Chapter 168: 142: The Battle of Subtlety, The Curtain Falls (36,000 Monthly Tickets Plus Update)

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Boom!

Boom, boom!! The two clashed like lightning.

Li Yuan's long spear vibrated continuously, its movements as rolling stars and dancing dragons and snakes, and had already blocked Dantai Feng's long sword time and time again.

Dantai Feng was still attacking with all his might.

His speed and strength still surpassed Li Yuan's, but he no longer had an overwhelming advantage.

Time and time again, his sword attacks were rendered ineffective in front of Li Yuan's flawless defense.

"Stellar Realm."

"The body like a star, the spear like a roaming dragon! This is the Stellar Realm." Dantai Feng felt Li Yuan's rapid transformation.

Even as time passed and the exchange went on, relying solely on his sword, not to mention suppressing Li Yuan, Dantai Feng started to feel a trend where he was being pushed back by Li Yuan's relentless defense and counter-attacks.

"I thought I was a genius."

"Never expected there to be someone even more talented than me among my peers." Various thoughts flashed through Dantai Feng's mind: "What a flashy thing it is, to breakthrough in the midst of battle!"

"Why haven't I experienced it?"

"What if, next time after I breakthrough in technique, I don't reveal it right away but pretend to breakthrough during a fight? To put on a big show?"

Dantai Feng was quite composed; he still did not use the shield in his left hand.

"Fight on!"

"Fight on!" But Li Yuan was becoming more and more courageous in battle; he had completely transformed.

Win or lose? Li Yuan didn't care; he just wanted to fight with all his might.

Just then, under Dantai Feng's extreme pressure, Li Yuan defended with all his might, and coupled with days of practicing and comprehending the spear, he who was already on the brink of a breakthrough, finally had an epiphany.

The most critical aspect was his spiritual power that had reached level 23, which, in terms of subtlety, gave him an enormous advantage.

It allowed him to take the most crucial step in the midst of battle.

"Break!"

Li Yuan's spear tumbled and suddenly exploded with attack after attack as swift as lightning, switching from defense to a fierce offense, forcing Dantai Feng to retreat step by step.

Stellar Spear Technique—Galaxy Waterfall!

The same move, propelled by Li Yuan's subtlety and full vigor, now had a vastly different power.

…

"Stellar Realm! Subtlety!"

"Did Li Yuan just breakthrough? In such a battle, under such tremendous pressure, he managed to breakthrough?"

"Incredible."

"So fast? Didn't Li Yuan reach Bright Moon Stage just in August? And now he's close to assaulting Fourth Stage Perfection?"

"Dantai Feng is in danger."

In the other Spectator Space, hundreds of watching teachers were completely shaken, staring in shock at the fierce duel on the platform.

Dantai Feng's sudden surge was astonishing, but ultimately within their realm of acceptance.

After all, Dantai Feng has always been seen as a freakishly talented individual; he entered the Fourth Stage High Rank as early as May.

It's been some time.

Successfully attaining Subtlety surprised them, but they could still accept it.

But Li Yuan? He just broke through in August!

"This?"

"Subtlety!" Li Yang and Dean Xu were just as shocked, even a bit dumbfounded.

That's right!

In the previous battle, signs that Li Yuan might grasp the Stellar Realm indeed emerged.

But signs of understanding and true comprehension are as different as heaven and earth!

The difference is immense.

"Can Li Yuan win?" A glimmer of expectation suddenly arose in Li Yang's heart.

…

"Such intense combat."

"Holy shit!"

"Is Li Yuan gaining the upper hand now?"

"The situation is about to reverse."

"Is Dantai Feng going to lose?" The entire Spectator Platform was in an uproar, everyone's eyes wide as they watched the scene unfold.

They couldn't quite grasp the specifics of the combat skills, but they could understand the general situation.

Li Yuan, who was originally at an absolute disadvantage, was gradually starting to dominate Dantai Feng.

At this very moment.

Most observers couldn't help but think: Could it be that Dantai Feng was about to follow in the footsteps of Garava and Yu Ming?

As the past battles had already shown.

Li Yuan was best known for his defense and counter-attacks; he was definitely the strongest Defender among the new students of the ten schools.

…

"Subtlety?"

"A newcomer from Kunlun Martial University has also achieved Subtlety?" Students from Starfire University and Starry Sky University, all top global talents, were shocked and conflicted.

They could all see that Li Yuan had made a breakthrough.

Dantai Feng's breakthrough was one thing; he was originally one of Starfire University's top geniuses.

Li Yuan?

Before this, many martial arts prodigies from the three top martial schools didn't even know who he was.

…

Li Yuan's explosive breakthrough amazed everyone watching, shaking all spectators.

But the battle on the platform, this 'battle of subtlety,' had already reached a fever pitch.

The intensity of their fight.

Finally.

"Clang!" When Li Yuan thrust his spear like lightning.

The flash of the sword was half a beat too slow, failing to block the spear's stab.

"Thump~" The huge shield shifted horizontally, heavily slamming onto the spear, causing it to deviate from its path.

Boom!

Li Yuan was sent flying back, increasing the distance between them, staring intently at Dantai Feng.

Dantai Feng didn't pursue his advantage, stopping as well.

"Why did you help me?" Li Yuan suddenly asked, filled with confusion.

A moment ago, without Dantai Feng's extreme pressure, even if he was just a step away from a real breakthrough, he definitely wouldn't have succeeded.

In a sense, Dantai Feng had helped him.

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"Weren't you the one who helped Dazhuang?" Dantai Feng said with a grin, "I saw that you were on the verge of a breakthrough, so I thought I'd try to give you a hand. I didn't expect you'd actually make it through."

"Dazhuang? Tian Dazhuang?" Li Yuan looked puzzled, not immediately catching on.

How did Dantai Feng know?

"Dazhuang is one of my best friends at school; we often spar together," Dantai Feng said with a smile: "I know about the help you gave him."

"You're a good guy." Dantai Feng handed Li Yuan the metaphorical 'good guy card.'

Li Yuan nodded slightly, understanding the reason.

But he still gave Dantai Feng an odd look.

Besides, Li Yuan recalled that a few days ago, Tian Dazhuang had mentioned sparring with Dantai Feng.

"But I also said that if I brought a shield, you wouldn't stand a chance," Dantai Feng said with a smile: "Li Yuan, forcing me to use my shield, you're definitely the second best in the world this year."

"Next, I won't hold back."

Without waiting for Li Yuan to say more.

Boom! Dantai Feng erupted once again with a sudden surge in speed, darting towards Li Yuan like lightning, as a blurry slash of his sword fiercely cleaved through the air.

This cut was vaguely faster than just before.

"Pfft!"

Li Yuan's long spear whistled, attempting to withstand the attack of the sword.

"Pom~"

In Dantai Feng's hand, the shield, like a heavy hammer, suddenly lifted, colliding with the spear tip, then swept horizontally, crossing paths with the spear tip, and forcefully knocking the spear shaft aside.

Advancing on Li Yuan with the speed of lightning.

"Boom!" As if anticipating this, Li Yuan fluidly retracted his spear, powering his legs to quickly retreat.

"Bang~"

"Pom! Pom!" The participants exchanged blows at lightning speed. Li Yuan, though doing his best to erupt in power and be cautious in defense, found himself totally overpowered by Dantai Feng's combined sword and shield assault.

The sword was like a stream of light, swift and fierce as electricity.

The shield was like a heavy hammer, either smashing or defending.

With the coordination of sword and shield, Dantai Feng's strength more than doubled, completely suppressing Li Yuan and forcing him to repeatedly retreat in a disheveled manner, unloading force.

...The entire Spectator Platform had become somewhat quieter at this moment.

A vast number of spectators held their breath watching this scene.

Nobody had expected.

That this final battle would reach such a state, after Li Yuan's unprecedented display of strength.

Dantai Feng, employing the shield, with the combination of sword and shield, had once again suppressed Li Yuan.

"Truly formidable."

"Sword Technique! Shield Technique! Movement Technique! Dantai Feng has reached the Perfection Level of the Fourth Stage, and perhaps he's nearing his limit," the teachers watched, filled with shock.

"He's very close to the Fifth Stage." These teachers all looked on with amazement.

...On the stage, Li Yuan struggled to defend and retreated time and time again.

At this moment.

Li Yuan realized that it wasn't Dantai Feng's Sword Technique that was truly strong, but his Shield Technique.

In his hands, the shield seemed to come alive, adept in both offense and defense.

Moreover, after a full explosion of strength, Dantai Feng's movement technique was clearly much more sophisticated.

Even with Li Yuan's comprehension of the Stellar Realm and Subtlety of the mind, he was completely unable to withstand it.

Subtlety of the mind and improving Spear Technique and Movement Technique to above 90% of the Fourth Stage were two different concepts.

They required ample time to continue practicing, and what Li Yuan lacked was time.

Suddenly.

"Whoosh!" Another fierce slash came, and Li Yuan raised his spear to defend.

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Dantai Feng's left hand suddenly released the shield, throwing it like a cannonball, directly flying towards Li Yuan's chest.

At close range, the shield was extremely fast.

So fast that Li Yuan had no time to react.

"Pom~" Li Yuan felt a terrible force piercing through his armor and jolting his entire body, as he was blasted backwards.

Whew! Dantai Feng stepped forward in pursuit.

Whew!

The sinister gleam of his sword flashed as it followed the shaft of Li Yuan's spear, which he had barely managed to prop up. Dantai Feng pressed down hard with his sword, slicing past Li Yuan's face and neck.

Blood spattered.

Li Yuan's figure became translucent.

"I've lost." There wasn't a trace of disappointment in Li Yuan's heart; instead, a slight smile emerged: "Subtlety of the mind, I've already gained a lot from this battle, and in terms of true strength, I'm certainly not his equal."

In the end, Li Yuan was rather thankful to Dantai Feng.

Whew!

Li Yuan's figure completely vanished.

"Truly a monster!"

"I had to go all out and even risk losing my Flying Shield to defeat him completely," Dantai Feng muttered to himself, "The reports said he was only at the Third Stage of his skills last year?"

"His progress is much faster than Gong Mi and the others, and faster than mine too."

"Looks like my position as the world's number one in our year won't last long," Dantai Feng shook his head.

...

"Dantai Feng!!"

"Dantai Feng!" Tens of thousands of spectators on the Spectator Platform were excitedly shouting his name.

This battle, where both sides pushed themselves to the limit in a fiercely intense fight,

In the end, Dantai Feng's full eruptive force won him the victory.

"Thrilling!" Dantai Feng, hearing the cheers from all around, felt a rush of exhilaration.

He didn't care whether Li Yuan would surpass him in the future; at least for today's battle, he had won.