Chapter 21: Mutual Destruction

"Junior brother! This time I won't hold back! Let's have a real fight!" Senior brother Peng Lei's eyes shone with excitement as he stared straight at Demon Night.

"Uh, senior brother! Although I'd love to spar with you, you look a bit too intense and it's making me uneasy," Demon Night replied as he set aside his giant sword and drew forth his Crying Blood blade once more.

"Come on, senior brother! I'm eager to see how much I've improved. You’ll be the measure of my progress!"

With these words, Demon Night launched his attack at Peng Lei. At the sight of the oncoming assault, Peng Lei let out a mighty shout, "Excellent!" Just as the two began their fierce exchange, Liu Xin, Zhao Mu, and Xiao Xiao arrived on the scene.

"What? Demon Night’s speed has nearly doubled since before! Now senior brother finally has a worthy opponent!" Zhao Mu exclaimed in surprise, watching the two locked in battle.

They traded blows for nearly a hundred moves, neither able to gain the upper hand. Seizing a brief lull, Peng Lei withdrew from the attack range. "I didn't expect this, junior brother. Before, even without using martial skills, you’d be lightly wounded by now. But now, even without relying on footwork, you can keep pace with me! Very well, next I’ll use my martial techniques!"

"Go ahead, senior brother! I want to see just how strong I really am," Demon Night answered, releasing his Vital Energy Battle Garb as he spoke.

Peng Lei steadied himself and shouted, "Good! Take my ‘Feathers Scattered Across the Sky’!" Instantly, sword shadows filled the air around Demon Night. Yet this time, Demon Night could clearly track every movement of Peng Lei’s blade. Using his Floating Flake footwork, he evaded swiftly, leaving Peng Lei astonished that his attacks could not reach him. Peng Lei realized Demon Night now stood in an unassailable position. In a flash, Peng Lei changed tactics. With another powerful shout, "Sword Dance of the Nine Heavens—be careful, junior brother!" Spiritual wings unfurled from Peng Lei’s back, and sword shadows now filled even the air above, their speed doubled.

The onlookers were all incredulous. "Has Demon Night become this strong already? But facing senior brother's move, I fear he’ll be defeated," Zhao Mu said quietly.

"Perhaps Demon Night still has something up his sleeve. His realm wasn't enough before. Let’s wait and see," Liu Xin replied.

Demon Night soon began to struggle. "If this keeps up, I’m going to lose. My attacks are still too predictable," he muttered as the sword shadows whooshed through the air, the wind slicing sharply around him.

"You fool! Don’t you realize this is just like when you practiced your footwork? There’s a common thread here!" the old cauldron spirit couldn’t help but interject, offering Demon Night a timely hint.

"Hmm? Of course! Every attack carries that whooshing sound—the surrounding airflow is getting stronger," Demon Night thought as he defended, but something still eluded him. With a flash of insight, he dismissed his battle garb. Without its protection, wounds began to appear on his body.

Peng Lei, a true martial fanatic, immediately sensed Demon Night’s revelation. Though Demon Night’s attacks lost some force, his speed never wavered. Demon Night noticed the blood from his wounds clinging tightly to his blade, and suddenly everything became clear. "If I can’t resist the wind, then I’ll ride it instead! Why did I make it so complicated? The Floating Flake footwork is all about this! I kept thinking of how to defend, only to corner myself!"

Watching Demon Night dismiss his battle garb, Zhao Mu asked Liu Xin and Xiao Xiao, "What’s he doing? Giving up? He still has strength left!"

"No, look closer—Demon Night seems to be observing something. Perhaps he’s having a revelation in the midst of battle," Xiao Xiao replied softly, eyes fixed on the fight.

On the field, Demon Night donned his battle garb once more, a gleam of joy shining in his eyes. "Brother Lei, watch as I break your martial technique!" His movements grew swifter, his sword strikes faster—each one now clung magnetically to the arc of Peng Lei's attacking blade.

"What’s this? He’s flowing with my every move!" Peng Lei was instantly thrown off balance; each strike hit nothing but air, as if punching into cotton. Frustrated, Peng Lei withdrew, soaring upward. "Try this, junior brother—‘Eagle Strikes the Vast Sky!’" His figure plunged down at blinding speed, the invisible pressure intensifying all around.

"What is this? Sword momentum? Incredible! It feels utterly inescapable!"

Suddenly, Demon Night sensed his demon core trembling violently. A dazzling light erupted from his blade as he unleashed his sword. Realizing the threat of Peng Lei’s move, Demon Night veered to the side with all his might, while Peng Lei twisted desperately to avoid a direct clash.

With a pair of muffled thuds, blood sprayed from both their mouths. Demon Night slowly collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Senior brother Peng Lei also slumped motionless to the earth. Their three companions rushed anxiously toward the place where both had fallen…