Ultragenic Warlord

Chapter 612: Squeezing Out Potential

"You've done very well for yourself. It's clear that you've mastered the combination of spatial and water-attuned techniques in your arsenal," Zhang Lie praised.

Yang Ze sighed as he scrambled up from the ground. "Ah, I'm still too weak! Captain, if you came at me seriously, I probably wouldn't be able to defend against a single blow of yours."

Yang Ze's shark had been dispelled immediately upon smashing against the serpent's corrosive body. He understood that the difference between him and Zhang Lie was like that between a chicken's egg and a diamond.

"Nonsense—your current development is already excellent. You've surpassed me down your chosen combat style and route as a hunter."

Notably, Zhang Lie didn't ask Yang Ze if he had intuited anything; he had already begun developing his own techniques that made up for his shortcomings and increased his repertoire of options.

Meanwhile, Fang Yi seemed to be as straight and direct as a spear, without any flexibility whatsoever.

Zhang Lie hoped that Fang Yi could learn from Yang Ze, who was as formless as water. He was difficult to sense or see, who made use of the battlefield creatively and had dozens of tricks or techniques for avoiding, deflecting, baffling, confusing, and misdirecting his opponent while setting the stage for himself.

"I've already tested Fang Yi and Yang Ze, so which of you is up next?"

"Me, me!" Sun Xiaowu rushed forward. Unlike Fang Yi's speed and strength, Sun Xiaowu focused on sharpness.

Zhang Lie was very pleased with the results of Fang Yi and Yang Ze's training. From the aura emanating from Sun Xiaowu, he seemed to have made equally significant progress.

As for Sun Xiaowu, he certainly didn't dare take it easy against an opponent like Zhang Lie. Their captain hadn't slacked off; he seemed to be progressing farther and farther ahead compared to them.

Sun Xiaowu raised a hand, his polearm gleaming with resplendent light.

"[Blinding Flash: Hundredfold Echo]!" Sun Xiaowu's body split into over a thousand clones, so many they seemed to fill the sky. "[Golden Divide]!"

The thousand clones all used [Golden Divide] simultaneously, coloring the sky in a burst of golden feathers as they rained down on the battlefield. However, the golden feathers all seemed to skirt by Zhang Lie without touching him.

"To have honed [Golden Divide] to such an extent must have required intensive training," Zhang Lie remarked.

Sun Xiaowu had grown far stronger than he had expected, surely a result of an endless amount of hard work. A minute's worth of combat might have taken ten years' worth of experience, after all.

The thousand clones formed a battalion that charged toward Zhang Lie even as Zhang Lie began to smile.

"Show me just how much stronger you've become! [Fists of the Silent Sea: Quake]!" The frightening aura that exuded from Zhang Lie like a flood, like a typhoon, vanquished all the clones and extinguished Sun Xiaowu's golden radiance.

"Take this! [Adamantine Aegis]!" A layer of golden runes covered Sun Xiaowu's skin, shining brightly as they absorbed Zhang Lie's attack.

The ground quaked; the sky shook. The strength of Zhang Lie's fists clashed against [Adamantine Aegis] and released what sounded like the deep tolling of a bell.

Waves of energy exploded from the point of impact. The members of Team Zenith and Zhang Hanxiang clutched their heads in pain as the runic script dissipated from Sun Xiaowu's body.

"[Blinding Flash: Thousandfold Echo]!" The next moment, Sun Xiaowu's body divided into thousands of illusions as Zhang Lie watched on in pride.

It was then that he sensed a fluctuation of genetic energy coming from behind. "Hmm? Interesting."

His lips curled up into a smile as he noticed something amiss.

"I'm behind you, Captain!" Sun Xiaowu called out in delight, thinking that his deception had succeeded. "[Goldenscale Palm: Split]!"

Golden radiance struck the land. Sun Xiaowu's palms brimmed with golden light as a dense layer of golden scales covered his skin. His aura suddenly shifted, and his right arm glowed with resplendent light.

Intense strength emanated from his body. Sun Xiaowu took a step forward, then punched with all his might, generating a dominating wave of genetic energy.

Zhang Lie met Sun Xiaowu's punch with one of his own in a direct strike, causing the golden energy to explode over the land. Sun Xiaowu's image cracked and fizzled away—that "Sun Xiaowu" had just been one of his clones.

Fang Yi chuckled bitterly. "Can't you all actually fight properly for once?"

But Sun Xiaowu wasn't finished. Golden radiance covered the sky as his clones gathered together, each seeming simultaneously real and illusory.

"[Goldenscale Palm: Qilin]!" Sun Xiaowu and all his clones leapt up into the air, performing exactly the same action. A golden glow radiated from all their bodies, basking the world in light.

Golden scales covered up Sun Xiaowu's arm as it grew thicker and thicker, and the image of a golden qilin appeared behind him. He rushed forward, golden scales appearing over his arm as he punched at Zhang Lie, who met him with nothing but his bare hands.

If anyone else had met his strongest blow with nothing but their unprotected body, Sun Xiaowu would have mocked them for their arrogance, but when he saw Zhang Lie do so, his eyes were filled with disappointment.?Indeed...

Zhang Lie's palm alone was sufficient to stop the golden qilin's might. His palm was far smaller than the massive qilin, but it boasted ridiculous strength.

"Captain, you're far too strong!" Sun Xiaowu gasped.

Just then, Zhang Lie tossed the qilin back toward him, causing Sun Xiaowu to panic. He immediately activated [Adamantine Aegis]. The golden qilin struck Sun Xiaowu in a burst of golden light.

When the explosion cleared, Sun Xiaowu was left standing. His armor had transformed him into a ten-meter tall golden giant surrounded by runes.

Zhang Lie nodded. "Very good. I was about to lecture you on training your techniques but not your body, but you've clearly overcome that difficulty. It looks like you've developed both your offense and defense very well, so let's continue."

Sun Xiaowu shook his head fervently. "No, Captain, don't! You're far too strong; I've had enough!"

Zhang Lie laughed. "There's still more potential in you yet! Take this—[Fists of the Silent Sea: Fade]!"