Chapter 067: Layered Force (Fifth Update)

Meng Linglong asked Meng Chuchu, “Where’s Gu Ge? Why hasn’t he arrived yet?”

Meng Chuchu, savoring her lollipop, replied, “Why ask? Nearly everyone in Nine Sun City knows! East of the city, beneath the phoenix trees in that grove!”

“Uh…” Meng Linglong was speechless. No one could rival Fat Gu’s amorous exploits. She continued, “So Gu Ge is off in the phoenix grove—what about Qian Baidu? Did he go along too?”

“Him?” Meng Chuchu licked her lollipop again. “Looks like a pretty female student from Feiyang Academy invited him away!”

“Uh…” Meng Linglong was utterly at a loss and said angrily, “What about Xin Lang? And Director Luo? They’ve disappeared as well!”

Meng Chuchu lazily swirled her lollipop and replied, “You’re the elder sister and the principal; shouldn’t you be the one asking?”

By now, dusk had fallen. On the dueling stage at Xuyang Academy’s martial arena, two figures stood face to face.

Luo Hengxing, arms folded, gazed at Xin Lang and said, “Xin Lang, you’ve already claimed the championship in the Nine Sun City Nine Academies League. Our previous agreement should be over now. Today is my last challenge to you.”

Xin Lang answered, “Director Luo, even though you’ve been challenging me, I haven’t won against you once during these bouts! Since today is our final challenge, how about we make a wager?”

“A wager? What do you want to bet?” Luo Hengxing asked.

“If I win today’s duel, it means my strength surpasses yours, and you’ll have to keep challenging me in the future! But…” Xin Lang paused, “From now on, I won’t pay you for those challenges.”

Over the past weeks, Xin Lang had hired Luo Hengxing to challenge him daily, both to hone himself and to gain experience points for his upgrade device. But Luo Hengxing was a peak-level warrior—Xin Lang had never earned experience points from him, and all the money spent had gone towards tuition!

Unwilling to let this go, after completing his five-diamond main quest, Xin Lang arranged a duel with Luo Hengxing at the Xuyang Academy martial arena.

“To beat me?” Luo Hengxing said, “I know your strength well. You may have a secret technique that lets you double your combat power for a moment, but you’re only a third-level martial artist. Even if you advance to fourth-level, you still won’t defeat me!”

Xin Lang grinned wickedly, “That’s not certain! Come on, challenge me!”

“Fine! If that’s how you want it, I’ll oblige! Xin Lang, I challenge you!” Luo Hengxing declared solemnly.

Xin Lang insisted Luo Hengxing say this phrase each time he challenged him. Luo Hengxing didn’t know why, but it had become a ritual before their battles.

As soon as Luo Hengxing finished speaking, the upgrade device flashed a task notification: “Three-diamond side quest—accept the challenge from peak-level martial artist Luo Hengxing. Defeat him, and earn 150 experience points! No penalty for failure!”

“Damn it, today I’m definitely collecting those experience points!” Xin Lang resolved secretly.

Since Luo Hengxing initiated the challenge, he struck first!

Luo Hengxing had reached the peak of martial artistry; his hidden force was masterful, his energy followed his will, and any part of his body could unleash it. He launched a punch straight at Xin Lang.

If Luo Hengxing’s full-force punch landed, Xin Lang would be defeated without question!

But Xin Lang advanced instead of retreating, calling out, “Earth-level supreme technique—Dragon Subduing Eight Forces!”

Using his upgrade device, Xin Lang had merged the basic martial skill ‘Ten Thousand and Eight Dragon Palms’ with the earth-level technique ‘Inch-Force Burst Fist’, creating an earth-level supreme skill—Dragon Subduing Eight Forces!

Xin Lang met Luo Hengxing’s punch, not with brute force, but by diverting it with his arm.

“Dragon Subduing Eight Forces—First Force: Rebound Force!”

Bang! Xin Lang’s rebound force collided with the hidden energy in Luo Hengxing’s arm, deflecting Luo Hengxing’s punch off its original path.

Luo Hengxing took advantage of the momentum to close in, raising his knee to strike Xin Lang’s abdomen, the blow packed with terrifying force.

“Dragon Subduing Eight Forces—Second Force: Cotton Force!”

Luo Hengxing’s knee hit Xin Lang’s abdomen squarely, but instead of sending him flying, the impact was neutralized by Xin Lang’s cotton force.

“Dragon Subduing Eight Forces—Third Force: Stacking Force!”

Bang! Xin Lang’s fist landed firmly on Luo Hengxing’s chest!

Luo Hengxing smiled faintly, “I told you, with your current strength, you still can’t defeat me!”

Xin Lang’s lips curled into a sinister smile, “Is that so? You underestimate my ‘Dragon Subduing Eight Forces’!”

“Hmm?” The smile froze on Luo Hengxing’s face.

A powerful surge of hidden force erupted from Xin Lang’s fist, chasing the previous force that had entered Luo Hengxing’s body. The two energies vibrated in concert, amplifying their destructive power several times over!

Luo Hengxing struggled to suppress and disperse the dual forces. But before he could neutralize them, a third, even stronger surge exploded from Xin Lang’s fist—

Xin Lang’s dual stacking force had already overwhelmed Luo Hengxing; now a third surge emerged, and even as a peak-level warrior, Luo Hengxing was helpless!

Bang! Luo Hengxing was sent flying by Xin Lang!

After sending Luo Hengxing flying, Xin Lang’s leg released a burst of force, propelling him like an arrow instantly to Luo Hengxing’s side. Xin Lang spoke, “Dragon Subduing Eight Forces—Fourth Force…”

“Stop!” Seeing Xin Lang about to unleash the fourth force, Luo Hengxing hastily cried out, “I admit defeat for today’s challenge. Let’s compete again tomorrow!”

Xin Lang saw the upgrade device display a task completion notice and withdrew his fist with a smile.

Luo Hengxing landed, and only after a moment managed to suppress the ‘Stacking Force’ Xin Lang had embedded in his body. He cursed, “You really don’t hold back—were you planning to finish me off?”

Xin Lang laughed, “If you hadn’t surrendered, I’d have kept fighting!”

In truth, even if Xin Lang had unleashed the fourth force of ‘Dragon Subduing Eight Forces’, its power would have waned. When he struck the third force, he’d quietly leveled up, advancing to fourth-level martial artist, and activated ‘Sky Halberd’, doubling his hidden force. Combined with the devastating stacking force, it posed a massive threat to Luo Hengxing!

But by the fourth force, Sky Halberd had entered cooldown, making it impossible to achieve double combat power again. Xin Lang worried that if he let Luo Hengxing catch his breath, he’d lose his chance at victory, so he pressed his advantage.

Having dispelled Xin Lang’s stacking force, Luo Hengxing remarked, “Xin Lang, your stacking force is truly formidable. I never imagined someone so young could wield hidden energy so adeptly. I’ve cultivated it for years and still fall short of your few months of progress!”

Xin Lang replied modestly, “Director Luo, you’re nearly at the Master’s realm! My victory today was pure luck.”

Luo Hengxing chuckled, “Don’t call me Director—it sounds too formal! You cured my wife’s illness and even helped us financially. I, Luo, remember your kindness! If ever you need a favor from this old man, just let me know!”

“Alright, since you say so, I won’t stand on ceremony! There actually is something I’d like to ask of you,” Xin Lang said.

“Uh…” Luo Hengxing hadn’t expected Xin Lang to be so direct, but he was broad-minded and said, “Whatever it is, just say the word!”

Xin Lang grinned wickedly. “Nothing major! Just keep challenging me every day as before—that’s all I ask!”

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