Chapter 19: The Principle of Yin and Yang
Hikigaya stepped in midair with a set of strange footsteps. Compared to Luo Hao, it wasn't as agile or grand, but the effect was still obvious.
Luo Hao's finger never touched him.
During this process, shockwaves kept rushing toward him, and he quelled each one immediately.
Luo Hao's martial arts were as swift as a gale, hiding her invisible and intangible power attacks.
But Hikigaya managed to block and dissolve them all, causing no harm—hmm, his "pregnancy penetrating fist" power was still intact, waiting for the right moment.
He absolutely wanted to impregnate this woman! That's what he was thinking.
"You're very skilled in combat, and you've also learned well how to better master your powerful abilities. That's good. For us, the strongest curses have no effect; if you don't use the powers obtained from the gods, there won't be much effect," Luo Hao said.
Her expression seemed particularly childish during battle, always showing a smile as if a child seeing something extremely beloved.
She always spoke of sparring and fighting methods, yet she kept closing in on Hikigaya.
"But this principle isn't very effective for me. Brother, remember, a bold close-range attack is the best way to completely crush the enemy."
From here on, nothing was clear. Hikigaya could no longer see Luo Hao's moves.
Her attacks were sharper and more violent than ever; in the blink of an eye, she caught him at almost point-blank range.
This stepping technique—he'd never seen it before.
The attack method, whether from martial arts or power, Hikigaya couldn't figure out at once.
Mainly because he couldn't accurately catch her strike timing.
So, he stopped dodging and went full defensive, arching his back to guard his face, chest, abdomen, and waist.
Standing firm meant he could output.
Against a martial arts master like Luo Hao, if he was heavily injured instantly, it meant defeat.
First came the feeling of a strong electric current rushing into his body, pain and weakness sweeping over him. This wasn't entirely from power.
The hit area first felt scorching hot, then the heat spread, transferring to other body parts, turning into intense pain.
Not only the surface, but his internal organs were severely struck. Yet his body didn't get knocked away.
It felt as if Luo Hao was absorbing him, unable to escape. All the forces that could push him away seemed absorbed by her and transformed into damage.
This technique was less impressive and more terrifying.
But Hikigaya endured, and by sacrificing this, he finally grasped the rhythm of Luo Hao's attacks.
For example, in a recent attack, Luo Hao used a leg technique and had just retracted it.
Next, Hikigaya predicted her next move and successfully slid aside from a palm strike aimed at his head.
Of course, this didn't stop Luo Hao's actions. Her attacks were all-around, and other parts of Hikigaya's body still got hit.
The next moment, Hikigaya dodged a rushing punch as if falling back, then countered with his feet for the first strike.
Luo Hao dodged but gave him an approving look.
Then her punches and kicks came again, blocking his view.
As before, Luo Hao's attacks gave off no breath or momentum.
The air around her didn't change much.
If she was human, no matter how powerful, this would be impossible.
The stronger you are, the more you affect the environment. Against god slayers like Hikigaya and Voban who use air like radar, this would have no effect.
But Luo Hao—either you got hit by her or tracked her by sight—there was simply no way to detect her attacks.
Her current moves resembled Wing Chun, extremely fast and sharp short strikes but insanely powerful. She needed very short attack distances and movement arcs, allowing a stronger attack frequency.
Hikigaya was slowly getting used to it. His body had broken free from her suction and started dodging her attacks while waiting for a chance to counterattack.
However, the areas he'd been hit still burned. Recovery would take time.
But at least no bones were broken.
"Enough. Now I'll show you another ultimate skill."
Like a hundred flowers blooming.
Her face flushed, a smile blossomed on her lips like flowers opening, and her eyes blazed fiercely.
Her black hair reaching her shoulders seemed to flutter joyfully.
"Flying Phoenix Twelve Divine Palms. This palm technique was my proudest martial art and regarded as a secret treasure of the martial world. Feel it carefully."
In other words, this was her pre-god-slayer prized skill, probably one she taught her disciples.
Luo Hao showed a boldness before Hikigaya never seen until now.
Her palms struck like stabbing fists, silent but hitting Hikigaya's jaw.
As pain registered, two more palms hit his abdomen, near his shoulder and collarbone he felt a hand blade chop, and his thigh was pierced directly—an application of her penetrating finger strike.
Hikigaya wasn't going to just take the hits. After three strikes, he countered with ancient Thai boxing.
But Luo Hao was too agile. She dodged, and even during the brief gap, she swept a kick that nearly broke his bones.
"The Flying Phoenix Twelve Divine Palms consist of twelve moves: Phoenix Chick's Visit, Phoenix Eye Pierces Curtain, Phoenix Claw Probes Heart, Flying Phoenix Falls, Red Phoenix Facing Sun, Golden Phoenix Spreads Wings, Group Wind Chain, Mighty Phoenix Thousand Pounds, Phoenix Wing Phenomena, Phoenix Dragon Yin Yang, Twin Phoenix Flight, Great Phoenix Without Heaven.
When all moves release, they combine hardness and softness, embodying the principle of yin-yang mutual overcoming."
That last sentence sounded very familiar.
Her master from back then—could his surname be Jin?
Enduring the storm... no, storms have gaps, but Luo Hao did not.
As she swung her palms, shockwaves rippled out, and she began reciting poetry...
"Gazing at bright white snow, happy to meet martial skills heaven."
"Shadows silent in the hall, hearts awaken before the seven schools."
"Today's Han country, newly counted revival years."
Each line uttered sent shockwaves like invisible walls crashing toward Hikigaya.
If Hikigaya hadn't stolen the power from Poseidon to both trigger and quell vibrations, he might have been knocked down.
Around them, no buildings remained. Or rather, nothing was left on the ground, all shattered and turned into particles by the hurricane winds.
But even worse was Luo Hao's pair of hands.
Like she said herself, her strength combined hardness and softness, embodying yin-yang opposition principles.
This wasn't mere casual release but the complete transformation of heaven and earth's power in her hands.
Suddenly, Hikigaya understood another ability of the Ten-Sun.
The Chinese yin-yang theory was born from this. With Luo Hao's power, he finally caught that faint trace.
Hikigaya rejoiced. After taking so many hits, he finally caught his chance!
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