Chapter 337 - 260: This Is Bad

Those who could be called "Restricted-level" existences had all reached the pinnacle of the Ghost God Realm. They could use their own Spirit and body to borrow, to a certain extent, the formless Qi that exists between Heaven and Earth. Although it was merely borrowing—not the complete subjugation and control exhibited by a Divine General—their wondrous abilities far surpassed ordinary Martial Dao techniques.

For example, Mitsuro, known as "Aurora," could use his Spiritual Martial Dao to borrow the Power of Heaven and Earth, condensing an "Aurora" to strike his foes. Oono Bonan could also manipulate the air with his own abilities, borrowing the power of nature to influence reality with his Spirit.

Shinkawa Yue’s ability was no different.

The power of the "Wheel of Time" originated from a Spiritual Secret Technique. It could use Spirit to influence a person’s five senses, throwing their perception of time into disarray and creating an illusion akin to time stopping. On the other hand, a Restricted-level master’s Divine Transformation power allowed their Spirit to diffuse and influence the unseen Qi in the surrounding world, physically binding all life within a certain radius.

Thus, once the ability was activated, it was as if time in an entire area had frozen. This was the origin of the name "Wheel of Time."

However, this effect was severely limited against Zhao Xuanqi.

After all, back in the last few chambers of the Nine Dragon Cave in the Cyan Dragon Sect’s Secret Land, he had faced a similar effect. That had been laid down by a Divine General, yet it still failed to stop his advance. Shinkawa Yue had not even reached the Divine General Realm, and now, Zhao Xuanqi’s strength had broken through to yet another level.

The Qilin manifested, its roar like thunder!

Everyone else seemed to be caught in an Immobilization Spell. Only Zhao Xuanqi’s figure shot out like a Wandering Dragon, appearing between Shinkawa Yue and Xie Yunhe in the blink of an eye.

Shinkawa Yue’s pupils contracted sharply. Forming a sword with his fingers, he thrust toward Zhao Xuanqi!

SWOOSH!!

In an instant, the moonlight dimmed. The surrounding area plunged into darkness as if someone had flicked off a light switch. It was as if Shinkawa Yue’s single strike had sliced through the very moonlight, scattering the light.

Under such conditions, a Martial Artist’s five senses would be deceived. Their eyes would be blind, their perception restricted. Against such a strike, even a Harmony master would perish on the spot!

This Sword Technique was called "Moon Piercing."

It was a formidable technique born from the combination of a Spiritual Secret Technique and the Martial Dao.

But Zhao Xuanqi faced this technique without a trace of fear. After the trials of the Nine Dragon Cave, his Martial Dao and Spirit had already ascended to a new level.

Even with his five senses sealed, his Spirit suppressed, and his intuition restricted, he could still lock onto his opponent.

He wasn’t locking onto the person, but an intangible "sensation."

All people possess Qi.

Shinkawa Yue’s power could seal one’s five senses and Spirit, even one’s intuition or sixth sense, but it could not seal the unseen Qi.

If he could, he would be a Divine General.

Zhao Xuanqi’s body moved abruptly. If one could see through his clothes, they would witness his vertebrae ripple and jut out, like the reversed scales on a dragon. Under the command of his spine, the life-sustaining substances of his body—Force, Qi and Blood, nutrients—surged violently. They accelerated through each vertebra, their power amplifying continuously, before finally converging in his palm.

Furthermore, it was not merely Force and Qi and Blood. His own scorching aura, along with the natural magnetic field in his immediate vicinity, was also drawn in by the Eight Dragon Spine Acupoints. It compressed segment by segment, finally gathering upon his palms.

His hands formed into claws. As the aura and magnetic field coalesced, a silver light condensed until it was nearly tangible, forming the lifelike head of a Qilin. Its face was as majestic as a lion’s, its gaping mouth savage and ferocious.

As the aura and magnetic field condensed and layered, they seemed to undergo a subtle, qualitative change. An unseen power was stirred, causing a slight shift in Shinkawa Yue’s expression.

From Zhao Xuanqi’s Palm Technique, he could have sworn he felt a trace of the power that only a master of his own realm should possess.

’Restricted-level?!’

ROAR!!

But there was no time for him to ponder. Zhao Xuanqi had already thrown his palm forward, and the Qilin head condensed upon it exploded outward.

BOOM!!

A violent wind howled like a sudden clap of thunder. Under the terrifying eruption of Force, Shinkawa Yue’s incoming Moon Piercing Technique was intercepted. His body froze for a moment before the impact actually forced him back two steps. Then, with a flicker, he vanished from sight.

After his battle with Yuan Tianhao, Shinkawa Yue was injured and his Physical Ability was greatly depleted; he was far from his peak. Moreover, his personal strength did not lie in explosive physical power. As a result, in a single exchange, he was actually forced to retreat by Zhao Xuanqi—who, having broken through the Eight Dragon Spine Acupoints, was already touching the threshold of the Restricted-level.

Their exchange had been instantaneous. The controlling effect of the Wheel of Time vanished in a flash, but a look of lingering terror remained in the eyes of Xie Yunhe, who stood not far away.

He knew that if Zhao Xuanqi had not intervened, he would have paid a terrible price for that attack.

Chi Zhenyun and the other arriving reinforcements also wore looks of astonishment. They had personally experienced the power of Shinkawa Yue’s Secret Technique—even the Military Commander had been in peril. Yet Zhao Xuanqi had been able to act in an instant. They knew full well what that implied.

’Zhao Xuanqi’s strength is far beyond our expectations!’

"Hundred Beasts Fist Qilin..."

It was not just the reinforcements. Even the several Restricted-level masters from Neon narrowed their eyes, their gazes incomparably sharp as they stared at the man who had forced Shinkawa Yue back with a single palm strike—Zhao Xuanqi.