Chapter 172: Our Northern Dipper World Has Its Own Darkness

"Since you're determined to do this…"

Xiong Xiong leapt high from his spot, and in the blink of an eye, formed a vivid, fearsome giant eagle with wings spread wide, its two eyes blazing with red light.

He suddenly retracted his wings and plunged straight down from the sky!

Ken Shi Lang clenched his teeth and sidestepped to meet him.

"Let's settle this!"

Xiong Xiong shouted loudly as he plummeted down at an exceptionally cunning angle.

"Southern Dipper Hell Slaughter Fist!"

Vs

"Northern Dipper Flying Guard Fist!"

The two figures intertwined, their legs colliding in midair, shadows mirroring each other, yin and yang linked, inseparable, inescapable.

Their steel bones and iron sinews, honed over years of training, crashed together, power surging endlessly from skin and marrow.

Their limbs, their bones, had all become razor-sharp weapons.

Swish!

Ken Shi Lang and Xiong Xiong landed on the ground simultaneously, both kneeling on one knee, propping themselves up with their hands, their expressions equally altered.

"…"

Xiong Xiong's expression was no longer relaxed; he realized he had underestimated this seemingly weakest, most vulnerable man from the Northern Dipper.

Ken Shi Lang spun sharply, spat out a breath of turbid air; the close-quarters clash had been deadly—if he'd slipped even slightly, his joints would've been severed, his bones shattered—but Xiong Xiong had gained not a single advantage from start to finish.

The golden-haired youth took several steps forward, stopping several meters before Ken Shi Lang, his face twisted in bitter gritting.

In a fraction of a second, his five fingers spread open, glowing translucent, shining like molten diamond scorched by flame, then suddenly clenched into a fist.

His focus locked entirely onto Ken Shi Lang.

Like a hunting eagle, thirsting for a single decisive strike.

Xiong Xiong twisted his body, his lower half rooted firmly in place, grinding the green brick floor beneath his feet into powder, his arms rising—and in the blink of an eye, transforming into countless flying dragons that surged toward Ken Shi Lang.

Southern Dipper Lone Eagle Fist Secret Art—Southern Dipper Flying Dragon Fist!

Instantly, Xiong Xiong's arms exploded with countless afterimages, filling the entire front of Ken Shi Lang's vision; this was the only technique in the cutting-focused Lone Eagle Fist that was brutally forceful and overwhelming.

The Flying Dragon Fist that could shatter steel and blast open a path to light!

The aura of the Southern Dipper Lone Eagle Fist surged forth, transforming into overlapping, roaring waves that swept across everything within sight, crushing everything before them!

Not just the waist and abdomen, but the belly, chest, face, back of the head, even all four limbs—every part was Xiong Xiong's target; though none were lethal, even a single hit would leave Ken Shi Lang bedridden for three months.

I'm coming!

I am the Star Martyr!

My love is at least twice what you feel for Julia!

My obsession is at least twice what you feel for Julia!

Your heart is absolutely weaker than mine!

So, Ken Shi Lang, you will lose to me!!

And what of Ken Shi Lang?

This youngest brother of the Northern Dipper, though still young and naive, disliked taking lives, disliked killing, and hated deadly duels—but even the innocent one now understood…

If he didn't fight, he couldn't protect Julia!

A terrifying aura erupted, crushing the entire training hall into oppressive stillness; since Jia Qi had revealed everything to him that day, Ken Shi Lang had already changed—he was no longer the weak, soft boy he once was!

Could Ken Shi Lang withstand such a terrifying, overwhelming, inescapable assault?

The answer was yes.

Absolutely, easily yes.

Unparalleled light blazed brilliantly, illuminating the entire training hall; his aura surged outward without restraint, like a celestial river reversed, lightning dancing like silver snakes, chilling to behold.

His fury began to rise.

His hair lifted upward.

His fists clenched tightly.

Northern Dipper, Northern Dipper Divine Fist Secret Art—"Northern Dipper Steel Rein Breaker Fist"!

Ken Shi Lang spread his arms wide, no longer confining his aura within his body, but flinging all his power outward, squeezing it out, expanding in every direction, swelling rapidly, the force shooting like escaped laser beams, endlessly blazing and streaking.

Yet at the very instant Xiong Xiong's fist was about to strike him, all that force converged into one—his right arm swelled violently, grotesque muscles bursting through the wrist bandages and the sleeve on his right shoulder, every ounce of power gathering into a single fist from fingertip to palm.

Boom!!

A figure was violently thrown backward, his feet carving deep furrows into the ground.

Who?

Him?

No, him!

Boom!

The sonic boom arrived belatedly.

A massive rock slab appeared before them, within it a disheveled golden figure.

Only the wind whistled in his ears; his organs and brain felt as if hammered by invisible mallets, agonizingly unbearable; from the moment he was struck, Xiong Xiong felt his bones crying out, his muscles screaming.

The Flying Dragon fist shadows were shattered in one blow; he felt his own fists nearly shattered, his five viscera and six bowels subjected to terrifying impact.

Ken Shi Lang, you bastard…

How could you be this strong?!

Spitting blood, he forced himself out of the rock slab, yet Xiong Xiong turned his face away, refusing to glance even once at Julia nearby; according to his own logic, a defeated man had no right, could not possibly, still love Julia.

No qualification, no qualification.

"newyear…"

He whispered his beloved's name one final time.

Preserving his last dignity, the Lone Eagle Fist heir clutched his arm, limping out of the Northern Dipper's training hall, leaving behind only a desolate silhouette.

Yet.

Just before he descended the mountain, a massive shadow struck from behind, snatching up the severely wounded man.

"Huh?!"

……

"Today, my hand trembles; today, my heart aches—why is this happening?"

"I gave everything, yet received not even a shred of love I desired…

Why, heavens, do you give me such pain?

What have I done wrong?

What exactly have I done wrong?!"

"Julia… Julia… I… I… I…"

His voice grew choked.

"I truly love you so much—why are you treating me like this?! Waaah!!!"

"Waaah! Julia… Julia! Gah!! "

"Enough! Who the hell are you…?" Xiong Xiong, now awake, angrily cut off the mysterious figure's dramatic performance, as if the words had torn open his heart and read aloud its contents.

But mid-rebuke, his face turned pale—his injuries flared up.

"Xiong Xiong…"

Jia Qi lifted the broken Star Martyr, scolding him bitterly: "Did one loss make you give up?! Is your love for Julia really this weak?!"

"What are you trying to say?!"

"I want you to arm yourself with the martial virtue of invincible victory!"

(End of Chapter)