Nightqueen Yanqing's lips curled up into a smile as she arrogantly looked down at Lu Yin. "Hold on?
Ant, who gave you the guts to speak so arrogantly? I thought that I could finish you off, but now it seems that I have no choice but to use that move. Open your eyes wide, ant, and I'll show you what a Nightking is like. This is a battle technique that only Nightkings can comprehend: Nightking's Body. "With a low growl, a grey stream of air spread out and enveloped Nightqueen Yanqing's body, gradually fusing with her four-lined battle force. Immediately after, a gale swept out in all directions, crushing the ground and distorting the void.
Countless people watched on nervously. What battle technique was this?
Was it a Nightking clan battle technique?
Outside the plains, Chilian Daynight's eyes burned with passion. The Nightking's Body was an extremely powerful battle technique that only the Daynight clan could comprehend. It could raise one's physical strength by a level, and this level was equivalent to an increase of one's battle force. In other words, Nightqueen Yanqing possessed five-lined battle force at this moment.
Many of the great powers who were familiar with the Nightking clan sighed in amazement. Every time a Nightking clan battle technique was used, it would shock everyone. The Nightking's Body was quite famous, but there were very few people who could successfully cultivate it. No one had expected Nightqueen Yanqing to succeed.
In the Sword Sect, a white-robed elder exclaimed, "The Nightking's Body … I never thought that a little girl would be able to cultivate it. It's comparable to the Third Sword of the Thirteen Swords, and it's a battle technique that can overwhelm those of the same level. This little brat is immune to the Third Sword, but I wonder if he can withstand the Nightking's Body, which is on the same level as the Third Sword."
At this moment, Starsibyl, Han Chong, and Grandini all had solemn expressions. They could all sense Nightqueen Yanqing's strength; this woman had hidden her strength well.
From the moment Nightqueen Yanqing had displayed the Nightking's Body, she had already reached the same level as Starsibyl, Han Chong, and Liu Shaoqiu. In the eyes of many who understood the Thirteen Swords, Lu Yin had only been able to defeat Liu Shaoqiu because of his special constitution. This constitution allowed him to be immune to the Third Sword, but it was not an offensive power.
It could be said that Lu Yin's strength had not been accepted, and even Grandini Mavis had not been accepted. This year's Astral Combat Tournament's true powerhouses were Starsibyl, Han Chong, Nightqueen Yanqing, and Liu Shaoqiu.
Lu Yin's expression turned ugly, as he could sense that Nightqueen Yanqing's power was rapidly rising. Her power was as deep as the ocean, but it was also as indestructible as a mountain.
"Don't admit defeat because you're afraid. Otherwise, I'll personally go to Astral-10 and crush you." Nightqueen Yanqing's voice was cold as her body suddenly vanished. The next moment, Lu Yin felt a sharp pain in his abdomen as the scene in front of him rapidly receded. His entire body had been smashed into the ground by an enormous force. This force had shattered his four-lined battle force and caused him to spit out a mouthful of blood.
Nightqueen Yanqing stood on the plains and looked down. She did not know how deep Lu Yin had sunk into the ground. She raised her head and swept her gaze across the plains. She saw Liu Shaoqiu, Starsibyl, Han Chong, and everyone else, and she smiled. This was the power of the Nightking's Body, which was comparable to five-lined battle force. A single strike was enough to crush an ant.
In front of his screen, Undying Yushan sighed. The Nightking clan was too terrifying.
On Earth, Zhou Shan and the rest clenched their fists as they watched the screen nervously. Lu Yin had actually been knocked into the ground, and this battle boded ill for him.
More than a billion Earthlings were silent as they anxiously watched the screen.
In the city in the sky, San Dios, Wendy Yushan's eyes flickered as she gripped the hilt of her sword tightly. She felt that Nightqueen Yanqing's arrogant expression was an eyesore.
In Astral-10's space station, Madam Nalan put down her wine glass. "Can the Nightking's Body survive in space?"
A shadow appeared behind her and answered in a low voice, "Anyone who hasn't become an Explorer can't survive in space. The Nightking's Body can raise Nightqueen Yanqing's battle force to the level of five-lined battle force, but it can only allow her to stay in space for a slightly longer period of time. It's still not enough to survive, and this period of time is very short."
"Are there no examples of anyone below the Explorer realm surviving in space?" Madam Nalan was curious.
"Rumor has it that the Ten Arbiters were able to kill Explorers in space when they were Limiteers. However, rumors are just rumors, and they have never been proven."
Madam Nalan frowned. The Ten Arbiters, it was the Ten Arbiters again. After the great changes in the universe, the Ten Arbiters were like monuments to the younger generation. Their every move could be compared, but no one could truly compare.
Since Nightqueen Yanqing's current strength was not enough to survive in space, then what about Lu Yin?
Madam Nalan had not forgotten the shock she had felt when she saw that Lu Yin was still alive.
On the plains, Nightqueen Yanqing stood proudly on her own. She exerted some force with her feet, causing a layer of light to flash across her long, white legs, and the ground to explode. "Get out here!" She pressed down with a powerful shockwave in an attempt to force Lu Yin out.
Everyone watched nervously, as the outcome of the battle was about to be revealed.
Underground, Lu Yin let out a long sigh and smiled bitterly. He had thought that he would not need to reveal himself, as only the Ten Arbiters had been able to reach this stage in the history of the Astral Combat Tournament. But now, it seemed that he could no longer suppress her. It was a pity that he could not use the Sirius Palm. Otherwise, the nine stars of the Sirius Palm combined with his four-lined battle force would not be any weaker than the Nightking's Body. Forget it, this was also good. He would be able to put a shocking end to this year's Astral Combat Tournament. As he thought about it, his eyes trembled. His four-lined battle force, which had collapsed, reappeared once again. Purple battle force spread out from the cracks in the ground, creating a purple halo that distorted the void.
Nightqueen Yanqing was disdainful; four-lined battle force could not even withstand a single attack from her.
Countless people frowned as they watched. Was this still four-lined battle force?
In all of the previous tournaments, four-lined battle force users were considered the strongest. However, things had changed in this tournament, and four-lined battle force users were nothing more than foils.
Suddenly, a dark golden light flickered and shot into the sky, dyeing the sky a dark gold and dispelling the shocking purple.
Everyone stared blankly. That, that, that was … five-lined battle force?
Starsibyl and the others narrowed their eyes, and they subconsciously took a step forward. They looked down at the ground in disbelief. How was this possible? Five-lined battle force was something that only the Ten Arbiters had been able to achieve back in the Astral Combat Academy.
Nightqueen Yanqing's body trembled, and she unconsciously took a few steps back. Beneath her feet, the dark golden light shone with a dazzling brilliance.
High up in the sky, more than ten mentors appeared, including Astral-10's Sandmaster. They all looked on in shock. "After the Ten Arbiters, another five-lined battle force has appeared. This kid's talent is no less than that of the Ten Arbiters."
"Another Ten Arbiters candidate."
…
In front of their screens, countless people were shocked, including space-exploring powerhouses. Battle force was very difficult to comprehend, and only top-notch institutions like the Astral Combat Academy could produce battle force users one after another. In the entire Innerverse and Outerverse, anyone who could comprehend battle force was considered an elite. Even space-exploring powerhouses who had comprehended battle force would find it difficult to achieve five-lined battle force, as it was the mark of a powerhouse.
Any space-exploring powerhouse who could comprehend five-lined battle force could easily crush others of the same level. Now, however, a Melder had actually comprehended five-lined battle force and possessed such a shocking color.
Lu Yin stepped out of the ground with a calm expression. He had experienced two near-death disasters on Driftcharge Planet. The first time, he had used the Arcane Art of Life and Death to raise his battle force to three lines. The second time, he had unconsciously circulated the Arcane Art of Life and Death in outer space, which had raised his battle force to five lines. Even now, Lu Yin found it hard to believe that he had been able to reach this step, but the Arcane Art of Life and Death was just that mysterious.
He was grateful to that elder from Driftcharge Planet. If not for that elder, he would have wasted his two near-death disasters. Now, his strength had transformed. The Arcane Art of Life and Death was the most mysterious technique.
However, this technique was not something that could be cultivated. Lu Yin did not know how to survive the first calamity, and he had almost become a piece of white meat. As for the second calamity, if not for the Nalan family's spacecraft coincidentally passing by, he would have definitely died. He did not want to experience that again.
He clenched his right fist, and his purple battle force transformed into a brand that covered his entire body. Outside of this brand was a circle of dark golden lines that made his entire body appear dark gold. He could feel an incomparably terrifying strength; this was a strength that he had obtained at the cost of his own life. He would use this strength to end this year's Astral Combat Tournament.
Not too far away, Nightqueen Yanqing's pupils dilated as she stared in shock at Lu Yin, who was slowly walking out of the ground. Her face was deathly pale. "Impossible, how did you break through to five-lined battle force? That's something only the Ten Arbiters can do. You can't possibly do it."
Lu Yin looked at his own arm and then turned to face Nightqueen Yanqing. At this moment, her innate gift of purple eyes did not affect him at all. "Impossible?
Then give it a try. I hope that you can withstand it. "His body suddenly vanished, and when he reappeared, he was right in front of Nightqueen Yanqing. His right hand appeared at her forehead, and he flicked his middle finger against her forehead. There was a soft thump, and a shockwave tore through the void as Nightqueen Yanqing was sent flying. She felt dizzy, and she could barely see her surroundings.
Lu Yin's lips curled up, and he disappeared again. This time, he reappeared in the direction that Nightqueen Yanqing had been sent flying. He pressed down with his palm, and there was a deafening boom as the ground was reduced to dust. Nightqueen Yanqing was ruthlessly smashed into the ground and spat out a mouthful of blood. Her clothes were torn apart, revealing her smooth stomach.
"Don't forget that you have the Nightking's Body, which is comparable to five-lined battle force," Lu Yin reminded her.
Nightqueen Yanqing, who had been smashed into the ground, suddenly opened her eyes. There was a sinister glint in her eyes, and she roared as she endured her heavy injuries and rushed out of the ground. She spat out another mouthful of blood as she glared at Lu Yin. "That's right, I have the Nightking's Body, which is comparable to five-lined battle force. The victor is still unknown." She then charged at Lu Yin. "Nightking Fist."
Lu Yin cracked his neck. This was the effect that he had been looking for. How could he train his five-lined battle force without a suitable opponent? It would not be easy to increase his battle force, and he would have to experience battles. Nightqueen Yanqing was the first suitable opponent for him to battle.
Bang!
Bang! Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
…
A glaring light flashed in the void as two figures collided with each other at a speed that no one could see. Their afterimages lingered high in the sky before gradually dissipating. Only Starsibyl and a few others could see the real bodies of the two, but even then, they could only see blurry shadows.
Regardless of whether it was Nightqueen Yanqing or Lu Yin, they were both on the same level as Starsibyl and Han Chong in terms of strength. No one dared to say that the four of them were the strongest. However, Starsibyl and Han Chong's attacks were more focused on their domains and spiritual force, while Lu Yin and Nightqueen Yanqing's attacks were more focused on their physical bodies and battle force. These were two completely different combinations.
Boom!
A giant crack spread across the sky and tore through the second energy barrier that the mentors had set up. Fortunately, the mentors had appeared high up in the sky and blocked the shockwaves. Otherwise, some of the students would have died.