Chapter 1187: Chapter 1185 Very Deep_1
Fan Shengnan’s blade technique was the epitome of yang and stiffness, more robust and domineering than many male swordsmen. The blade pressure covered the area within ten feet around her, drastically affecting anyone entering this zone, rendering their movements incomplete.
"Not right!"
Fan Shengnan’s face dramatically changed as she blocked with her knife at a speed that surpassed her limits.
Ding!
A spark flew.
The furious yet condensed sword force struck like a torrent toward Fan Shengnan, causing her arm to numb, almost losing grip of her knife. The long sword, thrown off course by the impact, grazed her neck as she dodged.
In that instant, Fan Shengnan felt a bone-chilling terror; she was a breath away from death.
Recalling that moment, Shi Xiaole’s long sword, clearly affected, still did not stray from its target, leading to one conclusion: the opponent skillfully used the pressure of her blade to his advantage.
What a terrifying person, what a terrifying swordsman!
Fan Shengnan knew that everyone had underestimated Shi Xiaole; at least technically, he was no less than Liu Ruofei, perhaps even superior.
Even Liu Ruofei would not have been able to use the situation to his advantage in the very first moment of experiencing the blade pressure.
Pressing his left foot on the ground, Shi Xiaole turned sideways, his right arm driving the Cleansing Evil Sword through the air, leaving a trail of deep aqua sword marks. Due to his extreme speed, his body formed many overlapping afterimages, like layers of paper piled up together.
It was still "Lightning Startling Swan."
Crack crack crack crack...
Next, everyone witnessed the essence of speed, brutality, and precision. Under Shi Xiaole’s assault, Fan Shengnan was forced into a disadvantage, step by step falling further behind. No matter what she did, Shi Xiaole seemed to have anticipated it and effortlessly dismantled her tactics.
She was not faster than Shi Xiaole, nor could she evade him. Attempting her ultimate move to break the deadlock was futile; she had no opportunity to gather momentum. Even the slightest gap allowed Shi Xiaole’s sword to assail her like a tempest.
The once invincible Fan Shengnan now seemed like an insect trapped in a spider’s web, helplessly led by the spider, unable to break free.
"How can this be?"
Aboard Nineteen Peaks, the Fan Family experts were stunned. Fan Shengnan had always overwhelmed her foes; she had never been so passive among her peers.
"Against a technically skilled swordsman, one must take the initiative from the start. Carelessness is not an option; otherwise, this is what happens. Shengnan, take heed."
The Fan Family ancestor shook his head, yet his face showed no concern. If such a level could keep Fan Shengnan down, she didn’t deserve to be among the top ten.
"I admit you’re strong, but skill can never replace absolute power."
An extremely violent blade aura burst forth from Fan Shengnan’s formidable body. If the previous blade pressure was iron, then now it was heavy lead, beyond the manipulation of any skill.
"God Severing Slash!"
Finally, finding an opportunity, Fan Shengnan, filled with rage, exerted force in both arms, and her knife, like a white ribbon, came slashing down fiercely.
In that instant, the sky seemed split into two, shifting apart and causing disorientation. Shi Xiaole’s image appeared distorted as if on the lake surface, each warp signifying countless blade aura attacks densely slicing towards him.
Just watching, the spectators felt their scalps tingle. This move used the void’s sawtooth as a weapon, and some onlookers even sensed the force of chaos within it.
Ding Yufang’s expression grew grave, clearly taking this blade very seriously.
"Fine line between heaven and earth!"
Shi Xiaole was undaunted; his long sword swept out, smashing through the mixed blade aura and chaotic void flow in an instant, spraying sparks everywhere. But it was during this brief pause that his mental force released, allowing Shi Xiaole to easily spot the flaw.
No one could intercept space—none, not even Fan Shengnan, nor masters of the Sky Origin realm.
The opponent had merely used the force of her blade to temporarily create a spatial prison. Even peers trapped within would be unable to withstand the combination of blade energy and the chaotic flow.
However, it sounds simple to aim for the spatial incision and strike with one blow instantly. Without extraordinary talent and rigorous training, one wouldn’t even dare to think of it.
And Shi Xiaole, having effortlessly dissolved "God Severing Slash," walking out of it unharmed, further widened Fan Shengnan’s eyes, leaving her momentarily dumbfounded.
"Destruction of All!"
The Cleansing Evil Sword swept from left to right, slanting upward, its blue sword light like a hundred-yard-long dragon, illuminating the entire Fate platform, unstoppable.
"Draw Sword Break Water Flow!"
Retreating hastily, Fan Shengnan swung her knife nine times, forming layer upon layer of blade nets around her. However, she realized that no matter what she did, she couldn’t stop this sword.
Bang!
A mouthful of blood spewed out as Fan Shengnan’s feet scraped across the Fate platform’s surface, retreating continuously.
"What?"
The surrounding crowd was shocked. Had Fan Shengnan been defeated?
Struggling to steady herself, Fan Shengnan used her knife to prop herself up, half-kneeling on the ground, yet her eyes flamed with rage as she gritted her teeth, "Take another from me, ’Soul Crossing’!"
This was a move she had prepared for the other top ten fighters, but now she had no choice but to use it—she couldn’t lose.
Leaping up, the blade light in Fan Shengnan’s hands surged to a thousand yards, resembling a waterfall. As it cascaded down her arm, the countless fine blade particles it splattered created black dots in the void, like ink on white paper—poetically artistic but fraught with fearful danger.
Shi Xiaole met it with his sword.
Boom!
As if mirroring, Fan Shengnan suddenly appeared behind Shi Xiaole, effortlessly slicing at the back of his neck; the false image in front had yet to dissipate.
This wasn’t a feint, but using the opponent’s momentum against him, completing a movement transfer and a deadly strike, making it impossible to foresee.
A killing blow!
Many people’s cries of alarm were stuck in their throats.
Ding Yufang’s lips curved slightly, as if she had already envisioned the scene of Fan Shengnan claiming victory.
The long blade slashed through Shi Xiaole, instantly shattered, finally revealing the real illusion.
A spray of blood blossomed.
Fan Shengnan’s throat was severed, and until the end, she still maintained the motion of swinging her sword to strike.
Many had forgotten that, in addition to the Wind Sword Way, Shi Xiaole was also proficient in Illusion Martial Way. In the last moment, when he activated it, Fan Shengnan, whose strike was already committed, saw through it but couldn’t react in time.
"I lost."
Fan Shengnan, recovered by the vital energy, touched her neck and murmured to herself, still with a trace of shock in her eyes.
Defeat isn’t scary. What’s terrifying is not even being able to gauge your opponent’s limits. Fan Shengnan turned her head but saw only Shi Xiaole’s retreating figure, his steps both graceful and steady.
Her woman’s intuition told her that this man definitely had more to show, perhaps much, much more. Remembering the fleeting glimpse of those unfathomably calm eyes during their duel, Fan Shengnan felt almost suffocated.
"I really want to see just how far you can go."
Having really lost, Fan Shengnan suddenly felt at peace. After all, if she hadn’t lost to Shi Xiaole, she would have lost to Liu Ruofei, who completely quelled any confidence she had.
"Impossible, impossible..."
Ling Jianming shook his head unconsciously, his pupils losing focus.
Could he still deceive himself into thinking that he could catch up with Shi Xiaole, after the latter had defeated a member of the proud ten so squarely?
The Falling Sky Sword Emperor nearby wore a complex expression.
He was considering whether to break away from the Ling Wenyu lineage, after all, he was a collateral member. He had originally sided with Ling Wenyu because of the substantial resources offered to him.
"Why do I feel that Shi Xiaole’s performance wasn’t all that stunning?"
"If that wasn’t stunning, what do you want?"
"You don’t understand what I mean. I just feel that Fan Shengnan has already played all her cards, but compared to Shi Xiaole, this match seemed only lukewarm and orderly. Have you ever seen him out of breath?"
Many were puzzled and uncertain.
This uncertainty stemmed from Shi Xiaole’s performance, too steady, too calm – without even a flicker of emotional fluctuation, which inevitably led to wild speculation.
"The stronger you are, the more excited I get. I hope you haven’t been defeated before meeting me."
The contest for the top ten started, and apart from Xuanyuan Di and Qi Muchu, there was now an additional Shi Xiaole, which made Liu Ruofei smile slightly. His intuition had not been wrong; Shi Xiaole was indeed the opportunity he needed for his breakthrough in swordsmanship.
The ninth round ended.
The tenth round began, but there were no overly intense battles, nor any surprises.
Then came the eleventh round.
Qi Muchu faced off against the Tianya Martial Emperor.
Thousand Swords Emperor had won his match in a single move, White Cloud Emperor in twenty. Now, everyone wanted to see how Qi Muchu would perform. This would allow them to roughly gauge his strength.
"Horizon Wanderer at Will!"
Cursing his luck, Tianya Martial Emperor went all out with his killing move right from the start. He did not want to be used as a benchmark for others’ strength, so despite knowing he was outmatched, he still fought for his honor.
With steps walking on air, Tianya Martial Emperor’s aura was like water evaporating in this space, ready to disappear at any moment, yet just as ready to condense. Everything was subject to his will.
"Senior, no offense."
Qi Muchu smiled carefreely, brightening the whole sky, as he pressed a palm straight ahead.
Bang!
From the hollow of twisted space, Tianya Martial Emperor was sent flying backward, blood streaming from his nose and mouth, his face full of utter shock.
"What, in one move?"
The crowd let out an incredulous uproar.
The Heavenly Martial Emperor, Thousand Swords Emperor, Startling Thunder Emperor, and the other nine great masters all showed a subtle change in their expressions. From that single palm strike, they discerned much, much more.
That Thousand Swords Emperor could defeat Tianya Martial Emperor in a single move was not because his strength was that much superior but because his honed mental power could capture the trajectory of the opponent’s killing move.
Qi Muchu was likely the same. In other words, apart from the gap in martial arts, they were probably not much inferior to them in other aspects!
Suddenly, the expressions on the nine masters’ faces turned ugly, a strong sense of crisis brewing within them. They considered themselves not inferior to the six legends of their generation; to be overtaken by a younger peer would be unbearably shameful!
"Such powerful mental fluctuations."
Shi Xiaole was contemplative.
The Yuan Sword Emperor had said that the first step to achieving the Sky Origin Realm was to temper one’s mental power. At present, his own mental power was tempered to twenty-five percent, which should be the highest among those present.
Qi Muchu and Xuanyuan Di were also strong, probably around the same level as the nine great masters, only slightly below him.
But regarding the current situation, strength became more important than mental power. With this thought, Shi Xiaole closed his eyes. Under the influence of the Supreme Sword Way’s energy, he felt that his Wind Sword Way was about to break through.
