Chapter 60

Reinhardt's pressure was unprecedented.

This close combat was even more oppressive than when he faced a fifth-level priest back then.

However, Ji Ran now had considerable practical combat experience, so he could temporarily hold his ground. But if it dragged on...

Being overwhelmed by a series of fierce attacks was clearly not a pleasant experience, both mentally and physically.

Therefore, even if he had to suffer a temporary disadvantage, Ji Ran had to break this situation!

After retreating two steps, he gained a bit of breathing room. Suddenly, Ji Ran raised his magic longsword, still in its scabbard, to block Reinhardt's fist!

Reinhardt's fist was not bare. A pair of leather gloves, with some metal parts, made his aura more concentrated. Seeing that Ji Ran dared to block his fist with a longsword, he sneered and exerted all his strength, smashing his fist directly onto Ji Ran's sword in its scabbard!

Boom!

A burst of air exploded from the point of impact between the fist and the scabbard, blowing up countless dust particles. Amidst the dust, a figure flew into the air and then landed heavily on the ground.

It was Ji Ran.

He was now in a position where one hand was supporting the ground, and the other was using the magic longsword to prop up his body. One leg was already kneeling on the ground, barely managing to stay upright.

Reinhardt's attack had sent him flying!

Although the magic longsword's hard material prevented direct injury, he still felt his muscles aching and his bones creaking.

So strong! Ji Ran was astonished. Reinhardt's fist had such immense power!

Although he had prepared, the force of this punch still exceeded his expectations. The sharp and heavy aura striking the scabbard and transmitting to his body made him feel as if his body was about to explode.

Of course, that was just an illusion. Reinhardt was not yet powerful enough to do that. If he could reduce Ji Ran to dust with one punch, even a high-level Silver wouldn't be able to... at least, he would need to cross the Gold threshold.

However, just this illusion was enough to put Ji Ran at a clear disadvantage.

"Ha ha ha, Ji Ran, your strength isn't much. Without sufficient strength, how can you perform powerful sword techniques? Moreover..."

Reinhardt emerged from the dust, looking like a king among lions.

"Not only in strength, but also in speed, you are suppressed by me! In this situation, do you still think you have the ability to protect yourself?"

Although Ji Ran's body ached, he gritted his teeth and stood up. Despite being at a disadvantage, a smile appeared on his face.

"If strength and speed could decide everything, then what's the point of technique? A charging ironclad rhinoceros would be enough to surpass most humans."

The ironclad rhinoceros is known for its great strength and speed. This magical beast ranges from level four to six, with legends of level seven. However, among the magical beasts that humans can easily hunt, the ironclad rhinoceros is one of the top.

There's no way around it; it is powerful and fast but extremely clumsy. Once it starts running, it's hard to change direction. With human intelligence, playing with such a magical beast is incredibly easy.

Hearing this, Reinhardt sneered, "Technique? Don't worry, I won't disappoint you in terms of technique!" Saying this, he swung his fists and charged at Ji Ran again!

But Ji Ran was no longer worried.

He had grasped Reinhardt's speed and now understood his strength. He had a good understanding of the rhythm of Reinhardt's attacks.

Ji Ran's combat talent was actually quite outstanding—well, to be precise, it was his gaming talent. In "Swordsmen Unrivaled," he was a well-known expert in the Zangjian Manor.

This was the result of dividing his energy between two games.

If the initial battle made him somewhat nervous, now he felt like facing a boss whose attack pattern he had already figured out. However, Reinhardt would not attack in the same repetitive manner as a boss and would be more flexible.

But Ji Ran had the means to turn the tide.

Seeing Reinhardt charge, Ji Ran did not retreat but moved forward to meet him. The longsword in his hand was also drawn!

Following the direction of the draw, the longsword swept out with a swift motion. The speed and force of this strike were even faster than Reinhardt's fist!

This was not a sword technique but a skill Ji Ran had created based on "sword drawing techniques" he had seen in anime. Without the enhancement of a sword technique, this move's actual damage was not significant. However, Ji Ran favored this move because it had a speed comparable to "Breaking Tide"!

It was easier to initiate than "Breaking Tide." It could be used from various angles as long as the conditions allowed, and it did not require sword aura to activate.

The only prerequisite was that the sword had to be in the scabbard. In each battle, there was usually only one chance to use it.

As the sword swept through the air, a bright light flashed. Reinhardt saw this light, and its target was his neck!

Reinhardt's body suddenly stopped, defying the laws of nature, and he raised his fists in front of him. With a clang, Ji Ran's longsword met Reinhardt's fists again!

The longsword was deflected far away. This time, the impact on Ji Ran was clearly not as strong as before. After all, he was the one attacking, and Reinhardt was more focused on defense. However, after blocking Ji Ran's sword, Reinhardt immediately twisted his body and punched directly at Ji Ran's face!

An extremely rapid counterattack.

But Ji Ran was not the same Ji Ran who had been on the defensive earlier.

Taking a small step back, he retracted his longsword and slashed it toward Reinhardt's chest and abdomen. At the same time, he tilted his head to avoid Reinhardt's punch.

Reinhardt's punch missed, and he also jumped back to avoid Ji Ran's longsword. However, he did not give up on attacking and swept his leg at Ji Ran's legs while throwing another punch!

The two advanced and retreated, engaging in a fierce battle. This time, it was not a one-sided attack by Reinhardt. On the contrary, as time passed, Ji Ran's offensive moments increased.

Ji Ran rarely engaged in direct confrontation with Reinhardt. If it was unavoidable, he would always use the momentum to move, minimizing the impact of Reinhardt's strength. Then, his attacks would be continuous, keeping Reinhardt on edge. Using footwork and sword techniques, he gradually built up his advantage. He believed that soon, the rhythm of the battle would be in his hands!

At that time, Reinhardt would have no chance of victory.

However, he underestimated the martial arts of this world.

Reinhardt also noticed that his rhythm was gradually being taken over by Ji Ran and would not sit idly by.

With three punches and two kicks, he knocked Ji Ran's longsword away and forced him to retreat a step. Then, Reinhardt suddenly jumped back, increasing the distance between them.

"Ha ha ha, a sword genius is indeed a sword genius! But that's not enough!"

Reinhardt's aura suddenly fluctuated violently, then gathered within his body, disappearing from the surface.

However, his fists gradually began to glow.

Ji Ran looked at Reinhardt with a serious expression. He had sword techniques, and these otherworldly martial artists might also have powerful moves similar to sword techniques... at least, Reinhardt now looked like he was about to use a big move.

However... this was in the school. If his big move was too loud, would it cause trouble?

Of course, this thought only flashed through his mind. Who cares! After all, he didn't start the fight!

If you use your ultimate move, I can't fall behind, right?

Staring intently at Reinhardt, Ji Ran was always ready.

After the aura condensed on his fists, Reinhardt did not launch a storm of attacks as before. He just stood there, raised one fist, and aimed it at Ji Ran.

"Be careful, don't die!" He grinned evilly and suddenly thrust his fist forward!

A huge, ghostly fist appeared in front of him, completely blocking Reinhardt's figure. It instantly flew from in front of Reinhardt straight toward Ji Ran!

This large-scale attack made dodging almost meaningless. Ji Ran was stunned by the momentum of Reinhardt's big move, but his hands did not slow down.

Sword aura burst forth!

A faint white light enveloped his body, enhancing all his attributes. Taking advantage of the instant attribute boost, Ji Ran sidestepped and drew his sword!

Standing upright, he held the longsword in one hand and brought it down from above.

"Breaking Tide!" This sword technique was not limited to use after dodging; it just worked best that way. Using it directly against an enemy was easily blocked, making it less effective and often just a waste of sword aura.

But now, the opponent was a fist of aura that enveloped his entire body, so it didn't matter how he used it. What he needed was just the power boost from the sword technique and the sharp sword aura!

The tip of the magic longsword extended about half a meter of sword aura, directly meeting the incoming giant fist.

Then, a moment of silence, as if everything around them had frozen. All sounds disappeared, even the slight rustling of the air... it was like a movie that had been paused.

But this was just a moment. Even the two followers of Reinhardt, who were far away, didn't feel this moment of silence. The explosion began.

Boom! It was like a huge bomb had been dropped. The surrounding trees were blown to the side, and countless sand and stones were thrown into the air.

The giant ghostly fist exploded. The explosion engulfed both Ji Ran and Reinhardt, and even the two followers who had run far away were knocked back by the shockwave.

The deafening sound echoed through the surrounding forest, startling countless birds that flew away.

This time, there was no way to keep the battle secret.

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