From afar, there is the sword that stabilizes the world, and close by, the Ba Dao that subdues all beings.
This well-known saying has two meanings: Over two thousand years ago, in the early days of the founding of Huiyao, the sword Combat Technique had already rendered great services to the Huiyao Imperial Court. The Sword Annihilation Squad established in those early days achieved tremendous fame, with accomplishments of destroying cities and factions beyond estimation.
The Ba Dao style, on the other hand, is a modern developing new Combat Technique system. Although it only has a few hundred years of history, it has swept many old Combat Techniques into the annals of history. It shone brightly when facing the Western foreign 'Blood Thorn East Expedition Army,' thereby earning the reputation of 'from afar, the sword; close by, the Ba Dao.'
Besides, this saying also has its literal meaning: The sword Combat Technique is unmatched in long-range attacks, while the Ba Dao Combat Technique is invincible in close combat!
However, the Ba Dao Combat Technique incorporates various techniques, gradually forming a major school. Ordinary people spend their entire lives mastering only branches of it, thus Ba Dao has been divided into several Combat Techniques, collectively known as Ba Dao style.
The Biting Battle Technique of Qianyu Style and the Pounce Battle Technique of Xia Lingguo are two major Combat Technique systems of the Ba Dao style!
If the true essence of the Biting Battle Technique is 'bite to the death,' then the Pounce Battle Technique is 'unceasing pounces,' wherein the primary attack strategy is to use both hands and feet to deliver continuous strikes every second, overwhelming the enemy like a severe storm, similar to a relentless fly swatter seamlessly killing the enemy!
The biggest characteristic of the Pounce Battle Technique is that it is an aerial Combat Technique. Practitioners utilize a series of kicks to temporarily hover, while their hands ceaselessly attack the enemy's head. The enemy, often unable to defend against both hands and feet at once, is easily overpowered by the rapid strikes of this rain-beat-palm-leaf-level, eventually leading to defeat.
Thankfully, the battle was taking place in a large square. If it were in a narrow room with walls to assist, Xia Lingguo could practically move through space like Spider-Man, delivering a 360° all-encompassing assault on Le Yuxin, giving him the feeling of being besieged by a crowd.
'This man's strength is not beneath mine!'
Looking silently at Xia Lingguo in front of him, Le Yuxin couldn't help but curse inwardly at Yingyin Yin — wasn't this supposed to be a King crushing a Bronze match? Why is there a super master demolishing the fish pond on the other side?
In terms of the system panel, Xia Lingguo's Ba Dao style Pounce Battle Technique is at the same beginner level as Le Yuxin's — even though they are very powerful, the system still considers this level to be beginner — there is not much difference in strength between the two, and Le Yuxin couldn't ensure victory over Xia Lingguo!
Could it be that Xia Lingguo is the real traitor?
His trump card is his concealed prowess, which without any tricks, can uprightly defeat me and seize the victory for the White Night division?
A thousand thoughts raced through Le Yuxin's mind, yet at that moment, Xia Lingguo's feet gleamed, and a powerful whip kick sliced through the air, eager to greet his face!
Once blocking or grabbing his leg, he would instantly take advantage of the leverage for an aerial assault; not grabbing his leg, the punches and palm attacks wouldn't even touch him, leaving no option but to keep defending!
Le Yuxin suddenly crouched low, evading the Flowing Light Kick, sweeping his leg towards Xia Lingguo's other leg! Naturally, there was no such move in the Biting Battle Technique, but when Le Yuxin was little and fought with taekwondo kids, he loved to sweep their legs when they kicked, often knocking them to the ground!
But reality proved that what was easy as a child isn't necessarily doable as an adult, such as entering women's baths, or Le Yuxin's undercut sweep; instead, Xia Lingguo's leg remained immobile as though striking a steel plank!
How could a Martial Artist daring to kick be afraid of a lower attack?
But Le Yuxin had another move — Desolate Bite!
However, because Le Yuxin was crouched low, his punch and palm targets naturally lowered, and attacking from below meant his move resembled the secret peach-stealing technique aiming three inches below the navel.
But during their explosive battle, onlookers outside could only see the two entwined, unable to discern details, so Le Yuxin wasn't worried that this potentially harmful-to-heaven secret move would damage his reputation.
Just as the vital area was about to be attacked, Xia Lingguo's expression was unchanged as his extended foot suddenly stepped on Le Yuxin's shoulder, using the momentum to leap away, dodging Le Yuxin's shameless peach-stealing Desolate Bite, while gaining an airborne advantageous position.
Damn!
Le Yuxin quickly advanced and turned to face the enemy, but the Battle Technique developed over hundreds of years had long calculated all possible struggles of the victim. Xia Lingguo lightly hooked Le Yuxin's shoulder with his toe, his figure moved parallelly in mid-air, and simultaneously his hands and feet erupted with light explosions, assaulting Le Yuxin like a fierce beast!
Bang bang bang bang!
The continuous sound of light explosions echoed, and nearby spectators saw them fighting from west to east, from above you to in front of you, back and forth. The battle was intensely fierce!
"You've changed."
In the impenetrable punches and kicks, Le Yuxin suddenly heard these words from Xia Lingguo, couldn't help but laugh and said, "Am I that familiar with you?"
In the memory of Qianyu Style, there was almost no information about Xia Lingguo, not even a few meetings, let alone a word exchanged before today, he was completely a stranger.
"You don't know me, but I know you." While speaking, Xia Lingguo fiercely kicked Le Yuxin's face: "I have been watching you, even when you joined the Statistical Department, I have always been watching."
Boom!
While retreating to dispel Xia Lingguo's offensive, Le Yuxin showed a disgusted expression: "Yuck, how disgusting, can you cross-dress before talking to me?"
Though Le Yuxin's mouth was full of insults, in truth, he was extremely panicked, thinking that Xia Lingguo is not just a traitor, but perhaps also discovered that Qianyu Style was the insider sent by White Night to the Statistical Department?
Xia Lingguo was completely immune to Le Yuxin's trash talk, continuously pounding Le Yuxin's head with his fists: "Qianyu Style, you and I are the same kind of person."
He admitted it!
Qianyu Style is the traitor, Xia Lingguo = Qianyu Style, so Xia Lingguo is also a traitor!
"But now, you are no longer."
Hmm? Le Yuxin blinked, pushing forward with both palms, launching an explosive flood to try to knock Xia Lingguo away, and softly asked, "Why not?"
"Your eyes no longer terrify, your fists no longer hurt, even your explosive light is so gentle." Taking advantage of the edge of the flood, Xia Lingguo once again circled to Le Yuxin's back, calmly whispering: "If it were the old you, I would have lost a long time ago."
"You mean I have no killing intent?" Le Yuxin abruptly turned, claw-breaking through the air, shaking explosively, shooting Palm Force light bursts like cannons!
Biting Battle Technique·Desolate Bite Flood!
"We don't need a killing intent." Xia Lingguo launched two consecutive Flowing Light Kicks to meet Le Yuxin's attack head-on, his fists like heavy hammers fiercely striking towards Le Yuxin's temple: "Killing is as natural to us as breathing."
"Are you saying I can't be as twisted as you?!" Le Yuxin dodged backward, drawing circles with both hands to trap Xia Lingguo's fists.
Biting Battle Technique · Cosmic Belt!
"No, it's that you've become strange." Xia Lingguo grasped Le Yuxin's hands in reverse, using the momentum to stand inverted, his entire body soared above Le Yuxin, gazing face to face in mid-air, his eyes that were previously as calm as still water showing a ripple:
"We are all swords destined to be broken, why have you put yours in a sheath?"
Residual Blood Physique.
Seeing Xia Lingguo's ultimate expressionless face up close, Le Yuxin instantly understood Xia Lingguo's true nature - like Qian Yu Liu, they are non-emotive individuals with Residual Blood Physique!
People like them, cold-blooded by nature, aren't affected by any negative emotions, but for that reason, they also can't be immersed in positive emotions - it's because of suffering that one can appreciate joy; having to work makes gaming fun; experiencing constipation makes fast metabolism seem precious.
Many beautiful things can only be felt through contrast; one wouldn't appreciate the joy of fullness if they hadn't been hungry.
Cold-blooded individuals are accustomed to all positive emotions, finding it hard to derive happiness from living, uninterested in everything, always displaying lifeless expressions. Le Yuxin was able to recognize Xia Lingguo's secret mainly because his expression was too much like Qian Yu Liu - Qian Yu Liu always exhibited that orphan look when facing a mirror growing up!
Xia Lingguo said that the current Qian Yu Liu wasn't on the same path anymore and brought up the sword sheath thing, actually indicating that Qian Yu Liu's internal soul had changed. Compared to the expressionless intelligent robot Qian Yu Liu, Le Yuxin as the driver certainly makes Qian Yu Liu more vivid and lively.
While understanding this point, it didn't help at all in the current fight, so Le Yuxin went along with his words: "You think the sword sheath made me weaker?"
"Of course, the former you could fight ten of the current you."
Is the gap that wide!?
"Moreover..."
Xia Lingguo suddenly flipped over to Le Yuxin's back, forcefully gripping his shoulders, using just a grasp to complete an air maneuver, with his right hand and foot simultaneously delivering elbow and knee strikes against Le Yuxin's nape, like twin stars shooting through the sun!
"A sword still sheathed, what can it cut!?"
Bam bam!
Le Yuxin groaned softly.
Although he quickly turned around and blocked Xia Lingguo's strike with his arms, it wasn't without cost, even though protected by the Residual Blood Physique, he felt his arms were like they've been heated packs stuck — probably bruised and swollen.
In fact, his whole body felt somewhat hot; Xia Lingguo's stormy assault was not without meaning, Le Yuxin felt his stamina was reduced by two-thirds, and if the pain wasn't inhibited, he'd surely be rolling on the ground in agony.
Even though he wasn't afraid of pain, ultimately, his stamina would be exhausted; Le Yuxin felt his strength was waning, at this rate, he would definitely lose!
However, Le Yuxin wasn't just blabbering to Xia Lingguo!
Le Yuxin pushed with both hands, repelling Xia Lingguo, laughing: "If a sword had no sheath, it would break sooner or later."
Xia Lingguo shook his head gently: "Swords are meant to break, you're just letting yourself rust in vain."
When retreating, Xia Lingguo suddenly realized he had backed into the wall, instinctively stomping against the wall to rebound and hover.
Yet, in the next instant, Xia Lingguo realized he had made a mistake!
He noticed that after Le Yuxin countered his elbow and knee strike, throughout his retreat and wall rebounding hover, Le Yuxin hadn't moved a bit, his feet heavily planted on the ground, the morning sunlight weaving almost tangible golden flames beneath his feet, dazzlingly remarkable!
The combat techniques of the Ba Dao style mutually reference and fuse, although the Pounce technique is the only leg-focused combat technique within Ba Dao, there are leg-driven techniques in the Biting Battle Technique as well!
All Pounce techniques are based on exploiting gaps in the opponent's technique for momentum, but once the Biting technique activates, there's no time to leverage momentum!
"A hidden sword ready to strike only when needed, Xia Lingguo, you certainly don't understand!"
Ba Dao Biting Battle Technique · Cosmic Belt!
The only technique in the Biting Battle requiring stationary power accumulation; once charged, it can burst with incredible speed, achieving almost teleportation-like displacement effects along with immense kinetic impact in the charge!
However, the attack range isn't far, and the charging effect is very noticeable; Le Yuxin must ensure Xia Lingguo doesn't stray far before charging completes!
Thus, he coaxed Xia Lingguo to the street-side wall, a Pounce technique warrior like Xia Lingguo would instinctively stomp the wall to rebound, not escaping, but actively charging toward Le Yuxin!
Le Yuxin stomped heavily, light flare spilling out, in an instant, his whole body swept across the sky, crashing into Xia Lingguo's embrace!
Boom!
Xia Lingguo felt like his abdomen was hit by a cannonball, he spat a mouthful of blood with a moan, slammed back into the wall, and slid to the ground with a thud, trying to prop himself up but couldn't get back up.
Le Yuxin brushed off the dust from his body, Xia Lingguo's shoes had apparently stepped on something in the morning, leaving stains all over Le Yuxin's clothes. This warrior fond of leg movements is really unhygienic; the Glorious Imperial Court should legislate that Pounce warriors must fight barefoot.
Glancing at the powerless Xia Lingguo, Le Yuxin turned around to face the spectators behind.
"Next one."