Chapter 279 Challenge
Amidst the thunderous tremors, Rota was the first to give in, covering her ears as her face turned pale.
The other three Conferred Knights did not feel too good either, and with a grunt, they retreated.
The violent thunderbolt pillar pierced through the air, and the air currents became like boiling water as they flowed out in all directions while carrying a charred smell.
Everyone felt a numbing sensation run through their bodies. This was the aftermath of the thunderbolt pillar… Just the electrons in the surrounding air were sufficient to make them paralyzed and render them immobile.
They felt that they were being encompassed by high temperatures from the endless explosions. All they could do was activate their Reduced Force Field in order to fend off against them frantically.
A piercing glow flashed. Indistinctly, it looked like a huge dragon had formed from a stream of thunderbolts, swallowing the earth and drilling into the ground.
When the light gradually dissipated, there was only a large hole in the surface which was over five meters deep. The bottom of the hole had a large amount of glazed crystals, as if lava had just flowed past the surface of the crystals.
Countless bolts of lightning had created a high temperature which reached several tens of thousands degrees and disintegrated the entire piece of land.
To think that such a terrifying destructive power could be created just by channeling the power of the thunderbolt into the ground.
Duolun looked at Fang Xingjian with a complicated expression and mumbled, “Level 10? His Thunderbolt Sword Technique is already at level 10?
“Haha, for him to be capable of bringing the Thunderbolt Sword Technique to level 10 in just slightly over an hour… What does that make us, who have spent such a long period of time in cultivation just to raise our levels?”
As for the other two students, they were both in a daze.
Since when had they ever come across a person who was able to bring the Thunderbolt Sword Technique up to level 10 in just about an hour?
Rota looked at this scene with great pride and yearning, as if she was the one who had accomplished this.
However, Duolun did not care about all these. He just went straight to the point and asked, “Has your Thunderbolt Sword Technique reached level 10?” His gaze was extremely solemn, and he spoke in a very serious tone.
Fang Xingjian nodded, saying with slight dissatisfaction, “It’s at level 10. I realize that my efficiency has slowed down. I’ll probably not be able to reach the maximum level at one go.”
Hearing Fang Xingjian’s words, Duolun only felt great sorrow. Fang Xingjian had spent an hour to reach level 10 for the Thunderbolt Sword Technique but was still not satisfied with it. What then, did that make of their long years of training in the Killing Techniques Palace?
Duolun could only say sourly, “More haste makes for less speed. You’re progressing too fast and may not have been able to grasp a lot of the foundation. This may slow you down on your path to the maximum level.”
Hearing this, the other two students , bound by a common hatred, nodded as well. However, Rota was not happy with this. She rebutted, “No matter how slow his progress is, it’s still faster than the progress of anyone else trying to learn the Thunderbolt Sword Technique.”
When Duolun heard this, he was almost driven to death in fury. However, when she saw Rota, he did not think that it was good to quarrel with a beautiful young lady. So, he had no choice but to stare daggers at Fang Xingjian as did the other two students.
However, Fang Xingjian did not care about all these. He tapped the Demoness’ Howl slightly and said to Duolun, “Please give me your guidance.”
Duolun’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You’re challenging me at the Thunderbolt Sword Technique?” He seemed to find Fang Xingjian somewhat unbelievable.
Fang Xingjian nodded and said seriously, “Don’t I have to defeat you before I can learn the later Killing techniques?”
“Haha, you think you can defeat me… You really are confident.” Duolun’s expression had a hint of jest to it, “What level are you at now? What’s your synchronization rate?”
Rota also walked up and advised, “Xingjian, why are you in such a hurry? You’ve only learned the technique for an hour. You should strengthen your foundations for the Thunderbolt Sword Technique and challenge him when you’ve reached the maximum level.”
“How can practicing alone beat the speed of learning when sparring with an expert who cultivates the same sword technique? It’s fine if there’s no such chance with other instances, but since the Killing Techniques Palace provides this opportunity, how can I miss it?”
Fang Xingjian stroked the Demoness’ Howl, which had been strengthened by the Swordless Path until it became a level 19 weapon, and said again, “Please give me your guidance.”
“Hmph, what you’ve said is not wrong. Whether or not you’ve practiced the right way, you’ll know after you’ve sparred with an expert.”
Duolun stood up and looked at Fang Xingjian with great arrogance. Ranked 38th this year, Duolun was at level 22, and his Thunderbolt Sword Technique was at level 15. Even if Fang Xingjian was more talented than him, it would be impossible for Fang Xingjian to win him without putting in a few months worth of work.
Fang Xingjian might not be able to defeat Duolun even after a few months.
Duolun drew out a purple colored longsword which had electricity flowing around it. This was a level 19 Superior Divine Weapon, and it had a strong strengthening effect to the Thunderbolt Sword Technique.
Duolun held the sword in a reverse grip, with the lateral side of the sword pointing at Fang Xingjian. Then while carrying an air of superiority, he said to Fang Xingjian, “Make your move. I’ll give you some guidance on your sword technique so that you…”
Before Duolun even finished his words, a flash of sword light shone out before him. He barely managed to fend off Fang Xingjian’s attack off by putting up his sword up horizontally.
What a fast attack!
Thunderous booms rang out as their longswords clashed, simultaneously releasing streams of electricity. While breaking out in cold sweat, Duolun retreated.
However, Fang Xingjian’s attacks had always been relentless and unforgiving. He created a whole series of afterimages, and the wind imprints on the sword slashed through the scorching air incessantly, releasing piercing shrills.
At the same time, rumbles of thunder tremored in space with each sword attack, and streams of lightning hit Duolun.
However, since the Thunderbolt Sword Technique controlled lightning and electricity, how could Duolun be hurt by them? He performed the move, Lightning Conduction, and countless lightning strikes conducted into the ground through his body, keeping him unhurt.
However, being driven into such a pathetic state by Fang Xingjian right from the start infuriated Duolun. He decided in his heart that he was going to teach Fang Xingjian, this genius who did not know his limits, a good lesson. When Duolun’s Thunderbolt Sword Technique was fully unleashed, the densely packed thunderbolts in the air exploded, and waves of explosions headed toward Fang Xingjian.
Fang Xingjian also used the Lightning Conduction stance to receive this attack. Then with a horizontal sweep of his sword, he countered with a Thunderbolt Strike.
The two of them took turns to unleash their attacks as they moved around in the hall. Each time their swords clashed, thunderous sounds would ring out, and electricity flashed out in all directions.
White lights flashed on and off, continuously lighting up their silhouettes. As the lights pierced through the air, they created a series of high temperature explosions.
Amidst the thunder and lightning, streams of lightning moved around their bodies ceaselessly, occasionally hitting the ground and leaving behind black charred marks.
If ordinary Knights were to face these thunderbolts, just a small lightning strike would probably cause them to lose any ability to resist.
Rota and the others had retreated out of the hall long ago and were standing outside the door. They watched the two silhouettes move around incessantly amidst the electric currents while creating a myriad of thunderbolt strike collisions, which then caused explosions and high temperatures. The scene looked like there were two thunderstorms battling each other in a fight for territory.
One of the students looked at this scene in astonishment. “What is happening? Brother Duolun… Brother Duolun isn’t able to defeat him?”
“It’s not just that he’s unable to defeat him…” The other student was watching the scene with his eyes shining like two light bulbs. “This guy… He’s starting to gain the upper hand.”