Chapter Eight: An Unexpected Outcome

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sounds of fists and feet echoed atop the abandoned building, as two figures—one clad in black, the other in blue—chased and collided with each other in fierce combat.

In terms of pure speed, the edge still belonged to Ye Yan. Yet Ding Jianan’s body was sheathed in ethereal light, a source of endless frustration for Ye Yan. Physical attacks alone did little damage, and oftentimes that light would simply convert the force into propulsion, maintaining the gap between them.

Truly worthy of being one of the two heroes.

He really is formidable.

“You can’t break through my ethereal light,” Ding Jianan declared with a smile, steadying himself at the corner of the rooftop after yet another clash.

“Oh? You sound so confident.” Suspended in the air, Ye Yan looked down at him, his vaporous wings beating as he hovered on the demonic wind.

“Naturally,” Ding Jianan replied with pride. “My ethereal light has been tempered a thousand times over. Enhanced by the secret Daoist technique, 'Linguan Finger,' it’s now at its strongest.”

Ye Yan merely laughed. “Then you’d better take care not to twist your tongue in the wind.”

With that, Ye Yan dove down.

“Come!” Ding Jianan’s fighting spirit surged.

After all, this was only a friendly contest, not a duel to the death. There was time for a few words, keeping the mood from growing too tense.

Ye Yan’s attacks showed no change—he relied on his speed, once more circling behind Ding Jianan and swinging his fist.

Ding Jianan turned, using the unique perspective of 'Observation' to see through the movement, and met him with a punch of his own.

But at the very moment their fists were about to collide, Ye Yan abruptly transformed his attack—a fist turned into a palm, delivering a seemingly gentle push.

Ding Jianan was taken aback, but his fist, already fully committed, could not be withdrawn.

Boom!

Waves of energy erupted. Before everyone’s eyes, fist and palm met head-on.

Ye Yan was sent flying from the impact, struggling to steady himself in the air.

A trace of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

“What are you playing at?” Ding Jianan looked up in confusion.

He simply couldn’t fathom Ye Yan’s decision. He could easily have met the punch head-on without losing ground.

Yet Ye Yan had deliberately switched to an open palm.

Was he giving up on purpose?

But Ye Yan, hovering in midair and rubbing his aching wrist, simply smiled in silence. His lips barely moved as he uttered, almost carelessly, the word: “Shock.”

The very next moment—

Standing atop the abandoned building, Ding Jianan suddenly coughed up blood without warning. The ethereal light around him began to dissipate.

“How—?” His pupils constricted in disbelief.

He couldn’t comprehend how that light, effortless palm had injured him, even unraveling the protective ethereal light he was so proud of. This made no sense.

That palm, though it seemed weightless, was in fact one of the Watchman’s secret skills.

Air Shock.

A force driven into the enemy’s body, to be detonated at will. It inflicted internal damage, bypassing armor and protective magic alike.

Though he’d taken a punch, removing that troublesome ethereal light made it more than worth the cost.

Besides, he could use the Muscle Contraction and Blood-Staunching Technique to delay his injuries; such a minor wound was of no concern and would not affect the rest of the fight.

With that thought, Ye Yan acted decisively.

Aside from Jin Erpeng, presently possessed by the 'General’s Dispatch,' he unleashed the remaining six banners.

“Lu Dashan, Old Man Ma, Mo Li Zha, Tidal Summoner Jiao, Wind-Ear, and Golden-Tongue.”

The six demon spirits appeared, each taking position at a different corner of the rooftop. No sooner did they manifest than they charged toward Ding Jianan with ferocity.

Heaven-Splitting Palm!

Surrounded by so many spirits, Ding Jianan had no intention of wasting his energy on them. He raised his hand abruptly, unleashing a surging wave of force.

His target: Ye Yan, still in midair.

Secret Art: Chaos.

The palm wind of the Heaven-Splitting Palm was swift as lightning, its force lethal enough to kill with a single blow.

Yet Ye Yan did not dodge. Instead, he formed a Daoist hand seal.

In an instant, a massive yellow phantom tore through space, absorbing the ferocious blast with its own body. Then, like a shattered mirror, it vanished.

The entire sequence lasted less than a second.

Secret Art: Chaos.

The Watchman’s summoning art called forth the ancient beast 'Chaos.' But since Ye Yan was a transmigrant, and each summoning crossed worlds, Chaos could only appear for a fleeting moment.

So, although it was a summoning, Ye Yan most often used it as a shield against bullets.

“Not good.”

His Heaven-Splitting Palm so casually neutralized, and the demon spirits closing in, Ding Jianan dared not linger or waste strength.

He instantly activated Earth-Walking Immortal, vanishing from the rooftop and leaving the demon spirits to pounce on nothing but air.

“Impressive.” Overlooking the scene, Ye Yan could not help but marvel. “That Earth-Walking Immortal technique is slippery indeed—more refined than those guys from Jialong Mountain.”

“As expected of you, Ding Jianan.”

Though the Earth-Walking Immortal was a subterranean escape art, allowing one to merge with the earth and roam beneath the surface, the underground was dark as well.

Thus, even as Ding Jianan disappeared, his movements were plain as day to Ye Yan.

Ye Yan returned five of the six demon spirits to their banners, leaving only the most powerful and resilient, Lu Dashan.

He then released Jin Erpeng from the General’s Dispatch and drew Lu Dashan back as well.

Without wings, Ye Yan plummeted from the sky, crashing to the ground with a tremendous roar, dust billowing in all directions.

…

“He broke the ethereal light!”

“And forced Ding Jianan to resort to his Earth-Walking Immortal technique—this kid is actually this strong?”

“That’s Ding Jianan, after all.”

Low-voiced discussions buzzed without end.

Though they lurked in darkness, these bystanders—each with their own supernatural means—had been watching the events atop the abandoned building unfold with perfect clarity.

Those who’d thought Ding Jianan was making a fuss over nothing, or had come simply for entertainment, now all bore looks of utter shock.

Not only had this newcomer traded blows evenly with Ding Jianan, but he now seemed to be gaining the upper hand.

This guy was terrifying.

“What was that spirit-manipulating method? I’ve never seen anything like it… Feels like shamanism… from the northeast?”

“And the ability to break through ethereal light.”

“So this is a Watchman?”

The voices speculated endlessly—some analyzing Ye Yan’s origins, others guessing at his powers.

Xu Si, cigarette dangling from his lips, leaned against a wall with a rogue’s nonchalance. Although he kept out of the surrounding discussions, his eyes betrayed his astonishment.

“Tch! Who would have thought that in just a few short years, this brat would grow from a clueless kid into someone capable of standing toe-to-toe with Ding Jianan.”

Xu Si couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

“Indeed. Who could have foreseen it?” a voice responded beside him.

Xu Si turned, spotting Xu San in his suit and tie, standing calmly next to him.

“Finished your task?” Xu Si asked, taking a drag.

“Hmm.” Xu San pushed his glasses up. “Nothing much to show for it—just caught a small fry.”

“And the woman?” Xu Si pressed.

“Same as always—let her slip away.” Xu San shrugged and sighed, clearly displeased.

“That’s fine.” Xu Si grinned. “Last time, we hesitated and the World Society snatched the prize from under our noses.

This time, we mustn’t miss our chance… Father doesn’t have much time left—North China needs some new experts.”

“Agreed.”

Xu Si exhaled a ring of smoke, while Xu San stood in silence, saying no more.