Chapter 187: As a Shikigami, Spirit Wind—When the Wind Rises, Thunder Rolls!

"Lightning. Half-smash!"

Facing the comedic duo's rapid assault, Neicun Jingjie showed no retreat, a hint of ferocity on his face, and charged straight at the fierce tennis ball.

Swish!

Faint, almost imperceptible arcs of electricity danced on the racket surface, his arm flicked a afterimage, and the tiny arcs seemed to form a complete lightning bolt.

Boom!

The tennis ball just bounced, then was struck directly by that lightning.

"The tennis ball weighs 58 grams, its speed is about 175 km/h, assuming the distance is.

it will reach that spot in 0.14875714192 seconds!"

Golden Xiaochun's mind raced, and in an instant calculated the ball's landing point, his steps quickened as he rushed toward it.

Swish!

The racket swung through the air, wind howling, but his smile suddenly froze.

It felt empty, with no tangible contact.

Clack!

But at that moment Neicun Jingjie's voice came from behind again.

Golden Xiaochun kept sending balls away from Neicun Jingjie, trying to block the lightning half-smash, yet at this moment he found an opening.

"Oh! Appeared, Yu Ji's 【Mimic Technique】."

A sound like a crackling current rang behind Golden Xiaochun; even knowing the direction in advance, he still couldn't counter such a rapid cut ball.

Nin Soku Ken shouted confidently with a smile:

Boom!

"Game, Budongfeng Middle School Neicun Jingjie, Jing Xing, 4-2!"

"Alright, let's go all out like this!"

"Mmm, it's so fast they can't return it~"

His eyes flickered slightly, as if saying, "Haven't I already responded?"

Xiaochun and Yu Ji's tennis looks chaotic, but each move serves their purpose.

Thus, even though the ball speed is slower than a serve, a 175 km/h half-smash traverses the short distance in an instant, leaving far less time for the receiver than a 190 km/h serve.

If the opponent can overcome their comedic interference.

The match didn't pause; both sides engaged in back-and-forth, and the defense of Four Heavens Treasure Temple suddenly intensified by one level, making Neicun Jingjie and Jing Xing's attacks ineffective.

Shiraishi's eyes flashed with admiration; forcing Xiaochun and Yu Ji to this extent shows Budongfeng's duo is truly formidable.

But half-smash shots differ; not only is the contact point often near the net, the timing is also hard to gauge.

Yet Neicun Jingjie looked bewildered, quickly gesturing in front of him: "I didn't say that just now!"

To the human eye, though only 175 km/h, it moves as fast as lightning.

Looking at the imprint on the ground, Golden Xiaochun clasped his arms to his chest, twisting his body; he seemed to be goofing off, yet his mind was recalculating the previous trajectory.

"Can't wait any longer."

"Watch mine! Lightning."

He smiled lightly, turned and waved, saying, "Got it."

"Alright, let's go all out like this!"

Although 175 km/h is far slower than many high-speed cannon serves, the two can't be compared that way.

With momentum soaring, Neicun Jingjie swung his fists, declaring he would cut through the mess swiftly and finish the match with lightning half-smash!

Thus Xiaochun can, based on the earlier comedic exchanges, gather the opponent's data, combine it with pre-match intel, and launch a Data Tennis offensive.

"Huh"

"Xiaochun, Yu Ji! Show them your true strength!"

"Wow— the score widened further!!"

Generally, opponents with weak resolve can be defeated simply by comedic tennis.

He exhaled a long breath; the intense match left Jing Xing's forehead drenched in sweat, but this time he no longer cared as before.

Jing Xing's steps faltered slightly, he turned to look at Neicun Jingjie, a hint of doubt flashing on his face.

This is Yu Ji's 【Mimic Technique】!

"Once this move is unleashed, Xiaochun and Yu Ji's doubles pair becomes truly unbeatable!"

Due to the sudden shift in match tempo, most opponents were at this stage toyed with by Xiaochun and Yu Ji.

If they faced a true strong enemy, unable to win in the first two steps, then the duo's final trump card would finally be revealed.

"Damn! With Neicun Jingjie's lightning half-smash and Jing Xing, who dislikes the comedic style, the situation now fully swings to Budongfeng!!"

During a serve, the server stands at the baseline, the tennis ball travels a long distance, and the receiver has ample time to prepare.

Neicun Jingjie panted lightly, seeing the opposing pair calmly forming a defensive formation; for some reason, he felt strongly that if it continued, the opponent would definitely do something.

Swish!

He pressed his foot down hard, speed instantly spiked by two notches, quickly catching up to the ball.

"Neicun! Don't hit straight-through shots, hit diagonal ones!!"

Boom!

"Budongfeng Middle School Neicun Jingjie scores, 0-40!"

In the stands, varied voices rose among the supporters of the two schools, one side excitedly enthusiastic, the other anxious and worried.

"Alright—"

Jing Xing's voice sounded in his ear, Neicun Jingjie's movement stalled; years of teamwork had made him accustomed to Jing Xing's commands, so the racket he just swung altered its arc mid-air.

"Neicun, don't hit! The one who spoke just now wasn't me! It was One-Form Yuji!!"

At the instant the racket altered its trajectory, the real Jing Xing shouted loudly, but it was clearly already too late.

Boom!

A crack of electric roar rang out, and a blue arc of electricity instantly flew toward the opposite baseline.

A flash of lightning, and the tennis ball landed in the corner of Four Heavens Treasure Temple's half-court.

One-Form Yuji had already been waiting there; because the ball's flight path was the longest diagonal, even at such speed he had enough time to prepare.

"Watch mine! Lightning half‑stroke!!"

His eyes lowered, fixed on the falling bolt of lightning, and the voice of Neicun Jingjie sounded from his mouth as he swung the racket fiercely.

Clap!

An identical arc of electricity danced on his racket; the bolt that had just bounced off the ground instantly reversed and flew back, landing on the ground in Neicun Jingjie's shocked eyes.

"What!?"

But the scoring call had not yet sounded.

Tap tap tap.

Neicun Jingjie suppressed the shock in his heart, clenched his teeth, rushed forward, and his eyes locked onto the rebounding bolt.

Unlike Golden Little Spring, he didn't know how many times the high‑speed serve machine had struck him while practicing the lightning half‑stroke.

Therefore Neicun Jingjie's body had long become accustomed to such high‑speed trajectories.

Boom!

The racket barely intercepted the bolt, swung forward with force, and the tennis ball finally flew toward the opposite side.

"Dong! Dong! Dong dong dong! Four Heavens Treasure Temple!!"

Even though Neicun Jingjie caught that ball, any clear‑sighted observer could see the situation; the Four Heavens Treasure Temple cheer squad instantly surged with morale and shouted a fervent chant.

"I won't give you a chance!"

One-Form Yuji stepped forward quickly; the ball had just cleared the net when he reached the center court.

His eyes behind the red visor flicked rapidly, covertly gauging the height between the net and the ball.

Then.

Boom!

The racket snapped sharply at the ball.

At the moment when Neicun Jingjie and Jing Xing were both unprepared, the ball flew straight toward the net, brushing the edge with a swish.

A small hop caused the ball's momentum to dissipate largely, altering its original trajectory.

Tap tap

The tennis ball bounced twice on the ground.

"It's not just mimicking the sound; that guy can even copy Neicun's style?!"

Shenwei Ming furrowed his brow; beneath the comedic, bizarre façade of Four Heavens Treasure Temple's doubles lay truly national‑level double‑court strength.

"Impressive tactical rhythm."

Ju Juping calmly reviewed the entire match from the side.

In the Four Heavens Treasure Temple pairing, Golden Little Spring appeared to drive the game, but in fact One-Form Yuji used this time to silently observe Neicun's posture, habits, voice, movements, and technique.

He continuously sought opportunities, ready to launch the final offensive at any moment.

"Neicun's mind is getting chaotic."

Jiecheng Wu crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on Neicun Jingjie.

Having been besieged first by comedic tennis and then by Data Tennis, he weathered it, but the technique he had painstakingly mastered now suddenly became the opponent's weapon against him.

Even after enduring countless matches, Neicun Jingjie's mind at this moment could not help but descend into chaos.

"But this is doubles.

Neicun, have you truly conveyed your courage to your partner?

It all comes down to this game."

Boom!

"Game, Four Heavens Treasure Temple Golden Little Spring, One-Form Yuji, 3-4!"

"Both sides, please exchange courts."

Boom!

"Game, Four Heavens Treasure Temple Golden Little Spring, One-Form Yuji, 4-4!"

Boom!

"Game, Four Heavens Treasure Temple Golden Little Spring, One-Form Yuji, 5-4!"

"Both sides, please exchange courts."

In just fifteen minutes, One-Form Yuji, using the technique he had mimicked and Golden Little Spring's data analysis of Budongfeng and Shenwei, swung back three games in a row, completely reversing the match.

"Huff. Huff"

Neicun Jingjie felt his body becoming extremely fatigued, yet he knew he had not reached his limit; the suppressed chaotic thoughts only amplified his perception of exhaustion.

Especially seeing the lightning half‑stroke repeatedly slash into his court made it even more painful.

"Ha!"

With a low growl, One-Form Yuji ripped the ball down hard; at this stage of the match, comedy was no longer appropriate.

"Damn!"

Neicun Jingjie thrust his racket outward with all his might, but the ball still brushed the racket head and flew backward.

"Leave it to me."

A clear, cold voice sounded behind him, followed immediately by a thwack of a hit; the tennis ball flew back at an even faster speed.

"Jing Xing!"

Neicun Jingjie turned his head and saw a pair of unwavering eyes; Ji Le Jing Xing steadily controlled the ball's trajectory in the latter half.

"Watch your net front carefully; I'll guard the backcourt!"

Ji Le Jing Xing called out calmly, his former self completely gone, his will to win intensely strong.

Boom!

Boom!

For a moment, under Ji Le Jing Xing's newly organized defensive formation, a stalemate emerged.

"What's happening? It suddenly became hard to deal with."

Yishi Yu Ci held his racket in front, angled sharply downward, and the tennis ball struck the net edge again, producing a cunning net‑cut shot.

However, Neicun Jingjie quickly changed direction, caught up with the ball's arc, and reached out to scoop it.

Boom!

Boom!

Tap tap.

His foot planted, his body leapt forward, both hands gripping the racket pressed down heavily in mid‑air, and the tennis ball turned into a straight line that flew through the gap between golden Xiaochun and Yishi Yu Ci.

"Game, Budongfeng Middle School Neicun Jingjie, Ji Le Jing Xing, 5‑5!"

"Huff huff."

Even though his cheeks were soaked with sweat mixed with dust, Ji Le Jing Xing's aura grew hotter, his gaze became calmer, and he squeezed his racket tightly.

He doesn't want to lose.

Besides not wanting to lose, he felt a joy he had never known before, not the joy of defeating a weaker opponent.

Rather, in a match where he must win at any cost, each time he returns the ball, his heart in his chest beats hotly, and this palpable feeling of being alive is an unprecedented beauty.

"But if we keep this stalemate, we will be the ones who lose."

Ji Le Jing Xing calmly assessed the match's situation, his tennis upbringing from his father evident at this moment.

Although he and Neicun successfully saved the opponent's match point, golden Xiaochun is an outright intelligence expert, and the opponent has already been playing shots that drain both his and Neicun's stamina.

Thus a prolonged battle with them is inevitably a dead end.

Sigh.

Ji Le Jing Xing took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over Neicun Jingjie as if making an important decision.

Can a pawn crossing the river also capture a general?

But we both know, with our talents, we are merely two incompetent pawns that would be taken by chariots, horses, and cannons before even crossing the river.

However

Because of you, I truly saw hope for a pawn crossing the river to capture a general!

Ji Le Jing Xing's mouth twitched into a fresh smile; the long‑standing self‑restraint he had imposed on himself quietly faded at this moment, and his aura became lively.

Let me guide you across that raging river and grant you a blade sharp enough to capture a general!

Boom!

"Careful, the opponent's ball is coming!"

Accompanied by Neicun Jingjie's warning.

Ji Le Jing Xing's gaze narrowed slightly, his steps interlaced, sprinting to the front of the ball headed for the back corner, his racket raised calmly.

Whoosh~~

As the racket rose, an inexplicable breeze slipped in, stirring his dark‑green hair.

"Finally."

Off‑court, Ji Le Taizao's eyes flickered, his gaze carrying a subtle, hard‑to‑notice anticipation.

"Ling Feng."

A low murmur, like a gentle breeze passing silently, then the racket swung slowly.

Bang!

A pale‑yellow ball shadow flew over the net, a completely ordinary shot.

"Already out of strength? If you don't step up, there's no way to retreat!"

Golden Xiaochun's white teeth glowed, a big smile spread across his face; since they're out of energy, they can finish the rally!

"Alright—

Take this!!"

Behind him, Yishi Yu Ci shouted fiercely, snapping the airborne tennis ball with a harsh pull.

Boom!

That pull‑shot traced a fierce arc above the net.

"With such spin, the chance of a lightning half‑volley hitting the net is too high."

His eyes flicked over the pale‑yellow streak, and Neicun Jingjie instantly judged based on his experience.

"Neicun, go ahead and unleash your lightning half‑volley!"

At that moment, Jing Xing's voice rang out; Neicun Jingjie's eyebrows twitched, the voice came from behind, not an imitation of Yishi Yu Ci's voice.

Though he didn't know why the instruction was given, he chose to trust the other.

"Lightning. Half‑volley!!"

Electric arcs danced on his racket as Neicun Jingjie swung his painfully swollen arm, unleashing his signature move again.

"Based on the swing amplitude, timing, and speed of the racket"

Jinse Xiaochun swiftly calculated the ball's landing point; though he couldn't receive it, as long as he knew the exact spot beforehand, Yuci, who could likewise perform a Lightning Half-Strike, would surely return it.

Suddenly.

The gaze that had constantly followed the ball-striking process, Jinse Xiaochun's face suddenly changed.

Crackle! Whoosh~

In his eyes, at the instant the electrically arcing racket struck the tennis ball.

That ordinary tennis ball, due to Neicun Jingjie's swing, unexpectedly developed a special spin, the racket face violently vibrating, as if an invisible gust had arisen.

At that moment, the swift wind and lightning intertwined.

"What is this?!"

Neicun Jingjie felt the brand-new power born on the tennis ball, completely incomprehensible yet immensely strong!

Wind rises, and thunder moves!

Swish——

The Lightning Half-Strike, activated by spirit wind power, at this moment transformed into a terrifying technique far surpassing its original power.

A swift wind wrapped in lightning instantly passed by Jinse Xiaochun's side, and also knocked away the racket of Yuci, who intended to counter with a single-style strike.

Just an instant!

The entire court, only the central net's sway remained.

"Budongfeng Middle School scores, 30-30!"

"What kind of tennis ball is this?!"

With shock in his eyes, Yuci, still feeling lingering fear, glanced at the racket knocked away by the tennis ball, picked it up, adjusted it slightly with his fingers, and the strings had already become loose.

"What a formidable technique."

Yuan Zheye's expression changed slightly; this ball's power clearly reached national level, yet neither Neicun Jingjie nor Ji Le Jing Xing were anywhere near national standard.

"How did they achieve this power?"

Baishi's eyes held unusual gravity; he could only vaguely judge that this must be some means used by Ji Le Jing Xing, and the rest he could not know.

However, one point could be confirmed.

"It's over."

Baishi and Yuan Zheye exchanged a glance.

After seeing that move executed, Neicun Jingjie and Ji Le Jing Xing still had some stamina left, and they already foresaw the outcome.

Even if they could only use it once more, Xiaochun and Yuci would expend most of their energy to guard against this technique.

Boom!

Neicun Jingjie, while the opponent was fully prepared to return that very move, lightly sent his racket.

A dropping shot over the net.

"Game, Budongfeng Middle School's Neicun Jingjie and Ji Le Jing Xing, 7-5!"

"Match over, Budongfeng Middle School wins, 1-1."

With the landing of the final ball, the referee announced the final match result.

And Neicun Jingjie and Ji Le Jing Xing excitedly let out a skyward cry.

Actually they could only perform Wind Rising, Thunder Moving two more times; after that they couldn't continue the match, so the two had been bluffing all along, thereby regaining control of the situation.

It was truly nail-biting.