Volume Two: The Devil’s Game Chapter Forty-Six: The Second Deadly Move

"Hmm?" Lu Yi first frowned, then gave the Guardian a breezy smile. "You’ve wasted a prime opportunity to strike. If you try again later, you won't have the same state of mind or the same advantage you had just now."

"Heh." The Guardian let out a noncommittal chuckle and continued, "There’s no fun in winning through an opponent’s charity. Besides, I don’t think a prey that only knows how to play petty tricks, use small schemes, and wag its tongue has any real substance."

Lu Yi’s brow furrowed slightly. He rubbed his nose with his finger, then his face relaxed into a grin. "My nose suddenly itched. You aren't talking about me, are you?"

Sighing deeply, Lu Yi shook his head and said with a tone of earnest advice, "I know you look down on me, but think about it: didn't the previous Guardian also view me as prey and call my actions petty tricks?"

Seeing the Guardian sneer with disdain, Lu Yi shrugged. "I know, you wouldn't believe me even if I told you. But I still want to give you a piece of advice: you’ve already died at my hands three times. Lower your expectations of yourself. Otherwise, you might not be able to handle what comes next."

"Enough nonsense," the Guardian said with a wave of his hand. "If you’ve got the guts, stop running and let’s fight until the time limit. Let me see what makes you think you have the right to say such things."

"Oh?" Lu Yi nodded with interest. "Good spirit. It’s a pity you’re about to suffer a major setback."

The Guardian beckoned with one hand. "I won't take advantage of you. I'll let you make the first move." He laughed, "As far as I know, you people love making other prey call you 'Daddy,' and most prey seem to enjoy calling others that too. I hear that many of you call a certain man named Ma 'Daddy.' How about this: let's agree that whoever runs first has to call the other 'Daddy.' Do you dare?"

Lu Yi stared at the Guardian in bewilderment. Who said that? Wait, has this really spread that far?

"No, no," Lu Yi waved his hands repeatedly.

"What, you don't dare?" the Guardian said mockingly. "Typical. All talk and no action, but when it’s time to be tested, you turn coward."

"No, you’ve misunderstood," Lu Yi waved his hand. "Look at me, then look at you. Would I have a son like you? If you called me 'Daddy,' people would think there was something wrong with my family life."

*Sweetie Yiyi: Streamer, don't worry, we'd just think you married a high-level energy lifeform.*

*Black Phosphorus: Exactly, we'd just think you had an interspecies romance.*

Hearing the chat messages from those who loved to stir up trouble, Lu Yi looked embarrassed. He coughed and said, "I'm coming for you."

With that, Lu Yi activated his Wind-Riding Pendant and charged at the Guardian.

The Guardian’s scarlet eyes widened, and he shouted, "Well done! You’ve finally decided to show yourself." He raised his arms, and six massive water blades materialized around him. He pushed his palms forward, sending the blades flying rapidly toward Lu Yi.

Lu Yi’s lips curled into a faint smile. He didn't dodge or weave.

Seeing this, the Guardian grew suspicious. He flicked his left hand upward, and a massive hand made of water rose from the muddy ground behind Lu Yi, lunging at his back.

"What?" The Guardian’s face was filled with shock. The water blades flew past Lu Yi without causing any harm, while Lu Yi remained calm, his pace never faltering.

"Impossible!" the Guardian roared. He narrowed his scarlet eyes, raised both hands, and two giant palms materialized beside Lu Yi. "Let’s see you dodge this!" He slammed his palms downward, and the giant hands followed, enveloping Lu Yi in a sphere of water.

The Guardian still wasn't satisfied. He flicked his left index finger, and the water blades that had flown past immediately turned around and sped toward the massive water sphere.

"An improvement. That water was too murky earlier; this one is much clearer," Lu Yi’s voice came from within the sphere.

The Guardian was startled, then sneered, "You still have the mood to care about water quality? Worry about how you're going to get out."

"Getting out is no trouble at all. I just need to recite a line of lyrics," Lu Yi’s voice remained calm.

"Heh, you could chant an entire spell and it wouldn't matter," the Guardian said, refusing to believe him.

"Fine, I'll show you," Lu Yi said with a hint of resignation. "Guardian, be a good boy and open the door."

"What is that?" The Guardian was stunned.

The viewers in the live stream were also dumbfounded. As they watched, the water sphere actually trembled, revealing the outline of a door, and Lu Yi walked out with a smile on his face.

Lu Yi looked at the stunned Guardian. "Well? Don't get it? Do you want me to teach you?"

"You..." The Guardian froze, then his expression shifted to fury. "Die!" He pulled his right hand toward his body, and the water blades in the air sliced toward Lu Yi with incredible speed.

"Better a quick pain than a slow one. Let me help you wake up," Lu Yi said, holding his palm downward and slowly extending his right hand.

The six water blades in the air suddenly changed direction, heading straight for Lu Yi’s right hand.

"Kid, what are you doing? Don't you want your arm anymore?" the Guardian snarled.

Lu Yi simply smiled. The blades didn't harm him at all; instead, they turned into a stream of water that wrapped around his arm.

"Impossible!" the Guardian shrieked in disbelief.

"Nothing is impossible," Lu Yi flipped his right hand and swung his arm downward. A blade of water, even larger than the ones before, was released, cutting the Guardian in two in the blink of an eye.

"This! This!" The Guardian was clearly stunned by what had just happened. Since Lu Yi hadn't targeted his core, his water-based body reformed in seconds.

Lu Yi snapped his fingers with a smile, and a sphere of water condensed between his fingers. "Understand now?"

The Guardian’s body shook. "You... how do you know how to control water?"

As the words left his mouth, he realized the truth. "You... you actually obtained my method of water control from my core!"

"Exactly," Lu Yi nodded with an innocent smile.

*Sweetie Yiyi: What? The streamer actually got water control from the Guardian’s core? No wonder he’s so confident and isn't feeling pressured anymore.*

*Camel-Gold: So that's it! I was wondering how the Guardian could be so weak, not even noticing the streamer sneaking up on him and killing him again. It turns out the streamer can control water too—he hid his aura within the water. The Guardian never expected the streamer to have such a trick, which is why he was caught off guard.*

*Black Phosphorus: No wonder the streamer dared to stand still and take the Guardian's attacks.*

*Sweetie Yueyue: Is this the ability of the streamer’s left eye? That’s too insane.*

Hearing the chat, Lu Yi’s lips curled upward. Yes, he had learned water control through his Magic Eye. When the eye absorbed energy to heal him, it simultaneously transferred the water-control techniques it had gleaned. That was why Lu Yi had changed his plans several times.

The Guardian stared at Lu Yi with a mix of fear and uncertainty, then roared, trying to mask his insecurity, "Don't get cocky! You’ve only obtained a small portion of my energy and the basics of water control. Do you think that’s enough to stand against me?"

As he spoke, he seemed to regain his confidence. He scoffed, "You really are a fool. If you hadn't shown these off, you might have held the advantage for a while longer. You might have even expanded your lead. But you’ve revealed your trump card. Truly stupid. Why should I fear you now?"

Lu Yi raised his right index finger and wagged it. "Mr. Guardian, you're getting ahead of yourself again. Lower your expectations of yourself. I didn't show you my abilities for no reason. I did it because I’ve clearly determined that you no longer pose a threat to me."

"Hahahaha!" The Guardian roared with laughter. "You’ve mastered a mere fraction, yet you dare to boast that you don't fear me. Fine, I’ll show you my true strength and let you experience the consequences of showing off in front of a master."

The Guardian spread his arms, and a high-pressure jet of water shot toward Lu Yi.

Lu Yi raised an eyebrow, waved his right hand to part the water, and ran toward the Guardian. "It seems you still don't understand. I don't intend to compete with you on the power of your moves; I only need to ensure your moves can't hurt me."

As he finished speaking, Lu Yi broke through the high-pressure stream. He was only ten meters away from the Guardian, but he was forced to stop as an invisible pressure enveloped him.

The Guardian pressed his palms together, and two blue vortices rotating in opposite directions emerged from his palms, growing steadily larger.

"You're right," the Guardian snarled. "As long as it's water, it’s hard to hurt you. That’s why I’m going to use my other finishing move."

As the Guardian spoke, Lu Yi felt a sharp pain in his brow. His face twisted slightly. "What is this? A mental attack?!"

The Guardian roared, "Exactly! And unlike those other weaklings, I possess three finishing moves. Even among all the Guardians, I am top-tier." As he spoke, the two vortices suddenly contracted rapidly.

*Sweetie Yiyi: What? A mental-type finishing move!*

*Warm-Hearted Man: He actually has three finishing moves? I can't imagine it; I've never seen a Guardian use a second finishing move before.*

*Feng: It's over! Mental-type finishing moves lock onto the soul. You can't dodge them.*

"I’m going to destroy you on a mental level. Phantom Strike: Blade of Silence." The Guardian pushed his left palm forward and pulled his right back. A transparent broadsword, visible only by its outline, appeared in the air.

The Guardian grabbed the blade formed of psychic energy. "Let me erase your mind."

He threw the blade at Lu Yi with all his might. As soon as it left his hand, it vanished into the air, leaving no trace.