Chapter 315: Chapter 315: Bai Li
Bai Li’s sword followed him like a shadow, the tip stopping three inches from his throat.
The chill was bone-piercing.
The Swordsman froze in place, cold sweat instantly drenching his back.
"I concede," he said, his voice hoarse.
From start to finish, it had been less than ten seconds.
Bai Li retracted her sword, sheathed it, and turned to walk off the stage.
Throughout the entire process, she hadn’t said a single word, and even her breathing remained steady.
Low gasps of amazement rose from the audience.
"The East Sea Bai Family’s Observing Ruins Sword Step truly lives up to its reputation."
"How are you supposed to defend against a Body Technique that’s practically teleportation?"
"Looks like this year’s hired experts are more monstrous than the last..."
Xu Wuyi watched Bai Li’s retreating figure as she returned to the Bai Family’s section, his gaze hardening slightly.
In that last match, the Body Technique Bai Li had displayed was indeed bizarre.
It wasn’t pure speed, but an application of spatial principles, allowing for near-instantaneous movement over short distances.
Combined with her nimble and unpredictable Swordsmanship, she was truly difficult to deal with.
However, Xu Wuyi stroked the long spear in his hand.
His Spiritual Strength was 36.9, at least a full level higher than Bai Li’s. He should be able to perceive that kind of spatial fluctuation.
’If I can see it, I can handle it.’
The first round of matches concluded. Half of the thirty-two contestants were eliminated, leaving sixteen to advance to the second round.
After a short break, the drawings for the second round began.
On the jade tablet Xu Wuyi drew, his opponent’s name was, of all people—Bai Li.
"Second round, third match: Xu Wuyi versus Bai Li," the presiding military officer announced.
A stir went through the audience.
"They’re facing off this soon?"
"The Royal Family’s hired expert against the Genius of the East Sea Bai Family... Interesting."
"Who do you think will win?"
"Hard to say. Bai Li’s Body Technique is too strange, but that Xu Wuyi guy won with a single spear thrust. His true strength is unfathomable."
Amid the discussions, Xu Wuyi walked onto the stage once more.
Bai Li was already there waiting for him.
She was still dressed in white, a longsword at her waist, her cool and distant face devoid of any expression.
Seeing Xu Wuyi, she gave a slight nod, a silent greeting.
"Bai Li, of the East Sea Bai Family."
"Xu Wuyi, from Star Martial University."
After their simple introductions, the referee declared the match start.
This time, Bai Li made the first move.
Unlike her last match, she didn’t wait for her opponent to attack, but vanished on the spot.
A true disappearance.
It wasn’t high speed, but an application of spatial principles that let her instantly cross more than ten meters to appear at Xu Wuyi’s left.
Her sword left its sheath, striking like a viper at Xu Wuyi’s ribs.
The strike was silent, the angle cunning, the speed extreme.
Someone in the audience couldn’t help but gasp.
But Xu Wuyi’s reaction was faster.
He didn’t even turn. With a mere flick of his wrist, his long spear swept backward.
The shaft of the spear struck the blade’s edge with unerring precision.
CLANG!
Bai Li’s figure flickered and vanished again.
The next moment, she appeared on Xu Wuyi’s right, her sword tip aimed at his neck.
Xu Wuyi’s feet didn’t move. He retracted his spear, flicking the butt of the shaft upward to once again parry the blade.
CLANG!
Bai Li vanished again.
This time, she appeared behind Xu Wuyi, her longsword thrusting straight for his heart.
Still without turning, Xu Wuyi reversed his grip on the spear, the tip darting out from under his arm to stab precisely behind him.
Bai Li had no choice but to retract her sword and block.
CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!
For the next ten seconds, Bai Li flashed about the stage like a phantom, attacking from every conceivable angle.
Her Body Technique was bizarre to the extreme. Each appearance came without warning, the glint of her sword weaving a web of death that enveloped Xu Wuyi.
Yet Xu Wuyi remained rooted to the spot, his feet not moving an inch.
He simply held his spear, parrying, blocking, jabbing, or sweeping.
Every movement was economical to the extreme, yet each one perfectly intercepted Bai Li’s sword.
The entire arena fell silent.
Everyone could see it now—Xu Wuyi could see her.
He could see Bai Li’s movement trajectory and predict where she would appear. That was how he was able to block her so precisely every time.
"How is that possible..." a Bai Family elder in the audience murmured. "The spatial fluctuations of the Observing Ruins Sword Step are incredibly faint. Even a Martial Artist of the same level would struggle to perceive them..."
On the stage, Bai Li’s expression finally changed.
After her thirteenth attack was parried, she didn’t vanish again. Instead, she floated backward, landing ten meters away.
She looked at Xu Wuyi, and for the first time, a grave look appeared in her cool eyes.
"You can perceive the spatial fluctuations," Bai Li said. It wasn’t a question, but a statement.
"My Spiritual Strength is just a bit higher," Xu Wuyi replied calmly.
Bai Li was silent for a few seconds.
Then, she slowly raised her left hand and formed a peculiar Sword Formula.
The aura around her changed abruptly.
Her originally cool and ethereal aura became sharp and dangerous.
The longsword in her hand let out a faint hum, and pale silver patterns of light appeared on the blade.
"Be careful," Bai Li said softly. "I can’t fully control the power of this next strike."
As her voice fell, she vanished again.
But this time, Xu Wuyi’s pupils contracted slightly.
In his Spiritual Perception, Bai Li hadn’t "vanished." She had split into three figures—no, five!
Five nearly identical auras appeared simultaneously in five different locations on the stage. Each one felt completely real, and each one contained a ferocious Sword Intention.
The Bai Family’s secret Swordsmanship—[Observing Ruins Five Kills].
All five figures moved at once.
Five longswords thrust toward Xu Wuyi from five different directions.
The light of the blades formed a net; the killing intent was like a cage.
Someone in the audience couldn’t help but stand up.
This strike had already surpassed the capabilities of an ordinary Martial Artist, involving a layered application of Spirit and space.
Among those of the same level, very few could have received this blow.
Xu Wuyi finally moved.
For the first time, he moved his feet.
Not to dodge, but to take a step forward.
At the same time, he raised his spear. A dark golden flame quietly bloomed at its tip.
[Undying Flame].
He didn’t try to distinguish which figure was real and which was fake.
Because there was no need.
The oppressive weight and scorching heat of his Mountain Peak Great Sun Realm spread out without reservation.
Across the entire stage, the air suddenly seemed to congeal.
The five figures lunging toward him all faltered in unison.
Although it was for less than a tenth of a second.
It was enough.
Xu Wuyi’s spear moved.
He didn’t thrust at any single figure, but flicked the spear upward, its tip tracing a dark golden arc through the air.
Wherever the arc of light passed, space itself seemed to be scorched, leaving a trail.
Four of the five figures shattered and dissipated like bubbles.
The last one, Bai Li’s true body, forcibly twisted at the instant the spear’s tip reached her, bringing her longsword across her chest.
CLANG—!
Spear met sword.
Bai Li felt an irresistible force travel up her blade, nearly knocking the longsword from her grasp.
She let out a muffled grunt, using the force of the blow to float backward as a trickle of blood escaped the corner of her mouth.
But Xu Wuyi’s pursuit was already upon her.
His Instant Shadow Step erupted. His figure closed the distance like a phantom as he thrust his spear once more!
This thrust was faster and heavier than any before.
