Chapter 440: Chapter 200: Two Layers of Potential Energy, the Spear Intent’s Killing Blow
’I’d already told him not to drag Guo Wei into this. Yet for his own benefit, Qu Qingcheng actually revealed my identity at a time like this, even mentioning Guo Wei.’
At that moment, Chu Lingguang really just wanted to walk away.
But things had already come to this. Leaving wouldn’t solve the problem. His only choice was to intimidate this entire group so they wouldn’t dare make a move.
"You may have the protection of the Court’s special privileges, but if you act lawlessly within Great Yuan Territory and disrupt travel on the Canal, don’t blame me for being merciless."
Chu Lingguang warned.
"Your master killed my older brother in the Hundred Thousand Mountains. I haven’t settled that score yet. Now you and he want to drive us out of South City? It looks to me like your Great Yuan Court wants to sever diplomatic ties between our nations,"
Batu Tieshan sneered.
"My Court opened its ports to you for trade. The intention was for mutual cooperation and prosperity, not for you to come here and cause trouble. If the Court knew you were acting with such impunity on the Canal, ramming passing ships at will, I guarantee no one would tolerate it. So don’t try to scare me by threatening our nations’ diplomatic ties—the only ones trying to sabotage them are you!"
Chu Lingguang said, pointing at the two men.
Batu Tieshan and Isiluge were both taken aback.
"If you want to do business in Great Yuan, then follow the rules. Otherwise, get the hell out!"
Chu Lingguang roared.
"Get out!"
"Get out!"
The members of the Shuiyu Gang shouted in unison.
Chu Lingguang’s words were a massive encouragement. This had always been their territory; it wasn’t for the Turkic people to come and run rampant.
’Diplomatic immunity, special privileges... just hearing the words was infuriating. If they thought they could win, they would have torn these people to shreds.’
"You don’t get to decide the rules here."
Suddenly, an oppressive voice drifted out from the ship’s cabin.
A young Turkic man emerged from the cabin, flanked by two songstresses.
Upon seeing the young man, Batu Tieshan and Isiluge both performed a simple bow. The youth was apparently a member of the Turkic Nobility.
"Careful. He’s a member of the Turkic Royal Family."
Ge Jinxiong whispered the warning, having deduced the young man’s status from their bow.
"The top-ranked martial artist in South City. Disciple of Guo Wei. The one who killed Samba and, not long ago, ran amok in our Turkic territory. Hmm, interesting."
The youth was also sizing up Chu Lingguang.
A Spiritual Sense Fluctuation surged toward Chu Lingguang, attempting to probe the full extent of his power.
Chu Lingguang’s Sea of Consciousness Power flared, shattering the probe.
"Oh? Impressive indeed."
The youth was taken aback for a second before exclaiming in amazement. It was rare to find someone in his generation who could disperse his Spiritual Sense Fluctuation.
"Let’s settle this with a fight. If you lose, the Shuiyu Gang sells the shipyard to me and leaves these waters forever. If you win, I’ll take my people and leave, and we’ll abide by the rules of these waters. What do you think?"
the youth said.
Chu Lingguang looked toward Qu Qingcheng.
"Alright, you have a deal. If you can defeat Young Master Chu, the Shuiyu Gang will sell you the shipyard."
Qu Qingcheng said after a moment’s thought.
The youth’s status was extraordinary. If Qu Qingcheng didn’t firmly back Chu Lingguang now, Chu Lingguang might refuse to fight. Even if he did fight, he might not give it his all.
Chu Lingguang, however, was deep in thought.
’Qu Qingcheng’s support made me feel a little better, but this youth is brimming with confidence. He proposed the stakes himself, framing this as a fair duel. His real goal is to drag me into a fight to the death.’
’After all, I’m the top-ranked martial artist in South City, and this is Great Yuan Territory. Even if he is from the Turkic Royal Family, if he killed me for no good reason right before the Provincial Martial Arts Examination, the Court would never let it slide. They wouldn’t find it so easy to leave Great Yuan.’
’But if I agree to this duel, it gives him a legitimate pretext. He won’t have to worry about repercussions from the Great Yuan Court.’
So, this battle had already taken on a different nature.
This wasn’t a squabble over territory; it was a battle to the death. If he backed out now or lost, he would become a laughingstock.
But the arrow was already nocked and had to be loosed.
The choice was no longer his to make.
The moment Qu Qingcheng revealed his identity, the youth had started planning this. He was turning a simple gang dispute into a high-profile showdown between a scion of the Turkic Nobility and the top candidate for Great Yuan’s Martial Arts Examination.
Just like Samba had done, he was raising the stakes, forcing Chu Lingguang’s hand.
"Fine! Loser gets out!"
Chu Lingguang declared, his voice ringing with conviction.
"Bring me my sword!"
The youth grinned. He knew Chu Lingguang couldn’t refuse.
One of the songstresses at his side went into the cabin and returned with a Treasure Sword, its hilt inlaid with White Jade.
"Face my blade!"
The youth shrugged off his fur coat. With a flick of his wrist, the longsword left its sheath, and a dazzling flourish of the blade shot toward Chu Lingguang.
Chu Lingguang was already on high alert.
He reacted instantly, blocking with his Flying Leaf Lotus Spear. A single Thrust conjured countless spear shadows, forming a three-foot-wide defensive perimeter that the youth’s Sword Technique struggled to penetrate.
A sword is an exceptionally sharp weapon.
But it is also more flexible. Compared to a Long Spear or a great saber, this can be a disadvantage in a direct clash. In the hands of an Inner Martial Arts Master, however, a sword can unleash terrifying power.
Both the youth and Chu Lingguang were experts at the Qi Sea Perfection realm. They had both cultivated an Inner Power Heart Method, making them true Inner Martial Arts Masters.
In the youth’s hands, the White Jade Treasure Sword didn’t just cut through iron like it was mud; it pulsed with surging Sword Qi. It invisibly tapped into his Potential Energy, and the speed of his Sword Technique suddenly skyrocketed.
Astonishment filled Chu Lingguang’s face.
His three-foot defensive perimeter was torn to shreds by the youth’s Sword Technique.
’I never expected his Potential Energy would be channeled into increasing the speed of his Sword Technique, rather than its Attack Power or defense.’
’He watched the Sword Shadow rush toward him. If it weren’t for his powerful Spiritual Sense, his incredible perception, and the breakthrough he’d achieved fighting Xuanyuan Jinkang, he would be done for. If he failed to track the blade’s trajectory, he would be utterly defeated, if not killed on the spot.’
