Dragon Kingdom Arc, Chapter Thirty-Five: Inescapable Doom

The time for the wager had arrived, and in these final moments, Ye Heng used a brief meditation to bring himself to his peak state. He slowly stood up, carefully shifting his body to ensure every joint was fully limbered. He was acutely aware of the gravity of this bet and dared not harbor the slightest bit of negligence. He had to meet the coming challenge at his absolute best to demonstrate his true strength. As his body loosened, he felt a surge of power rise within him, bolstering his self-confidence.

Aishe looked at Ye Heng, a flicker of concern in her eyes. "Two hours—I'm afraid that’s far from enough!"

Ye Heng’s lips curled into a slight smile. "What’s this? Suddenly so worried about me?"

Aishe’s face flushed bright red instantly. She quickly turned her head away, muttering, "Who... who’s worried about you? We’re at a time like this, and you’re still being so unserious!"

Ye Heng couldn't help but laugh aloud. "Hahaha, I’m just teasing you."

He then changed his tone. "But in all honesty, after this meditation, I can vaguely feel the Martial God power within me becoming purer. Could this be the miraculous effect of the Light Hibiscus? It allowed me to return to my peak state during every meditation, and even granted me a surplus of power! I poured that extra energy into my blade, Lieyang. Strangely enough, it didn't repel the Light Hibiscus's energy but instead absorbed quite a bit. As a result, not only has Lieyang become tougher and sharper, but its weight has also soared from eight hundred tons to two thousand!"

"For real?" Her eyes widened as if she had seen something impossible, and then, as if driven by an unseen force, her hand swung out quickly and decisively toward Ye Heng’s cheek.

Ye Heng felt a sudden force strike him, followed by a burning pain on his cheek. He cried out, "Ouch, ouch, ouch..."

Watching his pained expression, Aishe allowed a triumphant smile to touch her lips. She gently rubbed her own hand and said, "Indeed, it’s not a dream. Force is reciprocal; you hurt, and I hurt too." Her voice carried a hint of playfulness, but mostly a sense of certainty and relief.

Ye Heng rubbed his cheek. "Back to the point—Xi'er, does your divine artifact feel the same way?"

The two looked at each other, the atmosphere heavy with an unknown tension. Just then, a cunning light sparkled in Aishe’s eyes, and she wore a playful smirk, as if she had found something amusing.

Aishe shook her head, her brow furrowed. "No, I felt absolutely nothing."

Ye Heng frowned. "Nothing? How is that possible?"

Aishe replied, "Yes, even with mental probing, I found no signs of anything."

Ye Heng fell into deep thought. "Could it be that we did something wrong?"

Aishe looked at Ye Heng, her grin becoming impossible to suppress, and she laughed. "Haha, I’m lying to you. It is a divine artifact, after all." Her voice was crisp and melodious, carrying a touch of mischievous provocation.

His pupils contracted slightly, his heart jumping as if pulled by an invisible force. His gaze locked onto the girl before him—Aishe, a girl who always carried a sense of stubbornness and resilience, now revealing a rare vulnerability. Ye Heng smiled bitterly, a trace of helplessness on his lips. He shook his head, reached out, and gently stroked Aishe’s hair. "You silly girl," he whispered.

Aishe’s cheeks instantly turned crimson. She tilted her head slightly, attempting to avoid his hand, but couldn't help but act coyly. "Hey, hey, hey! I’m older than you. The head-patting thing should be me doing it to you!"

***

Just as Ye Heng and Aishe were immersed in their playful banter, the surrounding air grew heavy. Ye Heng felt an indescribable pressure, a familiar force quietly approaching. Aishe noticed it too, a flash of vigilance crossing her eyes.

A black shadow slowly emerged from the void—a figure draped in a black robe. His silhouette appeared eerie under the moonlight, like an emissary from another world. The man's face was hidden in the shadow of his hood, revealing only a pair of eyes shimmering with cold light.

"The time for the wager is here," the man’s voice was deep and raspy, like an echo from the depths of the earth. It reverberated through the night, chilling to the bone.

Before the words had faded, the figure vanished like a ghost, reappearing instantly before Ye Heng. His speed was so blinding that it seemed to break the boundaries of time and space, leaving Ye Heng stunned, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Ye Heng felt a powerful blast of air rushing toward him, as if to swallow him whole. He instinctively tried to retreat, but his feet felt nailed to the ground. "This... this is pressure!"

The black-robed man spoke: "Before the strong, any scheme is futile."

He slowly raised his blade; the tip glittered with a cold light in the moonlight like a silver snake winding through the dark. The man’s silhouette grew more mysterious and imposing, his black cloak seemingly devouring all surrounding light. However, he did not realize that the Aishe standing before him was now an S-rank Martial God, possessing strength sufficient to be immune to S-rank pressure.

Just as the man prepared to strike, a dazzling white light flashed—like a bolt of lightning tearing through the night. It was the radiance of Aishe’s blade, swift and fierce, roaring toward the man like a silver dragon. Aishe easily blocked his attack, the clash of steel ringing out across the empty battlefield.

"I am the one you should be challenging, not him," Aishe said, her voice calm and firm, like a towering mountain standing steady against the wind and rain. Her eyes stared coldly at the intruder, brimming with killing intent.

The man paused, then laughed helplessly. His smile held a touch of defiance and arrogance, as if saying, "All three of you can come at me; it makes no difference."

Aimi felt a surge of resentment. She glared at the man and challenged him: "How can you be so arrogant? You’re just an S-peak Martial God—does that mean you can run wild?"

The man turned his gaze toward Aimi, a flash of mockery in his eyes. In less than a heartbeat, he flickered, twisting the very space, and appeared before Aimi like a phantom. His speed was so great she couldn't even react, left only to watch as he vanished from his original spot, leaving behind a single maple leaf spinning slowly in the air. He leaned in close, whispering provocatively, "So what if I'm arrogant? What can you do about it? Heh... just a green 'weakling Martial God'."

Aimi’s face turned bright red, her serene expression replaced by a flush of anger, like the sunset reflecting on a winter lake. She pressed her lips into a stubborn line, struggling to suppress her fury. Since childhood, Aimi had been a pampered child among her peers, protected by elders and equals alike, with no one daring to scold her except for her older sister, Ailu.

Now, an outsider was insulting her, the words like a sharp dagger piercing her heart.

Aimi flew into a rage and swung her sword at the man. But as the blade was about to touch him, something strange happened. She felt her sword tip strike not flesh, but a soft maple leaf. Surprised, she looked up to see the leaf fluttering away in the wind, while the man remained unharmed elsewhere, as if nothing had happened.

Aimi froze. She didn't understand how this could happen. While her swordsmanship wasn't top-tier, it shouldn't have failed so miserably. She raised her sword again, preparing for another attack, this time with extra caution.

Yet, the same thing happened again.

"What?" The frequent failures left Aimi bewildered, and Aishe was equally confused.

***

"How is this possible?" Aimi stared at the strange figure, trying to find a pattern, but every attempt ended in failure.

In the midst of this chaos, Ye Heng remained a calm observer, his eyes flashing with sharp insight. He watched the mysterious figure intently, as if solving a complex puzzle. His heartbeat seemed to synchronize with the air, each beat driving the flow of energy in an indescribable rhythm. He caught a glimpse of the truth, though he couldn't be certain if it was truly a "Life Technique." He decided to test his hypothesis.

"It seems to be a Clone Life Technique," Ye Heng thought, taking a deep breath to settle his nerves. If he was right, they were facing something far more dangerous than a simple S-peak Martial God.

A Clone Life Technique was a legendary existence among Life Vessel skills. Once used, the Martial God could create a clone indistinguishable from the original, with each clone capable of replicating the power of the main body. In extreme cases, the clone’s strength could rival the original, posing a lethal threat.

"I should have reported the situation to headquarters as soon as we encountered the enemy. It’s all my fault for being self-righteous and delaying the report, causing the reinforcements to be a day late. Is there no choice but to fight?" Ye Heng clenched his fists, unsure of what to do.

Suddenly, a clear, gentle voice echoed in Ye Heng’s mind—Aishe’s distinctive, melodious voice. "A-Heng, I have a plan, and I need your assistance."

Ye Heng responded immediately, his voice filled with expectation and resolve. "Yes, Xi'er, what have you thought of?"

Aishe’s voice continued in his mind. "Did you notice? Second Sister’s sword energy did strike him, yet he vanished instantly, leaving only a maple leaf behind. Even more strange, each time he reappears, his aura is noticeably weaker. Normally, a blink technique consumes energy but doesn't lower one's rank. Thus, I am certain he isn't using a standard blink, but a clone technique—though it looks like a Life Vessel skill, it feels slightly different."

Ye Heng replied, "It seems you’ve noticed the subtle changes too. I was just about to discuss it with you, but it seems there is no need!"

He paused, turning his gaze to Aishe. "Since you have a plan, I will entrust everything to you. This time, I’ll listen to... your arrangement." He realized he had almost slipped up and gave a fake cough to hide his embarrassment.

Aishe glanced at Ye Heng from the corner of her eye, her gaze soft and her lips curving into a faint smile. That smile seemed to contain endless understanding and tolerance, like a mother’s doting tenderness toward a child. She nodded slightly, as if silently responding to his trust. "Alright, same move as before, but this time I’ll be your shield. After all, you’re the fastest among us."

He nodded, his eyes filled with deep reluctance, as if struggling to accept the decision, yet showing immense respect and validation for Aishe. He knew that Aishe was not just his lover, but a strategist with exceptional vision.

Ye Heng stole a glance at her, understanding that while Aishe’s strategy seemed risky, it was carefully considered. She would use his speed advantage to counter the man, cleverly bypassing any other unknown powers the enemy might possess, allowing her to formulate her own countermeasures.

Yet, it was this unknown factor that worried him. He knew the man’s strength was unfathomable and that there might be even greater forces lurking behind him. For Aishe, this risk was a massive challenge. Ye Heng’s heart ached, not only for the danger she would face but because he knew she was willing to sacrifice everything for their future.

Ye Heng took a deep breath, trying to calm his heart. He gripped Aishe’s hand tightly, as if to transmit his courage and strength to her. Their eyes met, full of mutual trust and understanding. In this moment, they seemed to merge into one, ready to face the challenge together.