C68 Who Is This Guy?

Lin Miaoran's eyes flickered with a myriad of emotions—astonishment, doubt, joy, excitement, and a touch of embarrassment—as she watched her opponent dodge her attacks for the third consecutive time. A quick glance at the hourglass revealed that ten breaths of time had slipped away.

Chu Yan had not only met but exceeded her expectations. She could sense that with each fall and subsequent rise, he showed a marked improvement. The first time he was knocked down, he got back up and evaded her next strike. The second time, he rose and skillfully dodged a flurry of three consecutive attacks.

As his adversary, Lin Miaoran could feel Chu Yan's progression and couldn't help but silently marvel at his rapid growth. Unbeknownst to her, however, Chu Yan was internally groaning with frustration. His mastery of the Seven Star Windstorm Steps had only reached the third star's technique.

Pushed to the brink while avoiding Lin Miaoran's assaults, he had executed the initial three-star steps to their utmost limit. Dodging another strike would be an immense challenge unless he could somehow grasp the fourth star's technique. The issue was that his body simply wasn't up to the task.

"Forget it, I've talked a big game, so I might as well brace myself and take a few hits!" Chu Yan gritted his teeth in determination.

Having repeatedly executed the Seven Star Windstorm Steps to evade Lin Miaoran's onslaught, Chu Yan realized that the intense real-world practice was giving him a profound understanding of the technique, making his movements increasingly fluid. This was a sensation entirely different from his solitary practice in the temporal prison.

Valuing this rare opportunity, Chu Yan was eager to further hone his skills under the immense pressure of Lin Miaoran's formidable presence.

"Let's continue!" he called out, locking eyes with Lin Miaoran.

A spark of excitement, admiration, and a trace of annoyance flickered in Lin Miaoran's gaze. Yet none of these emotions could dampen her resolve to launch another attack.

Like a bolt of white lightning slicing through the darkness, she closed the distance to Chu Yan in an instant. He could almost feel the air around him being compressed, creating a vacuum as she approached.

The tiny fist carried a colossal force, capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks, as it thundered towards its target.

"Seven Stars Windstorm Steps!" Chu Yan inhaled sharply and swiftly sidestepped.

Twelve breaths!

Bang!

The very next moment, Lin Miaoran's sweeping arm connected, sending Chu Yan flying a great distance.

A searing pain shot through his arms, eliciting a muffled groan from Chu Yan, yet it also sharpened his mental agility.

This time, he didn't hit the ground. As he neared the earth, he twisted his body, planted his feet against the wall, and with a powerful push, used the rebounding force to land steadily.

"Well done!" Lin Miaoran silently commended, pressing her attack.

Chu Yan stole a glance at the hourglass.

Fourteen breaths!

Chu Yan's strategy was crystal clear: use the Seven Stars Windstorm Steps to evade his opponent's onslaught and engage in combat. If that failed, he'd brace himself and withstand the blows with his body.

If he kept this up, enduring the remaining dozen breaths or so should be no issue. Moreover, it would allow him to hone the Seven Stars Windstorm Steps in the heat of battle.

Lin Miaoran seemed to catch on to Chu Yan's intent. From that point, she markedly accelerated her assault.

Suddenly, Chu Yan was engulfed by an offensive as overwhelming as a tsunami, nearly leaving him breathless.

Yet, the immense pressure and his fierce will to win unlocked his latent potential!

The body he had tirelessly fortified now seamlessly integrated with his efforts.

For a time, despite Lin Miaoran's relentless barrage and several direct hits, Chu Yan refused to fall.

In that moment, Chu Yan resembled a solitary vessel amidst a tempest, seemingly on the verge of being capsized and crushed by the formidable waves. But with each tumultuous swell, he emerged defiantly, cutting through the storm with indomitable spirit.

Sixteen breaths!

Eighteen breaths!

Twenty breaths!

Twenty-four breaths!

Twenty-six breaths!

Without even realizing it, Chu Yan had become attuned to Lin Miaoran's speed and strength.

Lin Miaoran's assault had quickened, yet once again, it failed to make contact with its target.

Meanwhile, as Chu Yan and Lin Miaoran were locked in intense combat, the middle-aged man, clutching the contract, made his way back to the main hall. He barely had time to find his footing when several acquaintances intercepted him.

"How did it go? What's the bet this time?"

"I'm betting on three breaths."

"Three breaths? You're that confident in him? I'll say two breaths!"

"Ha, you're bound to lose this round. Do you realize who that guy is? That's the notorious Undying Dragon, famous for his tenacity. My money's on at least four breaths!"

"Pfft, big deal. Remember the guy from a few days ago? He was touted as extra tough, but he went down in a flash, knocked out cold."

"This is different from last time. We're talking about a well-known dragon here. I'm backing him to last at least five breaths!"

Amidst the fervent debate, an abrupt voice cut through from behind them.

"Are you discussing me?"

At the sound, everyone turned to see a burly, bald man with a look of confusion on his face.

A prominent knife scar marred the man's neck.

The middle-aged man gaped at the bald figure for a moment before asking, "You are... What's your surname?"

"Didn't your boss, the Sixth Madame, send for me?" The bald man's brow furrowed, his expression turning fierce and disgruntled, "I'm the Dragon, the one you've been talking about."

"You... You're the Dragon?" The middle-aged man's voice pitched higher in alarm. He stamped his foot, seized the bald man, and bolted towards the Langya Pavilion.

"Little Qi, Little Wang, quick, inform the Sixth Madame to head to that room at once! We've got a major situation!"

His shrill cry faded swiftly as he dashed down the corridor.

The crowd in the hall exchanged bewildered glances, utterly clueless about the unfolding drama.

After navigating a series of twists and turns, the middle-aged man, leading the true dragon, reached the room's door just as the woman, alerted by the unexpected incident, arrived at the same spot.

The man's complexion was ashen, while the woman's eyes betrayed a flicker of anxiety.

"Open the door, now!" she commanded.

The man quickly stepped up and flung the door open.

Simultaneously, a young man's voice emanated from within the room.

"Twenty-nine! I've spotted you!"

His tone was bold and assured.

Unbeknownst to Chu Yan, the door had been opened.

He was fixated on the twenty-ninth second ticking by, and the slight vulnerability Lin Miaoran had finally shown after relentless, unyielding attacks.

For the first time in nearly thirty seconds, Lin Miaoran's onslaught had faltered, revealing a chink in her armor.

"Furious Dragon Bind!" Chu Yan bellowed.

His arm swept through the air, like a wrathful dragon emerging from the depths, soaring towards the heavens, aimed directly at Lin Miaoran.

"Mercy, please!" The woman, witnessing the unfolding action, blanched and her cry rang out uncontrollably.