Unlike the other top rankers, Lin Mu hadn't looked into Tian Ning and didn't even know the man had fought the Third Prince to a draw.
Thus this time around Lin Mu was actually lacking in a plan!
In all the fights before this, he had analyzed his opponent and developed counters to their skills. But now was a time where a lack of information had failed him.
Of course, he wasn't discouraged by it.
It wasn't the first time he was fighting an opponent that was unknown to him. He had done it hundred of times before and had always managed to overcome it all.
~huu~
Taking a deep breath, Lin Mu chanted the calming heart sutra focusing his thoughts on his opponent.
~SHING~
He slashed out diagonally with Afternoon pine, using the swords skill again and creating tens of metal pine trees. But this was merely to buy him a bit of time.
~WHOOSH~
Having done that, Lin Mu flew back at rapid speed putting distance between him and Tian Ning. And while flying back, Lin Mu quickly withdrew Wonder Seeker, pulling its string to the maximum.
~TWANG~
The bow was stretched taught as a fiery arrow condensed on it. The arrow was shot with a great speed as well, leaving red trail behinds it.
~TWANG~
Without stopping, Lin Mu shot several arrows in a row, knowing that he couldn't the Tian Ning rest.
Tian Ning who was letting out a flurry of punches had noticed the arrows coming towards him. He had also seen Lin Mu used them before in his previous fights and knew that they were strong too.
'Still not enough to challenge me,' Tian Ning thought, having full confidence that he would be able to defend against them.
His Thousand Charge Lightning fists were strong and fast, preventing any attack from coming in contact with his body. They would be disintegrated before they hit him after all.
But Tian Ning still lacked some information about Lin Mu.
'Severing Heart Sutra!' Just when the arrows were about to strike the man, Lin Mu used the sutra.
And the target wasn't himself but Tian Ning!
The smile on Tian Ning's face suddenly stilled as his mind went blank.
Subsequently his fists stopped moving too, and his responsiveness fell. He had managed to nullify the yellow metal pine trees that were overflowing with sword intent, but was unable to react to the fiery arrows.
~BOOM~BOOM~BOOM~ BOOM~
A curtain of fire and smoke shrouded the man, making it hard to see what was happening. All one could hear was a string of explosions.
Lin Mu in the distance was not satisfied at all though, for he could observe what was happening with his immortal sense.
"HAAAH!" Tian Ning let out a roar as a dome of lightning pulsed off his noddy.
The cloud of fire and smoke was repulsed by it, clearing the view for all.
His body still seemed to be fine, and but his vest was a bit charred. It was clear that while the rain of fiery arrows had hit him, it been unable to damage him.
'He's also snapped out of the effects of Severing Heart Sutra…' Lin Mu was more surprised by that.
Not only did Tian Ning had a strong cultivation base, his mind was also strong able to overcome the effects of the sutra faster than others.
'I might not be able to use the sutra on him that many times. If I forcefully use it, he'll probably realize I'm using some skill on him.' Lin Mu thought to himself.
"Interesting… how did you do that?" Tian Ning spoke. 'He actually delayed my perception…' he thought.
While Tian Ning was unable to tell exactly what had happened to him, he was still able to recall the moment before the arrows had struck. But after that, he had no memory of it until the arrows hit.
"Looks like I'll have to take a greater initiative." Tian Ning said as lightning rippled across his body.
His tattoos all lit up and strong lightning elemental immortal Qi could be felt.
"Thunderclap Nine Heavens Technique! Flash Lightning Chains!" The lightning that was covering Tian Ning moved toward his arms and fully covered them.
But it didn't stop there. The lightning expanded past it and extended out from his fingers, turning into chains of arcing lightning!
Each of the fingers had a chain attached to it that kept on expanding. In just a few seconds, the chains had become over a hundred meters long!
"Let me close the distance!" Tian Ning clawed out toward Lin Mu, causing the lightning chains to whip forth.
They moved even faster than his fists, and were like flashes of lightning. Lin Mu could barely move Afternoon Pine in front of him to block him before the lightning chains struck him.
One chain was blocked by the sword, but the rest of them mercilessly whipped Lin Mu.
"UGH!" the power contained within the lightning chains was not small.
And neither was their momentum.
~RIP~
Lin Mu's robes were torn in one hit, leaving four long lacerations on them. His body bore the direct brunt of the attack, resisting the physical impact of it.
~ZZZT~
While Lin Mu's body was durable enough to withstand the impact of it, the lightning still drilled into his skin and into his body. It numbed him and slowed his response.
~WHOOSH~
Tian Ning didn't give Lin Mu a chance and struck out with his other hand as well.
The lightning chains flashed and whipped Lin Mu. All five chains from Tian Ning's left hand struck Lin Mu. But that wasn't all as the chains spun, completely wrapping his torso along with his arms.
"I got you now!" Tian Ning smiled widely.
He clenched his right fist and cocked it back, before pulling Lin Mu towards him with his left hand.
The chains restrained Lin Mu and also numbed him at the same time, preventing him from reacting.
He helplessly flew toward Tian Ning while his lightning-clad right fist struck him square in the chest!
~BANG!~
