Chapter 158. Orthodox-Unorthodox War (7)
White Forest Alliance Leader Yang Weizheng quietly stared at the man standing before him.
Their previous match had ended on a rather bitter note.
Yang Weizheng had always wanted another chance to fight him at full strength someday.
He simply hadn’t expected that day to come so soon.
What exactly is this man after?
Yang Weizheng thought about it for a moment, then immediately pushed the question from his mind.
Whatever his purpose was...
this man intended to challenge him.
Then all Yang Weizheng had to do was break him and subdue him.
In that case...
Yang Weizheng took a deep breath and drew up his internal energy.
Through countless Quests and Events, Yang Weizheng had accumulated an enormous amount of internal energy.
On top of that, thanks to his natural talent and the elite training he had received from Southern Shaolin, his martial arts skill was comparable to the old masters of the Black Dragon Society.
That was why Yang Weizheng took pride in considering himself the strongest Contractor in China.
Of course, the Unorthodox Faction refused to acknowledge that.
Kang Yujin defeated Saionji Keito, Japan’s strongest Contractor.
If Yang Weizheng defeated Kang Yujin here...
he would become the strongest Contractor not merely in China, but across all of East Asia.
I want that honor.
With that thought, Yang Weizheng stepped forward.
He reached toward Kang Yujin, unleashing movements refined to absolute efficiency.
Papapap!
Three exchanges took place in an instant.
Even this time, Kang Yujin failed to perfectly respond to Yang Weizheng’s attacks.
He’s tough!
But Yang Weizheng was impressed.
Kang Yujin’s [Protective Aura] was so solid that small techniques did almost no damage.
Yang Weizheng had already been shocked by Kang Yujin’s sturdy body during their previous match.
Now, with [Protective Aura] added on top of it, striking him felt like pounding on steel.
It wasn’t simply that Kang Yujin possessed a large amount of internal energy.
He also seemed to know how to circulate it efficiently.
But!
When it came to controlling internal energy, Yang Weizheng was also among the very best in China.
Before anyone noticed, his fingertips were shining brilliantly.
“Sever!”
The moment he swung his hand...
Kang Yujin’s protective suit tore apart and blood sprayed into the air.
The Skill [Vajra Hand].
Yang Weizheng’s hands now possessed both the hardness to never break against anything...
and the sharpness to tear through anything.
“Haaap!”
Yang Weizheng kicked toward an opening in Kang Yujin’s guard.
The Skill [Linked Divine Kicks].
A kicking technique faithful to the fundamentals yet endlessly adaptable swept toward Kang Yujin.
THUD!
Yang Weizheng’s foot slammed into Kang Yujin’s chest.
As he was pushed backward, Kang Yujin felt an impact strong enough to make his ribs feel like they were about to shatter.
He really is strong.
So this was what Yang Weizheng was capable of when freely using internal energy and Skills.
He certainly deserved to be called the strongest Contractor of China’s Orthodox Faction.
In close combat alone, he’s better than Saionji Keito.
His sharp attacks were endlessly sharp.
His heavy attacks were crushingly heavy.
Every single strike was steadily inflicting damage.
But...
Kang Yujin was certain.
He’s not an enemy I can’t beat.
That was right.
Facing the strongest of the Orthodox Faction...
perhaps even the strongest person in all of China...
Kang Yujin still felt that he had a chance.
His technique is definitely better than mine.
Yang Weizheng had received elite training since childhood.
His technical skill surpassed Kang Yujin’s.
He probably has more internal energy than me too.
Yang Weizheng had operated in China, the homeland of martial arts.
His internal energy reserves seemed larger than Kang Yujin’s.
And naturally, he’s probably better at using Skills too.
As the pinnacle of Orthodox martial Contractors, Yang Weizheng’s Skills were superior to Kang Yujin’s.
But.
Even so...
I’m the one who’ll win.
With that thought, Kang Yujin put strength into his legs.
He kicked off the ground and charged toward Yang Weizheng.
Yang Weizheng tried to respond with his usual efficient, waste-free movements.
And because those movements were so efficient...
they were easier to read.
“Ugh...!”
For the first time, Yang Weizheng’s face twisted.
Pain shot through the hand he had swung so confidently.
“The Saint’s Divine Fist...!”
The [Saint’s Divine Fist].
The S-rank equipment Kang Yujin had received as a prize after defeating Yang Weizheng at the recent martial competition.
Kang Yujin had instantly pulled it from his Inventory, equipped it, and used his gloved fist to intercept Yang Weizheng’s knife-hand strike.
No matter how exceptional Yang Weizheng’s martial arts were...
there was no way he could tear apart S-rank equipment reinforced by [Protective Aura] with his bare hands.
“Ghk!”
Yang Weizheng gritted his teeth and attacked again.
Kang Yujin, now wearing the [Saint’s Divine Fist], focused on blocking.
THUD! BANG! RUMBLE! BOOM!
Explosions echoed one after another.
Shockwaves spread around them, making it impossible for anyone else to approach.
Kang Yujin simply raised both hands and defended.
He didn’t attack.
At a glance...
it looked as though Yang Weizheng was overwhelming Kang Yujin one-sidedly.
[A-rank Constellation ‘Flower-Tattooed Monk’ exclaims that Kang Yujin is blocking everything perfectly.]
That was right.
Yang Weizheng wasn’t overwhelming him.
Kang Yujin was perfectly blocking Yang Weizheng’s relentless assault.
“Y-You bastard...!”
Tension appeared on Yang Weizheng’s face.
He increased the intensity of his offense.
Kang Yujin blocked that as well without much difficulty.
Unlike their previous match, small attacks were no longer accumulating damage.
By appropriately combining the [Saint’s Divine Fist] with [Protective Aura], Kang Yujin was completely shutting down Yang Weizheng’s attacks.
─ Yeah, Yang Weizheng is definitely exceptional.
─ Technique, internal energy, Skills... Yang Weizheng is far ahead in all of them.
─ But there’s something Kang Yujin has the advantage in too.
─ Physical ability? Sure, that’s excellent too. But that’s not what I mean.
─ I’m talking about talent.
─ Maybe instinct would be more accurate.
From his own throne, the A-rank Constellation ‘Prodigy with Three Heads and Six Arms,’ Nata, typed furiously on his Observer keyboard.
─ Kang Yujin has always fought using those instincts.
─ He would rush at his opponent and beat them down instinctively.
─ But until now, he mostly used that ability for offense.
─ It’s finally starting to evolve.
Until now, Kang Yujin had learned techniques, acquired Skills, and gained internal energy to create his current fighting style.
But beneath all of that...
Kang Yujin’s natural, animal-like instincts had also been evolving.
Not only offensively...
but defensively as well.
─ No matter how skilled Yang Weizheng is, this is already Kang Yujin’s second fight against him.
