Ye Chen wore a cold, almost playful smile as he looked at Doflamingo. Doflamingo, meanwhile, grew more astonished by the moment. Only a few days had passed since they parted in Mock Town, yet Ye Chen seemed to have grown much stronger.
The reason was obvious: Ye Chen was improving all the time. The Martial Arts Codex he possessed covered an immense range of disciplines. Every new technique he learned made him a little stronger. His internal power had also grown purer through steady practice. It was like filling a bucket with water: even if he added only a little each day, the bucket would eventually fill.
Now Ye Chen had learned another sword art: the Mount Hua School's Dugu Nine Swords!
With the Martial Arts Compendium in his possession, he hardly needed time to learn it. It was like unlocking a skill in a game. One touch, and he understood; one lesson, and he could use it.
He had also built up plenty of internal power, so he could already bring out seventy or eighty percent of the sword art's potential.
Their feet met. Before they could separate, Ye Chen raised Oto and feinted a thrust at Doflamingo's eye. Doflamingo hurriedly swept his right hand across, and five black strings caught Oto.
"Awakening String!"
The threads looked as fine as silk, but they were incredibly tough. They stopped the famous sword Oto cold.
Ye Chen smiled faintly and ducked. Kogarashi flashed out in his right hand, faster and from a trickier angle, straight for Doflamingo's chest. Startled, Doflamingo flipped backward and evaded the strike with an easy grace.
His pink coat billowed in the wind. Together with his cold, flamboyant bearing, it made him look like a king who ruled the world.
Swinging Sword Style!
His first strike having