Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Mid-stage of Becoming One with the Sword (4th update)
The force of the punch vibrated through the air, creating a loud boom where Shi Xiaole had originally been standing. Fortunately, the stone platform was made of a special material; otherwise, it would have shattered.
"Where do you think you’re going, Thunderbolt Spiral Flash!"
The muscular man’s attacks were like a tidal wave, unstoppable once initiated. The moment Shi Xiaole moved, his body merged with the force of the punch; the mightier the punch, the faster he moved.
"What a unique martial art, merging fist technique, protective force, and body movement into one. When executing the fist technique, he employs protective strength and body movements simultaneously. It’s truly a three-in-one approach!"
There were martial world veterans present who were widely experienced and knowledgeable, but they couldn’t help but marvel at this sight.
Under the muscular man’s offensive, Shi Xiaole swerved and dodged, thinking to himself: I could easily defeat him with absolute strength, but it’s better to continue refining my unity of man and sword. There may be some progress.
With a thought, he began displaying his sword technique, engaging the muscular man in combat.
"Kid, your sword technique can’t break my defense. It’s futile no matter how many times you strike. You might as well go all out,"
The muscular man stood his ground against the sword strikes, deflecting them with his powerful protective force, while throwing a swift punch at Shi Xiaole.
"Really?"
His eyes focused as Shi Xiaole thrust his sword nine times in a blink. The force gathered at the tip of the sword seemed to hang in the air, finally merging the nine strikes into one, releasing it with a terrifying force.
There was a pop.
The muscular man was sent flying backward, a shallow hole punched in his chest.
"What an amazing power manipulation technique."
Many swordsmen were astounded.
Once a swordsman reaches the unity of man and sword, the sword often performs better than the body, capable of many amazing feats. But knowing that and seeing it in action are two different things.
"Compared to last time, his realm has slightly improved."
An elder with tiger-like eyes murmured, it was the Grand Elder of the Will Sect who had just arrived with his high-ranking members.
Back on the stone platform.
"Thunderbolt Firewave!"
The muscular man’s face turned beet red as he channeled all his energy. He rushed forward like a ball of fire, causing crackling noises in his wake. The air in front of him was forced aside, forming a vacuum tunnel along his path.
Seeing this, Shi Xiaole advanced instead of retreating. As he passed by the muscular man, his sword struck out a full eighteen times at high speed.
Shwee!
The muscular man was sent flying the next moment.
Shi Xiaole won.
Everyone was not surprised by the result, but rather disappointed that the muscular man failed to press Shi Xiaole to reveal his true strength.
Shi Xiaole felt the same regret.
Because only he and the muscular man knew that of the eighteen sword strikes he had just launched, only the force of the first fifteen blended into one while the last three dissipated.
"Congratulations Young Hero Shi for winning the second match. According to the rules, you have a quarter of an hour to rest and choose whether to continue to the third match,"
The elder in white said in a timely manner.
"No need to rest, let’s start the third match."
Shi Xiaole said directly.
In his match with the muscular man, he hadn’t even used thirty percent of his strength, so the consumption was negligible. Moreover, the refinement of unity of man and sword also places importance on continuity, he didn’t want to disrupt his inspiration with rest.
The elder in white laughed heartily and retreated to the back.
This time, a swordsman came onto the stage.
The swordsman’s strength was not as good as the muscular man’s. But many people noticed that his bodily movements were incredibly sophisticated, superior to most practitioners at the sixth level of Qi absorption.
Against the muscular man, he might lose due to failing to breach his defense. But against Shi Xiaole, the swordsman had the opportunity to exploit his superior movements to find an opening.
The outcome of a martial artist’s duel is not solely determined by strength. At times, it also comes down to their individual style. This is the so-called mutual promotion and restraint.
Clang! Clang! Clang!...
Under the swordsman’s onslaught, Shi Xiaole’s range was gradually suffocating, and he began to wane gradually.
"Body movement greatly influences a martial artist, it wouldn’t be easy for Shi Xiaole to win based solely on the unity of man and sword."
This kid’s too oblivious. At his age, grasping the unity of man and sword is a big break already. Yet he dreams of increasing this understanding just through several battles, it is utterly foolish."
At this point, anyone can see that Shi Xiaole plans to use his opponent to hone his unity of man and sword, which certainly sparks off lots of laughter, especially among most swordsmen, who felt deeply aggrieved.
You should know even a highly gifted swordsman cannot improve the unity of man and sword in a short time. This requires a wealth of experience and enlightenment. "
"The ’Hero among Men’ of our Floating River Area, Wei Renhao, is considered the top young sword talent in nearly twenty years. Even he only grasped the medium stage of the unity of man and sword at the age of eighteen. This kid isn’t presuming he’s better than Wei Renhao, is he?"
One of the high-ranking sect members laughed.
"Just watch, he won’t last long."
Many people agreed, waiting to watch the drama unfold.
"Whirlwind Twenty-Nine Blades!"
Unable to break through for a long time, the swordsman was also enraged, and his longsword slashed out at an astonishing speed, sword shadows whipping around like a tornado, engulfing Shi Xiaole in an instant.
With sword shadows attacking from all sides, Shi Xiaole’s heart was surprisingly calm, the longsword in his hand stabbed out at the same frequency.
The swordsman’s bodily movements were indeed strong, but Shi Xiaole was not much weaker. With a slight execution of the Tianluo step, he could escape the opponent’s offensive in the blink of an eye.
But Shi Xiaole chose not to do so.
Only through crises and difficulties could his potential be drawn out, allowing him to improve more quickly in the realm of unity of man and sword.
He swung his long sword at a super-high frequency continuously, making Shi Xiaole’s wrist feel weak and sore. There were even a few times when he was almost cut off by the swordsman, causing continuous gasps from the spectators.
Yet, even in such a precarious situation, his breathing remained steady, without the slightest fluctuation in his gaze.
"Such dreadful calmness."
For some reason, those nearby stopped their mocking smiles. Looking at the figure in the cyan robe, they felt a faint chill.
"Indeed, those who can comprehend the unity of man and sword are not good-hearted individuals. Just their determination and willpower alone, I am far from comparable."
A middle-aged swordsman sighed. Even though he still believed that Shi Xiaole’s desperate attempts to improve were unrealistic, he couldn’t help but admire him a bit.
It is common to stay composed in times of crisis, but among those living amidst the blood and blades of the martial world, how many can accomplish it?
"I feel that his sword technique has become faster."
While others were exclaiming, the man who was sparring with Shi Xiaole was shocked.
His knife technique level was also extraordinary. Being in close quarters, he could be sure that the response of Shi Xiaole’s sword technique was sharper than at the start, though very slightly, but how much time had passed?
Clang!
His mind in disarray, the man only felt a blur in front of his eyes, and a sword had already reached his throat.
"I am not your match, I admit defeat."
The man’s voice trembled.
Shi Xiaole had just withdrawn his sword when the man suddenly attacked, laughing hideously as he swung his knife: "Kid, I will be the one who wins!"
"Stupid."
The perception of Shi Xiaole was extraordinary, his long arm lightly swept.
A slithering sound.
The man’s right arm fell onto the floor, the lower Dantian storing his internal energy was smashed, he was completely crippled.
"Continue."
Without looking at the man on the ground, Shi Xiaole was looking at the old man in white.
The corner of the mouth of the white-robed elder twitched subtly.
According to the investigation and evaluation of the Gold Silver Jade Copper Platform, he knew that Shi Xiaole was strong, but having lost two matches in a row, without even touching the edge of his tactics, this was unexpected.
In fact, which one of the spectators in the Martial World was not surprised?
Whether it was Hu Baisheng, or the muscular man, or the swordsman, the three different types of experts all ended up defeated in Shi Xiaole’s hands.
If he had won by sheer strength, that would have been fine, but all he had revealed so far was the unity of man and sword.
This proved that Shi Xiaole’s abilities far exceeded everyone’s expectations.
"Cloud Triangle, Shi Xiaole, the peerless master of the sword and the knife, hmph!"
Zhou Yilou gritted his teeth in secret.
Although he knew this youngster was not easy to deal with, his power at the same age was not far off from several top geniuses, but seeing it in person still rattled him.
But soon, Zhou Yilou suppressed his shock. What’s the rush? This was just three consecutive wins.
Under the gaze of everyone on the scene, Shi Xiaole battled one match after the other. Interestingly, when he would reveal his true strength became the concern of everyone.
Alas.
Four consecutive wins.
Five consecutive wins.
Up until his sixth win, everyone was still in the dark.
By now, according to the rules of doubling rewards, Shi Xiaole had won a total of sixty-six thousand taels of silver, enough for him to stay in the inn for sixty-six days, even taking into account other expenses, it would last for a month.
"I’ve gained some insights today, it’s time to head back and reflect in detail."
After receiving the large stack of silver bills from the white robed elderly, Shi Xiaole left the Gold Silver Jade Copper Platform.
This time, no one from the Martial World followed him.
Based on today’s situation, it was unlikely that Shi Xiaole would leave Dark Alley anytime soon. So why bother following him? It’s certain he would be here every day.
However, for the next two days, Shi Xiaole did not leave. Instead, he stayed in his room to comprehend the unity of man and sword. After finding no further advancement, he began to practice the Moon Concealing Sword Technique.
On the third day, he continued his battles.
Seven consecutive wins.
Eight consecutive wins.
Nine consecutive wins.
Shi Xiaole’s momentum was unstoppable. However, it’s worth mentioning that he barely won the ninth match and almost had to use other martial skills.
But this match gave him the most insights, even surpassing the total of the previous matches combined.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh.
In the room, Shi Xiaole swung his sword randomly, his mind seemed to move with the trajectory of the long sword, freely and unrestricted.
Not knowing how many times he swung, at some point, his sword seemed to have vitality. A casual thrust gave the impression of a mighty force capable of destroying everything, aiming straight at the target.
If a knowledgeable swordsman were here, their jaw would have dropped.
The mid-stage realm of the unity of man and sword!
Yes, just now, Shi Xiaole had leveled up.
Indeed, it was hard to improve the realm of the unity of man and sword, it required accumulation. But when one’s aptitude was extremely high, they often saw more than others in a single battle. Under this premise, it would be difficult not to progress.
Of course, the main reason was the sense of urgency made Shi Xiaole’s focus unprecedented, leading to a significant increase in efficiency. Normally, he wouldn’t progress that quickly.
