--- Chapter 23 ---
Zzzt~!
A buzzing sound echoed in the valley.
I activated the Purple Silver Lightning Mode, significantly enhancing my combat abilities while expanding the range of my lightning pulse and Observation Haki's detection.
Not even a fly could escape my observation now.
At the same time, the Fallen Lightning Bamboo also sensed me and used its Holy Lightning to fire countless spike-like spears at me.
Swoosh!
I dodged these spears effortlessly, using the Illusory Lightning Step and creating countless afterimages in the valley. I was on the valley's wall and appeared a few meters away from the bamboo a second later.
"So fast!" Liu Erlong's shout echoed behind me.
"How could Xiao Yuan so fast? Not even an agility-system spirit master was this fast?"
Han Yue giggled, "Haha, Xiao Yuan could go even faster, but the valley and muddy terrain don't allow him to do complex movements."
"If he wanted to, even you couldn't catch him.
Liu Erlong swallowed her saliva, "This is unbelievable. He's breaking the fundamental rules of this world. A one-ringed Spirit Master shouldn't be this strong."
"His first spirit ring is definitely older than 4,000 years old, which is better than my fourth."
"If this keeps going, he will have a 10,000-year-old spirit ring as the third spirit ring..."
'Even the words "Evil" and "Monster" couldn't describe how demonic his talents are. Before Xiao Yuan, there is no genius. They are only ants!' Liu Erlong's breathing became heavier as she imagined this young boy climbing the ascension stairs of the legendary god.
Liu Erlong didn't believe in the legend that one could become a god with hard work and talent because, in her vision, the title douluo is the limit and "strongest" existence.
However, someone finally broke her little bubble today and witnessed the hard proof that a god can be born in this era. Someone with limitless potential finally appeared. And that someone is just a kid a few decades younger than her!
...
I didn't know what Liu Erlong was thinking, but the fail-safe rules I placed on her fragile mind would never allow her to harm me and my sister in any capacity, indirectly or directly.
If not, I probably guessed this silly woman would capture us and ask our secret for Yu Xiaogang. It was only my exaggerated thought because Liu Erlong wasn't that extreme, but you get the gist.
Unfortunately, I didn't calculate that the super-rational Liu Erlong would do her best to recruit me into Blue Tyrant Academy, even if she had to sacrifice herself.
To her, my monstrous talent is the one and only in this era.
She couldn't possibly let me away. Even someone who is usually hot-headed knows the value of talents.
I ignored Liu Erlong's fiery gaze on my body and made Chidori with my left hand, striking the Fallen Lightning Bamboo heavily.
BOOM!
Roar!
The wail-like sound came from the injured Fallen Lightning Bamboo. A crack appeared on its trunk, but no sign of penetration.
I frowned and retreated, watching a handful of branches and leaves crackling with holy lightning in my previous spot.
"The bamboo is harder than it looks. As expected of a spirit beast blessed by Angel God." I murmured to myself.
"But I have the right self-created skill for such a hard defense."
The Chidori in my hand slowly vanished, revealing my grass-covered hand as countless rotations of compressed spirit energy formed a bluish-white sphere.
"Let's do this."
The bamboo felt threatened by my Chidori earlier and finally released its trump card without reservation. Its purple-silver body shines brightly with holy light in the valley as a six-winged figure appears behind it.
I was stunned by the sudden appearance of a Divine Being and suddenly watched a spear made of bamboo appear from thin air, piercing my chest.
BOOM!
Pinned on the valley's wall, I coughed a mouthful of blood.
"Xiao Yuan!" Liu Erlong shouted, wanting to rush over quickly.
Han Yue frowned because that last attack of Fallen Lightning Bamboo was probably too fast for her brother to react, which showed just how dangerous it was.
If her brother couldn't react, then they probably couldn't either.
"Stay, he hasn't called out for help yet." Han Yue grabbed Liu Erlong's arm tightly. "I'm also anxious, but we must trust Xiao Yuan can handle this."
"But..." Liu Erlong felt an inexplicable worry in her chest. She only met the boy named Han Yuan today, but his mere presence was too deep in her mind.
She doesn't want to watch this boy get hurt.
"Ouch, that was surprising." I pulled the purple-silver holy spear out of my chest, converting the lightning element in my body into a strong life force, healing my injury. Soon, the hole in my chest regenerated, leaving only a hole mark on my robe.
Of course, it's painful and uncomfortable, like a thousand ants crawling on my chest, but I made it.
I wiped the blood off my mouth and stood on the crack of the valley's wall, staring at the Fallen Lightning Bamboo. "To be able to summon the image of Divine Being and use it to confuse my thoughts before launching a strong attack that could ignore defense."
"You're strong, Fallen Lightning Bamboo! Much stronger than me before I got my first spirit ring!"
"Haha~! But this ends here."
Another layer of Purple Silver Grass covered my body as I activated the second stage of Purple Silver Lightning Mode. Electricity surged out like waves, and my body became a lightning beast.
The second stage consumed more spirit energy but increased my combat effectiveness by ten times!
Observation Haki also went full throttle, expanding my spiritual sense to the "entire" valley.
Swoosh!
I appeared above the Fallen Lightning Bamboo, clenching my hand and slamming it on the thick wooden exterior.
BOOM!
Before the bamboo could react, I disappeared and appeared on the ground, using my knees to attack the spirit beast.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
My figure flickered in and out of existence as I landed countless punches and kicks on the Fallen Lightning Bamboo.
I was so focused on dealing more damage to the Fallen Lightning Bamboo that I didn't realize my control over lightning elements had become smoother than before.
KRIEEEK!
The Fallen Lightning Bamboo let out an anguished roar. It wanted to summon Angel God's image, but how could I let it?
"Chidori - Thunder Roc!" A piercing cry of birds echoed in the valley, and I punched with all my strength.
BOOM!
Crack! Kacha!
The bamboo's body cracked and snapped into two, flying to the nearby valley's wall.
The Purple Silver Lightning Mode-2nd stage deactivated immediately, and I gasped for air. Kneeling on the ground, I felt like every fiber of my body roared in pain.
As expected, I overused Thunder-Wood Change.
I looked up to the valley's wall where the upper body of Fallen Lightning Bamboo resides. Then, I glanced at the bottom half and realized there was no spirit ring.
Something was off.
"Not good!" I immediately converted part of my life force into lightning energy and punched the ground. The root of Fallen Lightning Bamboo burst out, charging at Liu Erlong and Han Yue.
Liu Erlong possessed her Scarlet Dragon Martial Soul and activated three spirit skills in succession, "Scarlet Dragon's Body, Scarlet Dragon's Fire Transformation, Scarlet Dragon's Outburst!"
Spirit rings lit up, blinding the valley.
ROOOOOOOOOOOAAARR!
BOOM!
"Don't even think about it!" Liu Erlong successfully protected Han Yue, allowing me to sigh in relief.
I turned around and let my anger through for a split second. The Fallen Lightning Bamboo's broken body entered my vision.
A faint swirl slowly appeared on my left hand, and lightning energy was "unconsciously" infused, merging with the newly formed Rasengan.
I swung my left hand at the Fallen Lightning Bamboo, throwing an energy sphere that vanished into thin air.
Swish~!
Flickers of lighting happened, and a hole abruptly appeared in the Fallen Lightning Bamboo's trunk, blasting everything inside into sawdust.
The Fallen Lightning Bamboo met its end.
A deep, purple spirit ring rose from the destroyed bamboo.
I finally calmed down after seeing the purple spirit ring and looked at my left hand in disbelief. "That was..."
"Vanishing Rasengan?"