Chapter Twenty-Seven: Have I Lost?

In the midst of the fierce battle, Ziyan managed to shout at the staggering Xu Xing, “Can you handle it? Don’t push yourself—if you can’t, let me take them both.”

“I can do it!” Xu Xing shook his head, forcing a smile.

The battlefield had split into two fronts.

Xu Xing, still unsteady from drink, stood like a slender bamboo stalk in the moonlight, his shadow stretching and contracting on the ground.

The frog-voiced dwarf mocked him, croaking, “Pretending to be a hero? Then I’ll make sure nothing remains of you but dust.”

A shrill, childlike cry sent a wave of force rippling across the ground, sweeping up sand and gravel into a swirling yellow sphere nearly ten feet across, hurtling toward Xu Xing at breakneck speed.

Xu Xing, swaying, seemed to push out effortlessly with one palm, dissolving the sonic sphere. The jade bracelet on his wrist glowed softly, its light spreading along his arm as it swiftly absorbed the energy of the attack.

The dwarf, sprawled on the ground, stared in shock. How could someone at the peak of the Qi Refining stage, not yet having formed a liquid Golden Core, possess such strength? Though it was only a probing strike, normally anyone at this level would have been killed instantly. If word of this got out, it would surely spark debate.

“Kid, I advise you to stay out of this. Do you even know who I am?” the dwarf growled, though his tone softened slightly.

Xu Xing said nothing, fixing the dwarf with a hunter’s unwavering gaze, searching for any sign of weakness.

“I don’t know who you are, nor do I care to. But your shameless conduct is revolting. Even if others ignore it, I’ll make sure you face justice.”

“A mere Qi Refiner dares to boast? Tonight, I’ll cripple you and toss you to the sea beasts as food! Consider it mercy, given your low cultivation—I won’t make your death too disgraceful. Don’t blame me for being ruthless. Now, sink into the night.”

The dwarf crouched low, frog-like gills flaring at his cheeks as he inhaled and exhaled deeply, his lips stretching wide.

“Toad’s Sonic Wave!”

A wave of sound burst from the dwarf’s mouth, churning up sand and dust into a tornado, its piercing shriek stabbing into the mind and ear.

Xu Xing’s pupils contracted. This was a Foundation Establishment technique—a sign his opponent’s meridians were fully opened, able to wield true mystical arts. From the look of it, this was a Yellow Grade divine ability.

Xu Xing’s eyes locked on the oncoming attack. He stood still, breathing growing rapid as he invoked his Secret Soul Art, muttering under his breath, “Damn it, freeze for me!”

In that instant, time seemed to slow in his eyes. He could see the tornado creeping toward him at a crawl, and he began to calculate—how best to evade? He analyzed the flow, searching for an opening.

Suddenly, he noticed the sonic tornado would split. If he could position himself where it diverged, he could avoid the brunt of the attack.

Reclaiming his soul, an idea flashed through Xu Xing’s mind. He darted aside, coming to rest just three feet from where he’d been a heartbeat before.

It took little effort to dodge the attack.

Gradually, the yellow sand settled, obscuring Xu Xing’s position.

“Has that brat been scared stiff by my power? Waiting there to die?” the dwarf sneered from the ground, his laughter growing ever more brazen.

But he was no fool. For safety’s sake, he unleashed Toad’s Sonic Wave again and again, ensuring nothing could survive.

“What a waste—a promising talent perishing here. My mastery of Toad’s Sonic Wave grows ever more solid. I might earn a good ranking in the Heavenly Roll’s contest. As for this kid, he couldn’t withstand three of my attacks at the initial Qi Refining stage. I’ve hit him nine times—his death is well deserved.”

In the midst of the fray, Ziyan watched the dwarf launch wave after wave of sonic attacks, her fear mounting. She stared anxiously at the blast zone, dust billowing—this was the messenger of Shu, after all. Uneasy, she shouted, “Junior Brother, answer me!”

The tall centipede-man lashed at Ziyan’s delicate form with his tail’s stinger, his eyes fixed on her glowing figure. He laughed, “This is between you and me. Mind your own fight. Your junior brother is already dead!”

“No! You’re lying!”

They clashed again, unleashing their full strength at last. Ziyan, desperate to save her junior, fought with everything she had, while the tall man was eager to subdue her.

They traded divine arts and swordplay, their movements a blur, evenly matched.

Footprints vanished from the earth as both channeled their energy into their artifacts, rising into the air. The locust tree shuddered, the sloth upon its trunk blinking madly.

Watching the tangled battle, the dwarf looked smug.

Shedding his frog-like guise, he transformed into human form and stood at ease. He had no fear for his elder brother’s fight, well aware of his brother’s strength—there was no chance of defeat.

The wind picked up.

It rustled the yellowing leaves of the locust tree, where a sloth clung quietly, watching.

The wind lifted the sands, which slowly began to settle.

The dwarf drew a two-foot scimitar from his pouch, licking its blade with relish. “It’s been so long since I’ve tasted fresh blood.”

As the wind swept the sand away, a shadow slowly took shape—Xu Xing’s.

“You—you’re still alive? How?” the dwarf gasped, unable to comprehend how the boy had survived nine rounds of Toad’s Sonic Wave.

Ordinarily, a Qi Refiner would perish after three. Why was this youth still standing?

“So this is all you’ve got? It’s hardly impressive,” Xu Xing said, a faint, calm smile on his lips.

Just as he’d guessed, the dwarf’s attacks dispersed as he’d predicted. As long as he invoked his Soul Arts each time the dwarf unleashed a sonic wave, it was easy to evade.

Hidden among the locust leaves, an old man took a sip of wine and chuckled, “This lad is truly sharp-eyed. Though he lacks brute strength, he does not lose his composure in crisis.”

“No, impossible—you’re still just a Qi Refiner? Bah, you’re nothing more than a mantis trying to stop a chariot. You overestimate yourself! It must be luck!” the dwarf stammered, dumbfounded.

He pressed his hands to the ground, frog gills flaring once more. He inhaled deeply, sinking the earth a few inches before unleashing a ferocious sonic wave that swept up sand and stone, hurling it at Xu Xing.

“Move, damn you!” Zhou Lingya shouted from the other side.

This sonic wave was far faster than before, leaving no room to dodge. Sand and leaves whipped through the air, sharper than blades, slicing through wild grass as if chopping cabbages.

Xu Xing had no time to evade this raging tornado.

“Damn, I’ll have to take it head-on.”

The shockwave struck, biting his skin like a thousand tiny knives, pain flaring through him.

The jade bracelet glowed, absorbing some of the agony. Staring at it, Xu Xing wondered what hidden power this gift from Zhou Yuan contained.

Bathed in its light, Xu Xing managed to stay upright.

But the onslaught did not relent. The tornado battered him, sand and dead leaves cutting into his flesh like swords.

In moments, he was covered in wounds, his clothes slashed and stained with dark blood.

His face, hands, and legs felt as if gnawed by a thousand razor-toothed clams.

He was simply too outmatched; Xu Xing could hold on no longer and collapsed. His instincts had been right—these two were a soul-chilling threat.

The dwarf sprang ten yards in a single frog-leap, then dove at the dazed Xu Xing. As Xu Xing opened his eyes, the dwarf vanished from sight. Then, the shadow cast by the moon appeared across his coarse robe.

Xu Xing looked up. The dwarf loomed above like a toad in the moonlight, limbs splayed, his body now swollen and warty.

With a crash, the dwarf landed like a meteor, pinning Xu Xing to the ground.

Xu Xing managed to get one hand free, struggling with all his might, beating at the dwarf.

“Is this… defeat?”