CHAPTER 334: CHAPTER 288 PEACE OF MIND_2

"Break!"

Bian Chenpei’s forehead veins bulged, his two fingers like a sword, fiercely slashing forward in a fit of rage.

The Dagger, revolving around its axis, rapidly spun, using its blade to grind through the densely packed Mind Silk, breaking the web and shooting straight for the heavens.

SNAP—

The Mind Silk, stretched to its limit, finally snapped, violently whipping about and hitting the arena floor with a dull sound.

With the Telekinesis Control Device damaged, backlash was imminent.

Li Ang could feel the tumultuous surge within his Qi Sea.

He held his breath, forcibly suppressing the chaotic flow of his Spiritual Energy.

Without hesitation, he grabbed two Mind Needles with both hands, injecting Telekinesis into them and taking control of the remaining Mind Threads.

An abundance of filaments filled the breaches in the web, continuing to suppress the other daggers.

But the one Dagger, now heavily imbued with Bian Chenpei’s Telekinesis, took advantage of this brief gap and plummeted from the sky.

The Mind Silk and Mind Threads were all maintaining the web’s structure.

The only means Li Ang had at his disposal for an effective counterattack... was the Triangular Spear.

He reached for the Triangular Spear at his waist, drawing the weapon as he poured his dwindling Telekinesis into it.

The Triangular Spear traced a half-circle as it rapidly extended its length.

Just as the Dagger in the sky was about to fall and stab Li Ang, it was overtaken; the flat of the spear’s blade slapped the Dagger’s tip, sending it flying heavily.

CLANG—

The intense collision of metal made eardrums ache.

Yet the two on the arena showed no sign of stopping.

Bian Chenpei swept his hand forward, controlling the Dagger to flip and swoop along the ground in a rapid attack.

Li Ang swung the spear back, repeatedly parrying the Dagger.

Both combatants were swiftly depleting their Spiritual Power.

Most of the audience outside the arena could barely make out the high-speed trajectory of the flying Dagger, only hearing the CLANG, CLANG, CLANG of metal striking metal and seeing the blurred afterimages left by the Dagger’s reflection.

"Senior Sister Sui!"

Li Leqing, anxious and unable to sit still, subconsciously put down her telescope, gripped Chai Chai’s hand tightly, and turned her head to ask Sui Yi nervously, "Li Ang, he..."

"It’s hard to say."

Sui Yi, of course, understood what Princess Guanghua was asking about the situation. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she stared intently at the arena. "Bian Chenpei’s Qi Sea is more abundant, and with his One Heart, Twenty Thoughts, he’s consistently maintained the offensive initiative. But Li Ang... Look at his palms."

"His palms?"

Everyone was perplexed, turning their gaze back to the arena to observe Li Ang’s hands closely.

"Is that... Mind Silk?" Li Leqing asked uncertainly.

Through the telescope, a faint glow was visible from Li Ang’s palm, with what appeared to be fine threads wrapped between his fingers.

Those threads hooked onto the patterns on the surface of the Triangular Spear.

Each time the spear’s blade clashed with the Dagger, Li Ang would release his grip, allowing the threads to "hold" the spear in his place.

He Fanshuang watched for a few moments and said indifferently, "He’s using the Mind Silk to deflect force."

It was phrased as a question but delivered with an assertive tone.

"Exactly."

Sui Yi nodded. "Holding the spear directly would cause too much damage to his palm and the web of his thumb, so Li Ang chose to use suspended Mind Silk and Telekinesis to assist in wielding it. Also, take note of his spear technique."

Everyone watched intently, noticing that Li Ang’s spear technique, which was initially expansive and powerful, gradually decreased in its range of motion, appearing more and more effortless.

STOMP!

He took a heavy step towards Bian Chenpei, who wore a ferocious expression, veins bulging on his forehead as if under immense pressure.

"Every time Li Ang swings his spear, he sends Bian Chenpei’s controlled Dagger flying in a predetermined direction," Sui Yi said with rare seriousness. "Bian Chenpei has to spend twice the amount of Telekinesis as Li Ang to recall the Dagger. Moreover, Bian Chenpei has no room to adjust—should he try to break from Li Ang’s rhythm, his Dagger will lag a step behind. And Li Ang is already approaching him with the Triangular Spear, ready to exploit any opening when the opponent’s new strength hasn’t risen and their old strength is spent. He could end the match with one thrust. This forces Bian Chenpei to keep attacking with the Dagger, unable to stop."

"This..."

Yang Yu and the others looked confused, finding it hard to imagine.

"Hmm," Ren Xin rubbed his chin and slowly said, "In the Body Refining Path, there’s a specific term for this: ’Inch.’ A martial artist who has achieved a certain degree of Martial Arts Skill through ’a thousand hammers and hundred refines’ can firmly grasp all potential threats within an arm’s reach—whether they be Flying Swords, Telekinesis Control Devices, Magic, or talismans. They can utilize the momentum of each, guide its force, to minimize damage to themselves, and even lead the enemy to follow their own pace."

Li Wei said in astonishment, "But isn’t ’Inch’ a technique that only Innate Martial Artists possess?"

"It should be said that ’Inch’ is an ability, a kind of talent," Ren Xin corrected. "Innate Martial Artists’ keen perception of their surroundings, profound understanding of their own bodies, and their highly polished martial arts skills allow them to master ’Inch’ relatively easily. But this does not mean that cultivators from other Dao Paths can’t learn this ability. It’s just not that easy; it requires acute talent and long periods of arduous practice."

He paused for a moment and muttered, "Who would have thought, Risheng is actually a martial arts genius..."

In the midst of their conversation, the situation on the arena changed again.

Bian Chenpei could finally no longer bear Li Ang’s advancing steps. With an angry roar, he swung his palms forward with all his might, unleashing all the remaining Telekinesis in his Qi Sea.

BUZZ!

The air visibly twisted, and the arena burst into red light.

The immense force weighed down on Li Ang’s head and shoulders. He brusquely propped himself up with his Triangular Spear, supporting his body that was about to kneel.

Bones creaked, the skin between his thumbs and forefingers split open, and his hair clung tightly to his scalp. Even his eyelashes felt as heavy as if weights were attached to them.

After all, this was the strength of a Half-step Cloud Patrol. Li Ang suppressed the roiling Mo Si within his body, his eyes wide open, blood vessels clearly visible within them.

He stared coldly at Bian Chenpei’s ferocious face, leaning on the Triangular Spear, and slowly, resolutely, stood up where he was, taking one step forward.

The slight sound of his shoes scraping against the dust was particularly grating in Bian Chenpei’s ears. His eyes looked as if they would tear from their sockets. Ignoring the emptiness of his Qi Sea, he redoubled the pressure.

Li Ang’s footing faltered for a moment but was instantly regained, and he took another step.

Only two arms’ lengths remained between them.

Bian Chenpei felt his scalp tingle as if it were about to explode. With a roar, he used the last shred of his Telekinesis to control the Dagger, sending it flying back to stab at Li Ang’s heart from behind.

SWOOSH!

Li Ang flung his left arm back as if he had eyes in the back of his head, seizing the Dagger from thin air.

He gripped it firmly; no matter how desperately the blade struggled, it could not break free.

He took the final step.

Only one arm’s length remained. Li Ang emotionlessly discarded his Triangular Spear. Countless Mind Threads extended from his sleeve, wrapping around his right hand to form a gauntlet.

Then, he threw his punch.

His fist solidly struck Bian Chenpei’s face.

Accompanied by the dazzling red light of the Arena Restriction, this favored son of Taihao Mountain flew far away, skimming the surface of the arena ground, bouncing and sliding like a skipping stone.

Not giving his opponent any time to breathe, Li Ang stomped on the ground. He reached Bian Chenpei before the other could react, once again seizing his neck and slamming his head heavily onto the arena floor, leaving it just over the edge.

Bian Chenpei struggled violently, but his limbs were tightly bound by the Mind Threads and the Frozen Cold Talisman. He could only unleash his Telekinesis at Li Ang. However, these attacks were either neutralized by an equal amount of Telekinesis from Li Ang or their kinetic energy was largely absorbed by the Alligator Armor.

Then came the second punch.

Expressionless, Li Ang’s gauntlet fell again, smashing into the other’s face. He landed one hit, then another, and another.

The corner of his clothes still burned slowly, lightly toasting his skin.

But Li Ang did not care. He concentrated on punching, precisely controlling the force, inflicting the greatest pain on Bian Chenpei without triggering the arena’s automatic end-match mechanism.

"I surr—"

Bian Chenpei’s face was covered in snot and tears. From the corners of his blurry eyes, he could vaguely see the audience members in the distance standing up one by one.

The humiliating word "surrender" had not yet left his lips when another punch landed on his cheek, forcefully knocking the word back.

Li Ang mechanically pounded Bian Chenpei, venting the nameless rage that had accumulated over years, until a figure flashed before him. A hand gently pressed his shoulder, and a calm voice said, "Enough."

Li Ang threw one more punch, then, biting his lip, looked up. He saw it was Mountain Master Lian Xuanxiao.

"Enough."

Lian Xuanxiao gently patted Li Ang’s shoulder. His eyes held no reprimand for his disciple’s loss of control and the shame brought upon the Academic Palace, only the gentleness and understanding of an elder.

"..."

Meeting the Mountain Master’s gaze, the raging fire in Li Ang’s heart gradually subsided and calmed. He fell silent, dropped the limp form of Bian Chenpei, and slowly stood up.

The Arena Restriction lit up. The match was over.