Chapter 1244 - 1241: The Imperial Palace
Lin Chuan felt a heavy pressure on his chest, as if he had been hit by a large truck. It took him several seconds to recover, and just as he did, the person's attack came at him again.
With two consecutive backflips, Lin Chuan finally evaded the range of the attack. Although it was just a slight brush, a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of Lin Chuan's mouth. After all, even a small attack from this person was not to be underestimated.
The gap in levels was like a huge chasm separating Lin Chuan's strength from that person's. Lin Chuan felt a sense of helplessness, but could he concede? No, Lin Chuan hadn't avenged those people yet! He must utterly destroy the new Ghost Gate to settle the hatred in his heart. Only now did Lin Chuan appreciate the advantages of being a superpower user; he could act recklessly without fear of death, as long as his opponent wasn't vastly stronger. For instance, if Lin Chuan decided to flee, the person in front of him couldn't stop him. But Lin Chuan didn't intend to run; he wanted a life-and-death battle, leading to the scene of him being brutally beaten.
Lin Chuan wiped the blood from his mouth. Now he needed to win by strategy over brute force. The gap was simply too large, so Lin Chuan had to exert his maximum strength to turn the tide, even if only slightly.
Setting up his stance, his clothes moved without wind, yellow True Qi flickered with a hint of blood red. However, one wouldn't notice unless looking closely. After such a long time, especially under the pressure of such a formidable opponent, Lin Chuan regained his clarity. What he needed now was rationality; only with a clear mind could he unleash his greatest strength.
The person also stood up but showed no concern. In their earlier clash, the person had already gauged Lin Chuan's strength. He didn't need immense power to obliterate Lin Chuan.
The so-called transformation wasn't just about those things; it could also include lengthening or shortening the body. Despite having a limit, this was an excellent skill in actual combat, allowing this person to hold a small position within the sect.
Now, Lin Chuan approached with caution. His strength wasn't outstanding, so using "four ounces to move a thousand pounds" was suitable for him. Regardless of the opponent's attacks, Lin Chuan only needed to guard his own territory. No matter how strong the person was, Lin Chuan remained invincible.
Lin Chuan wasn't gaining the upper hand, but he believed that if he held on, he could definitely turn defeat into victory. Both cultivators and superpower users had limited energy. Like his previous confrontation with Long Deng, everyone eventually exhausted their strength. So Lin Chuan focused on one word—consume. It wasn't a noble approach, but it was effective.
Guarding was quite relaxed as Lin Chuan didn't worry about exhausting his True Qi, because he had never depleted his True Qi before.
"Are you here to provoke or just to be a turtle hiding in its shell?" The person was frustrated because Lin Chuan's defense left no openings, far from the straightforward fight at the start.
"Hmph, I'll show you my power later, but for now, say what you like. I'm staying put, and there's nothing you can do!" Lin Chuan even resorted to cunning tactics, leaving the person at a loss for words, hoping to berate Lin Chuan but knowing he need not care much for an enemy.
The time was ripe. Lin Chuan noticed the person's disorderly techniques after continuous attacks for so long; chaos was inevitable.
Lin Chuan's attack became as sharp as a blade, slowly claiming the initiative. Ancient martial arts were profound, and Lin Chuan felt comfortable using them. Without superpower abilities, he could only use his forte in ancient martial arts to contend with superpower users.
Injected with True Qi from the Heavenly Heart Skill's Sealing Heart Skill, Lin Chuan's body moved like a phantom among the opponent's many hands. Sometimes, speed doesn't determine victory; the essence of Tai Chi Boxing is to counter motion with stillness. Regardless of the opponent's speed, Lin Chuan focused on countering harmful or advantageous moves, making it easier to predict and counter the opponent's attacks.
Sweat streamed down the opponent's forehead, as he hadn't expected Lin Chuan to progress so rapidly; now, even he couldn't deal with Lin Chuan.
"Ah!" With a battle cry to the sky, the person finally unleashed his trump card. He had withheld it previously because such moves could harm oneself while defeating the enemy. But now, to end Lin Chuan swiftly, he ignored the consequences.
Lin Chuan quickly retreated, sensing danger. The old guy seemed crazy, recklessly releasing his power like a multi-armed deity.
"Kid, dying by this move is your honor; it's my strongest killing move, named Thousand-Hand Lu Jie. Even those at my level struggle to survive it, so you are lucky to die by it!" The person looked at Lin Chuan as if he were already dead, confident Lin Chuan couldn't escape.
Lin Chuan backed away but couldn't exit the attack range. With no retreat, he had to confront it head-on, clenching the Blue Amber as if it could save him when he couldn't hold on. Though Lin Chuan hoped, he knew it wasn't true; he intended to use the Blue Amber for a fatal strike.
Even in the densest attack, there were flaws, and the more confident the attack, the bigger the flaws. Lin Chuan understood this eternal truth—no attack was flawless, only concealed well, and clearly, this person hadn't hidden his well, leaving it exposed for Lin Chuan to strike.
It became a race of speed. Lin Chuan charged towards the person's chest with the Blue Amber. With so many hands, the person couldn't focus on controlling them all, usually only a few, revealing his weakness. Lin Chuan wasn't playing house but seeking the opponent's weaknesses—it wasn't futile resistance.
Both reached a critical point. If one showed weakness, the other could claim victory. The opponent tried overpowering Lin Chuan with superpowers, which might have worked initially, but now it was too late. Lin Chuan was close, and forcibly using powers wouldn't bode well. Despite his many hands, the opponent couldn't perfectly control each one, giving Lin Chuan an opening for a lethal attack. Lin Chuan released his yellow True Qi fully, advancing within a few moves to force the opponent to retreat. Despite being stronger, the opponent faced defeat!
Lin Chuan knew he had the advantage; relaxing could be perilous, so he had to kill the opponent swiftly. Each attack targeted key points, yet the opponent was tough, showing no flaws for long. Even if he did, Lin Chuan couldn't penetrate the defense, for the many hands weren't just for show.
The injuries on Lin Chuan's body threatened to relapse. Time was of the essence. Only through desperation could he survive; Lin Chuan was determined. He knew his body well; willing to exchange a palm strike to land a fatal sword thrust.
A palm wasn't lethal, but a sword could kill completely.
Lin Chuan charged recklessly, unsettling the opponent, as the world fears not the skilled but the reckless. Against a daredevil, the only option was to evade quickly to avoid entanglement.
Unfortunately, the opponent had no chance to dodge; the Blue Amber sliced across his chest, penetrating his heart.
Lin Chuan suffered too; after stabbing the opponent, he was struck, sent flying over ten meters, indicating severe injuries.
Lying on the ground, Lin Chuan felt elated. He had killed an enemy he never dared imagine defeating. Luck played a big role, but he won, an indescribable excitement in his heart.