Chapter 118: Only the Flash of the Blade, Never Its Aura

"Clang!"

The sound, like metal striking metal, rang out across the arena, accompanied by a spray of sparks. Under the immense force, Ji Min lurched forward, nearly crashing onto the stage. He managed to plant his hands on the ground in time, kicking his legs into the air and rolling repeatedly to dissipate the momentum until he finally regained his footing.

A clear mark was visible on the back of his neck, while the corresponding area of his golden protective aura was blurred.

He had blocked it!

This was the first time someone had withstood a direct strike from Su Jingxing’s "Three Elements Saber Technique." It could only be said that the internal martial arts Ji Min practiced provided an incredibly potent defense—likely a combination of pure defensive Qi and body tempering. If his physique were not so formidable, that strike, even with the protective aura, would have shattered his bones and snapped his neck under the sheer impact.

The fact that Ji Min was still standing, merely wincing in pain, was a testament to his toughness. Even if he hadn't reached the human limit like Su Jingxing, he wasn't far off.

Hard Qi Gong?

Su Jingxing thought of a specific type of martial art—one dedicated to tempering the flesh, focusing primarily on resistance to blows and defense. Such arts might lack offensive power, but in terms of endurance, impact resistance, self-healing, and defense, they were virtually invincible. When mastered to the highest level, one would have no fear even of artillery fire.

Just like Ji Min at this moment, his protective Qi released to form a golden shell; even with Su Jingxing’s hundred-thousand-pound explosive force, he could not break through. Of course, such a defense could not be maintained indefinitely; the consumption of Qi was enormous.

Recognizing this, Su Jingxing, after a moment of brief surprise, decisively continued his rapid movement. His figure flickered, preventing Ji Min from touching him. Meanwhile, whenever an opportunity arose, Su Jingxing would land a barrage of slashes aimed at Ji Min’s head, neck, and heart.

"Wind-Defying Blade!"
"Sweeping River Thousand-Army Slash!"
"Rampaging Dragon Overlord Strike!"

*Swish! Swish! Swish!*
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

The sound of metal clashing rang out continuously, accompanied by a blossoming display of blade light that filled the arena.

...

"Interesting, truly interesting. One has formidable defense, the other exceptional footwork; neither can do anything to the other. At this rate, the winner will simply be whoever has more Qi."

"Indeed. But the defense of this Shi family retainer is just too monstrous, isn't it?"

"Heh, are you all blind? The Lin family’s guest has yet to even channel his Qi! Every strike he’s made so far has relied solely on his physical strength!"

"Damn, you're right! I see the blade light, but no blade aura. The physical strength of this Fourth-Grade expert must be tens of thousands of pounds!"

The surrounding stands erupted in an uproar. Compared to Ji Min’s terrifying defense, Su Jingxing’s physical strength, once discovered, was equally astonishing.

Relying on pure physical power combined with martial arts, he forced Ji Min to retreat time and again. Few possessed such strength. Ji Min had finally met his match! Not only was Su Jingxing’s footwork nimble and graceful, but his pure physical power—if not the result of body tempering—suggested he was born with god-like strength.

If he combined the two, he might not even need his Qi to defeat Ji Min!

Thinking of this, the expressions of the Shi family members turned increasingly ugly. Shen Qian, Jiang Tianhao, and Xiao Chengyue cheered excitedly, while the Li, Zhou, and Qi families watched with keen interest. In every corner of Qinghe City, those watching the live broadcast on television and the internet stared wide-eyed, equally amazed.

Both were Fourth-Grade experts, each with their own methods and unique skills. Who would emerge victorious?

...

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

The metallic ringing continued, echoing and reverberating throughout the entire arena.

"Stop moving! Stop moving! If you have the guts, stand your ground and fight me head-on!" Ji Min roared as he tumbled.

Although Su Jingxing couldn't break his defense, every strike against his protective barrier sent a massive shockwave of force through his body, causing intense pain. His veins bulged, his eyes were bloodshot, and his hands trembled. He wanted to vent his frustration, but Su Jingxing refused to engage him directly, forcing Ji Min to growl and roar in an attempt to goad him into a mistake.

Su Jingxing, naturally, would not grant his wish. His strength was sufficient to last for a while. Meanwhile, amidst Ji Min’s growing agitation, he began searching for his "soft spot."

Hard Qi Gong, unless mastered to the absolute pinnacle of perfection, always had one or two vulnerable points—the weak spots, the vital gates!

Where was Ji Min’s vital gate? His eyes? His underarms? Or his groin?

As Su Jingxing pondered, he began to test them one by one. He started with the groin, an area most easily overlooked and difficult to train. As he flickered about, his blade relentlessly aimed for Ji Min’s crotch.

"Despicable!" Ji Min gritted his teeth, letting out an angry howl.

It was then that his bald head suddenly began to glow. This was not a figure of speech; it was a literal emission of light, like a lightbulb, shooting out a blindingly bright glare in an instant.

Su Jingxing, caught in the direct path, instinctively narrowed his eyes and retreated.

*Whoosh!*

A sudden gust of wind erupted, surging toward him.

*Swish! Swish!*

Su Jingxing shifted his form, moving rapidly to dodge the assault.

*Boom!*

The wind did not dissipate; instead, it grew more violent, like a hurricane, the friction against the air creating explosive sounds. This time, Su Jingxing saw it clearly.

Ji Min! This bald Fourth-Grade powerhouse was now glowing with golden light, his head shining the brightest. With his hands pressed tightly against his thighs and his body standing perfectly straight, he resembled a human cannonball, using his own body as a weapon, charging headlong toward him.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*
*Swish! Swish! Swish!*

Su Jingxing darted away, changing his position swiftly. The glowing-headed Ji Min, like a guided missile, remained locked onto Su Jingxing, pursuing him relentlessly. The roles had reversed: previously, Su Jingxing had been chasing Ji Min; now, Ji Min was charging at Su Jingxing.

Su Jingxing attempted to counterattack, swinging his blade at Ji Min’s head. However, apart from the "Clang! Clang! Clang!" of metal on metal, not even a spark flew.

In this cannonball-like charging state, Ji Min’s defense was clearly even stronger. Unless Su Jingxing unleashed a century’s worth of cultivation and used the "Hundred-Step King Fist" at maximum multiplier, he truly couldn't break through.

The problem was, if he exhausted his Qi this early, how would he fight later? According to Wan Rong’s memories, the Shi family had more than two Fourth-Grade retainers. According to Nie Renchou’s memories, the Shi family’s own kin also included more than two Fourth-Grade experts. In other words, besides Tang Wulin and Ji Min, the Shi family had at least three more Fourth-Grade experts!

If Su Jingxing consumed a large amount of Qi now, how would he handle the others? Was he really expected to flee when the time came?

No! Su Jingxing was unwilling to accept that. Ji Min could not maintain this state for long. As he had thought before, such an attack consumed too much.

"Ha, the Lin family’s guest is in trouble now."