I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 289 - 271: The Thousand Arts Return to a Single Path

Duan Rong’s divine sense constantly enveloped the area, though he didn’t utilize it to penetrate the thin flying darts.

But at the instant the dart exploded, Duan Rong keenly sensed it!

Under the canopy of his divine sense, the sudden eruption was as conspicuous as ripples suddenly crashing over the calm surface of a lake.

Divine sense is far sharper than eyesight!

At this moment, three slender darts were aimed directly at Duan Rong’s face, and Tao Rong’s blade simultaneously threatened him from the side!

Tao Rong had calculated the timing perfectly to release these darts, laden with lethal intent!

The abruptly unleashed slender dart was already a deadly move; for Duan Rong to evade, his posture would inevitably be disturbed, and Tao Rong’s shadow-following blade would certainly strike at this moment!

The onlookers, with discerning eyes, all saw Duan Rong’s impending defeat; some were anxious, others shocked, and a few delighted at his misfortune.

But just then, Duan Rong maintained his forward momentum, while his right hand suddenly swept before his eyes, unfurling several plum blossom shadows. Astoundingly, he caught the three darts shooting at his face in one grasp!

Duan Rong was already proficient with hidden weapons, and on the night he rescued Xiao Yu, he even assimilated a technique from Wei Yutian—the Thousand Leaves Three Transformations!

After digesting and absorbing it, his hidden weapon techniques reached an even higher level.

As Duan Rong swiftly caught those three darts mid-flight, not only was Tao Rong astounded, but the observation platform also fell into complete silence.

The experts in the True Qi Realm clearly understood the significance of this.

To catch hidden weapons launched by someone else was plainly more challenging than throwing them.

This demonstrated that Duan Rong’s hidden weapon technique far exceeded Tao Rong’s!

At the moment Duan Rong grasped those three flying darts, Jie Daohan’s body visibly trembled, his gaze fixated on Duan Rong like a venomous snake.

This person had never appeared on his radar before!

Yet he was a formidable entity at the Great Success Realm of the Inner Breath stage, and especially skilled in hidden weapons!

In his pursuit to investigate Jie Lei’s death, countless faces had flashed through Jie Daohan’s mind day and night!

He had considered everyone before Zhexing Platform because a year ago, almost all had reached the Third Level of the Inner Breath Realm, while Jie Lei at that time was only at the Second Level.

Today, Jie Daohan discovered someone—growing stronger in the shadows, like a mouse lurking in the darkness...

Throughout twenty years as a Chief Constable, Jie Daohan perceived something amiss... He sat there, his body and demeanor stiff, yet his gaze was profound and chilling...

The moment Duan Rong seized those three darts, he released them. He had no intention of publicly displaying his hidden weapon techniques, and he felt the timing was right.

Duan Rong’s right hand grasped the hilt of the Cow Tail Saber, and almost upon contact, he infused his Inner Breath. Instantly, the robust Inner Breath exploded, shattering the scabbard into fragments...

Duan Rong slashed horizontally with his blade!

Tao Rong was still reeling from Duan Rong’s ability to snatch away the three sudden darts aimed at his face with just a lift of his hand.

The finesse of his technique was evidently far superior to his own.

Still in shock, Tao Rong couldn’t react in time as Duan Rong’s blade, amidst the scattered shards of the scabbard, swung towards him!

Tao Rong felt a chill spread through his body, an electric sensation tingling his scalp!

The formidable momentum of Duan Rong’s slash was clearly beyond what Tao Rong could withstand at this moment!

Tao Rong retreated swiftly, but Duan Rong deftly adjusted his blade from a slash to a thrust, advancing towards the rapidly retreating Tao Rong.

Both stood on the Plum Blossom Stakes, quickly shifting their footing along the stake edges, one pressing forward, the other retreating hastily!

Tao Rong was retreating with his back turned, and thus his speed was slightly slower than Duan Rong’s. Seeing the blade tip nearing, Tao Rong stepped aside on the stake’s edge, body leaning sideways, while simultaneously swinging his saber to strike the back of Duan Rong’s thrusting blade.

In the instant Tao Rong’s form shifted, Duan Rong pivoted as well, seamlessly transitioning into a horizontal slash.

Clang! The two sabers collided!

Tao Rong’s palm trembled, nearly losing grip on his weapon!

At this point, his Inner Breath was evidently weaker than Duan Rong’s, the disparity in strength clearly established!

Duan Rong’s gaze was cold and relentless as he pressed his attack!

Tao Rong struggled to cope, fending off strikes from all sides!

Focused on defending against Duan Rong’s flashing blade, Tao Rong failed to notice that he had maneuvered to the edge of the Plum Blossom Stakes,

Duan Rong suddenly swung his saber in a diagonal arc, slicing horizontally overhead!

Tao Rong was caught off guard and could only brace himself to meet the attack!

The two blades crashed and rebounded, Inner Breath surging explosively!

Tao Rong’s footing gave way, and he plummeted down from Zhexing Platform with his saber!

He stood there momentarily dazed, glancing at the sabre in his hand; whereas Duan Rong’s Cow Tail Saber’s blade remained pristine, Tao Rong’s blade bore several fractures, the largest gash a result of the final counterslash before he fell!

Though both were at the Great Success Realm, at this stage in their clash, the disparity in Inner Breath had become quite apparent!

On the observation platform, Ah Mo looked at Duan Rong, saying, "Miss, give him credit, he’s quite formidable!"

In truth, Ah Mo had a favorable impression of Duan Rong, at least finding him not disagreeable.

Lv Qingzhu nodded, saying, "He seems to have developed a rather deep understanding of the Micro Realm!"

Lv Qingzhu’s assessment was a deduction she made after careful consideration.

Without some understanding of the Micro Realm, how could Duan Rong, while depleting Tao Rong’s strength with defensive tactics, have evaded his successive fierce attacks?

However, considering Duan Rong’s current strikes, though fierce and agile, they clearly haven’t yet reached the precision of the Micro Realm!

During his assault, Duan Rong continuously suppressed his own realm; having achieved the Micro Realm, coupled with his divine sense’s ability to self-examine his state, even amid intense battle, Duan Rong could maintain steady control over his level.