82: Chapter 82 Ice Blade Ambush, Powerful Counterattack
An ice-blue blade light, like a venomous snake lurking in the dark, shot out silently yet incredibly fast from the dense forest to the side and rear!
The angle was tricky and ruthless, pointing straight at Zhou Heng's vital spot on his back!
The timing was handled with extreme precision! It was exactly the moment when Zhou Heng's old strength had just faded and new strength had yet to arise, and his attention was momentarily drawn by the sudden surge in points!
[Energy Intensity: Spirit Awakening Eight Stars!]
[Source: 55 meters Northeast, shadows of the dense forest!]
[Target Locked: Qin Yuan (A-grade Divine Seal - Rivers Returning to the Heart)]
[Status: Hidden, calm, restrained killing intent]
[Skills: Three Styles of All Rivers - Blade of Water, All Rivers Body]
[Weaknesses: Relatively insufficient explosive power, fears extreme high temperatures and violent lightning, slightly weak close-quarters combat ability...]
Zhou Heng's [Omniscient Eye] instantly sent an alert!
Even before his brain could process it, his body had already reacted instinctively!
"You're courting death!"
A cold light flashed in his eyes! Without the slightest panic, his combat instincts were completely triggered!
[Thunder Flash]!
He didn't choose to parry or take it head-on; instead, at the critical moment, his body suddenly shifted half a foot to the right!
Chii!
That ice-blue blade light almost grazed past his ribs. The sharp cold air instantly tore the clothing at his waist and left a shallow ice mark on his skin, sending a bone-chilling cold!
"Hmm?" A slight sound of surprise came from the dense forest. Clearly, they hadn't expected Zhou Heng's reaction to be so fast, managing to dodge this sure-kill strike!
Missing the strike, the attacker didn't linger and retreated rapidly like a ghost.
Merging back into the shadows of the forest, their aura instantly became elusive, trying to pull away and find another opportunity.
A typical assassin's playstyle! If the hit misses, retreat a thousand miles!
"Trying to run?" Zhou Heng sneered, anger rising in his heart.
Someone came to deliver some points right after he made a big profit? Just in time to stretch his muscles!
He gave the opponent no chance to hide again!
[First Transformation of Lightning Evolution - Thunder Instant Transformation]! Open!
Blood-qi and lightning essence burned! His speed skyrocketed instantly!
Boom!
Like a human thunderbolt, he instantly tore through the air and charged straight into the forest!
[Omniscient Eye] dead-locked onto that rapidly retreating figure!
"Shocking Thunder Break!"
The dragon spine spear flashed with lightning, stabbing straight towards the opponent's retreat path!
The violent power of lightning exploded, forcing the opponent to stop and block!
Dang!
The ice-blue blade edge collided with the lightning spear, emitting a piercing metallic ring!
Cold air and lightning sparks flew everywhere!
Qin Yuan was forced to reveal himself—a young man with a cold face and sharp eyes.
A flash of astonishment crossed his eyes; he clearly hadn't expected Zhou Heng's speed to be so terrifying and his counterattack so fierce!
His blade technique changed, becoming as dense and continuous as flowing water, attempting to use softness to overcome hardness and neutralize the lightning's violence. Simultaneously, his body slid like a swimming fish, continuing to retreat to open up distance.
[Three Styles of All Rivers - Flowing Water Barrier]!
"Water conducts electricity! Didn't you know?" Zhou Heng sneered, his offensive becoming even more aggressive!
[Thunder Break]!
The spear intent suddenly became incredibly violent, breaking through technique with pure power!
Lightning light spread along the flowing water blade technique!
Qin Yuan let out a muffled groan, feeling his arm go numb; his blade stance was instantly broken!
The power of lightning traveled through the blade, making his blood and qi churn!
His expression changed, and he immediately circulated the [All Rivers Body]. A soft blue water light covered his entire body, neutralizing the lightning's erosion while accelerating his recovery as he retreated again.
"Slippery as a loach!" Zhou Heng's assault didn't stop, following closely with [Thunder Flash]!
"Thunderstorm Star!"
A massive lightning vortex suddenly appeared, covering a huge area and instantly enveloping Qin Yuan!
Countless lightning spear rays strangled wildly!
Qin Yuan had no way to dodge and could only defend with all his might! He pushed the [All Rivers Body] to its limit, water light circulating to form layers of defense!
Chii chii chii chii—!!!
Lightning and the water curtain collided madly, annihilating each other!
Qin Yuan's defense was rapidly weakened, his figure continuously pushed back, his face growing paler and paler!
He tried to counterattack, his [Blade of Water] stabbing out at tricky angles, but Zhou Heng's [Omniscient Eye] had already seen through all his intentions. Zhou Heng could always dodge or parry in advance and seize the moment Qin Yuan was catching his breath to attack fiercely!
The battle had completely turned into a one-sided crushing!
Zhou Heng didn't even use [Thunder Aura Transformation]; relying solely on the speed boost of [Thunder Instant Transformation] and his own raw strength, he suppressed the opponent until he couldn't breathe!
"Damn it! His insight is too sharp!
His speed and power far exceed the intelligence reports!" Qin Yuan was horrified; he finally understood why the other's points were rising so fast!
This was not a normal Spirit Awakening Eight Stars at all!
He knew he couldn't drag this on any longer! Otherwise, defeat was certain!
A ruthless look flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly bit the tip of his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of essence blood!
"Rivers Returning to the Heart · Blood Tide Slash!"
The essence blood merged into the blade, and the ice-blue blade light was instantly tinged with blood, its power skyrocketing!
Carrying a sense of desperation, it slashed towards Zhou Heng! This was his life-risking strike!
"A deathbed struggle!" Zhou Heng's eyes were icy, and he neither dodged nor avoided it!
[Thunder Aura Transformation]! Open!
Power and defense doubled instantly! Thunder aura condensed around his body!
At the same time, purple light flowed on the dragon spine spear! [Shocking Thunder Break] erupted with full force!
"break!"
Boom—!!!!
The blood-colored blade light and the purple lightning spear tip collided violently!
A terrifying shockwave swept out, snapping the surrounding trees one after another!
Kacha!
The blood-colored blade light lasted only for a moment before shattering! The long saber in Qin Yuan's hand was knocked flying!
Puh!
He sprayed out a mouthful of fresh blood, flying backward like a broken kite and slamming heavily into a large tree. His [All Rivers Body] was forcibly broken, and his aura instantly withered.
Zhou Heng's figure was like lightning, catching up instantly, the tip of the dragon spine spear stopping before his throat.
Qin Yuan's face was deathly pale, his eyes filled with unwillingness and disbelief, but eventually, it turned into bitterness.
He laboriously raised his hand and activated the forfeit function on his tactical watch.
Buzz... A flash of white light occurred, and his figure disappeared, teleported out of the Folded World.
[Defeated contestant Qin Yuan, seized 5% of his points: +315 points]
[Current Total Points: 2515 points]
[Ranking: Rose to 5th place!]
"Tsk, only three hundred-plus points, what a pauper." Zhou Heng curled his lip and put away the dragon spine spear.
This small amount of points wasn't even enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.
He quickly checked the surroundings, and after confirming there were no other ambushes, he turned his attention back to the [Omniscient Eye]'s scan.
The commotion from the battle just now wasn't small; it might attract other demon beasts or contestants.
[Scanning...]
[2 kilometers Northwest, discovered activity traces of the Tier 3 Lower-rank demon beast 'Rock Giant Ape']
[80 meters North, discovered Tier 2 Upper-rank demon beast 'Phantom Leopard' x1 (Points +150)...]
[2 kilometers East, discovered intense energy conflict (suspected multiple contestants in combat)...]
"Phantom Leopard? Speed type? Just right for some practice!" Zhou Heng's gaze locked onto the North, and with a movement, he turned into a flash of lightning and sped away.
The hunt continues!