Secret Artifact Duel, Outsmarting Tendon Changing

Gong Tian charged straight at Wang Han, who possessed the most violent and ferocious aura among the Blood Ape Gang!

Both were experts in the Bone Forging realm; the moment they collided, they erupted with a dull, thunderous sound of clashing internal force.

As experts of Hidden Force fought, ordinary people could not even approach and retreated one after another.

At almost the same moment, the three Patrol Chiefs spurred their horses forward, each engaging one of the Tendon Changing leaders of the Blood Ape Gang, locking them into a chaotic melee.

For a time, fierce winds swept through the area, and the sound of blades clashing rang out incessantly.

Nearly a hundred officers from the Patrol Bureau formed a simple formation, steadily pressing down on the chaotic Blood Ape Gang members opposite them.

Although they were outnumbered, they remained locked in a stalemate against the disorganized mob.

Yang Ning steeled himself, his gaze like a cold blade as he scanned the chaotic battlefield.

Finally, he locked onto a figure quietly closing in on him.

It was a lean, middle-aged man dressed in a scholar's robe, looking completely out of place among the other gang members.

He was the deputy leader of the Blood Ape Gang, Ghost Abacus Chen Qi!

Chen Qi's eyes were glued to Yang Ning, and he held a Scholar Iron Fan in his hand, which clearly looked extraordinary.

"Yang Ning?"

His voice was hoarse and unpleasant.

"The leader has ordered that your life be taken today to comfort the soul of our young leader in heaven!"

He glided across several yards like a ghost, his iron fan snapping open to reveal dense, sharp barbs aimed straight at Yang Ning's eyes.

The angle was tricky and vicious, the wind from the strike sharp—he was clearly at the late stage of Tendon Changing with a mastery of Bright Force!

Although Gong Tian was locked in a fierce battle with Wang Han, he sensed Chen Qi's movements through his aura.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes, but instead of turning to help, he sent a secret voice transmission to Yang Ning:

"Junior brother, this man is yours.

His Cloudy Force is supple and entangling, specifically designed to counter rigid and fierce styles. Handle him carefully; this is the perfect opportunity to temper your Tiger Demon Force!"

Hearing his senior brother's words, Yang Ning felt a warmth in his heart, followed by a surge of bold spirit.

Facing Chen Qi's sudden ambush, he did not retreat but stepped forward, letting out a low roar like rumbling thunder!

He instantly assumed the Tiger Soul Fist stance!

Unlike his previous Body Tempering, the moment this stance was formed, the air around him seemed to freeze!

A ferocious aura erupted from within his body!

Beneath his skin, thick tendons rippled and tightened like awakening dragons.

The newly formed Tiger Demon Force roared through his meridians, finally concentrating on his fists!

He threw both fists out, slamming them hard against Chen Qi's iron fan.

"Bang! Bang!"

Fist and fan collided, emitting a dull thud like metal striking metal!

Yang Ning felt his fists vibrate slightly as a strange, soft, and viscous force traveled up his arm, obstructing the flow of his blood and energy.

This was the Cloudy Force that Chen Qi relied on—supple and persistent, adept at dissipating force and penetrating defenses to break through rigid, hard martial arts.

Chen Qi did not have it easy either; he let out a muffled groan, feeling a massive force from the fan, accompanied by a ferocious, scorching energy surging back at him.

It left his arm numb and his blood churning.

"What immense strength, what tyrannical force!

Is this kid still just a fresh breakthrough into Tendon Changing?"

Chen Qi was inwardly shocked.

He had mastered Bright Force for many years and considered his own power quite refined; he never expected to suffer a loss at the hands of this kid.

The quality and ferocity of the opponent's force far exceeded his estimates!

But he was a seasoned veteran; his shock lasted only a moment. His body flickered like a ghost, neutralizing the momentum of his retreat.

As they clashed again, he no longer engaged in a hard collision. Instead, he divided his force, wrapping it around Yang Ning's body. His energy was soft and dense, seeking only to obstruct and exhaust him to find an opening.

After a dozen exchanges, Yang Ning gradually realized something was wrong.

Chen Qi's moves seemed to always predict his next action!

Whenever his fist was about to change or his force was about to be unleashed, the opponent would always appear at the weak point of his attack at the perfect moment to strike.

His Tiger Demon Force clearly held a slight advantage over the opponent, but the fight felt incredibly awkward, as if his strength had nowhere to land and he was being led by the nose.

"Is he calculating my moves?"

Yang Ning's heart tightened.

He recalled the man's nickname, Ghost Abacus.

This didn't look like mere combat experience; it was more like some special technique capable of insight and predicting an opponent's intentions!

After another intense collision, Chen Qi once again borrowed the force to drift back several steps, putting distance between himself and Yang Ning.

He did not immediately launch a follow-up attack; instead, his left hand remained free while the fingers of his right hand moved rapidly and covertly within his sleeve.

His five fingers moved as if flicking invisible abacus beads, emitting an extremely faint "click-clack" sound, and a trace of imperceptible paleness flashed across his face.

In the chaos of the battlefield, almost no one noticed this detail.

But Yang Ning noticed it!

The White Jade Mask covering his face enhanced the sharpness of his five senses.

The moment Chen Qi's fingers moved, Yang Ning seemed to "smell" an extremely faint, unusual "aura"—

It was similar to the unique fluctuation belonging to a "Secret Artifact" that he had felt when suppressing the White Jade Mask!

Yang Ning narrowed his eyes, instantly scanning Chen Qi's entire body.

Finally, his gaze locked onto Chen Qi's right wrist:

There, he wore a bracelet strung with pitch-black wooden beads.

Looking closely, the size and appearance of the wooden beads bore a faint resemblance to abacus beads!

As Chen Qi's five fingers flicked, the wooden beads on the bracelet seemed to vibrate and slide according to a certain pattern!

"A Secret Artifact!"

The name exploded in Yang Ning's mind.

That was it!

This Chen Qi was no natural-born calculation genius!

He was relying on a Secret Artifact to assist him in battle.

This Secret Artifact could likely help him deduce an opponent's move set and even predict their actions!

That was why he could always anticipate the enemy's moves!

No wonder every time he clashed head-on with him for a few moves, he would pull back and keep his fingers moving.

It turned out he was recalculating and adjusting his strategy.

This Secret Artifact must have its usage limitations or costs.

It could never be used infinitely!

With the Destiny System upon him, he could suppress the backlash of the White Jade Mask.

But this Chen Qi clearly could not completely avoid the price of the Secret Artifact in his hand.

The trace of paleness and slight panting on his face were proof of that!

"Found the flaw!"

Yang Ning's mind suddenly cleared, and a soaring fighting spirit erupted!

Since he now knew the key, how could he give him another chance to calculate at his leisure?

"Boom—"

Yang Ning no longer took time to rest; he stomped on the ground, shattering the bluestone tiles, and lunged straight at the pale-faced Chen Qi!

This time, his offensive was no longer a probe; he sought only to break finesse with brute force and overcome slowness with speed!

"Hold him off for me!"

Chen Qi's expression changed drastically as he shouted sharply, retreating rapidly while his fingers flicked even more frantically inside his sleeve.

Several fearless gang leaders lunged forward.

Yang Ning struck out with both hands, his Tiger Demon Force erupting. With a few crisp "crack" and "squelch" sounds, those leaders screamed as they were sent flying backward.

With that brief delay, Chen Qi seemed to have finished his calculations and prepared to face Yang Ning again.

However, Yang Ning gave him no such opportunity!

He completely abandoned his defense, concentrating his Tiger Demon Force into his fists, fighting with his life on the line!

You predict my moves?

Then I will disrupt your rhythm in the most savage, direct, and reckless way possible!

"Bang! Pfft!"

Chen Qi poked a finger into Yang Ning's left shoulder, and his Cloudy Force penetrated, causing the flesh on his shoulder to tear open instantly.

But at the same time, Yang Ning's right fist slammed solidly into Chen Qi's right arm!

The ferocious Tiger Demon Force tore through the obstruction of the Cloudy Force.

"Ah!"

Chen Qi let out a shrill, miserable scream as his entire right arm instantly twisted and deformed.

The beads of the bracelet scattered and flew in all directions!

The Secret Artifact was broken, and the backlash arrived immediately!

Chen Qi was struck as if by a heavy blow, his complexion instantly turning ashen as he spat out a mouthful of blood, his aura plummeting.

Yang Ning did not let up, ignoring the pain in his left shoulder as his left fist, like a fierce tiger extending its claws, slammed into Chen Qi's chest!

Chen Qi's eyes were filled with despair and unwillingness, yet he was already unable to block the strike.

"Thud--!"

Like a heavy hammer striking a drum, the ferocious force of the punch landed squarely on his heart.

He slowly lowered his head to look at his sunken chest, seemingly wanting to say something, but he was already unable to utter a word.

In the end, he collapsed listlessly to the ground, breathless and dead.

Ranked fifty-second on the Top Hundred Ranking, "Ghost Abacus" Chen Qi had fallen at the hands of Yang Ning!