Chapter 168: Scorching Sun

The move Crimson Sun Monk used now was called Scorching Sun. It combined reality and illusion to create an effect similar to microwave attack, using the vibration of oral chants and hand seals to stimulate the Power of Mind and Spirit, applying it to the opponent’s body along with hypnosis, brainwaves, magnetic fields, and other techniques.

As a result, Zuo Zhicheng’s entire body felt as if it had been put in an oven, and the fluids inside his body began to heat up and evaporate.

He stomped one foot forcefully, creating a large hole in the arena surface, and dropped down below. By moving out of Crimson Sun Monk’s line of sight, Zuo Zhicheng felt the runaway heat inside his body temporarily stabilize.

‘Does he need to lock onto the target with his gaze?’ Zuo Zhicheng wondered. This was his first time truly facing a top-tier Martial Artist’s Mind Attack, and the gap caused by his lack of proper training or systematic cultivation methods became apparent.

Zuo Zhicheng had no idea how to defend against this kind of attack, and his Power of Mind and Spirit was far inferior to that of Crimson Sun Monk, who had cultivated for years. He could not afford to waste it recklessly.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, that unbearable burning sensation returned.

‘Can he still attack even without seeing me?’

Zuo Zhicheng let out a cold snort, crashed through a wooden pole in front of him, and charged directly toward Crimson Sun Monk’s feet.

As he moved at high speed, the burning sensation inside him slightly eased.

‘Does he need to lock onto my position in space? So movement makes it harder to aim?’

Before he could think further, Zuo Zhicheng threw a fierce punch upward. A surge of energy and Astral Wind exploded, sending wood and splinters flying in all directions as if from a blast.

Crimson Sun Monk stomped hard on Zuo Zhicheng’s fist. Since he was using his leg and striking from above, he fully expected to suppress Zuo Zhicheng’s punch. But the moment their limbs collided, his entire leg went numb and almost lost feeling. He was sent flying by an overwhelming force.

‘Is this kid naturally super strong?’ Crimson Sun Monk cursed inwardly. He hadn’t expected Zuo Zhicheng to remain so fierce and powerful after being hit by Scorching Sun—especially with such exaggerated strength and speed.

He didn’t know that Zuo Zhicheng’s body had been modified by the Corpse Vein, pushing it almost to the human limit.

Having regained the upper hand, Zuo Zhicheng did not hold back.

‘When you’re weak, I’ll finish you off.’

As Crimson Sun Monk flew backward, Zuo Zhicheng shot after him like a persistent shadow. With roaring energy and tearing wind, Zuo Zhicheng instantly threw another punch downward at Crimson Sun Monk’s head.

Faint white trails could even be seen behind Zuo Zhicheng, resembling the contrails left by a jet.

Facing this follow-up attack, Crimson Sun Monk had no time to clearly see Zuo Zhicheng’s movements or even distinguish which hand he was using, so he unleashed his next move.

With a bang, flames shot from Crimson Sun Monk’s hands like two fiery dragons, lunging to swallow Zuo Zhicheng.

‘Another Mind Attack?’ Zuo Zhicheng narrowed his eyes. On one hand, he was mid-air and couldn’t dodge easily; on the other, he thought that since Mind Attacks had no real physical damage, he could resist it with his own Power of Mind and Spirit like he did against Underworld King Snake.

Zuo Zhicheng charged straight into the fiery dragons, but as soon as he entered, he realized something was wrong.

‘This isn’t a Mind Attack… it’s real fire…’

Intense heat rushed at his face, hair, and hands. He had to curl up and rely on his fireproof clothing to withstand the high temperature.

Fortunately, he was fast enough to pass through the fiery dragons in an instant, but his face was flushed red with minor burns.

Because he had coiled up to resist the flames, he missed his chance to attack Crimson Sun Monk.

Meanwhile, Crimson Sun Monk landed on the ground, formed hand seals, and struck at Zuo Zhicheng from a distance. The feeling of being on fire swept over Zuo Zhicheng again.

Zuo Zhicheng had to dart left and right at high speed, trying to evade Crimson Sun Monk’s attack. Several Martial Artists from the martial school were brushed by the Scorching Sun along his path, and all turned into dried corpses within seconds.

Seizing an opportunity, Zuo Zhicheng threw his tactical Dagger like a flying blade toward Crimson Sun Monk’s location. As the monk dodged, the remote heating attack ceased.

‘Does he need to maintain hand seals and remain stationary to sustain this attack?’ This was naturally because Crimson Sun Monk’s skill wasn’t deep or perfected enough. The thought flashed through Zuo Zhicheng’s mind as he stomped on the ground again, kicking up a cloud of dust as he charged toward Crimson Sun Monk.

This time, Zuo Zhicheng saw clearly that the monk threw two spheres from his hand, and the so-called fiery dragons emerged from these spheres.

Inside the spheres were gunpowder and fuel, with an opening on the outside. When they exploded and spewed fire, the jets of air and flames made them spin and move rapidly, looking like fiery dragons.

These fire devices were called Fire Spin Dragons.

But this time, when Crimson Sun Monk attacked, far more than two fiery dragons appeared. They multiplied from two to four, and in an instant became sixteen fiery dragons, charging madly at Zuo Zhicheng.

‘Only two are real, and the rest are illusions created by Power of Mind and Spirit?’

What would happen if he was hit? What if they were all real flames?

Crimson Sun Monk said calmly, “Your physical abilities are impressive, but until you step into Human Aspect, the gap between us is like that between clouds and mud. And that is why you will lose.”

In the next moment, the sixteen fiery dragons reached Zuo Zhicheng, but he took a deep breath, his chest visibly swelling, then exhaled violently as the flames approached. Like a typhoon, his breath extinguished the flames on the two Fire Spin Dragons.

Though the real fires were out, the fake flames remained. The remaining fourteen fiery dragons, formed by Power of Mind and Spirit, crashed into Zuo Zhicheng one after another. In his sight, a huge pillar of fire shot up, completely engulfing him in flames.

The battle between Zuo Zhicheng and Crimson Sun Monk was the focus of everyone present, but throughout, Crimson Sun Monk had suppressed Zuo Zhicheng. Whether it was Qingyue Qiu, Li Xunyi, or Jiang Qing, all saw Zuo Zhicheng dodging left and right, barely holding on.

Especially with the combination of Power of Mind and Spirit and real flames, along with the area-of-effect Heartscape and the invisible Scorching Sun ambush, Zuo Zhicheng found it difficult to get close several times.

Now, seeing Zuo Zhicheng’s entire body turn red and hot, with wisps of white steam rising from his head, he looked like a boiled shrimp.

Li Xunyi and Qingyue Qiu inwardly cried out in alarm and prepared to rescue Zuo Zhicheng when a wave of murderous intent swept out from him, scattering everything around like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves.

It was a terrifying chill that made everyone’s hair stand on end.

Along with this chill, Zuo Zhicheng felt the flames on him vanish instantly.

Looking at Crimson Sun Monk’s stunned expression, he clenched his fist and said, “Human Aspect? Actually, I haven’t quite mastered this technique yet.”