897: Chapter 893: The Foundation of Martial Arts 897: Chapter 893: The Foundation of Martial Arts “Wow, the mountain is almost split open by him!”
“This is the power of the Whirlwind Whip, capable of rending the heavens and destroying the earth!”
“If I’d been even a moment slower in dodging, my life would have ended right here.”
…
The martial artists who narrowly escaped Sima Yun’s attack all felt a deep sense of relief.
As everyone had said, Sima Yun’s Whirlwind Whip was incredibly powerful, capable of slicing through mountains.
How could mere flesh and blood stand against it?
Thus, all eyes instinctively turned to Ye Tian.
Faced with the formidable Sima Yun, how would Ye Tian respond?
“That guy is terrifying.
How will the boss beat him?”
“I have no idea, but there’s no doubt.
If Ye Tian doesn’t get serious, he might be killed on the spot by Sima Yun!”
“Sima Yun’s strength has already surpassed the Sect Leader.
His techniques are monstrously overwhelming!”
“Anyone facing Sima Yun would likely be drawn into a grueling battle.
Ye Tian is strong, but going up against Sima Yun…
this time, the odds are not in his favor.”
…
The crowd murmured among themselves, but Ye Tian and Sima Yun paid no attention to their gossip.
Having dodged a calamity, Ye Tian slowly stepped forward to confront Sima Yun.
Sima Yun, basking in the devastation caused by his Whirlwind Whip, looked even more arrogant.
“Do you see now, Ye Tian?
This is the gap in strength between us!
No matter how skilled you are in techniques, what does it matter?
Those are nothing but low-level martial arts.
Only techniques like the Whirlwind Whip, harnessing the force of nature, qualify as high-level techniques!
Ye Tian, no matter how proficient you are in low-level techniques, you cannot defeat someone like me who excels in high-level martial arts!
This time, you’re as good as dead!”
Earlier, in their hand-to-hand combat, Sima Yun had suffered losses in terms of technique, which is why he resorted to the long-range Whirlwind Whip to fight Ye Tian.
The results had been favorable.
Against the Whirlwind Whip, Ye Tian had barely any means of defense!
“Low-level martial arts?
High-level martial arts?”
Sima Yun’s words pierced Ye Tian’s ears like daggers, but he sneered in response.
“Sima Yun, no matter how advanced your cultivation technique might be, every martial artist knows the importance of a strong foundation.
Without building a solid groundwork in martial arts, no matter how great your power is, it’s just a castle in the air!”
Ye Tian coldly retorted, refusing to accept Sima Yun’s assertions.
However, Sima Yun adamantly clung to his stance!
“Hahaha, Ye Tian, you’re just like a duck still quacking even after it’s dead!
But does it matter?
Can your so-called foundational techniques ever stand against my Whirlwind Whip?
In the end, you’ll still die by my hand!
Ye Tian, you may have learned the art of using the force of nature, but you failed to create any new techniques based on your own strength.
Therefore, when facing someone like me, you face an inherent, innate disadvantage—one that you simply cannot overcome!”
Sima Yun sneered contemptuously, utterly dismissive of Ye Tian.
Any martial artist able to harness the force of nature typically developed their own techniques from it.
Even the housekeepers of the Sima Family managed to do so, let alone other martial artists.
But Ye Tian, of all people, eschewed such pursuits.
Even when challenged by elite fighters, he utilized only the most primitive methods.
And yet, countless so-called experts had fallen at Ye Tian’s feet!
This fact was a source of great irony—and frustration—for Sima Yun.
“Techniques?”
Ye Tian smirked coldly.
It was true: just as Sima Yun had said, he had never developed any techniques of his own.
But then again, hadn’t all those strong adversaries been defeated by him, one by one?
So, faced with Sima Yun’s mockery, Ye Tian remained unfazed.
“Sima Yun, have you forgotten an old saying in the martial world?
‘Formlessness triumphs over form.'”
“Formlessness triumphs over form?
Ye Tian, your arrogance knows no bounds!”
Sima Yun scoffed.
In his eyes, Ye Tian’s words were nothing more than self-delusion…
Meanwhile, the spectators, confined to a crevice due to the demolished mountain walls, watched the ongoing duel between Ye Tian and Sima Yun from afar.
However, because of the distance, no one could hear their exchange.
“What could they be saying to each other?
Why haven’t they made a move?”
“No idea, but judging by Sima Yun’s expression, he seems furious.”
“Looks like Sima Yun is about to lose it!”
…
Though unaware of the conversation between Ye Tian and Sima Yun, the observing martial artists were generally unsympathetic toward Sima Yun.
If he got angered to death by Ye Tian’s words, so much the better!
“Ye Tian, let’s see how you’ll defeat me using ‘formlessness’ while doing absolutely nothing!”
Sima Yun declared pompously, summoning two Whirlwind Whips in his hands once more.
The whips roared through the air with even greater power than before!
“Die!”
With a flick of his wrist, one of Sima Yun’s Whirlwind Whips shot straight toward Ye Tian.
The bystanders couldn’t help but feel a chill in their hearts.
Moments ago, they were still wondering why Sima Yun and Ye Tian hadn’t initiated combat.
Little did they expect Sima Yun to strike so suddenly!
Judging by the immense power of the Whirlwind Whip, it was clear that this time, Sima Yun intended to kill Ye Tian outright!
“Sima Yun, no matter how advanced a technique is, it cannot exist without foundational martial arts!
A martial artist who recklessly pursues high-level techniques without mastering their basics will never stand strong!”
Ye Tian proclaimed loudly, his words piercing Sima Yun’s ears like sharp needles.
Sima Yun, whose arrogance knew no bounds, could not tolerate such defiance.
He wielded the Whirlwind Whip, aiming it directly at Ye Tian.
The Whirlwind Whip moved with blinding speed and devastating power, leaving Ye Tian no choice but to evade.
There was no possibility of taking it head-on.
Ye Tian leapt backward, dodging the whip’s edge as it buried itself into the ground, kicking up a violent cloud of dust and debris.
“Hmph!
Ye Tian, let’s see how long you can keep dodging!”
Sima Yun sneered.
Having missed once, he immediately lashed out again with a relentless barrage of strikes.
The two Whirlwind Whips, like ferocious dragons, charged toward Ye Tian, forcing him into a corner of the mountain crevice.
Despite Ye Tian’s skills in Qinggong, there was no room left for further retreat!
“Damn it!
The boss is cornered—there’s no way he can avoid the Whirlwind Whips now!”
“But even if we wanted to help, it’d be too little, too late.
All we can do is let Ye Tian handle it himself!”
“Sima Yun’s Whirlwind Whips are so ferocious.
Even Ye Tian seems unable to block them.
What now?”
“Perhaps we can only leave it to fate.
Sima Yun is just too strong!”
…
The spectators were increasingly worried as they saw Ye Tian pinned in the corner with no way to escape Sima Yun’s attacks.
“Ye Tian, let’s see where you’ll run to now!”
Sima Yun grew ever more smug, assured of his imminent victory.
His Whirlwind Whips closed in for the kill, leaving Ye Tian with no options but to dodge.
In this scenario, Sima Yun held the upper hand, making Ye Tian’s defeat seemingly inevitable.
“Sima Yun, I warned you—neglecting the basics of martial arts will lead you to a crushing defeat!”
Amid the ferocious attacks of the Whirlwind Whip, Ye Tian remained calm and composed.
Sima Yun, upon seeing this, boiled with rage.
“Ye Tian, enough empty talk!
Today, you’ll die beneath my Whirlwind Whip!”
With a furious roar, Sima Yun’s two Whirlwind Whips lunged at Ye Tian as if they had eyes, honing in on his position in the corner and rendering escape impossible.
“Hahaha!
What’s the matter, Ye Tian?
You can’t dodge it now, can you?
Prepare to die under the might of the Whirlwind Whip!”
Sima Yun’s malicious laughter echoed as the two Whirlwind Whips smashed into Ye Tian’s location with devastating force.
“Rumble~~~~~~”
The ground shattered instantly, leaving a massive crater in its wake.
A thick cloud of dust billowed out, enveloping the scene.
“Boss!”
“Boss, are you alright?”
“Boss, you didn’t get hit, did you?”
The three Ding brothers called out instinctively.
Knowing the deadly force of the Whirlwind Whip, they feared that if Ye Tian had been struck, survival would be impossible.
They desperately hoped Ye Tian had escaped in the nick of time, but no sign of him emerged from the swirling dust…
Could it be that Ye Tian was really struck by the Whirlwind Whip?
The other martial artists shared the same hope.
Yet, as the dust cloud settled and no figure of Ye Tian appeared, disappointment spread among the assembly.
The earlier attack from the Whirlwind Whip had been so ferocious that if Ye Tian had truly been hit, survival was inconceivable.
Just as worry gripped the entire crowd, the dust began to clear.
Sima Yun’s Whirlwind Whip had left a gaping hole in the ground from its overwhelming force.
“Heh heh, Ye Tian must’ve been turned into minced meat by now, right?”
Sima Yun smirked coldly, certain that his attack had finished Ye Tian.
Yet, to his utter shock, there stood Ye Tian, unharmed, inside the crater, without a single scratch on him…
“How is this possible?
How could you—”
Sima Yun was dumbfounded.
The surrounding martial artists, upon seeing Ye Tian emerge unscathed, erupted in excitement!