Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 125: Kill! Battle Through 2000 Li (2)

"Instructor Li, who will win?" Ninth Prince Jin Rensu couldn't contain his worry, his eyes betraying his concern.

By this point, anyone who still considered Wu Yuan a mere top expert in the Human Rankings was a fool. So what if his physical constitution was weaker? To martial artists, combat power was the only standard. The fact that Shadow Blade could hold his ground against Grandmaster Chen Luo for so long earned him the status of a Grandmaster in their eyes.

"The victor will most likely be Grandmaster Chen Luo," Li Zi replied. "Look, Chen Luo's staff technique is practically divine. Each strike forces Shadow Blade to retreat, he’s incapable of facing it head-on."

Jin Rensu nodded. Though his physical constitution was decent, his martial skills were average at best. He could barely discern the situation on the battlefield and struggled to make out any details.

"Shadow Blade's martial skills are also terrifying." Li Zi observed the battle intently, "His skills might even surpass Grandmaster Chen Luo."

He didn't want to miss a single move from these two Grandmaster-level experts. Such face-offs were too rare, too hard to come by. If he could glean something from it, it would be of great help to him.

"Shadow Blade is stronger?" Jin Rensu was taken aback.

"In terms of pure skill, that’s the feeling I’m getting," Li Zi said, "Of course, in a life-and-death duel, martial skills are important, but physical constitution also matters significantly. It's quite clear that Grandmaster Chen Luo's physical constitution is far superior. There's an 80% chance that Chen Luo will come out on top!"

Jin Rensu nodded slightly.

Li Zi glanced at Jin Rensu. There was something he left unsaid: if he wasn't tasked with protecting Jin Rensu, he could participate in the battle as well, though just barely. In doing so, their odds of winning would be significantly higher.

"Instructor Li, it seems that the fight is moving further away." Jin Rensu looked puzzled, "They're now five to six li away from us." A Savant expert could observe objects a hundred li away without issue, as long as there were no obstructions.

"Hmm, Shadow Blade might be trying to escape, but he's a lot slower. He won't get away." Li Zi chuckled. With the two Great Grandmasters clashing at a distance, they naturally felt more at ease.

"Something's not right." Nan Wei suddenly warned, "Your Highness, it seems that Shadow Blade is charging towards us."

"Don't worry, Uncle Chen will stop him," Jin Rensu said confidently, wearing a light smile.

"This isn't good." Li Zi's expression changed. "Grandmaster Chen's speed...it seems slower than Shadow Blade's. What's going on?"

"Really?" Jin Rensu's expression finally shifted. No longer concerned with his image, he shouted in fear, "Instructor Li, run!"

The two Savant experts swiftly fled.

...

Boom! Boom! Two afterimages streaked across the already devastated landscape, both surpassing the speed of sound. Wherever they passed, powerful aftershocks kicked up sand and dust, like two untamed whirlwinds. It was Wu Yuan and Chen Luo.

"Shadow Blade, stop running!" Chen Luo furiously pushed himself to his limits. His speed had reached its peak, but he was still a bit slower than Wu Yuan.

As the two raced through the air, surpassing the speed of sound, Chen Luo's words were lost to the wind, unable to reach Wu Yuan's ears.

On the contrary, because Chen Luo was pursuing Wu Yuan, Wu Yuan's voice instantly landed in his ears, "Give up, Chen Luo. You can't catch me."

Even if I can't defeat Chen Luo, I can at least kill Jin Rensu. Killing intent raged in Wu Yuan's eyes as he soared to his maximum speed.

Previously, the two went all out, simultaneously executing several secret arts, with Chen Luo initially gaining the upper hand over Wu Yuan. But how long could one’s body sustain such intense strain? Even a Savant expert could only maintain it for two breaths at most.

Originally, Chen Luo thought that Wu Yuan could sustain his secret arts for two or three breaths at most. However, the fierce battle between the two lasted for six breaths! The first to falter was surprisingly Chen Luo.

When a Grandmaster erupted with full strength, it was a terrifying sight. Their near-perfect physical constitution allowed for a longer duration of explosive power compared to a Savant expert.

But even that had its limits. Six breaths was Chen Luo's limit. Once the time was up, he could no longer continue to sustain his secret arts, and both his attacks and movements slowed.

Wu Yuan sought to take advantage of this opening to launch a counterattack, but despite his shock at Wu Yuan's terrifying endurance, he instantly switched from offense to a watertight defense, leaving no gap for Wu Yuan's attacks to land.

At this point, Wu Yuan clearly understood that the massive disparity in physical constitution made it impossible for him to kill a Grandmaster at his current level. If this continued, the blood-red mist would eventually run out!

In the fierce clash lasting just ten breaths, about a fifth of the blood-red mist enveloping Wu Yuan's black pagoda had already been consumed.

More critically, the full-on clash with the Grandmaster made Wu Yuan realize that the blood-red mist couldn't eliminate his fatigue indefinitely. It merely strengthened his physical strength and stamina. But it would eventually reach a limit, and by then, even with the blood-red mist, his body would break down from the unbearable strain.

With this revelation in mind, Wu Yuan understood the gravity of his situation and the need for a clear and calculated plan. And so, he made the decision to withdraw.

But before leaving, he naturally had to collect some interest – Jin Rensu’s life!

Boom! Wu Yuan's normal sprinting speed was far from the speed of sound. On the contrary, just about every Grandmaster could reach the speed of sound when moving at full speed.

However, executing Ghostwalk caused Wu Yuan's speed to soar. Furthermore, air resistance was almost non-existent to him, allowing him to reach a speed close to 500 meters per second.

This was much faster than Chen Luo, who was temporarily unable to activate his secret arts. In one second, he could widen the gap by nearly a hundred meters. Of course, this incredible speed came at a great cost, draining his energy reserves at an alarming rate.

Eight li away, I'll catch up in fourteen seconds. Wu Yuan focused on the two figures fleeing at high speed. This wasn't Li Zi's maximum burst speed, but unfortunately, it was Jin Rensu's, even after employing his secret art.

Hmm? They stopped? Wu Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly. They're actually approaching me instead? How clever of them indeed! Sadly, can they stop what's coming?

...“Instructor Li.” Jin Rensu gritted his teeth. In the jaws of death, he decided to follow Li Zi's suggestion and abruptly ceased his escape. Instead, like madmen, they charged straight toward Wu Yuan!

"Your Highness, Grandmaster Chen is too slow. Employing his secret arts has stretched him to his limits. If we keep running, we'll only widen the gap between Grandmaster Chen and Shadow Blade. We will then be left to fend for ourselves against Shadow Blade for half a breath." Li Zi urgently explained, "It's suicide!”

Half a breath, that was three seconds!

"But if we take the fight to them, it would save a third of the time needed for Grandmaster Chen to catch up," Li Zi said through clenched teeth.

They were seeking salvation amid the clutches of death. There was no alternative! Against a Grandmaster, they could only choose the option that offered the highest chance of survival.

"He's coming!" Li Zi, shielding Jin Rensu, stared intently at the rapidly closing figure. The glimmer of that saber’s edge was blinding!

Faster! I must be even faster! That cursed Shadow Blade, daring to trick me, leading me further away. Chen Luo's eyes burned red with fury as he pushed himself beyond his limits. His body was already ravaged by exhaustion from the preceding clashes. If he employed his secret arts again, he would exceed his body's threshold, making future recovery difficult.

Forbidden art! If His Majesty was willing to grant me a forbidden art from the immortals, I would never have allowed Shadow Blade to rampage unchecked! Chen Luo gritted his teeth, his gaze never leaving Wu Yuan.