章節 30: Chapter 29: Dance of the Masters
The dense fog clung to the trees, thick and ghostly, wrapping the forest in a veil of uncertainty. Surya and Lin Tao stood across from each other, weapons in hand, their breaths steady, eyes locked. They were warriors of different philosophies, different beliefs, and different arts. The tension between them was palpable, like the crackling air before a storm. In that mist-covered forest, two paths of mastery would collide.
With a sudden surge of energy, Lin Tao lunged forward, his *Sword of Immortals* gleaming with a subtle, otherworldly light. Surya met him head-on, his staff in hand. The two clashed like titans, each strike a dance between life and death, wisdom and might. The sword came at Surya in an arc that cut through the fog like a crescent moon slicing the night. Surya parried with his staff, the force of their clash sending a shockwave through the mist, clearing a small circle around them.
Surya moved with the fluidity of water, his body becoming an extension of his weapon. He spun his staff in a flurry of movements, blocking and deflecting each of Lin Tao's strikes with the precision of a master. Lin Tao's sword was like a living entity in his hand—each swing was precise, calculated, and devastating. The *Sword of Immortals* was no ordinary blade; it possessed a will of its own, harmonizing with Lin Tao's intentions, enhancing his skill.
As the battle raged, Surya realized that his magical abilities were dampened, his strength sapped by the talismanic field Xu Fei had created. He decided to rely on his wits and his mastery over martial arts. With a subtle twist of his fingers, he manipulated his staff using a minor *Dao* technique. The staff elongated like a serpent striking from a distance, forcing Lin Tao to leap back. But just as swiftly, Surya shortened the staff, using the momentum to deliver a close-range strike aimed at Lin Tao's ribs.
Lin Tao blocked with his sword, the impact ringing like a bell through the forest. "Your skills are truly remarkable, Rebel Buddha," he said, a note of respect in his voice. "Your movements are like flowing water, adapting and shifting with every breath."
Surya smirked, twirling his staff in his hand. "And your swordsmanship is formidable, Lin Tao. Your strikes carry the weight of a mountain and the precision of a hawk's dive."
They continued their dance, their weapons clashing with a rhythm that seemed almost choreographed. Surya ducked low and swept his staff, attempting to trip Lin Tao, but Lin Tao leapt over the strike, spinning in mid-air, his sword coming down in a deadly arc. Surya sidestepped and retaliated with a thrust, extending his staff once more, aiming for Lin Tao's shoulder. Lin Tao twisted his body, deflecting the attack with his sword, and closed the distance between them, bringing his blade inches from Surya's throat.
"Impressive," Lin Tao said, his voice calm but his eyes intense. "You adapt quickly. It's no wonder you've garnered such a reputation."
"Compliments won't win this fight," Surya retorted, retracting his staff and flipping backward to gain some distance. "But I do appreciate the flattery."
Their exchange was not just of weapons but of philosophies. Every clash was a statement; every dodge, a rebuttal. Surya's staff spun like a vortex, its length shifting in unpredictable ways to keep Lin Tao guessing. But Lin Tao was equally agile, moving like the wind, his sword a blur of steel.
Then, from the corner of his eye, Surya noticed Xu Fei, standing at a distance, fingers twitching as he prepared another talisman. With a flick of his wrist, Xu Fei sent a talisman flying toward Lin Tao, who snatched it out of the air and crushed it in his hand. The talisman's power burst forth, enveloping Lin Tao in a radiant aura.
Lin Tao's movements suddenly became more fluid, his speed and strength enhanced tenfold. He seemed to blur with every step, his sword strikes becoming almost imperceptible. "I apologize, Surya," Lin Tao said, his voice sincere yet resolute. "It is dishonorable to resort to such methods, but I have no choice."
Surya, ever composed, spun his staff in a defensive stance. "You do what you must, Lin Tao. I'll just have to break through it."
Lin Tao charged with newfound speed, his sword cutting through the air with a ferocity that defied belief. Surya's staff twirled in response, blocking and redirecting the blows. But it was clear that Lin Tao's enhanced state gave him the upper hand. The ground beneath them quaked with each clash, the shockwaves ripping through the fog and sending leaves scattering.
Xu Fei continued to rain down talismans. Some burst into protective barriers around Lin Tao, deflecting Surya's strikes. Others flew towards Surya, exploding into binding chains of light or releasing gusts of wind that sought to throw him off balance. Each talisman was meticulously crafted, carrying powers that manipulated the very fabric of the battlefield.
Surya gritted his teeth, his mind racing. "So that's your strategy? To wear me down with every advantage you can muster?" His voice was sharp yet composed, carrying an air of righteous indignation. "It seems the mighty have truly fallen, to rely on tricks rather than skill."
Xu Fei, ever confident, sneered. "What's the matter, Buddha? Are you afraid? You were all talk before, and now look at you, floundering in the face of true strategy."
Surya's eyes narrowed, his mind sharpening like a blade. He knew he couldn't rely on his higher powers, but he still had his Dao and his cunning. With a sudden twist, he slammed his staff into the ground, creating a shockwave that disrupted the talismanic energy field around them for a brief moment. He used that split second to dart forward, closing the distance between him and Xu Fei.
Xu Fei's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly responded, flinging another talisman at Surya. The talisman burst into a torrent of flame, but Surya deftly spun his staff to redirect the fire, creating a swirling vortex of flames that spiraled into the sky.
"Enough of your tricks," Surya declared, his voice booming with authority. "Face me as warriors, not as cowards who hide behind paper and ink."
But Lin Tao intervened, his sword cutting through the flaming vortex with a single, decisive slash. "This fight is between us, Surya," he said, his voice steady. "Xu Fei is merely a strategist. It is my duty to engage you."
Surya nodded, his expression one of fierce determination. "Then let's see this through, sword to staff, strength to strength."
The battle resumed with even greater intensity. Surya's staff was a blur of movement, extending and retracting with each strike, each thrust aimed to break Lin Tao's defenses. Lin Tao, for his part, moved with the grace of a leaf in the wind, his sword finding openings that no ordinary warrior could perceive. The ground beneath them cracked and splintered under the weight of their clashes, the trees swaying from the shockwaves.
Xu Fei continued to send talismans, but Surya's focus was razor-sharp. He adapted, predicting the paths of the talismans and using his staff to either deflect them or weave through them with a dancer's agility. It was a test of endurance, a clash of wills, and the forest bore witness to their duel, the fog thickening with each passing moment, as if the very air held its breath.
Lin Tao, empowered by another talisman, began to move even faster, his strikes leaving afterimages in the air. Surya countered by shortening his staff to a single, compact form, using it to block Lin Tao's rapid thrusts at close range. The clash of metal and wood created a symphony of battle, echoing through the fog-shrouded trees.
With each move, Surya's mind remained focused, his thoughts clear. "They're relying on these talismans because they know they can't beat me in a fair fight," he thought, a small smile tugging at his lips. "So be it. I'll make them regret underestimating me."
Lin Tao, feeling the fatigue from his enhanced state, pressed on, his face resolute. "Your resolve is commendable, Surya, but even the greatest mountains can crumble."
Surya smirked, his eyes flashing with confidence. "Mountains may crumble, but they never bow."
With that, they clashed once more, a final surge of energy exploding between them, shaking the very foundations of the forest.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
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