Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Breaking the Chain of Three Swords (Third Update)
Shi Xiaole’s swordplay caused Guan Duli’s arm to tense. This was not due to the conscious control of the body, but rather the result of instinct, indicating the impressive strength of the opponent which had caused his subconscious to be extremely vigilant.
What a splendid young swordsman!
Guan Duli’s entire body started to awaken, shivering with boundless joy. His suppressed sword Qi didn’t decrease but accelerated at an even more ferocious pace, surging in all directions.
"Damn it! His swordplay has actually broken through in the middle of battle, reaching a higher level."
The veins on Nangong Yang’s handback were visibly pulsating.
Even though he was considered one of the top four swordsmen, it was disheartening to see even Guan Duli getting more attention. As for Shi Xiaole who wasn’t even a professional swordsman, he was already famous enough in Qingxue State. Compared to him, those so-called disciples from the Twin Absolute Palace should go hang themselves.
"How is this possible?"
Guan Zhihang’s face was indeed pale.
Being the foremost disciple of the Twin Absolute Palace, known for his Wild Blade Chaotic Sword, he had believed he was only less skilled because he practiced both sword and blade. However, the emergence of Shi Xiaole was like a slap across his face, leaving him with nowhere to hide his humiliation.
"Slash!"
On the dueling stage, Guan Duli attacked with his longsword. The overwhelming sword Qi, resembling an uncontrollable raging dragon, whistled as it split through the rushing air, ruthlessly slashing towards Shi Xiaole.
The fierce wind blew while a rare fervor flickered in Shi Xiaole’s eyes. He was filled with an unspeakable excitement, akin to a tiger out of its cage or a dragon rising from the abyss.
It’s awkward for a powerful swordsman to abandon his usual sword techniques. Even though Shi Xiaole appeared to have used seventy percent of his internal power previously, he hadn’t really fully executed his abilities.
The most substantial gain he made in the last half year was in his sword techniques.
Accompanied by the high-pitched ring of the sword, his sword was drawn after half a year. The sweeping stroke of the blade effortlessly split Guan Duli’s sword Qi in half.
Shi Xiaole swung his arm and the sword swiftly moved to the right, colliding with another sword.
"He’s so fast. Guan Duli has never shown such astonishing footwork before."
"Nonsense, as a top swordsman, how lacking could his footwork be? He simply didn’t deign to use it before."
The crowd watched intently.
"Rise Dragon Sword Skill."
Guan Duli followed suit with his sword, leaning forward deliberately. His sword technique was as fierce and savage as a flood dragon bursting from deep waters, sweeping across the battlefield.
Shi Xiaole smiled faintly.
The opponent had a triple strike series yet chose not to use it. Instead, he wanted to duel properly with him, a swordsman. How could he possibly let him down?
Shi Xiaole brandished the longsword, one moment it was like billowing clouds and mist, the next it was like baffling moonlight. After a long period of rigorous training, Shi Xiaole had masterfully learned the art of swordplay. Both Cloud Mist Thirteen Styles, and the Moon Concealing Sword Technique were equally suitable and powerful for him.
Ding.
Shi Xiaole moved to Guan Duli’s left side where he slashed his long sword upward, creating a shimmering green glow. As Guan Duli crouched down, his right arm skewed to the side, and the tip of his sword cut through the Cloud Mist Thirteen Styles.
As expected, Shi Xiaole was well-prepared. He pointed his sword backward, easily breaking Guan Duli’s swords technique.
Furthermore, almost simultaneously, Shi Xiaole gracefully moved to the left, taking advantage of Guan Duli’s strength, and raised his right arm for a downward slash, throwing Guan Duli off balance.
Just as Guan Duli was about to counter-attack, he realized that Shi Xiaole had retreated to a distance three zhang to the right. Just when his sword strike ran out of strength, Shi Xiaole reappeared in front of him, slashing diagonally.
Clink!
Shi Xiaole’s body tilted backward, sword following after sword. Every time Guan Duli tried to launch an attack, he always managed to exploit the gap, causing Guan Duli’s comeback momentum to dissipate instantly.
"How is this possible? Guan Duli is actually being suppressed by Shi Xiaole and doesn’t seem to have any power to fight back."
"A top swordsman needs to have a perfect understanding of the force, speed, timing, and rhythm of his own swordplay. It’s clear that Guan Duli does a good job in all these aspects. However, Shi Xiaole has surpassed him one step further."
The voices of many people were trembling.
At this moment, whether it was the other young elites or the Four Heaven Kings, all were overwhelmed with wonder and admiration for Shi Xiaole.
There’s nothing more to say, Shi Xiaole’s swordsmanship was outstanding, and his style resembled the smooth flow of moving clouds and flowing water. Watching him wield his sword, one couldn’t help but admire his skill.
Seeing the mesmerized expressions of some people, Su Zhi’er couldn’t help but smile wryly.
People who hadn’t been in a fight with Shi Xiaole could never comprehend his terror. That kind of feeling of being completely controlled, as if being enveloped in a large net, could practically drive a person crazy.
Guan Duli, you’ve probably felt it now, haven’t you?
"Rise Dragon, Ascend Phoenix!"
Retreating in disarray, Guan Duli desperately executed a sword move to enlarge the distance between him and Shi Xiaole. He said in a serious tone, "Brother Shi, I succumb my life to the triple strike series. If you can resist, I’ll admit defeat."
For the first time since his debut, someone had pushed Guan Duli to such an extent. He felt shocked, angry, and at the same time, a trace of absurd joy.
"Please,"
Shi Xiaole said.
If he wanted to, he could naturally make it impossible for Guan Duli to unleash his onslaught, but that would be no fun.
Upon hearing these words, Guan Duli’s swordplay abruptly contracted, just like the calm before a storm. Everyone could imagine that the moment his long sword leaves the sheath, it would be earth-shattering, with power far surpassing the past.
"The first sword, Annihilation!"
A stark white sword light tore through the void and was swung by Guan Duli, creating a line separating life from death. Many people could even feel a gut-wrenching determination from the Sword Qi, making it three times stronger.
What Guan Duli comprehended was the extremely rare realm of determined intent. This realm, when isolated, seems useless, but when combined with his chain of three sword attacks, can produce a killing power that moves one’s heart.
Guan Duli was, after all, a stubborn swordsman.
Cling!
Just as the Sword Qi was about to slice into Shi Xiaole, a deep azure sword light surged backwards, vast and unparalleled.
The collision caused a strange sound that is hard to describe, like the friction of an iron plate, or like countless pieces of shattered glass being crushed against each other. As the swords crossed, a series of sparks shot onto the stage, all carrying their own fierce edge, then immediately rebounded, creating a stunning yet dangerous sight.
"The second sword, Heartless!"
Guan Duli’s internal power surged, when the long sword in his hand was thrusted, countless points of light appeared in everyone’s eyes. Each particle of light seemed like a sword, heartless and ruthless, decisive in killing.
If there were people close by, they would find that Shi Xiaole’s pupils also reflected these firefly-like spots of light, but very quickly, all these spots disappeared, turning into a hint of sharp edge in his pupils.
"It’s an illusion, yet not an illusion. Indeed, we cannot underestimate others."
Shi Xiaole sighed deeply in his heart.
Others couldn’t see clearly, but as the target—he quickly noticed—that Guan Duli’s sword was not a trick relying on illusions. Those spots of light were clearly position maps created by the swift swinging of the long sword.
In other words, as long as outsiders cannot know where the tip of the sword falls, they will inevitably be hit with the Sword Qi. But how could you figure it out in such a short time?
With his clothes flapping, Shi Xiaole, standing still, swung a spiral Sword Qi forward.
The Spiral Qi Strength was a technique of using internal power, naturally applicable to both swords and knives. Compared to the massive spiral knife Qi, the spiral Sword Qi was three points sharper and more elegant. After a few rotations, it violently collides with one of the points of light.
"Such clever use."
Guan Duli was certain that Shi Xiaole’s SwordQi wasn’t more powerful than his own, but his opponent’s Spiral SwordQi was baffling. It only had seventy percent power, yet it exhibited a hundred percent of it.
"Brother Shi, you are the first one to make me unleash my third sword, Selflessness!"
In the roaring sound, Guan Duli’s eyes became vacant as if he had lost his spirit and will, yet his sword started to vibrate at an ultra-high frequency. In less than a third of a blink of an eye, the sword and the person formed a continuous line and suddenly rushed towards Shi Xiaole.
In the eyes of everyone, this was not a man wielding a sword, it was clearly a sword leading a man, full of chilling, eerie captivating colors. Yet, the chill of the sword tip seemed to freeze one’s thought process, rendering many unable to shift their gaze away.
"The odds of blocking this sword are only fifty percent."
Situ Changkong imagined himself in Shi Xiaole’s place and quickly reached this sobering conclusion. It’s easy to imagine how terrifying a swordplay is that even he, a top-notch swordsman, is not sure he can block.
"The spirit of a living person cannot truly be lost. The so-called Selflessness is nothing more than a means of deceiving oneself."
Shi Xiaole was so calm that it was frightening; his spirit did not fluctuate from the beginning to the end. Holding the sword in his hand, he brought the swordsmen’s ruthlessness to the extreme.
Without a sound, an extraordinary intent, long-suppressed in Shi Xiaole, erupted and seemed to shoot a beam of light into Guan Duli’s eyes.
The Enchanted Moon Intent Realm.
Shi Xiaole’s Enchanted Moon Intent Realm had already reached thirty percent, springing from half a year’s hard cultivation, particularly the knowledge gained from outside Wind Valley. Even Shi Xiaole himself would need to hold his spirit firm to resist.
"What?"
The dormant spirit was forcefully awakened, causing Guan Duli a moment of horror, but he quickly laughed: "I forgot to tell you, I’ve already trained this sword to the realm of Returning to Simplicity."
He raised his long eyebrows, and the speed of his sword increased rather than decreased.
But soon, Guan Duli was startled to find that no matter how he increased his speed, the sword tip was always a little shorter than Shi Xiaole’s. It hit him, he had fallen into a trap.
As the thought flashed through his mind, the sky lit up with an azure sword light, descending straight down. Like a gentle yet brilliant moonlight, it suddenly shone on him.
In Guan Duli’s eyes, Shi Xiaole became incredibly distant yet was as close as can be—the chaos within his spirit made him unable to perceive the current situation. Trusting his swordsman’s intuition, Guan Duli fiercely blocked to the right and his body involuntarily retreated.
His hair fluttered.
"Brother Guan, it’s over."
There was no need to continue, gliding his body, Shi Xiaole emanated the unique aura of the unparalleled swordsman, lightly extending a sword.
This time, Guan Duli could no longer resist and was thrust by the long sword a full thirty feet away.
