Chapter 98: High-Level Perspective
Shen Shuibei watched anxiously from the side.
She had clearly marked all the weaknesses and flaws, even provided methods to disrupt the opponent's internal energy flow, yet Li Qi was overwhelmed right from the start, unable to counterattack or use any of the techniques she gave him.
How foolish this Li Qi is!
She clutched her clothes, hopping on the spot, wishing she could take his place.
The other members of the Jing Family Trading House looked like spectators at a show, even sharing snacks. Someone handed Shen Shuibei a snack, which she politely accepted, only to find it was a plum.
Sweet and sour, it tasted quite good.
They watched as if it were a TV show, sharing snacks, discussing among themselves, cheering at exciting moments, and turning away to chat when things got dull.
They were truly treating it as entertainment.
Inside the circle, Li Qi had no time to notice anything else.
He faced an endless barrage of fierce attacks, like a traveler holding an umbrella in the rain, with each drop being a powerful sword thrust. He could only desperately hold up his umbrella to prevent the deluge from overwhelming him.
Each raindrop was a powerful sword thrust, and one missed defense meant facing the full force of the longsword.
For Jing Yan, maintaining such an onslaught was effortless; clearly, she wasn't using her full strength.
"Your saber skills are poor, but you've managed to block me so far, showing some skill," she commented casually while continuing her relentless assault.
But Li Qi had no leisure to respond; he couldn't even hear Jing Yan's words, completely focused on her attacks.
Progress bars flashed before his eyes, indicating Jing Yan's attack intervals.
What seemed like seamless rain was actually a series of internal energy cycles. Each cycle allowed Jing Yan to deliver identical strikes!
However, each cycle required a brief pause for recovery—a flaw Shen Shuibei had pointed out.
But catching that moment was impossible.
He saw it but couldn't seize it.
It was too fast, leaving him unable to react despite sensing the timing through progress bars.
"No... I can't hold out much longer. I need a plan—" Li Qi's heart raced, feeling like it would burst after less than a minute of combat.
His massive blood supply, enhanced for physical actions, strained his heart and liver.
His liver, refined and robust, handled the strain well.
But his unrefined heart struggled under the immense load, barely coping with the intense activity.
A few more minutes of combat, and he'd lose his fighting ability.
If he pushed on without addressing this, he might suffer a fatal heart attack.
He needed a solution, but what?
Relying on brute force to endure? He'd likely die, or worse, be severely injured and hindered.
Activate Bull Strength Technique? That would reveal his identity as a practitioner of Witch Dao, not worth it for a mere bet.
What other options did he have?
While pondering, a slight gap appeared in his defense.
Jing Yan instantly seized the opportunity, aiming to end the fight with a decisive strike!
She had analyzed Li Qi's saber skills and calculated his fourteen possible moves. Her strike would surely finish him off.
But Li Qi's eyes blazed with determination!
Damn, she stopped suppressing him and started preparing for another move!
Opportunity!
Li Qi unleashed all his power, swinging his long saber in a chaotic, untrained manner based on last night's notes.
This clumsy, seemingly random swing somehow forced Jing Yan to retreat.
Because Jing Yan realized that this strike could disrupt her perfect internal energy cycle!
In martial combat, disrupting the internal energy cycle meant defeat.
However, there was still a chance to recover.
She stepped back, switching her longsword from offense to defense. The previous storm-like assault transformed into smooth defensive energy, forming a protective barrier around her.
Surviving Li Qi's next move would allow her to counterattack.
But the next strike came swiftly.
Sword qi was deflected and dissipated effortlessly!
"Huh...?!" Jing Yan's pupils constricted. She hadn't expected her formidable defense to be so easily breached!
Wait, it wasn't breached—it was bypassed!
This Li Qi, with his shallow foundations and unrefined organs, had been struggling earlier, but now showed a level far beyond his current capabilities!
Li Qi seized the opportunity, gripping his long saber tightly and stepping forward. In an instant, blades clashed and ground crumbled beneath their feet, sinking half a foot deep!
Applause erupted from the crowd, amazed by the spectacle.
Someone actually managed to fight a Ninth Rank martial artist like Jing Yan to a standstill! Other Ninth Rank martial artists had been thoroughly beaten by her.
This young hero Li Qi certainly had some tricks up his sleeve!
To outsiders, it was thrilling entertainment, but Jing Yan felt immense pressure mounting.
What's happening?!
How did his saber skills suddenly become so sharp?
This was clearly the manifestation of mastering martial principles to an extremely high level, allowing him to create new moves spontaneously, each perfectly countering her attacks.
Each strike outside this context seemed clumsy and ineffective, but here, they were masterful, tailored precisely for the situation.
These moves were the most suitable for the current scenario, showcasing their brilliance!
Each strike disrupted her internal energy cycle. No matter how she defended, it was like trying to catch rain with a sieve—full of holes, easily penetrated.
Her internal energy was riddled with weaknesses!
What once felt flawless now seemed fragmented, vulnerable to every strike, causing her immense discomfort.
The tide turned in just over ten seconds. With a clang, her longsword flew from her hand.
And Li Qi's blade rested against Jing Yan's neck.
Even Li Qi himself didn't realize how he won.