CHAPTER 156: CHAPTER 156 DYNAMIC VISION

Xu Xiangwen had already held back considerably. To put it in perspective, when he was in the intermediate trial grounds, the power of a single punch from him was equivalent to a grenade explosion.

Back then, Xu Xiangwen was only at the Star Shine Stage. That Star Martial Skill application technique must have been an initial application method of the Pure Yang Skill. Now that he had mastered using Star Martial Skills with his entire body, the power of this punch, enough to create a crater, was certainly stronger.

If he had used that move on Wang Lan, Wang Lan would have been mangled, even with Self Healing.

Xu Xiangwen was only using his speed to overwhelm Wang Lan; the slaps he threw weren’t actually that powerful.

But even so, with Xu Xiangwen’s speed advantage, Wang Lan could only endure the onslaught.

He was simply too fast.

Wang Lan could still keep up with the speed of a typical Star Cloud Stage warrior, but Xu Xiangwen’s Star Martial Skill amplified his strength, speed, and reflexes severalfold. Against this velocity, even if Wang Lan were at the Star Cloud Stage himself, he would need restrictive Star Martial Skills to limit Xu Xiangwen’s high-speed movement.

Wang Lan’s evasions with Star Cloud Sword Dance were barely holding up; a counterattack was out of the question. His Flame Sword, despite its cutting power, was useless if it couldn’t connect. A Flame Sword that missed was no different from having no sword at all.

No wonder it’s said that in martial arts, speed reigns supreme; nothing is truly unbreakable if it can’t overcome sheer speed. At this velocity, even a late-stage Star Cloud Stage expert would be pummeled if Xu Xiangwen got close.

Xie Sisi recorded a video and sent it to Jiang Xinyu via her QQ ID.

At that moment, Jiang Xinyu was in the basement Training Room, viciously training Jiang Xinchen.

Jiang Xinchen was obedient and somewhat timid by nature, a fact Jiang Xinyu had lamented more than once. He managed to inherit his older sister’s good looks and grace, so why hadn’t he picked up any of her ruthlessness?

It was one thing to lack talent, but to also lack ferocity...

But then again, he was a Water Attribute Star Martial Warrior. What could one expect? That was just the temperament that came with the Water Attribute.

"Take a rest," Jiang Xinyu said, looking down from her superior position at Jiang Xinchen, who lay drenched in sweat on the training platform. A hint of pity touched her voice.

"Sis... I’m fine. I can... keep going..."

"Your problem isn’t perseverance, it’s hesitation! Your attacks lack decisiveness. If you can’t defeat an enemy in one strike, your moves are meaningless."

DING-DONG!

Jiang Xinyu casually picked up her phone. It was a video message from Xie Sisi.

She casually clicked it open. Instantly, Jiang Xinyu’s body stiffened. The video showed two figures rapidly exchanging blows inside a transparent electromagnetic shield. They’ve even activated the electromagnetic shield? That means they’re using Star Martial Skills!

"You continue training here. I need to step out for a bit."

"Huh?"

"No slacking off just because I’m not supervising. I’ll check your progress when I get back."

"Okay!"

Jiang Xinyu hurried back to the villa, took a quick shower, changed into clean combat gear, and rushed to the garage.

Speaking of which, Jiang Xinyu had envied Wang Lan’s family for their electromagnetic shield for more than a day. Star Martial Skills couldn’t be used recklessly. Without specialized equipment or a protective barrier set up by a Star Martial Warrior, one had to bear all consequences themselves.

If public facilities were damaged or people injured, then just you wait. Charges of endangering public safety and social security would be laid against you. To put it bluntly, it meant humanity would eliminate you.

Therefore, electromagnetic barriers had become something Star Martial Warriors desperately needed. With one, they could practice Star Martial Skills at home, even experiment with them boldly and without restraint.

But this device wasn’t something money alone could buy; the technology was still under national protection regulations and not available for civilian use.

Jiang Xinyu had never quite accepted that Wang Lan’s family had one. But that was before.

Two Xu Xiangwens, both fully employing the Pure Yang Skill! They’ve instantly pushed Wang Lan into a desperate situation!

Good heavens, four slaps, back and forth! If it weren’t for Wang Lan’s quick movement technique, using his arms to block several times, his face would have been beaten into a swollen mess by now.

Xu Xiangwen, however, was growing increasingly energized. Though he verbally cautioned Wang Lan to be careful, the excited glint in his eyes thoroughly betrayed his words. This guy is having the time of his life!

After narrowly dodging two powerful slaps, Wang Lan rolled repeatedly, retreating to a corner of the arena.

Is this the real gap between me and the Star Cloud Stage? I’m completely outmatched in terms of strength, Wang Lan thought. Xu Xiangwen gave him a few seconds to adjust before a sinister smile spread across his face again.

"Lanzi, Big Brother is coming for you!" Xu Xiangwen taunted.

Calling himself ’Big Brother’ now? Damn it, I can’t let him get away with this cockiness!

But Xu Xiangwen moved like lightning. Almost as soon as the words left his mouth, a slap descended from overhead.

Should I shoot him with an arrow? But what if I kill him...?

In that split second, a realization struck Wang Lan.

Am I being pummeled solely because I can’t keep up with his speed? Not entirely. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be able to block any of his attacks. It’s my eyes that can’t keep up, and that’s slowing down my body’s reactions. That’s the real issue! In the future, I’ll definitely face opponents with incredible speed and movement techniques. Xu Xiangwen might be holding back, but my enemies won’t. Didn’t I just master a new ability? The Crescent Arrow’s auxiliary skill, Hawk Eye! This skill is a high-level application of Star Power, derived from the unique way Star Power moves through the Crescent Arrow’s meridians. It alters retinal imaging through Star Power. And I can use it independently!

In an instant, a surge of Star Power flooded Wang Lan’s right eye, enveloping it in a golden glow. His right pupil transformed, shifting from its normal round shape into that of an intricate gear.

The slap descending towards his head finally appeared to slow down.

Moreover, he could even adjust the degree of this slowdown. At the very least, he could make Xu Xiangwen’s movements appear to be at a normal, manageable speed, as if it took no effort at all.

Wang Lan shifted his body to the side. However, this usually simple action now felt like moving through thick mud; in his enhanced dynamic vision, his own body’s movements seemed snail-paced.

Fortunately, with quick, subtle adjustments, Wang Lan managed to narrowly dodge Xu Xiangwen’s sweeping palm, the attack missing him by mere fingertips.

Wang Lan quickly executed the Star Cloud Sword Dance, transforming into a streak of light that flashed past Xu Xiangwen, reappearing behind him.

After that palm strike missed, Xu Xiangwen suddenly froze.

"What’s wrong?" Xie Sisi, who had been thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, looked up and asked.

"Strange... Wang Lan, your dodge just now... it felt very odd. What did you do?"

"Nothing much. Just that I can track your speed now."

"Hah! Anyone can brag," Xu Xiangwen scoffed. Track my speed? Let me tell you, when I unleash my full speed, even I can’t track it!

Once more, the two Xu Xiangwens lunged at Wang Lan.

With dynamic vision activated, not only did his opponent’s movements appear slower, but his own movements also felt sluggish in comparison. Wang Lan needed to adjust and adapt to this new perception.

Initially, Wang Lan’s evasions were indeed hair-raisingly close. But after a few minutes of acclimatization, he began to get the hang of it.

Meanwhile, Gong Feiyu and Xie Sisi, watching from the sidelines, wore expressions of utter astonishment.

The image of Wang Lan being relentlessly chased and beaten by Xu Xiangwen was still vivid in their minds. His pathetic predicament had been quite amusing to them. Yet, in just a few short minutes, they were witnessing Wang Lan’s transformation.

From desperately scrambling for safety to his current calm composure—all within about ten minutes—the change, while not glaringly obvious, was unmistakably unfolding before their eyes.

Gong Feiyu, in particular, was shocked beyond words.

Just two days ago, he and Xu Xiangwen had sparred in an open area. At a distance, Xu Xiangwen was no match for Gong Feiyu. But once Xu Xiangwen closed in, his terrifying speed left Gong Feiyu utterly defenseless.

Gong Feiyu’s close-combat abilities weren’t weak; he had previously managed to hold his own against Wang Lan for a good three minutes. And after breaking through to the Star Cloud Stage, his strength had improved significantly.

Even so, if Xu Xiangwen got close, it meant instant defeat for him.

But now, Wang Lan is actually turning the tables in such a short period? This seemingly small change implies a terrifying rate of progress!

Ten-odd minutes... how much can a person improve in that time? Previously, Gong Feiyu would have thought that ten-odd minutes weren’t enough for any significant improvement. Now... damn, what kind of monster is this guy in front of me?

BOOM—

Suddenly, one of the Xu Xiangwens was sent flying backward, spinning a full 360 degrees in mid-air before crashing heavily to the ground.

POP!

After a moment of distortion, Xu Xiangwen’s clone vanished into thin air.

This scene left the two onlookers gaping even wider in astonishment.

"Impossible! You..." The remaining Xu Xiangwen stared at Wang Lan, his face etched with shock.

Wang Lan was also momentarily stunned—not because he’d defeated Xu Xiangwen’s clone, but because the system hadn’t registered it as a victory, and he hadn’t received any rewards.

It seems I have to defeat the main body as well for it to count.

With this thought, Wang Lan’s figure flashed, and he instantly charged towards Xu Xiangwen.

"Wait—"

"Wait for what!"

Wang Lan’s fist thundered down, but Xu Xiangwen easily dodged it.

Wang Lan had only enhanced his dynamic vision, not his actual speed. Thus, it wasn’t difficult for Xu Xiangwen, with his superior speed, to evade Wang Lan’s punch.

However, Xu Xiangwen wasn’t like Wang Lan; he couldn’t use Star Martial Skills without a cooldown period. So, dream on if you think you’re creating another clone!

Wang Lan began to press his attack against Xu Xiangwen. Inside the arena, their movements were still dizzyingly fast, a blur to the eye.

Xie Sisi, watching from outside the barrier, began to discern what was happening.

Xie Sisi herself possessed formidable combat prowess, especially when integrating Star Power into her movements for enhanced speed and attack power. But even her abilities were no match for Xu Xiangwen when his Pure Yang Skill was active.

Xie Sisi realized that Wang Lan hadn’t actually become faster or stronger; rather, he could now anticipate Xu Xiangwen’s moves.

Xu Xiangwen’s actions are all within Wang Lan’s grasp. He can instantly react to Xu Xiangwen’s movements to counter and launch his own attacks. Even though his own speed hasn’t increased, his combat efficiency has effectively doubled!

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP—

Rapid footsteps announced Jiang Xinyu’s hurried arrival. She got there just in time to see the climax of the fight: Wang Lan executed a Thomas flare kick that struck Xu Xiangwen’s waist with pinpoint accuracy, almost as if guided by GPS.

The force of the kick, combined with Xu Xiangwen’s own forward momentum, sent Xu Xiangwen flying backward.

BOOM! A shockwave of energy erupted.

Xu Xiangwen’s face twisted grotesquely as he slammed hard against the protective barrier.

A notification chimed in Wang Lan’s mind: "Defeated an opponent of a higher level. Reward: 1,000 experience points, 10 skill points."

Huh? That counts as defeating a higher-level opponent? Right, Xu Xiangwen is no longer the Star Shine Stage cultivator who could only offer a few skill points. As a Star Cloud Stage expert, he could completely overwhelm me.

"Damn it... Lanzi, what the hell happened to you? Did you, like, evolve or something?" Xu Xiangwen exclaimed, getting right back up as if the powerful kick had done nothing to him.

"You’re not hurt?" Wang Lan asked, surprised.

"With the Pure Yang Skill active, my strength, defense, and everything else are boosted several times over. The force of your kick was... barely adequate," Xu Xiangwen said. "Now, spill it. How did you do that? I felt like... like I’ve been shadowboxing this whole time!"