<h4>Chapter 1387: Splitsilver Braggadocio</h4>


    Were there many Splitsilverbatants because of how populous their race was? Or did they consider the Cup like a standard trial, sending many of the younger generation over?


    The Splitsilverbatant looked very shocked to see Zhang Lie. "A race I''ve never seen before? You must be from somewhere in the dumps, then, here to participate in the Cup for the first time."


    Zhang Lie frowned again.


    The Splitsilverbatant continued, "Looks like it''s a free win for me, then."


    "Isn''t that a Splitsilver?"


    Zhang Lie turned. All around him, beside the familiar arena, was arge audience stand. Countless figures of light were watching the Cup unfold. Neither their faces nor figures could be seen.


    "This is almost like an online forum..."


    Everyone was anonymous.


    Perhaps because Zhang Lie''s opponent was a Splitsilver, who were known for their hacks, Zhang Lie''s arena quickly became packed.


    Many observers were here to see what sorts of hacks the Splitsilver had prepared for this iteration of the Cup.


    The figures of light shouted, "What sorts of hacks will you show us this time around?"


    The Splitsilverbatant shouted back, "nder! nder and calumny! I''m innocent."


    "Innocent? Thest iteration of the Cup, I saw one of your fellowpetitors execute a hack before getting banned!"


    The Splitsilverbatant''s face flushed red as he disputed, "We make technological advances. It''s technology! How can that be considered hacking?"


    The figures of light all roared inughter, giving the Cup a surprisingly cheerful atmosphere.


    Zhang Lie walked up to the arena. "Let''s start. Don''t waste everyone''s time."


    The Splitsilverbatant stepped down the stairs, unhurried. "What, are you trying to rush to your death?"


    The figures of light wondered, "What sort of race is this? I haven''t seen their like before in the previous iterations of the Cup."


    "Must be someone weak."


    "How unlucky they are to have encountered a Splitsilver from the start!"


    "Well, it''s a weakling, isn''t it? It''s doomed to lose anyway."


    The Splitsilverbatant waved a hand impatiently. "If you don''t want to waste everyone''s time, you should surrender. You don''t stand a chance, after all."


    "Do you think you''re sure to win with your hacks, then?"


    The Splitsilverbatant hmphed at him. "Against you, a hack would be a waste!"


    Zhang Lie curled a finger, taunting him.


    The Splitsilverbatant shot forward with a punch straight toward his skull with a silver burst of light.


    Gic energy surged through Zhang Lie''s body as he radiated light. Pale-blue gic energy exploded all around him as he held up an arm in self-defense.


    On impact, Zhang Lie was sent flying.


    The Splitsilverbatant frowned. "You do have some strength, after all..."


    "Meanwhile, it looks like you aren''t very strong without your hacks." Zhang Lie slowly walked forward, pale-blue gic energy surging around him, roiling like the tides.


    The Splitsilverbatant in front of him didn''t feel any different from the one he had encountered in Bu Wentian''s trial. Thetter might even have been quite a bit stronger, considering that thetter was surely weakened when pulled from Bu Wentian''s memories.


    The spectators of light gaped at Zhang Lie.


    "Just what gxy did this strange challengere from, to be able to fight a Splitsilverbatant to a standstill?"


    Although it was well known that the Splitsilver race enjoyed using hacks in the Cup, almost like a local custom of sorts, which the spectatorsughed at and anticipated, the Splitsilvers were still a very strong race.


    It was therefore astounding to see a Splitsilverbatant being unable to defeat the unknownbatant before him.


    With explosive force, divine light radiated from Zhang Lie as he soared into the sky, causing everything around him to shake.


    "[Fists of the Silent Sea: Soar]!"


    Pale blue gic energy rippled about Zhang Lie''s arms. He flicked his wrists, causing a frightening aura to descend on the world. The sky began to darken, and a fish the size of a whale materialized in the air.


    A howling gale swept over the space. As more and more gic energy gathered around Zhang Lie''s arms, it looked as though he were at the heart of a whirlpool.


    A huge wave soared into the air. As Zhang Lie punched forward, the fish mmed its huge tail on the ground and sent a torrent of water surging.


    Ripples of energy spread out from Zhang Lie, warping the space around him. The towering waves looked like enraged ck dragons, flooding the space.


    The world reverberated with force. As the waves burst apart, the air filled with echoes of Zhang Lie''s signature gic energy, shattering space and swallowing up all life in its vicinity. Light and shadow danced in the air.


    The Splitsilverbatant before Zhang Lie was sent flying by a huge wave of force.


    "[The Boundless de: Yawning Wave]!"


    Water-attuned gic energy encircled Zhang Lie''s finger as he unleashed devastating sword energy.


    One of the Splitsilverbatant''s arms was chopped off. A raging shark surfed toward it atop a wave of sword energy.


    The Splitsilverbatant cried out as a silver light illuminated the arena.


    The silver light shone down with ring intensity. It broke apart at its highest point and unfolded to form a silver lotus, with formless runes that spread throughout heaven and earth. Silver roots extended from its base and into the naturalw of the space.


    Zhang Lie felt his body being restrained by the silver roots to such an extent that even moving became difficult.


    The Splitsilverbatant wiped at the blood by his lips. "You''re rather strong, to be able to push me to this extent, but that''s it!"


    "Scram! [Ninecarp Transformation]!"


    A ck serpent materialized behind Zhang Lie, by now sorge and so developed that it resembled the world-swallowing serpent Jormungandr. It let out a threatening hiss as its scales clicked together.


    Pitch-ck gic energy revolved around Zhang Lie like dark clouds, then exploded forth in his vicinity, immediately dispelling the pressure around himself.


    The Splitsilverbatant gaped in fright, and the spectators watched on in shock.


    This unknownbatant had just staged an upset!


    He had to be the dark horse of this iteration of the Cup.


    The Splitsilverbatant, however, suddenly calmed down after seemingly hearing something by his ear. He proimed coolly, "I acknowledge that you''re a rather strong opponent considering your nameless race, but the Splitsilvers won''t go down easily!"