Chapter 156: Battle with Gengetsu Hōzuki
Between the mountain ridges, two figures—one large, one small—stood facing each other…
Without any warning, the battle erupted instantly!
"Water Release—Water Gun Technique!" Gengetsu Hozuki showed no mercy. Raising a single finger, he fired a highly penetrative water bullet straight at Li Jiexuan—an attack that could be called absolute offense!
"Dragon Sage Mode, Eight Gates—Gate of View!" Li Jiexuan refused to fall behind. With a flicker of thought, an ice-blue armor and a wooden armor wrapped around his body, granting him absolute defense!
Absolute offense VS absolute defense!
Li Jiexuan deliberately chose to test Gengetsu's Water Gun. Instead of dodging, he charged straight into it!
"Pfft!"
But the instant the water bullet struck the ice armor, Li Jiexuan frowned. The ice armor shattered far too quickly—the power of this Water Gun far exceeded his expectations. Almost simultaneously, the Wood Release armor cracked apart as well.
Then came the final layer of defense—the silver scales of Dragon Sage Mode. Even they couldn't withstand it. Though they held for a brief moment, they were still pierced. Fortunately, in that sliver of time, Li Jiexuan twisted his body, letting the Water Gun graze past his arm.
"As expected of the Mizukage. You're really strong!"
After taking a small loss, Li Jiexuan became even more cautious. If Reto had only been slightly stronger than a jōnin, then Gengetsu Hōzuki had unquestionably reached the level of the Akatsuki. Relying on speed, Li Jiexuan continuously dodged the Water Gun attacks while secretly closing in, attempting to decide the battle with taijutsu!
Fortunately, Gengetsu seemed not to notice at all!
The distance between them grew shorter and shorter… Finally, it was close enough!
"Eight Gates—Morning Peacock!" Li Jiexuan leapt into the sky. His extraordinary punching speed ignited the air itself, like a massive peacock spreading its tail, completely engulfing the stunned Gengetsu!
"How is this possible?"
"How could Lord Mizukage lose just like that?"
"Lord Mizukage was defeated by a child?"
As the crowd buzzed with shock, the fiery aftermath of Morning Peacock gradually dispersed—yet Gengetsu stood there completely unharmed.
"How is that possible?"
Unwilling to believe it, Li Jiexuan threw another Morning Peacock punch!
But Gengetsu still stood there without a scratch, quietly smiling at him…
"No, that's not right. This is an illusion!"
Li Jiexuan suddenly realized the truth. Even someone with invincible defense like Gaara couldn't continuously tank Morning Peacock head-on. If that was the case, then there was only one explanation!
"Summoning Beast—Clam!"
In the anime, this enormous clam summon had left a deep impression on Li Jiexuan. Combined with Gengetsu, it could create a massive illusion—Mirage.
"Hahaha! Even if you know, what does it matter?" Gengetsu's illusion laughed wildly. "As long as you're trapped in the Mirage, you'll never be able to hurt me!"
Hearing that, Li Jiexuan smiled and shook his head. He pulled a drawing board out of his pocket…
"What are you doing?" Gengetsu felt an instinctive unease.
"Drawing."
With a smile, Li Jiexuan flipped the board around. A giant white clam was vividly sketched on the paper.
"That's the clam?" Gengetsu's eyes widened in shock. "How do you know about my summoning beast? What are you trying to do?"
Li Jiexuan lightly moved his brush. A bolt of lightning as thick as a barrel suddenly crashed down, blasting a massive clam out of invisibility.
With a loud bang, the summoned beast shattered into pieces and returned to its summoning realm…
The Mirage illusion collapsed instantly!
"What kind of genjutsu is this?" Gengetsu stared in disbelief. He couldn't understand why an illusion had turned into reality.
Li Jiexuan smiled faintly. Of course, Gengetsu wouldn't know.
The strongest bloodline limit of the Kurama Clan wouldn't appear for another fifty years…
"But don't get cocky. This is only the beginning!" Gengetsu roared as he formed hand seals. "Water Release—Water Balloon Technique!"
Hundreds of round water balloons floated leisurely in the air. With a sinister grin, Gengetsu waved his arm. "Now, you can't dodge!"
The hundreds of water balloons slowly surrounded Li Jiexuan. They looked harmless, as if they would pop with a single poke…
"Go ahead, use taijutsu. If you do, these water balloons will teach you a profound lesson!" Gengetsu grinned. "Judging by appearances is a bad habit!"
However…
"Lightning Release—Chidori Sharp Spear!"
A massive tree of lightning burst from the Kusanagi Sword, instantly detonating every single water balloon.
"Why didn't you use taijutsu? Instead, you used a Lightning Release that consumes so much chakra?" Gengetsu's eyes widened in confusion. "You seem to know me inside and out."
This battle was unbearably frustrating. Every time he used one of his signature techniques, Li Jiexuan effortlessly countered it. In front of him, Gengetsu felt like a naked child—completely exposed, with no secrets at all!
How was he supposed to answer that?
Li Jiexuan felt helpless. He couldn't exactly tell Gengetsu that everything he knew had come straight from his own mouth. Not just him—hundreds of millions of people knew his fighting style…
When facing Mirage, attack the invisible clam.
Water balloons explode.
And Vapor Style: Steaming Danger Tyranny creates endlessly exploding clones!
Before the thought even finished forming, Gengetsu could no longer endure it. Roaring, he unleashed his strongest ultimate technique:
"Vapor Style—Steaming Danger Tyranny!"
"Speak of the devil…"