113 Chapter 112: Golden Kirin Sacred Beast Technique (1/2)
Bai Ning Xue smiled as she slowly studied Zhu Jiao, her eyes cold and impassive as ever. It wasn't that she didn't believe him, but she didn't seem all too worried either.
”Then bring out your best technique, and we'll settle this once and for all.”
”Oh, don't be impatient. I'll get it done immediately.” Zhu Jiao took a deep breath and dropped into a somewhat relaxed stance. Raising both his hands in front of his chest, he gathered a huge amount of qi into himself.
”!!!”
Bai Ning Xue instinctively jumped back when dense, golden qi swirled around Zhu Jiao in a violent maelstrom. I could see the golden qi coalesce into a gargantuan golden Kirin around him, solidifying into a terrifying, armored creature that bellowed silently. Even though there was no sound, the spectators all ducked in reflex as a pseudo shockwave hit us, almost knocking us off our feet. A few of the students actually lost conscious.
”W…what the hell is this?!”
Tong Xue was shaking his head as he tried to clear it after suffering the impact from the powerful qi blast that had reverberated throughout the coliseum. He helped up Lian Rou, who looked dazed. I glanced around and saw that she wasn't alone.
This much effect from just the sheer presence of the Golden Kirin alone?
”Zhu Jiao mentioned that he was trying to restore the lost martial arts of the ancient Golden Kirin Sect,” Ban Zhang said as he steadied himself against the railing behind the window. ”This must be one of those!”
”The Golden Kirin Sacred Beast technique.”
Everyone turned to stare at me.
”Say again?” Tong Xue repeated incredulously.
”The Golden Kirin Sacred…”
”No, no, we heard you the first time. How did you know?”
”Eh? Didn't Zhu Jiao mention it before?” suddenly I realized I might have made a terrible mistake. Zhu Jiao was instructed to keep his master's existence a secret. Even though his master might have finally allowed him to reveal his sect after two years of realizing that the people who wanted to exterminate the sect were long dead, he might not have said the same for the Golden Kirin Sect's martial arts techniques.
Swallowing and hoping I didn't make a mistake, I quickly shook my head.
”Never mind, I must have remembered wrongly.”
”Well, it is one of the most famous techniques of the Golden Kirin Sect,” Tang Qi Hong pointed out. Evidently she had read up a bit on the Golden Kirin Sect's history. ”Their signature technique, actually. Most people who know the Golden Kirin Sect will know about it.”
That made sense. I breathed a sigh of relief. That meant it wouldn't have mattered if I spilled Zhu Jiao's secret. People would have found out sooner or later if they did the bare minimum of research. Besides, I did recall reading about that.
Turning my attention back to Zhu Jiao, I saw a somewhat startling transformation. While Zhu Jiao didn't actually turn into a monstrous Kirin-like warrior like a certain Golden Nymph and his Sacred Creature Morph from a certain Singaporean manhua, the Golden Kirin aura settled over him protectively like some kind of armor.
”Is that it?”
Bai Ning Xue sounded almost disappointed. However, far from being discouraged, Zhu Jiao merely smiled.
”Care to test my skills then?”
Bai Ning Xue didn't say anything. Instead, she disappeared, turning into a sliver streak that blurred across the arena and kicked Zhu Jiao. However, Zhu Jiao responded by punching her lightning-wreathed foot with such immense force that she was physically repelled. Cartwheeling in the air, Bai Ning Xue crashed onto the ground heavily, and despite landing on her feet, she dropped to her knees and clutched her leg.
Perspiration dripped down her pale face as she held her foot and glared at Zhu Jiao.
”You…!”
But Zhu Jiao had no intenton of waiting for her.
”!!!”
With a roar, he lunged forward and punched Bai Ning Xue. Even though she managed to block his gauntlet with her sword, the sheer force of his strike sent her sword hurtling away and his fist slammed directly into her solar plexus.
Bam!
Unable to withstand the blow, Bai Ning Xue was sent hurtling across the coliseum, blood spurting from her mouth as she soared uncontrollably across the vast space. She slammed into the wall behind her, cracking the concrete and almost causing the structure to cave in from the tremendous impact. Blood splattered onto the ground in front of her as she finally came to a stop.
Coughing, Bai Ning Xue landed on the ground and sprawled on all fours. Raising her head, she glared at the rock-solid Zhu Jiao. Blood dripped profusely from her mouth and she winced from severe internal damage.
”What monstrous strength!” she murmured to herself. ”After executing this technique, his speed and power have increased by several dozen times!”
”Uwooooh!”
Zhu Jiao wasn't going to give her time to recover, however. He was already charging at her, the golden aura around him blazing spectacularly.
”Hah!”
With a defiant shout, Bai Ning Xue hauled herself off from the ground and dashed forward. Silver lightning surrounded her body once more and she disappeared into a blur. Swinging her sword, she delivered another lethal combination of sword strikes and kicks that would have obliterated anyone else with the sheer force of lightning streaming from her blade and body.
However, Zhu Jiao was not just anybody.
He met her blow for blow, meeting her kicks and slashes with his armored gauntlets. Despite being visibly slower, he held his ground firmly and parried every attack Bai Ning Xue threw at him, his arms lashing out so quickly they also turned into golden blurs.
”Haaaah!”
With a yell, Zhu Jiao swung his right fist so fiercely that he managed to send Bai Ning Xue flying back despite her best attempts to defend herself with her sword. Spiraling helplessly in the air, she flipped her body around and landed somewhat elegantly on her feet.
Unfortunately, despite the graceful display, it was clear that she hadn't come out of that exchange unscathed.
”Ugh…”
Both of her legs were trembling violently, to the extent where she almost fell over. Credit to her, she stood her ground bravely, refusing to buckle. Gritting her teeth and wiping the perspiration from her pale face, she scrutinized her opponent.
”Jiao's strength has truly turned monstrous. What terrifying power! Both of my legs have gotten numb just from clashing with his fists!”
Zhu Jiao charged forward again, cocking back his armored gauntlets for another vicious strike. This time, Bai Ning Xue was more prepared, using her sword to parry his fist. However, Zhu Jiao's brute strength forced her backward, the two of them hurtling toward the wall behind Bai Ning Xue as she struggled to resist her opponent's momentum.
”AAAAH!”
Thunderous Descent!
It was a huge risk executing such a powerful and qi-consuming move at close range, but it paid off. Blasting Zhu Jiao with a massive bolt of lightning that descended from the heavens, Bai Ning Xue was able to momentarily repel him and hold his ferocious assault off.
”Heavenly Lightning Void Strike!”
Swinging her sword, Bai Ning Xue unleashed yet another massive lightning bolt from the ceiling, the jagged blast of qi streaking through the air with a thunderous howl and striking Zhu Jiao. The would-be protagonist caught the lightning bolt with both of his glowing gauntlets, stopping it from searing through his body and electrocuting him.
”AAAAARGH!”
With a determined bellow, he hurled the lightning bolt away with sheer force, blasting a huge chunk of concrete out of the unfortunate ground and leaving a scorched crater.
”!”
As he did so, his guard was down. Making use of her superior speed, Bai Ning Xue kicked him in the face, her foot detonating with silver lightning the moment it made physical contact and flinging Zhu Jiao back.
Or so it seemed.
Zhu Jiao merely took one step back and counterattacked with a heavy blow, his fist slamming into her back. Unlike Zhu Jiao, who seemed to take no damage from her kick, Bai Ning Xue gagged and blood burst out of her mouth before she crashed several dozen meters away, her momentum causing her to slide across the ground.
Throwing out a hand and halting her momentum, Bai Ning Xue coughed out more blood before she eventually rose shakily to her feet. Determined and defiant to the bitter end, she wiped the blood off her mouth and met Zhu Jiao's gaze evenly.
”What a monster. It seems like I've underestimated you, Jiao. No…I always expected highly of you, so I'm not surprised. But you've surpassed my expectations completely.” she smiled slightly. ”I can't help but feel proud.”
”Thank you,” Zhu Jiao responded as he steadied himself. Even though he didn't take as much damage, Bai Ning Xue's kick to his face had swayed him a bit. He cracked a grin. ”I couldn't afford to lose to you, after all.”
”I should say the same.” Bai Ning Xue closed her eyes momentarily and took a deep breath. ”After taking that huge blow from you earlier, it seems that my speed and strength have been drastically reduced. I'll acknowledge it now…you're the strongest opponent I've ever faced. On par or above even Tang Qi Hong.”
”Bai Ning Xue acknowledged me?”
Beside me, Tang Qi Hong blinked in surprise. I smiled and patted her.
”Yeah, isn't that great?”
”Ugh…” Tang Qi Hong frowned. ”I guess so…but somehow, I don't feel very satisfied about the way she said that…”
Neither of us could afford to pay much attention to that, especially since the duel seemed to be heating up.
”You're extremely strong,” Bai Ning Xue repeated with a nod. ”If I want to defeat you, I can only increase my power.”
”I thought you were no longer holding back?” Zhu Jiao asked, trying to conceal his annoyance. Bai Ning Xue shrugged.
”You've forced me to use my trump card. So take pride in that.”
”Trump card…?”
By way of replying, Bai Ning Xue gathered all the silver lightning into her body and her spiritual qi surged exponentially. A silver sphere of qi coalesced around her, almost solidifying, and the symbol of a White Tiger materialized in her forehead.
”That's…!”
Zhu Jiao's eyes widened in shock. He was not the only one. All around the coliseum, spectators were murmuring in disbelief.
”Impossible!”
”Isn't that…!?”
”That Bai Ning Xue was still hiding such a trump card!?”
”I don't believe this!”
”Isn't that the ultimate…?”
”Man and Sword as One: The Ultimate Power.”
Bai Ning Xue declared, silencing everyone. Within seconds, an intimidating qi flooded the entire area, suffocating everyone because of its sheer potency.
”How the hell did she master Man and Sword as One?!”
”At her age, no less?!”
”Amazing…!”
”This is incredible!”
”She really is a genius!”
It wasn't just the students. Even the teachers and staff were shouting out from astonishment, utterly impressed by the sequence of events unfolding before their very eyes. They had never imagined that a student of Bai Ning Xue's age could have already mastered the pinnacle of martial arts.
Raising her hand, Bai Ning Xue recalled her sword with just her will alone, the refined weapon flying from the ground and gently landing in her outstretched hand.
”Now that's a surprise.”
Despite the bead of perspiration dripping down his face, Zhu Jiao smiled. He wasn't the type to fear a challenge. No, rather, he embraced it.
”I didn't think you would have mastered Man and Sword as One. You never cease to amaze me, Ning Xue.”
”I should say the same for you. I'm impressed by how strong you've grown. To corner me and force me to using my ultimate technique…”
Bai Ning Xue shook her head faintly, and then raised her sword to point it at Zhu Jiao.
”Let's settle this.”
Zhu Jiao chuckled. ”You know me too well. Yup, I'm not going to give up just because you've mastered Man and Sword as One!”
With that, he charged forward. Bai Ning Xue's brow furrowed by the slightest of margins, probably her disapproval at his recklessness, and then she disappeared into a silver blur.
The two of them met in the middle in a violent collision that carved a crater into the ground, their silver and gold qi clashing violently and expanding into an uncontrollable storm. The tempest of arcane energies lashed out and struck the ground, destroying whatever solid material that they came in contact with.
This time, Bai Ning Xue was able to fight Zhu Jiao more evenly, her kicks and sword strikes zooming forward with incredible power – much stronger than previously. Even with her increased power, she was still unable to overpower Zhu Jiao. The armored guy met her blow for blow, trading punches with kicks and blade without yielding ground. The vibrations from the exchange between the two martial artists sent tremors across the beleaguered coliseum.
”Awesome!”
”What the hell is this fight?!”
”Both of them are amazing!”
”Oh, heavens…!”
”I never thought we'll be able to witness such a fight!”
The spectators gasped, awestruck, as they watched the intense battle. Unable to peel their eyes away, they gaped at the relentless couple, who were hitting each other with the intent to kill.
That might sound inaccurate, as their attacks were devoid of hatred. No, the intent to kill was the ultimate form of respect. The two of them trusted and believed in each other's belief to the point where they knew their opponent would definitely survive any sort of attack they threw at each other even if they didn't hold back.
They believed in each other's strengths to the point where they acknowledged that if they held back, they wouldn't be able to defeat the other. And they trusted that their significant other would be able to survive whatever attack they delivered.
Boom, boom, boom!
The poundings grew louder and more violent as both Zhu Jiao and Bai Ning Xue intensified their attacks.
”Thunder Tiger Crash!”
Countless lightning tigers descended from the ceiling, roaring silently as they sought to tear their mistress's opponent apart.