95 Chapter 94: Esoteric Five Elements (2/2)
”I was hoping to save this for the finals, but it will be pointless if I don't make it to the round of sixteen.”
I felt a prickle on the back of my neck, a premonition. Wu Xing was going all out now, not holding anything back. His qi had thickened and increased. I tensed, expecting an attack, only to read the flow of qi currents around Wu Xing's body and realized that he was executing his advancement technique, not an offensive one.
”Esoteric Five Elements Principle: the pinnacle of the universe.”
As he said that, Wu Xing retrieved something from his pocket. It looked like a crest of some sort, or a metallic badge. No…it resembled a breastplate. For some reason, it also looked extremely familiar, as if I had seen something like it before.
”Huh?!”
It took me a while to recall, but I suddenly remembered that it resembled the object that Ba Yun used when I fought him all those years ago. That thing Wu Xing was holding was a Spirit Armament, a type of transformable…
”Five Elements Royal Armor.”
The breastplate glowed and expanded, spiritual qi extending out from its interior and enveloping Wu Xing in a protective frame. Unlike the Spirit Armor belonging to Ba Yun, this particular Five Elements Royal Armor was not creepy at all, seeming to exude a potent presence of protective qi and even having an air of royalty and dignity to it.
Spirit weapons and armaments, after all, possessed ”souls.” They were almost like living things, and each one of them had their individual nature. If I were to describe the Five Elements Royal Armor, it would be princely, proud and dignified. It was completely different from the monstrous, definitely demonic spirit armor that Ba Yun used.
The golden glow that suffused Wu Xing then solidified and materialized in the form of a full-body armor that clad him from head to toe. Even his helm covered most of his head, with only his face being exposed. That was far from being a weak point, however. From my Heaven and Earth qi sense, I could detect a thick aura of qi protecting his seemingly exposed face.
This spirit armor…it was not to be underestimated.
Wu Xing flexed his arm, as if testing out his armor, and then he disappeared from sight.
”!!”
I barely managed to evade his next punch. Wu Xing's armored gautlet struck the ground where I was standing on, that simple punch leaving a crater. Even as I dove to the side, I was peppered with broken debris.
What speed…what power! He's on a completely different level from before!
”Huh…I thought I would be able to end this with this one strike. Looks like you've a few tricks up your sleeve as well.”
Wu Xing turned toward me.
”?!”
Again, he had disappeared. The next thing I knew, he was right in front of me. I bent my back backward, just barely dodging his strike, but the shockwaves from his punch buffeted me, crushing me to the ground. I instinctively rolled away, avoiding his stomp. But his stomp was so powerful his armored boot actually broke the ground and caused an earthquake that hurled me off the ground and sent me flying a few meters away.
”Kuh…”
I managed to clumsily land on my feet and skidded a meter or so back. Raising my head, I saw Wu Xing disappear from the corner of my eye.
”!”
Boom!
Another crater was carved into the ground. At this rate, the training room would be destroyed. Before that, I probably would run out of place to run.
”You're pretty good at running away.”
Wu Xing raised his armored fist and turned to stare at me in comtempt, his lips curling up in a mocking sneer.
”Do you expect me to stand still and get hit by you?” I retorted, annoyed. What was it and my opponents thinking they were entitled a free shot?
To my surprise, Wu Xing shook his head. ”Oh, no. of course not. Do your best to dodge. After all, just one strike from me and you'll be half dead. It's only natural that you want to avoid a direct hit from me. I would do the same if I were you.”
My goodness. An opponent who was actually reasonable. I wanted to praise the heavens for allowing me to meet someone who actually made sense.
”However…hittng you is only a matter of time. All you need is one small mistake, a single slip-up, and the match will end.” Wu Xing's derisive smile spread further across his face. ”In contrast, you have no way of attacking me.”
As if to emphasize his point, he appeared in front of me but didn't attack. I reacted on reflex – just as he predicted – and kicked him, but he merely stood there, completely unaffected. Instead, I was the one who recoiled and held my foot, grimacing at the pain.
This guy was tough. His Five Elements Royal Armor was sturdier than even…
…even Wu Hei Gui's Black Tortoise Unbreakable Shell…
Not only that, Wu Xing had a far more impressive array of offensive techniques than my classmate. No wonder Wu Hei Gui lost his match against this guy.
However, I wasn't going to give up that easily. I delivered another Shadow Kick that sent pain ringing through my leg, but I nullified it with a burst of qi. Intead, I increased the amount of qi wreathing my leg and delivered a barrage of kicks that drove Wu Xing back.
”I've seen your match against Wu Hei Gui.”
Unfortunately for me, Wu Xing wasn't going to just stand there and take my kicks like Wu Hei Gui. He raised his hand to catch my leg. My instincts shrieked and I quickly withdrew my kick, causing Wu Xing to grab empty air. I also immediately retreated, and just in time too, as Wu Xing's lightning-wreathed gauntlet scorched the space where I had been standing on earlier, saturating the air with sparks and static electricity.
”I would be a fool if I allowed you the chance to break through the armor. Though I doubt you'll be capable of it…but I'm not taking any chances. Plus that Seismic Step of yours…I'll admit that it's among the most powerful attacks I've ever seen.”
”Why, thank you,” I replied dryly as I kept my eye on him. My leg throbbed, despite the protective aura of qi swirling around it, and I realized I would break my own leg before I broke Wu Xing's Five Elements Royal Armor. As expected, it wasn't going to be easy to destroy a Spirit Armament of such divine quality.
This Five Elements Royal Armor was on a completely different level from the demonic spirit armor that Ba Yun wore. I wouldn't be surprised if it had been forged by a master from the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect. perhaps even by the Sect Leader Zi Shou De himself. The Kun Lun Sect was a major sect – one of the eight most powerful and biggest ones – and thus they had deep pockets and near infinite resources. Of course they wouldn't spare any expense in purchasing the ultimate treasure spirit armament for the prodigy of their sect.
”Any more tricks?” Wu Xing asked casually as he reared his arm back. A torrent of flames erupted and seared through the air, toward my position. Even as I froze the fiery attack, I realized that it was more potent and stronger than before.
”Kuh…”
Enveloped by mist, I stepped back, only for Wu Xing to cleave the mist apart with a single fiery punch. Stepping to the side, I kicked him in the abdomen, only for my foot to bounce off the thickly plated armor. In return, Wu Xing slammed his elbow down on me, but I managed to pull my leg away in time before he could break my knee.
This guy…!
Gritting my teeth and lengthening the distance between us while warding off a combined blast of fire and lightning, I tried to think of an idea. At this rate, I had no way of attacking him…
I needed a weapon of my own…
”What about this?”
This time, a thicker growth of plants and trees materialized, the vines whipping out more viciously and faster than before. The branches unfurled and stretched toward me, and I found myself surrounded by a thicket of wood.
I wouldn't be able to dodge in time!
No matter. I had my Ghost Shadow Sword. Unleashing all my qi into sharpened sword intent, I materialized them into shadowy blades and slashed at the incoming wood, attempting to slice them apart before they could engulf me.
”Eh?!”
Unfortunately, the wood was much thicker and stronger than before. Most likely Wu Xing's powers had been amplified by his Five Elements Royal Armor. It was not unheard of. Most people use spirit weapons and spirit armaments to strengthen and enhance their base martial arts techniques. Even I did so.
Wu Xing's wood attacks right now were incomparable to the ones before, when he didn't use his armor. I was unable to cut the sturdy wood, vines and thorns with my Ghost Shadow Sword!
Krunch!
Within moments, I was trapped and crushed by a ball of wood, vines and thorns, which writhed and coiled tightly all around me.
”Hmph.”
Wu Xing lowered his hand and regarded the squirming sphere of wood, his expression triumphant. Flames coated one gauntlet and lightning on the other. Leaving nothing to chance, he stepped forward to finish me off.
However, from the lack of movement – other than from his wood attacks – it seemed that I had been subdued.
”Looks like this match is over.”
Cocking his hand back and getting ready to deliver a blazing punch, Wu Xing smirked. He was obviously relishing his entry into the last sixteen.
”?!”
Then his eyes widened when he detected a surge of qi, and he stepped back in reflex.
Slice, slice, slice!
BOOM!
Within seconds, the sphere of wood was cut apart. A maelstrom of azure qi swirled from the inside, ravaging and disintegrating the dying wood and erasing them from existence.
Stepping out of the maelstrom, I swung down one of my swords to blow the angry currents of qi away.
”You…” Wu Xing spluttered when he caught sight of my dual swords. I merely shrugged before smirking at him.
”You're not the only one with spirit armaments.” Resting one of my swords on my shoulder, I tilted my head to the side. ”Well then, shall we get started for real now?”