Chapter 1368: 21 A Win! [Request for official subscription]

Chapter 1368: Chapter 21 A Win! [Request for official subscription]

The two top-tier high-level geniuses began their offensive and defensive exchange within just a minute of meeting each other.

Surrounding observers, as well as nearly the entirety of the Tianhe Force creatures tuning in via nearby cameras, watched this scene with unrestrained excitement.

It’s worth noting that while the Tianhe Force had high-level geniuses before, they had never seen the likes of top-tier high-level geniuses. And now, witnessing two such beings battle within the Force was akin to a grand festival for them.

“Mister Jia Yan’s defense reacted promptly—he blocked the attack!”

“Excellent! If he can block the first strike, he can block the second. Who was it that said Mister Jia Yan was just a sheep wrapped in tiger’s skin? Step forward and speak now—didn’t he withstand the attack from a top-tier dignitary?”

The creatures watching the battle were exhilarated by Jia Yan’s display of strength. It’s worth noting that some had previously doubted whether Jia Yan could withstand even a single strike.

As expected, the battle in the starry sky quickly assumed the intensity and ferocity of a storm.

Lord Tufu sought to end the fight swiftly. Though he had regarded Jia Yan highly beforehand, he merely saw Jia Yan as troublesome, not someone on par with himself.

“Block it! Let’s see how many strikes you can endure.”

True to his name, Tufu’s attacks resembled powerful thrusts, each blisteringly swift, coupled with sharp, sickle-like spikes beneath his feet that narrowly scraped past Jia Yan’s exoskeleton time and again.

“Indeed, his strength is formidable.”

Under considerable pressure, a sharp glint appeared in Jia Yan’s eyes.

His opponent’s strength matched his reputation, particularly in combat, where every move carried concealed follow-up tactics. Any attempt by Jia Yan to counter was intercepted and stifled by Tufu.

The ongoing battle completely depended on Jia Yan’s innate talent and physical constitution; his techniques were repeatedly and brutally overpowered.

“So this is the depth of the Central Star Area’s monsters. Their inheritances are more refined. I haven’t had a mentor—Tian Rongguang only guided me for a few days—so my techniques are more rough and unpolished. No wonder he believes I’m destined to lose.”

“But…”

Even as Jia Yan resisted, his mind raced with these thoughts. Suddenly, his expression shifted dramatically!

At the exact moment when Tufu unleashed a move that drove Jia Yan to the brink of defeat, ready to block all possible avenues of escape and seal victory—

Jia Yan retreated, and amidst Tufu’s fierce attack, he shifted into subspace.

“Huh? He can still enter subspace like this? I clearly locked down all his movements. Monsters praised by Duo Jian truly cannot be underestimated.” Tufu’s expression changed sharply, and he began carefully monitoring his surroundings.

What Tufu didn’t know was that Jia Yan, during his battle with Duo Jian, hadn’t yet fully developed his subspace abilities. To now enter subspace amid this whirlwind of attacks—from this level of power—was an achievement Jia Yan had only recently attained.

As Tufu steadied himself, scanning the vicinity for clues to anticipate Jia Yan’s reemergence in physical space—

A forelimb silently materialized near his flank.

Observing semi-permanent star level monsters around them were visibly startled; if they weren’t mere spectators, it’s likely they themselves wouldn’t have detected the movement of that forelimb!

“Jia Yan… seems to have grown stronger since arriving at the Tianhe Force. Even if only slightly, it’s terrifying to think he achieved this improvement in such a short time,” muttered Tian Rongguang in awe, watching Jia Yan’s precise movement.

No one warned Tufu—the emerging forelimb acted too swiftly for any notification.

A spray of blood spattered across the starry sky.

“Not good!”

Only when Jia Yan’s forelimb pierced an inch into Tufu’s side did Tufu realize the ambush. Shocked, he immediately darted away at maximum speed.

For most creatures, a direct strike to their internal body would spell certain death. Yet Tufu managed to explosively propel himself out of harm’s way.

Jia Yan’s meticulously quiet maneuver wasn’t executed at high speed, which cost the attack depth—and allowed Tufu to narrowly escape.

Even so, the strike left Tufu injured!

“What a terrifying space talent. I couldn’t sense a thing.” Tufu staggered, his burst of power coupled with the fresh wound exhausting his physical strength.

The starry sky around Jia Yan shimmered faintly as his jet-black form gradually emerged. Unlike typical space talent users, Jia Yan’s appearance carried remarkably little subspace ripple—a key factor to why his presence remained undetectable.

“Haha, my understanding of spatial truths through the Star Transmission Body paid off. Reducing spatial disturbances in subspace lets me hide my trajectory from ordinary strong ones completely!”

Despite failing to deliver a decisive blow, Jia Yan remained composed. After all, battling top-tier high-talent powerhouses requires endurance—they’re not easily felled.

“Jia Yan—you’ve angered me!”

Wounded by someone he had never expected to pose such a threat, Tufu’s fury erupted. His reaction stemmed as much from humiliation as genuine rage.

He glared at Jia Yan, and an oily sheen spread across his green skin.

Every genius possesses unique techniques—some inherited, others innate—but none of them are simple.

“Here he comes!”

Jia Yan’s demeanor grew serious, yet he hadn’t made it into a defensive posture before a sudden wave of danger enveloped him!

A green blur shot forth, and before Jia Yan could retreat into subspace, his opponent collided with alarming force into Jia Yan’s body.

Under immense impact, an extraordinary surge of power erupted, and Jia Yan’s physical form audibly responded—crackling like glacial ice—as a vast expanse of bluish defense materialized around his abdomen within moments.

“What a ferocious attack!”

Jia Yan now realized what had struck him—a green creature, its expression equally shocked, collided violently against his abdomen.

The opponent’s speed had been too swift for Jia Yan to perceive.

Yet, to both Jia Yan’s surprise and the despair of Tufu, although Jia Yan hadn’t consciously reacted, his protective “Bluish Defense” had.

Tufu’s sickle-shaped appendage struck Jia Yan’s body, only for the attacked area to turn radiant blue. The attack barely managed to scratch Jia Yan’s exoskeleton.

“Terrifying defense!”

“But so what? If he’s using this defense, it must require immense brainwave power. I’ll retreat and attempt another strike—perhaps this time he won’t be able to withstand it.”

Tufu sprang away, distancing himself quickly as he prepared to repeat the attack, using his remaining strength.

Geniuses with formidable talents often face high energy drains, making their endurance in combat relatively short-lived. Tufu, reliant on explosive speed, recognized that failing to secure victory within a few strikes would be his loss.

He assumed Jia Yan functioned similarly, especially after witnessing the instantaneous deployment of the bluish defense—a power that must have consumed significant energy. He believed Jia Yan wouldn’t retaliate swiftly enough.

He was wrong!

Jia Yan was an Evolutionary Creature—a fact lost on Tufu. It was precisely this evolutionary trait that endowed Jia Yan with unparalleled physical resilience.

As Tufu shot away from Jia Yan’s vicinity—

A bluish, razor-sharp forelimb fell ruthlessly.

Pfft!

Tufu almost audibly felt something piercing into his body.

“Ugh…”

Tufu turned back in stunned disbelief, seeing a sharp forelimb stabbed into the base of his creature-like tail.

The strike had been just shy of missing entirely, but a hit was a hit. At this point, an exertion of brainwave power would cripple him—while the fate of his tail was already sealed.

“Lord Tufu, you’re not planning to fight to the death with me, are you?” Jia Yan’s calm voice transmitted into Tufu’s mind.

“I… Mister Jia Yan, your strength is truly remarkable. I concede.” Tufu glanced at his pierced tail before bitterly smiling and nodding in submission.

If they continued battle, Tufu believed he had a slim chance, but it would devolve into a life-and-death struggle—and the odds favored his demise. He had no choice but to give up.

“Thank you for your concession, Lord Tufu.”

Jia Yan withdrew his forelimb, offering a faint smile.

Truthfully, he had little desire to kill his opponent. With no past grievances and the backing of a strong force behind Tufu, killing him would create an irreparable mess, so sparing him was the smarter move.

“Unbelievable… Jia Yan won!”

As Tufu’s surrender became evident, the entire Tianhe Force momentarily fell silent, only to erupt into a frenzy of cheers moments later.

Even semi-permanent star level powerhouses like Tian Rongguang, initially skeptical, now broke into wide smiles of delight.

Earlier, many doubted whether Jia Yan could secure such an overwhelming victory—even Tian Rongguang, who had faith in Jia Yan’s potential as a top-level genius, didn’t anticipate such a dominant success.

To be sure, Jia Yan’s combat style showcased weaknesses—his techniques were rough and unrefined. But those flaws were far from hindering his victory.

“Haha, Jia Yan exceeded my expectations. This is just his first win. He won’t have any rest between matches, and several more battles await. Let’s see how many consecutive victories your stamina allows, Jia Yan—so I can discern if you’re truly a top-tier genius…” Tianzhi Light thought to himself as he watched Jia Yan bask in triumph.