Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Astounding Skills Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Astounding Skills Gou Jin looked at the longsword that had stopped on his shoulder, and couldn’t help swallowing.
“Perfect Wind Walking?
Impressive.
I admit my defeat wholeheartedly!”
The battle between Su Yuan and Gou Jin did not feature any overwhelmingly powerful techniques like the Flame Explosion Technique.
However, in terms of intensity and thrill, it far surpassed Zhuang Xun’s match just earlier!
Gou Jin jumped off the arena.
The many young talents who hadn’t fought yet fell silent.
The strength Su Yuan exhibited was already beyond the usual Ninth Stage.
These young talents couldn’t gauge Su Yuan’s full capability and preferred to observe more.
Su Yuan mentioned as he looked down at the crowd, “Anyone else?
Hurry up.”
As he spoke, Su Yuan’s gaze fell on Liu Rulong.
Beside Zhuang Xun, Xu Xin briefly hesitated but then prepared to step forward.
Many people were still watching.
As the spots dwindled, the selection and competition would only get fiercer.
It was better to secure a spot while three were still available.
Xu Xin felt confident that he could handle an Eighth Stage who mastered a Perfect Skill.
“Wait!” Xu Xin hadn’t taken two steps before Zhuang Xun quickly pulled her back, “Don’t go.”
Xu Xin stopped, “…Let go of me.”
“Ah, sorry…” Zhuang Xun forced a laugh as he released her hand.
Hmm… didn’t expect Xu Xin’s hand to be so soft…
Zhuang Xun advised, “I’m telling you, he hasn’t used many of his moves.
Anyone who goes up now is giving him a free win.
Trust me, okay?”
Xu Xin still felt a bit skeptical.
After all, they were special recruits from Shuzhou, counted among the top-tier young talents in the entire Great Flame Empire.
Aside from some geniuses from the Three Cities and the Four Extremes, they shouldn’t consider themselves no match even before fighting, right?
But Zhuang Xun seemed so sure… Forget it, she’ll listen to him this time.
Xu Xin hesitated for a moment but did not step forward.
After all, the opportunity to enter the Divine Tree Secret Realm was extremely important for them; it determined whether they could advance to the Bronze Level early.
Better to be safe than sorry.
“This Su Yuan seems formidable.
Rulong, are you confident?” On the other side, Hu Tao asked in a deep voice.
Liu Rulong fearlessly met Su Yuan’s gaze with a light laugh, “Don’t worry, Director Hu.
Even if it’s Perfect Wind Walking, I won’t be afraid even if he has another perfect skill!”
Hu Tao nodded, glanced slightly at Wang Haiping not far away, and then said, “In that case, go ahead.”
“Alright!”
Liu Rulong responded with a stride forward, “I’ll go!”
“Liu Rulong is up!”
“The special recruit from Hengzhou, Liu Rulong!”
“Reportedly, Liu Rulong is one of the top in Hengzhou’s special recruits.
He is certain to secure one of the four spots in the Divine Tree Secret Realm.
If he beats this sudden Su Yuan, our chances will be much greater!”
“That’s right.
No matter what, either Su Yuan or Liu Rulong will fail.
That’s beneficial for us.”
“…”
Liu Rulong dashed to the arena in a few steps.
With a flash in his hand, a violet longsword, three fingers wide, appeared.
“Zigui City, Liu Rulong!” Liu Rulong grinned at Su Yuan, lowered his voice, and said, “Kid, bad luck.”
Liu Rulong felt pleased; solving an opponent for the Divine Tree Secret Realm qualification and earning an extra Green Star Card in the process was perfect~
He was about to advance to the Bronze Level, precisely the time when he needed high-grade star cards for the four additional skill slots.
“Indeed, unlucky.
But it’s your bad luck.”
Su Yuan smiled.
If the opponent hadn’t come forward, it would have been difficult to clear him for Wang Haiping.
Now, it was just right.
A faint glow flashed on the Dragon Armor Saber in his hand before it vanished, absorbed into his body.
Liu Rulong frowned, “What are you doing?”
Su Yuan casually replied, “To deal with you, no weapon needed.”
At this, the crowd erupted.
“Damn, that’s bold!” Zhuang Xun slapped his thigh excitedly, “As expected of you, Su Yuan!”
Xu Xin looked at Zhuang Xun in bewilderment, “What’s with this guy?
Zhuang Xun, are you sure you didn’t con me?”
“Should be… not,” Zhuang Xun was confident in Su Yuan, but even he had some doubts now.
Although Zhuang Xun knew from Fang Kun that Su Yuan had taken the first place in the trial, Fang Kun held a grudge about Zhuang Xun’s “unpardonable action” and wouldn’t have detailed Su Yuan killing the Earth Element Beast barehanded.
Many young talents started buzzing.
“Is he serious?
Facing Liu Rulong without a weapon!”
“Is he really that badass!”
“Hah, just a clown seeking attention!”
“I’d love to see why he’s so cocky.
Hope he isn’t defeated in a second, or that’d be embarrassing!”
“…”
Ji Qinghe also slightly frowned; he previously appreciated this young man but didn’t expect him to be so overconfident.
Only Wang Haiping’s lips subtly curved into a smile.
Good lad, quite the character!
Wang Haiping knew that Su Yuan, without saber skills, had advanced skills like Steel Flame Finger and Gray Flame Strike, more powerful than a normal strike with a Green Star Artifact!
Typically, in extended combat, one couldn’t abandon weapons because even with superior strength, a body not tough enough to withstand weapons would be at a constant disadvantage against an opponent’s sharp sword.
Even though Su Yuan’s Perfected Hardened Iron Armor might be able to match Liu Rulong’s Star Artifact Longsword when used, skill use would drain his star power far faster than plain attacking with a weapon.
That was the advantage of weapons, explaining why the audience was so shocked.
But this was the norm…
If Su Yuan could crush his opponent in a short burst, there’d be no need for weapons.
However, the crowd, including Liu Rulong, witnessed this scenario did not know that.
Thus, Liu Rulong became instantly enraged.
“You reckless fellow!”
Liu Rulong’s eyes narrowed.
Without further words, a surge of black-purple energy enveloped his body.
“Fractal Shadow!”
Liu Rulong shouted, and in the next moment, three eerie purple shadows rushed towards Su Yuan from three directions!
“A Shadow System Star Card Master?
Rare indeed.” Su Yuan looked at the rapidly approaching purple shadows, unable to discern the real one.
But Su Yuan kept a calm face, standing still as his star power flowed steadily.
“What’s he doing?” Liu Rulong was puzzled.
Even if Su Yuan couldn’t handle his Fractal Shadow, staying still was too strange.
Could it be a trap?
But there’s no apparent action…
Should I play it safe?
No!
Just a moment of hesitation, Liu Rulong resolved.
Missing such a chance to finish an opponent wasn’t acceptable; he could handle any trick Su Yuan might have!
In the blink of an eye, the three eerie purple shadows formed a Three Talents formation and surrounded Su Yuan, swords slashing, leaving no room for dodging!
Director Hu touched his chin, slightly grinning.
Fractal Shadow, a blue soul card skill of Liu Rulong’s, at Skilled Level could produce two shadows with thirty percent of the host’s attack and defense.
Both real and illusionary, it wasn’t just a distraction or ordinary illusion!
“Even a normal Bronze Star Card Master would struggle with Liu Rulong’s skill initially.
This boy can’t avoid it with Perfect Wind Walking!”
Thinking this, Director Hu glanced towards Wang Haiping, who seemed surprisingly calm without a trace of concern.
“What’s happening?
Is there an unexpected move?” Director Hu frowned, suddenly sensing something was off.
Of course, Wang Haiping wasn’t worried because Su Yuan had Instant Movement.
“Instant Movement to dodge, then counter with Gray Flame Strike, possibly hitting both the host and shadows together…”
Wang Haiping had Su Yuan’s next moves planned out in his mind.
As the three purple swords closed in, Su Yuan did not use Instant Movement.
“What’s up with him?
It still needs activation time even with Instant Movement!”
Wang Haiping grew slightly tense, ready to intervene at any second.
Then, a burst of dim gray light sparked from Su Yuan, distorting the space around him.
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Next, the three purple shadows seemed pinned by an immense force!
“Crack crack!”
The two shadows in front and on the right shattered into fragments within half a second, while Liu Rulong himself stumbled to his knees in the face of the unrelenting pressure!
“What’s happening?!”
An uproar rose, the bizarre scene shocked everyone!
Even Wang Haiping was wide-eyed and astonished!
Elemental Magnetism Pressure?
A fifth skill?
Wang Haiping’s mouth opened slightly, speechless.
Amazing~
Liu Rulong trembled under the pressure, hands on the ground, unable to lift his head, “What is this?”
“Just a bit of gravity.” Su Yuan casually replied.
It was just a bit of gravity because Su Yuan had only used Skilled Level Elemental Magnetism Pressure, far from the limits of the Transformation Realm.
At master level, the skill gained a new trait, forming a Gravity Domain centered on oneself.
Real or fake, all shadows destroyed under absolute pressure.
Pure strength types like Fang Kun might resist somewhat, but technique-focused Liu Rulong had no chance of turning the tables.
Elemental Magnetism Pressure, cure for flashy tricks!
“Ugh!!”
Liu Rulong roared, purple star power surging to resist, struggling inch by inch to stand.
Useless struggle…
Su Yuan shook his head, intensified the skill to Great Success.
Liu Rulong, overwhelmed by the increased pressure, collapsed completely!
Face down!
Su Yuan lowered himself, a Red Flame gleaming on his left index finger, touching Liu Rulong’s forehead.
“Checkmate.”