Chapter 433: Where Did The Error Occur?

A tense Su Wanqing explained who Michael was.

"Oh?" Li Xiaofei’s eyes lit up.

One of the leaders of Mechanical Eternity? This is truly a case of the enemy delivering themselves to my doorstep. The final boss, here in person. Taking him out could solve everything.

"Don’t underestimate him," Su Wanqing cautioned. "He’s a terrifying figure who possesses the technological peak of both Mythical Heavy Industry and Eternal Precision. In the Dragon Group’s internal system, he’s classified as an SS-level threat, on par with a Saint."

"A Saint, huh?" Li Xiaofei licked his lips.

It wasn’t as if he hadn’t killed one before. Sure, he’d borrowed Liu Shaji’s help... but it had been his push that had triggered the sword strike.

“And he’s accompanied by the Four Mechanical Guardians,” Su Wanqing added. “Rumor has it they each possess Dao Union Realm combat strength, and they’re masters of coordinated attacks.”

Unaware of Li Xiaofei’s prior accomplishments, Su Wanqing couldn’t help feeling anxious as she covertly attempted to contact Xuan Huang. On the other hand, Lin Wan had full confidence in Li Xiaofei. After all, she had witnessed him effortlessly take down both high-grade zombies and Mei Fusu, Mechanical Eternity’s top fighter, in a single move.

Across the courtyard, Michael observed Li Xiaofei, the young man who had thwarted his plan to seize the Corpse Emperor Sacred Crystal, with interest. This boy, whom the Solar Whale-class light core had flagged as a highly probable Dragon Seed level operative trained meticulously by the Dragon Group, was one of the reasons Michael had decided to appear personally.

However, Michael didn’t waste any words. He gestured, and one of the Mechanical Guardians lumbered forward. The Yellow Guardian towered like a metal colossus. His massive form was clad in heavy alloy armor, resembling power armor but even more form-fitting, exuding an overwhelming mechanical presence.

Boom!

The Yellow Guardian threw a punch. Encased in a metallic gauntlet, his fist tore through the air, creating a shockwave that seemed to detonate the very atmosphere. The chaotic turbulence rippled outward.

Li Xiaofei threw his own punch in response. Combining all four moves of the Great Strength Vajra Fist, he unleashed a devastating strike. The wrath of the Vajra was unstoppable and peerless!

Boom!

Fist met with fist. The resulting shockwave exploded outward like a tempest, centered around the two of them. Su Wanqing instinctively shielded Lin Wan, both girls struggling to withstand the violent gusts that nearly suffocated them.

Across from them, Michael sat utterly still in his hovering wheelchair. The shockwave dissipated like a gentle breeze once it reached within a meter of him. With another calm gesture, four silver streams shot out from his wheelchair.

Bang, bang, bang, bang.

The silver streams transformed into four gleaming metal pillars that embedded themselves in a square formation, enclosing the entire battlefield in a 500-meter square. As the blue markers on each pillar flickered to life, a peculiar force field expanded, instantly blanketing the area. At that moment, all sound and movement were completely isolated from the outside world.

There were even visual distortions, making it appear as if the courtyard outside Su Wanqing’s dormitory was calm and undisturbed, as though no battle was taking place. Anyone viewing from beyond the square field would only see a serene scene, regardless of their angle.

Within the battlefield, the turbulence settled. Six deep footprints marked Li Xiaofei’s backward steps. Opposite him, the Yellow Guardian had been forced back thirty meters, gouging two ten-meter trenches in the ground. Sparks erupted from mechanical damage on his right arm, where he had struck.

"You are the first martial artist in the last twenty years to repel the Earth Guardian solely through raw physical strength," Michael remarked in admiration.

He could tell that Li Xiaofei had used the Great Strength Vajra Fist. This rare and highly coveted martial technique, widely discussed on the Grandmaster of Heaven Martial Arts stream, had intrigued Michael. He had devoted considerable time to analyze it as part of his ongoing study of ancient martial arts.

Unlike many of the New Martial Arts elites who dismissed Great Xia's ancient martial lineage, Michael had always acknowledged the power and potential within it. He aimed to assimilate its essence into modern techniques. Michael had personally dissected and analyzed the Great Strength Vajra Fist, appreciating its pure strength and the precision required to master it.

It was undeniable. This was a complete, meticulous martial art that even touched upon the mental and spiritual realms. Yet, truthfully, Michael had never seen anyone unleash the Great Strength Vajra Fist with the sheer power and presence that Li Xiaofei had just displayed.

Michael smiled as he evaluated Li Xiaofei’s physique. “Perfect; truly perfect. With your body as the foundation, I could create a true Mechanical Saint.”

He signaled the Yellow Guardian to attack again, and the Yellow Guardian launched a punch again.

“Hm?” A flicker of surprise appeared on Li Xiaofei’s face.

The Yellow Guardian was using the Great Strength Vajra Fist as well. Beneath the damaged skin of his arm, circuits glowed faintly, mimicking the flow of inner qi through the meridians of a true martial artist.

It was almost surreal. The resulting blow matched the authentic Great Strength Vajra Fist.

Intrigued, Li Xiaofei decided to engage with the same technique. Li Xiaofei’s execution of the Great Strength Vajra Fist was flawless. His punches landed with godlike strength as each blow carried the force of mountains and oceans.

The two exchanged dozens of moves, but their strikes were evenly matched as neither gained the upper hand.

"Interesting." Li Xiaofei couldn’t help but admire the intricacy of the Yellow Guardian's modifications.

This Earth Guardian has over half his body replaced with metal and machinery. They replaced joints, bones, and blood vessels! Those wires are like his meridians, while the energy driving him is his inner qi.

To use a mechanical body to perform ancient martial arts with 99% accuracy... incredible. Plus, with a light core inside, his computational power is off the charts, allowing him to calculate and execute every nuance of the Great Strength Vajra Fist, even deciphering its movements in real time.”

Li Xiaofei marveled as they continued exchanging blows. On Earth, the New Martial Arts factions generally fell into two camps: the Biological Path and the Mechanical Path.

The Biological Path focused on implanting and refining the Inscribed Treasure Bones of star beasts, using shortcuts to inherit the star beasts’ strength and innate combat skills. On the other hand, the Mechanical Path focused on technological transformation, creating warriors who were either partially or fully mechanized.

While the two paths were not entirely opposed and often blended elements, the Yellow Guardian showcased a distinct and purer mechanical approach—one that combined the mechanical body with ancient martial arts cultivation. Genius. But...

I can't keep stalling.

Li Xiaofei realized time was not on his side. He shifted techniques abruptly, transitioning to the Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms.

Regretful Dragon! He roared as his icy inner qi formed into a massive ice dragon that spiraled outward with a cold fury.

Boom!

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

The Earth Guardian took the hit squarely on his left shoulder. Instantly, frost spread across most of his left arm, causing the synthetic skin to crack and reveal the metal skeleton and energy cables beneath.

The Earth Guardian staggered back, his form momentarily disrupted. But a faint glow appeared over his injured arm. Nano-scale metal plating swiftly regenerated, covering the damaged areas and protecting the energy cables beneath once more.

The scene looked like something out of a Tin Man sequence from five centuries ago.

"Huh?" Li Xiaofei was taken aback.

He hadn’t expected his Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms to fail at shattering the opponent completely. After all, this was the Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms powered by the Dual Saint Body of Blade and Sword’s inner qi.

What kind of metal was this cyborg made from that it could withstand such force? Not only that, but it also had self-repair capabilities. This was a monster! It was clearly the strongest cyborg Li Xiaofei had encountered to date.

In the next instant, the Earth Guardian counterattacked, unleashing none other than the Six Meridian Divine Sword. Beams of energy shot from his five fingers, crossing the air as pure, tangible sword qi.

What the—?

Even the Six Meridian Divine Sword could be replicated? Has new martial technology really advanced to such a terrifying level?

"Surprised?" Michael’s cold smile hovered between pride and explanation. "This is a blow against your ancient martial arts. Any so-called True Legacy is nothing more than data once we’ve analyzed it. That data, once uploaded to any cyborg’s brain core, allows them to master techniques and skills that take you martial artists years, even decades, to perfect in mere seconds. As long as the light core processing power of the brain core is sufficient, decoding any ancient martial technique takes me seconds."

Su Wanqing and Lin Wan couldn’t help but inhale sharply. As students of ancient martial arts, they understood the gravity of Michael’s words. It was a devastating blow to the tradition of ancient martial arts. But Li Xiaofei was hardly fazed.

Continuing to fight, he sneered. "If your mechanical martial arts are truly so powerful, then you would’ve ruled the world by now instead of lurking in Xiajing City. Why don’t you talk about its flaws?"

Michael’s response was calm, "My path is flawless."

Li Xiaofei scoffed, channeling his inner fire qi through the Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms. The Earth Guardian was forced back with each strike, his metallic body now flickering with flames.

But the flames weren’t enough to break his resolve or impair his combat capabilities. He remained as tenacious as ever. Meanwhile, with another gesture from Michael, the other three Guardians joined in.

Earth, Fire, Water, Wind! Each Guardian was equally formidable and had been remodeled according to Michael’s design. They all possessed mastery over ancient martial arts combined with the strength of a cyborg.

As the four joined forces, Li Xiaofei quickly found himself at a disadvantage. In moments, the battle took a dangerous turn. Even when he tried to use the Graceful Step of the Waves, the Guardians adapted and countered his movements.

"It seems every technique taught in the Grandmaster of Heaven Martial Arts livestream has been cracked by Michael," Li Xiaofei quickly realized. The Four Guardians were entirely unfazed by these moves.

The path of machines indeed held its own unparalleled brilliance. But... Li Xiaofei switched to a different movement technique.

"Victory is certain," Michael remarked calmly as he observed the change. "In fifty seconds, you’ll be brought down."

This wasn’t a boast but the result of precise calculations from his brain core. It was a prediction that, in his view, was infallible. Ten seconds. Thirty seconds. Forty-five seconds. Forty-nine seconds.

Time flew by slowly yet swiftly. Finally, the sixty-second mark passed. For the first time, Michael’s expression shifted to one of surprise.

Against all calculations, Li Xiaofei had lasted a full minute against the encirclement of the Four Guardians, defying the brain core’s prediction.

How is this possible? Where did the miscalculation occur?