Chapter 222: Chapter 222: How Do You Know I’m Not a Swordsman (Please Subscribe)
After Nangong Yang lost to Yue Tianlin, there were only eleven people left on the scene who kept winning. At this point, the competition had entered the final exciting stage.
The sixty-eighth round.
Ye Liushuang versus Situ Changkong.
The scene was in an uproar, with everyone’s anticipation for this match as high as the previous swordsmen’s battle. Although the four Heaven Kings stood high above, there was always an impulse in human hearts to break through authority.
So, everyone wanted to see in this match if the emerging talents were qualified to challenge the four Heaven Kings.
On the stage, Sword Qi radiated everywhere.
Situ Changkong demonstrated unprecedented offensive power, with succinct movements and direct-target sword techniques. He made no unnecessary movements, doing everything in pursuit of victory.
"Heaven and Earth Nothingness Sword."
Suddenly, Situ Changkong’s movements slowed down, not in speed, but in rhythm. A huge Sword Qi flashed across the void, instantly penetrating Ye Liushuang’s body as if it had already appeared there.
Wang Zuying looked shocked. If her opponent used this move against her, she wouldn’t even have the chance to resist.
"Excellent swordsmanship."
Ye Liushuang’s body appeared on the other side, her frigid face showing slight emotion.
At her level, there weren’t many peers who could make her react this way. Among the newcomers, Yue Tianlin was one, and Situ Changkong was also one.
Boom.
Blue light descended from the sky. On closer look, it was a dense sword light, squeezing the three-foot radius where Ye Liushuang stood so tightly that it was impervious. The shockwave made a hissing sound, as if it had been cut into countless pieces.
"Evasion Step."
The light faded away like water, and Ye Liushuang appeared three feet away, as if she had shrunk the distance. This unpredictable, extraordinary flying skill made many people’s eyes pop out.
Not giving Situ Changkong any time to react, Ye Liushuang blinked twice and was already in front of him, her slender palm transforming into afterimages as she attacked his eighteen major acupoints.
Clang, clang, clang...
In a series of sparks, Situ Changkong blocked twelve palms. He saw six more palm strikes coming, but he twisted his body in a way that defied human anatomy, curled up his head and feet, then sprung up using his waist power, stabbing out fiercely with his sword.
Flying Bird Martial Way - Bouncing Bird.
The two were only three feet apart, and anyone would find it difficult to react to this sword speed. But Ye Liushuang was too fast. After blinking three times, she circled around to his back and struck another palm.
"Chasing Wood Sky Kill."
The cold Sword Qi condensed into a line, and the threatening cold light seemed to penetrate the air. Situ Changkong swung his sword backward, prising open layers of palm shadows like a woodpecker chipping away at hard bark. Many people felt a chill on their skin just to see this sword light, as if the tip of the sword hung over their heads.
"What a sharp swordsmanship."
This time, even the City Lord of Queen City showed a different color. Had Situ Changkong estimated the difficulty of handling Liushuang, was everything prior just a prelude to this deadly sword?
Shouts of astonishment kept coming and going. Before they had time to think whether Ye Liushuang would lose or not, their line of sight was suddenly affected by a dazzling light shadow. The light shadow obscured the Sword Qi, but they could vaguely see that it had been pierced.
"Very good. In this competition, you will definitely be in the top ten."
Ye Liushuang stood in the distance, with half of her sleeve cut open, revealing her snow-white arm. She hadn’t been as shocked as she was just now in a long time. She was only a little short, just a little, and she would have lost to him.
Simultaneously, there was a heavy gasp from the audience. Situ Changkong, with his seventh level of Qi Absorption, actually had the power to challenge Ye Liushuang. What an incredible talent—that was a difference of two whole realms.
"Liushuang fist."
Putting away the only slight contempt in her heart, Ye Liushuang activated her power. A layer of white true Qi condensed on her beautiful fist, creating an ice-crystal sphere that she pushed forward.
Queen City’s Frost Technique, Xu Family’s Yellow Springs Technique, and Floating Rain Pavilion’s Floating Rain True Scripture all belonged to the second-class upper rank. Once successfully cultivated, the internal power would naturally possess a frosty property and have a terrifying effect that could freeze the human body.
Wherever the ice ball passed, a long white path appeared, where tiny ice particles started to fall. This was due to the frost affecting the water molecules in the air.
Situ Changkong slashed the ice ball with one sword, but a layer of horrifying chilliness spread, suddenly slowing down the operation of Situ Changkong’s internal power.
Boom, boom, boom.
As the light moved in quick succession, Ye Liushuang didn’t give her opponent any chances. As she executed the Evasion Step, she repeatedly unleashed Liushuang’s fist. Soon, a cold white mist rose from every corner of the stage.
Let alone Situ Changkong, who was in the middle of it, even many elites below the stage had to back off by dozens of steps before they narrowly dispelled the chill in their internal power.
In the 57th move, Situ Changkong was knocked down the stage, with half of his body covered in frost, and only his face remained expressionless like withered wood.
The restrain of frost internal power on him was too severe. By the end, he could only exert five to six-tenths of his full strength. It was right not to have been defeated.
"Ye Liushuang wins."
The referee’s voice drew everyone’s attention back, and they looked at Ye Liushuang who was overlooking everything, subconsciously moving their eyes away. When their eyes fell on Situ Changkong, they were filled with admiration.
Yes, admiration.
The natural talents of the four Heaven Kings were the top of Qingxue state. Being able to fight to this extent while being two realms apart, Situ Changkong was quite remarkable.
Not long after this match ended, Lin Gaofei, the first disciple of the Qiongjia Gang among the four Heaven Kings, met Nangong Yang.
Losing to Yue Tianlin did not dampen Nangong Yang’s fighting spirit, but made him even more frenzied. Even when facing Lin Gaofei, he had no intention of admitting defeat.
"Your swordplay won’t work on me."
Lin Gaofei stood with bravado, unmoving. As Nangong Yang’s Sword Qi attacked, his eyes sparkled, and he quickly lunged to the left.
With the fierce clash of palm strength and Sword Qi, Nangong Yang was forced to retreat, while not even the edge of Lin Gaofei’s clothes moved.
Ignoring the traditional deflect-and-counterattack method, Lin Gaofei stepped forward. His dominating presence burst forth like molten lava, shocking all around him.
This was the Domination Method of the Supreme Domination Skill. If Ye Liushuang’s Frost Intent was used to suppress the opponent physically, Domination Intent suppressed the opponent mentally.
Caught off guard, Nangong Yang felt as if his fighting spirit was extinguished by a third.
"Dominating the Four Seas."
A massive fist enveloped in gusts ignored the distance, striking Nangong Yang’s Shadowless Triple Kill head on. Amid the resulting booming concussive sounds, not only was his Sword Qi crushed, but also the Shadowless Intent shattered into pieces, revealing Nangong Yang’s position.
"Pfft."
Struck by the swirling Qi, Nangong Yang staggered, half falling to his knees, his chest soaked in blood.
"The young man is strong, but he does not show mercy."
Under the welcoming pine, Master Honest made his comment about Lin Gaofei.
Daoist Xuhuai chuckled, "Deep martial arts skills have always subtly influenced one’s nature. If this young man were not domineering enough, how could he comprehend the true essence of the martial arts he learned?"
The consecutive defeats in the rookie camp once again consolidated the unshakable dominance of the Four Heaven Kings. Now almost no one believes that anyone can shake their position in this competition.
Even Yue Tianlin, who is considered the top amongst the rookies, would not be an exception.
"Brother Shi, what’s your goal?"
Wang Zuying walked up to Shi Xiaole and stared at him.
"I never set a specific goal for myself, winning the current match is all that matters."
Shi Xiaole said with a smile.
"Oh?"
Wang Zuying didn’t know what to think. His answer was both reasonable and unexpected.
The reason it was reasonable was that it was a very ’official’ answer. The reason it was unexpected was that it could be interpreted in many ways. She wondered if his definition of winning included defeating the Four Heaven Kings?
Shaking her head, Wang Zuying felt she was thinking too much.
Certainly, Shi Xiaole had made miracles one after another, each time exceeding expectations, but even miracles had limitations. If he, with his two levels lower, could defeat the Four Heaven Kings, he’d be considered a god.
Of course, Wang Zuying believed Shi Xiaole had a trump card. As evidence, he hadn’t even used his sword. She had witnessed his swordplay at Astonishing Dragon Castle.
She was only wondering whether Shi Xiaole’s swordplay could match the standards of the Four Swordsmen?
"In the seventy-third match, Shi Xiaole versus Guan Duli."
The referee’s voice rang out just as Wang Zuying was considering this. She couldn’t help but feel excited.
In her eyes, Guan Duli might not be the strongest of the Four Swordsmen, but he was the most dangerous. She was curious to see how Shi Xiaole would win this match.
Guan Duli, who had already mounted the ring, was on the other side.
"You’re quite good, but it’s a pity you’re not a swordsman. Otherwise, we could have a proper fight."
Guan Duli’s square face was covered with a beard, making him appear older than he actually was. As he spoke, his right hand gripped the hilt of his sword.
Unlike others, his participation in the competition wasn’t to gain fame, but to compete against peers and identify his own shortcomings. In his mind, the best opponent wasn’t one of the Four Heaven Kings, but the prodigy swordsman Yue Tianlin.
"How do you know that I’m not a swordsman?"
Few people could understand Guan Duli’s thoughts, but Shi Xiaole was an exception. At his current level, he easily discerned a pure mindset from Guan Duli’s swordplay.
In a way, Guan Duli was one of the few opponents Shi Xiaole took seriously, not because of his capabilities, but out of respect.
"What did you say?"
A surge of resolute, unregretful, yet firm sword intent erupted from Guan Duli. The air seemed to be cut into hundreds of pieces by his invisible Sword Qi, setting off a spine-chilling buzzing sound.
Swish!
Just like someone gently plucking a sword blade, a sword intent that was so sharp it could pierce the sky burst out of Shi Xiaole. Before this formidable sword intent, Guan Duli’s sword intent was torn apart, vanishing into the wind.
"What’s going on?"
"Such a powerful sword intent, he... he’s actually a swordsman?!"
The crowd suddenly erupted in screams, shock evident on everyone’s faces.
Even those in the know were no better. They knew about Shi Xiaole using a sword but couldn’t believe that his swordplay had reached such an astonishing level.
"Hahaha..."
With his hair fluttering in the wind, Guan Duli let out a hearty laugh after a moment of shock, saying, "Brother Shi, you’re amazing!"
