The Next One

Sword-Wielding sets the world aright from afar, Eight Rice Flow pacifies all beings nearby.

This well-known saying carries two meanings: In the early days of Huiyao, over two thousand years ago, Sword-Wielding Combat Arts had already rendered great service to the Radiant Court. The Sword-Wielding Annihilation Squad, established during that period, gained immense renown, with countless achievements in conquering cities and destroying factions.

Eight Rice Flow, on the other hand, is a new Combat Arts system developed in recent centuries. Despite being only a few hundred years old, it has swept many old Combat Arts styles into the dustbin of history. It particularly shone brightly when facing the Bloodthorn Eastern Expeditionary Army from the West, thus earning the reputation of "Sword-Wielding from afar, Eight Rice Flow nearby."

Furthermore, another meaning of this saying is its literal interpretation: Sword-Wielding Combat Arts are supreme in long-range combat, while Eight Rice Flow Combat Arts are unstoppable in close quarters!

However, Eight Rice Flow Combat Arts integrate various techniques, gradually forming a major school. Ordinary people can only master a branch of it in their entire lives. Therefore, Eight Rice Flow was divided into several Combat Arts, collectively known as Eight Rice Flow.

Qian Yuliu's Biting Combat Arts and Xia Lingo's Pouncing Combat Arts are the two main Combat Arts systems within Eight Rice Flow!

If the essence of Biting Combat Arts is "Biting Kill to death," then Pouncing Combat Arts is "Pouncing Kill relentlessly." Its core principle is to use all limbs to deliver continuous strikes to the enemy every minute and second, overwhelming them with a tempestuous flurry of attacks, suffocating them like a relentless fly swatter.

The greatest characteristic of Pouncing Combat Arts is that it is an aerial Combat Arts. Practitioners temporarily stay airborne through continuous kicks, while their hands constantly attack the enemy's head. The enemy, often unable to defend against both hands and feet, is easily suppressed and overwhelmed by this high-speed, "rain-on-banana-leaves" level of assault, ultimately leading to defeat.

Fortunately, they were fighting in a large square. If they were in a narrow room with walls for assistance, Xia Lingo could move like Spider-Man across the entire space, striking Le Yu from all 360 degrees, giving Le Yu the experience of being ganged up on.

This person is no less skilled than I am!

Looking at the silently standing Xia Lingo, Le Yu couldn't help but inwardly curse Yin Yinyin—Didn't they say this was supposed to be a crushing match where a King's Aura battles a bronze? How come there's an unranked Grandmaster here?

If described by a system panel, Xia Lingo's Eight Rice Flow Pouncing Combat Arts, like Le Yu's, is also at the Primary level—even though they are both quite formidable, the system considers this level Primary—there isn't much difference in their strength. Le Yu couldn't guarantee that he could defeat Xia Lingo!

Could Xia Lingo be the real mole?

Is his trump card his hidden strength, allowing him to defeat me fair and square without any tricks, and then seize the fruits of victory for the White Night branch?

A thousand thoughts raced through Le Yu's mind. However, at that moment, Xia Lingo's feet glowed, and a powerful whip kick slashed through the air, eager to kiss his face!

If he blocked or grabbed the leg, Xia Lingo would instantly use the momentum to launch an aerial attack. If he didn't grab the leg, his punches and palms couldn't reach him, forcing him to keep defending!

Le Yu suddenly ducked, avoiding the glowing kick, and swept a ground kick towards Xia Lingo's other leg! Biting Combat Arts naturally didn't have this move, but when Le Yu was little, he loved to trip up taekwondo-practicing brats when they kicked, often sending them sprawling!

However, facts proved that what was easy to do as a child wasn't necessarily possible as an adult. For example, going into a women's bathhouse. Or, like Le Yu's ground kick, Xia Lingo's foot didn't budge an inch, as if Le Yu had kicked a steel plate!

How could a martial artist who dared to kick be afraid of an attack on their lower body?

But Le Yu had a fallback—Wild Bite!

However, because Le Yu was now crouching low, his punch and palm attacks also lowered their target. Coupled with the upward trajectory of the attack, the movement looked very much like the "Monkey Steals Peaches" technique, aimed three inches below the abdomen.

But during their fight, Light Burst radiated everywhere. Outsiders could only see the two of them entangled, unable to discern any details. Therefore, Le Yu wasn't worried that this "heaven-defying" technique would damage his reputation.

Xia Lingo's expression didn't change at all as his vital spot was about to be hit. The foot he had kicked out suddenly stomped down on Le Yu's shoulder. He then leaped up with the momentum, avoiding Le Yu's shameless "stealing peaches" Wild Bite, and gained a superior aerial attack position.

Oh no!

Le Yu quickly darted forward and turned to face his opponent, but Combat Arts developed over hundreds of years had already calculated all possible struggles of the victim. Xia Lingo's toe merely hooked Le Yu's shoulder, and his body moved horizontally in the air. His hands and feet instantly formed a Light Burst, pouncing on Le Yu like a ferocious beast!

Bang bang bang bang!

The continuous sounds of Light Burst collisions echoed. Onlookers saw the two fighting from west to east, from one being on top to one being in front, the battle intensely fierce and drawn out!

"You've changed."

Amidst the suffocating barrage of punches and kicks, Le Yu suddenly heard Xia Lingo say this and couldn't help but chuckle, "Are we close?"

In Qian Yuliu's memories, there was hardly any information about Xia Lingo. He hadn't even met him many times, and before today, they hadn't exchanged a single word. They were complete strangers.

"You don't understand me, but I understand you." Xia Lingo said, while furiously kicking Le Yu's face, "I've been watching you, even after you joined the Statistics Department, I've still been watching."

Boom!

Le Yu retreated, dismantling Xia Lingo's offensive, and showed a look of disgust: "Ugh, how disgusting. Can you please put on a dress before talking to me?"

Although Le Yu's mouth was foul, he was actually panicking. He thought, Is Xia Lingo not only a mole, but has he also discovered that Qian Yuliu is a mole sent by White Night to the Statistics Department?

Xia Lingo was completely immune to Le Yu's insults, his fists continuously pounding Le Yu's head: "Qian Yuliu, you and I are the same kind of person."

He admitted it!

Qian Yuliu is a mole, Xia Lingo = Qian Yuliu, so Xia Lingo is also a mole!

"But you aren't anymore."

Huh? Le Yu blinked, pushing his palms forward, unleashing a Light Burst Torrential Spit to try and knock Xia Lingo away, and quietly asked, "Why not?"

"Your gaze isn't frightening, your fists don't hurt, and even your Light Burst is so gentle." Xia Lingo used the edge of the Torrential Spit's Light Burst impact to circle behind Le Yu again, whispering calmly, "If it were the old you, I would have already lost."

"Are you saying I lack Killing Intent?" Le Yu spun around abruptly, his claw strike breaking through the air with a shockwave, his palm force spewing Light Burst like a cannon!

Biting Combat Arts: Wild Bite Torrential Spit!

"We don't need Killing Intent." Xia Lingo delivered two consecutive glowing kicks, directly clashing with Le Yu's attack, his fists pounding heavily like hammers towards Le Yu's temples: "Killing is as natural to us as breathing."

"Are you saying I'm not as messed up as you!?" Le Yu dodged backward, simultaneously circling his hands to ensnare Xia Lingo's fists.

Biting Combat Arts: Cosmic Chant!

"No, you've become strange." Xia Lingo grabbed Le Yu's hands with a backhand, using the momentum to stand on his hands, positioning himself directly above Le Yu. In mid-air, they stared face to face, a slight ripple appearing in Xia Lingo's calm, ancient-well-like eyes:

"We are all swords destined to break, so why have you put on a Sword Sheath?"

Cold-Blooded Physique.

Seeing Xia Lingo's ultimate poker face up close, Le Yu instantly understood Xia Lingo's true nature—like Qian Yuliu, he was a characterless person with a Cold-Blooded Physique!

Cold-blooded individuals like them are naturally unaffected by any negative emotions, but consequently, they also cannot experience positive emotional enrichment—it is only through pain that one can feel happiness, only because one has to work that playing games is enjoyable, and experiencing constipation makes a high metabolism seem precious.

Many beautiful things can only be truly appreciated through contrast; without experiencing hunger, one can't truly grasp the joy of being full.

People with Cold-Blooded Physique are accustomed to all positive emotions, finding it difficult to experience joy in life. They are uninterested in everything, approaching all matters with a deadpan expression. The main reason Le Yu recognized Xia Lingo's secret was that his expression was too similar to Qian Yuliu's—Qian Yuliu had worn that same orphaned look ever since he was a child, even when looking in the mirror!

Xia Lingo said that the current Qian Yuliu was no longer like him, and even mentioned Sword Sheath and such, which actually meant he sensed that Qian Yuliu's inner soul had changed. Compared to Qian Yuliu, who was like a deadpan intelligent robot, Le Yu, as the pilot, would naturally make Qian Yuliu more vivid and lively.

Although he understood this point, it didn't help with the current fight. Le Yu went along with Xia Lingo's words and said, "You think Sword Sheath has made me weaker?"

"Of course. The old you could take on ten of the current you."

Is the difference that great?!

"And..."

Xia Lingo suddenly leaped behind Le Yu, gripping Le Yu's shoulders with immense force. With just that one grip, he completed an aerial maneuver, his right hand and right foot simultaneously aiming for Le Yu's back of the head with an elbow strike and knee thrust, like twin stars piercing the sun!

"With a sword still in its sheath, who can it cut?!"

Thud! Thud!

Le Yu grunted.

Although he quickly turned and blocked Xia Lingo's attack with his arms, it wasn't without cost. Even with Low Health Constitution protecting him, he felt as if his arms had heat packs on them—they were probably bruised and swollen purple.

In fact, his entire body felt a bit hot. Xia Lingo's relentless assault was not meaningless; Le Yu felt two-thirds of his health bar gone. If the pain wasn't blocked, Le Yu would surely be rolling on the ground in agony.

Even if he wasn't afraid of pain, stamina would eventually run out. Le Yu felt his strength diminishing; if this continued, he would definitely lose!

However, Le Yu wasn't just talking trash with Xia Lingo for the sake of it!

Le Yu pushed with both hands, shaking Xia Lingo off, and chuckled, "If a sword has no sheath, it will break sooner or later."

Xia Lingo gently shook his head. "A sword is meant to break. You're just letting yourself rust away in idleness."

As he retreated, Xia Lingo suddenly found himself backed against a wall. Subconsciously, he stomped hard on the wall to rebound and suspend himself in the air.

However, the next instant, Xia Lingo realized he had made a mistake!

He noticed that after Qian Yuliu blocked his elbow and knee strikes, and until he retreated and pushed off the wall to suspend himself, Qian Yuliu hadn't moved at all. His feet were planted firmly on the ground, and the morning sunlight wove almost solid golden flames beneath his feet, dazzlingly bright!

The Combat Arts of Eight Rice Flow borrow and integrate from each other. Although Pouncing Combat Arts is the only one among Eight Rice Flow that primarily focuses on leg techniques, Biting Combat Arts also has techniques that are mainly driven by leg work!

All techniques in Pouncing Combat Arts are built on the premise of being able to exploit an opponent's Combat Arts' weaknesses to gain momentum. But once that specific move in Biting Combat Arts is activated, he won't have time to gain momentum!

"A treasured sword keeps its edge hidden, waiting for the right moment. Xia Lingo, you wouldn't understand, would you?"

Eight-Grain Flow Bite Combat Arts: Cosmic Roar!

The only Combat Arts move in Biting Combat Arts that requires charging in place. Once charged, it can unleash astonishing speed, achieving an almost instantaneous displacement effect with an extremely powerful impact charge!

However, this attack has a short range, and its charging effect is very obvious. Le Yu had to ensure that Xia Lingo couldn't get away from him before the charge was complete!

Therefore, he tricked Xia Lingo to the wall by the street. A Pouncing Combat Arts practitioner like Xia Lingo would instinctively push off a wall when encountering it, not only failing to escape but actively charging towards Le Yu!

Le Yu stomped his feet, and light flames erupted. In a flash, he shot through the air, crashing into Xia Lingo's embrace!

Boom!

Xia Lingo felt as if his abdomen had been hit by a cannonball. He let out a "wah" sound, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and slammed back into the wall. With a thwack, he slid to the ground, propping himself up to try and stand, but ultimately couldn't get back up.

Le Yu patted the dust off himself. Xia Lingo's shoes must have stepped in something this morning, as Le Yu's clothes were covered in stains. Such martial artists who liked to use their legs were truly unhygienic. The Radiant Court should legislate that Pouncing Combat Arts practitioners must fight barefoot.

Glancing at the incapacitated Xia Lingo, Le Yu turned to the onlookers behind him.

"Next."

PS: A friendly recommendation for the completed masterpiece "The World is Full of Joy." This book isn't really that great; it's the 21st century and it's still writing about pure love harems, but the author often sleeps with me to get me to promote his chapters, so I can only give it a shout-out.