Chapter 255 - 161: Overpowering (4)
After all, Mahmoud had done business in medicinal herbs with Master Yan in South City. Even if he no longer worked with Master Yan, he still had his channels for those supplies. It wouldn’t be difficult to deduce the commotion within the Martial Arts Hall by tracking the flow of ingredients.
That was why, despite the look of surprise on Samba’s face, he quickly composed himself.
But Samba’s expression gave Chu Lingguang and everyone watching a bad feeling. The man definitely had a trump card.
"We’ve been at this for forty or fifty rounds, and you still haven’t managed to do a thing to me. If that’s all you’ve got, I’m done holding back."
Though Chu Lingguang was on high alert, he intentionally provoked Samba.
He launched a fresh wave of attacks against Samba.
"I’ll admit, you’re more than I expected. But did you really think you’re the only one who has unlocked a second-layer Dharma Aspect?"
"Now, let me show you the true Dragon Elephant Power of a warrior from the Aika Tribe!"
Samba dragged his long saber across the ground. The instant he finished speaking, his flesh swelled and his muscles bulged. Cracks appeared on the surface of his Dragon Scale Elephant Hide, only to heal just as quickly. Fresh blood seemed to seep from the gaps in the Scale Armor.
"Die, Chu Lingguang!"
Samba swung his saber with all his might, the blade’s edge looking as if it could tear the very earth apart. Under the enhancement of his second-layer Dharma Aspect, his twenty Bloodline Dragon Elephants unleashed fifty percent of their true power.
"What?"
The crowd was stunned.
Chu Lingguang’s eyes widened, but his forward charge didn’t falter in the face of Samba’s overwhelming power. Instead, with unyielding determination, he met the saber strike head-on.
"BOOM!"
Saber and spear collided.
A cold light flashed, blindingly bright.
The blood-red light on Samba’s saber seemed to solidify, shattering the earthen-yellow Potential Energy cloaking Chu Lingguang’s Long Spear. Chu Lingguang’s own Dragon Elephant power roared and his blood boiled. He pushed the Power of Penetration from his Heaven and Earth technique to its absolute limit. Yet, even after successfully deflecting part of the blow, all his strength wasn’t enough to stop his backward momentum.
"BANG!"
Fortunately, thanks to his Minor Achievement in the Chang Chun Pile Skill, his feet took root the moment they touched down. Chu Lingguang managed to steady himself right at the edge of the sand pit.
’His second-layer Dharma Aspect... it seems a little different,’ Chu Lingguang thought, seeing signs that the Dragon Scale Elephant Hide on Samba’s skin was tearing. ’Even though his attack was overwhelming, the boost it gives to his Dragon Elephant Power isn’t as great as my own Dharma Aspect provides.’
After all, just by using his Circulation Operation Skill, he could already unleash thirty percent of his Dragon Elephant Power. By activating his two-layered Dharma Aspect of skin and flesh, he could bring that up to sixty percent.
It was only by leveraging the advantage of his Abdominal Vortex and the boost from the ambient Potential Energy that he could match Samba in pure strength, and perhaps even gain a slight edge.
He just hadn’t expected Samba to unlock a second-layer Dharma Aspect as well. Samba’s might be far inferior to his own, but that extra twenty percent of strength was enough to overwhelm him in terms of pure Qi Power.
"Heart-Devouring Powder... He took Heart-Devouring Powder, too."
"No, there’s something wrong with the powder he took."
As an expert in these matters, Feng Zhiwen spotted the problem at once.
Guo Wei couldn’t help but look toward Mahmoud, who just smiled magnanimously. "The Heart-Devouring Powder was developed by your Great Yuan physicians," he said. "It has a slight conflict with the bloodline of us Turkic Warriors, but fortunately, it was still enough to help Samba unlock his second-layer Dharma Aspect."
"Don’t think Chu Lingguang is the only one who can endure the agony of his flesh being torn apart," Iscoha added. "The warriors of my Aika Tribe can do it too. We would even give our lives for glory."
Now everyone finally understood how Samba had managed to unlock his second-layer Dharma Aspect, and they all began to worry about Chu Lingguang’s predicament.
Samba charged toward Chu Lingguang at top speed. He had to end this fight as quickly as possible. He’d only realized after the fact that the Heart-Devouring Powder conflicted with the Beast Blood he’d consumed for years. It had successfully helped him unlock his second-layer Dharma Aspect, but unlike Chu Lingguang, he couldn’t maintain it indefinitely.
"WHOOSH!"
Chu Lingguang dodged away in a flash.
He had to avoid being knocked out of the sand pit. It wouldn’t necessarily mean he’d lost, but the pit was their designated arena. Whoever was forced out first would bear the brunt of the external pressure.
Meanwhile, the one who remained would only fight with greater fervor.
Samba, however, was incredibly fast.
Chu Lingguang managed to evade the saber strike at the edge of the pit, but back in the center, he was once again caught in the sweep of Samba’s long saber.
"BOOM!"
The two clashed once more.
"SCREECH!"
Chu Lingguang’s feet slid across the ground.
He was pushed back more than three meters.
’His power is diminishing. He can’t maintain his Dharma Aspect for long. Has he not yet mastered the true method for using a second-layer Dharma Aspect? Is that why he can’t sustain it?’ Chu Lingguang’s mind raced.
With this realization, Chu Lingguang started to play for time, waiting for Samba’s strength to wane so he could land a single, decisive blow.
’He knows my Dharma Aspect is unstable,’ Samba realized. ’He wants to wear me down. I can’t let this drag on.’
’I’ll have to use the Divine Beast Saber Technique.’
Though Samba’s power was running wild, his mind remained clear. He noticed a pattern: every time he knocked Chu Lingguang back, his opponent would evade the follow-up attack, try to return to the center of the arena, and only then clash with his saber again.
So, the next time Chu Lingguang was at the edge of the pit, preparing to dodge another strike, Samba’s Saber Technique suddenly changed.
"ROAR!"
With a single slash, the expected Sword Sound was replaced by a piercing, beastly roar.
Chu Lingguang felt as if he’d been targeted by a wild beast; this strike was impossible to dodge.
’A lock?’
’A Potential Energy Lock!’ he thought, stunned.
"Fine. Bring it on!"
He gritted his teeth and channeled the final Qi Vortex from his abdomen into his bloodline, giving his Dragon Elephant Power one last enhancement.