Chapter 135: 126 Heart (Part 2)

When masters clash, even the slightest misjudgment could mean the difference between life and death.

At this moment, the Snake King attacked halfway, suddenly bursting forth. Completely throwing off any estimation of his speed and power.

Yet his methods were sinister.

At this moment, Zhang Rongfang’s arms also swelled violently, engorged with blood, veins bulging on his face, his eyes slightly red.

The speed of his short sword also erupted to a new level.

Clearly, this moment was not just the Snake King scheming a surprise attack.

He had also resorted to the Shrinking Step Limit-Breaking Skill.

Boom!!

In an instant, the short sword and the black blade collided heavily.

The expansion of both weapons resulted not in a crisp clang but a dull sound reminiscent of cloth-wrapped impacts.

The material of the Snake King’s black blade was unknown.

At this moment, it swung out black lines like snakes, continually encircling Zhang Rongfang from all directions.

In seeming illusion, it was impossible to discern his true target of attack.

The key was, in the Extreme State, even his casual moves had the effect of using a Limit-Breaking Skill.

Even though he was seriously injured, his strength, speed, and reflexes had diminished considerably.

Yet, it forced Zhang Rongfang to repeatedly use Limit-Breaking Skills in response.

The two were exerting their full efforts in the arena.

Among the onlookers.

One of the leaders who had previously led the encirclement of the Snake King, a taller woman, spoke solemnly.

“If this battle continues for long, it’s not favorable.

After entering the Extreme State, the Snake King’s moves carry immense power. While Bai Ying is exceptionally strong, his grade is lacking, forcing him to frequently use Limit-Breaking Skills to counteract.

Limit-Breaking Skills cannot be sustained for long, and the more they are used, the more internal injuries will accumulate from the strain on the body.

At this rate, Bai Ying will inevitably lose.”

“The Black Ten Sect’s Snake-shaped Poison Killing Saber is only an eighth-grade saber technique, yet he is able to train it to such a degree, making him arguably the strongest in the history of the Snake Clan.” Celestial Maiden Tong Zhang said blandly.

“The martial arts of the Snake Clan, combined with the Five Elements Palm, should allow him to surpass his grade due to the excellent compatibility of both martial arts with him.”

“My lady, are you saying he’s currently using the Snake Clan’s Extreme State? But the highest of the Snake Clan is only eighth-grade, does it also have an Extreme State?” another leader nearby asked in confusion.

“The Extreme State essentially combines different Limit-Breaking Skills, forming a state of bodily overdrive to gain immense power temporarily.

This state allows a person to maintain a stronger condition for a short time, while every move carries the power of a Limit-Breaking Skill, essentially allowing unlimited use of Limit-Breaking Skills.

But this brings a significant burden. Much greater than using Limit-Breaking Skills individually.” Celestial Maiden Tong Zhang explained.

“Generally, a Limit-Breaking Skill can be used ten times at most, but the Extreme State is different…. Hmm?”

Suddenly, she paused, watching Zhang Rongfang once again fiercely clash with the Snake King, retreating several steps.

“How many times has he used Limit-Breaking Skills now?”

“…..We haven’t been counting…” The other two were also a bit uncertain.

“It seems this Bai Ying is truly extraordinary…”

In the arena now.

Zhang Rongfang and the Snake King interweaved, the short sword and black blade dangerously passing by each other’s sides, almost causing serious injuries.

Such tightrope-like quick exchanges kept the onlookers’ hearts either tense or relaxed.

Within just a dozen seconds, they had exchanged over thirty moves.

Zhang Rongfang mostly dodged, only occasionally striking back, forcing the opponent to alter his moves.

The immense force continuously pounded his short sword on his left arm.

Fingers cracked, his wrist groaned, forearm muscles snapped one after another, while the skin oozed fine blood beads.

“Merely following blindly, you cannot enter a new realm.” Celestial Maiden Tong Zhang’s voice came from behind him.

“Sometimes, the future changes the moment you’re willing to let go of everything and take that last step.”

Dang!!

The black blade heavily struck the short sword in his hand.

The blade edge bore down, just an inch away from his face.

“In this world, to become strong, you can never follow the mainstream!” Suddenly, the Celestial Maiden raised her hand.

Swoosh!

All around, the crossbowmen quickly loaded their arrows, aiming at the two of them.

“Within ten breaths, decide the victor.” Her eyes flickered, her face indifferent. “Or you both die together.”

Watching the fierce combat between the two, Tong Zhang, in a daze, seemed to return to decades ago, facing that pivotal step in her destiny.

“One.”

Zhang Rongfang’s heartstrings were tense; he couldn’t comprehend how Celestial Maiden Tong Zhang, who had been so gentle and kind to him, could suddenly change her attitude.

He suspected it might be a test, yet the faint chilly killing intent from behind caused goosebumps to rise on his skin.

Once those countless crossbow arrows were loosed, without the Snake King’s internal armor, he would be doomed!

Among these archers were not only ordinary people but also musketeers, interspersed with high-grade archers.

“Two.”

The countdown voice came from behind.

Zhang Rongfang suddenly swung away the black blade in front of him, the short sword traced an arc, and using the moves of the Flame Emperor Talisman, it erupted to thrust out.

Clang!

Clang clang clang!!

The Snake King, holding the black blade, his expression gradually turned frenzied. The blade in his hand grew increasingly frenzied, utterly unrestrained.

If he didn’t prevail within ten breaths, death would be certain.

But, in truth, he recognized the woman orchestrating everything at the moment. She was the rumored Celestial Maiden Tong Zhang.

Though her whereabouts were mysterious, her words were reliable, and she acted accordingly.

With her here, the only way to survive was one!

And that was to win!

The black blade in his hand continuously maneuvered, swirling, thrusting, slashing. Like a real black python.

Meanwhile, Zhang Rongfang relied on his faster body technique, his technique in tight movements surpassing the Snake King significantly.

Moreover, the Snake King had long been heavily injured, lowering his overall abilities considerably.

This was the key to Zhang Rongfang’s current endurance.

Behind, the countdown had reached five.

The musketeers had already reloaded.

The two figures in the arena crossed, blade and sword clashed, and droplets of blood spattered.

Poof!

Suddenly, Zhang Rongfang’s injured right hand tilted again, leaving a bloodline cut on his arm.

His chest heaved continuously, the massive oxygen consumption making his lungs feel ablaze.

He had lost count of how many times he had used the Limit-Breaking Skill.

Ten times? Twenty times?

The life attributes he saw were already temporarily dropping by several points.

That was a sign of injury.

“Seven.”

“Eight.”

Boom!

’Limit-Breaking Skill: Songyun!’

Zhang Rongfang suddenly erupted, unexpectedly raising a foot to kick the Snake King’s waist, forcing it to retreat several steps.

This move was a new Limit-Breaking Skill he obtained later, the second type apart from Chongshan in the Great Dao Teaching’s Talismanic Skill.

This kick succeeded, seemingly slightly recovering the unfavorable situation.

But he had to admit, he was already at a disadvantage.

The Snake King saw through everything about him, every move was calculated and mastered by it.

At this point of exchange, although he initially managed to fight equally due to physical strength,

but now…

In an instant, the Snake King attacked again.

Zhang Rongfang continuously defended against the opponent’s blade. The continuous use of Limit-Breaking Skills was already causing his internal organs to gradually groan.

“Nine.”

The voice from Celestial Maiden Tong Chapter echoed again.

“Kill!!” the Snake King roared, brandishing his knife with a lightning-fast horizontal slash.

He too had reached the final moment. The heavy burden of the Extreme State was rapidly draining his physical strength.

If he couldn’t succeed this time, then….

Ding ding ding ding!!

The short sword struggled to block, the blade already filled with serrated gaps.

Solely relying on the current martial arts, each of Zhang Rongfang’s moves were managed by the opponent. As soon as he initiated an attack, the Snake King could devise a counter.

So much so that any counterattack of his was meaningless.

Even though his martial arts were all perfectly refined Limit-Breaking, flawless in execution, he couldn’t break through the opponent’s defense, leaving him with no chance of victory.

’Where… is the chance for victory?’

Zhang Rongfang’s mind spun frantically, countless thoughts, countless considerations almost overwhelmed his mind like a downpour.

“Ten.”

The voice spread.

The Snake King’s last full-powered slash came down on Zhang Rongfang’s head.

The knife light subtly twisted, leveraging a strange movement technique, even a straightforward head-on chop became like a giant python opening its jaws, launching an attack like a spring-loaded bite towards Zhang Rongfang.

“I… understand!!” Suddenly, a flash of inspiration passed through Zhang Rongfang’s mind.

His whole body’s muscles rapidly contracted and then swelled with power.

Shrinking Step!

He gripped the sword with both hands, his entire body’s blood vessels tremoring crazily, contracting, all blood, all strength, converging into his arms.

Layer upon layer of powerful energy surged like water, like a balloon, compressing forward furiously.

“Chongshan!”

“Chongshan!”

“Chongshan!!”

“Chongshan!!”

“Chongshan!!!!!”

Thud!!

Blood splattered, the ground shattered.

The terrifying force of five consecutive Limit-Breaking Skill Chongshan first ripped through the muscles of Zhang Rongfang’s arms.

This explosive force erupted from beneath him, running through his entire body, charging into the short sword, then drove the blade forward explosively.

The airflow split, a sharp whistle exploded.

The short sword blade collided with the black knife like a projectile, then cracked and shattered.

Boom!!!!

The black knife was hit by tremendous forces, sent flying high, spinning as it landed, embedding into the ground.

The Snake King was stunned standing in place, his hands blasted upwards by the huge rebound force, his chest left wide open, hit by short sword fragments.

Poof!

Blood mixed with flesh and bones sprayed out from his back, splattering everywhere.

In an instant, he completely froze.

“This… isn’t… ”

“Yes, this isn’t Chongshan.”

Zhang Rongfang’s skin was slightly red, beads of sweat like blood trickling down his temples.

No one had ever dared to use it like this before. Never had anyone dared to unleash several Limit-Breaking Skills simultaneously like that.

Normally, you’d use one at a time, then the next.

But Zhang Rongfang, at the final moment, overwhelmed by the countdown, couldn’t care about anything else.

All his martial arts split into two categories in that instant.

I can use them, or I can’t.

And at that moment, his instincts told him, given his high life attributes, he could do it!

Five-fold Chongshan!

This was a terrifying Limit-Breaking Skill never used by anyone before.

The Snake King was bloodied, looking up at the sky.

The cloud-covered sky was traversed by a distant eagle.

“Truly… a monster….”

He fell back, blood endlessly flowing from his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, no longer breathing.

Watching him collapse completely, Zhang Rongfang’s body softened, similarly falling back.

But he didn’t actually fall to the ground, instead landing into a soft, warm embrace.

Looking up, he saw an expressionless white face. But before he could react, countless pains and exhaustion surged from his body, instantly drowning his consciousness.

He fainted.

Celestial Maiden Tong Chapter’s eyes carried immense joy.

She gently held Zhang Rongfang, as if holding some exotic treasure, cushioning his head against the soft part of her embrace.

She stood up, quickly took out a small porcelain piece, opened it, and poured a drop into Zhang Rongfang’s mouth.

Then she lifted him with both hands, turned, and left swiftly.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep