Chapter 270: Chapter 270: Battling "Hong Nianyi" Again

Fu Yun stood about ten meters behind and to the side of Xu Wuyi, his arms crossed. He watched Xu Wuyi walk straight toward the illusion of Hong Nianyi, a knowing smile on his face.

He cleared his throat and began his explanation in a clear, measured voice:

"These nine illusions are all based on the combat records of renowned experts in Red Star’s history, recorded before they reached Level 35." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Their combat styles, Martial Arts techniques, and even their use of True Intention have all been replicated as completely as possible by ’Red.’ Even if it can only simulate eighty to ninety percent of their skill, they are still terrifyingly formidable opponents."

"The challenge is simple. You just need to last three minutes against the illusion’s attacks... Hey, wait a second!"

He hadn’t even finished speaking.

Xu Wuyi had already stepped into the sensor zone.

His gaze was completely locked onto the pale golden figure of light ahead. Fu Yun’s voice seemed to come from a great distance, automatically filtered into a muffled background noise.

Xu Wuyi’s entire Heart and Spirit was captivated by the illusion.

It was an intangible pressure. Even though the illusion hadn’t "activated" yet, and its face was indistinct, the unique aura belonging to Hong Nianyi was already radiating from the energy-constructed figure.

This was the being who had "sent" him out of the arena with a single saber strike during the youth tournament.

A countdown timer appeared without warning in the upper right corner of Xu Wuyi’s vision.

Scarlet numbers ticked down by the second.

[03:00]

[02:59]

...

’Here it comes.’

Xu Wuyi’s pupils contracted, and his heart clenched.

He hadn’t heard Fu Yun’s explanation about "lasting three minutes" at all. His mind was still set to the standard Battle Network combat mode: defeat the opponent within the time limit.

Three minutes.

’I have to defeat this illusion within three minutes.’

’Even if it’s just her state before Level 35.’

An intense sense of urgency gripped him instantly.

’As expected of Red Star’s entrance exam. The difficulty really is high!’

There was no time to hesitate, no time to devise a complex strategy.

He had to attack with everything he had!

The moment the countdown ticked to [02:58], the pale golden humanoid figure of light atop the pedestal slowly "opened" its eyes.

Two illusory yet piercingly sharp gazes penetrated the blurred facial contours and landed on Xu Wuyi.

VMMMM—!

The illusion moved.

There were no superfluous movements. He couldn’t even see how she drew her saber.

A flash of saber light, as clear and bright as autumn waters, tore through the five meters between them without warning, slashing toward Xu Wuyi’s throat!

So fast!

So fast that Xu Wuyi had almost no time to think; his body reacted on pure instinct.

He pushed his Instant Shadow Step to its limit, his figure shifting half a foot to the left like a phantom.

SHIING!

The saber light grazed the side of his neck. The sharp Saber Intention made his skin tingle painfully, and a few strands of hair, severed by the Qi Force, drifted down.

Before Xu Wuyi could even steady himself, the second strike was already upon him!

This strike was no longer a linear slash but had transformed into a continuous curtain of saber light, blanketing his entire body like flowing mercury, leaving no opening.

’Impressive!’

A surge of fighting spirit welled up in Xu Wuyi’s heart.

He knew Hong Nianyi was strong, but he never imagined that at the Same Ability Level, her speed, reflexes, and the flow of her Saber Technique could be this fast!

This wasn’t a suppression due to a higher Life Energy Level; this was pure speed!

’I can’t retreat.’

’If I get completely swept up in this Saber Momentum, I won’t last long before I’m totally suppressed and defeated.’

He had to break her rhythm!

"Hah!"

Xu Wuyi sank into a low stance. No longer dodging, he gave his long spear a sharp shake.

Eight-direction Soul Suppressing Spear—Mountain-Suppressing Form!

The shaft of the spear moved like a dragon, carrying a steady and heavy Mental Realm as it slammed brazenly into the flurry of saber light!

CLANG! CLANG-CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!

A dense series of impacts exploded like rain on banana leaves!

Every clash between the spear tip and the saber light sent a burst of fine energy sparks flying.

Xu Wuyi felt a violent tremor run up his arms, and the web between his thumb and forefinger went numb. Each of Hong Nianyi’s strikes was impossibly heavy, not at all like the force a Martial Artist of the "Same Ability Level" should be able to produce.

But he also keenly perceived that her strength was actually on par with his own.

The reason it felt so heavy was because her method of exerting force was exquisitely refined. Every strike concentrated the power of her entire body without the slightest waste. Furthermore, her Saber Intention was sharp and pure, greatly amplifying the Penetration Power of her slashes.

’Her Body Refining Technique is no less formidable than the Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace!’ Xu Wuyi realized.

Only a top-tier B-level or even higher-level Body Refining Technique could produce such a tyrannical physique and level of power control at the same Energy Level.

In the time it took for these thoughts to flash through his mind, the two had already exchanged more than ten blows.

Xu Wuyi was completely at a disadvantage.

His pride and joy, the defensive circle of his Eight-direction Soul Suppressing Spear, was struggling to keep up with Hong Nianyi’s saber light, revealing one opening after another.

This was the gap in combat experience, the disparity in the depth of their understanding of Martial Arts.

Although this illusion left behind by Hong Nianyi only possessed her strength from before Level 35, its combat intelligence and application of Martial Arts had long since surpassed the scope of an ordinary Martial Artist.

It was a good thing that after achieving Perfection in the Basic Body Refining Technique, Xu Wuyi had gained a whole new understanding of Martial Arts. Otherwise, he probably would have been defeated in the first exchange.

Although there was a slight gap in skill at the moment, it was mostly because he wasn’t accustomed to Hong Nianyi’s excessively fast Saber Technique.

SCHLICK!

A flash of saber light finally broke through the blockade of spear shadows, leaving a wound on Xu Wuyi’s left shoulder so deep the bone was visible.

The virtual sensation of pain felt real, and blood splattered.

Xu Wuyi let out a muffled grunt, but he used the force of the impact to retreat rapidly, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

’I can’t keep defending passively like this.’

The countdown had already ticked to [01:59].

A minute had passed, and not only had he failed to gain any advantage, he was covered in wounds.

’I have to change my strategy.’

’If I can’t defend, then I’ll counter-attack!’

His advantage had never been perfect technique. It was the powerful physique and abundant Qi and Blood from his Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace, and... his unique True Intent Flame!

’Melting Furnace Boiling Blood!’

Xu Wuyi roared in his mind, no longer holding anything back.

BOOM!

A dark red flame of Qi and Blood shot toward the sky, flecked with wisps of golden light. The temperature in the Cultivation Room rose sharply.

His aura instantly surged, and his speed, strength, and reflexes all improved dramatically!

The spear in his hand transformed into a furious, dark red dragon. He no longer sought a perfect defense but instead attacked to defend, each thrust aimed to kill. He counter-attacked Hong Nianyi’s saber light with a ferocious aura bent on incinerating everything.

Trading injury for injury!

SCHLICK! SCHLICK!

Two more saber wounds instantly appeared on Xu Wuyi’s body, but he seemed not to notice. His spear was like a flood dragon emerging from its cave, latching onto Hong Nianyi’s Saber Momentum.

Finally, during a perilously close exchange, the tip of his spear grazed the left arm of Hong Nianyi’s illusion.

A wisp of dark golden flame, like a living vine, instantly clung to it and climbed!

Undying Flame!