C12 Martial Skill

"Sure enough, you must have found something inside that cave. Now that we're alone, once I've killed you, your secrets will be mine to know!" Shen Zhong sneered, aware of the disparities between martial practitioners. Lin Yan had only just entered the Martial Pulse Early Period, and even with four Martial Pulses unlocked, he might not stand a chance against him.

Besides, Shen Zhong possessed martial techniques that could bridge the gap between their Martial Pulses. He figured that dealing with Lin Yan would take no more than ten moves. "By killing you, I'll also be settling a score for Battalion Commander Chen!"

"You naive kid, you have no idea the extent of the sky or the depth of the earth!" Shen Zhong declared, then crouched slightly, his fingers curved like claws, and the hairs on his body stood on end as a deep, resonant growl emanated from his throat. In a flash, he transformed into a bloodthirsty beast.

"Cloud Tiger Technique!" Lin Yan watched Shen Zhong with a composed gaze, familiar with the story behind the technique. It was said to have been acquired by Chen Yan on a mission, the same mission where Chen Yan had saved him from a Barbarian Beast. And Chen Yan had generously given the Cloud Tiger Technique to him without asking for anything in return.

Yet, Shen Zhong had not only forgotten Chen Yan's kindness but saw him as an obstacle to be removed on his path to power once his own strength had grown. "Kill!" Shen Zhong's eyes, fierce as a wild animal's, locked onto Lin Yan. His vision, enhanced in the dark, was nearly as clear as in daylight. He lunged like a whirlwind, barreling straight for Lin Yan.

Shua! Lin Yan was caught off guard by the sudden onslaught. Despite his rigorous daily training, which far exceeded that of his peers, he still faced a significant gap in combat experience compared to a seasoned battalion commander like Shen Zhong.

In their first clash, Shen Zhong's claws left five deep gashes across Lin Yan's chest, skin peeled back and blood streaming. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Lin Yan managed to steady himself. His face was ghastly pale under the faint moonlight; he hadn't anticipated how challenging a direct confrontation with a martial artist would be.

"So this is a martial skill? Indeed, even with more Martial Pulses than him, there's still a considerable gap in our combat abilities," Lin Yan thought, pressing a hand to his wound. Despite the injury, his focus remained on Shen Zhong. Chen Yan had mentioned that the Cloud Tiger Technique was an incomplete martial skill, inferior to his own and riddled with flaws.

"Kill!" Shen Zhong launched another lightning-fast strike, his claws aimed to deliver a fatal blow to Lin Yan. Lin Yan sidestepped, grounded his stance, and threw a punch towards Shen Zhong's head as he pounced.

The punch was raw and unrefined; Lin Yan had simply seized the opportunity presented by Shen Zhong's movement. As Shen Zhong closed in, Lin Yan's fist was already at his cheek. But Shen Zhong, a veteran warrior, swiftly evaded the punch. His speed was indeed frightening—if the punch had connected, the power of four Martial Pulses might have knocked him out cold.

Yet, the miss was a stark reminder of the persistent gap between Lin Yan and himself.

Shen Zhong swiftly sidestepped to Lin Yan's flank, a fine sheen of sweat glistening on his forehead. For a fleeting moment, he envisioned his own downfall. Yet, in a mere two exchanges, Lin Yan had managed to land a blow. Whether it was innate talent or some boon acquired in the cave, Shen Zhong couldn't discern.

But the prowess Lin Yan displayed only intensified Shen Zhong's curiosity about the secrets behind such a dramatic transformation in mere hours.

"I'll strike you down so hard, you won't rise again!" Shen Zhong declared, newfound respect for Lin Yan sharpening his focus after the close call.

Discarding his armor, it clattered to the ground with a resounding clash of steel.

"Die!" Shen Zhong's eyes narrowed into vertical slits, his presence more formidable than ever. His claws, now as lethal as blades, seemed to have lengthened. Wielding the power of the Martial Pulse Early Period, he could rend even a barbarian beast to shreds.

"The best offense is a good defense!" Lin Yan's right foot scraped the ground, inching back as he leaned in slightly. The veins on his right arm swelled, writhing like serpents.

His gaze locked onto Shen Zhong, unyielding.

"The essence of the Cloud Tiger Technique lies not in its speed, but its striking force!" Lin Yan's words struck a chord, and Shen Zhong's heart plummeted. He knew his technique's vulnerability all too well after years of practice.

With a thunderous bang, Lin Yan's velocity peaked, propelling him forward with explosive force that even outstripped Shen Zhong's own Cloud Tiger Technique-enhanced speed.

"You don't deserve the title of warrior!" In the blink of an eye, Lin Yan was upon him.

Shen Zhong's pupils shrank as his breath hitched. Lin Yan's fist, targeting his midsection, was unstoppable. Shen Zhong's defensive hands were blasted aside by the sheer force of the punch.

"Scum! Begone!" Lin Yan bellowed, unleashing the full brunt of his pent-up fury.

The punch drained him, his four Martial Veins vibrating fiercely as his body's tolerance hit its threshold.

The impact resounded like a tempest, scattering dirt and debris as the earth beneath them gave way. Beside Lin Yan's feet, a crater formed, with Shen Zhong's motionless form crumpled at its center, a gaping wound in his abdomen.

The light in his eyes dimmed until it vanished completely—Lin Yan's strike had snuffed out his life force.

Exhausted, Lin Yan spat blood and slumped to the ground. That final punch had pushed him past his limits. Though he and Shen Zhong were matched in realm, Lin Yan's superior strength and speed should have given him an edge. But Shen Zhong's martial skills had made it a formidable challenge.

Lin Yan had allowed those initial strikes, all to decipher Shen Zhong's attack patterns.

Now, chaos erupted anew toward the barracks. Despite the relentless bleeding from his chest, Lin Yan forced himself to stand. He couldn't afford to fall; his escape was bought with Battalion Commander Chen's life-and-death struggle. To collapse now would betray the sacrifices made on his behalf.