Free Web NovelChapter 159: Chapter 158: Combination
Hua Jingcheng’s attack—particularly the strength of the Qi Blades formed from his Gang Qi Transformation—had indeed exceeded Zhao Xuanqi’s expectations.
Gang Qi of that caliber was virtually indistinguishable from a real weapon. In fact, its sharpness was even more terrifying than that of an actual blade.
After all, with his body covered by Qi Surge Blood Essence, Zhao Xuanqi’s physical fortitude was already terrifyingly high, rendering him nearly impervious to blades. An ordinary Martial Artist, even wielding a sword, couldn’t have broken his skin—let alone break through his defensive Gang Qi first before injuring his body.
Had it been anyone else, that last attack would have inflicted a much more grievous wound.
An opponent like this, with such powerful attacks and the dreadful Spirit Sword Intent of the Killing Dao... anyone who hadn’t reached a certain level of power would be killed instantly, with no chance to fight back. It was no wonder Guo Tianyou had been defeated in a single exchange.
Before this, Zhao Xuanqi had never truly encountered the Neon Martial Dao of this world; he had only heard bits and pieces about it.
The Neon Nation, much like its counterpart on the Blue Star of his past life, had been a vassal state to the Divine Land’s Imperial Dynasty in ancient times. Its laws, political systems, and Martial Dao were all learned from the Divine Land.
But in recent history, the Divine Land had closed its borders. The Neon Nation, however, underwent a series of reforms, taking the initiative to learn from the Great Powers of the Western Continent and mastering Secret Medicine technology.
Due to various limitations in technology, economy, and geography, the Neon Nation’s Secret Medicine technology couldn’t be considered particularly powerful among the Six Nations.
However, by combining their native Martial Dao with Secret Medicine, the Neon Nation forged its own path and rapidly caught up. They eventually surpassed many, securing a firm place among the Six Great Powers and becoming the foremost nation in the Far East.
This fusion of Secret Medicine and Martial Dao gave their techniques a destructive power that far surpassed that of traditional Martial Arts alone.
Now, after just one brief exchange, Zhao Xuanqi could already glimpse the nature of his opponent’s abilities.
For a seasoned master like him, a single blow was sometimes all it took to see through an opponent.
’His opponent’s body is abnormal, vastly different from that of a normal martial arts master.’
’His Body Technique and speed, for instance, aren’t just a result of explosive power and skill. His body weight itself is unnatural. He’s as light as a feather.’
’And the moment he attacks, his pores open and close. It’s as if he can breathe through his skin, releasing some kind of gas from all over his body.’
’This gas is violently compressed and expelled through his tiny pores, making it more focused and sharper than a normal current of air. With the addition of a special Force Release, Gang Qi methods, and a Secret Technique, the overlapping effects elevate his Gang Qi attacks to an incredible level.’
’If I’m not mistaken, his body’s Secret Medicine Ability allows him to produce or store some kind of gas and release it through his pores.’
’What’s more, this gas isn’t just air—its density is lower than air.’
’That means when the gas accumulates in his body, it makes him lighter.’
’On the surface, an ability like this seems insignificant. But when combined with Martial Dao and cultivated to a certain realm, it produces a qualitative transformation.’ ƒrēewebnovel.com
’This fusion of Secret Medicine and Martial Dao is truly remarkable.’
Although Zhao Xuanqi’s hand had been injured in the exchange, the wound was not severe enough to affect the rest of the fight. On the contrary, it had allowed him to gather a great deal of intelligence.
But the many guests below didn’t know all this. They only saw Zhao Xuanqi clash with Hua Jingcheng and, while he wasn’t defeated instantly like Guo Tianyou, he was still injured within a single round. The crowd immediately erupted in an uproar of discussion.
"This man from Neon... he’s that strong?!"
"This is looking bad. He was wounded in the first exchange. I’m afraid Zhao Xuanqi is no match for this man..."
"If he dared to show up here, he must have done his homework. He must be almost certain he can win. Things are looking grim."
"..."
Amidst the crowd’s murmuring, Ning Dao’an and Guo Tianyou’s expressions grew solemn, while Luo Shizun and Yan Shuntao looked downright grim.
If Zhao Xuanqi also fell to this man from Neon, the situation tonight would become truly unsalvageable.
In contrast, Wei Zonglong and his group all looked thrilled, believing the outcome was already decided.
"Have you figured a few things out?" Hua Jingcheng’s tone was dismissive. "It doesn’t matter. The Martial Dao of our Neon Nation is a perfect fusion of Secret Medicine and Secret Transmission, a blend of new and old. We have long since broken free of the old constraints. Our art is superior to the Martial Dao of the Divine Land. Even if you’ve seen a few of my tricks, you cannot possibly win. That is the difference between our Martial Dao."
Hua Jingcheng’s expression was nonchalant, but his eyes shone with a contemptuous light, glinting with a powerful confidence as if victory were already in his grasp.
The Feather Thought Style was one of the premier schools in the Neon Nation. It had undergone a complete revolution by integrating Western Secret Medicine technology.
Through cultivation with Secret Medicine, all core disciples of the Feather Thought Style developed unique physical abilities. The cells of their muscles and skin underwent a transformation, taking on certain plant-like properties. They could break down and store a certain amount of hydrogen gas within their bodies. They could also discharge waste gases and "breathe" through their pores.
What originally seemed like a simple Secret Medicine Ability for survival was integrated into the Sword Way by masters, giving birth to the Feather Thought Style.
A body like a feather, a Qi like a divine sword.
Hua Jingcheng believed this was a form of martial arts superior to that of the Divine Land. He saw no reason why he would lose.
"Is that so?" Zhao Xuanqi said coolly. "That’s probably because you’ve never encountered a truly powerful Martial Dao."
THUMP-THUMP! THUMP-THUMP! THUMP-THUMP!
As he spoke, a terrifyingly rapid heartbeat echoed from within Zhao Xuanqi’s body. Something dreadful was brewing.
"Mere words!"
The next moment, Hua Jingcheng lunged forward again. He took a sharp breath, his lungs expanding as his feather-light body shot forward. This time, he was even faster than before!
RIP!
Two slits tore open in the back of his clothing. As the pores on his back opened and closed, the air he had inhaled was compressed and expelled, creating a propulsive boost!
Two vapor trails appeared on Hua Jingcheng’s back, looking eerily like a pair of wings from a distance. The sight was strange enough to make one’s skin crawl.
WHOOSH!
He spread his arms. His muscles and skin vibrated in concert with his pores opening and closing, and two terrifying Qi Blades formed around his forearms.
At the same time, he activated the power of Five Qi Tongxuan.
Heart! Lungs! Kidneys!
Three Qi Tongxuan!
Physical ability! Perception! Intuition! Killing intent!
In that instant, all were heightened to their absolute peak.
This was the true display of his power!
His body shot forward like a bird in flight. His phantom-like movements, which seemed to defy all logic, made the eyelids of the masters in the audience twitch.
Feather Thought Style, Qi Manipulation Type.
Flying Feather Wind Ring! frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
At that very moment, as his heart pounded furiously, Zhao Xuanqi also moved.
His stance changed.
Before now, his Fist Technique and fighting style had always focused on the Walking Beast Form, supplemented by the Flying Bird Form. This was because, before he had mastered Gang Qi, the true killing power of the Flying Bird Form had been limited.
But now, everything was different.
Having entered the Realm of Five Qi and Profound Understanding and gained free control over his Gang Qi, the Flying Bird Form could finally reveal its true, terrifying power.
He switched his stance. His arms rose slowly, his palms forming the shape of a crane’s sharp beak.
At the same time.
THUMP-THUMP-THUMP-THUMP!
In that instant, his heart rate simultaneously hit its absolute limit, causing his body to tremble and undergo a drastic change.
His pores constricted, his skin breaking out in goosebumps.
His Qi and Blood surged madly, his heart blazing like a furnace. In an instant, the violent churning of his Qi and Blood caused his body temperature to spike. The change was so drastic that his skin color shifted rapidly, turning completely red in the blink of an eye, like a boiled shrimp.
The constricted pores trapped all the heat inside him. His blood and sweat were instantly compressed within his body, scalded by his own scorching temperature.
When the temperature reached a certain limit...
some of the pores on his body burst open!
PSSSHHH!!
Under the terrifying heat, the compressed sweat instantly vaporized into a fine mist that billowed from Zhao Xuanqi’s palms like swirling smoke!
The muscles in his palms trembled, manipulating the surrounding airflow. The swirling mist mixed with his Gang Qi, forming a tangible, razor-thin blade at the edge of his hands!
Seeing this, the attacking Hua Jingcheng’s pupils contracted violently.
