Nathan no longer recognized where he was standing. Around him, there was no one except his opponent. The world had turned black and white, with Xander standing as the lone, ink-like blot on an otherwise blank canvas. Every one of Nathan’s senses honed in on the figure in front of him, adjusting to react only to that singular presence. He could vaguely make out the outline of the invisible spear formed by Xander's Intent.
Alaric, who had been motionless until now, suddenly leaned forward.
"No way," his voice genuinely surprised.
"Hard to believe, but still impossible, right?" Esme continued. "Weapon-related Intents are the most common form."
"Indeed, another good seed. You'll have to compete for this kid’s mentorship properly with me!"
"Fools, Alaric is talking about that weak brat," Darkan snorted contemptuously.
The other elders, about to object, fell silent. The disciple's state seemed... peculiar.
"What is it?" Esme frowned, asking. "Some kind of trick?"
"No," Darkan said irritably. "You won't believe it, but the boy's state is even rarer than Spear Intent."
The other elders immediately scoffed in disdain. As if they were idiots. But Alaric, with a nod of approval, kept his gaze focused on the fight, drawing everyone's attention back.
The spectating disciples, including Zeryn, had no clue about Nathan's state or what he possessed. From the outside, Nathan wasn't even in a fighting stance, his back hunched, head tilted, mouth grinning like a madman.
Just when they thought he had lost his mind due to the power difference, he lunged forward.
Xander was slightly surprised by Nathan's recklessness. He swung his spear, its tip gleaming in the afternoon sunlight. This time, he extended the invisible part of his spear to half the length of the physical shaft.
Nathan jumped, his body flipping upside down in the air, dodging the horizontal slash. But what surprised everyone was how he pressed his finger down on mid-air, using the force to propel himself forward. The entire spear was forced down, stabbing into the stone floor of the arena.
Xander was stunned, his mind uncomprehending. Intent could interact with Intent, like Sword Intent clashing with Spear Intent. But in the reverse case, ordinary people without external mana shouldn't be able to touch this invisible weapon. Yet the disciple with the ecstatic smile shooting towards him could do it.
It wasn't just Xander who was surprised, but Zeryn too. He stood up abruptly, his eyes filled with shock. His hands trembled not from fear, but excitement.
"Nate has Intent too?" he said aloud.
A disciple who heard this blinked rapidly, quickly posting a question on the forum. Many replies confirmed the same thing. Only those with Intent could touch the invisible spear.
"These short-sighted disciples," Darkan shook his head.
The other elders, for once, had to agree with him. What Nathan displayed wasn't Intent; he didn't create an invisible hand or sword. He simply manipulated energy through ambient mana and the mana in his body. This technique required a high understanding of martial arts and the ability to finely adjust one's body, so almost no one really tried to achieve it. Why waste time on this? But information about this skill had existed since ancient times, when the cultivation world was just forming, and there was no clear cultivation system. Their reasoning was simple: if you can't project mana according to your imagination, why not establish a channel connecting the body's mana with the outside to increase damage? This technique was successful in creating a generation that focused solely on establishing this connection until the Age of Knowledge came, completely changing the cultivation system in a superior direction.
The one taking the hits on the field without understanding was Xander, struggling to cope. Nathan once again closed the distance. But this time, Xander truly couldn't block his opponent. Somehow, all attacks were magnified, giving the sensation that the punches were striking from a distance. Xander saw Nathan pointing his finger at his head. Though calculating the distance, the fingertip wouldn't reach, instinct forced him to tilt his head to avoid. As a result, a line was cut through his shortened hair, his scalp still feeling a cold breeze sweep past. This applied to all attacks, making it very difficult for him to handle. They weren't too strong but enough to disrupt his rhythm.
Nathan seemed possessed, his mind like a machine dedicating all resources to run a single program. The techniques that seemed superior before now became even more perfect. Even the one-inch punch became fluid. Speed and damage were finely adjusted according to the situation. Sometimes striking the shoulder to restrict Xander's spear movement, sometimes increasing strength to hit the bicep, causing his opponent's thrust to overshoot. Though invisible, the damage from Spear Intent had physical effects. So he continued to silence his opponent by using the iron back of his glove to deflect the sharp edge of the invisible spear. The sound of metal clashing and sparks flying in mid-air illuminated Xander's bewildered face.
How? Xander looked at Nathan, utterly confused.
Sword or Spear Intent was terrifying because of its unpredictability and its ability to bypass ordinary defenses, like when Nathan had first been struck, unable to block. The solution to this problem was for cultivators to project mana shields or use defensive items with mana circulation to block this type of attack. Similarly with weapons, most Tier 2 types could engage with Intent. Therefore, when fighting Spear Intent at Tier 1, one had to aim at the physical spear in the opponent's hand. So how on earth was Nathan acting as if he could project mana?
Sadly, even the owner of these actions was blind to what was happening. He was operating purely on instinct, as if his body possessed prior experience. [Martial Art Mastery] level 2 was a skill for Tier 2, but Nathan's level wasn't sufficient to fully utilize it. But calling it 'Mastery' had its reasons. Nathan's movements looked like Tier 2 but weren't actually. He operated mana in a specific pattern on the back of his hand, creating a wave that synchronized the mana inside his body with the mana in the air, forming a thin defensive membrane, thus blocking Spear Intent from causing damage. Of course, this method was very difficult and quite taxing on the mind. A moment of inattention would result in immediate dismemberment. Not to mention, the amount of mana coordinated was very thin. If not, everyone could breathe air to level up. In ancient times when mana hadn't been absorbed so extremely and ambient mana was dense, this fighting style could be said to be the pinnacle, only possessed and operated fluently by masters.
Xander gradually felt a bit irritated, a rare occurrence for him. To practice Spear Intent, he always had to remain calm and composed. So even in battle with his opponent penetrating his weapon, he didn't lose his steadiness. Remembering Gideon's condition, he vaguely guessed what was happening. With a roar, he planted the spear's tail on the ground, using the Intent dispersion technique, causing the air to explode in front, pushing his opponent back. All uncomfortable feelings in his mind immediately dissipated. He advanced, thrusting forward, with greater determination and focus.
Although in the Zone, Nathan couldn't neutralize the attack Xander launched. When he dodged the sharp tip of the spear head, both sides of his body were cut and bleeding. The wound, deep to the bone, made him pause in pain. The state of high concentration was almost dispelled. Closing his eyes for a moment. When they opened, his fighting spirit was still intense and undiminished.
Smirking, Xander twirled his spear to regain strength. He still didn't dare use the previous technique much, as it required significant mental activity. If he could reach the final step of Tier 1 according to the Novem Nexus Path, the cultivation point at the crown of the head, he might be able to use it more easily. But for now, he had to use it carefully. For the moment, he planned to use the Three Invisible Spears technique once more while his opponent was still trying to cope.
Nathan glided, his entire body relaxed. His eyeballs darted about, examining every movement of his opponent. When the two clashed again, he tried to disarm. But Xander was prepared, constantly using his feet to move, dodging and swinging the spear, forcing Nathan to evade. He seemed to forget the blood flowing from his two side wounds caused by the two invisible spear tips. The pain was nothing but fuel for him. When Xander raised his spear high to swing down, Nathan observed the change in his pupils, the wrinkling of his nose, the motion of grinding teeth. He chose not to avoid the middle spear, as he had guessed his opponent would use the ultimate technique of two invisible spears on both sides again.
Xander was momentarily surprised by Nathan's head-on confrontation. Unable to stop, he put all his weight into swinging the spear shaft in his hand down. The invisible spear energy on the right grazed Nathan's shoulder, only cutting off a bit of fabric from his shirt. But the main spear and the left spear energy had been blocked. He blinked, looking at his opponent. Nathan was blocking the two invisible spear tips with his fingers. More accurately, at a distance from his fingers, as if two iron bars were blocking them.
Again, that strange mana control skill, Xander silently marveled.
Being slashed down to the point of kneeling, Nathan used the momentum to spin with his knee and toes, his hands twirling in a circle.
For the first time since the beginning, Xander was wounded. Two parallel cuts on his chest and abdomen made him stagger backward. The blood seeping out reddened his gray shirt.
Nathan bounced on his feet to regain his posture, his index and middle fingers still pinched together. Around them was the image of distorted air, with faint blue light swirling.
"What the hell, didn't someone just say the elder said he didn't have Intent? Then what's that?" disciples in the stands were in an uproar.
"You dare doubt the elder, you've got guts!"
"That's not Intent, you idiot! You can still see it materialize on his hand!"
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People gradually realized this. But it raised the question: isn't Tier 1 unable to project mana? Ignoring the puzzled disciples, the elders didn't bother to care. They were paying attention to how Nathan could synchronize so proficiently with ambient mana, as if communicating through his body. This ancient form of combat had lost its cultivation method. Yet an unknown disciple before today could use it as skillfully as a master. But their interest only extended to seeing something unprecedented. From Tier 3 onward, a cultivator’s internal mana was all that mattered; relying on ambient mana was akin to polishing gold.
"Good, very good!" Darkan clapped, shouting loudly. Only this inner sect elder maintained his interest in Nathan.
No one around responded to him. But that didn't stop Darkan's smile.
Taking a deep breath, Xander regained his composure. No matter what new techniques his opponent might unleash, he could face them. It's alright. His will was second to none. If Keira could be reckless, so could he.
Both frantically attacked each other from all angles, sometimes from above, sometimes from below. Xander's swings and thrusts became increasingly accurate, trying to keep up with his opponent's chaotic rhythm. Nathan, limited by his cultivation, could only inflict shallow wounds despite being able to cause damage. Xander skillfully avoided vital spots. Nathan let [Titan's Descendant] operate at full capacity, ready to trade hits. Xander's invisible spear tips gradually changed, fine-tuning and transforming, sometimes short to conserve energy, sometimes long when forcing his opponent into a position where they had to block rather than run. Nathan's two fingers were replaced by all his fingers, as if each finger had a knife attached, repeatedly carving bloody red lines on Xander's body.
The arena floor around them was like tofu, sliced to pieces. Xander's spear thrusts even caused it to crack. The air only resonated with whistling winds, the fluttering of clothes and droplets of blood falling, the ear-piercing sound of collisions.
The stands watched breathlessly, instinctively keeping silent for fear that noise would break the concentration of the two disciples on the field. The two of them were like dancers performing their final show. Their movements were exquisite, passionate, intoxicated to the point of not wanting to stop, only wanting to forever admire.
When once again having to receive the pitch-black spear shaft, Nathan smiled. He seemed to be pressing a sword against the wooden spear shaft with his fingers. From that position, he slid down to his opponent's hand.
Xander instinctively let go with his left hand, intending to pull the spear back with his right. But Nathan was quicker. Loosening his grip, Nathan lunged forward, grabbing the spear’s shaft with one hand and Xander’s right wrist with the other. Xander’s eyes widened in alarm, but it was too late—Nathan twisted, a sharp pain shooting through Xander’s arm as his wrist was wrenched out of position, forcing him to release the weapon. Nathan delivered a powerful kick to Xander’s chest, sending him stumbling backward. The clatter of the spear hitting the ground echoed across the arena.
Nathan had achieved his goal. He had dealt with the most troublesome thing on the field. Spear Intent had no place to manifest now.
Xander, kneeling and coughing hoarsely from the kick to his chest, clenched his fists as he stood up. He felt utterly humiliated for dropping his weapon. But with absolute determination, he suppressed the sea of chaotic emotions within him. Recalling the hours of training, the reminders for the honor of the family lineage, for a better future. He had come very far, obtaining Intent to make a name alongside the inner sect star Zeryn. Without the spear, he could still fight with his whole body.
Another collision. This time, Nathan was the one pressuring Xander. Without the presence and threat of the spear, Nathan seemed liberated. He deployed surprising, swift, and exquisite martial arts moves. They were so intricate that the audience could only watch in awe. His hands flexibly changed into various forms as needed, palms causing Xander to lose balance, punches making him dizzy, fingers cutting skin like knife wounds, one-knuckle fists depriving him of agility by striking acupoints.
Xander’s entire body was ablaze with pain. Every time he tried to move, Nathan’s strikes forced him to contend with yet another wave of pressure. He truly admired Nathan's mastery. Each attack was extremely precise and diverse. If not for the level difference, Xander would have collapsed long ago. His more abundant mana allowed him to distribute energy for defense. When a knuckle struck the inside of his elbow, the mana moving to that area significantly limited the damage to the tendon, allowing him to continue. As a spear user, hand-to-hand combat like this wasn't his forte. But what he was seeking was a breakthrough, and his instinct told him he was very close.
The stands erupted with Nathan's rise. The underdog was making people change their perspective.
"Don't tell me Xander will lose. Heavens, Phase 2.6 in the finals!"
"If that happens, it'll be the shortest and most boring final to watch."
"Why?"
"Didn't you study theory? How can someone who hasn't cultivated the Nexus points in their head protect their mind against a mana Aspect heavy on mentality like Illusion? Not everyone is Zahra, you know."
"True. So Xander should still be the one to advance to the finals. Cheer!"
Xander's name gradually began to be chanted. Nathan, being in a state of blocking everything out, with only his opponent in his eyes, didn't hear it to become discouraged. He didn't hear, didn't understand, didn't care. But his opponent seemed to be responding to that call.
Xander's aura suddenly changed, his eyes becoming bright, his eyebrows raised as if he had understood something. Brushing off his opponent's hand, he jumped back to create distance. Raising his index and middle fingers like Nathan was doing, he looked at them as if he had found a treasure. Without a spear, he could use his body to fight. Without a spear, he would turn his body into a spear. Excitement surged within him, his blood flowing faster, his heart beating rapidly like a drum. He lowered himself, his right hand with fingertips forming the shape of a spear tip, his body straight like a spear shaft, his other hand extended straight like the spear tail.
"Genius," Esme smiled, unable to hide her admiration.
"Indeed," Alaric nodded in agreement. "To have such enlightenment during battle, truly a child with immense potential."
"To be fair, that Xander kid should thank Nathan."
"They're developing together. Well, that Zeryn kid needs to reconsider his attitude and train properly."
The mentioned person sneezed. Zeryn widened his eyes, not knowing what to say about Xander's state. It was the next layer of weapon Intent form. Turning the body into a sword. Or turning the body into a spear. He himself hadn't achieved this despite having a specific direction. Xander was just scratching the surface. But because he was in an enlightened state while competing with his opponent, he could realize it from Nathan's fighting style. A style that everyone could see him morphing from various animals to someone wielding all types of weapons.
Zeryn made a mental note to spar with Nathan more often and focused back on the fight.
With a new power flowing through his body, Xander found a newfound joy and confidence. No longer wary of his opponent, he lunged forward. Imagining he was still holding the spear, his Intent returned to action. It projected like Nathan was controlling his sword fingers. Invisible slashes flew from his fingertips. And notably, they were even stronger than before, causing the mana structure Nathan created in the shape of a sword to waver. A few times it was cut through.
A diagonal gash from chest downward sprayed a red rain obscuring Nathan's eyes. He staggered backward, the pain dragging his mind into a sluggish state. [Into the Zone] gradually lost its effect. But it hadn't disappeared completely. Trying to cling to the fleeting effect, he ignored his wound, gritting his teeth as the stinging and shock when moving reverberated throughout his body. His hands morphed into a shield and sword to attack.
Xander, having just realized this technique, was still clumsy. Sometimes he could use it smoothly, other times he was just swiping his fingers like a clown in front of his opponent. But he understood he could utilize his current state of deep comprehension to trial and error. Success would lead to understanding. Failure would lead to correction. Taking advantage of his opponent's accumulating wounds, his two hands alternately used Spear Intent. Sparks flew frantically between the two.
They collided again, sparks flying between them as mana flared. Xander’s spear-like fingers pierced through Nathan’s shoulder. In response, as Nathan fell, he kicked upward, the tip of his foot sharpening into a deadly point that dug into Xander’s back. Xander staggered, but remained unfazed, spreading his arms wide to spin in place, the razor-sharp energy slashing across Nathan’s face, sending him flying backward. Nathan, in desperation, grabbed Xander’s wrist with one hand, using the other to gouge at Xander's body, his clawed fingers enhanced by his passive skills, making Xander cough blood. Xander roared, swinging his arm up, the three invisible spear tips technique appearing, creating three long bloody streaks on his opponent's body.
"They've gone mad!" spectators had to squint, not daring to look directly.
"Even crazier than Keira's match!"
"But similar in that both have grown stronger compared to their previous fights. Truly, combat is the fastest way to progress!"
Impressed by Nathan's performance, his name also began to be chanted, but not as loudly as Xander's.
[Into the Zone] of [Martial Art Mastery] had ended.
The mental burden of blood loss and pain was too great to maintain high clarity and focus. His body slumped, before his eyes was only a shade of red. Red of blood, pale red of clothes, orange-red of the setting sunlight.
It hurts so much!
He wanted to give up. It had never been this terrible before. Even though [Self Emotional Support] continuously activated, giving him words of encouragement. Just a little more. He could do it. He was so close. Top 2 was right in front of him.
But the most important thing still propping him up was an unwillingness deep in his heart. He was naive about this world but he wasn't stupid. The elders still looked down on him, the disciples all had negative evaluations. He didn't need PsiLink to know these things. He was still standing here because he wanted to send a message, wanted to punch those people in the face. Even if it was just a fleeting moment of brilliance like a firefly in the night. He had a long road ahead, so this couldn't be the stopping point. Nathan Reed wasn't just a great Tier 1, but more than that.
Seeing the battered figure attack once again, Xander felt a bit scared. An intelligent enemy isn't dangerous because they will retreat when the situation is unfavorable. But a deranged person with nothing to lose is truly frightening. They won't stop until they're completely broken. Xander sluggishly received the equally slowed attacks from his opponent. Both were on the brink of mental collapse, just using the last bit of their breath to encourage themselves. To see who would snap the willpower that had been stretched to its limit first.
Even after losing [Into the Zone], Nathan let his body move on autopilot. He struck and struck again, took wounds only to receive more. The pain couldn't get any worse, but each hit pushed his opponent closer to the breaking point. Before his eyes remained only a single point of light in the sky, blood streaming down his face from his forehead. He clung to that light while his ears tracked his opponent's movements, his fists still striking, his feet still moving.
Xander's hands formed into spectral spears, aimed at Nathan.
Nathan seemed beyond feeling pain now, spreading his hands to catch the attack, his blood no longer spurting forcefully having lost too much already. Taking advantage of this, he gripped Xander's hands tightly, preventing his opponent from breaking free.
By the time Xander realized what Nathan planned to do, his feet were already stepping backward. Gritting his teeth in determination, his Spear Intent retracted then thrust forward, creating two holes through those bloodied hands.
Nathan laughed at the action, causing blood to spray across his lips. He continued pushing forward.
Xander used every ounce of energy to resist.
Finally, the battle of willpower revealed its loser. Xander Caldoran stood frozen in place, his two fingers still projecting invisible spears, eyes completely white. Upon noticing, Nathan withdrew his hands, blood dripping with soft pitter-patter sounds onto the arena floor from the holes in his palms.
With his failing vision, Nathan looked up searching for Elder Marcus's figure. His voice whispered like a demon bathed in red.
"Did I win? He doesn't seem to move."
Marcus snapped back to reality. He couldn't believe what was unfolding before his eyes. From a battle that seemed to start easily in favor of the outer sect genius, to a test of endurance, ending in a contest of who possessed the stronger will. And Nathan had won by such a narrow margin through sheer tenacity.
"The winner! Nathan Reed!"
Somehow, to Nathan, the sky he saw seemed to be growing more distant despite his victory. That point of light gradually became obscured by blood seeping from the corners of his eyes, drawing a completely red curtain.
As if he knew, those he defeated would rise stronger tomorrow, pushing him further away.
Today's glory was as fragile as his final thread of consciousness now. It snapped, sending him into darkness.