Chapter 723: (Un)fair Fight

*Bing-Bong*

The writer of this work would like to apologize for the past few chapters being about Zhen Li and not about Zhen Liu, directly.

Please note that the reason for this focus is because the main character is at a simple farewell party, the kind with delicious snacks and threats made under the breath, which can get pretty boring. Especially, when one of those guests happens to be a dragon-blooded pair of royal siblings.

Either way, the writer had determined that a party scene would be kind of boring given all of the build-up.

We now rent to your regularly scheduled chapter.

Thank you.

...

So you had me do this quick script thing because... you’re bad writing?

|Shove it!|

*Bing-bong*

__________________________________________

[Wow, I honestly didn’t expect for you to have it in you. Good job.]

’Yeah, thanks, my ribs are really hurting by the way. Is there anything you can do about that, or-’

[You’re in control here, kid. You just gotta direct it.]

’Aight, fair...wait, why do I sound so casual?’

[I think you should focus more on the fact that this guy is about to force himself to counter your kicks.]

’SHIT!’

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Zhen Li managed to land about a dozen or so kicks in the span of a couple seconds thanks to his improvised aether art.

’How the hell is he doing this?!,’ Zhen Jun Yao cursed. He could only grit his teeth against the assault, as he was forced to simply defend himself with raised arms. If it had been against any other Aether Master, he could’ve easily just ignore most of the attacks and counterattack almost immediately.

There was something weird laced into Zhen Li’s kicks that made them hit harder than normal and made it so that he couldn’t enhance his body properly. He could still maintain his [Regalia], but even then, it felt as if something was wrong with his aether circulation.

Granted, that didn’t stop him from trying something to counter.

’Need to...now!’

∆∆Ha!∆∆

In the split second that Zhen Li was about to switch off the foot that was going to impact Zhen Jun Yao’s arms, the latter released a sudden burst of aether that was meant to stun the former long enough for him to grab him by the ankle.

(Un)fortunately, he was a bit too strong.

Zhen Li was sent flying backwards much harder and faster then Zhen Jun Yao anticipated, causing the latter to only grab empty air as the former was almost sent flying into yet another closed market stall.

Emphasis on "almost".

Just as Zhen Li was about to make contact with destroying someone else’s business again, he released a burst of steam that propelled him forward with just enough force to land on his feet. This momental respite would not last long enough though.

’Okay, I think if I redirect some of this weird energy flowing through me into my ribs I can-’

∆∆Why couldn’t you have just died quietly?!,∆∆ Zhen Jun Yao shouted as empowered one of his fists with aether. A low rumbling sound could be heard as he did so.

’SHIT!’

[Thunder Smash!]

*Boom!*

’OUCH!’

It was now Zhen Li’s turn to block an attack with his arms, but unlike Zhen Jun Yao, his defenses were a lot weaker.

The man may have been covered in an energy that seemed to weaken and distort aether, but it didn’t stop things like shockwaves from entering his body and messing up his internals. Zhen Li could literally feel his broken rib somehow shake about in his body as he did his best to stomach Zhen Jun Yao’s attack.

Needless to say, it wasn’t pleasant in the slightest.

However, just because he was in pain didn’t mean that Zhen Li was going to take this moment and do nothing with it.

’Just need to lean...’

Zhen Li leaned into Zhen Jun Yao’s attack as best he could, forcing the attacker to go forward to the point where he was almost looming above the former.

’NOW!’

Using several controlled bursts of aether, Zhen Li proceeded to rotate his bent body so that he could angle himself in order to counterattack via a cartwheel stomp kick.

Zhen Jun Yao didn’t expect this sudden reversal, nor did he expect to get slammed into the ground via a stomping kick.

’Gah! How is he penetrating my defenses?!’

Zhen Jun Yao felt his skin burning once again as he was subjected to Zhen Li’s weird energy. A part of him couldn’t help but wonder at this point about why he had his [Regalia] on in the first place if, Zhen Li could just attack and injure him regardless.

Not that Zhen Li knew or cared about these thoughts, as he used this moment of stomping Zhen Jun Yao into the ground as an opportunity to create more space between himself and the traitorous Grandmaster.

’Dammit. If I let another attack like that hit, regardless of me being able to block it, it’s game over,’ Zhen Li observed. He might have been able to counter and deal what he felt was a lot of damage to Zhen Jun Yao whenever the traitor attacked, but he could tell that he couldn’t keep this up forever due to his current injuries.

’If he hits me just right, he could jam my already broken rib into one of my organs or even my spine. I gotta end this with one move.’

"RAARRRGGGG!"

’And I guess he thought that too.’

At this point, Zhen Jun Yao was completely sick of Zhen Li and his bullshit, so he decided to throw away any semblance of subtlety or stealth and just annihilate this bastard in one powerful attack. If anyone catches him in the act, so be it, he’ll just kill them too.

The aether around Zhen Jun Yao became distorted, as a strange seal that seemed to radiate the same dark feeling as a bottomless abyss began to form around.

∆∆You should feel honored, Xiao Li. Not everyone gets to witness let alone be destroyed by this move of mine. Take comfort in knowing that you were sent to the afterlife by such a rare attack.∆∆

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’Shit, shit, shit! What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?!’

[Well...you could try dodging this attack, but judging from what I’m sensing, this is an incredibly fast one that could very much curve in whatever direction you move and sever your spine in the process if you fail.]

’Not ideal.’

[You could try blocking it, but the force behind the attack could exacerbate your broken rib even more.]

’Not ideal either.’

[In that case, you’re going to have to overpower him with your own super powerful attack.]

’My strongest move is the [River King’s Land Carving Palm] and he blocked it easily. How is that going to help?!’

[That’s because you tried going in there using just your own aether. Try using it now with the [Chaos] that You’ve been using to make all of those fancy steam powered maneuvers of yours.]

’[Chaos]? That’s what this energy is called?’

[Just shove it and do it already.]

’Fine! Not like I got anything else to...oh. Oh...I have been using this move wrong for a while then...’

[Yeah.]

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∆∆Funny. I was thinking the same thing,∆∆ Zhen Li taunted.

As Zhen Jun Yao charged up his own attack, Zhen Li followed suit, charging up his [River King’s Land Carving Palm]. However, there was something distinctly different than the previous time he did this.

Instead of concentrating just Aquarii aether into the palm of his hand to form a giant fish-like blob of water around it, Zhen Li began to concentrate Iganti aether and the [Chaos] that was flowing through I’m in this moment into the palm as well.

This caused the fish-like blob of water to undergo a transformation, changing it from what initially looked to be a carp to the same dragons made of steam that surrounded Zhen Li’s kicks not too long ago. Albeit, this particular steam Dragon looked a lot bigger and nastier than the ones that surrounded his legs.

Zhen Jun Yao for his part was moldy perturbed at the sight of this dragon, but tossed his concern to the side. Even if Zhen Li’s attacks could somehow hurt him, it did t mean that he’d be able to overpower him.

Normally.

Once the two sides were fully charged, they finally lashed out.

[Abyssal Emperor’s Finger!]

[Rising Steam Dragon’s Palm!]

This was the critical moment for both of these young warriors.

For one, it was going to be the first step in what was sure to be a trail of bloodshed and violence that would irreversibly change him forever. No longer would he be a simple spy with a porcelain smile.

While for the other, this was a moment in which he could rise above his peers and show everyone and himself that there was way more to him than meets the eye. No longer would he be a "normal" talent.

Of course...the only way for these changes to occur, is if someone wins.

So the question now is...who wanted it more?

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’Damn. No matter how many times I run the facts through my head, I still can’t believe Xiao Jun Yao is a traitor,’ Captain Zhen Bai Yin thought to himself. ’How could I have been so blind?!’