Section Six: The Southern Cross
"A million foundations completed, the Gate of the Southern Cross is opened!"
Tang Tian stood as if floating in the void of the universe. In front of him, the starry river glittered, the stars countless as grains of sand. Suddenly, a point of light shot out from the galaxy, flying toward him and growing rapidly in his vision.
He then realized that the point of light was, in fact, four stars.
The four stars flew to his side and, in an instant, paired up and merged into an irregular cross. Around the cross, a ring of light appeared, swiftly coalescing into a door, upon which the cross was emblazoned.
"A humble body with soaring ambition, Southern Cross of the heavens, the gate of arduous cultivation."
Beneath the cross, sixteen words glowed faintly upon the gate.
"So this is the secret of the bronze token?" Tang Tian murmured, gazing dazedly at the cross radiating its misty glow before him, utterly entranced.
Five years it had taken him—five years to decipher the secret of the bronze token!
But what on earth was this thing?
He stared blankly at the shining cross for a long while without grasping its purpose.
Suddenly, a faint gray figure began to emerge from within the doorway.
The gray figure bore a striking resemblance to Tang Tian himself.
"Hey, who are you?" Tang Tian called out tentatively.
The figure gave no sign of hearing him but immediately began to demonstrate basic martial techniques: basic fists, basic palms, basic agility, basic hidden weapons, basic swordplay. It gave Tang Tian an uncanny feeling, as though he were practicing before a mirror.
The basic moves were few, and the demonstration was quick. Just as Tang Tian thought the display was over, the gray figure’s left palm suddenly struck—[Deflect]—and then, in a blur, three lightning-quick [Shifting Steps], body rising into the air, twisting at the waist mid-flight, and then—[Punch Thrust]!
Yesterday, in the heat of combat, he hadn't noticed; but witnessing it now, he could feel the surge of killing intent rushing toward him.
What a mighty strike!
Tang Tian was stupefied. Such a formidable move—was it truly his own creation?
He had grasped a basic killing move: [Reverse Fist Kill]!
A line of blood-red text floated above the gray figure’s head.
Tang Tian jolted, blurting out, "A killing move..."
A killing move!
A technique he had stumbled upon by accident turned out to be a killing move!
Tang Tian felt bewildered.
After five years at Ander Academy, he knew what a killing move was.
A killing move was the evolved essence of a martial technique, its power far surpassing the ordinary moves of that technique—often equaling a technique of the next higher grade. Yet its energy consumption was far less than a third-grade technique.
Thus, the pursuit of killing moves had always been one of the goals for martial practitioners.
In theory, any martial skill could give rise to a killing move, but in practice, many techniques never produced one. The requirements were extremely strict: complete mastery of the technique's essence, and often, a stroke of fate.
Though killing moves sounded impressive, Tang Tian remained remarkably calm. Few would waste time on low-level techniques, let alone basic ones.
With soul general cards, people could quickly learn new skills; those with some resources would focus nearly all their time on cultivating their inner arts. Only with sufficient true force could one use higher-grade soul general cards, and thus learn higher-grade techniques.
After finishing the demonstration, the gray figure stood motionless, like a wooden puppet.
Tang Tian sneered—its skill was barely on par with his own.
As if sensing Tang Tian's thoughts, the gray figure shuddered. One gray foot stepped out from the cross-shaped door.
What was this...?
Tang Tian was stunned by the surreal spectacle. In that moment, the gray figure had stepped down from the door.
Suddenly, the figure raised its head, its gaze sharp and fierce as lightning.
Hm?
Like a wild beast, Tang Tian instantly sensed its hostility; the hairs on his back bristled. He bent his waist, shifted his stance, leaned forward, and raised his hands in a guarded position.
The gray figure mirrored his every move exactly.
Tang Tian had been in countless fights and knew at once—there was no avoiding this one!
He narrowed his eyes; far from feeling fear, he was secretly excited. It was clear that the gray man was the key to the bronze token’s secret—he would have to defeat it to truly unravel the mystery.
Come on, then!
He’d waited five years for this day!
Tang Tian licked his lips, braced his feet, and, like a leopard, hurled himself at the gray figure with lightning speed.
The gray figure charged as well.
They were already close—[Punch Thrust] met [Punch Thrust].
The powerful impact from their fists halted Tang Tian’s forward rush. Eyes wide, he was astonished—such force behind that punch!
He’d fought Amory many times, whose punch was powerful and heavy, but this was a totally different sensation. The gray figure’s punch was all instantaneous explosiveness.
Their fists and feet flew at a blistering pace; the sounds of blows collided like a torrential downpour.
[Basic Fist], [Basic Sword], [Basic Hidden Weapon], [Basic Agility], [Basic Palm]—the five basic skills clashed and countered each other at staggering speed.
Dozens of exchanges passed, and Tang Tian had yet to gain the slightest advantage—a first for him. He’d always dominated in these five basics.
This was truly a match of equals.
The gray figure gave him a peculiar feeling—like fighting himself. Every move he made, the gray figure knew inside out. Even his unconventional attacks were easily dodged.
The longer they fought, the more uncomfortable Tang Tian became.
His prowess in fights came down to a few reasons. One was his exceptional physique—years of basic training had made him balanced, tall, and strong in explosiveness, reflexes, and stamina. Even against Amory’s fearsome size, Tang Tian only lost out in raw strength, but was superior in agility, reaction, and speed.
Basic techniques required almost no true force; battles came down to physical prowess.
Secondly, his basic techniques were honed to a razor’s edge. Though basic, their simplicity made them fast, and near-perfect form compressed attack time to the limit. In the hands of someone like Tang Tian, their power was formidable.
Moreover, though simple-minded, Tang Tian was fierce and brave in a fight, often willing to trade blows—a strategy that intimidated most students before the fight even began.
These were the reasons he reigned supreme at Ander, but before the gray figure, all his advantages vanished. The gray man matched him in strength and reaction, and knew the basics to perfection. As for ferocity, the gray man was tireless, unfeeling—superior even to Tang Tian.
The two figures clashed and separated, only to collide again. Their attacks were blindingly fast—sometimes grappling in close quarters, sometimes trading broad, forceful punches, feet flickering in rapid steps, shadowing one another relentlessly.
Tang Tian’s roars and the rapid sound of blows echoed continuously.
Huff... huff... huff...
Panting, Tang Tian glared fiercely at the gray figure, forcing himself not to rub his numb, aching fists. The fight was so intense, he could feel his strength draining away, while the gray man showed no sign of fatigue.
After another punch clash, he finally managed to pull away, gaining a precious moment to catch his breath.
How to win?
He’d long since forgotten the question of what the gray man actually was. Now, only one question mattered—how to defeat this damned opponent.
The gray man did not advance, only fixed him with a cold, piercing stare, not a single flaw in its stance—utterly flawless.
Defeat him.
He only had to defeat him—and the secret of the bronze token would be his...
A voice in his heart seemed to shout unceasingly. Tang Tian’s fists clenched involuntarily. Suddenly, he raised his head, his gaze sharp as a blade.
Five years—five whole years of bitter training—all for the secret of the bronze token!
The secret was right before him… just one victory away...
Sensing Tang Tian’s change, the gray figure took a guarded stance.
Defeat him.
Tang Tian’s clenched fists relaxed, then instantly tightened again. Without warning, he sprang forward, body like lightning, charging at the gray man once more.
The gray man met him head-on, unafraid.
[Punch Thrust] met [Punch Thrust]...
They plunged into another round of fierce combat—no flourishes, just crisp, direct attacks, each seeking speed. This time, Tang Tian took the initiative, attacking aggressively, filled with newfound energy.
Blow for blow, fist for fist—the youth’s eyes blazed with fire.
Suddenly, the flames leapt.
Killing move—[Reverse Fist Kill].
Leaping into the air, Tang Tian twisted his body into an odd angle, shouting as he struck, unleashing all his stored power in an instant.
At the same time, the gray man also leapt, performing the same [Reverse Fist Kill].
Two fists, each brimming with force, hurtled toward each other like twin meteors about to collide.
Just as he thought—exactly what he’d expected...
A sly, triumphant smile curved Tang Tian’s lips.
Just as he’d hoped...
At the last instant before their fists collided, Tang Tian abruptly shifted his fist, transforming it into a palm that landed atop the gray man’s fist. His right arm turned supple, like an old vine twining around the gray man’s hand.
They were moving at incredible speed, both carrying tremendous momentum. Tang Tian’s twist and pull threw both of them off balance in midair.
Tang Tian lost balance too, but he was prepared. Exhaling sharply, he maintained his grip on the gray man, his powerful core erupting with force.
Using his body as an axis, he swung the gray man like a sandbag and slammed him ferociously to the ground.
"Ho ho ho ho!"
Tang Tian’s face twisted with exertion, a bestial roar escaping his lips as he poured every ounce of strength into smashing the gray man to the floor.
Boom!
The ground shuddered, dust billowing.
Still airborne, Tang Tian used the rebound from his grip to regain his balance. Now above his foe, he let gravity pull him down, released his grip, and with the momentum of descent, drove his elbow hard into the gray man’s abdomen.
The gray man’s body doubled up like a shrimp.
Killing move comprehended: [Entwined Elbow Kill]!
Tang Tian, eyes ablaze, didn’t notice the glowing words that flashed across the door. He had no intention of letting up, rolling to strike again.
Smack!
The gray man dissolved into a cloud of gray mist and vanished.
Huh?
Tang Tian, wild-eyed, searched frantically, ready to turn the ground inside out. After a long search, the gray man did not reappear. The flames in Tang Tian’s eyes began to fade. Soon, he spotted the gray man once again within the cross-shaped door, now returned to a motionless, statue-like pose.
"Try fighting me again and I’ll stamp your face on the door!" Tang Tian spat, leaving a harsh retort.
At that moment, the cross in midair slowly opened, like a door swinging wide.