Chapter 258: Chapter 258: The Number One in Qingxue State
On the long street, the wind blew the snow around, and the cold was biting, but the hearts of the people were heated to the point of burning.
The epic duel between the two gifted swordsmen of the Mountain of Heroes had been long talked about in the Martial World. Many even hailed it as the most thrilling battle in the Heroes Grand Tournament in Qingxue State in almost a century.
More than half a year had passed, Xue Changqing had already become a master of the first level of Xuanqi Realm and had won battle after battle, his momentum was overwhelming.
Compared to him, Shi Xiaole seemed quite low-key. Apart from a few who heard that he had a fierce battle with a disciple of the Revenge Gathering, not much news about him was circulating.
What people did not expect was that Xue Changqing had traveled thousands of miles from the Snow Listening Mountain Villa to the south, just to find Shi Xiaole.
"For any genius, any swordsman, failure is not unacceptable, but no one wants to be haunted by the shadow of defeat for a lifetime. What was once lost, must be reclaimed by one’s own hand."
A elderly man on the street watched Xue Changqing, seeming to empathize deeply.
"Indeed, where one falls is where one should stand up again. In my view, the likelihood of Xue Changqing winning this battle is very high."
"The gap between the Xuanqi Realm and Qi Absorption Realm is too large. Shi Xiaole’s talent may be higher than that of Xue Changqing, but to try and win across such a large realm gap, it’s very difficult!"
"The two are the elites of their generation, it’s normal for them to have wins and losses."
The crowd was buzzing with discussion, their eyes fixed on the scene outside.
"The Xue Changqing of today is not the Xue Changqing of the past. At the same realm level, I could only block him three times with my sword. I wonder how you, Shi Xiaole, will fare?"
On the eaves, Yue Tianlin squinted his eyes.
Honestly, his talent was not much less than Xue Changqing’s, considering their three-year age difference. But their encounter at Snow Listening Mountain Villa made him realize that Xue Changqing had undergone some kind of transformation. This transformation widened the gap between him and others.
In Yue Tianlin’s view, Shi Xiaole, who was a realm lower, was clearly no longer a match for Xue Changqing, unless Xue Changqing suppressed his realm, then there might still be something to see.
"Shi Xiaole, Shi Xiaole, I hope you can force Xue Changqing to reveal his true strength."
Nangong Yang whispered to himself.
Many had challenged Xue Changqing on this journey, but there was not a single one who could withstand his four sword strikes. Nangong Yang reckoned that he himself would fare worse than these challengers.
So now, he desperately wanted to know what Xue Changqing’s true strength was. Otherwise, if he didn’t even know his opponent’s abilities, how could he ever catch up?
"What do you think?"
Situ Changkong turned to Guan Duli.
The two of them were both the silent types which made them get along quite well.
"I do not know."
Guan Duli’s face revealed no emotion.
At first glance, there was no doubt that Xue Changqing’s strength was much greater. But before the result was out, he did not want to make a hasty judgment, because he did not have the qualifications to evaluate the two.
On the long street, the falling snow gradually stopped.
"Brother Shi, I don’t want to take advantage of you. I will suppress my realm to match yours."
Xue Changqing slowly said, his pale and slender fingers grasping the hilt of the Snow Spirit Sword, at the same time a chilly, sharp aura rose from him.
Shi Xiaole shook his head, saying, "There’s no need for that, just give it your all."
More than three months ago, he had been able to kill an ordinary third-level Xuanqi Realm master in an instant. A more formidable opponent would only take a few sword strikes. As for now, even Shi Xiaole himself didn’t know how strong he was.
Hearing this, Xue Changqing’s eyebrows furrowed.
The others were also taken aback. What did he mean? Was he looking to fight across realms? It made sense though, if they were fated to lose, at least lose with dignity.
"Since that is the case, Brother Shi, please."
All of his first-level Xuanqi power erupted, and an unprecedentedly intense wave of internal power radiated from Xue Changqing’s pores. His white hair fluttered, and even before his sword was drawn, an icy sword, three feet long and condensed from his internal power, had already hung in mid-air. Underneath the ice sword, the snowy ground was cleanly cut by the invisible sword qi, leaving a two-inch wide track which extended all the way to Shi Xiaole’s feet.
Just by looking at this shadow of the sword, everyone present felt a painful tingling sensation in their heads, as if their bodies were about to be split open at any moment.
"Star Cold Not Erupted!"
Everyone has to take responsibility for their words, and Xue Changqing unsheathed his sword, using his exclusive skill Gangstar Nine Kills with the first strike. An ice cube formed by sword qi spun at high speed, like a top with spike teeth, emitting a teeth-gritting cutting sound.
Xue Changqing’s eyes were extremely bright.
No one understood the power of this blow better than he did. After this sword, he would reclaim his rightfully owned glory.
Whistling....
The sword qi formed an icy star, leaving a long white mark in the air. It seemed to arrive at the same time as the sound, with Shi Xiaole standing motionless in place, as if he was dumbfounded.
Not until the icy star was about to reach him did Shi Xiaole’s right hand finally move.
Clang!
A slender strip of blue sword qi emerged in the air, cutting the icy star in half with a force that could break down anything. The icy star burst into a shower of ice and snow sword qi, scattering in all directions, while Shi Xiaole, in the very center of it, let his green robe flutter and half of his sword was drawn from its sheath.
"Impossible!"
The first to shout was Yue Tianlin, his expression as if he had seen a ghost.
Before the others could react, Shi Xiaole stretched out his arm, and the Qingyang Sword was finally drawn, slashing out a crescent-shaped swath of Qingyang Sword Qi.
"Nine Kills in succession!"
Xue Changqing lost his composure for the first time in history. White light kept flashing, and each time it flashed a harsh white sword qi burst out, nine sword strikes combined and intertwined, woven like a silkworm cocoon around Shi Xiaole.
Presently, not only had his cultivation reached the first level of the Xuanqi Realm, but he had also cultivated the mid-tier high-grade sword technique, Gangstar Nine Kills, to the small achievement stage, making it far more powerful than the Listening Snow Sword Technique. This was his all-out strike, capable of grinding several third-level Xuanqi Realm masters to death.
However—
The crescent arc of the Qingyang Sword Qi was almost transparent, yet it possessed an unimaginable resilience. As soon as the nine strands of Sword Qi neared, they were cleaved into halves like slicing vegetables. They couldn’t even resist for a moment.
A fragment of the sword tip was pointed at Xue Changqing’s throat.
The scene was frozen in time.
All discussions ceased automatically, leaving behind only the sound of charcoal burning in the tavern inn.
Some had their eyes wide open, others were dumbfounded, and many were completely bewildered.
Even the four haughty young swordsmen perched on the roof, seemed clumsy and laughable at this moment.
One sword decided the outcome.
The crowd had considered this outcome, but it was beyond their wildest imaginations. It was Shi Xiaole, not the advancing Xue Changqing, who ended the duel with a single sword stroke.
"Can someone please tell me that I am seeing things wrong?"
"What just happened? Why did things turn out like this?"
"Shi Xiaole’s Qi was clearly at the peak of the Qi Absorption Realm, but even so, it is impossible for him to defeat Xue Changqing with a single sword stroke, and so effortlessly."
An eerie silence fell, causing everyone to feel like their sanity was slipping, unable to believe what had unfolded before their eyes.
"Was that your full strength just now?"
Staring blankly at the other party for a long time, Xue Changqing finally asked in an unbelievably solemn tone.
If he was not mistaken, he sensed a kind of suppression from Shi Xiaole’s swordsmanship. It wasn’t the pressure of power, but the suppression of the Sword Realm. The only thing capable of suppressing the peak of Sword-User Unity was...the Sword Heart.
Xue Changqing felt an unprecedented sense of defeat and admiration for Shi Xiaole. It was not so much that he was defeated, but the fact that Shi Xiaole had reached the Sword Heart astounded him.
"Perhaps."
Sheathing his sword, Shi Xiaole replied.
In fact, for that sword stroke, he had only used about seventy percent of his strength.
"I understand now."
Shi Xiaole’s answer gave Xue Changqing the clarity he sought. He gave a bitter smile and walked away, his steps unsteady.
No one had ever caused him to lose so thoroughly two times. Especially this time, he was defeated without any excuses. Xue Changqing felt incredibly stifled. Inwardly, his goal changed from defeating Shi Xiaole to striving to catch up with him.
"That guy..."
Yue Tianlin’s expression was a complex mixture of shock and a hint of irrepressible jealousy.
Indeed, as one of the heavenly pride, he couldn’t help but feel envy towards Shi Xiaole. Shi Xiaole seemed to be bathed in a splendid aura, extremely reserved yet dazzling. This was an indescribable yet unforgettable unique temperament.
"Brother Shi, you have truly enlightened us. I, Guan Duli, shall dedicate all my days and nights to cultivation, in hopes of having a good fight with you."
At this moment, Guan Duli felt nothing but admiration for Shi Xiaole.
"I will await you, Brother Guan."
Shi Xiaole responded with a bow.
Nangong Yang and Situ Changkong remained silent. However, they knew that from now on, there would be no comparisons with the two genius swordsmen in Qingxue State. When people spoke of genius swordsmen, they would only think of one person.
Shi Xiaole!
No one could compare with him. In his brilliance, all the young swordsmen in Qingxue State were destined to pale in comparison and serve as a backdrop.
"Shi Xiaole, a true genius of swordsmanship."
"Despite the brief battle today, it has been far more classic than the Battle of Heroic Hill."
"The ultimate expert in the Qi Absorption Realm."
The spectators on both sides were in awe, filled with admiration.
The story of the street fight quickly spread throughout the Martial World.
The news sent shockwaves through the crowds. Everyone who heard about it was in disbelief. It was only after they confirmed the news from different sources that they began to digest the shocking news.
At Xu Family, one of the four major clans in the north of the river.
"Defeated Xue Changqing with a single sword stroke?"
Xu Beihe’s face was full of shock.
Next to him, Xu Canghai, Xu Nianxue, and even his wife, Xue Furong, were all stupefied.
Because of their relationship with Snow Listening Mountain Villa, they knew better than anyone else about Xue Changqing’s progress. In the eyes of the Xu Family, there should be no one under the age of twenty-five in Qingxue State who could match Xue Changqing.
"It’s fake, it must be fake."
Xu Nianxue mumbled to herself. But deep down, she knew better than anyone, with Snow Listening Mountain Villa not denying it, how could the news be a lie?
In the Queen City, one of the Eight Great Sects.
The female disciples in the city were all discussing Shi Xiaole. At the highest tower in the city, City Lord Xia Lingwei unfolded a scroll.
If Shi Xiaole was present, he would be greatly surprised because the man in the painting was elegant and fascinating. His features bore an eighty percent resemblance to him.
Xia Lingwei, who usually had a stern expression, looked at the painting, her face revealing an enchanting smile that no one had ever seen before.
