"Old Chen, don't think so extreme; no one wants to wipe out the Old Techniques. After all, it's just a sparring session, aimed at fostering competition and ultimately achieving mutual progress," the elderly man in a Tang suit said gently, trying to downplay the issue.
"Am I unclear whether someone wants to completely suppress the Old Techniques?" Old Chen replied coldly.
"Old Chen, you're still so stubborn. After the four elders of the Old Techniques passed away, there are very few strong and thoughtful people left in this field; ultimately, it's just you and a couple of others," the elderly man, Chang Heng, shook his head, displaying a calm demeanor and speaking with confidence.
Old Chen said, "Chang Heng, you're quite confident. Ever since you thought you found the bridge to the extraordinary, your leap in strength has made your personality less reserved."
Chang Heng had short, shiny black hair. Aside from a few wrinkles that appeared when he spoke, he didn't look old. His deep-set eyes exuded a kind of inner strength.
What was most surprising was the faint aura surrounding him, as if infused with some mysterious power, which left onlookers in awe and gave an extraordinary impression.
He stood on the gray-brown frozen ground, surrounded by a hazy light, with cold warships not far behind him, creating a scene where myth and technology coexisted.
Many people's hearts raced. Over the past few decades, new species had emerged among the new stars, gradually revealing themselves in recent years, brought from somewhere.
Reportedly, the New Techniques were also related to that place!
If we were to scrutinize it, the time really wasn't short.
"Has it been long enough? Do you want to go for round two with me?" Old Chen stepped forward.
Clearly, the rivalry between the new and the Old Techniques had already occurred, and the clashes were intense, just unknown to outsiders.
Chang Heng shook his head and said, "No, I'm only doing theoretical research now."
Everyone was taken aback.
"Let's go directly into combat and see if the fading the Old Techniques can still emit their last embers!" someone shouted from a distance, unabashedly.
This person was a towering figure, standing nearly three meters tall, with a muscular build. He held a black metal rod, which, when planted on the ground, made a resonant thud.
His height was striking, yet he moved with surprising agility, and the alloy rod he wielded weighed at least a couple hundred pounds.
Wang Xuan was astonished—was there really someone this tall?
Wu Yin quietly explained, "He's part of a new human group that underwent various genetic edits and optimizations while still in the womb."
"Is he strong?" Wang Xuan asked.
Wu Yin nodded seriously, saying, "Very strong. With his physical abilities, he can jump ten meters high, and his strength is astonishing. The ancient warriors who could lift cauldrons would find that trivial for him, and his speed is also remarkable; he can instantly catch up to tigers and leopards in the mountains."
This was the genetic superhuman, and the elite among them were even more terrifying, almost like superheroes.
The three-meter tall genetic superhuman, with a powerful build and glistening skin, looked formidable. He said, "Who among the practitioners of the Old Techniques dares to duel me? I'll spar with your cold weapons."
Before Old Chen could move, a voice shouted from the air, "Chen Yongjie, your opponent is me!"
The middle-aged man who earlier piloted a silver-gray mech now donned a shimmering blue mech, almost transparent, with a soft metallic sheen indicating its extraordinary material.
Wu Chenglin, standing next to Qingmu, changed expression and whispered, "This is a new type of mech developed last year, made from special materials brought back from where the New Techniques were unearthed. This mech is very strong and difficult to break with external forces."
Old Chen looked up at the air and said, "This new type of mech isn't cheap; it must cost several hundred million new star coins. Wouldn't you feel pained if I simply knocked it down?"
"Chen Yongjie, you're as arrogant as ever!" The blue mech hovered in the sky, shimmering brilliantly. The voice of the middle-aged man echoed down, "The times have changed; mechs can be mass-produced, and scale creates masters. But in the field of the Old Techniques, how many masters can emerge in one era?!"
"If you lose in the field of the Old Techniques, and turn to another camp, then start to despise the Old Techniques, you're truly despicable. I believe the current environment aiming to suppress the Old Techniques is closely tied to people like you," Old Chen's voice was icy as he stared at the blue mech. "Ultimately, it's a conflict between the new and the Old Techniques; what does it have to do with you mech pilots? When I, a practitioner of the Old Techniques, take control of a suitable mech, I could wipe out all of you alone!"
Old Chen's killing intent was palpable, and his overwhelming strength and dominance left everyone uneasy; he completely disregarded the mech faction as a new rival.
"The the Old Techniques are hard to master. Some in the mechs and genetic superhumans began to explore the New Techniques, and ultimately, only the conflict between the new and the old remains—there's no third party!" Old Chen said coldly.
"Do you look down on those in the mech field?!" the blue mech pilot shouted angrily.
Old Chen cast a faint glance at him and said, "A former defeated opponent, hatred has clouded your judgment. You really think that when I don the mech, you are anything but a mere target made of scrap metal? Not just you, but all of you!"
Wang Xuan was astonished; Old Chen's overwhelming confidence disdainfully dismissed everyone opposite him, which could easily provoke collective anger.
The elderly man in the Tang suit, Chang Heng, spoke up: "Old Chen, you don't really think you can handle everyone alone, do you? If that's the case, even if you achieve some dazzling results, you won't be able to hold out for long. This would only prove your remarkable skill in the Old Techniques, not the overall strength of the Old Techniques. If you were to fall, it would mean the complete defeat of the Old Techniques; the banner would fall, and no one would be able to stand up again, making it impossible to mention the Old Techniques ever again!"
Naturally, there were other masters from the Old Techniques present who were incensed upon hearing this; they understood the cold intent behind the words.
Although Chang Heng didn't converse with them directly, he was pricking their hearts, questioning their capability and willingness to act, with his dismissive words carrying a hint of contempt.
"Old Chen, this isn't just your business today; don't block us." A master from the Old Techniques stepped forward.
This was a burly man in his forties, standing about 1.9 meters tall, wielding a long alloy blade. Among normal people, he was indeed tall and robust, but he seemed small compared to the genetic superhuman.
There was almost no conversation between the two sides before they started fighting. Amidst the deafening clang of metal clashing, the alloy long knife met the iron rod, sending sparks flying and the sound threatening to rupture eardrums.
The middle-aged man, standing at 1.9 meters tall, blocked the three-meter tall genetic superhuman. Their strengths seemed evenly matched, indicating that his accomplishments in the Old Techniques were quite impressive. After all, he started as an ordinary person, while his opponent was an anomaly. In an ancient battlefield, both would be considered fierce warriors.
"What a pity; practicing the Old Techniques cannot touch the extraordinary. In the end, they are just flesh and blood, and such cold weapon duels are meaningless," the elderly man in the Tang suit commented.
Suddenly, the three-meter tall genetic superhuman emanated a hazy blue light, and his strength surged, smashing the middle-aged man's alloy long knife into pieces. With a swift movement, he thrust the iron rod forward.
Blood gushed forth as the 1.9-meter tall middle-aged man cried out in agony; the iron rod had pierced through his chest. He struggled to grasp the rod with his hands, but he was already losing strength.
"Li Brother!" Qingmu shouted, clearly recognizing the man; they were old acquaintances.
The genetic superhuman lifted him and swung the alloy iron rod with great force. The 1.9-meter tall man was flung away like a scarecrow, landing several meters away with a thud, bloodied and unable to rise again.
Qingmu and a group of practitioners of the Old Techniques rushed over, but a brief examination revealed that the middle-aged man was beyond saving—his heart was shattered by the iron rod, and his organs had been mangled by the blue light.
"That was ruthless!"
"Li Brother!"
Cries of anguish filled the air.
"The masters of the Old Techniques aren't that impressive," a voice came from the other side as a lean middle-aged man in his forties stepped forward. Though gaunt, his eyes shone like golden lanterns, making him appear quite extraordinary. He continued, "I'm a follower of the New Techniques, and I'm disappointed in you. Aside from Mr. Chen, the rest of you practicing the Old Techniques are probably not worth my effort!"
Old Chen stepped forward, pressing the attack.
In mid-air, the man in the blue mech spoke up: "Old Chen, are you finally going to take it all on yourself?"
Chang Heng, the elderly man in the Tang suit, smiled faintly and said, "Old Chen, do you need to admit that aside from you, there's no one left in the field of the Old Techniques? It's completely over!"
"Don't provoke me; I'll slaughter all of you!" Old Chen's murderous intent was palpable.
From the crowd of practitioners of the Old Techniques, a man in his sixties stepped forward. "Old Chen, you know my situation; I have problems with my practice and won't live much longer. Let me take action, even if it means death. I can't bear to face not having a duel with those of the New Techniques."
Clearly, he was aware he couldn't win but felt the need to step up. He thought if only Old Chen acted among those practicing the Old Techniques, it would be too humiliating, making it seem as though no one was left in the Old Techniques, fallen to a state that was hard to face.
Old Chen sighed; he recognized this elder, who had dedicated his life to the Old Techniques and was quite stubborn. Even if he tried to stop him, it would be ineffective.
The elderly man, though appearing frail, suddenly erupted with power, and his fist radiated a faint light. Thunderous sounds echoed from within him as he hurled himself at the gaunt middle-aged man practicing the New Techniques.
The middle-aged man's expression changed; he dared not confront him head-on and quickly retreated. Only when the elder's fists dimmed did he rush back in for an assault.
The two engaged in a fierce exchange, their movements rapid and creating sounds like thunder and wind.
However, after a few exchanges, the elder suddenly stopped moving. His body began to wither, and a red haze erupted from within him, as if his soul had been extracted. His eyes became vacant, and he stood frozen.
The red haze reached the gaunt middle-aged man, who condensed it into a sharp sword and swung it violently, severing the elder's head with a thud.
"Don't anyone move!" This time, Old Chen was genuinely angered, his voice booming like thunder, leaving many with ringing ears.
"Old Chen, did you see that? The decline of the Old Techniques is irreversible, their fall unavoidable!" someone coldly remarked.
"What about Old Chen?" In the sky, the middle-aged man in the blue mech sneered.
Old Chen looked up at him and said, "Let's start with you!"
He drew a sword, about 1.5 meters long, entirely black and lacking a sharp gleam, pointing it towards the sky.
Then, from his slightly expanded back, his clothing tore open to reveal a pair of silver wings. In an instant, a silver glow surged, and Old Chen shot upwards!
"This is a thruster developed by my family; it's very fast and can catch up to mechs," Wu Yin explained to Wang Xuan.
"Let's see how you break this new material…" The middle-aged man in mid-air was surprised but not scared, raising his large sword to strike at Old Chen.
Clang!
In the next moment, the alloy sword in his hands shattered, and Old Chen zipped past him before returning to the ground, sheathing his black sword.
In the air, the blue mech rained down a large shower of blood, then crashed down with a bang, severed in half!
In just one exchange, the mech made of new materials was destroyed!
As for the middle-aged man inside, he screamed in agony, his body similarly severed in half as he fell from the sky, splattering grotesquely upon impact.
Old Chen returned to the ground, striding purposefully toward the three-meter tall genetic superhuman without a word. With a resounding crash, he struck down with a palm.
Clang!
The alloy rod in the genetic superhuman's hands felt as if struck by a train, shaking his hands until they bled, his palms torn, and the rod flew out of his grip, landing several meters away. The genetic superhuman himself was knocked back, staggering.
Old Chen was too fast, like a streak of light, and in an instant, he pressed a palm against the genetic superhuman's chest.
With a thud, the three-meter tall genetic superhuman was sent flying twelve meters before disintegrating mid-air, the scene horrific as he rapidly fell apart, turning into a rain of blood that splattered to the ground!
"Old Chen, do you intend to take them all on alone?" someone shouted.
"If you're unwilling or afraid, then come at me together!" Old Chen roared, leaping forward to the gaunt middle-aged man who followed the New Techniques!