Chapter 87 - Shin Sumi Steps In To Fight (2/2)

”Woah, even a normal explosion is that strong... No wonder Mua Lin couldn't hold on forever. I have to avoid direct contact.”

Shin Sumi hadn't planned on letting herself get hit anyway, but she wanted to know just how strong these explosions really were. And if they had been just simple explosions, maybe she would have pressed the fight to get it over with but seeing how Sei Shian still had one arm and one leg sizzling with Shinsoo wisps ready to explode ten times as powerful as what she had just felt, she had a better sense of the battle now.

”It is better if I make him use that troublesome technique first.”

For a while, Bai Fulong only swung his sword classically, sometimes throwing in a Cleaving Meteor for good measure. His panting became heavier and louder as time went on.

Shin Sumi's fellow disciples from the Star-Sword Pavilion were all silent. Every one of them who had battled or trained with Bai Fulong before knew exactly what he was doing.

Tai Bu's nerves were on the verge of breaking, as was the vein on his temples.

”That bastard. He's feigning exhaustion.” Tai Bu was very conflicted. He had been caught up in Shin Sumi's special strategy a few times himself, each time thinking he had a chance of beating Bai Fulong.

But that was exactly what she wanted. She could see it in Sei Shian's eyes, she could almost read his thoughts.

”Oh I see... You're the type to hit strong but with low stamina. The more the fight goes on the more your power decreases.”

On the sidelines, Tai Bu was hitting his t.h.i.g.h with his fist, ”Come on, he's obviously faking it! This guy's reserves are endless”, owning him a strange look from his fellow cultivators. Who exactly was he rooting for in this fight?!

Four entire minutes had passed since the beginning of Bai Fulong and Sei Shian's duel. This wasn't a long time but for a cultivator battle it was sure to be draining.

Sei Shian was showing signs of fatigue although less than his opponent. Bai Fulong's movements were becoming a bit sluggish despite his sword still hitting with a lot of power.

Shin Sumi lifted her sword with a shout, using Cleaving Meteor while sweat poured out of her brows. Fast on his feet, Sei Shian evaded the blow easily, Bai Fulong's precision had drastically gone down too.

”Now is my chance” thought Sei Shian.

The young man pivoted on his heel, using all his strength to kick his leg backwards. All the Shinsoo wisps on his leg condensed around his heel for the third of the four massive explosions he had previously prepared.

”You can't evade that now. DIE!!”

After the long and slow paced, dragged out battle, Sei Shian's kick was as fast as lightning. There was no way Bai Fulong could parry it as well, considering his level of fatigue.

In the crowd watching patiently, a few disciples has already accepted Bai Fulong's defeat by this point. He had shown a great deal of power and speed against Chu Erlong, earning their respect, but unfortunately it hadn't worked against Sei Shian.

The foot about to explode was getting closer and closer to Shin Sumi's side with all the speed a martial arts expert could muster.

It was at this moment that Shin Sumi stopped breathing hard and reacted with even faster reflexes. She had waited four entire minutes for this, for a chance at getting rid of Sei Shian's troublesome explosions.

Bai Fulong pressed one hand against the flat side of his blade, orienting its length perpendicular to the incoming attack.

A small light formation shone briefly on the other side of Sky Deception, forming the shape of a ram's head.

The image only lasted for an instant, quick enough so that a blink would make an observer entirely miss it. In the crowd intently watching, a young man from the Cloud-Formation Pavilion stood up with a jolt. It was only after the others looked at him strangely that he sat back down.

The young man's name was Rui Keshin, the poor disciple who had lost a bet to Yan Yan before during the Cloud-Formation inner tournament.

”Rui Clan stolen technique: Heavenly Ram!” Bai Fulong received Sei Shian's foot straight on, the latter detonating his intense burst the moment his leg touched the body of the sword.

The ram head on the sword glowed more intensely, although its light was extremely dim compared to the fire of the explosion. But as its glow gained in intensity, the explosion suddenly started to lose power.

It happened so fast that probably no disciple had properly seen what had occured. In the fraction of a second the entire explosion was absorbed by the Heavenly Ram, Shin Sumi standing straight against Sei Shian's heel.

The first part of the Rui Clan technique was complete. Sei Shian's leg was still up against the flat part of Sky Deception when Shin Sumi activated the second part. By simply pressing forward with her sword, the Heavenly Ram made contact again with her opponent.

The longer Heavenly Ram stored the energy it had absorbed, the more difficult it was to control it and the less it was able to restitute.

By immediately attacking after canceling out the explosion, more than ninety percent of the Shinsoo fire of Sei Shian's own technique was unleashed against him.

From the outside, where the Heavenly Ram technique was not visible, it appeared like something strange but not impossible had occurred.

Sei Shian flew backwards as a painful scream echoed in his throat.

”Sei Shian's technique backfired!”

”How is that possible? Was his explosion so high level that even himself could not deal with it? He has been holding onto it for a while now, his energy probably turned unstable...”

Sei Shian's leg was bloody and nauseating smoke was coming out of his charred flesh. It was indubitably the most pain he had ever been into. And it could be said that he had inflicted that on himself.

From where he had stood in a kicking position, he had not seen the Rui Clan technique at all. He was almost to the point of believing himself that his own energy had gone unstable, if it wasn't for the slight delay he had felt.

His Shinsoo coursed through his mangled leg, suppressing momentarily the pain and blood loss. Because of the gravity of his injury, Sei Shian had no choice but to dispel his last remaining explosion. As much as he wanted to use it to blow Bai Fulong's head off, he had to use the energy on his leg.

Sei Shian propped his body on his elbow, looking at Bai Fulong with rage and fear in his eyes.

With a voice hoarse from his scream he spoke, ”What did you do to me?! My attack connected and the moment after, my technique was returned against me!”

Shin Sumi didn't speak a word. She, too, had been slightly surprised at how well her plan had worked.

Now only remained her and a tired, badly injured Light-Breaker Pavilion cultivator in the Arena. It was virtually impossible for her to lose the fight at this point and she intended to do that quickly.

She lifted Sky Deception whose length was now b.a.r.e from any ram's head. Walking over to Sei Shian, the latter attempted to crawl backwards, dragging his useless limb along the cold ground.

”You have to surrender the fight now...” Bai Fulong spoke in a calm and quiet voice. The tip of Sky Deception was pointing straight to the young man's neck, in a sign that taking his life had become the easiest thing to do.

Sei Shian gritted his teeth, a gleam of defiance burning in his eyes. But only a dark and absolutely terrifying willpower met his gaze. Bai Fulong's stare seemed to calmly speak to him, saying ”There is no point in killing you but I can do it.”

”You are a mad man. I'm out of here” Sei Shian told Shin Sumi before enhancing his voice with Shinsoo, ”I surrender.”

Shin Sumi heaved a sigh of relief, putting away Sky Deception. Her hand trembled slightly before hiding inside her sleeves as she quickly returned to the Star-Sword Pavilion corner.

A few people from the Light-Breaker Pavilion had now entered the arena to recover Sei Shian who could barely move his leg without screaming in pain. Some disciples from the Shinsoo-Medicine Pavilion also entered the arena splitting up in three groups, each going to enquire if the fighters from all branches needed help and recovery.

At the same time, Patriarch Sen had started hovering above the scene, speaking in a very loud voice and announcing the results of the Cross Branch Arena.

Shin Sumi didn't deem necessary to listen, though, as she had just now returned to Xiao Yue and the others. Mei Yunei and Mua Lin had already left in the care of the Shinsoo-Medicine healers, leaving only Tai Bu and Sui Lin, the old members of the Shinsoo Gathering Realm's Big Three.

Sui Lin looked at Bai Fulong intensely for a few seconds before simply nodding and leaving, her arms crossed and her face cold like ice as always.

Tai Bu, snorted loudly. He too exited the arena without uttering a word. His anger towards Bai Fulong was far from quenched but Devil Maiden Xiao Yue was right there next to them and he wasn't willing to confront them.

Turning down the Shinsoo-Medicine Pavilion disciples' offer, Bai Fulong and Xiao Yue were now alone in their corners. The disciples who had watched the entire Cross Branch Arena were slowly leaving and the Elders and Pavilion Masters had long since disappeared.

”Let's go home, Yue, alright?” Bai Fulong spoke softly, almost imperceptibly.

Xiao Yue turned to Shin Sumi and smiled, her hand finding her sister's and they disappeared through the dark passageways dug into the earth.