Seeking Martial Dao in All Reborn Lives
Chapter 168 - 166: Effect (Part 2)
CLANG!
He abruptly drew a Silver Needle and pierced it into Zhao Xuanqi’s head.
His skin perceived the subtle vibrations from the Silver Needle, instantly revealing the flow of Qi and Blood within Zhao Xuanqi’s brain.
The second needle, the third, the fourth...
This miraculous Acupuncture Technique left Shi Huai’an and Fan Shiyan dumbfounded as they watched from the side.
The Southern Heaven Su Family’s medical arts had once outshone their martial reputation. It was clear now that their fame was well-deserved.
And as Zhang Hongyun placed more needles, a terrifying change came over Zhao Xuanqi.
His eyes snapped open. A terrifying, inhuman light flickered within them, making it seem as if the entire courtyard was instantly filled with arcs of electricity.
ROAR!!
Within his aura, terrifying dark clouds began to spread rapidly. A deafening roar tore through the mist as the head of an Exotic Beast poked through. Its eyes, which held the look of a higher-order being, were filled with an unspeakable tyranny.
The head of a Qilin had taken Form!
As Zhao Xuanqi entered a manic state under the influence of the Acupuncture Technique and the Qilin’s Intent appeared, his body began to change accordingly.
BANG! BANG!!
His muscles stretched and his bones shifted, as if he were transforming from a man into a true Exotic Beast.
At the same time, the sound of a rushing river echoed from within his body. The pores all over him sealed shut, and every hair on his body stood on end.
Various Secret Techniques activated and stacked in an instant.
Fueled by his immense Physical Ability, the aura swelled once more, becoming increasingly distinct to their senses.
The critical moment was at hand!!
"It’s up to you two!"
Zhang Hongyun’s expression changed drastically at this development. He hadn’t expected Zhao Xuanqi to still be able to use his Secret Techniques during an instinctual rampage. ’Has the use of these techniques been carved into his very instincts?!’
He had recently experienced firsthand just how terrifying Zhao Xuanqi was with all his Secret Techniques active at once.
RIP!!
Just as he spoke, the special ropes binding Zhao Xuanqi suddenly snapped. His wrist had bent backward as if dislocated, and with a light swipe of his palm, he had unleashed Blade Qi with Inch Force from an incredible angle to sever them.
How could the Qilin’s Intent allow itself to be held captive?
"We know!"
On the other side, Shi Huai’an and Fan Shiyan had recognized the gravity of the situation the moment Zhao Xuanqi moved. Instantly, not only did their respective schools’ true Forms manifest, but they also stacked various Secret Techniques of the Three Qi Realm. They held nothing back, unleashing everything as if this were a life-or-death battle.
ROAR!
VMMM!
The two men lunged at Zhao Xuanqi. Within their auras, a White Tiger and a Black Tortoise pounced simultaneously toward the imperious head of the Qilin.
Just then, Zhao Xuanqi moved. With a sudden shake of his hands and a twist of his body, he broke free from the iron chains binding him. He then dropped into a horse stance, crossing his hands before him.
Then, he violently pulled them apart.
ROAR!!
Two roaring Forms of Qilin heads made of Gang Qi shot out, meeting Shi Huai’an and Fan Shiyan head-on.
BOOM!!
The three forces collided. A terrifying power exploded, and the ground beneath Zhao Xuanqi’s feet caved in.
Despite going all out, the combined force of Shi Huai’an and Fan Shiyan was sent stumbling back several steps by Zhao Xuanqi.
Disbelief filled their eyes.
’So this is the power of the Holy Beast Fist’s Secret Techniques when fully unleashed?! His strength is only at the One Qi Realm Training Method level, yet he repelled both of us at once?!’
However, Zhao Xuanqi was clearly not unaffected. His body stiffened, the shock of their combined attack leaving him briefly paralyzed.
"Hurry up! We can’t hold out for long!"
Fan Shiyan roared at Zhang Hongyun.
"I know!"
Zhang Hongyun’s voice rang out as his figure shot forward.
Aided by his Doumu Primordial Soul, his Perception Power was at its peak. This was also the moment Zhao Xuanqi’s aura was at its most intense. In this state, the flaw he had sensed within that majestic aura the night before reappeared, magnified even further.
The Spirit cannot be separated from the flesh; it is inevitably influenced by the body. A flaw in one’s spiritual aura would therefore also manifest physically.
’By adjusting the body’s functions, it might be possible to correct this flaw!’
Moving Stars and Changing Dipper!!
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!!
Zhang Hongyun’s hands were a blur. In an instant, more than a dozen Silver Needles landed on Zhao Xuanqi’s body, altering his various vital functions.
BOOM!!
Just then, Zhao Xuanqi recovered from his paralysis and went berserk again. Zhang Hongyun had no choice but to retreat and leave the suppression to Shi Huai’an and Fan Shiyan.
After several exchanges, all three of them felt a profound sense of exhaustion. This was especially true for Zhang Hongyun; using the Doumu Primordial Soul for so long was a massive drain on both his body and Spirit.
Only Zhang Hongyun himself knew the immense pressure of trying to carefully perceive anything while resisting that terrifying aura.
’My power... it’s still too weak.’
After dozens of Silver Needles had been placed, Zhao Xuanqi finally reacted.
THUMP-THUMP-THUMP!!
His body froze in place as a change occurred deep within him.
Deep within Zhao Xuanqi’s consciousness, his sense of self, which had been holding firm, suddenly wavered.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a black space that resembled a starry sky.
Across from him stood another version of himself.
’No, that’s Zhao Qi.’
He looked just as he had when Zhao Xuanqi had first been reincarnated into this body: thin and weak, standing vacantly in place with no light in his eyes.
’The suppressed alternate personality?’
Zhao Xuanqi frowned slightly and spoke. "Zhao Qi? You’re already dead. Even if you are still alive, you have no chance of taking this body back. Just give everything to me. I can fulfill your wish, help you get your revenge, and protect Zhao Qin."
The Zhao Qi across from him remained standing vacantly, showing no reaction.
"Zhao Qi?"
"Zhao Jinwen?"
"..."
Zhao Xuanqi called out several more times, but the figure gave no response. A powerful sense of irritation welled up inside him.
A savage grin touched his lips. He took a sudden step forward and blasted a palm strike at Zhao Qi.
"If you won’t talk, I’ll take it by force. No matter what, everything that was yours is now mine!!"
BOOM!!
The palm strike slammed into Zhao Qi’s chest. The frail figure flew backward, seeming to turn far more illusory for a moment. But the figure didn’t dissipate. Instead, it slowly got back up, its expression just as hollow and dull as before.
The real Zhao Qi had died long ago. This was merely the instinct of the body, which Zhao Xuanqi had yet to fully merge with.
His figure flickered as he prepared to strike again, to completely eliminate this obstacle and take full control of the body.
Suddenly, everything around him began to shake. He felt his strength draining away, and the figure before him grew illusory once more.
「Back in the outside world.」
ROAR!!
The massive beast within the dark clouds struggled violently. Two gigantic, wolf-like legs stepped out from the gloom, attached to a body like a divine deer covered in wondrous scales.
The Qilin’s Form, a full half of its body, broke free from the shackles of the dark clouds, revealing itself with brazen abandon.
The aura, now intense to the extreme, instantly made everyone present feel as if they were frozen solid.
PUFF!!
The one most affected was naturally Zhang Hongyun, whose Spiritual Sense was enhanced to its absolute limit. Forget about trying to find the flaw and place more needles; he couldn’t even withstand the pressure of the aura. The impact sent him staggering back, and he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood before collapsing to the ground.
And by stopping the acupuncture, he had also caused Zhao Xuanqi to lose the opportunity to make further contact with the residual instincts of his body.
"Pull out the needle in his Baihui Acupoint, or we’re in deep trouble!!"
Zhang Hongyun roared.
Shi Huai’an and Fan Shiyan gritted their teeth. Enduring the terrifying aura that made even masters of their caliber feel their bodies go rigid, they advanced step by step under the giant beast’s gaze.
Fortunately, Zhao Xuanqi was still paralyzed by the changes in his body and made no move.
Fan Shiyan moved a step ahead and instantly pulled the Silver Needle from the Baihui Acupoint on Zhao Xuanqi’s head.
Instantly, the immense aura diminished significantly. The ferocious light in Zhao Xuanqi’s eyes faded, and his senses returned to normal.
HUFF! HUFF!!
Fan Shiyan and Shi Huai’an gasped for breath, partly due to the massive drain on their Physical Ability from using their techniques, and partly from having just escaped that terrifying aura.
Only then did they realize their backs were completely drenched in cold sweat.