Shackles of Humanity

Luo Kai shattered the heavy, oppressive atmosphere. He ignored the countless gun muzzles aimed at him and slowly walked forward.

”Kill him!” Su Wenlin ordered, his face an icy mask.

CRACK! A synchronized volley of gunfire erupted, but the target had already vanished.

Two figures suddenly clashed in the center of the room. They were moving so fast they looked like phantoms. The human eye could only register the afterimages they left behind; their real bodies were already elsewhere. It was impossible to even tell who was fighting whom.

Not only were the armed Guards utterly bewildered, but even those who had trained in Body Techniques couldn’t follow the action. They could only stare, dumbfounded, at the battle before them. ’Is this the true power of a master of Body Techniques? Even bullets are useless against them!’

The people attending the auction today were all from the upper echelons of Longyang City. Most had cultivated Body Techniques, but very few had actually become Martial Artists. Zang Haoming was one of those rare few. He narrowed his eyes, his expression incredibly grim. After a moment, he finally locked onto one of the figures and leaped into the fray. But what met him was a terrifyingly sharp blast of air from an incoming punch. Before the fist even arrived, the sheer pressure of the wind made it hard for him to breathe. He hastily summoned all his Power and raised his arm to block, only to feel an immense force slam into him. He was sent hurtling backward, smashing a large hole through a thick wall before landing in a heap. Lying on the ground, he coughed up a mouthful of blood and gritted out, ”A High-level Martial Artist!”

The faces of the crowd paled. A High-level Martial Artist was on a completely different level than an ordinary one; the title was synonymous with the pinnacle of martial power in the Xingma Kingdom. The handful of High-level Martial Artists in the kingdom were all legendary figures. And today, they were actually lucky enough to witness a duel between two of them. A pity, then, that watching was pointless, as they couldn’t see a single move either of them made.

Zang Haoming, a Martial Artist, had been taken down and left coughing up blood in a single exchange. The others didn’t even dare to try, scrambling backward to avoid being caught in the shockwaves of the fight.

Luo Kai’s eyes were as black as ink as he continuously accelerated his Qi and Blood Circulation. His fragile skin couldn’t withstand the violent flow and was already covered in a dense network of fissures.

The only one here who could match him was Su Wenlin of the Tri-Eyed Race. The handsome man was, in fact, a master of Body Techniques. He used a peculiar sort of Spiral Force; his body was in constant rotation, whether he was attacking or defending. On the offense, the rotation gave his punches extreme Penetration Power. On the defense, it allowed him to continuously deflect and dissipate the force of any blow.

The greatest difference between humans and animals is the ability to refine a skill to its absolute limit. Body Techniques were a prime example. Animals relied primarily on strength, speed, sharp fangs, and claws. While Body Techniques were, at their core, also a contest of Power and speed, proper technique could amplify both without limit.

His opponent’s Body Technique was unlike his own Mighty Dragon Fist. It functioned like an electric drill, whereas the Mighty Dragon Fist was a sledgehammer. In terms of raw, ferocious Fist Power, it couldn’t compare to the Mighty Dragon Fist. However, every exchange sent a sharp, needle-like sting through him. The Mighty Dragon Fist emphasized an explosive, all-encompassing burst of power; his opponent’s technique focused on breaking a defense with a single, concentrated point.

Luo Kai could only push his Qi and Blood Circulation even faster. He had been through countless battles over the years, but he had rarely met an opponent who could truly match him. Now, the thrill of combat coursed through him once more. He could feel himself approaching some critical point again; his blood began to burn, and the blood seeping from his wounds took on a blackish tint. ’When your Power is unstoppable and can crush everything in its path, nothing else is a problem.’

The longer Su Wenlin fought, the more shocked he became. He was finding it increasingly difficult to resist his opponent’s ferocious Fist Power. At first, seeing the man’s body seeping blood, he had thought victory was near. But with every exchange, his opponent’s Power only grew more savage. Now, it seemed he was the one who was about to be overwhelmed.

He was of noble birth, raised since childhood on precious medicinal baths and Genetic Potions. The Body Technique he studied was his clan’s ultimate art, the Cloud Spin Force. Combined with the innate, superior learning Ability and powerful Insight of the Tri-Eyed Race, he had become a Martial Artist at a young age, his combat prowess reaching the standard of a High-level Martial Artist. He was confident that even an average High-level Martial Artist would be no match for him.

Thanks to a powerful Perception akin to precognition, his reflexes were faster and his sensitivity to danger was heightened. It was this Ability that made his people the natural Upper Race among humankind.

But now, that sense of danger was growing stronger with every passing moment. He feared that if this continued, he would face a crushing defeat. He would not allow that to happen. In a blur, he spun and leaped to the second floor, then vaulted back down in the same instant. A Green Blade Long Sword was now in his hand. Flashing with a green light, he began to circle Luo Kai, continuously spinning and thrusting.

Luo Kai snorted in anger. An armed opponent changed everything. His body couldn’t withstand a sharp blade, so he was forced to switch from offense to defense. He weaved and swayed like a serpent, fluidly dodging the edge of the sword. The tide of the battle slowly began to turn.

The spectators were dazzled. Though they couldn’t tell who had the upper hand, they understood the implications of Su Wenlin retrieving a weapon. It was clear the Tri-Eyed Race’s Young City Lord was losing the unarmed exchange and had been forced to rely on a blade.

Sister Su watched from the side, frantic with anxiety. She wasn’t skilled in Body Techniques and was powerless to intervene. All she could do was cry out, ”Brother, stop fighting! Let’s just give the dog back to him!”

Su Wenlin had been immensely proud his entire life, his ego massive. In a way, having to retrieve his weapon meant he had already lost. If he didn’t kill this man here and now, his reputation would be ruined forever!

Luo Kai had only come out for a drink and hadn’t brought a weapon. For now, he could use the agility granted by his Soft Body Technique to dodge the blade, but his primary combat strength stemmed from the explosive circulation of his qi and blood—an Ability he couldn’t maintain for long. What’s more, his opponent was just as swift, and his Sword Technique was masterful. The sword light swirling around him was like a hurricane, and before long, several gashes had been opened on his body, some deep enough to reveal bone.

Luo Kai had never intended to kill. Since the fight began, he had remained in a state of calm focus, thinking only of defeating Su Wenlin and rescuing Old Huang. But now, anger was starting to build. The Evil Energy in his chest finally resonated with his emotional state and began to churn even more violently. With no outlet, it could only swirl madly around his heart.

It spun faster and faster, gradually solidifying from ethereal Energy into something tangible. A tiny, solidified wisp of Evil Qi drilled into Luo Kai’s heart. It felt like a powerful stimulant had been injected straight into the organ. Luo Kai grunted in pain, feeling that minuscule strand of Evil Qi surge through his bloodstream, darting about erratically as it searched for an outlet.

Luo Kai’s movements suddenly stopped. He was no longer dodging the flashes of the sword. Instead, he extended a finger and made a pointing gesture toward Su Wenlin. A minuscule wisp of Black Flame shot from his fingertip.

An indescribable sense of crisis washed over Su Wenlin. He dodged to the side on pure instinct. The tiny wisp of Black Flame struck his longsword. At a speed visible to the naked eye, the blade corroded into a puff of green smoke. The corrosion shot up the length of the metal, reaching the hilt in an instant. Terrified, he immediately dropped it.

It wasn’t just Su Wenlin who was scared witless; everyone else was staring, dumbfounded. ’What the hell is that thing?!’

Luo Kai could no longer contain the killing intent boiling inside him. He pounced, and the unstoppable Power of his Mighty Dragon Fist completely enveloped Su Wenlin.

Without his weapon, Su Wenlin was no longer a match for him. Worse, he had lost all will to win. Once a person’s will breaks, their fighting spirit vanishes. He was immediately forced into a steady retreat.

Luo Kai again made a pointing gesture toward Su Wenlin, and another wisp of Black Flame shot forth.

Su Wenlin scrambled to dodge. The Black Flame ate a small hole in the marble floor where he had just been standing. The next instant, a fist slammed squarely into his shoulder. The Fist Power was so savage that it shattered his scapula. He collapsed to the ground, staring up at Luo Kai with a face full of terror. Only now did he realize that compared to one’s life, things like face and pride were utterly worthless.

Luo Kai slowly walked over. As his qi and blood burned, his Life Magnetic Field expanded infinitely, and a crushing Mental Suppression weighed down on everyone present. His eyes were completely obscured by a black radiance, making him look like a Demon God straight from Hell.

Just as he was about to deliver the killing blow, he heard two desperate pleas: ”Don’t!”

A young woman in a white dress rushed forward, placing herself between Luo Kai and Su Wenlin. Luo Kai paused. His true consciousness resurfaced, and the black radiance in his eyes slowly faded. He turned his head toward the window, where another woman was also looking at him, her face full of supplication.