Section 46: The Awakening of the Second Crane Body
Two blazing red fist imprints roared through the air, side by side. In that instant, time seemed to slow to a crawl; the two imprints grew larger and larger in Tang Tian’s eyes. Within him, the form of the crane seemed to awaken. Its wings slowly rose, as if stretching.
Every ounce of true energy in his body, from the deepest recesses to the very tips of his limbs, was summoned forth. A clear, high-pitched crane’s cry rang out in his heart. Tang Tian’s mind became utterly clear. He shifted his stance, lunging forward like an arrow.
Bow-step, charging fist!
Strength surged from his legs, driving deep into the rock below. Facing the two incoming fist imprints, Tang Tian threw out both fists with no trace of ornamentation—pure, raw force.
Boom!
A burst of brilliant sparks exploded before Tang Tian’s eyes. The crane form within him trembled, the power of vibration coursing through his veins like a jolt of electricity, running from his legs into the ground.
Crash!
The rock beneath Tang Tian’s feet was pulverized to dust. His figure vanished once more.
Another bow-step, another charging fist!
Another fierce collision!
Boom!
Tang Tian’s body shuddered, the edges of his shoes and trouser legs blasted to tatters. Yet his legs pressed on, propelling him forward—he knew perfectly well, unless he closed the distance, victory was impossible.
A flash of red light before him. Tang Tian grunted, throwing both fists out yet again.
Boom!
Red sparks blossomed like furious flowers before his face. His body wavered, his face growing pale, but still he charged onward. It was not yet time for the Avalanche.
Wang Zhen’s cold face glinted with a metallic sheen. Tang Tian had already crossed half the distance, but Wang Zhen’s expression did not shift in the slightest. Only his eyes burned, like red-hot irons: wild, feverish.
Circles of red flame spiraled up from Wang Zhen’s legs, twisting upward, continuously gathering and compressing around his fists.
The fist imprints deepened from fiery red to dull crimson, then to jet black.
Black imprints enveloped Wang Zhen’s fists, exuding a chilling, suffocating danger that filled every corner of the space.
Wang Zhen had not mastered the killing technique of the Flash Fist, but he had grasped the deadliest move of the Cannon Fist.
Twin Linked Black Cannon!
Tang Tian, it’s over.
Expressionless, Wang Zhen recited the words silently.
His arms straightened, then dropped heavily behind him. Wang Zhen retreated three steps, absorbing the tremendous recoil.
Twin black fist imprints shot out like lethal cannonballs, cutting the air with concentric ripples.
A murderous intent locked onto Tang Tian like a vise. Every hair on his body stood up; he knew there was no way to dodge this blow. But if he could withstand it, he would win... just endure, and he still had Avalanche left.
Tang Tian’s eyes widened, his body crouched low, gaze fixed on the whistling black imprints racing toward him. He swung his fists with all his might.
Boom!
Flames erupted, engulfing Tang Tian. A black fireball exploded into being.
The black flames burned with terrifying heat, melting the surrounding stone. This eerie black fire, like blossoms of midnight, raged without sign of abating.
Tang Tian...
The excitement faded from Wang Zhen’s eyes, his arms dropping to his sides. Tang Tian’s resilience had exceeded his expectations. What a tenacious opponent, to force him to use his killing move.
A monstrous force rampaged through Tang Tian’s body. The black flames seemed capable of annihilating all things. At the moment his fists collided with the black imprints, the shocking vibration force contained within exploded into him like a current, flooding his veins, muscles, and organs in a storm of destruction. Compared to this, his true energy was as fragile as paper.
Destruction, destruction, destruction!
The vibration force crashed through his third-stage dantian pool, surging toward the second-stage pool, where the second crane form lay dormant.
Suddenly, the second crane form stirred. Its wings began to move.
Wang Zhen watched the black flames undulate and writhe. The black fire conjured by the Twin Linked Black Cannon was the result of powerful fire energy compressed to the extreme; in both heat and destructive capacity, it far surpassed any ordinary Cannon Fist. Though he had long mastered this move, it was the first time he used it in actual combat.
Its might exceeded even his own expectations.
Beneath his calm exterior, Wang Zhen felt a trace of regret. Gradually, the black flames faded. Tang Tian lay motionless on the ground, his body charred black.
Don’t die just like that, Tang Tian...
Wang Zhen thought quietly, casting one last deep look at Tang Tian before preparing to leap toward the white barrier above.
“Hey... it’s not over yet...”
A hoarse voice sounded behind him. Wang Zhen halted, turning around.
Tang Tian was struggling to rise, his body scorched, his clothes nearly destroyed. Wang Zhen knew Tang Tian was already gravely injured; the Twin Linked Black Cannon’s vibration force would have shattered his internal organs.
“I suggest you don’t move. You’ll only worsen your injuries,” Wang Zhen said calmly. “You can’t win. There’s no need to continue.”
“Heh... Says who...”
Tang Tian finally stood, swaying, his face blackened, hair singed, hideous to behold.
“The outcome is decided. You’ve done your best,” Wang Zhen’s tone remained even. “This is just a contest between academies—no need to die for it.”
Tang Tian’s laughter was ugly, but his body steadied. He looked at Wang Zhen, something surging behind his gaze. “No need?”
Within him, the second crane form shifted ever more rapidly. The scattered energy of the first crane form gathered once more.
The power that had poured into Tang Tian now surged frantically toward the second crane form, as if drawn by a magnet. The second form, once small and delicate, began to expand, devouring the destructive force like an endless black hole.
He murmured, half-dreaming.
“There was a time when no one liked you. They laughed behind your back, looked down on you, feared you. You had no friends, no smile. Every day was cold and empty. But now, you’re happy. You have friends, you laugh, you act like a fool, doing things you never dreamed of. You tease each other, push each other forward. You talk about dreams—grand, impossible dreams—things others don’t understand. You say you’ll fight side by side, never give up, never retreat. How can a place like this be called unnecessary?”
Tang Tian looked down at his own hand, whispering.
“I said I would win for this place. I said I’d claim first for this place!”
“I said, no matter what reasons the old man had, I’d help him!”
“I said, even if I die, I will win!”
Tang Tian suddenly raised his head; his eyes burned with an inner fire. His hand, splayed open, clenched into a fist.
“How could I surrender?”
“You’ve underestimated me!”
With a wild, bestial roar, Tang Tian became a blur of shadow, hurling himself at Wang Zhen.
Wang Zhen’s pupils contracted sharply—so fast!
Crack! Crack!
With a crisp sound of joints snapping, Wang Zhen’s arm straightened in an instant, rising like lightning to meet Tang Tian.
Fiery true energy burst forth, gathering at Wang Zhen’s fist in a flash. Even now, his eyes remained cold as steel.
A fire-red imprint blazed on his fist.
Boom!
A deep, heart-stopping rumble echoed out.
A flash of red light.
Bang!
Fiery sparks exploded. Tang Tian’s Small Collapse Fist shattered the fire-red imprint with a single punch.
Tang Tian was faster!
Wang Zhen’s composure did not waver. His other arm fell back, and with another boom, a second fire-red imprint shot toward Tang Tian.
“Die!” Tang Tian’s roar was like a beast’s. Ferocious, twisted, he smashed the oncoming imprint to pieces.
For the first time, Wang Zhen’s expression changed. His pupils narrowed to pinpoints.
It was one thing for Tang Tian to shatter a Cannon Fist imprint—but before, doing so always disrupted his footwork for a split second. Now, after smashing two imprints, Tang Tian’s stance remained unaffected.
He’s grown stronger...
Wang Zhen snorted coldly, his figure flickering backward. As he retreated, he unleashed a barrage of attacks; streaks of red light shot toward Tang Tian in rapid succession.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Fireballs exploded in the air, but a blurred, black shadow tore down the path of flames, charging madly. Each heavy step fractured the rock, sending shards flying. He was as swift as lightning.
Wang Zhen’s energy surged to the limit, his icy eyes burning with madness. Black fist imprints formed at a frightening pace.
Twin Linked Black Cannon!
Now, Wang Zhen held nothing back. His eyes locked onto the frenzied figure smashing through the storm of explosions and debris.
If you’ll die for victory, then come!
Boom!
The recoil nearly flung Wang Zhen off his feet. That metallic sheen on his face turned ghostly pale.
But his eyes blazed with unwavering confidence, tracking the two spinning black imprints.
Go. Annihilate.
Wang Zhen calmed in an instant, awaiting victory.
The wild shadow charged without hesitation or fear—a blade’s edge of resolve—slamming into the black imprints.
Tang Tian’s charred face split in a vicious grin, baring his teeth. From between them, a chilling phrase was forced out:
“Die!”
One fist swung at the two black imprints. In that instant, a clear, piercing crane’s cry sounded in Tang Tian’s mind.
It’s over... Wang Zhen’s eyes were calm, unsurprised. Such a powerful strike—it surpassed his limits. Under that immense pressure, this Twin Linked Black Cannon was the culmination of all his martial skill, his masterpiece.
Pfft!
A faint, almost inaudible sound thundered in Wang Zhen’s ears.
The two spinning, destructive black imprints crumbled like soft snowballs—strangely, impossibly—into dust.
How could this be...
Wang Zhen’s mind went blank, limbs icy. A black shadow flashed past him; he barely registered it.
A pain at the nape of his neck—and then, darkness.
Huff... huff... huff...
Tang Tian’s ragged breathing echoed through the cave.
He’d won... He’d really won...
Staring blankly at his own hand, Tang Tian could scarcely believe it.