Chen Xiao stood motionless, hands clasped behind his back, chewing on Liu Chang'an's words. Jiangbei? Huaxia? Those were bold claims.
"You think I'm exaggerating?" Liu Chang'an asked suddenly, as if reading Chen Xiao's thoughts. "Have you heard of the ancient martial tradition?"
Chen Xiao only frowned. Liu Chang'an shook his head. "You couldn't have… What I mean is—"
"You mean that boy is an inheritor of the ancient tradition?" Chen Xiao cut in. Liu Chang'an nodded. "Yes. He's the legitimate heir of an orthodox Shaolin line—the only one of this generation."
The words clicked into place. The Chang'an Martial God from Chen Xiao's past life wasn't Liu Chang'an at all—it was the little boy. No wonder: under Dragon Breath's (SSS-rank) scan, Liu Chang'an's energy had been only marginally higher than Jiang YunHan's.
"Enough talking. I feel better now—you can die without regrets."
Liu Chang'an blurred at the edges, then vanished from his original spot—no illusion, just sheer speed. He was the strongest fighter Chen Xiao had met so far.
A thunderous force slammed into Chen Xiao's raised arm. Another strike came and was blocked. "Your defense is strong—very strong," Liu Chang'an panted. Chen Xiao ignored the compliment, shifting his stance and sweeping his eyes. "What did you awaken? Your speed and strength—both are off the charts."
Liu Chang'an reappeared with a cold smirk. "Frog Vault!" he called—an odd name, but the movement that followed was anything but. A powerful burst of force hurled Chen Xiao through the air. He rolled, planted his boots, and righted himself.
Chen Xiao allowed himself a small smile. Since his rebirth he hadn't faced a truly taxing match—until now. He narrowed his stance and watched. The arena looked empty, but the faint, light footfalls betrayed a presence—Liu Chang'an was shadowing him, waiting.
Dragon Breath. Chen Xiao activated the SSS-rank talent. The world's noise dimmed, filtered until only the essential frequencies of life and threat remained. His vision shifted into a thermal, crimson palette; within that red a black shape flickered and closed the distance. Others might be fooled—but not him.
His senses were apex-predator sharp—Dragon Breath amplified them to inhuman levels. Nothing could hide.
Chen Xiao threw a controlled punch—only thirty to fifty percent of his strength. He didn't want to kill Liu Chang'an; there were questions he still needed answered.
The blow hit like a small quake. Liu Chang'an's instincts—tempered by countless life-and-death battles—told him not to meet it head on. He rolled away like a startled frog, but at that range Chen Xiao's Dragon Breath had already locked on. The punch grazed, then bit home. Liu Chang'an staggered, coughing blood, the cold edge leaving his eyes.
"Well? Your gaze is clearer now," Chen Xiao said as he stepped forward. Liu Chang'an spat blood and rasped, "What… what kind of monster are you?"
Chen Xiao leaned close. "I ask. You answer."
Liu Chang'an's hand snatched at the hem of Chen Xiao's robe. "You can't kill him."
"Oh?" Chen Xiao's smile sharpened. "Just because he's the sole Shaolin heir? I didn't take vows—why should that stop me?"
Liu Chang'an's plea failed to move him. With a slow, helpless breath he said, "Chen Xiao, you're strong—very strong. I—" He swallowed. "I suspect you ate a whale."
Chen Xiao almost laughed. Liu Chang'an pressed on: "You can protect a city at best. But that boy—he's a blueprint. The final piece for a project that could forge an army to reclaim our world. He completes the war machine."
"War machine?" Chen Xiao cut him off. "You're planning experiments?"
Liu Chang'an forced a smile. "What else? I brought him back from Chang'an Temple to revive humanity."
Chen Xiao snorted. "Revive humanity? The temple handed him over for this?" He turned away. "Enough. You can go. As for your 'Only One,' I'll deliver him later."
"Chen Xiao! For the greater good of humanity, how dare you! This is a grave betrayal!"
"Save your self-righteous crap! Don't you dare pin that 'traitor to humanity' bullshit on me! My 'greater good for humanity' is right here, me, living and breathing on my own terms!"
Liu Chang'an lunged again—using speed to close and strike—but Chen Xiao was ready. A swift, practiced kick sent Liu Chang'an skidding seven or eight meters. The evolution chime never sounded. Liu Chang'an still lived, coughing and covered in blood and mud.
Chen Xiao walked over and planted his boot lightly on the man's back—no pressure, just presence. He wasn't finishing the job. He was waiting. Waiting for Ma Mian (aka Horse-Face) to appear.