In response to Huai Shi's question, the answer was simple.
No surprise, no accident.
After a brief flash of astonishment crossed that aged face, it returned to calm, as still as an ancient well, with no emotion showing through.
At any other time, perhaps he might have lost his composure. But if his opponent was Huai Shi... then any kind of unexpected situation was normal.
And there was no need to pause!
He only needed to attack!
The instant Huai Shi knocked him back, ignoring the darkness swimming before his eyes, he took half a step back. Then, dragged by his palm, the Flame-shaped Sword thrown behind him tore through the air, whipping up a storm as it swept across!
Tangible flames danced along it, the power of his soul invested within. The moment he confirmed Huai Shi's condition, he unleashed his ultimate technique—Certain Hit!
Huai Shi's vision blurred.
Even though he had prepared himself and adopted a flawless defensive stance, the trajectory that slashed through the air in that instant still stunned him—as though the sun set and the moon rose, as though the stars wheeled through the night sky, leaving behind a dazzling, glorious trail. It lightly passed through a gap Huai Shi had believed did not exist, seized an instant shorter than an instant, drove straight through the center, and locked onto Huai Shi's throat.
Then, it cut!
Bang!!!
A piercing metallic cry erupted, sparks flying.
It hit, but not completely!
The triple armor formed from Curse Alloy was pierced through in an instant by that terrifying force. But when the exhausted blade struck Huai Shi's body, the remaining power could only carve a shallow wound.
The wound quickly closed beneath the flow of silver light, leaving behind only a thin iron-colored scar. Its curve resembled a