Shechuan Ancient’s mouth.
HISS! HISS!
The sound of his own internal organs thrumming echoed out, sounding like the hiss of some great serpent.
BOOM!!
An intensely cold aura radiated from his body. Moreover, wherever his presence spread, it stirred the natural, malevolent Qi of the world, drawing it in and fusing it with his own.
Qi Union!!
The original principle behind Neon Aikido was primarily defensive. It involved using powerful techniques to achieve union with the natural Qi of the universe and defeat an opponent by disrupting the ’Qi’ within their body.
Jujutsu, Joint Techniques, and Transformation Skill were the standard techniques of Aikido.
However, with the passage of time and a shift in philosophy, Aikido gradually evolved another branch.
This was the Ghost Dao, one of the two Paths of Gods and Ghosts.
This faction believed that just as the world contained peaceful and natural Qi, it also held a fierce Qi of slaughter. If one could achieve union with this malevolent Qi, their every move would be imbued with destructive intent.
When applied to the Martial Dao, it transformed the defensive Soft Force into a slaughtering power that was both firm and soft. It turned Joint Techniques meant for subduing an enemy into methods for tearing tendons and dislocating bones. And it repurposed the ability of Force Transformation to "listen" for the flow of an opponent’s Force.
If this path were practiced to its absolute limit, one’s Eye Power could see through an opponent’s every action, attack, and weakness. One’s ears could discern any change in an opponent’s condition from the sounds of the wind and their breathing. The force-probing techniques of one’s muscles and skin could sense the flow of an opponent’s Force through the air currents.
Then, all these advantages would be converted into a slaughtering power that could infiltrate the opponent’s defenses like flowing water and utterly destroy them!!
HISS-ROAR!!
A roar that made one’s scalp tingle echoed out. Within that terrifying Evil Qi, something began to coalesce behind Shechuan Ancient.
Five terrifying, serpentine forms materialized within his aura. They were pitch-black, their scales dull and lusterless. They had crimson forked tongues, blood-red maws, and the same emerald-green, cross-shaped pupils as Shechuan Ancient.
A Five-headed Serpent!!
The five heads stared intently at Zhao Xuanqi, seeming to capture and register his every potential weakness.
Even someone as powerful as Zhao Xuanqi felt his pores contract and a profound sense of unease wash over him. The chilling threat caused his Hundred Beasts’ Intent to surge wildly in response.
’A Five-headed Serpent? A Beast Form?’
Zhao Xuanqi’s expression remained calm as his body underwent a drastic transformation and his Secret Technique activated.
’Facing an opponent like Shechuan Ancient, it would be arrogant to remain in my normal state.’
First Gate of the Dragon Gate!!
Profound Water Yin Sha!!
ROAR!!
The Qilin’s Intent erupted from the Five Evils Swamp. The skin and muscles all over Zhao Xuanqi’s body began to tremble erratically, his physical form connecting with his aura. The scales of the manifested Qilin opened and closed irregularly, flashing with silver light as if to reflect the gazes of the Five-headed Serpent.
This was the result of Zhao Xuanqi using the irregular undulation of his muscles to disrupt Shechuan Ancient’s formidable, weakness-exposing perception—a disruption that was then reflected in his aura.
An aura is the wondrous manifestation born from the fusion of Spirit and body!
When it came to Martial Arts Techniques, Zhao Xuanqi had never feared anyone!
For a moment, their auras were locked in a stalemate.
"Interesting."
Shechuan Ancient’s expression sharpened. The next moment, he shot forward.
His body weaved forward like a great python, his movements hard to track. He was so fast that he appeared before Zhao Xuanqi in an instant.
He turned his side, twisted his waist, and raised his leg.
His leg shot up from the ground. In that instant, the muscles and bones throughout his body transmitted power sequentially, like those of a boneless creature, accelerating constantly. The resulting kick reached an unimaginable level of speed and power.
Furthermore, the angle of the kick was exceedingly cunning, like a snake striking from the shadows, having found the perfect opening to deliver a fatal blow!
HISS!!
Within his aura, the Five-headed Serpent lunged, pouncing on the form of the Qilin.
’A roundhouse kick?’
Zhao Xuanqi’s expression flickered. Though the kick was incredibly fast, its Force Release and angle cunning, his vast martial arts experience allowed him to see through it instantly.
Shechuan Ancient had his Qi Union Dao, uniting with Evil Qi to see through an enemy’s weaknesses. Zhao Xuanqi had his Hundred Beasts’ Intent, a hunter’s intuition honed through a thousand trials that could instantly perceive an opponent’s every intention.
It was impossible to tell which of them was superior!
Hah!!
In that instant, Zhao Xuanqi’s Qi and Blood surged as he activated the Geng Metal Evil.
The lungs governed the Geng Metal Qi. With his great shout, the air vibrated as if from a clanging bronze bell, causing the surrounding atmosphere to stagnate.
DONG!!
At the same time, his Heart Fire ignited and the Celestial Fire blazed. His Qi and Blood churned, surging into his arm in an instant. The entire limb swelled with blood, and his fist became as solid and unified as a great hammer.
Across a distance of mere inches, he unleashed his Force. The end of his fist vibrated immensely, and Gang Qi formed a protective shroud around it.
Vermilion Ape Form, Vibrating Hammer Technique!
Side Body Hammer!
In a flash, Zhao Xuanqi transitioned from defense to Power Generation. His Hammer Technique struck directly at Shechuan Ancient’s raised thigh. If it landed, the Vibration would penetrate to the bone. Without Xiang Ji’s Celestial Dragon Body or Ye Jian Mountain’s terrifying physique, Shechuan Ancient would surely be affected by relying on his Force Transformation Technique alone.
SWISH!!
However, just as fist and leg were about to collide, Shechuan Ancient’s powerful kick suddenly traced an exceedingly bizarre arc through the air.
His entire leg joint seemed to go slack. Like the appendage of a folding mollusk, his leg suddenly bent, changing its trajectory. The kick, originally aimed at Zhao Xuanqi’s ribs, now arced upward, the point of his foot targeting Zhao Xuanqi’s throat.
It was like a stroke of divine inspiration!
Snake Return!!
The trajectory-altering kick was so bizarre it was impossible to defend against. It bypassed Zhao Xuanqi’s defense completely and closed in on him.
An extremely close call!
This was the terrifying nature of the Ghost Dao. Uniting with Cosmic Evil Qi didn’t mean going berserk. Instead, it was about integrating slaughter into terrifyingly precise techniques, taking an enemy’s life in a seemingly unremarkable instant.
’I’ve seen through your every intention!’
A smile touched the corners of Shechuan Ancient’s mouth.
But just as the tip of his foot was about to shatter Zhao Xuanqi’s throat...
CRACK!!
A terrifying crack of bone exploded from Zhao Xuanqi’s body. His attacking Vermilion Hammer instantly halted. The muscles of his chest and back flexed, and it was as if his entire spine had folded in half. His body abruptly shortened by a huge margin, allowing Shechuan Ancient’s foot to skim right over the top of his head.
From a distance, it looked as if he had instantly retracted his head into his own chest cavity!
Thanks to the tempering of the Hundred Beasts Mystic Gate, his body had long been reforged beyond the limits of common sense. And now, in his Dragon Gate state, the bizarre feats his body could perform were even more unimaginable.
Hmm?
In that instant, Shechuan Ancient’s expression changed. He immediately halted his attack, and at the same time, his toes flipped down into an axe kick, striking toward the crown of Zhao Xuanqi’s head with Inch Force.
But having missed his previous strike, he had already lost the initiative.
Zhao Xuanqi seized the opportunity.
Celestial Fire Evil! Geng Metal Evil! Profound Water Evil! Black Earth Fiend! Yin Wood Evil!!
The Five Slaughter Secret Technique, activating all at once!
His body temperature skyrocketed as terrifying power gathered in an instant.
He coiled his body and advanced!
He unfurled his body and raised a palm!
His scorching body temperature blurred the surrounding air. The simultaneous Force Release from various parts of his body created an explosive crack like a clap of thunder.
ROAR!!
As he struck out with his palm, it seemed to be wreathed in fire. The air itself solidified, forming what was almost a wall of Qi.
BANG!!
Shechuan Ancient brought his hands back to block but was struck head-on by Zhao Xuanqi’s palm!
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