Chapter 157: A Sudden Reversal!

Luo Tian had already put on the Yuan-Breaking Gauntlet.

Weapons were not restricted or prohibited during the assessment. However, under normal circumstances, no one would choose lethal weapons such as sabers, spears, swords, or halberds. Besides, given the confidence of the official members of the Wind and Cloud Guard, did they need weapons to thrash these fresh recruits?

That would be an insult to themselves.

As for the young cultivators participating in the assessment, their original ultimate goal was merely to drag the match out for ten breaths of time—what use would they have for weapons?

It would only take extra effort to manipulate one, so coming in bare-handed was far more convenient.

The tips of the ice crystals flashed with sharp radiances, leaving faint trails of mist in their wake as they pierced toward Luo Tian like three sharp arrows!

Song Yu felt a surge of pride in his heart. This was a Human-grade superior-tier elemental skill, the "Ice Crystal Arrow." It possessed considerable might and activated at an extremely fast speed. Even if it failed to hit the opponent, the overwhelming momentum would easily force the opponent into showing greater flaws whether they chose to dodge or defend.

"This guy never uses anything else..."

A Wind and Cloud Guard member pointed and scoffed contemptuously, clearly referring to Song Yu.

"Ain't that the truth? Every time he fights someone, he just relies on these same two tricks, thinking his strategy is so clever. Who knows, he might just get himself killed on one of these missions soon!"

"How can you talk like that? That's called dying in the line of duty! He'd be a hero, a martyr! Such a glorious thing! What do you mean by 'getting killed,' that sounds so harsh..."

Two others chimed in with sarcastic whispers, drawing a burst of snickering laughter from the surrounding crowd.

Although Luo Tian had absolute confidence in the elemental energy he had refined using the True Essence Fire of Transforming Yuan, he had no intention of taking a few hits for nothing. Executing the Phantom Steps, he shifted two steps in a flash, dodging Song Yu's attack with pinpoint precision.

Seeing this, Song Yu was momentarily stunned, though not overly surprised. There were countless bizarre cultivation techniques in the world, and it was nothing to be amazed by if someone was obsessed with studying them. Besides, so what if he dodged? Could dodging possibly change the outcome of this battle?

After launching the Ice Crystal Arrow, Song Yu did not halt his momentum, charging straight after Luo Tian.

The two figures rapidly closed the distance between each other.

*Hah, this brat really doesn't know the meaning of death!*

A flash of disdain crossed Ling Qinghe's eyes. To compete in close-quarters combat against a member of the Wind and Cloud Guard was a terribly misguided calculation. While cultivators at the Pulse Flow realm indeed possessed the ability to project their elemental energy externally, truly turning this ability into a formidable offensive means required reaching the Elemental Dan realm and pairing it with Earth-grade elemental martial arts.

Therefore, the daily training of the Wind and Cloud Guard had never neglected close-quarters combat.

"Isn't Luo Tian being a bit too conceited?"

"It's sheer overestimation of his own abilities, isn't it? He doesn't even stop to think how formidable the Senior Brothers of the Wind and Cloud Guard are. Instead of figuring out how to stall for time, he's actually entertaining the wild fantasy of fighting them head-on?"

"I think he must have some confidence; maybe he'll be able to last a few more breaths..."

Several members of the Hua family commented without reservation.

Zhao Zhiqing stared unblinkingly at the developments in the arena, transmitting his voice: "Senior Brother Xishan, what do you think?"

"Hard to say..."

Jin Xishan pondered for a moment and shook his head slightly. "There is no doubt that Luo Tian is exceptionally strong, as we could see from the first two trials. However, we haven't seen his actual combat capabilities yet, so it's hard to judge on this point."

After a brief pause, Jin Xishan continued, "I always felt that Luo Tian doesn't seem like the easily impulsive type. Yet, he first provoked Song Yu with his words, and now he's engaging him in such a rash manner. If he doesn't have some genuine skill, it would be hard to explain..."

Seeing the distance close further, Luo Tian's emotions surged higher, yet his mind grew increasingly calm.

He already had a preliminary plan on how to elevate his reputation among the Wind and Cloud Guard so that everyone would eventually come to him for guidance, and the first step...

Without a doubt, it was to defeat Song Yu!

*Swish—*

Luo Tian curled his fingers like swords and thrust unceremoniously toward Song Yu's heart.

Detecting Luo Tian's target, Song Yu neither dodged nor evaded. Instead, timing his moment precisely, he chopped a palm down toward Luo Tian's wrist. If this blow landed solidly, it would be enough to cripple the combat capability of one of Luo Tian's arms.

His long-term, unflagging cultivation of the body-refining secret technique, the *Shape-Intention Nine-Beast Fist*, had given Luo Tian an even smoother and more fluid mastery over his own physical body. Almost the instant a thought arose, his physical instincts could execute the corresponding movement.

Maintaining his speed, Luo Tian bent his fingers into claws, his arm twisting and shifting upward without warning, intending to lock onto Song Yu's wrist in the shape of an eagle's claw!

*You strike at whatever part of me you wish, and I shall strike at whatever part of you I choose!*

These rapid exchanges happened in the blink of an eye. Both fought with extreme speed, changing their moves almost instantaneously, leaving the spectators breathless.

"This Luo Tian... who would've thought he actually has a few tricks up his sleeve?"

Wu Hao pressed his lips together. His eyes flickered as he thought to himself: *Even so, this fellow at the first change of the Pulse Flow realm can actually fight Song Yu to a standstill without losing the upper hand. On the other hand, Jiang Zihe was completely played in the palm of others' hands, which shows that the Jiang family members only have an undeserved reputation.*

*Hmph, since someone from the Divine Sun Sect can fight to this extent, then I, Wu Hao, hailing from the Sky-Void Mountain, naturally cannot be inferior to him. If I take the stage later, I will undoubtedly display great might and raise the fame of our sect!*

Having already made up his mind, Wu Hao's eyes shone brightly and gleamed with focus.

Four breaths of time passed very quickly. Seeing that he had failed to gain the slightest advantage after a round of rapid attacks, a trace of anxiety inevitably welled up within Song Yu.

He was a dignified, veteran member of the Wind and Cloud Guard, and a step away from qualifying to become a vice-captain or applying for outside training. If he still couldn't take down this Luo Tian, what would others think of him?

Wouldn't it prove that he was utterly incompetent?

Though he inwardly wondered why Luo Tian's close-quarters combat was no less inferior to his own, Song Yu did not dwell on it too much. As long as one practiced body-refining secret techniques diligently and possessed a bit of experience, fighting fast in the short term was not too problematic.

It was just a pity that he didn't have much time; otherwise, he would definitely let this brat know what a true expert was.

Just as Song Yu was slightly distracted, Luo Tian's shoulders trembled slightly, and with a punch like a meteor streaking across the night sky, he smashed heavily toward Song Yu's chest!

In close-quarters combat, no cultivator would choose to project elemental energy externally for a sudden strike anymore. Firstly, the power of projected elemental energy was only affected by its quality and the true intent it contained, receiving no bonus from physical strength. Secondly, everyone possessed protective elemental energy, making such external attacks nearly ineffective.

To heavily injure an opponent, one still had to rely on close-combat fisticuffs.

Luo Tian, who had been closely monitoring Song Yu's state, saw that his opponent was somewhat absent-minded. Naturally, he would not let this opportunity slip by, firmly grasping it in an attempt to achieve results with a single strike!

Luo Tian certainly didn't expect to secure total victory with this single punch alone, but if successful, it would at least shatter the opponent's morale. With his own momentum surging like a rainbow, turning that initial advantage into a complete victory was entirely possible.

Luo Tian's elemental energy was coiled within his fist, on the verge of release yet tightly contained without revealing itself. Backed by the True Intent of Explosive Shock, Luo Tian had no fear of missing the optimal timing. Furthermore, unleashing his power at the exact instant of impact would yield the maximum combat result.

*Bang—*

A heavy punch struck unceremoniously against Song Yu's protective elemental energy. Yet, after the initial surge of excitement, Luo Tian quickly discovered something was amiss.

The protective elemental energy, which ought to have been as soft as a thin film, turned rock-hard the moment it was struck by him.

Faint wisps of cold Qi drifted slowly from the point of impact on Song Yu's chest, accompanied by a crisp, dense sound of cracking, ringing out like beating drums.

The True Intent of Transforming Ice!

The True Intent of Freezing Cold!

Under Song Yu's control, these two great true intents finally displayed their true might.

The surrounding temperature plummeted rapidly. The protective elemental energy, which had nearly been punched through by Luo Tian, suddenly curled backward like the petals of a man-eating flower under Song Yu's control, instantly wrapping tightly around Luo Tian's fist! (To be continued.)