Chapter 504: A Slight Edge in Skill

As the two went on stage, cheers of encouragement erupted again from the audience stands.

Although they were still cheering more for the opponent.

The two lay into the Virtual Storage, and soon their figures appeared on the big screen.

Jiang Cheng gripped the Alloy Battle Knife in his right hand, but even the students knew he certainly also carried a Psychic Weapon.

Meanwhile, Fangguo was bare-handed.

But if anyone dared to look down on him, Xie Jianfeng would be a cautionary example.

Countdown: three, two, one.

Just as it ended, Jiang Cheng sidestepped; after he flashed to the side, a earth spike over half a person tall burst from the spot where he had been standing.

"Is it luck? Or...?"

Seeing this, Fangguo's expression grew a bit more serious.

At that moment, three tearing-through-the-air sounds rang out.

One could tell without thinking that it was Jiang Cheng's Psychic Weapon arriving.

Fangguo's expression unchanged, he activated his internal Psychic Power, and instantly a layer of earth-yellow battle armor covered his body, enveloping him completely.

As the three Steel Needles were about to pierce his body, at the last moment they were blocked by the battle armor.

"Quite formidable."

Jiang Cheng was secretly astonished.

In fact, that layer of battle armor on the opponent's surface wasn't particularly strong; a full-force strike from a Level Ten Psychic Power Warrior could definitely shatter it.

Likewise, a single Steel Needle of his could do the same.

The key is, that battle armor is inert, while Fangguo is alive.

Whenever a part is attacked, he can immediately sense it and then mobilize the surrounding or internal earth Psychic Power to replenish it, ensuring the battle armor remains intact.

This works similarly to those defensive treasures.

At that moment, Fangguo raised his hand again, and another earth spike burst up from the ground.

With this layer of armor on him, he was nearly invincible; all he needed to do was keep attacking relentlessly until he defeated his opponent.

Earth spikes surged forth continuously, yet Jiang Cheng could dodge each time; even when it looked perilously close, he ultimately escaped unharmed.

During this period, Jiang Cheng also activated his Psychic Weapon, but just as before, it had no effect whatsoever.

However, Jiang Cheng was not in a hurry.

He also wanted to see what other tricks his opponent had.

"Not good."

Seeing this, Xie Jianfeng on the audience stands muttered.

Anyone with clear vision could see that the initiative on the battlefield had been in Fangguo's hands from the start.

Jiang Cheng could dodge once, ten times, but what about twenty, thirty? A single mistake would end the fight.

Yet he could also understand that the opponent protected himself with a layer of turtle shell, and Jiang Cheng's Psychic Weapon was like scratching an itch.

Not only him, but almost all the students thought the same.

However, in the battle scene, Fangguo's expression grew increasingly grave.

Even when Jiang Cheng dodged his first attack, he had a premonition that Jiang Cheng's footwork was extraordinary, but he still harbored a lucky hope, thinking Jiang Cheng might have anticipated his immediate attack and thus dodged in advance; yet after successive attacks consumed much of his Psychic Power, Jiang Cheng slipped away like a loach, remarkably slick.

"If this continues, it won't be good."

Whether it's the battle armor on his body surface or the earth spike attacks he launches, both consume Psychic Power.

Although the earth Psychic Power in the surrounding environment is inexhaustible, doing this slightly reduces the casting speed, and even this small amount can decide the battle's outcome.

Using internal Psychic Power releases quickly, but the total amount is limited; once exhausted, it's gone.

Could it be a gamble—whether Jiang Cheng's stamina runs out first, or his internal Psychic Power depletes faster?

"A mere Level One Grandmaster—if winning is this arduous, how could he defeat later opponents?"

Fangguo's eyes flashed with resolve as he swiftly formed seals with both hands.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh."

Five or six earth spikes in succession burst up from beneath Jiang Cheng's feet.

His figure flickered, dodging again, but at that moment another five or six earth spikes burst out, covering all possible landing spots.

Even with Jiang Cheng's superb footwork, it was impossible to dodge them.

As his body was about to be pierced, a Steel Needle shot out, hovering midair; Jiang Cheng stepped on it to make a sudden change of direction and landed steadily.

"Hiss..."

In the lounge, many people sucked in a breath.

They had thought Jiang Cheng was sure to lose, but they hadn't expected that in this critical moment he produced a fourth Steel Needle, using it to gain aerial leverage.

"This kid really isn't to be underestimated, huh?" someone said.

Those who had doubted Jiang Cheng could make the top fifty now began to believe.

Even the top fifty, some had looked down on him.

"What a pity..."

Fangguo's eyes showed reluctance.

However, there wasn't much time left for him to lament, because the fourth Steel Needle had also joined the battle.

"Swish swish swish swish."

Four Steel Needles struck his battle armor repeatedly, and they hit the same spot!

This meant he had to keep pace with Jiang Cheng, constantly repairing the damaged area; even a slight delay would let the Steel Needles pierce his body—not just one, but all four.

However, the earlier continuous attacks, especially those two moves just now, plus the battle armor, had consumed over half of his internal Psychic Power; if this continued, he would be the first to give out.

Moreover, absorbing primordial force from outside to repair the battle armor takes a bit of time, but Jiang Cheng's attack is fierce, impossible to give him that time.

"Looks like the outcome has already been decided, huh."

"On the seats where the school leaders were seated, a middle-aged man sighed."

"Yeah, Teacher Jiang has been on the defensive from the start, his moves feeble, but precisely because of that, his spiritual power has hardly been depleted, whereas Teacher Fang is the opposite—his successive attacks earlier consumed a large amount of his primordial force, putting him directly on the defensive; if he can't find a way to break the deadlock going forward, then the one who will advance is Teacher Jiang." Another person echoed.

"A way to break the deadlock? Easier said than done."

"In the lounge, it was the same scene."

"Although many people widened their eyes, unable to believe what was happening on the screen."

"Another half minute passed, and Fangguo sensed that the primordial force within him was almost gone."

"He gave a bitter laugh and said, \"Teacher Jiang, your skill is superior; I concede. \""

"Thank you for the match."

"Hearing that, Jiang Cheng also smiled and withdrew his psychic weapon."

"Huh?"

"In the spectator seats, the academy's students looked bewildered."

"What's going on?"

"Did they mishear?"

"Teacher Fang actually took the initiative to admit defeat?"

"This isn't right! The one who should lose isn't Teacher Jiang, is it?"

(End of chapter)