Chapter 25: An Endless Array of Techniques!
"Earth Class Dou Technique?"
By now, Sun Hai and Wu Qiu had long since shed their earlier contempt. Feeling the violently agitated energy of heaven and earth, this was absolutely not something a Mysterious Class Dou Technique could cause.
'Earth Class'—these two simple words rendered the entire surroundings dead silent. In an instant, one could hear a pin drop.
Mysterious Class High-tier and Earth Class—although the gap was merely a single class, the difference between them was as vast as the distance between heaven and earth.
Mysterious Class Dou Techniques mostly relied on the user's own strength to unleash their power. Earth Class Dou Techniques, however, were already capable of borrowing the energy of heaven and earth to achieve destructive force. One relied on human strength, the other on the power of heaven and earth—the superiority between the two was clear at a glance.
Though Mysterious Class Dou Techniques were quite rare and precious, who among those able to enter the Inner Academy was not an elite of Jia Nan Academy? Even if they didn't possess Mysterious Class High-tier techniques, Mysterious Class Mid-tier and Low-tier were surely in their possession.
But as for Earth Class Dou Techniques—no one had yet heard of anyone possessing such a technique.
Earth Class Dou Techniques served as powerful trump cards even at the Dou Wang and Dou Huang stages. Amidst the Inner Academy crowd, where Dou Ling were the norm, it was indeed somewhat extravagant.
Cultivation emphasized gradual, step-by-step progress. Earth Class Dou Techniques, strictly speaking, were only truly approached for study upon reaching the Dou Wang level.
Watching Jiang Yun, wreathed in icy, oppressive pressure, the expressions of both Sun Hai and Wu Qiu were rather grave. Their auras continuously climbed as they jointly resisted the pressure emanating from Jiang Yun.
"This is trouble," Sun Hai and Wu Qiu exchanged a glance and simultaneously read the worry in each other's eyes.
"Isn't he a new student? How can he be this strong?!"
It wasn't just the members of the Black Fiend and White Fiend Teams, directly facing Jiang Yun's might, who reacted this way. Even the numerous old students already eliminated and watching from a distance were stunned into speechless gaping.
"A Dou Technique of this tier—it absolutely cannot be Mysterious Class."
At this moment, even the several elders watching from afar wore grave expressions. Jiang Yun truly delivered one surprise after another! Now even an Earth Class Dou Technique had emerged.
At this rate, once the two sides truly clashed in battle, with a single careless slip, even they might not be able to intervene in time to rescue anyone.
"However... this old man has witnessed the power of Earth Class Dou Techniques. Although Jiang Yun's technique is similarly terrifying in might, this old man feels it is still lacking something?"
At the same time, an elder, having passed the initial shock, wore a puzzled expression as he watched the flaming giant hand in the arena.
"Indeed! This old man recalls that the Fire Cloud Hand is an ordinary Mysterious Class Dou Technique. How has it become Earth Class?!"
By now, quite a few elders had also caught on and all turned their gazes toward the First Elder at the front, hoping to get an answer from him.
Su Qian, his back to everyone, twitched the corner of his mouth. How was he supposed to know how that kid Jiang Yun had pulled it off? As a Dou Zong who himself possessed an authentic Earth Class Dou Technique, he was absolutely certain that the technique Jiang Yun had unleashed definitely did not reach the standard of Earth Class.
Yet the violently agitated energy of heaven and earth could not be mistaken. That could only be attributed to Jiang Yun's exceptional talent and terrifyingly high fire-attribute affinity.
"Wu Qiu! Full force!"
Watching that descending flaming giant hand, Sun Hai's pupils instantly constricted to the size of pinholes. He pushed his aura to its absolute peak. His hands rapidly formed seals, and a gigantic thunder lion swiftly took shape, pouncing toward Jiang Yun.
"Berserk Lion Break!"
"Great Earth Flame Slash!"
Sun Hai reacted swiftly, and Wu Qiu was not the least bit slower. His full strength as a 4-star Dou Ling erupted completely. The earth churned and rolled as an exceptionally powerful energy surged out from deep underground. In the mere blink of an eye, the power had already finished coalescing.
It was a giant earthen-yellow sword formed of energy, identical in style to the greatsword on Wu Qiu's back. He fused the two greatswords into one—a divinely sharp weapon that had undergone 'enchantment' was thus born.
A compressed, condensed construct of the power of the earth, combined with the keen edge of a divine weapon—its might was extraordinarily immense.
"Boom—"
A violent explosion thundered out. By now, the scene had already transformed into a sea of flames. The other members of the Black Fiend and White Fiend Teams were frantically dodging the cascading flames in utter disarray.
"Everyone, please exit the stage!"
Just at that moment, a faint, indifferent voice rang out. In the next instant, the old students still fleeing the aftershocks of the Dou Techniques felt their ankles tighten. Before they could even process what was happening, a wave of dizziness and disorientation struck.
"Ah—"
Screams of agony rose one after another, making Wu Qiu and Sun Hai, whose arms were going numb from the clash, even more frantic. Paying no heed to the consumption of Dou Qi within them, the two forcefully shook themselves free and finally escaped the space where the Dou Techniques had collided.
Once they saw clearly what had happened outside, both felt their faces darken, and a fresh wave of dizziness washed over them.
Not far away, Jiang Yun was watching the two with utter calm. And their teammates? They had been hung upside-down from a tree by Jiang Yun using a rope of flame. Every single one of them had a bruised, swollen head and a pale face, clearly possessing no further strength to fight.
"Jiang Yun! Let them go!"
Wu Qiu, fiery of temper, spoke in a gruff, booming voice, a trace of self-blame in his eyes. As captain of the Black Fiend Team, failing to protect his teammates was his failure of duty. In his eyes, this was unforgivable.
On the greatsword in his hand, dense, heavy Dou Qi coalesced. His hair and clothes, somewhat singed and disheveled from the flames, combined with his iron-blooded temperament, gave him an incomparable, domineering air.
"Indeed! Let them go. We have yet to determine a victor!" Sun Hai also spoke, his cold, piercing gaze fixed squarely on Jiang Yun.
Hearing this, Jiang Yun released the rope suspending the group. They immediately crashed to the ground, possessing no further ability to fight.
"I never intended to do anything to them in the first place. These few have already been eliminated. These now belong to me!"
As he spoke, Jiang Yun retrieved several Fire Energy cards from the group. Following his usual method, he left each of them with five days of Fire Energy and transferred all the rest onto his own card. By now, the Fire Energy within his card had already surpassed a thousand days.
"Hmph— you've already unleashed an Earth Class Dou Technique. Your Dou Qi must be nearly depleted, correct?"
"You have no chance left."
Seeing Jiang Yun release his teammates, Wu Qiu's expression softened slightly, but he still spoke with an icy expression.
"That will depend on your abilities!" Jiang Yun was still that same calm, indifferent self, as if everything was within his grasp. The sight was utterly infuriating.
"I refuse to believe a mere Da Dou Shi like you has that much Dou Qi!"
Saying this, Wu Qiu surged ahead of Sun Hai, brandishing his greatsword and unleashing wave after wave of sword energy.
Watching the incoming myriad blasts of sword energy, Jiang Yun flicked his ten fingers in rapid succession. Instantly, flame bullets shot forth, howling as they streaked to meet the sword energy. Under Jiang Yun's control, the flame bullets struck each blast of sword energy with pinpoint precision.
Seeing Wu Qiu charging straight at him, Jiang Yun's gaze flickered. Instead of retreating, he advanced. With a light tap of his toes, he left a trail of afterimages in his wake, rapidly closing in on Wu Qiu. The moment he was within range, he struck—aiming straight for the opponent's forehead.
Wu Qiu's pupils constricted. His combat instincts were terrifyingly sharp. He twisted his body at a bizarre, unnatural angle to evade Jiang Yun's punch, simultaneously sweeping his greatsword upward in an attempt to deal Jiang Yun a grievous blow.
"Not bad—"
Jiang Yun's voice carried a note of praise, but his hands moved without the slightest delay. He raised his hand and hacked downward—a single bare palm, as if transformed into the sharpest weapon in the world, intent on cleaving Wu Qiu in two.
"Don't underestimate me—"
Seeing this, Wu Qiu's expression hardened fiercely. He did not retreat. He flung his greatsword forward in a direct thrust.
With a sharp clang, the sword tip collided with Jiang Yun's palm. His sword blade bent slightly, and his body skidded backward uncontrollably. His feet stomped heavily into the ground, leaving two long, deep furrows in their wake.
"Thunder Sword Finger!"
The very instant Wu Qiu was forced back, Sun Hai launched a sudden attack of his own. On his left hand, Dou Qi swirled and gathered. Countless blasts of thunder sword energy condensed at his five fingertips. The moment he closed in on Jiang Yun, he thrust straight for Jiang Yun's chest.
His timing could not have been better. Jiang Yun had just forced Wu Qiu back—this was precisely the moment when old strength had just faded and new strength had yet to arise.
Thus, Sun Hai unleashed the highest Dou Technique he had learned right from the start: the Mysterious Class High-tier Thunder Sword Finger.
Finger-type Dou Techniques had always been the most powerful existence among all Dou Techniques for single-target attacks. Coupled with Sun Hai's extremely rare lightning-attribute Dou Qi, the power of this single strike was more than sufficient to grievously wound a high-tier Dou Ling.
But Sun Hai had underestimated Jiang Yun. The attack that had just forced Wu Qiu back had not been his full strength at all.
Therefore—
A slender palm shot out at lightning speed, radiating a gleaming, crystalline luster, as if forged from the finest refined iron.
Finger and palm collided fiercely. A low, explosive boom thundered at the point of contact. A rippling shockwave of force, so powerful it caused the very space to quiver and ripple, violently surged outward, spreading in all directions.
"This is impossible—" Seeing Jiang Yun still had strength to spare, Sun Hai's mental state wavered. His eyes were full of terror. Gazing into Jiang Yun's eyes, as calm and placid as water, for the very first time, the thought arose within him: This opponent... is invincible.
Jiang Yun would not let the other's momentary lapse slip by. With a flick of his right hand, he sent countless blasts of thunder sword energy scattering outward.
"Fire Cloud Seal!"
A great flaming seal rapidly condensed in his palm. Under Sun Hai's despairing gaze, it slammed solidly into his chest.
In the next second, Sun Hai's body shuddered violently. He felt only that within his body, countless streams of fire—formed entirely of flames—had entwined themselves tightly around his meridians. The moment he tried to circulate his Dou Qi, he would suffer the excruciating agony of ten thousand flames searing his body.
His face pale, he stumbled backward with staggering, faltering steps. Every footstep he took left a deep, distinct imprint on the ground.
This Fire Energy Hunt—the entire White Fiend Team was eliminated!
On the other side, Wu Qiu, whose numb, tingling arm had finally recovered, halted his steps. He stared at the faint, tiny notch that had appeared on his sword's edge, then at Sun Hai, who had been defeated in the blink of an eye. The look in his eyes as he gazed at Jiang Yun shifted for the first time—brimming with utter, stark disbelief. He couldn't help but exclaim in horror, "Are you even human?!"
The strength Jiang Yun had now revealed could no longer be described by the word 'genius.' He was simply a monster.
To Wu Qiu, Jiang Yun defeating Sun Hai wasn't even as shocking as the terror brought by Jiang Yun's monstrous physical body.
It wasn't that there were no humans with powerful physiques—but those were all cultivators who had immersed themselves in body refinement for many, many years. Jiang Yun was so young, his Dou Qi cultivation so high, and when he had first appeared, he had even faintly revealed his own formidable soul cultivation.
Now, even his physical body was this monstrously freakish. Even Wu Qiu, who had grown up bathed in the halo of genius, couldn't help but lose his composure.
"Just as you see!"
Jiang Yun strolled forward with leisurely, unhurried steps, walking toward Wu Qiu. In the process, he even shrugged his shoulders.
Wu Qiu took a deep breath. Watching Jiang Yun draw ever closer, an invisible pressure pressed down upon his heart. Wu Qiu felt that even the top ten of the Inner Academy's Strong Ranking gave him no greater pressure than this.
"Jiang Yun, I know you're strong. I am not your match. But I still have one final move. Let's settle this in one strike!"
Hearing Wu Qiu's words, Jiang Yun raised a hand, gesturing for him to bring out whatever techniques he had.
Wu Qiu looked solemnly in Jiang Yun's direction. With a slight flex of his arm, he drove his greatsword into the ground.
Both hands abruptly seized the sword hilt. A stream of faintly dark-red Dou Qi flowed along his broad, thick palms and completely enveloped the sword's body. Dark-red Dou Qi coiled at the sword's edge, condensing faintly, radiating a bone-chilling, cold gleam.
"Earth-Rending Mountain Cleaver!"
Along with a great roar, Wu Qiu leapt into the air, aiming straight for Jiang Yun. The giant sword in his hands swept down toward Jiang Yun with the unstoppable force of thunder, an invisible gale of force forming a faint, indistinct arc of light before the blade's edge. The very air around Jiang Yun seemed to freeze and sharpen. The momentum was astoundingly terrifying.
"Fire Cloud Blade!"
Jiang Yun calmly watched the descending Wu Qiu. With a flick of both hands, a blade of fiery energy, condensed from white flame, radiating waves of terrifying heat, shot straight toward Wu Qiu in midair, cleaving directly at the airborne Wu Qiu's face.
Before the flaming blade energy had even closed in, it was as if all the moisture in the surrounding air had been sucked dry, leaving Wu Qiu's mouth and throat parched. But catching the expectant gazes of the old students off to the side, he silently gritted his teeth. A thread of blood seeped from his cracked, dry lips as he gathered every ounce of his body's strength and cleaved straight at Jiang Yun.
"Boom—"
Wu Qiu's arms formed a diagonal cross, bracing against the flaming blade energy. After a resounding, explosive clash of force, a rippling storm of energy shockwaves erupted furiously outward. Everywhere the ripples passed, ravines and gullies carpeted the ground. The entire stretch of earth looked as if it had been completely plowed over.
The storm very quickly subsided!
"We've lost..."
Along with a voice filled with utter dejection, the now-aware Inner Academy old students all stared at the scene within the arena, their faces full of disappointment.
A solitary figure slowly stepped forth. Behind him lay two slumped, sprawled-out figures. On one of their faces rested a cyan fire crystal card, starkly, painfully conspicuous. Those two were none other than Wu Qiu and Sun Hai!
After dealing with the White Fiend and Black Fiend Teams, Jiang Yun had not walked far before spotting a raised, mounded slope not far in the distance. Scattered across the hillside were rock formations of varying sizes and shapes.
At this moment, upon those rocks and nearby stood or sat middle-aged men of steady, composed bearing—clearly, they were all administrators and overseers of the Inner Academy.
Zi Yan was also prominently among them. Seeing Jiang Yun, she excitedly waved her hand.
Jiang Yun returned the smile. On another part of the slope, there was a stone platform piled from massive boulders. Upon this platform sat two old men.
They were none other than Su Qian and the other, Elder Qing. Seeing Jiang Yun emerge with his clothes still perfectly neat and tidy—as if the Black Fiend and White Fiend Teams had not caused him the slightest trouble whatsoever—
Su Qian and the several elders couldn't help the corners of their mouths twitching.
"This kid is really only ten? He bulldozed through the entire way here. We still haven't seen his true depth, but as for the Inner Academy—this kid has practically seen through to their underwear by now!"
Elder Qing, who had watched Jiang Yun's entire 'gauntlet run' from start to finish, remarked with some helplessness.
"..."
Su Qian was also silent inside. Regarding this child he had picked up, he only knew the other's origins were extraordinary and his talent peerless. Considering the child's young age, he had not interfered much, waiting until the other entered the Inner Academy to address matters further.
Now, looking at the results—
Good heavens! Jiang Yun didn't need his help at all. That endless, inexhaustible array of Dou Techniques. That absurd, irrational speed of cultivation. All the other needed was a stable environment in which to grow, and he could give you back the entire sky!
(End of Chapter)