Chapter 112: Chapter 112: The Unselectable Man

"Brother Li, where should we spar?"

Wang Xi said with a smile.

Hearing this, Li Xingduan raised an eyebrow, a smile unconsciously forming on his lips. ’This kid... I’m starting to like him more and more.’

"Let’s go. We’ll use the same training ground as your martial exam."

He tilted his chin up, his tone filled with a hint of anticipation.

Patting Wang Xi’s shoulder, Li Xingduan gestured and led the way out.

Wang Xi turned to bid farewell to Mr. Wei Sr. and the other Professional Warriors present, then followed Li Xingduan out of the conference hall.

After the two had left.

"Vice President Li is a nice guy, but when he spars, he gets too into it. He’s a bit..." a woman with short hair said hesitantly.

"President, you don’t think there will be a problem, do you?"

"You’re underestimating that dark horse, Meng Li," Jiang Tianhao said calmly.

"His true strength should be no less than that of your Team 7’s captain, Luo Yan... Even if he can’t beat Li Xingduan, it won’t be a total rout."

"Wang Xi is that strong?!"

Meng Li was surprised by Jiang Tianhao’s high praise.

Although she had seen the recording of Wang Xi, she still felt deep down that her own captain, Luo Yan, was a cut above... But Jiang Tianhao was also a captain-level powerhouse, and his judgment was far sharper than hers.

Meng Li wasn’t so sure anymore.

"Let’s all go watch."

At this, Mr. Wei Sr. spoke up.

"Just in case that boy Xingduan doesn’t know when to hold back."

He feigned reluctance as he rose from his chair, but the concealed concern and anticipation in his eyes were plain for all to see.

The few Elite Professional Warriors present naturally wouldn’t call him out on it. Instead, they agreed with the old president and left together.

...

...

「The inner building of the Hero Association.」

「A fully enclosed training ground.」

The bright silver metal floor and walls were dazzling under the fluorescent strip lights on the ceiling.

Returning here gave Wang Xi a strange feeling... It felt like a long time had passed, but in reality, it had been less than half a month.

The two stood five or six meters apart in the center of the empty training ground.

"Wang Xi, the path I walk is the same as Master Wei’s—the Profound Mysterious System... Even with his guidance and after countless bloody battles, it still took me six years to barely condense a second Seal that is uniquely my own."

Dressed in a long blue gown, Li Xingduan stood ramrod straight with a smile, one hand behind his back and the other lifting the hem of his garment.

As he spoke, a crimson phoenix pattern slowly appeared between his eyebrows. On the back of his right hand, a tri-colored flower Seal also materialized.

"A Seal is the entry requirement for an ’Upper Rank’ Hero, and a Seal from a deep-green Quality or higher Technique Card is the threshold for ’Upper Three Stars’..."

Wang Xi could tell that Li Xingduan was deliberately explaining the deeper secrets of the Hero system to him.

He voiced his thanks.

As his gaze swept over the two Seals, Kaos’s inspection immediately gave a response.

—Crimson Phoenix with Jade, Cloud Dance Colored Clothes

The former was a Technique Card Seal that greatly enhanced physical coordination and speed. The latter was a Skill Card Seal that could significantly boost the force-dispersing effect of a certain skill.

Very powerful.

They were even quite a bit stronger than Wang Xi’s "Unyielding Journey" and "Bang Bang Candy"... After all, his two Seals came from White Cards, the lowest Quality.

’I didn’t realize Seals were so hard to come by.’

Wang Xi was secretly astonished.

If even a genius like Li Xingduan had to spend six years to condense two Seals, it was clearly an incredibly difficult feat.

’In that case—’

’The Card Seals of Professional Warriors in the Main World are all cultivated through their own efforts, making them unstable. But my Seals all came from Kaos’s Star Promotions, and they’re incredibly solid... I can even choose my own enhancement paths when I promote them to Ultimate.’

’The difference in quality is obvious!’

"Wang Xi, let’s keep this friendly."

At this, Li Xingduan chuckled.

Then he called out loudly:

"Here I come."

Before his voice had even faded, the figure in the blue gown flickered.

Tapping his foot, he shot across the five or six meters between them, appearing before Wang Xi in the blink of an eye and striking out with his palm.

The wind from the strike arrived before the palm itself.

Wang Xi felt a fierce gust of wind wash over his face.

—Blood Orchid Elegy

A red glint flashed in his eyes.

He threw a punch.

BOOM!!

Fist met palm with a muffled, thunderous clap.

Neither of them retreated a single step; only the hems of their clothes and strands of their hair danced wildly.

"Such heavy killing intent."

Li Xingduan murmured in surprise.

At the same time, he was inwardly amazed at Wang Xi’s Physique, which allowed him to remain perfectly still under his Palm Force.

WHOOSH—

Wang Xi’s arm flashed as he threw another punch.

But it met only empty air.

He felt as if he had struck a blurry mist. Li Xingduan had shifted sideways like a ghost, silently dodging the cannonball-like fist.

Missing the first strike, Wang Xi immediately attacked with both hands. He aimed his fists at his opponent’s face and chest, his heavy, powerful blows like a spray of bullets.

The wind from his punches howled, but Li Xingduan moved as if taking a leisurely stroll, shifting left and right with ghostly grace. After dozens of consecutive punches, he remained completely unscathed.

’What kind of Body Technique is this...’

Wang Xi’s eyes sharpened.

—Pearl Curtain Lament (Skill Card/Deep-Green Four Stars)

*A beauty rolls up the pearl curtain, covering her face to sigh in silence.*

It seemed to be a Body Technique from Chinese opera—his footwork was invisible and hard to predict, and his movements were like a female ghost exiting the stage with her face covered.

Vaguely, Wang Xi heard a clanging sound by his ear, like the clapperboard on a stage.

He saw Li Xingduan raise his arm, swing it, and curl it, as if parting a pearl curtain—Wang Xi’s freshly thrown punch was deflected to the side, and a sharp pain immediately followed in his chest.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!

BANG!

Wang Xi stumbled back several steps before slamming his foot down to steady himself.

Li Xingduan’s final palm strike had been too fast for him to even see clearly... If his opponent hadn’t held back his power, he probably would have been seriously injured.

—Consort’s Intoxication (Skill Card/Deep-Green Three Stars)

*The imperial consort drinks under the moon, reaching for the jade plate with a bare hand.*

A Palm Technique with hidden depths, like an intoxicated person unconsciously flicking a sleeve to embrace the moon.

"Brother Li, your unarmed combat is far superior to mine."

Wang Xi said with a sigh, rubbing his chest.

"I’m no match for you."

"You’re being too modest." Li Xingduan stood several meters away with his hands behind his back and smiled. "Wang Xi, I know you’re skilled with a Two-Handed Sword. How about we have another round, with weapons this time?"

"That was just a warm-up."

Wang Xi could hear the hidden anticipation in Li Xingduan’s voice. He probably hadn’t had his fill from their unarmed spar.

It was just as he said, too.

His hand-to-hand combat was only average, not particularly strong. Swordsmanship was his true area of expertise.

"Alright." Wang Xi didn’t want to be a spoilsport, so he nodded in agreement. "I’ll ask Brother Li to go easy on me, then."

With a flash of two green lights.

Wang Xi donned a wide, black Cloak and held a long, gleaming, patterned Broadsword. The silver thorns wrapped around the crossguard were particularly dazzling.

—Wind Breath Cloak, Judge

CLAP!

The crisp sound of a clapperboard rang out from somewhere.

"The water sleeves fold with three inches of sorrow, tears fall before a word is spoken on stage. They all say love in the play is deep, but how would they know, that I, below the makeup table, quietly furrow my brow—"

Li Xingduan suddenly began to sing in a soft yet resonant operatic voice.

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

Another series of slow claps followed.

"Yiii—ya!"

Li Xingduan swung around, and with a CLANG, he changed into a Cyan Robe amidst a blue glow, his face now covered in stage makeup.

*Snow-white face, upturned eyebrows, powdered makeup dotting sorrowful eyes.*

"The green robe is faded but still worn, the old opera ends but refuses to cease. The audience has clearly scattered and the lamps have dimmed, yet from beyond the curtain, I hear someone call for the maiden—"

As he listened, Wang Xi’s scalp tingled.

In the blink of an eye, Li Xingduan had vanished!

The next second.

A Cyan Robe flickered in his peripheral vision, and a cold glint, like a snake’s tongue, shot toward his throat.

SHIIING—

The sharp, ear-piercing whistle of something slicing through the air.

...

...

On the high platform to one side of the training ground’s iron walls.

The old president and a group of Elite Professional Warriors were watching the battle.

The reverberating clang of metal filled the arena, sparks flying everywhere. Looks of surprise were on all their faces.

"I can’t believe Vice President Li has improved so much in just half a year... His Body Technique, Palm Technique, and Swordsmanship have all gone up by a Star, haven’t they?"

A short-haired man with glasses mused.

Mr. Wei Sr. stood with his hands behind his back and spoke up unexpectedly:

"No matter how much he improves, he still can’t catch up to Wang Xi."

His tone was filled with emotion.

"It hasn’t been long since he passed the assessment, yet he can already fight Xingduan to such a standstill. His future is immeasurable..."

Hearing this, the others nodded silently in agreement.

They knew that Li Xingduan wasn’t using his full strength. But even so, the fact that Wang Xi could hold his own against him for so long was already an incredible feat.

After all, he was only twenty years old.

He still had a long road ahead of him.

"Huh?" The woman named Meng Li exclaimed in surprise. "What is that Swordsmanship..."

Hearing her, everyone turned their gazes to the fight—

In the center of the arena, the young man in the black Cloak executed a horizontal slash that collided with the winding cyan long sleeves, sending sparks flying. He then leaped back like a black kite, creating several meters of distance.

Li Xingduan’s arms danced, and his two Cloud Sleeves lashed out like long whips in pursuit.

Wang Xi raised his Broadsword, blocking and deflecting. With two CLANGS, he parried the daggers hidden in the sleeve cuffs, then twisted his sword—a red mist churned on the blade, and with a single strike, he actually severed Li Xingduan’s Cloud Sleeves!

In the clash between "Strangling Swordsmanship" and "Flowing Cloud Flying Sleeve," Wang Xi had a slight edge!

As the severed sleeves fluttered away, he charged forward, bent low and dragging his Broadsword. The tip of the blade scraped against the metal floor, carving a long line of sparks. Red afterimages trailed behind him, as fast as lightning.

—Crimson Tide

*A battlefield sprint, straight toward the enemy leader.*

"Good!" Li Xingduan exclaimed in delighted praise, as if thrilled to have discovered a strong opponent. "This is what makes a spar exciting!"

Wang Xi charged up to Li Xingduan and swept his Broadsword horizontally, a terrifying gust of sword wind howling toward him.

A drum and clapper sounded with a THUD.

It was immediately followed by the crisp TATATATA of a fast clapper beat.

The atmosphere inexplicably grew tense and hurried.

But the figure in the Cyan Robe suddenly leaped into the air. At the last possible moment, he precisely stepped on the flat of the blade with the tip of his foot, flipping over to reposition himself with a rustling sound.

It was dreamlike and illusory, completely erratic.

—Dreams in the Garden (Skill Card/Blue One Star)

*Butterfly steps brush fragrant catkins, cicada wings borrow the wind to pause.*

It was a Body Technique Skill for emergency evasion!

Wang Xi’s heart couldn’t help but tighten.

Li Xingduan was too nimble; he was impossible to target. Even though his sword was fast and fierce, it was all for naught if he couldn’t hit his opponent.

Li Xingduan hovered gracefully in mid-air and spread his arms.

His previously severed Cloud Sleeves grew back out of thin air, striking down like two green pythons. From his right sleeve cuff, a Cold Radiance Soft Sword shot out like a snake’s tongue!

SHIIING!!

—Moon in the Well (Skill Card/Blue One Star)

*A slender wrist turns the snowy waves, a crescent moon falls toward the throat.*

The light of the sword illuminated Wang Xi’s face and his rapidly contracting pupils.

Wang Xi tightened his grip on the hilt and suddenly took a stance.

The phantom of a blood-red sword orchid flashed and then erupted.

CLANG!!!

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