Chapter 244

: Duel (Part I)
Translator: 
Yukidaruma Translations 
 Editor: 
Yukidaruma Translations
After hearing Hoult’s words, Fang Xingjian said calmly,
Although there are many participants in this Regional Selection, it’s true that you’re the only one who can make me fight with all I have.

Hoult laughed loudly and said,
That’s right. Then let’s cut the crap and let everyone see what real geniuses and true top notch Knights are like.

After he said this, strong gales filled up the entire arena. These air currents were formed from the rapid movements of the Astral Tempest.
However, the one who had truly taken action was not Hoult.
Fang Xingjian’s longsword came to an abrupt stop right in front of Hoult, where countless stars were flashing.
Then, there was a delayed tremendous boom, and a majestic force of air blew away all the surrounding stars.
Amidst the huge boom, there were also sounds of clashing metals, air explosions, as well as the tremors of their vital energy and blood.
The horrifying sound waves spread out in all directions. This caused those who had weaker attributes, as well as the aristocrats, who were not even Knights, to start feeling light-headed and short of breath as though they would faint any moment now.
In the next moment, countless silhouettes of Fang Xingjian flashed around Hoult wildly. The many streams of stars were like numerous huge pythons, using their bodies to fend off Fang Xingjian’s attacks continuously.
Each slash from Fang Xingjian could cause large sections of their bodies to explode and disperse. However, soon after, more of them would amass.
It was unexpected that while Hoult was facing Fang Xingjian, who had his Boundaries Negation activated, Hoult could rely on the massive number of streaming stars to fight against Fang Xingjian’s speed.
Fang Xingjian was like a series of black lightning strikes, slashing out an incessant stream of attacks around Hoult.
For the spectators who were watching Fang Xingjian and Hoult fight, there was a slight delay with the sounds and motions of the battle. This was because Fang Xingjian’s speed had reached up to ten times that of supersonic speed, which caused everyone to feel awful.
The rapid friction in the air howled like a demoness, and all the spectators, who were below Knight-level, had no choice but to retreat. If they were to stay on, the vibrations from the aftermath of the battle would probably kill them all.
The weak did not even have the right to watch this battle.
Amidst the swirling stars, Hoult stood there, motionless with his arms folded across his chest. His eyes flitted about continuously, trying to get a hold of Fang Xingjian’s silhouette at all times.
However, Fang Xingjian’s speed was simply too quick. After each collision with the Astral Tempest, he would quickly slip away as though he was completely unrestrained. Fang Xingjian merely continued to use the sword Qis created by slashing rapidly through the air and whipping the Astral Tempest.
The high temperature caused a faint red light and white steam to appear on Fang Xingjian’s body.
Then another loud explosion rang out. Up to a hundred sword Qis mixed together with the Ether Sword Ripples tore through the Astral Tempest, and Fang Xingjian’s sword slashed down onto Hoult.
However, with a loud clank, Hoult retreated three steps back. Aside from the many star traces appearing on his face, he seemed unharmed.
The surface of his body was encompassed by stars, like he was wearing an armor which was a level 19 Inferior Divine Weapon.
When Fang Xingjian’s sword slashed down, a wave of backlash surged toward him in the form of gushing tremors. With a slight tremble, his silhouette was already drowning in the streams of milky ways.
However, this was merely for a moment. In the next moment, a total of ten Ether Sword Ripples slashed out at ten times that of supersonic speed, bringing along a series of sparks and slicing through the stars which surrounded him. Fang Xingjian then leaped out and appeared at the borders of the arena.
He lowered his body down in the same way a cheetah would, while the longsword in his hand released high temperatures continuously. His entire body was giving off white steam like he had just came out from a steamer.
Hoult touched his face where he had just been slashed. Then he smiled and said,
Your speed is fast, but against the Astral Tempest’s great numbers, there’s nothing you can do. Their existence is like the air… No matter how fast and agile you are, there’s no way for you to escape from air.

Hearing Hoult’s words, Fang Xingjian let out a cold smile and said,
Then… can air fend off against sunlight?

Before Hoult could react, Fang Xingjian’s body flashed, and he disappeared once again.
This time around, he did not dash toward Hoult but was like a satellite, circling around and above Hoult with a ten-meter distance between them.
While he continued to circle around Hoult at an extremely high speed, white sword Qis encompassed the longsword he was holding, reflecting out streams of light.
Luminous Heaven Soaring Slash was activated! As it reflected sword light and sunlight directly, the light sword, which was at a high temperature of one thousand degrees, attacked Hoult in the face.
A pfft sound could be heard, and Hoult let out a cold grunt. He put his hand on his face and retreated a step backward. It was clear that the Astral Tempest could not keep out the heat completely.
With a lift of his hand, the Astral Tempest on the exterior was already starting to block the light.
However, how fast was Fang Xingjian’s speed? His figure continued to flicker as he circled around Hoult, and the speed at which the light sword moved was also instantaneous. There were light swords penetrating through the gaps in the Astral Tempest at almost every moment, continuing to heat up different parts of Hoult’s body.
Hoult clapped his hands together hard, and the countless stars covered him up completely, forming a sphere. It was like a precious pearl which contained the endless universe and released starry light.
Looking at the obvious target in front of him, Fang Xingjian stopped in his tracks. As the garments on his torso had already been sliced up into pieces by the high speed air currents, he tore off the tattered top of the Knight attire. Then he contemplated as he looked at the sphere before him.
Fang Xingjian was thinking if he should use this chance to use Terra Ingurgitation.
He would probably only be able to use Terra Ingurgitation once in this battle. Therefore, he would obviously want to look for the best chance to deal a lethal blow on his opponent.
Just as he was thinking of this, Hoult’s voice rang out in the air with the tremors from the sphere.

Excellent… Fang Xingjian, you’re truly my greatest opponent in this Regional Selection.

If it’s against you, I’ll finally be able to unleash the full prowess of Crimson Fire.

In the next moment, streams of crimson flames spread out from the sphere.
If the sphere, which was formed from a myriad of stars, was said to look like an egg, then the tongue of fire snaking out incessantly from the sphere was like something had broken out from the egg.
This was the Killing technique, Snake of Engulfment, specially created by the Astral Ancestor to use together with the level 29 Superior Divine Weapon, Crimson Fire, as well as the Killing technique, Astral Tempest.
A giant snake, which seemed to have been formed from lava, dashed out from the astral sphere.
According to ancient legends, the world was once in chaos. When the giant snake—the creator of the world—broke out from the chaos, the entire world started to take its shape.
However, there would eventually be a day when the giant snake would once again engulf the entire world, and the world would welcome its doom.
The Killing technique created by the Astral Ancestor, Snake of Engulfment, was clearly based on this legend of world creation.
The giant snake was born from the huge egg formed from a myriad of stars, and with the appearance of the huge snake, it continued to absorb the heat in its surroundings. The giant snake’s lava-like body grew increasingly brighter and brighter.
This was a huge snake which absorbed heat incessantly until every living thing in the world perished.
It was just like the legendary world-creating, giant snake, which would eventually engulf the entire world.
Watching on as Hoult performed the Killing technique, the Snake of Engulfment, all four examiners present stood up.