Returning to the Mysterious Era
Chapter 522 - Playing Dead? Its Victory For Martial Arts

Chapter 522 - Playing Dead? It's Victory For Martial Arts

A voice brimming with dominance echoed through the air. This was Whale King Arlington's confidence. As an extreme combat artist and the foremost figure of the United States of Yana's Covert Martial Arts in decades, he had trodden the path of the Dominator Fist.

How could he possibly fear two top-tier combat artists joining forces, even though the pair almost approached the realm of extreme combat artists?

Almost reaching it was not reaching it, and one thread short meant a difference that was worlds apart. Not to mention that one of those top-tier combat artists had suffered a severe decline in strength. He could likely only sustain his peak for a very brief time. The rest of the time, he would be unable to unleash the strength he once commanded in his youth.

Whale King Arlington possessed at least that measure of generosity. Besides, he sensed that only these two bore the strongest auras in the Hongli Empire's camp. They were surely their final trump cards.

Better that they attack together, sparing everyone's time. Indeed, Arlington meant to smash Hongli's pride in one blow by felling two at once. It would be far more shocking than beating them one by one.

The Hongli Empire's camp burst into an uproar at his words. Some faces showed worry, while others delight. Several venerable elders and heads exchanged glances, momentarily unsure how to respond.

Within the crowd, Seven Evil Stars Jed grew impatient.

He shoved the crowd aside with powerful hands and strode forth forcefully. His rugged face showed ferocity, as blade‑sharp brows and short, stiff hair resembling steel needles bristled over him. A black leather vest bulged over his muscles, radiating brute power.

He narrowed his eyes, locking onto the proudly standing Arlington ahead. A fierce gleam flashed in his pupils before slowly subsiding. Jed felt a flicker of anger from being scorned and belittled. Yet at the same time, excitement stirred within him.

If he could team up with Blazing Light Fist Victor, he might truly contend with Arlington. Then Whale King Arlington, who had slighted him, would pay the price.

Tap, tap, tap... 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

A string of footsteps sounded as Victor walked slowly over. The two stood shoulder to shoulder, their Qi erupting instinctively.

The surrounding air rippled like water, and wide swathes of grass bowed flat to the earth. Nearly a hundred meters away, Arlington allowed the combined ferocious Qi field to press heavily down on him. Fine cracks spread beneath his feet where he stood.

His eyes were inky black, and a faint smile tugged at his lips. "Decent Qi. Only your aggression is a tad lacking..."

Suddenly, a long resonant call echoed from within Arlington, like a colossal blue whale gliding through the deep. Then, a mighty aura slammed outward, shoving Jed and Victor's Qi fields ruthlessly back.

Arlington's aura cleaved through like splitting bamboo until it inched to within three meters of the duo. The air around them turned into a dense, milky substance.

Victor's eyes narrowed slightly, while Jed's expression grew savage. Seizing the advantage without even starting, Arlington strode forward three large steps and declared, "I'll give each of you two punches. I'll stand right here and let you use whatever tricks you like. How's that? I'm quite fond of honoring elders and caring for the young, hahaha! So don't lose too quickly..."

By "honoring elders," he obviously meant Blazing Light Fist Victor.

By "caring for the young," he referred to Seven Evil Stars Jed.

Victor showed little reaction to such blatant mockery, but Jed flared with rage. Was Whale King Arlington treating him like a child, flaunting his power so arrogantly?

"Arlington, you will pay for your arrogance!" Jed growled outright.

He flung off his leather vest, his form swelling suddenly. His knotted muscles were tinged with black, bulging across his torso with bluish veins pulsing powerfully beneath the skin.

Seven protruding star marks stood out on his broad chest. Five stars had lit up, glimmering faintly.

Beside him, Victor too bathed in intense blazing gold. Pale golden steam roared from every pore, coalescing behind him into a huge imprint of a fist. Victor's arms hung low, both palms shining like burning flames.

Arlington's grin broadened as he stood there like an unshakable iron tower. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Boom! Bang!

The grassland quaked as sharp crackling rang through the air. Two figures shot forth, forcibly carving twin transparent tunnels. Shockwaves undulated around them.

"Star Ring Fist, Star Secret Technique—Meteor Stream!"

Victor shed all semblance of a trembling elder as his entire being turned impossibly agile. He spread his arms, and glowing specks streaked rapidly over them as though empowered.

His two clenched fists shone ever brighter. When swung, they scraped the air with terrible blasts, causing faint golden‑red sparks. The instant Victor moved, he combined Star Ring Fist's killing move with one of its three great Sun, Moon, and Stars Secret Techniques.

Since Arlington claimed he would stand still and take their strikes, Victor would oblige him.

Ten meters away, Jed's bones cracked like interlocking gears, channeling and stacking power. Blood pumped into his arms as three black veins thick as little fingers bulged.

"Seventh Star Seizing Evil Fist! Solar Extinction Star! Light Devouring Star!"

Two chess‑piece‑sized stars flared on Jed's burly frame, and spider‑webbed black Qi spread swiftly, wrapping half his torso. It cast an eerie, terrifying aura.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The golden and black figures thundered across the grassland, smashing straight at Arlington.

Yet Arlington still showed no change of expression.

Facing the two meteors and the raging gale, he slowly raised both arms, a vast presence rising. "East‑Pole Whale King Fist!"

A deep, lingering blue‑whale call reached every ear, making all instantly recall the boundless, majestic ocean.

Boom!!!

All three figures clashed violently, erupting with a tremendous roar. The entire grassland shook fiercely, turf stripped away by the howling wind. Mushroom‑shaped white shockwaves rolled outward layer upon layer.

On the viewing slope, every combat artist activated their own aura, their bodies trembling. They blocked the clash's impact so that weaker disciples were not blasted away.

Whooo... whooo... whooo...

After three shockwaves, the dust was swept clear and the battlefield was revealed.

Whale King Arlington, cloaked in deep‑blue Qi, stood with his arms spread, stopping the fists of Victor and Jed as a tyrannical air swirled around him.