Chapter 44: Lightning Against the Storm

The moment Jiang Cheng dodged, Ling Tian twisted mid-air, his body flickering like a ghost.

Bang!

His palm strike hit empty space, but before Jiang Cheng could counter, Ling Tian reappeared above him, delivering a crushing axe kick.

Boom!

Jiang Cheng raised his arm, blocking the strike, but the force shattered the ground beneath him. His feet sank into the cracked arena floor.

Ling Tian didn't give him time to breathe.

"Phantom Gale Steps!"

He vanished again, moving like the wind itself. Each step left behind a mirage, making it impossible to tell which one was real.

A thousand images surrounded Jiang Cheng.

But Jiang Cheng wasn't panicking.

Instead, his lips curled into a smirk.

"Your speed is impressive," he admitted. "But—"

"Speed of the Wind God!"

A fierce gust erupted from Jiang Cheng's feet as he disappeared.

Ling Tian's eyes widened.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Suddenly, shockwaves exploded across the arena as the two of them clashed in mid-air.

Jiang Cheng's fists struck at impossible angles, each blow powerful enough to send ripples through space itself. Ling Tian barely managed to dodge, using his own speed to weave through the storm of attacks.

The crowd couldn't even see them anymore—only streaks of silver and black colliding in bursts of wind and lightning.

Pushing the Limits

Ling Tian gritted his teeth.

"Gale Step: Thousand Strikes!"

His form split into ten shadows, each attacking from a different direction.

Jiang Cheng's eyes gleamed.

"Void Severing Edge!"

His sword flashed, slashing through the afterimages.

But—Ling Tian had already moved behind him!

Boom!

A kick sent Jiang Cheng flying across the arena, crashing into the stone walls.

Silence.

Dust filled the air. Some disciples gasped, thinking Jiang Cheng had lost.

But then—

A single golden streak cut through the dust.

Jiang Cheng hadn't been defeated.

Instead, his body flickered faster than ever before.

Ling Tian barely raised his guard before Jiang Cheng appeared right in front of him, his fist crackling with energy.

"Heaven Blitzing Strike!"

BOOM!

Ling Tian was sent flying, his body skipping across the arena floor like a stone on water.

When he finally stopped, he coughed and wiped the blood from his lips. Then, he laughed.

"Heh… Now this is a fight."

Jiang Cheng stood tall, eyes sharp. "Do you still think I'll disappoint you?"

Ling Tian cracked his knuckles. "Not at all."

And just like that—they charged at each other again.

— End of Chapter 44 —