The crowd erupted in noise, with eyes peering through the rain to the Statistical Department operative standing atop the main building!
Leyu almost couldn't maintain his composure, his knees nearly buckling.
Damn it, are they saying the traitor isn't me?
Swish!
A tall man leaped from the rooftop, rising like thunder and descending like a swift feather, his feet lightly touching the ground, causing only a gentle ripple in the puddles.
A mix of fierce strength and gentle elegance, of rapid motion and stillness, all appearing in one person, struck Leyu with a shiver of awe from afar, clearly sensing the overwhelming threat of this individual!
This world has far too many extraordinary individuals!
"Li Shijie, graduated from Yanjing Royal Academy with outstanding achievements and remarkable abilities, once awarded the 'Sun Medal' by the Imperial Family, undoubtedly a prodigy and pillar of the nation." Lan Yan praised with admiration: "Who'd have thought you'd hidden your skills, achieving mastery of the Water Moon Battle Technique at such a young age. Given time, you might just become another Imperial Grandmaster."
"But... a rare beauty, why be a thief?"
Li Shijie, captain of the fifth team of the Statistical Department, was found by Leyu in Qian Yuliu's memories to usually act low-key with no remarkable achievements, seemingly a mediocre individual resting on his academic laurels.
Uniquely among worlds lies academic disparity, and the highest institution in Huiyao is naturally the Yanjing Royal Academy located in the capital, whereas the Star Engraving Military Academy where Qian Yuliu graduated is merely second-rate. Similarly, although Star Engravement County is a major city of the country, it does not compare to Yanjing. Li Shijie arriving in Star Engravement County is akin to a dimensional downshift, and his immediate appointment as captain of the Statistical Department was indeed expected.
Except no one, including Qian Yuliu, realized that Li Shijie not only concealed his skills but is also a Backlight spy!
Li Shijie laughed.
"Why be a thief? Not at all, not at all, I am turning towards the light, setting things right!" Li Shijie proclaimed loudly, "From when you decided to come to the Lin family, everything has been within my plan. Here is where you shall meet your end!"
He snapped his fingers, and his team members immediately turned their firearm muzzles towards the other operatives.
He's even turned his teammates against them!
The situation has completely flipped!
In terms of numbers, Backlight renegades now outnumber the Statistical Department!
No wonder Lin Jinyao and Li Shijie dare to overturn the table now. Should I also point my firearm to blow up Lan Yan and Kui Zhao beside me, offer aid in a critical moment...?
Before Leyu could finish contemplating whether to kill Kui Zhao or Lan Yan first, Kui Zhao strode forward, long braid streaming through the rain.
"Having traitorous insiders is my fault for not managing my subordinates strictly." Kui Zhao tossed his handgun to the operatives behind him, completely unarmed, gesturing to Li Shijie: "It's never too late to mend the fold. Li Shijie, I'll give you a chance to kill me."
Kui Zhao actually challenged with bare hands!?
Li Shijie drew the straight sword from his waist, also handing his handgun to the operatives beside him: "The chance to turn the Statistical Department's lapdog into a sacrificial lamb can't be refused."
"After working together for months, I know how troublesome you two are. With you two dead here, Ding Yi will have no support. Solve the problems one by one, things become much simpler."
Kui Zhao sneered, "We'll see if you have that kind of ability as a traitor!"
Why single out duels, and if dueling is the choice, why not use firearms—is it arrogance or a shortage of bullets... As Leyu was puzzled by the questions in his mind, the scene transformed!
Two explosive sounds, the two rushed into confrontation, fist meeting blade and igniting invisible shockwaves!
The rain curtain was suddenly torn apart, ordinary operatives couldn't help raising their hands to shield their eyes, but only Leyu and a few others could keep their eyes wide open, clearly witnessing the energy blasts between the two at the speed of light!
Exactly!
Energy blasts!
One had bare hands, the other a straight sword, yet they created sword energy and palm winds in mid-air; the world seemed to fracture with their silhouettes blurring in disarray, encountering energy vortices in their duel!
But Leyu quickly realized this 'fracture' was merely a visual illusion, since the energy source they drew from was light!
Human spiritual power is altered by the Luminous Stone, not merely to strengthen the body. Due to the 'burning light' properties of the Luminous Stone, humans become Awakeners through it, thus gaining the ability to utilize Light Energy.
All combat techniques and secret techniques fundamentally stem from humans harnessing light energy for energetic manipulation!
When Leyu was killed by Qian Yuliu, one reason Qian Yuliu struck from the alley entrance was the sunlight shining there—hence Qian Yuliu's swift, precise, and fierce attack!
This is also why Statistical Department agents carry three strong lights when investigating cases, not just for illumination, but because 'light' is a crucial source of battle power for them.
However, the issue is, utilizing 'light' is a basic shared ability among Awakeners, thus Backlight particles can naturally use it too!
The doubts in Leyu's mind just cleared away.
In combat between Awakeners like Kui Zhao and Li Shijie at this level, firearms are indeed unnecessary, and they are more suited to such one-on-one duels.
Not to mention Awakeners can evade bullets with a sixth sense, just the warped light from their attacks makes it difficult for any shooter to aim. Even amid gunfire, they can produce light explosions to deflect bullets!
If an all-out battle erupted, with Kui Zhao and Li Shijie engaging amid the crowd, it would be like wolves among sheep; ordinary operatives could barely withstand.
No wonder Kui Zhao insists on a duel, and Li Shijie swiftly accepts—as if on the Backlight renegade side, only Li Shijie has strength, while Lan Yan certainly cannot be inferior to Kui Zhao. Disabling Kui Zhao before combat would hugely increase their chances of victory.
Of course, if Li Shijie directly fails, the Backlight renegades' ambush would be deemed a failure. The payoff of the duel is immense, neither believes they will lose, hence they bet their lives!
Clang—
The explosive clash rang endlessly, fists and blades collided with steely resonance, rapidly entering a heated state with no probing, like venomous snakes biting fierce tigers, earth-shattering!
"The first move." Li Shijie retreated two steps, swirling his blade like moonlight, seeming ethereal.
"Warm-up complete." Kui Zhao unveiled a bold and arrogant smile, his right hand suddenly taking a claw form, sweeping upward, drawing five bloody claw lights!
Sima Clan's Wolf Eagle Fist Secret Technique·Wolf Devours!
Li Shijie showed no fear, suddenly advancing hand-in-hand, stepping forward with his right foot, wielding his sword with his right hand, focusing light on the blade's tip, pulling a moon-like sword light!
Water Moon Battle Technique·Lunar Discharge!
Leyu's mind instantly visualized the combat techniques they used, they weren't using unknown secrets, but rather widely known body refining techniques.
Combat technique is the art of using light, technology cannot remain stagnant, techniques that remain stagnant will inevitably fade and be forgotten, only widely recognized and competitive techniques can evolve and continually renew.
Eight-Way Flow, Sima Clan Wolf Eagle Fist, Water Moon Battle Technique are all compulsory subjects in the Military Academy, even if not practiced later, one must know their characteristics—otherwise, one would never know how they died.
Qian Yuliu learned eighteen combat techniques taught by the Military Academy, and believed Eight-Way Flow suited him best, thus researching it deeply until now. His understanding of other techniques is also profound, hence Leyu realized how powerful these two truly are.
"Lunar Discharge" and "Wolf Devours" are advanced tactics within combat techniques, theoretically accessible to all Awakeners but practically used only by masters who achieved integration and mastery. In essence, such techniques resemble multi-tasking micro-management in RTS or quadruple toe loop jumps in figure skating.
Leyu knows theoretically how "Lunar Discharge" and "Wolf Devours" are executed, but his mind grasps it while his body doesn't.
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang—
Moonlight shattered wolf claws, wolf claws shredded moonlight!
Rain and light burst chaotically, the mansion no longer seemed worldly, akin to deities in combat!
"Second move!" Kui Zhao laughed as he closed in, blood-light transforming into armor, resembling a wolf devouring the moon, swift and thunderous!
Light Armor!
Leyu also broadened his horizons today, witnessing combat techniques he only heard about from Qian Yuliu—temporarily materializing light energy into armor to protect oneself. Light Armor lacks weight yet negates any damage, an invincible miracle in ancient times, even now only Awakeners who master Light Armor are true strong individuals!
Li Shijie retreated not an inch, swinging his sword at the lower body, flowing like light, sword rainbow-like, slashing dozens in an instant—even Leyu lost count—promptly shattering Kui Zhao's blood-light armor, driving Kui Zhao back three steps!
Yet Kui Zhao gave Li Shijie no chance, quickly closing the distance, never allowing himself into Li Shijie's strongest attack range!
Leyu watched intently, the actions of the two were solid yet fierce, according to Qian Yuliu's insight, forget five moves, if not fatigued in fifty moves, victory might not be discerned!