Chapter 328: Aerial Combat Between Dou Shis!
Previously, when on the ground, Xiao Yan's speed with the Strange Fire Heavy Ruler was slow because he had to bring the weapon to him. Now, however, the Strange Fire Heavy Ruler only needed to move halfway, and Xiao Yan himself, through various abstract body twists, would actively align himself with the weapon, thus reducing the travel distance of the ruler by half. In other words, Xiao Yan had halved his 'attack interval' and 'defense interval'!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Amidst a deep silence, two armored figures with light wings spread above Yunlan Square were continuously battling. Compared to the previous peaceful scene when the green-armored girl was on the ground, the heavy-armored knight wielding the heavy ruler now seemed like a slippery whirlwind, with the strange weapon moving fluidly. The knight's entire body was both shield and sword, and he could even transform into a spinning, tornado-like figure, suppressing the clearly faster green-armored girl.
"You only had the advantage on the ground because I didn't integrate the core techniques of the Bursting Step into my punches and kicks. Otherwise, do you really think you're that powerful?" In the air, Xiao Yan seemed to merge with the Strange Fire Heavy Ruler, his body moving with the ruler and vice versa. With the unreasonable width, hardness, and length of the weapon, Xiao Yan was like a leaf spinning in the wind, effortlessly defending against all of Nalan Yanran's attacks. Meanwhile, he also managed to turn his defense into offense, forcing Nalan Yanran to continually retreat and dissipate her power.
"As for the experience in controlling the Feathershell Wings, you're still far from reaching it," Xiao Yan's voice came from behind his helmet, seeing Nalan Yanran's face turn slightly red beneath her helmet, perhaps even a little warm. Aerial combat and ground combat were completely different. Nalan Yanran clearly had little experience with aerial combat using the Feathershell Wings and didn't realize that the rapid changes she could make on the ground wouldn't be as effective in the air.
For instance, Jiang Lin, who had been forced to become a bowman because of his overwhelming close combat ability, could change his movement speed drastically between explosive steps and punches on the ground. This allowed Jiang Lin to execute rapid attacks that felt like teleportation. However, in aerial combat, he could only make random changes to his punches and kicks without the Feathershell Wings' ability to provide continuous high-intensity bursts. His body had no place to push off from, and the thrust provided by the wings was too weak. Only after reaching the Dou Zong level could Jiang Lin potentially use his wings to step through the air and execute even more violent lightning attacks.
Now, Nalan Yanran clearly hadn't realized her true advantage. The ground was her real battlefield. Xiao Yan couldn't turn the Strange Fire Heavy Ruler into a shield, nor could he use it to circle around Nalan Yanran. While Nalan Yanran's speed was fast, under the difference in arc size, her speed seemed a little slow when faced with Xiao Yan's agile defense.
Nalan Yanran's master, Yun Yun, had a terrifying assassin presence, as few in the Gama Empire could withstand the defensive Dou Qi of the Yunlan Sword. Moreover, there were no high-level Feathershell Wings comparable to Yun Yun's Four-Leaf Green Cicada Wings. Yun Yun's current overwhelming strength was due to the equipment she wore—having the Four-Leaf Green Cicada Wings allowed her to crush Dou Huang at the same level, and with the Yunlan Sword, her offensive potential far exceeded that of other unarmed Dou Huang in the same rank. This made Yun Yun a fearsome presence beyond imagination in this era.
However, Nalan Yanran didn't have such good fortune. Despite having Yun Yun's treatment, she now faced a fully equipped Xiao Yan. This was why the Refining Master Guild maintained such close ties, to prevent secret arms races among members. The Yunlan Sword in Yun Yun's hands was an artifact developed at the tail end of an arms race within the Refining Guild.
"...But is this really still a battle between Dou Shis?"
"Why... why is the battle between Dou Shis happening in the air?"
"Though I know the Feathershell Wings are meant for aerial combat, knowing is one thing, but seeing it in person is another... slap! I must still be half-asleep today?"
At this moment, all the forces gathered at the perimeter of Yunlan Square silently stared up at Xiao Yan, who was spinning in the air like a top, and at Nalan Yanran, who resembled a green butterfly constantly adjusting her attack postures. The two were engaged in a fierce aerial battle, while everyone on the ground silently looked up.
Silence. No one spoke because they felt their worldview was slowly crumbling.
Two years ago, Jiang Lin had performed aerial combat with the Feathershell Wings above the Imperial Capital, but that had been a one-sided mockery. How could it compare to the evenly matched battle that now left the audience in awe? Moreover, because of the quality, most people could only get the two-leaf Feathershell Wings, which were typically used for auxiliary mobility.
Thus, in the minds of most people, aerial combat seemed possible, but still a little unrealistic.
Until now, with the help of two Xuan-grade craftsmen, two Dou Shis wearing Dou Armor, wielding Xuan-grade weapons, and growing Feathershell Wings on their backs, they performed a battle feast in the sky that could only be seen in dreams!
What is an ultimate single soldier?
This is the ultimate single soldier! The theoretical combat power of a Dou Shi had been raised to an unfamiliar height by the two in the air, leaving the audience from various forces across the Gama Empire below stunned.
'These two are so strong... they're even comparable to Dou Lings. If they had any remote attack methods, ordinary Dou Lings wouldn't even be able to hit them.' Among the silent crowd, a man in a black cloak, blending into the shadows, quietly observed the battle in the air. His deep eyes flickered slightly, and countless thoughts arose in his mind.
'Xiao Yan... Jiang Lin must be from the spirit race, but if I remember correctly, the spirit race should be under martial law right now. Why are there still members of the race coming out?'
The man's gaze flickered constantly, scanning the surroundings as if searching for someone. When he spotted a corner of the Yunlan Sect's area, unnoticed by anyone, an elderly white-haired man was holding a large figure as though it were a chicken. The man's eyes immediately opened wide, but he pretended nothing had happened. However, what the man didn't know was that just as he shifted his gaze, the large figure, small like a chicken in the hands of the elderly man, suddenly looked up, its golden-red eyes flashing with a sharp gleam.
"I told you I would fix the mountain protection formation... Senior, don't be angry."
(END CHAPTER)
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