Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Left Knife, Right Sword (Middle)
The brilliance of the Shattered Snow Blade sliced through the air creating an endless vibrating sound as it pierced through empty space.
This vibrating sound caused numerous spectators to visibly change expressions.
The sound was not singular; it was clearly a result of the unbroken continuity of the blade technique and impeccable rhythmic control which made it seem like a single tonal sound.
It fell like a cascade down a mountain cliff, creating waves each time it collided with the towering rocks.
"Such a fast blade!"
Lu Erfeng couldn’t help but exclaim in a low voice.
In his line of sight, Shen Canghai had vanished; his figure hidden under a flurry of blade radiance, towering like snow-laden pine, blanketing every direction.
"The blade in his left hand is faster than the one in the right, could it be, is Shi Xiaole left-handed?"
Someone with eyes glittering in bewilderment yelled.
In the Martial World, the proportion of left-handers was not high. Nonetheless, due to the population size, the occurrence of left-handers was quite common.
But among those present, they had never seen anyone take the use of a left-handed blade technique to such a level, giving the opponent no chance of evading.
This had been only Shen Canghai but for most people, they would already be panicked and ready to surrender.
"That speed, it got even faster?"
Shen Canghai, the target of the attack, finally showed a bit of astonishment. But he was not astounded by the speed of the blade technique, but by Shi Xiaole’s control.
One must understand that an increase in speed of any move means a threat to the enemy, but it also becomes a burden to oneself. A momentary lag in response would create chaos.
Yet in Shen Canghai’s observation, Shi Xiaole’s ability to regulate his movements was fluid as water. Each time the speed was increased, the rhythm immediately matched up, a synchronization that rendered everyone speechless.
Everyone present would never have guessed that this left-handed blade technique was the result of Shi Xiaole’s diligent practice over several months.
With the ideology of the left blade and right sword, he consciously started to practice the left-handed blade technique from a very early stage.
For most people, to practice the left-handed blade technique to a level at par with, or even surpass, the right-handed technique, would require several years, if not decades.
Sadly, such commonly accepted logic did not apply to Shi Xiaole.
After all, the key to switching hands in the blade technique depends on factors such as power control, body balance, and neural coordination. And these were all dictated by one’s mental control.
Even Shi Xiaole couldn’t precisely gauge the strength of his mental focus.
What others would require years to practice, the left-handed blade technique, he only needed a few months.
With a mind clear as the sky, Shi Xiaole’s left hand moved at will, liberally exhibiting the Wild Wind Blade Technique. In the end, the spectators could no longer discern the form of the Shattered Snow Blade; all they could see was the continuous flurry of white blade radiance.
"Heavenly One Finger!"
Shen Canghai’s footwork faltered leading to a split second mistake. Seeing the radiance of the blade chopping down, he was forced to launch an attack.
Clang!
An invisible finger momentum shot up to the Shattered Snow Blade, eventually causing it to slow down slightly.
But before Shen Canghai could even take a breath, Shi Xiaole’s hand had already swung around in a skillful odd arc.
Bloody Chaos Kill.
"Heavenly One Continuous Finger!"
Description in front of him blurred, Shen Canghai secretly cursed. His index fingers shot out, releasing a strong finger force to resist the Shattered Snow Blade, creating a crisp clanging sound between them.
"Junior Brother Shi, it seems I underestimated you."
Shen Canghai withdrew his underestimation of Shi Xiaole, and this time he switched from finger to palm, aiming a sudden powerful slap in Shi Xiaole’s direction.
Boom!
A surge of profound internal power, like a raging tide or a thunderbolt against a rock. It surged upwards with a momentum that seemed capable of crushing everything, propelling Shi Xiaole back in an instant.
"Senior Brother Shen really is Senior Brother Shen, not everyone can compare."
Upon witnessing this scene, Tong Song exhaled a long breath of relief.
Just now, when Shi Xiaole suddenly launched an attack, he was a bit apprehensive, fearing that Shen Canghai might capsize in the gutter, which would be a disaster.
"That’s not right?"
A sudden voice from his side made Tong Song look into the mid-air, his expression immediately changing.
In the blue robe, Shi Xiaole did not display the expected distressed look, but took advantage of the push from Shen Canghai’s palm force to leap into the air.
The Shattered Snow Blade raised high, Shi Xiaole’s body was straight. He appeared like a soaring azure phoenix, slashing down a powerful cut towards Shen Canghai.
The killing move, Phoenix Soaring.
"Another ultimate move?"
Lu Erfeng’s face turned completely ashen.
He was hailed as Unrivaled Blade Young Master, extremely confident in his innate abilities and skills in blade technique. Yet now, this confidence was gradually crumbling.
No matter how he looked at it, Shi Xiaole’s blade technique was superior to his own, and the infuriating thing was that the other party did not specialize in the blade technique.
Several people were also stunned, including the two champions.
The ordinary martial artists would not dream of creating a killing move in their lifetime.
Even people like them, although gifted, by now have mastered only one or two ultimate moves.
This Shi Xiaole, however, had used the ultimate moves of sword technique to defeat Tong Song earlier, and now he used two ultimate moves of blade technique consecutively. Were his ultimate moves manufactured in bulk?
The terrifying thing was that each of his ultimate moves was of a different type, enough to deal with various situations.
Whoosh!
The snow exploded as Shi Xiaole and Shen Canghai both retreated.
"Junior Brother Shi, you truly are a marvel. Even Shen himself cannot help but admit his admiration."
For the first time, Shen Canghai wiped the smile off his face, revealing a solemn expression.
Just as others had assumed, at first in Shen Canghai’s heart, he didn’t believe Shi Xiaole could pose much of a threat, even if he suppressed his internal power to thirty percent.
The sole purpose of this contest was simply to measure the opposing side’s strength.
However, now Shen Canghai found that things were somewhat spiralling out of his control.
Or perhaps it should be said, Shi Xiaole’s strength exceeded most people’s expectations.
The opponent’s moves, his ability to seize the opportune moment, and his relentless combination attacks, one after another, left virtually no weak spots or blind angles. If one really had to point out a shortcoming, it was just that his internal power was slightly lacking.
But the man was just fifteen years old. Such a so-called shortcoming was practically a joke.
As the internal power surged within, Shen Canghai slowly muttered: "Junior Brother Shi, I am going to get serious now, you better be careful."
No matter how marvellously talented Shi Xiaole was, Shen Canghai could not accept defeat. Otherwise, he would be the laughing stock. Now he really needed to bring his game.
"Senior Brother Shen, please,"
Shi Xiaole said.
No one knew that the fierce combat just now had fully ignited the fervor in Shi Xiaole’s body. He might indeed be inferior to Shen Canghai, but if he could not even match up to thirty percent of Shen’s internal power, that would mock his capability.
"Mountain Shifting Divine Palm!"
With a deep shout, Shen Canghai’s right palm slowly pushed forward.
The crowd only heard a ’bang’, the ground splashed a large flurry of snow, and an unimaginable force was pressing down towards Shi Xiaole, disrupting his very breathing.
"Internal power exuded."
A hint of brilliance lit up in Shi Xiaole’s eyes.
Once a martial artist reached the seventh level of Qi Absorption, they could exude internal power, launching long-range attacks on the opponent, which was much stronger than qi attacks.
Bang!
After an actual collision, Shi Xiaole retreated seven or eight steps, feeling a churning in his chest.
Sure enough, in the same circumstances, exuding internal power increased the attack strength considerably compared to qi attacks.
"The fact that Shi Xiaole forced Shen Canghai to use the seventh level of Qi Absorption is a credit to his skill,"
Zhao Yihuan swirled his wine cup, his tone undefined.
Two disciples from the Chongyang Sect on the side, including Tong Song, didn’t look too good.
Until now, even if Shi Xiaole were to lose to Shen Canghai, today’s battle would be enough to make his name known widely in the Martial World. In the future, even the well-reputed Su Junhao would have to step aside.
Now, Tong Song had only one thought; Shen Canghai must deal a heavy blow to Shi Xiaole, even at the very least, force him to cough up more blood, lest he be overcome with frustration.
Advancing with the One Foot Movement and brandishing the Mountain Shifting Divine Palm, wherever Shen Canghai’s figure passed, his ferocious internal power exploded like a bulldozer, causing snow to splatter all around.
Amid this incessant stream of unending attacks, no one believed that Shi Xiaole could mount a counter-attack.
Even Su Junhao and Zhu Xiuling, who considered themselves somewhat familiar with Shi Xiaole, didn’t think so.
Exuding internal power was, to a certain extent, even more terrifying than a secret killing technique.
Especially when higher level Qi Absorbers used it against lower level ones, pushing forth their internal power, the latter couldn’t even get close to them. What use is a powerful secret technique then?
Just as the Mountain Shifting Divine Palm was fast approaching, against everyone’s expectation, Shi Xiaole didn’t retreat.
At the same time, a seemingly faint layer of lavender aura unexpectedly began to wrap around his hands.
This purple aura was so ethereal and lingering, that the moment he brandished the Shattered Snow Blade, it felt as if the freezing winds around had ceased blowing.
"Bloody Chaos Kill!"
Shi Xiaole once again brandished his blade.
"It’s useless, Junior Brother Shi."
Shen Canghai was about to say something, when suddenly, his expression changed, as if he had witnessed something unthinkable.
The light from the blade was the same, except for a few lavender threads that imbued it with greater power that cracked open the internal force from the Mountain Shifting Divine Palm.
What shocked Shen Canghai even more was that he clearly sensed an emanation of internal power in that sparkle.
Exuding internal power, how can this be possible?!?!
Of course, Shi Xiaole couldn’t have exuded his internal power, but aided by the Purple Light Divine Skill, he could momentarily diffuse his internal power to enhance his attacking power.
He was still in his initial stages of mastery, not yet at his full potential.
If the Purple Light Divine Skill is mastered to its full extent, the power of Shi Xiaole’s attack could fiercely increase based on this.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
With each strike from Shi Xiaole, who was powered by the full momentum of the Purple Light Divine Skill, the spectators couldn’t help but widen their eyes in astonishment as the hissing sound of each attack shattered Shen Canghai’s palm force.
"What kind of internal skill is that?"
"It is definitely a second-rate inferior internal skill, and not just an ordinary second-rate inferior one!"
Many were stunned and once again deeply moved.
Those present were outstanding disciples from all the major orthodox sects, practicing second-rate inferior internal skills was just a matter of time, so they didn’t feel any jealousy towards Shi Xiaole.
They were just amazed by his talent and fortunate fate. The fact a disciple from an unknown sect could come this far, indeed seemed reasonable.
