Chapter 163 From When Did It Start?

What moment did it all begin?

At this time, Jiang Botao was also carrying such doubts in his heart. He used defense as offense, guiding Tang Rou's attacks and controlling the rhythm. He always felt that he was doing very well and that the situation was completely under his control. He could predict every change that was about to happen. Not once did Tang Rou's actions exceed his expectations.

He was confident, patiently waiting for an opportunity. He hoped that a wave of counterattacks would deal enough damage to secure victory. This was both appropriate and boosted his team's morale, killing two birds with one stone.

But the opportunity never appeared, which made Jiang Botao admire Tang Rou a little. On such a big stage as the finals, in the decisive game, facing such a long-lasting offensive, she didn't seem impatient at all. She was still able to persevere. Not to mention a rookie, even many mature players may not have such firm psychological qualities.

She persisted, and Jiang Botao didn't back down either. He didn't think that prolonged consumption would be more beneficial to Tang Rou. The situation and rhythm were all in his control. He only needed one reliable opportunity, whether Tang Rou was mentally lax or had operational flaws, anything would do, as long as it appeared.

But it didn't happen, it never happened…

The Dragon Tooth, Circle Swing, and then Sky Strike just now—the attacks of several continuous beginner skills were all within Jiang Botao's judgment. After Dragon Tooth, many people felt that it was possible to counterattack, but Jiang Botao didn't.

It wasn't that he didn't think the opportunity was good enough, but that in his eyes, there simply wasn't an opportunity here.

At that time, a hint of astonishment flashed through his heart.

Dragon Tooth connected to Circle Swing. The extension speed of the attack was too fast. Counterattacking after Dragon Tooth would definitely result in being grabbed by this Circle Swing. There was no way to counterattack at this time, only to dodge.

Jiang Botao successfully avoided Dragon Tooth and Circle Swing, and then Sky Strike…

As expected!

Jiang Botao didn't let Wulang rest. He rolled to avoid Circle Swing and then jumped into the air to dodge this Sky Strike.

If he could avoid parrying, Jiang Botao certainly wouldn't let Wulang parry. He wouldn't ignore this trick against Battle Mages that ordinary players knew.

But just then, the Fire Dance Flowing Flame, which was performing Sky Strike, suddenly stretched forward.

Was he seeing things?

In such a moment, Jiang Botao couldn't risk it, even if he was seeing things. Parrying would cause the opponent to generate a light-attribute magical orb, which was obviously more acceptable than being launched into the air by Sky Strike.

So the short sword Sky Chain was raised.

This confirmed that he was indeed not seeing things.

The Fire Dance Flowing Flame of Sky Strike hit the Sky Chain, and the light-attribute magical orb shot out as soon as it was generated. Even if Jiang Botao was prepared, he couldn't dodge it. Magical orbs had tracking effects!

The magical orb hit, and Han Yanrou's attack speed increased, and the offensive continued.

One magical orb didn't allow Tang Rou to find an opportunity to continuously damage her opponent. Ordinary viewers didn't take it too seriously. After all, Tang Rou had been on the offensive all along. Under such circumstances, Jiang Botao's Wulang wasn't unscathed. Before this, he had also been attacked and injured, losing about seven percent of his health.

But the professional players were all clear that this time was different, not the same at all.

Because this time, Jiang Botao lost his composure and no longer had the confidence he had always had. The hasty parry of Sky Strike meant that this change was unexpected.

The rhythm was no longer under his control, and the situation was no longer entirely up to him.

Pfft!

It hadn't been long since he was hit by the light-attribute magical orb, and Jiang Botao's Wulang was suddenly stabbed by a spear. Although it was just a normal attack with very low damage, what professional players saw was no longer a matter of data, but Jiang Botao's declining control over the situation.

Could Jiang Botao not have anticipated this ordinary direct thrust attack?

No, that was impossible.

This attack came so smoothly, so obviously, that even an ordinary player would understand that they could follow up with a convenient direct stab here.

He knew, but he couldn't avoid it.

In Jiang Botao's heart, it was no longer a "hint of astonishment," but a rather deep sense of crisis.

It wasn't a crucial change, nor was it a new type of tactic. This was a hard-won change made in the details based on his reaction and operation. This was what was known as talent, and now, Tang Rou was transforming this talent into formidable combat power. She was no longer just bursting out her hand speed recklessly, but meticulously controlling every small change.

"So strong…"

Someone said.

No one responded, but everyone was extremely clear that this "so strong" was definitely not about Jiang Botao, but about Tang Rou.

At this moment, everyone realized that this rookie from Happy could no longer be regarded as a newcomer. This rookie was probably already at the top of Glory.

She was like the rising stars of each season: the Prosperous Blooms of Blood and Fire combination in the second season, Wang Jiexi in the third season, and many players from the Golden Generation in the fourth season, Zhou Zekai in the fifth season… The level they showed in their rookie years had directly deified them. However, with the development of the league and the increasing intensity of competition, it became increasingly difficult for rookies to emerge. Since the sixth season, only Sun Xiang in the seventh season could be considered to have reached the level of deification of his predecessors. What about after that?

Zhao Yuzhe, the best rookie of the eighth season? He still hadn't entered the All-Star Game!

Lu Hanwen, the best rookie of the ninth season? He attracted attention because of his youth, and also because of his youth, his psychological qualities were praised. People believed that he would definitely have a bright future, but probably no one thought that he was enough to be deified.

So, what about Tang Rou?

When these rookies were compared side by side, everyone immediately realized that Tang Rou's situation was similar to Lu Hanwen's, but also the opposite.

Because Lu Hanwen was young, he received more tolerance, and people's expectations of him would involuntarily be lowered.

And what about Tang Rou? Because of the One Versus Three incident, she was criticized by thousands, and a group of people chased after her and scolded her for an entire season. People's demands on her had been very harsh since then. As long as she didn't win a One Versus Three, there would be all kinds of ridicule and mockery.

But, One Versus Three… What kind of standard was this? Using this as a standard was not only harsh, but simply nitpicking.

If you put aside this intentional desire to make things difficult, and then examine Tang Rou's performance throughout the season, the league's award of Best Rookie was completely uncontroversial.

Forever high fighting spirit, strong psychological qualities, amazing talent, and constantly evolving technology and Glory IQ…

Counting all of Tang Rou's attributes, everyone discovered that perhaps the only thing that could be regarded as a flaw was her age.

Tang Rou was not young. She was now 23 years old. In the early professional circles, some players of this age might have chosen to retire; nowadays, this age would be about the peak of technology and experience. Depending on the individual situation, the duration would vary. On average, they would start to decline gradually in a year or two.

And Tang Rou, this was only her first season, and her level was even still on the rise, but her age might not be able to support her to reach the peak…

What a pity.

Everyone was thinking.

But amidst the pity, it seemed… there was also a hint of rejoicing.

After all, this was an opponent. Although such a thought was not very magnanimous, who would go out of their way to play the tragedy of being born at the wrong time? Those top-level gods who retired in obscurity because they were in the same era as Ye Qiu would always have a little bit of the thought, "If there were no Ye Qiu," how good would that be.

And at this time, Tang Rou actually made the masters feel this sense of panic they wanted to avoid.

Everyone wanted to escape. Jiang Botao, can you still hold on?

He couldn't hold on anymore!

As soon as everyone's attention returned to the arena, they saw Jiang Botao's Wulang continuing to retreat steadily. Before, his retreat was a selective concession, a guide to Tang Rou's offensive; now, he was retreating out of helplessness. He simply had no second choice but to retreat.

He couldn't retreat any further!

Jiang Botao was very clear about this in his heart. If the current situation continued to grind on like this, Wulang's losses would become greater and greater, and a wave of counterattacks might not be enough to secure victory. Now he needed to be tough, to break through Tang Rou's offensive head-on.

Would there be a chance?

Jiang Botao observed and pondered.

His consistent soft and gentle tactics should have allowed his opponent to form a certain mindset. At this time, if he suddenly charged once, even if he couldn't take advantage of the situation to counterattack, disrupting the opponent's rhythm should not be a problem.

Tyrant's Destruction!

The Fire Dance Flowing Flame in Han Yanrou's hand swept again, and Jiang Botao completed his calculations in his heart.

It was now.

He would do it as soon as he said it. Too much preparation would easily make his opponent wary. What he wanted now was abruptness, what he wanted was to catch the opponent off guard, and what he wanted was to create opportunities when there were no opportunities.

Wulang jumped up, jumped forward, as if colliding with the strong wind swept by Tyrant's Destruction. However, Wulang, who jumped into mid-air, immediately curled up his legs, letting the Fire Dance Flowing Flame pass under him.

This was not enough!

Jiang Botao was clear in his heart. He had already felt Tang Rou's reaction and operation at such close range. Tang Rou could definitely make adjustments and responses to this Tyrant's Destruction, which seemed to have already passed.

But he was not afraid, because Wulang's attack had already been launched. Jiang Botao was not pursuing any breakthroughs with this attack. He was only trying to disrupt the situation. A two-sided exchange where both sides were injured would be considered a success for him.

Toughness!

Jiang Botao showed his toughness.

Tang Rou didn't retreat. Of course, she wouldn't retreat. As long as she persisted, nothing would make her choose to shrink back.

The sword flashed, and the power of fluctuation jumped out. Wulang's Wave Splitting Slash had already been launched.

What about Tyrant's Destruction?

Tyrant's Destruction seemed to pause for a moment, but then there was no change. Only Han Yanrou's other hand lifted, and a wave of magic power flowed quickly.

Not good!

Jiang Botao realized what this was. He was extremely anxious, only hoping that this sword could still catch up. But in the end, when the power of fluctuation surged up, it only locked onto some traces of magic power after the circulation…

Instant movement.

A weapon-crafted skill.

It wasn't a big surprise for a Battle Mage to choose instant movement. Sun Xiang also often chose this skill. Jiang Botao didn't ignore this skill. He just didn't expect that at such a distance, with the attack imminent, she would dare to use instant movement?

This confidence, this courage, really exceeded his imagination. It seemed more likely that she wouldn't make it with this instant movement, but Tang Rou wasn't afraid of such consequences. What she showed was the determination to win the victory even if she was hit by this Wave Splitting Slash!

Only with such determination was it possible to have such unwavering decisiveness at this time, and only such decisiveness allowed this instant movement to be successfully launched before being locked on by the Wave Splitting Slash.

Han Yanrou completely disappeared from Jiang Botao's sight.

Behind him…

Jiang Botao immediately guessed it, but Wulang was still in mid-air at this time. He hurriedly canceled the attack and hurriedly used Silver Light Falling Blade to change Wulang's shape in the air, but he was too late…

The Fire Dance Flowing Flame had already stabbed into his waist, Circle Swing!

Wulang was thrown back, but he didn't slam into the ground. Tang Rou gave up the main damage of the Circle Swing, simply throwing Wulang in front of her.

The skill had been canceled, and Wulang in the air had regained his mobility. Jiang Botao reacted quickly and immediately used the Silver Light Falling Blade that he hadn't had time to use.

But what awaited him was… Hundred Dragon Meteor Strike!

His surroundings were instantly occupied by the afterimages of the Fire Dance Flowing Flame. Tang Rou didn't even think about which side he would dodge to. She used this skill to simply fill all of Jiang Botao's choices.

The judgment of Silver Light Falling Blade was vulnerable in front of Hundred Dragon Meteor Strike. Wulang in the air was instantly stabbed several times.

Wulang fell backward, and Han Yanrou hurried forward, attacking while moving, stabbing all of the Hundred Dragon Meteor Strike into Wulang.

It wasn't over yet…

Dragon Tooth!

After Hundred Dragon Meteor Strike, she used Dragon Tooth to stab again.

Hit, stiffened, and the next attack was inevitable, it would definitely hit.

Soaring Dragon Break!

Tang Rou used her next big move. Han Yanrou held the Fire Dance Flowing Flame against Wulang and charged, charged, charged, all the way forward!

The irresistible impact force of this charge was very far.

Jiang Botao waited, he waited for the moment when the skill ended…

Boom!

Soaring Dragon Break reached the end, and the condensed magic battle energy collided with the air at the end, making a roar.

Wulang was shaken and flew out, but the Sky Chain in his hand was raised at this time without losing the opportunity.

Aurora Wave Sword!

The fastest of the Wave Swords, the power of fluctuation instantly condensed, swept out, and swept directly at Han Yanrou.

Jiang Botao's reaction was very fast, his operation was also very fast, and his timing was also very accurate.

But Tang Rou wasn't worse than him. Soaring Dragon Break reached the end, Han Yanrou jumped back, and her battle spear pointed out.

Raging Dragon Piercing Heart!

The Fire Dance Flowing Flame passed through the fluctuation power of the Aurora Wave Sword. One was physical, and the other was magic. The two skills collided, but they did not interfere with each other.

Pfft! Pfft!

Han Yanrou was swept by the Aurora Wave Sword, leaving a sword mark on her leather armor.

Wulang was also unable to escape the pursuit of this Raging Dragon Piercing Heart. The magic battle energy directly pierced through his back, piercing him through.

Han Yanrou staggered, but quickly stabilized.

Wulang was hit by the Raging Dragon Piercing Heart while he was still floating in the air, sending him flying again.

He landed, rolled, and quickly stabilized his body, but the surrounding scene made Jiang Botao a little unfamiliar.

He soon saw a wooden sign in front of Wulang.

He saw the back of the wooden sign, which was very rough and had nothing on it.

What he couldn't see was the front of the wooden sign, which was written with four big characters.

Trespassers die!