Clang, clang, clang!
Dazzling collisions erupted continuously, shaking the entire Nine Stars Pagoda, the battle appearing fiercely intense and exceptionally tense.
After consuming the Sumeru Fruit, the Xingwu Emperor’s physical strength and defence had noticeably increased.
Although the Nine Stars Pagoda could impose some suppression, the paralytic toxin affecting Lin Yun also had an impact, roughly cancelling each other out.
…
By the riverside.
“This battle situation is far more intense than yesterday’s match on the Bright Moon Platform!” Cao Jun remarked, watching the projected battle, awestruck.
Deputy Palace Master Yao nodded, acknowledging that this fight was vastly different from the previous day.
Song Lin added, “So, it’s understandable that Xingwu didn’t concede yesterday. He believes in a real fight, he might not lose to Lin Yun.”
“With this situation, it’s hard to say who will win or lose,” Deputy Palace Master Yao sighed.
“In a real fight, the outcome differs greatly from a platform match. How do we judge victory here? It seems too difficult for them to decisively settle this,” Song Lin mused.
In a platform match, knocking an opponent off the stage determines the result, but in this battle? Even if one is knocked back or injured, they can stand and fight again.
In real combat, victory often comes with one side’s death.
Surely this fight wouldn’t end that way?
Everyone felt tense.
Jin Yao’er remained silent, her beautiful eyes fixed on the projection.
Her heart was torn, shocked by Lin Yun’s strength yet worried. After all, the Xingwu Emperor was her father, and Lin Yun was someone she admired. No matter who won or lost, she felt uneasy.
…
Inside the Nine Stars Pagoda.
The fight raged fiercely.
Under the Xingwu Emperor’s relentless slashes, reaching a peak of power, Lin Yun was forced to retreat repeatedly.
The Sumeru Fruit the Xingwu Emperor consumed played a significant role in achieving this stalemate.
Infinite Dharma!
After another clash, Lin Yun instantly split into five, attempting to repeat his tactic!
Whoosh!
Five figures lunged at the Xingwu Emperor.
“This trick again!”
Having suffered from this move before, the Xingwu Emperor was prepared for Lin Yun’s tactic.
As Lin Yun split, the Xingwu Emperor swiftly opened a wooden box, releasing seventy-two silver needles that flew towards Lin Yun’s five figures.
Clearly, he had devised a countermeasure for this tactic.
This was a drawback of revealing one’s trump card: the opponent, knowing it, prepares accordingly.
Swish, swish, swish!
Under the fierce attack of the silver needles, the Xingwu Emperor quickly identified the real Lin Yun.
After all, the fake figures were noticeably weaker, pushed back by the needles’ ferocious assault.
Infinite Dharma was highly deceptive and effective for escape, but less so for attack.
In their previous fight, the Xingwu Emperor had identified the real Lin Yun at the last moment. Although the simulated auras were identical, the real Lin Yun’s attack carried a stronger threat, allowing the emperor to discern the true body.
For escape, it was harder to distinguish.
This time, with preparation, it was even more different.
“There you are!”
Identifying the real Lin Yun, the Xingwu Emperor swung his heavy blade, unleashing a massive crimson glow, like a fiery dragon charging at Lin Yun.
“Purple Star Sword, time to shine!”
Lin Yun gripped his sword tightly, its blade buzzing and trembling.
“Cang Hai Strike!”
As the Purple Star Sword’s power fully erupted, Lin Yun unleashed his full strength, striking with a single sword blow.
Boom!
The crimson fire dragon clashed with Lin Yun’s sword, the shockwave exploding. The Xingwu Emperor, like a kite with a cut string, flew back hundreds of metres before stabilising.
In a platform match, this might have knocked the Xingwu Emperor off the stage, deciding the outcome.
But in real combat, victory required one side to fall completely.
“Lin Yun, this isn’t the end,” the Xingwu Emperor said, wiping blood from his mouth, his fighting spirit undiminished.
Lin Yun’s gaze sharpened. The situation was complex.
But there was good news: the toxin in his body was nearly purged, allowing him to fight at full strength.
At that moment, the Xingwu Emperor attacked again.
“Come on!”
Lin Yun met him head-on, brimming with fighting spirit.
Clang!
After they clashed.
“Hm? Your strength is fully restored? You’ve purged all the toxin?” the Xingwu Emperor exclaimed, astonished.
Lin Yun’s resilience against the toxin had already surprised him, but purging the paralytic toxin’s effects so quickly was shocking. How could Lin Yun detoxify so fast?
Lin Yun smiled, “If even Soul-Severing Poison couldn’t kill me, how could your toxin affect me for long?”
With that, Lin Yun charged forward.
Boom, boom, boom!
Their clashes erupted continuously, the Xingwu Emperor retreating steadily.
With his strength restored and aided by the Nine Stars Pagoda’s suppression, Lin Yun gained a slight advantage.
However, this advantage wasn’t overwhelming, insufficient to crush the Xingwu Emperor instantly.
Neither side held a decisive edge.
“Your Majesty Xingwu, we’ve fought to this point, and I still hold the advantage. Is there a need to continue? You’re already at a disadvantage,” Lin Yun said while fighting.
“Lin Yun, you do have the upper hand, but this isn’t a platform match. It’s real combat. A slight advantage doesn’t mean victory. It depends on who stands last, who survives!” the Xingwu Emperor replied firmly.
He continued with a smile, “Besides, you can’t end this quickly. I’m certain you’re out of tricks. In a prolonged fight, your realm’s disparity will become your weakness!”
Clearly, the Xingwu Emperor planned to outlast Lin Yun.
Lin Yun’s heart sank at these words.
