Chapter 31: Such Familiar Dialogue

"Transfer? What do you mean?"

After hearing Zhang Zhiwei’s words, a look of bewilderment flashed across Lu Ci’s face. The method Zhao Zhen used to break his Golden Light, as described by Senior Brother Zhang, wasn't neutralization, but a transfer?

"Brother, haven't you realized it yet?" Lu Ren spoke softly from behind Lu Ci. "Our family’s Ruyi Energy is famous for being unpredictable and incredibly flexible. In the world of Outsiders, there are very few who can neutralize it, let alone defend against it. When you fought Zhao Zhen yesterday, didn't you notice how the Ruyi Energy on your hands simply vanished?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Ci fell into deep thought. Recalling the details of his duel with Zhao Zhen from the previous day, he suddenly realized his brother was right.

An instant! Yes, it was an instant! If it had been neutralized, his Ruyi Energy would have been worn away bit by bit, not vanished into thin air in a heartbeat. The facts were exactly as Senior Brother Zhang had stated: it wasn't neutralization; it was a transfer!

"To think Zhao Zhen could develop such a clever application for the Golden Escape Light," Zhang Jingqing remarked, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. "As far as I know, the Golden Escape Light of Master Jinguang was originally intended to transport people, but Zhao Zhen has likely utilized this property to convert people into objects. Anything tangible he can touch can likely be transferred. While the Tianshi Mansion's Golden Light Curse is a cultivation of righteous life-energy, its outward manifestation is still a substantial golden light. Thus, the moment Zhao Zhen made contact, he used the Golden Escape Light to shift it away."

After hearing this analysis from Zuo Ruotong, the young disciples who had been struggling to grasp the mystery finally had a look of realization.

"But Master, I have a question," Lu Jin suddenly asked.

"Go ahead," Zuo Ruotong nodded with a smile.

"I’ve exchanged pointers with Brother Zhao before. Each use of his Golden Escape Light not only requires a talisman with a complex creation process but also consumes a massive amount of True Qi. Yet, in the match just now, he has used it three times in succession. Logically, his True Qi should be nearly exhausted by now, but he doesn't look like someone suffering from such a depletion."

"That is not strange," Zuo Ruotong said, shaking his head and pointing to the footwork Zhao Zhen was using. "Look closely at his steps."

Lu Jin followed the direction of his finger and suddenly realized something. "That is..."

"Indeed, walking the Dipper-Pattern. It is a type of footwork that allows one to absorb natural energy from the heavens and earth. By absorbing the scattered energy lost by living things in the environment—known as 'Gang Qi'—the user can maintain high energy levels for long periods. Specific patterns can even allow one to inhale Gang Qi to heal the body. I believe this is precisely how Zhao Zhen has been able to use the energy-intensive Golden Escape Light repeatedly."

"So that's it," Lu Jin nodded in understanding, his gaze toward Zhao Zhen filled with even more admiration. *Brother Zhao, just how much strength are you still hiding?*

Meanwhile, on the field, Zhao Zhen was forced to use the Golden Escape Light once more to blink out of a lightning trap Zhang Zhiwei had secretly laid.

Seeing this, Zhang Zhiwei frowned slightly. Although his lightning-body protection prevented Zhao Zhen from launching any surprise attacks—since lightning, unlike the tangible Golden Light, could not be touched or transferred—he couldn't find a way to get to Zhao Zhen either.

His Yang Five Thunder was powerful, but it was useless if it couldn't land. Zhao Zhen, with his Golden Escape Light, was impeccably flexible. His reflexes were lightning-fast, and if he ever made a mistake, he had the Golden Escape Light to compensate. Several times, Zhang Zhiwei had predicted his position and laid a trap, only for Zhao Zhen to vanish the moment it was triggered.

This inability to finish the match made Zhang Zhiwei, usually calm and composed, grow increasingly impatient. He was used to opponents who couldn't last three moves against him. Yet today, despite using both his Golden Light Curse and his lightning arts, he couldn't pin Zhao Zhen down. To Zhang Zhiwei, Zhao Zhen felt like a slippery loach that he couldn't grab no matter how hard he tried.

If Zhang Zhiwei was merely impatient, Zhao Zhen was practically cursing internally. *Dammit! The Golden Light Curse is as hard as a diamond, and this lightning art is even more monstrous—it protects him automatically, strikes whenever I get close, and is remote-controlled, chasing me like a bone-deep parasite!*

Since the start, Zhao Zhen had been walking a tightrope, his focus absolute. A single lapse in concentration would result in a face full of lightning. Even if he knew Zhang Zhiwei wouldn't kill him, he didn't want to get struck by lightning for no reason! If he hadn't promised Master Zhang Jingqing last night, he would have surrendered long ago.

*And the cost! Zhang Zhiwei is just burning True Qi, but every time I use the Golden Escape Light, I'm burning my precious Earth-Traversing Golden Light Talismans! Do you know how hard these are to draw?!*

Even though he had improved the design over the years to allow for both long-range one-time use and short-range sustainable use, he had already gone through two of them. His heart was bleeding.

After a dozen more stalemated rounds, Zhang Zhiwei finally couldn't help but speak up, his voice tinged with agitation: "Brother Zhao, if we continue like this, it will be quite uninteresting."

"I agree," Zhao Zhen replied, panting heavily.

"Brother Zhao, do you have any other defensive measures you haven't used? If not, then I shall concede this match."

Though he spoke of conceding, Zhao Zhen knew Zhang Zhiwei didn't believe he would lose; he simply felt the stalemate was a waste of time. Having seen what he wanted to see regarding the Golden Escape Light, the outcome was secondary to him.

Zhao Zhen smiled slightly, just as he had when facing Lu Jin five years ago, and slowly raised a single finger toward Zhang Zhiwei.

"One move, Brother Zhang. Just one move. If you can withstand this, I will concede without needing you to."

Lu Jin, standing to the side, was momentarily stunned, muttering to himself, "That dialogue sounds so familiar... where have I heard that before?"