Free Web NovelChapter 1533: Chapter 1533: Anticipating the Enemy
"Your opponent is me!"
Just as Ma Nu was staring in a daze at the dissipating afterimage in front of him, an aged voice sounded from behind him. Sensing that aura, he instantly realized that the old adversary had arrived.
Lu Yanji’s speed was undeniably swift, and he also knew that while Yun Xiao was indeed extraordinarily talented, it would be extremely difficult to win if there was a gap of an entire Great Rank between them.
Thus, after Yun Xiao used Shadow Clone Meridian Techniques to evade Ma Nu’s fatal blow, Lu Yanji followed closely like a shadow and took on this formidable opponent.
"Old man, do you really think I can’t deal with you?"
Seeing the old man blocking his way again, Ma Nu was truly furious. Although he was a house slave of the Lu family, he was also a super expert of the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud and had never regarded the cultivators of the Tenglong Continent with any esteem.
Even though the old man in front of him, Lu Yanji, was also a Heavenly Realm Middle Stage expert like himself, Ma Nu was extremely confident he could take him down.
Previously, Ma Nu didn’t use his full strength because of Lu Qinwan’s clone projection. It was only in the last strike that he abruptly unleashed his power, forcing Lu Yanji back several meters.
"Hmph, then come and try!"
Although Lu Yanji knew the opponent’s strength, he also realized that he was the only one capable of stopping Ma Nu at that moment. If he retreated, it would result in a one-sided massacre against Demon Mountain or Yun Xiao.
Judging by Ma Nu’s temperament, it was likely that he harbored deep hatred for Yun Xiao, so Lu Yanji knew he couldn’t retreat. Perhaps if he held on a little longer, there might be an unexpected turn of events.
Lu Yanji no longer counted on Hou Tianlie and the others from Demon Mountain. As a Heaven Rank Intermediate Meridian Refining Master, he sensed immediately that Hou Tianlie was injured internally.
And on Wuyan Palace’s side, there was Wei Duzheng, a Peak of Lingyun Realm cultivator. Even if the Mountain Master of Demon Mountain and Wu Zhukong joined forces, they could at most only manage a draw.
Lu Yanji’s greatest confidence came from that humble-looking youth. He had witnessed Yun Xiao turn the tide on more than one occasion, like the instance when he effortlessly defeated the clone projection earlier.
The current situation at Demon Mountain, truthfully speaking, wasn’t as desperate as the one at the Meridian Refining Master Association before. Now, with only a Heavenly Realm expert like Ma Nu to deal with, Yun Xiao might have a way to handle the situation?
Lu Yanji’s guess was correct this time. After seeing him take on Ma Nu, a strange light flashed in Yun Xiao’s eyes, filled with confidence and a bit of teasing.
With Yun Xiao’s current power, even if he used all his means and tapped into the power of Golden Snake Worm Xiao Wu, it would be impossible to directly contend with a Heavenly Realm Middle Stage expert; at best, he could escape.
But with Lu Yanji confronting Ma Nu directly, Yun Xiao had many more ways to deal with him. After all, in his previous life as the Long Xiao Battle God, he could be considered half a master to Ma Nu.
Yun Xiao was very familiar with the formidable techniques of Lu Qinwan’s house slave. Even Xue Qi, who brought him here, was nowhere close to Yun Xiao’s knowledge.
"President, be careful, he’s aiming for your lower left rib!"
As Yun Xiao’s thoughts raced, he couldn’t help but shout a warning. As soon as he spoke, Lu Yanji, who was about to dodge to the left, felt a sudden chill in his heart.
In Lu Yanji’s eyes, the opposing Heavenly Realm Middle Stage expert’s hand blade attack was clearly aimed at his right shoulder. His plan at that moment was purely to delay, with no intention of a head-on clash.
So seeing this powerful hand blade slicing toward his right shoulder, Lu Yanji instinctively prepared to dodge to the left. But if Yun Xiao was correct and Ma Nu’s real attack was on his left rib, it would be a huge problem.
For some reason, despite his utmost confidence in his own sensing abilities, Lu Yanji felt a sudden chill, and without any apparent reason, he forcefully twisted his body slightly to the left.
Swoosh!
A cold light suddenly flashed, and the position of this cold light was indeed exactly as Yun Xiao had said, just inches away from outside Lu Yanji’s left rib. A slight misstep would have resulted in severe injury.
Even at this moment, Lu Yanji couldn’t comprehend how his opponent changed his moves so swiftly and unexpectedly, nor how that humble-looking youth, far away from him, could see through it.
Lu Yanji clearly saw that the cold light that just flashed past his left rib was actually a razor-sharp short knife, thin as a cicada’s wing. If it had pierced him, his combat ability would have been halved.
This would almost certainly have led to his downfall in an instant. At that moment, he was secretly grateful for Yun Xiao’s timely warning; it was truly an unexpected blessing.
"Damn it!"
Compared to the relieved and pleased Lu Yanji, Ma Nu’s expression was far from pleasant. His anger erupted, making the pockmarks on his face look like they were about to burst, extremely hideous and terrifying.
"But how did he know the changes in my moves?"
Despite his anger, Ma Nu felt a trace of doubt in his heart. He secretly thought that this was a strange technique he had learned from his master, Lu Qinwan. He had never used it on the Dragon Continent, yet it was seen through at a glance.
"It must be just a coincidence!"
With just one strike, it was not enough to make Ma Nu think deeper. He never considered that the coarse-clothed youth was actually the former husband of his master, who knew every move he made like the back of his hand.
Therefore, Ma Nu only regarded the moment Yun Xiao’s timely warning saved Lu Yanji from disaster as a stroke of luck, having just caught the change in his hand movements.
"This time, your luck won’t be as good!"
Ma Nu roared, and without waiting for the move to exhaust, he abruptly changed tactics. The short knife, thin as a cicada’s wing, had mysteriously vanished from his hand.
"Be careful of the Dazhui Acupoint on your back!"
Just as Ma Nu was about to move, the voice of the coarse-clothed youth suddenly rang out, causing him to shudder violently, nearly dissipating the Meridian Qi he had gathered.
In fact, Ma Nu had just started his movement, but within Yun Xiao’s shout, everyone present saw this Heavenly Realm Middle Stage expert strangely tremble mid-air, then freeze.
"What’s happening?"
Hou Tianlie and the others watching the battle were frantic with confusion, puzzled by the scene before them, wondering if Ma Nu suddenly had a cramp.
Many glanced at the coarse-clothed youth in the sky, surmising that perhaps Yun Xiao’s shout caused Ma Nu’s strange behavior.
But what power could the mere words "Be careful of the Dazhui Acupoint on your back" hold? Even if Yun Xiao saw through him, nothing major would come of it after a move change.
Perhaps only Ma Nu, the person involved, understood the magic behind those words, realizing that the white-clothed youth Yun Xiao had seen through all his subsequent changes.
Honestly, Ma Nu hadn’t cared too much when Yun Xiao first saw through his actions, thinking it a mere coincidence, like a lucky cat finding a dead mouse.
Such events were rare, and being a super expert from the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, how could all his moves be seen through by a native youth from the Dragon Continent?
But Yun Xiao’s second warning held entirely different significance from the previous electrifying moment.
Because Ma Nu’s initial attack aimed at Lu Yanji’s front and contained several hidden changes, which, after being unleashed, would swiftly assault Lu Yanji from the back.
Ma Nu was absolutely sure that even a Heavenly Realm Late Stage expert from the Dragon Continent might not truly see through it.
Not to mention that at the very start, someone had already revealed the final variation of his Meridian Techniques, causing a storm in his heart.
Predicting the next move from his actions wasn’t horrifying, but managing to perfectly pinpoint multiple variations with just an opening move was truly terrifying.
"Oh well, knowing doesn’t matter, I don’t believe this old fellow can defend against it!"
Yet Ma Nu was committed, even if Yun Xiao saw through his final move, he forcibly mustered some confidence.
After Ma Nu’s cold snort, his actions showed no delay, continuing to strike fiercely at Lu Yanji’s chest with overwhelming force.
Initially, Lu Yanji was confident in Yun Xiao’s warning, having benefited earlier. Who knew, after several moves, Ma Nu still attacked from the front, leaving Lu Yanji puzzled.
As a Heavenly Rank Intermediate Meridian Refining Master, Lu Yanji was well aware of the Dazhui Acupoint’s location and remained guarded.
But the opponent seemed completely uninterested in this intent, continuously launching fierce attacks at his front, not only causing doubts for Lu Jiyan, but also for the spectators below who seemed to question Yun Xiao’s earlier shout.
"Here it comes!"
Just as thoughts turned in Lu Yanji’s mind, his ears suddenly heard another low shout, and Ma Nu, who had attacked in front of him, abruptly vanished entirely.
