Flowing Cloud

Facing the spear thrust directly at him, Ye Shuanghen simply smiled faintly. He instantly swung his longsword to clash with the spear, then used the momentum to leap behind Chu Kuang.

He turned back, his sword drawing seventeen afterimages – it was the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique, Flowing Cloud Sword Curtain!

This move was the most commonly used technique in the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique. Legend had it that when mastered to perfection, one's sword swings would produce forty-nine sword shadows, killing a powerful enemy like a raging storm.

Facing such an attack, Chu Kuang activated his Iron Armor Technique, a dark golden force rippling around him. He blocked with his Gold-Splitting Spear. The clash of spear and sword produced a sound like metal striking jade.

Ye Shuanghen's sword momentum was like waves, one after another, but Chu Kuang stood firm as a rock. He shook the spear shaft and thrust the Gold Splitter directly at Ye Shuanghen's throat with a move called Split Gold Shatter Jade.

In response, Ye Shuanghen chuckled lightly and activated his Flowing Cloud Willow Shadow movement technique. His body dissolved like smoke and clouds, and the spear tip pierced only an afterimage.

After evading this attack, Ye Shuanghen transformed into a flurry of cloud-like illusions, launching a series of Flowing Cloud Sword Arts, striking at Chu Kuang's vital points.

"Flowing Cloud Willow Shadow, true to its name."

Chu Kuang stomped his foot fiercely, activating the Blood Battle in All Directions movement technique. His eyes instantly pierced through the myriad illusions, discerning Ye Shuanghen's true position, and then he fully unleashed his spear towards him.

This strike was like gold splitting stone, radiating a deadly golden sharpness. It was the ultimate skill mastered only when the Gold-Splitting Spear reached its peak – Stone Crushing Gold Splitting.

Facing such an attack, Ye Shuanghen's brow furrowed slightly, realizing he wouldn't have time to dodge.

So, he changed his sword's momentum. The previously whistling sword light became like swirling silk threads, each sword trying to redirect the spear's force.

Although Chu Kuang's Gold-Splitting Spear was powerful, it felt like stabbing cotton. Seven-tenths of its force was diffused.

This was the unique Flowing Cloud internal energy, mastered only after the Flowing Cloud Art reached perfection. It was even more exquisite than the Purple Cloud Divine Art. When channeled into his longsword, it became as elusive and unpredictable as mist.

"I didn't expect you to have mastered Blood Battle in All Directions. It's a shame this movement technique can only be wielded by a fierce warrior."

"With your strength, you probably can't unleash the full power of this movement technique yet."

After neutralizing Chu Kuang's full-power attack, Ye Shuanghen let out a long cry. His figure was elusive, like a free-spirited crane wandering in all directions. Each time he swept past Chu Kuang, he was searching for an opportunity to strike a fatal blow.

Suddenly, Ye Shuanghen seized the moment when Chu Kuang's spear momentum was exhausted. His sword edge slid down along the spear shaft, aiming to sever Chu Kuang's wrist!

Chu Kuang's expression jolted. He forcibly changed his move, releasing the spear with his right hand and catching it with his left hand at the last second. Instantly, the butt of the spear swept back, attempting to force Ye Shuanghen away.

"Sword Rises Flowing Cloud!"

In that instant, Ye Shuanghen's eyes turned cold. He unleashed the Flowing Cloud Art at full power, his sword glowing with a hazy cloud energy. His figure was like an illusion as he thrust his sword forward, seemingly sending nine sword shadows attacking Chu Kuang's vital points simultaneously.

Chu Kuang's pupils contracted sharply, realizing this was an ultimate skill mastered only when the Flowing Cloud Sword Art reached perfection.

"Just in time."

Facing such an attack, Chu Kuang had no time to think. He made the most decisive choice instantly.

He pushed his Iron Armor Technique to its limit, his body taking on a dark, ashen hue, like an indestructible Vajra, choosing to face the attack head-on.

Simultaneously, he slammed the Gold-Splitting Spear into the ground. The spear shaft sprang up like a giant python, sweeping in all directions to meet the sword shadows head-on!

"BOOM—!"

Energy exploded, rocks shattered, and the Star Arena developed several cracks extending over ten feet.

Then, Ye Shuanghen coughed up blood and was sent flying backward. In the low-gravity arena, he was almost thrown out into space. At the critical moment, he plunged his longsword into the ground, but still slid for over thirty feet before his momentum dissipated.

At this moment, Chu Kuang emerged from the debris. His body was covered in sword marks that exposed bone, yet he still charged towards Ye Shuanghen, bleeding.

He was like a javelin, charging with unstoppable force, covering over thirty feet in an instant.

"Thousand Jun Formation Breaker!"

Ye Shuanghen's face changed drastically in horror, but it was too late to dodge. He could only forcibly activate his longsword to resist.

If Ye Shuanghen had cultivated the Purple Cloud Divine Art, known for its profound internal energy, he could still have mustered enough internal energy to resist this move.

However, the Flowing Cloud Art was renowned for its finesse. Its internal energy was only considered average to below average among basic internal martial arts.

Therefore, this head-on clash was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, and the outcome was immediate.

"Pfft—"

Ye Shuanghen spat out a mouthful of blood, flying backward like a kite and crashing into a shattered star in mid-air.

Before he could recover, a long spear pierced through the air and pinned him firmly to it.

"To be able to withstand 'Sword Rises Flowing Cloud,' my defeat is not unjust."

Ye Shuanghen sighed softly, and his form dissolved into ethereal data.

Chu Kuang's expression remained calm. He merely glanced at the deep, bone-exposing sword marks on his body, a hint of emotion appearing in his eyes.

He was seriously injured in this battle. If it weren't for the additional 50% defense bonus from his Iron Armor Technique's attribute, he would likely have lost during that ultimate skill clash.

This Ye Shuanghen was no simple opponent. He had cultivated both Basic Internal Martial Arts and the Flowing Cloud Art to perfection, and his Flowing Cloud Willow Shadow and Flowing Cloud Sword Technique were both at the advanced stage.

However, Ye Shuanghen's path was to focus on internal arts first, with extremely low external martial arts cultivation. This created the opportunity for Chu Kuang to defeat him.

"To have cultivated the Flowing Cloud Art to perfection in his first year of high school, this Ye Shuanghen's comprehension is at least ninth-grade, and his internal martial arts talent must be extremely high."

"However, his Bone Structure is likely quite ordinary, otherwise, if he had mastered an advanced external martial art, I wouldn't have had such a high chance of winning this fight."

Thoughts flashed through Chu Kuang's mind. Geniuses with such high comprehension were rare. Even if their Bone Structure was lacking in the early stages, they would gradually catch up later.

After all, once internal arts reach perfection, they can feed back into external martial arts cultivation, increasing the speed of external martial arts training.

Before he could ponder further, he was teleported back to the Tian Heng Star Realm.

Back in the Tian Heng Star Realm, Chu Kuang glanced at his ranking, a smile immediately appearing on his lips.

[Chu Kuang]

[School: Tian Heng Third Middle School]

[Ranking: 500]

"Five hundredth."

Looking at his rank, Chu Kuang's lips curved into a smile. He then proceeded to claim his prize money and apply for a loan, and 110,000 Federal Coins quickly arrived.

"I can't spend too much of this money."

Remembering that he had a special training session to attend tomorrow, Chu Kuang first placed an order for 30,000 Federal Coins worth of Nutrient Solution.

He exited the Tian Heng Star Realm and was about to transfer the 60,000 Federal Coins he owed Xu Yue when he noticed Xu Yue had already called him.

"I'm on my way. Wait for me at home," Xu Yue said before hanging up.

Chu Kuang was taken aback for a moment, then quickly understood. He figured Xu Yue had likely received a notification from the Tian Heng City Government about his entry into the top five hundred.

Chu Kuang wasn't too surprised by this. After all, those who made it into the top five hundred were basically the elites from the key classes of various schools.