IWYTBW - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

There's Always That Person in Class Who Seems to Not Study But Gets First Place.

The students present gasped.

Eugene’s spiritual power hadn't reached the level of materialization, but it had already formed a near-solid phantom—a massive python, like a dragon emerging from the sea, opened its gaping maw towards Yi Zhen. Yi Zhen’s eyes reflected the glint of the snake’s fangs as he pushed Ai Ling away with a palm.

Ai Ling cried out, “Yi Zhen!”

Natalia snapped, “Eugene, are you crazy? This isn’t a dueling arena!”

Yi Zhen had already leaped gracefully into the air.

Every eye in the vicinity was glued to his figure.

The original “Yi Zhen’s” clothes were mostly made of flowing, smooth fabrics. His long sleeves billowed, his robes trailed behind him, and when he walked, from behind, it looked incredibly elegant. Today, Yi Zhen wore a pearl-colored robe of this style. When the wind blew, it rippled like amorous white waves.

But as his toes touched the ground and he shot upwards, these gentle waves abruptly transformed into a powerful surge. Yi Zhen’s wide sleeves rolled and snapped, yet he moved as if walking on solid ground. Mid-air, he executed a double jump, dodging the python’s lightning-fast strike!

Could a trained warrior, like a high-ranking mecha pilot, jump to this height?

Naturally. With ease.

Could a trained warrior, like a high-ranking mecha pilot, perform a second jump in mid-air after already leaping?

Everyone present likely had their doubts.

Yi Zhen had activated  the《Illusory Body of Mo Luo》. This peculiar lightness skill, like the 《 Jade Alchemy of the Eastern Sea 》, was fundamentally designed for stealth and concealment.

《Illusory Body of Mo Luo》was divided into four realms: Form Seen Arising, Form Seen Gathering, Form Seen Transforming, and Form Unseen. In Buddhist philosophy, "form seen" was also known as Sakkāya-diṭṭhi, referring to all external things that could give rise to attachments and afflictions.

Once Yi Zhen cultivated to the final realm—Form Unseen—all external objects would become void in his eyes, and he, in turn, would become void in the eyes of all external things. Nothing would be able to perceive his existence.

Once activated, his left arm practically dissipated into smoke. The python’s ferocious bite met only air, its curved, blade-like fangs clamping down on nothing.

Carrying its unstoppable momentum, it lashed out like a bursting dam towards Yi Zhen’s previous location. But the strike missed. Before it could retract, Yi Zhen had already flashed in front of Eugene, less than a foot away.

Eugene’s pupils contracted. “Wha…!”

Yi Zhen reached out, as if having anticipated Eugene’s reaction, and pressed precisely and ruthlessly on his Jianjing acupoint.

The Jianjing acupoint was the key point connecting the entire arm, the conduit through which internal energy flowed into the wrist and fingertips. With the Jianjing acupoint sealed, the speed of Eugene’s right fist faltered. A sharp qi seemed to flow back through Yi Zhen's fingers, numbing half of Eugene’s body, even his tongue stiffening.

However, this single exchange had allowed Eugene to sense that the young man before him was physically inferior, at least two or three levels below him. Although Eugene discarded his dismissive attitude, he still smiled confidently. He then blocked with his left arm and thrust his knee upwards.

This strike carried the sound of thunder. Those struck by it were fortunate if they merely vomited blood; most suffered ruptured internal organs and shattered lungs.

Yi Zhen’s expression remained calm. He also lifted his leg, executing a Lion Rolling Ball kick, striking the Xuehai and Zusanli acupoints above and below Eugene’s knee with lightning speed. Internal energy pierced like steel needles, and Eugene's lower body went numb, as if soaked in ice water, a chilling pain radiating through him, his teeth aching.

With two consecutive moves thwarted, killing intent surged in Eugene's eyes. He struggled to regain control of his body, launching both fists towards Yi Zhen’s sternum.

This was an offensive-as-defensive, advancing-as-retreating tactic. His fists weren’t aligned horizontally but vertically, protecting his chest while simultaneously striking the opponent's body with immense force, almost impossible to deflect. Yet, Yi Zhen didn’t dodge.

Eugene’s eyes narrowed. What is he thinking? Does he have another trick up his sleeve?

In a flash, Yi Zhen’s fingers pressed against the Renying acupoint on Eugene’s throat. Eugene’s head buzzed, his vision darkening. Like a swallow returning to its nest, Yi Zhen’s other hand simultaneously slid silently towards Eugene’s ribs. His movements were so gentle, yet his fingers were so hard, like naturally formed rock, instantly striking the Qimen and Zhangmen acupoints.

Silence descended. Everyone had retreated, watching this unprecedented battle with wide-eyed astonishment.

Time seemed to freeze. Both figures stood motionless, their posture easily misinterpreted.

Eugene’s hands were outstretched. Yi Zhen had one hand on his ribs, the index finger of his other hand, slender as bamboo and lustrous as jade, pressed against his throat. His pearl-white robe fluttered gently in the wind. Eugene tilted his head back slightly, as if trying to support this embrace.

However, only those involved knew the true situation… Of the thirty-six death acupoints on the human body, in that brief exchange, Yi Zhen had ruthlessly struck five, distributed across Eugene's entire body. A weaker opponent would already be bleeding from their seven orifices, dead in a gruesome manner. The world before Eugene's eyes seemed to shift colors, cycling through the spectrum before settling on a lifeless grayscale.

His internal organs churned as if in a blender. The final strikes to the Qimen and Zhangmen acupoints violently disrupted his internal circulation. Combined with the previous strikes to his shoulder, neck, calf, and throat, the four linked attacks completely shattered his defenses.

The phantom python writhed in mid-air, letting out a final, frustrated hiss before crumbling into dust.

Yi Zhen slowly retracted his fingers, removing his hand from Eugene’s waist, and calmly created distance between them, nodding. “I’ll take that as my victory.”

After he retreated three steps, Eugene’s lips were tightly pressed together, his face pale. His body swayed, and he suddenly collapsed backwards.

“Master Eugene!” the blond-haired, blue-eyed young man shouted. Fast as lightning, he caught Eugene, preventing his head from hitting the ground. “Bastard! What did you do to Master Eugene?!”

Main Quest: Duel Complete

Quest Rewards:

Skill Points x2

Azure Black Mamba x1

[Please choose one of the following to enhance: Strength, Agility, or Spirit. Remaining Skill Points: 2]

With his angry roar, the surrounding students, as if given permission to speak, erupted in a clamor, like a frozen river thawing.

“Three moves! Just three moves!”

“Amazing! Even though it was only a virtual duel, he took down Eugene Hall in three moves. Imagine how strong he’d be in a real fight!”

“Did you see that move just now? How did he pull off a double jump in mid-air?!”

“I noticed his attacks were incredibly precise, almost like a sniper. Every time, he blocked Eugene with minimal contact. It’s like he calculated everything perfectly…”

“No, calculation isn’t quite right. From the first move, you could see that he was physically much weaker. How can technique overcome that kind of strength difference? Unless he used some dirty tricks, like an electric shock or poison to paralyze Eugene…”

The surrounding chatter intensified. Jin Qi had already returned, bringing Oliver with him.

The blond youth watched Yi Zhen, surrounded by the crowd, with a complicated expression. He suddenly remembered the unspoken frustration and unprecedented anxiety that had filled their group of six after they returned that night, unsure whether it was anger or fear.

Qi Jiayou had slammed his fist on the seat, saying that Yi Zhen had only used illusions. Was his true strength really as formidable as it had seemed in the illusion? If they had been prepared, what could Yi Zhen have done?

He’d suggested retaliation, but the usually quiet Nishikawa Hiroki had surprisingly objected.

“Did you see the Helinarian standing next to him?” Nishikawa Hiroki had asked.

Natalia had asked in a low voice, “Do you know him?”

“He’s Ghost Butterfly,” Nishikawa Hiroki had replied. “Ghost Butterfly Anji.”

Jin Qi had exclaimed in surprise, “The illusion master under Great Dark Sky, the A+ rank pilot?”

Then she scoffed, “So what? You’re not trying to say that just because he has Ghost Butterfly protecting him, we can’t touch him, are you?”

Nishikawa Hiroki had said, “No. What I’m saying is that even Ghost Butterfly Anji was caught in his illusion earlier.”

“You mean…”

“His mastery of illusions has already far surpassed Ghost Butterfly’s.” Nishikawa Hiroki’s expression remained calm, but his words had shaken the group. “Against an illusion master of that level, can you really be sure he doesn't have any other tricks up his sleeve?”

Nishikawa Hiroki had convinced them. Now, Oliver could finally confirm that Nishikawa Hiroki’s suspicions were correct. Yi Zhen did have other skills.

—Besides illusions, he was also a top-notch martial artist.

“It was just a normal duel,” Yi Zhen said, looking surprised. Compared to Eugene, his forehead only glistened slightly with sweat, his complexion healthy as if he’d just returned from exercising after cooking a meal. “He was the one who challenged me. He started the fight. And now he’s the one who lost. How can you blame me?”

“You!”

“That’s enough, Gabriel,” Oliver Tempestis pushed through the crowd, looking at his brother. “A duel’s a duel. Eugene lost. Continuing to harass him is just pathetic.”

Yi Zhen glanced at the circle of angry young men behind Eugene, fists clenched, teeth gritted. He suddenly smiled.

His eyes and brows were dark, his lips as red as stained cherries, contrasting sharply with his jade-white skin. He wore the warm-toned robe that would be disastrous on anyone with a slightly darker complexion, yet Yi Zhen complemented it perfectly, its brilliance serving only to enhance his own presence.

His eyes shone with the joy and satisfaction of victory. Confidence was his best ornament. At this moment, his radiance was captivating, even stunning the youths who itched to attack.

Not bad, Yi Zhen nodded to himself, pleased. It seemed that his two months of special training hadn’t been wasted, yielding tangible results.

Ai Ling rushed over to check for injuries. “How did you do that?” she asked, shocked. “That’s Eugene Hall! They say he’s just a step away from becoming an A-rank pilot… Look, his spiritual manifestation was almost solid!”

Yi Zhen shrugged. “Just luck.”

It was luck. If that idiot had used his mecha instead of his physical body, Yi Zhen wouldn’t have won so easily. The situation would have been reversed, with Eugene relentlessly pursuing and bombarding him.

Ai Ling stared, dumbfounded. “You… you’re amazing. It’s only been this long, and you’ve already surpassed me…”

She looked at Yi Zhen. The frail and timid widower who had wandered through the Rong family mansion like a lost ghost—all those past impressions were now shattered by his current brilliance, like flimsy shadows dispelled by the sun.

Yi Zhen thought to himself, It’s nothing, really. Martial arts systems are inherently overpowered in one-on-one combat but weak in group fights. I have lightness skills, internal energy, pressure point knowledge, and mental cultivation. In this era, it would be strange if I couldn’t win a hand-to-hand fight.

But he couldn’t tell Ai Ling that. He patted her shoulder and said earnestly, “Actually, I’m the type who doesn’t seem to study much normally, complains to classmates before exams, saying ‘Oh no, I’m definitely going to fail, my parents are going to kill me,’ then goes home and crams every night till sunrise. So, don’t worry about it, really.”

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