Chapter 132: Battle! Platinum-Rank Professional!

"Are you really that confident you can take me down?" Wang Chen asked with a mocking smile.

"Certainly. I also advise you not to resist; if I’m efficient, you won’t have to suffer much."

The man casually projected his professional panel, which clearly displayed: "Fourth Rank, Level 40."

Wang Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly. A Platinum-level professional—this was going to be a thorny situation. He didn’t have any items on him capable of suppressing an enemy of this caliber, and as the saying goes, of the thirty-six stratagems, fleeing is the best.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Wang Chen tucked the Earth-Piercing Pearl into his mouth and passed directly through the alley wall.

A-Jie watched in disbelief. One of them followed a bizarre code of professional ethics, while the other slipped away in total silence—they were both strange characters.

"Why bother? That will only make it more painful for you," the man said, slowly putting his pinky into his mouth and licking it.

A-Jie frowned at the sight. "You are truly disgusting."

The man ignored him, dropped his hands to his waist, took a stance similar to a horse-riding stance, and then charged at the wall, slamming a fist into it.

His fist was shrouded in a metallic luster, and with the force of a gale, he smashed into the wall, punching right through it. Not stopping there, he turned his fist into a claw, pulled it back violently, and tore away chunks of brick and stone. He stood before the wall, repeating the process, and within seconds, he had carved out a hole large enough to pass through.

The man stepped through to the other side. Before him lay a stretch of wasteland, but Wang Chen’s figure had already vanished. The man did not rush to pursue; instead, he closed his eyes.

A-Jie walked over to the alley wall and leaned against it, observing the battle. He had intended to test Wang Chen to see what the young man was truly capable of. Of course, if the man’s methods became too vicious and endangered Wang Chen, he would intervene. After all, he couldn't just stand by and watch the man break Wang Chen’s limbs.

...

The wasteland, left behind after the demolition of some unfinished buildings, was usually deserted. It was so quiet that the faint chirping of cicadas could be heard. The lighting was poor, illuminated only from afar by the streetlamps along the perimeter.

In the midst of the stillness, someone suddenly snapped their fingers, the crisp sound ringing out in the dim environment. Immediately following, the ground shook, and a massive silhouette rose from the darkness. With lightning speed, it lunged toward the man who remained standing in place with his eyes closed.

A-Jie saw it clearly: the massive silhouette was a gigantic hand made of solid rock. It was obvious that being caught in that grip would result in immense crushing pressure. Yet, even as the stone hand gripped the man and tightened its fingers with great force, the man remained with his eyes closed, unbothered.

A-Jie didn't think the man was a fool for this; he had witnessed how easily the man had dismantled the alley wall. Instead, he grew grave. To face an Earth-type spell known for its heavy, crushing power by standing still and taking it head-on without any defense—this showed that the man was supremely confident in his own strength.

"Young Master Wang, you’re in for a world of hurt," A-Jie thought to himself.

Deep underground, Wang Chen was observing the battle through the wireframe vision granted by the Earth-Piercing Pearl. The rock hand had hit the man without a hitch, but that didn't put Wang Chen at ease. He exerted control to make the stone hand squeeze, but the man seemed to be made of metal and stone; no matter how hard he pressed, the man just stood there silently.

"I don't know what his profession is, but his hide is truly thick," Wang Chen mused. "Or did he use some kind of equipment?"

After weighing his options, Wang Chen decided to test the man with different skills. He approached the surface and extended his staff, "Forest Storm."

"Five-Mile Mist!"

A blast of air erupted from the head of the staff, carrying white mist that dispersed and turned the area within a dozen meters into a celestial cloud palace. Under the cover of the mist, Wang Chen emerged from the ground. As soon as he surfaced, he raised "Forest Storm" again, sparks flickering on the tip.

"Lightning Barrier!"

Three barriers shimmering with electric light drifted silently around Wang Chen, providing him with protection. Just then, Wang Chen felt a massive repulsive force erupt from within the rock hand, and it shattered instantly!

A figure glowing with a metallic sheen broke through the debris and charged toward him. In the blink of an eye, the figure was upon him, unleashing a kick as fast as lightning. Wang Chen barely had time to react before he was struck. The three lightning barriers flashed violently and shattered, sending Wang Chen flying.

The man didn't stop. He sprinted across the ground toward where Wang Chen would land, preparing to strike again. A-Jie felt a pang of anxiety—if Wang Chen were hit again, he would be trapped in the man’s combo, leaving him no chance for a comeback.

He hesitated, wondering if he should intervene. Just then, black light flickered over Wang Chen’s airborne body, and he suddenly vanished. The man, preparing his follow-up attack, lost his target.

"Good lad! He actually has a skill like that!" A-Jie thought, feeling a sense of relief.

Amidst the swirling mist, the black light converged, and Wang Chen landed lightly on the ground.

"Damn it, for you Platinum-level types, is Lightning Barrier really just a firecracker? Something to play with?" he cursed internally.

Fortunately, he had learned the teleportation skill book while he was hiding underground, or he would have been locked into the man's combo. This guy’s style was clearly that of a close-combat professional specialized in physical enhancement; Wang Chen had to be careful not to let him get close. He was fast, so he needed to find a way to restrict him. He was also incredibly durable, so he needed to find a way to break through that defense.

Moreover, Wang Chen had to be careful with his skills; he couldn't use anything too loud or bright, or the mist wouldn't be able to hide him. The man’s senses were incredibly keen—when Wang Chen had released the lightning barrier, the flickering light had allowed the man to pinpoint his location through the thick mist. That was a feat that should have been nearly impossible.

Still, Wang Chen felt confident. As long as he kept teleporting after using his skills, he would be fine. He could rely on potions to refresh his cooldowns, and the black flicker of his teleportation was too faint to be easily spotted. Clearly, the man couldn't detect him through the mist when he wasn't using skills; the fact that the man was still standing in the same spot proved that.

Furthermore, Wang Chen’s goal wasn't to defeat the man, but simply to stall him. He raised "Forest Storm," the sound of crashing waves echoing from his staff.

"Wave Dragon Strike!"

A bolt of water shot out, tearing through the air with a piercing whistle. After launching the attack, Wang Chen’s figure flickered as he moved to another location.