Beggar Cultivation System-Chapter 319: Presence

Apollo had gotten this idea after the original Apollo Leone had taken over his body—a combination of all the Techniques he had learned and created, forming an ultimate power concentrated in his right hand.

At the time, he was terrified that he might lose an arm, unable to withstand such immense force. Fortunately, the original owner of the body hadn't used the Technique.

Using that idea, Apollo tried to replicate it. But alas, he didn't know how the original body had executed it. Whenever he attempted it, the Techniques would collide with each other, forcing him to summon them in disarray around him.

Of course, he could combine some of these Techniques, but not to the crazy extent the original body had achieved. The original owner could even remember and perfectly execute ideas he had casually thought of.

That kid was basically a cheat code, Apollo thought, recalling the original owner of his body.

Floating in the midst of the chaotic array of Techniques, Apollo smirked at his opponent.

"Afraid? You should be," Apollo said.

"M-me? A-afraid?" Kuo stammered, clenching his fists. Yes! I am afraid! These Techniques in front of me are not a trick! Should I surrender? But can I? His internal conflict left him frozen and unsure of what to do.

"It seems like you are," Apollo chuckled. "Anyway, if you survive this, it's your luck—but I highly doubt it. With the external Qi flowing into you, it might be enough to protect you."

Hearing this, Kuo's eyes widened. He knows about it… This realization struck him like a hammer. He had been a fool to think he could kill his opponent.

If this beggar kid already knew he was receiving assistance from his Master and still believed he could win, then Kuo, who had been in denial, had no choice but to accept the truth. His opponent was someone far beyond his ability to defeat.

With this realization, he gritted his teeth. "So what if I can't defeat you?! I will throw my life away just to prove I'm superior to people like you!" Kuo roared, his body erupting with newfound strength.

Even though he understood the disparity between them, Kuo refused to back down.

"Then don't blame me," Apollo sighed, waving the tree branch he held at Kuo.

As if on cue, the dozens of Techniques surrounding Apollo shot toward Kuo at breakneck speed!

Kuo charged forward as well, his fist pulled back. Water Chains trailed behind him, and the Great Serpent's head followed with its mouth wide open.

The collision triggered a powerful explosion, causing the entire mountain to tremble violently. The battlefield was engulfed in a kaleidoscope of colors, blinding onlookers.

The protective barrier shielding the surrounding buildings began to crack. If the battle continued, it wouldn't be long before the shield shattered entirely.

On the balcony where Filly was watching, the water-attributed falcon returned to its normal size, wrapping Filly in its wings to shield her.

Meanwhile, on the other side, where Axton and the others stood, the Great Serpent Headmaster glanced at the Mayor with a frown.

"You're not going to be able to maintain the barrier," Axton said.

"Yes," Mayor Mathias replied, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Care to help?"

Axton nodded, glancing at Elmo and Master Popo. The three of them raised their hands, channeling their Qi to stabilize the shield.

Even with their combined efforts, they could feel the overwhelming resistance crashing against the barrier.

"He's been hiding this kind of strength," Mathias said. "This strength is almost equivalent to a 3rd-Step Core Creation Stage."

"Then why didn't he use this against Klown?" Elmo asked, unable to hold back his curiosity.

"He was probably just playing at that time," Master Popo commented.

Axton remained silent. There were too many mysteries surrounding the Wanderer Yoma—his true cultivation, his real strength. Axton wouldn't be surprised if Yoma was holding back even now. It wasn't worth trying to gauge the beggar's real abilities.

"He didn't die, right?" Nathan asked from the side as he joined in stabilizing the shield.

"Who? That beggar? From the looks of it, he's not," Master Popo said, his robes flapping wildly in the intense wind, inadvertently exposing something that shouldn't be seen by the public.

Already accustomed to it, the people on the balcony didn't say a word.

"I'm talking about Kuo-Pal," Nathan clarified, a hint of worry in his voice. He wasn't concerned out of care for the kid but because he didn't want that old man to direct his wrath at them.

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Hearing this, they only now realized they had been ignoring the one truly in danger.

"Uncle Li, Kuo is in d—" Axton began, turning hurriedly to Master Li, but he couldn't finish his words as the old man was already gone.

---

The massive explosion continued for a while longer before the blinding light began to dissipate.

What greeted their eyes was utter devastation. The entire area was in shambles, with a giant crater at least a hundred meters deep. The battlefield itself looked like a shattered mirror, broken into thousands of pieces.

At the center of it all stood Apollo and two other people.

The shield is still intact. They must've spent most of their Refined Qi, Apollo thought as he glanced at one of the balconies. But that wasn't what mattered most.

His gaze shifted to where Kuo was, now surrounded by a water barrier. It appeared to be a simple barrier, one that seemed fragile enough to shatter with a single punch. However, when Apollo tried to extend his senses through it, he felt as though he was facing an immovable rock wall.

"Water Barrier—an elementary Battle Technique anyone in the Great Serpent could learn. But when someone at my caliber uses it, not even a 3rd-Step Core Creation Stage can break it," the man standing in front of Kuo said coldly.

"Yeah, I figured," Apollo replied, his eyes fixed on the old man from the Middle Continent.

"Do you know my name?" Master Li asked.

"Something Master? Master Lu? Master La? Master Le? Or Master—"

"Master Li," the old man corrected.

"That's what I was about to say," Apollo said with a nod, his body still in the beginner stage of the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation. "Anyway, I clearly won this fight. You remember our deal, right?"

Apollo glanced at his monkey, still in Master Li's hands. Bubba was long unconscious, foam bubbling from his mouth. The shock of being in constant peril had likely caused severe damage to the poor creature, especially after that last explosion.

"You have the presence of the Great Serpent," Master Li said, his eyes narrowing at the beggar boy threateningly. "Who are you?"