Chapter 332
Chapter 332: You Just Wait for Me
Gui Xiao Die’s Watching Fish Energy shattered instantly upon contact. Startled, she hurriedly retreated. Where she had stood moments before, the arena trembled from Wang Jie’s strike, leaving a deep imprint clearly visible.
Such tremendous strength made Gui Xiao Die gasp in shock. [Is this person even human?]
Yet, she had never underestimated Wang Jie.
She had intended to gauge his limits with Watching Fish Energy, since Wang Jie had openly defeated Yuan Mu. But her probing was useless—his strength had surpassed what she could dissolve.
If that was the case… Spirit Wander Step.
Gui Xiao Die’s figure danced gracefully, vanishing from sight on the arena stage.
Wang Jie stood motionless. Red Heaven Thunder flickered around him, etched with thunder patterns, as rain began to fall softly.
Within the rain, Gui Xiao Die gradually reappeared. Wang Jie directed his sword qi toward her, but she effortlessly dodged it. Suddenly, a fish swam through the raindrops toward him.
The sword qi sliced through the rain curtain, tearing the fish apart, yet leaving a blank space behind.
Watching Fish Energy itself could neutralize attacks.
Sword qi was also a form of power.
If he wished to sever Watching Fish Energy completely, he would need to use even more sword qi.
Countless fish appeared, swimming freely beneath the rain.
Behind Wang Jie, six swords emerged, initiating the Sword Rain Technique.
From afar, everyone beheld a remarkable scene. Beneath the rainfall, Wang Jie stood still while Gui Xiao Die flitted around gracefully, resembling a mutated butterfly. Fish danced through the downpour, occasionally shredded apart by invisible blades within the rain.
At first glance, the sight was strangely beautiful.
Yet only Wang Jie and Gui Xiao Die knew how fierce this battle truly was.
It was not merely a contest of star force against lock force, but also one of unwavering resolve.
Wang Jie did not hasten his attack. Meanwhile, Gui Xiao Die continued weaving through the sword qi rain using Spirit Wander Step.
During the Celestial Balance battles, Gui Xiao Die had defeated Xiao Mu. Xiao Mu was among the powerful opponents Si Yao had once shown Wang Jie, capable of the technique Delayed Blade, a strike certain to appear, yet unpredictable in timing and position.
Gui Xiao Die’s solution to that blade had neither been Watching Fish Energy nor Spirit Wander Step, but another mysterious skill entirely.
Wang Jie had carefully watched the replay and was deeply curious about that technique.
Therefore, Starry Finger Method.
If dense rain alone could not break Spirit Wander Step, what about adding finger shadows into the mix? He refused to believe any footwork could perfectly evade every skill.
As Starry Finger was unleashed, countless finger shadows formed beneath the rain, striking repeatedly.
Gui Xiao Die finally faltered. Dodging the six blades of Sword Rain Technique had already pushed her to her limits.
Since evasion was impossible, she ceased movement altogether.
Star force surged through her body, spreading beneath her feet like a tranquil lake. Swimming fish appeared within the lake of star force. At that moment, neither sword qi rain nor Starry Finger Method could reach her. Gui Xiao Die stood as though deeply rooted within this lake of star force.
In the Black White Heaven, Zhi Yu sighed in admiration: “Tree Guardian Stance—a supreme defensive technique from Han Yan Ferry, evolved from the North Ming Forgetting Art. Long ago, I battled Yu Qian Jiang himself at the river’s mouth. I couldn’t shake this move. Only by disrupting his star force for a fleeting instant using my family’s Fixed Star Technique could I escape the dual binding of Tree Guardian Stance and Watching Fish Energy.”
“I wonder how this boy plans to overcome it.”
Beneath Gui Xiao Die’s feet, the lake of star force spread steadily. Sword qi visibly curved upon nearing her, as though guided by an invisible force, absorbed directly into the lake.
Wang Jie extended one finger. Starry Finger Method merged into a single strike, descending sharply upon Gui Xiao Die.
Gui Xiao Die turned her palm upward, lifting her hand. Instantly, branches of star force bloomed beneath her feet, rising along her body, Force fully blocking the descending finger.
No matter how Starry Finger pressed down, it could not budge her.
Meanwhile, the star force lake crept steadily toward Wang Jie.
Step by step, Wang Jie retreated—but the arena was limited. He could retreat no further.
He unleashed a sword strike.
The sword qi instantly dissolved into the star force lake.
Gui Xiao Die cast a cold glance toward him, saying icily, “The ultimate technique of Han Yan Ferry is not something you can break.”
Wang Jie gazed deeply into the lake of star force.
“Unraveling threads, returning to the essence.”
Gui Xiao Die’s eyes widened slightly. [He actually saw through it?]
Indeed, the essence of Tree Guardian Stance lay in unraveling and returning all enemy power to its pure star force origin, absorbing it through Watching Fish Energy.
This method appeared simple, yet was extremely difficult to cultivate.
Only after training tirelessly at Thousand Rivers had she reached this point, believing herself unbeatable.
Yet this person had grasped its secret so quickly.
Still, even if he had understood, could he break it? At most, it merely proved his extraordinary insight.
Wang Jie had discerned it precisely because of his training in Mid-Tempered Sword Threads. His mind was no longer limited by surface appearances. If sword qi could be unraveled, why couldn’t this defensive stance? Observing briefly was enough to reveal its essence.
Though others might struggle to break this stance, he might not.
Without hesitation, he stepped directly into the star force lake, looked up at Gui Xiao Die, and smiled lightly. “Have you forgotten? My cultivation is lock force.”
Gui Xiao Die raised an eyebrow and sneered, “So what? As long as it’s power, it can be stripped and absorbed.”
“Only if your star force can suppress my lock force,” Wang Jie replied calmly.
Gui Xiao Die laughed lightly, amused: “You don’t truly believe your lock force could possibly be stronger or deeper than my star force?”
“Then let’s test it,” Wang Jie replied calmly. He stood firmly upon the lake of star force, lifting his right hand, palm facing downward. In the next moment, an immense surge of lock force cascaded forth, crashing against the lake below. With a thunderous boom, the stage trembled as if floodgates had opened, and the lake of star force was briefly swept away.
Gui Xiao Die gave a cold smile. Since she had cultivated the Tree Guardian Stance, how could she overlook this? To break her technique, one’s star force had to be not just greater, but overwhelming—many times stronger. The Tree Guardian Stance naturally stripped away star force; no one without overwhelmingly superior star force could surpass it.
And she was certain no one possessed star force significantly greater than hers, for she had tirelessly trained her star force.
But lock force was different. The Tree Guardian Stance peeled away lock force much more slowly. Wang Jie needed only slightly more than a tenth of her star force in lock force to free himself from the Tree Guardian Stance. But was that even possible? She had absolute confidence in the vast reserves of star force within her.
This man intended to compete in sheer quantity with her? Ridiculous.
Wang Jie also found it amusing.
[Might as well play a little.]
The entire stage transformed into an ocean of lock force and star force. Gui Xiao Die’s star force blanketed the arena, threatening to drown Wang Jie. But beneath Wang Jie’s feet, lock force pierced through like a needle, expanding steadily, pushing back the star force wave.
All who knew Gui Xiao Die were certain Wang Jie could never break this move.
Yet, as time passed, the lock force beneath Wang Jie spread wider and wider, while Gui Xiao Die’s star force lake gradually retreated.
Gui Xiao Die furrowed her brow, releasing a torrent of star force from within herself without reservation, knowing she’d have time to rest after the match. She had to win; the ancestor had promised that person.
But no matter how much star force she unleashed, Wang Jie’s lock force continued to surge forth relentlessly, seemingly without end.
The powers both unleashed far surpassed even the full star realm. Not even experts of the wandering star realm possessed star force or lock force so vast, yet still they continued.
Gui Xiao Die’s expression finally changed.
Wang Jie, however, remained calm.
Time continued to pass. Gui Xiao Die stared at Wang Jie in disbelief. How was this possible? How did he still have more lock force? From where?
Wang Jie was likewise slightly astonished. [This Gui Xiao Die’s star force is surprisingly vast. Probably necessary for that Tree Guardian technique. But she has no idea how much lock force I really have.]
Seeing the dire situation, Gui Xiao Die could no longer bear it.
Her star force was nearly exhausted, while Wang Jie continued steadily, still releasing lock force. Even if he reached his limit, they’d merely be equal. She intended to win, but the thought of facing Wang Jie’s terrifying physical strength without star force made her anxious.
[No, I must gamble.]
[How does he have so much lock force? Is he insane?]
With that thought, she immediately sat cross-legged, closing her eyes, activating Forgetful Northern Abyss.
Wang Jie suddenly charged toward her, raising his palm to end the fight.
Gui Xiao Die’s eyes opened, pupils turning a ghostly gray-white, her entire aura icy, as though she’d become another person entirely. The instant Wang Jie glimpsed those pale gray eyes, his movements abruptly halted, his body tumbling forward uncontrollably due to inertia.
Seizing this opportunity, Gui Xiao Die unleashed the Fish-Watching Strike, intending to knock Wang Jie out of the arena.
Outside, countless people stared, confused about what had just occurred.
Someone exclaimed, “Forgetful Northern Abyss of the Cold Mist Ferry—it can erase an enemy’s memory of their next action in an instant. A terrifying move. If used properly, no matter how strong the enemy, victory could be overturned. It’s the Gui family’s trump card.”
“Can such a thing be real?”
“Forgetting?”
“How shameless.”
Forgetful Northern Abyss appeared before countless viewers across the cosmos.
Figures like Black White Heaven, Qing Zheng, and Old Five cursed Gui Xiao Die’s treachery. Yet on a battlefield, there was no shamelessness—only victory or defeat.
Just as Wang Jie was about to be knocked offstage, at the critical moment, he abruptly shattered the Fish-Watching Strike with one palm. With a casual flick, his sword emerged, slashing toward Gui Xiao Die.
Gui Xiao Die paid no attention. Attempting to use the inertia of drawing his sword to break free from Forgetful Northern Abyss? If it were so easily overcome, how could Cold Mist Ferry rule the Thousand Rivers?
Having lost his memory, he’d also momentarily lost control of his sword.
A blade without control, could it possibly injure her?
Her gray-white eyes gazed indifferently at Wang Jie. In an instant, Wang Jie again became dazed—but his sword still descended upon Gui Xiao Die.
Gui Xiao Die remained utterly unconcerned—until a flash of icy brilliance passed by.
Her gray-white eyes instantly returned to normal, staring blankly at the blade’s passage. How… how was it possible?
A thin line of blood appeared vividly upon her neck.
Wang Jie recovered swiftly from his brief confusion, noticing Gui Xiao Die’s stunned expression, amused. [This woman couldn’t possibly know I don’t control the sword with lock force, but with that inexplicable grasp called Sword Form Technique. It doesn’t require lock force—the blade’s power at release is its power.]
If Gui Xiao Die had been even slightly cautious, this sword could never have harmed her.
In the end, she had too much confidence in her technique.
Wang Jie had precisely exploited that confidence.
Of course, if this strike had failed, he still had Bone Motion Art. Forgetting? Irrelevant. Bone Motion Art specialized precisely in inertia.
Gui Xiao Die—defeated.
In this duel, nearly everyone believed Gui Xiao Die had the overwhelming advantage. Ninety-nine out of a hundred were certain she’d win.
Who could have imagined her defeat?
At Cold Mist Ferry, Gui Xiao Die opened her eyes, instinctively grasping at her neck. She had tasted death.
“How was it?” someone asked.
Gui Xiao Die’s face was pale. “Why? That sword strike should never have harmed me. Why?”
“I told you long ago, Forgetful Northern Abyss isn’t invincible. Beware everyone. Battles rely not only on strength but also intellect.”
“But he clearly forgot,” Gui Xiao Die protested bitterly. “He had lost control of his sword. I refuse to accept this. I was careless. If we fought again, I’d never lose.”
“You still don’t understand. Think carefully.”
Gui Xiao Die clenched her teeth, raising her head toward the glowing screen. She saw Wang Jie standing upon the arena, casually rolling his shoulders. Fury surged within her, bitter unwillingness filling her heart. She had not truly lost. [Wang Jie, wait until the Starry Martial Meet—I’ll pay you back!]