Chapter 256: Dueling Wang Yin Alone
Inside the temporary operating room.
A bearded doctor, along with several others, was simultaneously treating Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, transplanting the Flood Dragon Spirit Pivot from her body to his and restoring her original spine.
Despite having taken a large dose of painkillers, Zhang Yu remained lucid, feeling the sensation of various surgical tools gliding across his body while listening to the telepathic guidance of True Person Starfire before him.
According to True Person Starfire, time was of the essence. For the next hour and a half, even during the operation, Zhang Yu had to seize every moment to learn.
True Person Starfire’s voice echoed in his mind, “With the Flood Dragon Spirit Pivot, your physical strength will increase by a full 1.0 level, which should close the gap in physical power between you and Wang Yin.”
“Furthermore, the Dragon’s Might within the spirit pivot can seal heart arts, preventing him from executing the two most powerful techniques of his World-Toppling Fists of the Affluent: the Heaven-Swallowing Stance and the Spirit-Surge Stance.”
“But this alone is not enough for you to win.”
“The bionic skin he wears was peeled from a cultivator with a level 20 physical strength and crafted through eighty-one processes, not to mention the Netherworld Blood-Shadow Veil powered by tens of thousands of mortal souls; just injuring him will be exceedingly difficult.”
“And even if you manage to inflict a minor wound, the spiritual root within him will allow for swift recovery.”
“That spiritual root is called the Sun-Moon Spiritual Root, a Heavenly Spiritual Root that cannot be bought on the first layer.”
“Although he crippled his own cultivation and severed the fusion between the spiritual root and his physical body, for a wealthy man like him, buying another Heavenly Spiritual Root is no difficult task.”
“This spiritual root can convert magic power into blood and qi to heal injuries, and it can also convert blood and qi back into magic power to restore his reserves.”
“As long as his magic power is regenerating, his wounds can be healed.”
“Even if you could break through the Netherworld Blood-Shadow Veil and his bionic skin, any injury you leave would inevitably be minor, and he would recover in an instant.”
Hearing this, Zhang Yu’s brow furrowed ever tighter. He had thought the man’s skin was a colossal obstacle, but he never expected that even if he could break it, there was still this Sun-Moon Spiritual Root to contend with.
Zhang Yu said, “Doesn’t that mean it’s impossible for me to win?”
True Person Starfire smiled faintly and sent another message, “Naturally, there is a way.”
With that, he extended a hand and pressed a single finger against the center of Zhang Yu’s brow. The next moment, Zhang Yu felt a shooting star crash into his sea of consciousness, where it circled for a moment before coming to a stop.
Zhang Yu looked closely and saw, to his surprise, a golden brick.
He asked in confusion, “What is this?”
“This is the magical treasure Deng Bingding mentioned she would lend you.”
“This magical treasure is called the Soul-Wounding Brick, an item that specializes in attacking the soul.”
“If you can injure Wang Yin with this magical treasure and damage his soul, you will instantly win this battle, and he will have no choice but to return to the upper layers to heal his soul.”
“But if you use this Soul-Wounding Brick directly, he will surely block it with his Netherworld Blood-Shadow Veil and that layer of skin, which will only put him on guard and make a successful attack much harder.”
“Therefore, you must first break through the Netherworld Blood-Shadow Veil and his skin, then use this Soul-Wounding Brick when he least expects it. That is the way to victory.”
Listening to True Person Starfire’s words, Zhang Yu felt as if he had gone in a circle only to end up back where he started. Didn’t this still require him to break through the opponent’s dual layers of protection?
As if knowing what Zhang Yu was thinking, True Person Starfire continued his telepathic message, “In truth, the solution is in your own hands.”
“The Nine Heavens Cloud-Sky Force you have mastered is a former military-grade cultivation technique, capable of storing all kinds of forces and magic power within your astral qi. In your hands, the might of any martial art can be multiplied.”
“However, until now, you have been executing it with brute force, failing to truly grasp the subtleties of this cultivation technique.”
“Since you can stack multiple layers of power in a single move, why limit yourself to just one type?”
“You must understand that the interaction of different stacked forces can produce power far more profound and formidable than simply using a single type of force.”
“It’s like asking, who is more formidable? A person who only knows how to throw a straight punch, or one who can seamlessly combine fists, palms, and grappling?”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu’s mind seemed to explode, and a torrent of brilliant ideas instantly flooded his thoughts.
Seeing the change in his expression, True Person Starfire smiled faintly. “I have already seen through the weaknesses in the Netherworld Blood-Shadow Veil and the bionic skin. Next, I will teach you…”
By the time the surgery was complete, Zhang Yu already knew how he was going to fight Wang Yin.
True Person Starfire’s voice sounded beside him, “I have told you the strategy. In the time that remains, you must focus on practicing the Nine Heavens Cloud-Sky Force. Every bit you improve will increase your chances of victory.”
“At the same time, use this opportunity to adapt to the Flood Dragon Spirit Pivot.”
Zhang Yu glanced at the still-unconscious Bai Zhenzhen, took a deep breath, and prepared to begin cultivating the Nine Heavens Cloud-Sky Force.
But before he started, he thought of something.
Zhang Yu looked at the doctor and said, “Give me drugs.”
The doctor asked, confused, “What kind of drugs?”
Zhang Yu replied, “Any kind will do. The more toxic, the better.”
After consuming a pile of potions provided by the doctor, Zhang Yu felt the surging magic power and vitality course through his body, and only then did he begin practicing the Nine Heavens Cloud-Sky Force.
This cultivation technique consisted of only three moves, and Zhang Yu could practice one cycle in about ten seconds on average.
Especially now, knowing that time was short, he paid no attention to the proper channeling of power or the correctness of his stances. He single-mindedly pursued speed, determined to practice as many times as possible before the battle began.
In the course of this practice, Zhang Yu could feel the Flood Dragon Spirit Pivot mobilizing the major tendons throughout his body, augmenting his strength and forcibly raising his physical intensity by an entire level.
Now, every punch and kick he threw unleashed power far exceeding what he was capable of before as he gradually adapted to the bionic.
At the same time, the bionic was continuously drawing upon the magic power within Zhang Yu’s body. If not for the support of his Sea of Qi Spiritual Root, he would likely have been drained of all magic power within a dozen minutes.
And with this frenzied practice, the level of his Nine Heavens Cloud-Sky Force rose steadily.
It went from level 5 to level 6, then to level 7… level 8…
With each level-up, a massive influx of cultivation memories flooded his mind, yet Zhang Yu simply absorbed them silently, continuing to practice in the fastest, most energy-efficient, and most perfunctory way possible, completely disregarding the quality of each repetition.
“Time is up.”
As Wang Yin’s messenger arrived, Zhang Yu ceased his movements and asked, “Are there any more drugs?”
Several staff members hurried over and said, “Mr. Zhang! Let us help you equip your armor.”
Hearing this, a thought stirred in Zhang Yu’s mind. Is this the armor that Deng Bingding allocated funds to purchase? It must be to increase my chances of winning, right?
He watched as the people before him began to wrap his body, layer by layer, with small advertising posters.
The corner of Zhang Yu’s mouth twitched. “This is the armor?”
A staff member applying the posters explained, “These are battle posters specially designed for use in high-level combat. To prevent the posters from being damaged or destroyed during a fight, the advertising companies created these fireproof, freezeproof, acid-proof, and stab-proof battle posters. Wearing them is even more effective than a battlesuit.”
Fucking hell… advertising posters have better defense than a battlesuit, is that it?
Zhang Yu rolled his eyes inwardly and instructed, “Give me a few more layers on my chest.”
“And don’t forget my inner thighs.”
Just then, another group of staff members approached and said, “Mr. Zhang, these are the advertisement scripts you’ll need to read when you enter the arena.”
Looking at the drugs and scripts they presented, Zhang Yu’s eyes flickered. “This fight’s live broadcast… it’s gone viral, hasn’t it?”
The man nodded repeatedly. “The Oasis Group promoted it themselves. The live broadcast channel has the highest viewer count right now!”
“Here are the advertising contracts. If you see no issues, please sign here.”
Zhang Yu signed quickly, watching sums of money flash before his eyes. In an instant, he had made nearly ten million, and he thought to himself how quickly this money was earned.
After completing all his battle preparations, Zhang Yu slowly walked toward the battlefield.
Behind Zhang Yu, a trace of worry flashed in True Person Starfire’s eyes.
Why were the kid’s movements so full of errors when he was cultivating just now? More than an hour has passed, and I can’t see any improvement.
Could it be that he’s too nervous? Or has he not adapted to the Flood Dragon Spirit Pivot?
Zhang Yu glanced at the level 11 Nine Heavens Cloud-Sky Force on his Feather Book, and a surge of confidence suddenly welled up within him.
A level 11 Nine Heavens Cloud-Sky Force not only allowed him to open eleven apertures in his astral qi to store the power of eleven strikes, but it also granted him the special effect of reaching level 10.
“After level 10, the Nine Heavens Cloud-Sky Force can not only store my own power, but each aperture can also store the power of one of my opponent’s attacks.”
And now, having seized the time to raise his Nine Heavens Cloud-Sky Force to level 11, Zhang Yu finally remembered the change in the Crippled Ox Body-Sacrifice Heart Art within his mind.
As he walked toward the designated battlefield, he looked at the Crippled Ox in his mind’s eye and saw that specks of blood on the white ox’s back had formed lines of text, seemingly a few lines of a mantra.
“What does this mean?”
Just as Zhang Yu was repeatedly trying to comprehend the meaning of the mantra without success, waves of wails and screams came from ahead.
He saw Wang Yin, now surrounded by thousands of blood-shadows, who said impassively, “With the money I just made in the last hour and a half, I bought the mortal souls of another hundred thousand-plus commoners.”
“These mortals have no cultivation whatsoever; they are foolish and ignorant. The only thing of value on them is their souls.”
“Rather than letting them rot on the first layer, it’s better they emit a dazzling brilliance in my hands…”
Hearing this, Zhang Yu was momentarily stunned. He lifted his head and looked around, and sure enough, he saw countless cameras of all sizes, all aimed at the battlefield. Who knew how many places were broadcasting this live at this very moment.
Zhang Yu thought to himself, Broadcasting this to the first layer increases his prestige and promotes the acquisition and sale of a consumable like mortal souls, which facilitates his future plans.
And the broadcast to the second layer and above is to advertise the purchasing power and cost-effectiveness of what’s down here, trying to get more people up there to support the reformation of the first layer, right?
Or… is it also to advertise me, this ‘product’?
At the same time, Zhang Yu could notice that whenever a camera swept by, the expressions of the Oasis Group staff around him would change.
Some quickly dodged aside, thinking, Damn it, don’t film me. What if some big shot from above takes a liking to me?
Others moved toward the camera, thinking with anticipation, So what if I sell my body? They pay in spirit coins up there. As long as the price is right, it’s a profitable deal!
Meanwhile, Wang Yin was still speaking. “Whether it’s bearing or raising them, mortals are incredibly simple, requiring almost no Immortal Dao resources.”
“Our group has already decided to promote Immortal Dao breeding technology on the first layer, establishing human farms for mass-scale, industrialized cultivation.”
“We are going to completely crush the price of mortals!”
Listening to the endless stream of promotion from his opponent’s mouth, Zhang Yu snorted coldly, took out a potion and drank it, then also began to speak, “Hundred Spirits Pharmacy, a hundred solutions for a hundred problems, your exclusive drug steward…”
Meanwhile, Yu Xinghan, who was watching the live broadcast, cursed, “Are you kidding me? He’s been reading for five minutes and hasn’t stopped. Just how much money did this kid make?”
Just then, the scene on the screen changed. Yu Xinghan’s gaze sharpened. “It’s finally starting.”
Zhang Yu took one step after another, his pace quickening, gradually transitioning from a brisk walk to a sprint, rapidly closing in on Wang Yin, who was still speaking and reading his ad script.
“I don’t give a damn if you’re not finished.”
“I don’t have time to wait for you!”
The Flood Dragon Spirit Pivot along Zhang Yu’s spine writhed, like a great dragon stretching its body, causing his physical form to erupt with surging power and increasing his sprinting speed by another thirty percent.
Surging astral qi erupted from his body, leaving a long trail on the battlefield as he charged. At this moment, Zhang Yu looked like a great white dragon, opening its massive jaws to take a vicious bite out of Wang Yin.
Simultaneously, a wild roar erupted from Zhang Yu’s mouth as the Dragon’s Might from the Flood Dragon Spirit Pivot was suddenly unleashed, sweeping across a hundred-meter radius.
Faced with the oncoming Dragon’s Might, Wang Yin was already prepared. He was not circulating any heart art at all. Although his spirit was shaken and he was momentarily stunned, he did not suffer the aggravated dizziness that came from having a heart art forcibly halted.
Although it was not as if Wang Yin didn’t have a bionic that could resist Dragon’s Might, with his cultivation crippled, simply bearing the bionic skin was his limit; he couldn’t handle the burden of a second bionic.
So he chose to simply not use a heart art.
“Although I can’t use the Heaven-Swallowing Stance and the Spirit-Surge Stance, which require a heart art, and can no longer monopolize the spiritual energy…”
“But the World-Toppling Fists of the Affluent doesn’t necessarily have to be paired with a heart art.”
Wang Yin slightly bent his right arm, forming a fist seal, and surging magic power began to gather in his right fist.
World-Toppling Fists of the Affluent—Earth-Shattering Stance!
With a deafening roar, accompanied by the outpouring of magic power, Wang Yin’s punch triggered an explosion of spiritual energy.
Then, as if setting off a chain reaction, the surrounding spiritual energy erupted in a continuous series of explosions, all blasting toward Zhang Yu.
Zhang Yu let out a low shout and directly activated the Martial Dao Holy Embryo’s overload, as well as the ‘Zen’ character burst from his Spring and Autumn Endless Zen.
Coupled with the surging medicinal power from the drugs he had taken and the Flood Dragon Spirit Pivot mobilizing his entire body’s strength from his spine, Zhang Yu instantly reached an unprecedented peak state.
He struck out with both hands, sometimes a fist, sometimes a palm, sometimes blocking, sometimes churning… he unleashed a myriad of martial arts techniques accompanied by his Formless Cloud-Astral Qi, blocking Wang Yin’s fist strikes one by one.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Every strike he made repelled the surging spiritual energy explosions.
Zhang Yu’s resolve solidified. With Wang Yin’s heart art sealed, the power of his fist technique really has been reduced significantly.
Zhang Yu tore through his opponent’s fist strikes, charging toward him like a ferocious dragon.
Their gazes met through the Netherworld Blood-Shadow Veil, and their intense battle intent seemed to collide in the air, erupting with a silent roar.
Nine Heavens Cloud-Sky Force—11-hit combo!
On the other side, Wang Yin snorted inwardly. Without a heart art, the ranged attacks of the World-Toppling Fists of the Affluent suffer too much decay. It seems I still need to get in close to unleash its maximum power.
He formed fist seals with both hands, and the magic power throughout his body began to boil.
World-Toppling Fists of the Affluent—Heaven-Toppling Stance!