But before he could dwell further on this realization, Wang Bo's figure blurred into motion, closing the gap between them in an instant. Zhen barely had time to react as Wang Bo's right hand shot forward, the talons slicing through the air in a vicious diagonal arc aimed directly at Zhen's throat.
Instinctively, Zhen ducked, feeling the wind from the strike rush past his ear. He quickly pivoted on his left foot, bringing his qi-reinforced right arm up in a swift, upward block to deflect the follow-up strike aimed at his ribs. The impact reverberated through his arm, and he felt his qi construct shudder under the strain.
Damn, is this bastard trying to kill me?
As the dark, corrosive energy emanating from Wang Bo's talons brushed past his arms construct, Zhen felt an unsettling sensation.
His eyes widened as he noticed the talons' effect of the dark, corrosive energy. Where they passed, the air itself seemed to sizzle, and small amount of blue qi disintegrated on contact with the malevolent qi.
Wang Bo's eyes narrowed, sensing Zhen's defense weakening, and he pressed the advantage. He spun on his heel, his left leg sweeping low in a vicious kick aimed at taking out Zhen's legs.
Zhen saw the attack coming, but his body was slow to respond, still reeling from the previous strikes. The kick connected solidly with the side of his left knee, sending a sharp jolt of pain shooting up his leg.
Move! His mind screamed as he stumbled backward, desperately trying to maintain his balance. His knee throbbed painfully, threatening to buckle under him. Somehow, he managed to stay upright, but Wang Bo was already on him again, his talons slashing horizontally toward Zhen's midsection.
Zhen twisted his torso, just barely managing to avoid a fatal blow. The talons grazed his side, and he winced as the dark qi left a burning sensation on his skin. The corrosive energy was starting to eat away at his defenses, weakening them with every hit. This is bad—really bad, Zhen thought, realizing that he couldn't keep up with Wang Bo's relentless pace.
As Wang Bo moved, his speed seemed to defy the limits of human ability. Zhen had only seen this speed in movies, mainly in action hero scenes. Wang Bo's movements were a blur, faster than anything Zhen could have believed possible.
This speed… no normal human could move like this. The realization struck Zhen like a bolt of lightning. This must be the speed of a cultivator at the ninth realm of Qi Condensation.
The moment that thought crystallized in his mind, Zhen felt something shift within him, like a door opening in the back of his consciousness. It was as if he had unlocked a hidden chamber in his mind, one that had been closed off until now. I'm in the ninth realm too. I can do this.
Suddenly, Zhen's body began to respond differently, as if the realization had flipped a switch inside him. His movements became faster, more fluid, and his reflexes sharpened to a razor's edge. It wasn't just his mind that had caught up with the pace of the battle. His heart pounded in his chest, but instead of fear, there was a growing sense of exhilaration. This is good—really good.
Despite his newfound speed, Zhen remained on the defensive, his mind still reeling from the intensity of Wang Bo's attacks. He kept his stance low, his eyes locked onto Wang Bo's every movement, searching for an opening.
Seeing a small opening as Wang Bo retracted his arm, Zhen lashed out with a quick, focused punch aimed at Wang Bo's sternum. His fist connected, but Wang Bo twisted his body at the last second, absorbing most of the impact with his shoulder.
Zhen's eyes widened as he noticed a thin layer of qi shimmer around Wang Bo's body, dissipating the force of his strike.
The force of the blow still sent Wang Bo stumbling back a few steps, giving Zhen a moment to catch his breath.
A defensive technique? Or maybe a protection talisman? Zhen thought, frustration bubbling up inside him. This bastard has too many tricks.
Breathing heavily, Zhen's eyes flicked to his arms, which were trembling from the strain. The light blue qi barely held together against the corrosive energy from Wang Bo's attacks. This speed boost is great, Zhen thought, his mind racing, but my qi construct isn't holding up well.
The corrosive effect of Wang Bo's qi gnawed at him, not just on the surface but deep within his defenses. It wasn't dramatic, but it was relentless, wearing him down bit by bit. Zhen could feel his qi construct fraying, its edges flickering as it struggled to withstand the continuous assault.
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At least the purple streaks were doing a nice job of reinforcing the qi structure. Those streaks, a curious and unexpected development in his qi, seemed to weave through the blue energy, knitting the frayed edges back together, even as the corrosive energy tried to tear them apart. It's like they're holding everything together, Zhen thought, a spark of hope igniting in his chest.
But Zhen noticed Wang Bo's eyes gleaming with sadistic delight as he pushed harder, the dark qi around his talons swirling with increased intensity.
One moment, he would lunge forward with a brutal swipe; the next, he'd spin on his heel, using the momentum to deliver a backhanded strike that Zhen barely managed to block. The corrosive energy left traces on Zhen's qi, weakening its integrity with every clash.
Zhen's arms began to burn from the constant strain, and his qi-reinforced defense was fraying at the edges, the once solid barrier now flickering as it struggled to withstand the relentless attacks.
But Zhen noticed something else—Wang Bo's qi construct was also destabilizing, though at a much slower rate. At least I'm not the only one struggling.
Wang Bo's face twisted into a malicious grin. "You're running out of tricks, Zhen," he sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "Let's see how long you can last."
Just as Zhen thought he might have a moment to catch his breath, Wang Bo suddenly shifted tactics. In an instant, he closed the distance between them, lowering his stance and driving his shoulder into Zhen's chest with the force of a battering ram.
Zhen gasped as the impact knocked the wind out of him, his vision swimming from the sheer force of the blow. The world tilted around him as he fought to stay on his feet, his body screaming in protest.
But before Zhen could react, something even more disturbing happened. As Wang Bo pulled back for another strike, his mouth began to contort, the qi around it coalescing into a sharp, beak-like construct. The sight was so bizarre, so utterly unnatural, that Zhen hesitated for a split second, his mind struggling to comprehend what he was seeing.
That split second was all Wang Bo needed. He lunged forward, the beak snapping toward Zhen's face with terrifying speed. Zhen barely managed to dodge, throwing himself to the side at the last possible moment. The beak grazed his neck, sending a sharp, searing pain ripping through his flesh.
He stumbled back, one hand instinctively flying to his neck as he felt the corrosive qi begin to burn away at his skin, disintegrating a small patch of flesh. The pain was intense, like molten metal being poured onto his skin, but Zhen forced himself to focus through the agony.
I can't take much more of this, Zhen thought, his mind racing as he fought to stay conscious. I need to end this—now.
On the brink of collapse, Zhen made a desperate, last-ditch move. Instead of reorienting himself, he allowed his stumble to continue, using it as a feint to lure Wang Bo in. As Wang Bo struck, Zhen suddenly shifted his weight, grabbing Wang Bo's wrist with both hands. With a burst of strength born from sheer desperation, he twisted Wang Bo's arm at an awkward angle, throwing him off balance.
Before Wang Bo could recover, Zhen began accumulating qi in his legs. He could feel the stars in his acupoints spinning faster, gathering energy with a ferocity he hadn't felt before. He only hoped that there were more of those purple streaks in his qi than the blue light.
His muscles tensed, and his vision cleared as the qi surged through his body. In one swift, powerful motion, Zhen drove his right knee upward, aiming for Wang Bo's midsection.
He felt the fabric around his knee shred against the force, the vast amount of purple qi leaving his body like a floodgate being opened. The sensation was hollowing as if he had poured out every last drop of energy he had, but he knew it had to be done.
The impact was brutal—Wang Bo's eyes widened in shock as the air was driven from his lungs, his body folding around Zhen's knee. The qi-infused strike tore through his defenses, sending him flying backward several feet before he crashed to the ground, gasping for breath.
The clothes around Wang Bo's abdomen were shredded, revealing bruised and battered muscles beneath. Blood began to seep through the torn fabric, and Zhen could see the last remnants of Wang Bo's qi hand constructs shattering like glass under the weight of the attack.
Both of them were sent staggering backward, the force of the collision sending shockwaves through the ground. Zhen's knee had started bleeding, the skin split open from the intense pressure, but he gritted his teeth and held on.
Wang Bo wasn't in much better shape—his own arms trembled from the backlash of the attack, and his expression twisted with pain and fury.
For a moment, the two stood there, panting heavily, blood dripping from their injuries as they glared at each other.
Why am I always the one getting targeted like this? Zhen thought, a bitter smile creeping onto his face despite the pain. Was it an order from someone above, or is it because I reached the ninth realm? Maybe it's just because I'm unlucky enough to get mixed up with He Shan. The thought made him almost want to laugh. Of course, with my luck, it's probably all three.
But before Zhen could consider his next move, Wang Bo's expression twisted from fury into something closer to pure frustration. "This isn't over," Wang Bo spat, his voice dripping with venom as he slowly pushed himself up from the ground. His body was shaking with effort, but his eyes were filled with a burning hatred. "I'll make sure you pay for this."
What? Just like that? Zhen wondered, his mind racing even as his body began to feel the toll of the battle. Is he out of qi? Or is this some kind of trap?
As Wang Bo finally turned and limped away, Zhen's body started to shake uncontrollably, the adrenaline that had been fueling him beginning to fade. It left behind a deep, bone-weary exhaustion that threatened to pull him to the ground.
Why is he retreating? Zhen thought, his mind still trying to process the sudden turn of events. Was he more hurt than he let on, or is there something else going on? Maybe his boost failed?