"Good grief, just what kind of monster is Qin Xiao? He could even comprehend such a terrifying combat technique."
"That's why I didn't object at all when Qin Xiao said he would have Vina fight in his place. If Long Aotian can't even defeat Vina, he has no right to make an enemy of Qin Xiao."
Du Busi answered calmly.
"That boy really has rotten luck."
Jin Peng sighed over Long Aotian's predicament. "He and I both thought that this breakthrough in his cultivation might let him defeat Qin Xiao and wash away his past humiliation. But now... sigh."
"Hey, stop sighing. Look-is Long Aotian about to use that combat technique he just comprehended?"
Du Busi's eyes lit up as he asked with interest.
Jin Peng nodded slowly. "That's right."
Their attention returned to the arena, where Long Aotian suddenly abandoned his defense and thrust both hands out in a peculiar stance.
With a hum, rings of transparent ripples spread from his body, radiating outward in every direction.
Crack, crack...
The ice spikes Vina had unleashed shattered the instant they touched those invisible ripples, no longer posing any threat to Long Aotian.
Seeing this, Vina immediately pulled back, landing beyond the ripples' reach.
A hint of surprise appeared in her beautiful eyes. "Long Aotian, I didn't expect you to gain some new insights over these past few days, too.
"If I'm not mistaken, this is another way of using the Unity of Heaven and Man combat technique, isn't it?"
Long Aotian changed his stance, and the invisible ripples vanished.
"You're right. I originally prepared this surprise for Qin Xiao. I never expected to use it on you first."
As he spoke, a look of regret appeared on his face.
"I'm not trying to discourage you, but I think you're getting