Their question was quickly answered. Fang Zhengzhi did not last very long. Yan Xiu started a counterattack.
Not everyone could perform a powerful offense. Fang Zhengzhi was not Xing Qingsui or Xing Yuanguo. His attacking techniques could not go on endlessly.
The moment Yan Xiu caught a short break, he started counterattacking.
Even so, this did not stop Fang Zhengzhi from wanting to attack. Just when the officials thought Fang Zhengzhi should change up his technique, Fang Zhengzhi longed forward again.
He was like an unshakable, sticky gum stuck to Yan Xiu.
He continued to attack savagely and without pause. However, every technique and Dao used was unique.
"Does he really plan on fighting this way?"
"Will Yan Xiu give him the chance?"
"Even if he wins this way, he is also wasting time. He is just wasting time in a different way."
"Official Wang has foresight. No ploy can deceive your eyes!"
All of the officials nodded in agreement. Even though Fang Zhengzhi's abilities awed them, he still looked like he was wasting time. Fang Zhengzhi had said that he would defeat Yan Xiu in 15 minutes, but he was making no progress.
What was Fang Zhengzhi going to do?
What could he do?
Fang Zhengzhi continued to attack without pause.
However, due to Yan Xiu's power, he was still thrown to the edge of the stage multiple times. Each time, he barely managed to escape being eliminated.
Yan Xiu did not think that there was any problem with how Fang Zhengzhi was fighting
Victory was all that mattered in a duel. Friendship did not have a place here. Even if Fang Zhengzhi could not defeat him, Fang Zhengzhi could outlast him and win that way.
Yan Xiu thought that way.
However, Fang Zhengzhi did not.
He wanted to defeat Yan Xiu within 15 minutes. That was the only way he could take the top spot with no guilt.
However, Yan Xiu was very powerful.
Having understood the Dao of Asura, Yan Xiu was much more powerful than him. Despite his fervent attacks, he was unable to threaten Yan Xiu.
What now?
Fang Zhengzhi thought about what else he had. Secret weapons? No use! Sword techniques? He didn't have a sword! Million Sword Illustration? That didn't seem to work...
Fang Zhengzhi did not seem to have any other options.
What about other people's techniques?
Fang Zhengzhi had seen many techniques along the way. Chi Guyan's? I've only seen the Million Sword Illustration. What about Ping Yang?
Urgh...
She's not even as good as me!
Another powerful person he knew was Chi Hou. However, he had not used any techniques. The next was Bai Xing.
Bai Xing had given him a sword manual!
However, he had not looked at it.
Hang on!
There was one person's techniques that he had seen. That technique had also left a deep impression on him.
Xing Yuanguo's!
Fang Zhengzhi was there when Xing Yuanguo had fought Bai Xing in The Vast World. He had seen how Xing Yuanguo suffocated Bai Xing with his attacks.
"Okay then, I'll give it a go! I have no other choice now!" Fang Zhengzhi began to recall the beginning of Xing Yuanguo's flurry of attacks.
Each angle, posture, and detail of each attack appeared in his mind. They replayed again and again and again..
The first step!
Charge!
Fang Zhengzhi repeated the entire sequence in his head five times. He retreated to a corner of the stage before Yan Xiu could counter attack.
He needed sufficient distance between himself and Yan Xiu.
All of the officials had expected Fang Zhengzhi to continue fighting. Yan Xiu had expected it as well. But now, Fang Zhengzhi had retreated.
What's going on?
All of the officials were confused.
Yan Xiu was confused as well.
Just at that moment, Fang Zhengzhi leapt into action. His body was like a bolt of lightning as he charged. He spread out his arms, almost like an eagle swooping down on Yan Xiu.
"Oh?" Yan Xiu had thought Fang Zhengzhi had found a different technique. However, when he saw Fang Zhengzhi charge again, a question mark appeared in his mind.
However, he did not hold back.
An icy gust of wind shot through the air, screeching as it flew towards Fang Zhengzhi.
At this very moment, Fang Zhengzhi's actions changed. He swooped towards the ground. These two actions were the opening moves when Xing Yuanguo battled Bai Xing.
At that time, Bai Xing had also attacked Xing Yuanguo with a silver ray. This was quite similar to what Yan Xiu did.
Yan Xiu looked on as Fang Zhengzhi swooped downwards. All of a sudden, he felt that these two moves connected quite seamlessly.
It was almost as if Fang Zhengzhi had expected him to respond in that manner.
Yan Xiu found it strange, but it did not bother him.
By that time, Fang Zhengzhi was already in front of him. Fang Zhengzhi slapped at Yan Xiu's face. Yan Xiu had no choice but to block it.
Yan Xiu had planned on attacking, but he had to first defend against Fang Zhengzhi's slap.
When he moved to block Fang Zhengzhi's attack...
He saw Fang Zhengzhi smile.
Fang Zhengzhi was smiling. All of the previous moves were just preparation. The slap was his first attack.
It seemed like a very ordinary, straightforward slap.
He was not afraid that Yan Xiu would block it. He was only worried that Yan Xiu wouldn't.
"Woosh!" Fang Zhengzhi's posture changed and his other palm shot out. This brought with it a strong icy win. This was the killing blow.
Xing Qingsui was spectating silently below. However, when he saw Fang Zhengzhi's moves, he felt unwell and stood up from his seat.
"This, this is the Stabilisation Constabulary's..."
Xing Qingsui did not continue. All of the officials had turned to look at him. Without concrete evidence, Xing Qingsui did not want to attract the attention of others.
Furthermore, this bait and switch technique was not too complicated. It may just be a coincidence that Fang Zhengzhi could use it.
Fang Zhengzhi did not notice Xing Qingsui. However, he used his actions to answer Xing Qingsui.
This was no coincidence.
His attack was blocked by Yan Xiu at the very last minute. However, he was not done.
Fang Zhengzhi still had many more attacks in store.
After his attack was blocked, he raised his leg. He swept it at Yan Xiu's legs viciously.
Yan Xiu's expression changed slightly when he saw this.
He felt that Fang Zhengzhi's attacks were different from those previously. Before, Fang Zhengzhi was simply throwing out attack after attack.
However, now, Fang Zhengzhi had clearly thought of what he was going to do next. All he was waiting for was Yan Xiu to block each one.
What's going on?
Yan Xiu did not understand the reasoning behind this.
However, he knew one thing. One could not be led in a duel. He had to take the initiative. Sometimes, one had to sacrifice something in order to gain even more.
For example, he would not block!
Yan Xiu grit his teeth and allowed Fang Zhengzhi's attack to pass. At the same time, a pale red glow appeared in his palm as he pushed it towards Fang Zhengzhi.
This was a move that would injure both parties. However, Fang Zhengzhi would be on the losing end of that trade.
He would just go with it.
Yan Xiu thought that way. However, the result was not one that he predicted. Just as he attacked Fang Zhengzhi...
Fang Zhengzhi turned abruptly. His leg continued to swing, but his body turned to avoid Yan Xiu's attack. He protected the other half of his body with his hand.
"Boom!" Fang Zhengzhi shuddered, his face flushing slightly from the impact. Being weaker than Yan Xiu, he was still bound to suffer injuries despite blocking the attack.
However, this did not affect his attacks.
As long as it didn't affect the sequence, it was fine.
When Xing Yuanguo was fighting Bai Xing they were on similar levels. Bai Xing knew Xing Yuanguo, so he would not risk attacking Xing Yuanguo.
As such, Bai Xing could only continue blocking Xing Yuanguo's attacks.
Yan Xiu was different. He was more powerful than Fang Zhengzhi, so he did not mind trading with Fang Zhengzhi.
However, he never expected that Fang Zhengzhi could still defend. More importantly, Fang Zhengzhi had continued his attack whilst defending.
Fang Zhengzhi's kick connected with Yan Xiu's body.
Even though Yan Xiu was stronger than Fang Zhengzhi, he did not manage to block Fang Zhengzhi's attack. Since Fang Zhengzhi managed to block his, Fang Zhengzhi's injuries were less severe.
"I hit him?!" Fang Zhengzhi's eyes brightened. This was the first time he saw hope during this duel. This was also the first time he had hurt Yan Xiu today.
This method works!
Fang Zhengzhi was excited. He momentarily forgot all of his injuries. Just as Yan Xiu was reeling from the hit, he slapped.
It was an ordinary slap to Yan Xiu's face.
Yan Xiu blocked it reflexively.
Fang Zhengzhi skirted to the side and slapped once again.
This was the same sequence he used previously.
Yan Xiu was shocked. He knew what Fang Zhengzhi would do next, however, he had no choice but to be led by Fang Zhengzhi.
All that he could do was block.
Fang Zhengzhi kicked.
"..." Yan Xiu was speechless. He had already gotten the shorter end of the stick just now. There was no way he was going to make the same mistake again. He blocked.
The scene on stage was inexplicable.
Fang Zhengzhi continued to attack relentlessly. Yan Xiu blocked all the time. Every now and then, Yan Xiu would choose not to block, and the two of them would fight it out.
In the end, both sides suffered severe injuries.
However, this did not affect Fang Zhengzhi's attacks. Fang Zhengzhi slapped at Yan Xiu's face.
"Since he knows that it's a feint, why doesn't he block it?" One of the officials looked at Yan Xiu in confusion.
"If Yan Xiu doesn't block, that attack would no longer be a feint!"
"I see!" The official finally understood.
At that point, Emperor Lin Mubai, who had been silent throughout this entire duel, stood up from his throne. His eyes glimmered.
There was one other person who stood up.
That person was Xing Qingsui.
Ever since Fang Zhengzhi attacked a second time, he had not sat back down.
Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping's expression darkened. He looked at Emperor Lin Mubai's expression, trying to suppress something on his mind.
He knew exactly why Emperor Lin Mubai would stand up.
He recognized that this was Xing Yuanguo's technique and style. If he recognized it, the Emperor definitely did too!
All of the officials were stunned when they saw Emperor Lin Mubai stand up. When they looked at Fang Zhengzhi, they seemed to think of something.
"Fang Zhengzhi seems to be using... Xing Hou's technique!"
"How is that possible?!"
"How can Fang Zhengzhi know the Stabilisation Constabulary's technique?"
It was quite stunning that Fang Zhengzhi knew the Divine Constabulary's Million Sword Illustration. However, it was not impossible.
Fang Zhengzhi had spent time in the Divine Constabulary. Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi had a complicated relationship with Chi Guyan.
However...
How could he possibly know Xing Yuanguo's technique?
All of the officials did not know that Fang Zhengzhi had seen Xing Yuanguo. As such how could he have learnt his technique?
This was not their fault.
Inside the courts, only a select few knew that Fang Zhengzhi and Xing Yuanguo had met in The Vast World.
"It really is my father's fighting strategy!" Xing Qingsui confirmed. However, he could not suppress his awe and surprise at this realization.
Even he had not been taught this technique.
This technique looked simple, but it was extremely complicated. It was complex and had no fixed set of moves. It was not that this technique was difficult to learn. However, it required one thing.
Force!
That was the most important thing in this technique.
Xing Qingsui did not lack battle spirit. However, he was unable to fully utilize this technique. Xing Yuanguo told him that he did not have enough force.
Xing Qingsui did not understand this.
He felt that he was willing to die for victory. How could he not have force?
What he could not understand was that he could feel that force from Fang Zhengzhi! And it was the same as the force he felt from his father!