Chapter 0512: With Tail Between Legs
The constant energy clashes let out shockwaves of energy at regular pulses, thundering against the mountain walls and shaking loose soil and earth.
At the center of it all were Li Luo and Jing Taixu.
The two were locked in a reckless collision of strength, and their resonant power ran out at the same time. With a final, epic explosion, both were sent flying back until they crashed into the cliffs on opposite sides. They both spat out mouthfuls of blood.
The Onyx-Elephant Blade and green plantain fan were sent clattering across the earth.
All eyes were watching the two fighters. Now that their two final trump cards had been completely expended, both had ended up badly injured and exhausted.
Now who could muster enough energy to finish the other off?
The cloud of dust faded slowly.
Jing Taixu was on shaky legs as he stumbled forward, reaching out to clutch at boulders along the way to steady himself. His clothes were tattered, his body was badly scarred at places, and his composure was completely gone.
But his mind was not on his image at all. He was staring grimly ahead.
“Li Luo... surely that guy has no more strength to get up, right?”
Truly a legendary opponent, to actually force mutual injuries even against his strongest move.
Jing Taixu's eyes followed the gash on the floor that ran for several dozen meters. The impact of Li Luo's counterattack was fearsome to behold.
That had to be Li Luo's trump card as well.
But in the end, he was the one left standing.
His lip curled upwards in a tired but triumphant smile.
It did not spread far on his face. He watched Li Luo slowly get to his feet, a blurry figure in the dust ahead.
Li Luo was equally battered, his resonant power frazzled and worn down to a trickle.
Plus both his arms were running slick with blood.
"You're still standing?!" Jing Taixu snarled angrily. He just wouldn't stay down!
Li Luo wiped the blood away from his face, covering his arms in still more blood. "You think... you won?" he wheezed.
Jing Taixu's own voice was hoarse from exhaustion. "You don't even have the strength to take one more step."
"Yeah, well, look in the mirror, buddy."
Li Luo suddenly gave him an odd smile. "We're both burned out. We can't even lift a finger. But, Jing Taixu, I think you're screwed."
Jing Taixu laughed coldly. He turned his own energy inwards for cultivation. He would muster enough resonant power for proper mobility, then go over and stick a sword in Li Luo. His victory was assured.
"Jing Taixu, your quasi ninth-grade wind resonance was really something. Amazing speed, huh? But let me ask you something: now that we're in a race for recovery, do you think your wind resonance is faster, or my water and wood resonances?" Li Luo's laughter spluttered out.
Jing Taixu turned green in the face.
Water and wood resonances were far slower elements compared to wind, but they had their own advantages. Water resonances granted stamina, and wood resonances granted endurance. Both were excellent elements for regeneration. In terms of recuperation, of course they would surpass him.
Jing Taixu felt a prickle of panic. Surely not? He had gone through brimstone and fire to lose in this way?
He focused desperately on his energy cultivation arts, hastening the recovery.
A few minutes passed.
Jing Taixu felt some stirrings of energy return to his paralyzed body. A trickle of resonant power began to flow back into his parched resonant palaces.
He looked up at Li Luo and saw that his opponent was already starting to stretch and twist his upper body. He had a much bigger range of movement.
Jing Taixu trembled in fear.
"No need to panic! He's not strong enough yet," Jing Taixu thought to himself. "If he dares to spend his energy coming over, I'll use my last bit of resonant power to end him!"
His self-consolation was brought short when Li Luo pulled out a silver bow from his pocket sphere.
Jing Taixu swore under his breath.
Li Luo cackled weakly to himself. He put a finger on the bowstring and drew back, disregarding the pain in his hands. A thin thread of resonant power formed on the Lambent Hawkeye, creating a needle-thin arrow.
This was all he could manage right now, and his hand on the bow grip was swaying all around.
He released the arrow at a normal speed. If Jing Taixu had been in peak condition, he could have easily dodged it. But now he could only watch the arrow sail through the air at him. He was a sitting duck.
The arrow flew between his legs, grazing his inner thigh, and Jing Taixu felt his balls shrink at the near miss.
Too close for comfort!
Jing Taixu broke out in a sweat. "Li Luo, what the hell are you doing?! Where the fuck do you think you're aiming?!"
"Ah, a poor shot. Please forgive me, I'm not feeling too good at the moment... you understand." It was already an accomplishment to be able to shoot, let alone care about accuracy at this point.
"You just stand there real still, don't move a muscle, or I can't guarantee what I hit," Li Luo told him kindly. He pulled the bowstring back again.
Another two needle-like arrows flew out. They were not particularly deadly, and if Jing Taixu weren’t injured, they would not even have passed his defenses. But that bastard Li Luo kept aiming at his genitals.
It was poor aim, but it was exquisite mental torture.
Jing Taixu had a feeling that Li Luo was doing this on purpose.
“That son of a bitch!
"Just ignore him for a bit longer. My resonant power's slowly coming back," Jing Taixu thought to himself, gritting his teeth.
Another arrow, this one burying itself in his belly.
He felt a sharp pain in his stomach, and he winced.
Jing Taixu bit down on his tongue to stop himself from howling in pain.
"Oh, oops, almost," Li Luo said with regret. "Alright, last shot," he said seriously. "This one will do it, I promise."
He pulled his bowstring again, and another arrow of light appeared.
This time, before he could shoot, Jing Taixu ripped the anima gourd away from his belt and smashed it.
A pillar of light descended from the sky and caged him within it.
Li Luo watched, surprised, then stowed the Lambent Hawkeye away.
"Ah, Jing Taixu, your mental fortitude could use some work," he said, shaking his head.
Jing Taixu was furious. The finals had completely humiliated him. He had never thought that he would not only lose, but in such an embarrassing fashion.
"I'll remember this, Li Luo!" he yelled as he was beamed up into the sky.
As Jing Taixu was removed from the field, yet another column of light came down to catch Li Luo. It was filled with the purest worldly natural energy, and it completely healed all of Li Luo's wounds.
Even his dry resonant palaces were completely topped up.
Li Luo stretched out his hand, and the Onyx-Elephant Blade flew to him.
He lifted his head up and watched the boulders at the center of the mountain shift into a flight of stairs. At the top was a red throne.
The Dragonbone Throne.
The first golden resonant tree brooch had been acquired.