Chapter 324: Chapter 323: Madness
At the head of Mount Dabie stood a palanquin made of flower petals, veiled all around by a thin gauze. Through it, a graceful silhouette could be vaguely discerned, attracting the furtive glances of not only the young novices but also many seasoned martial arts grandmasters who have ruled over their own kingdoms.
The sunlight from above permeated through the clouds, reflecting off the horizon, making it radiant and brilliant.
"Saintess, it’s already Chen hour, but that Shi Xiaole has not arrived." The old lady in black, leaning on her walking stick, said, standing beside the palanquin.
She appeared fragile and feeble, yet even formidable warriors like the Broken Sun Blade Marquis did not dare to underestimate her. From her, they could sense a dangerously powerful aura.
"No need to worry, let’s start."
The lady in the palanquin gently nodded, her seemingly casual words causing a sensation among the young and handsome men who heard her.
Such an enchanting voice!
The old lady in black nodded towards an elegant man in his thirties, who stepped forward and said with a bow and a smile, "Thank you all for finding the time to come and watch the competition, despite your busy schedules. Today’s martial arts tournament will now officially commence."
Then, looking at Shi Xiaole, he suddenly asked, "Young Master Xie, may I know your age?"
Shi Xiaole answered, "I have idled away twenty-four springs."
The elegant man nodded with satisfaction and said, "Young Master Xie, please prepare to confront your opponent on the battlefield."
"I’m up already?"
Shi Xiaole was surprised. There were ten people in the competition, weren’t they going to draw lots?
The elegant man shook his head and said, "There’s only one match today."
"Oh, and who am I up against?"
"It’s you against the nine of them. One against nine."
Pointing at the remaining nine competitors, the words of the elegant man caused an uproar among all present.
The six disciples from Sky Edge Pavilion lowered their heads, falling into a somber silence.
The Sunset Little Sword Marquis, the Little Fist King, and the Divine Wind Young Master all turned pale green with intense rage. But there was nothing they could do, for they had already received notices from their respective families and sects to team up against Xie Xiaofeng today.
In other words, from beginning to end, they were nothing more than supporting characters in the eyes of the Sky Edge Pavilion. Without Xie Xiaofeng, they were overshadowed, but with Xie Xiaofeng, they were even more pitifully overshadowed.
"Alas."
The Broken Sun Blade Marquis let out a sigh.
When they initially received this proposal, he was furious. But the compensation proposed by the Sky Edge Pavilion was something which the Gu Family could not refuse. And anyone should be self-aware, based on his son, the Sunset Little Sword Marquis’ ability, he was innately incapable of becoming a prodigy.
"With my level of cultivation, even if the nine of them attack me at once, they won’t be able to withstand three of my strikes."
Shi Xiaole said indifferently.
The remaining nine competitors shuddered, but could only grit their teeth in silence.
The spectators around couldn’t help but find Shi Xiaole too arrogant. But recalling his record of fighting against top-ranked masters in the martial arts world, they swallowed their words.
"So Young Master Xie, what are your plans?" the elegant man asked with a fascinated smile.
Shi Xiaole responded, "Crushing the opponent by relying on cultivation is not what I wish. Winning does not mean much that way. Instead, I shall suppress my cultivation to the Xuan Qi Eightfold stage, and exchange some moves with the nine of you."
Truthfully, even without this unexpected event, Shi Xiaole would have found a reason to suppress his cultivation, but others didn’t know this. For a moment, the area was filled with exclamations of shock.
"Xie Xiaofeng, don’t push your luck!"
"This Xie is really conceited!"
All nine competitors were furious. Even the usually composed Divine Wind Young Master clenched his fists in an uncommon show of anger.
If the opponent had defeated them while being at the Spiritual-Passage Realm Sixfold stage, they would’ve conceded.
But this guy behaved as if even when he suppresses his cultivation to the Xuan Qi Eightfold level, he could easily beat the nine of them. This was simply a slap on their faces!
They all had talents that were enough to rule over the Great Cold State, didn’t they know that?
In everyone’s eyes, Xie Xiaofeng was obviously becoming complacent due to his past accomplishments and was losing his footing. Even those who originally admired him were secretly frowning.
The elegant man looked back at the old lady in black, and seeing her nod, he laughed and turned his head, "Since Young Master Xie has displayed such high spirits, please proceed."
Their initial plan was for the six disciples of the Sky Edge Pavilion to confront Xie Xiaofeng using a special Array System, but since the latter voluntarily reduced his cultivation, there was no need to use an Array System.
Whoosh.
Shi Xiaole stood in the middle of the arena, his hands clasped behind him, and said, "My nine brothers, please impart your wisdom."
"I’ll make you regret your decision today."
"Your arrogance will become the laughing stock of your life."
The six disciples of the Sky Edge Pavilion, along with the Sunset Little Sword Marquis, somehow shared a common sense of indignation at this moment, and with their martial arts on display, they all charged towards Shi Xiaole at the same time.
In mid-air, punches, palm strikes, Sword Qi, blade auras, and leg techniques were all released from different directions. The multicolored Internal Power, like meteors raining down from heaven, instantaneously engulfed Shi Xiaole at the center.
With his heightened senses, Shi Xiaole was able to instantly identify the weakest among the nine, and with a toe tap, he floated in the air, darting around the intersecting auras, feeling weightless and carefree.
This was the supreme flying skill, unique to the Dugu Sect in the Martial World of the Tang Dynasty, called Red Dust Body Technique.
Whoosh!
With one sword swing, everyone realized that Shi Xiaole’s swordsmanship integrated superbly with his body technique. Just like how a person’s hand and feet coordinate together, they appeared as one.
This was the Jade Fall Sword Technique, which together with the Red Dust Body Technique formed the Jade Fall and Red Dust. It has achieved a rating of second-class, middle-grade in the system.
The Shi Xiaole of today, practicing second-class, middle-grade martial arts, was effortless and had already reached the realm of perfection.
"Whirling Wind Eighteen Legs!"
The targeted disciple from the Sky Edge Pavilion, who was at the Xuan Qi Sixfold stage, saw that the situation was not in his favour. He didn’t attempt to resist Shi Xiaole’s attack head-on and quickly retreated using his flying skill.
The remaining eight pounced at once.
"Taste my fist!"
The angriest of all was the Little Fist King. He was already hot-tempered, and being humiliated in front of the heroes of Great Cold State made him want to trample Xie Xiaofeng under his feet. He punched out with all his strength, and the sound of explosive power echoed incessantly.
"Sunset Sword Qi!"
The Sunset Little Sword Marquis, dressed in red with eyes that blazed like fire, drew his sword. Deep-yellow sword Qi was like a burning fireline. Within a radius of ten feet, the air seemed to be filled with burning spikes, and puffs of series of sounds were made.
Many heroes were horrified to discover that the ground was covered with small holes emitting white smoke.
"Impressive, no wonder he can kill an expert of the first level of the Spiritual-Passage Realm."
Lady Bizan nodded in admiration.
With a cultivation level of Xuan Qi’s seventh stage, and having such attacking power, Sunset Little Sword Marquis really deserved to be the top young hero in the Great Cold State.
Her thoughts only lasted for a moment, the other people in the field were hardly inferior to Sunset Little Sword Marquis.
The Divine Wind Young Master spread his hands. Green wind arrows rushed out at various angles, pulling out lengthy trails along their path. From everyone’s point of view, it looked as if countless threads were stabbing at Shi Xiaole, intending to make him into a sieve.
Apart from this, the six disciples of Sky Edge Pavilion also did their utmost, showing no mercy, and are determined to defeat Shi Xiaole as quickly as possible.
With the enhancement of Wind Intent Realm, Shi Xiaole fully demonstrated the Red Dust Body Technique. He narrowly dodged the attack.
"As good as the Bird Crossing Skill, the Red Dust Body Technique is still second-rate. It’s too weak."
Shi Xiaole felt helpless, if he had a mid-tier second-rate lightness skill, the current situation would undoubtedly be much easier, and he would not have been pushed into a corner.
Of course, he had not yet used his full strength yet.
With a flash in his eyes, and taking advantage of the momentum, Shi Xiaole rushed close to a Sky Edge Pavilion disciple wielding a blade. The latter was extremely alert and immediately swung his blade to block.
What most is feared in a group fight is being broken one by one, so even if the nine people were eager to face Xie Xiaofeng who was suppressing his realm, they still would not take the risk of being caught off guard.
However, this disciple underestimated Shi Xiaole.
At the moment he swung his blade, Shi Xiaole’s sword and body moved in perfect harmony, like a dance. The next moment, Shi Xiaole was already in front of him.
"Dream on! Blade Strike!"
This disciple was not panicking, his long blade brought up a strong light and directly swung towards Shi Xiaole. The eight people behind him had already attacked, as long as this attack was blocked for a moment, then it would be time for Xie Xiaofeng to be defeated.
"The first one."
Before his voice fell, a strange sword qi burst out from Shi Xiaole’s hand, mixed in with his sword, ’clank!’ the blade was cut into two pieces. The disciple fell to the ground.
Until he was defeated, he was bewildered and didn’t know how he was defeated.
After defeating the first person, Shi Xiaole seemed to have grown eyes in the back of his head, and without looking, he directly shifted horizontally to the left. Only at this time did the attacks of the eight people smash onto the ground, causing dirt and stone to fly, shaking the ground incessantly.
"Not good!"
The second Sky Edge Pavilion disciple shouted loudly, from the time of his companion being defeated to now was not even a breath’s time.
What horrified him was that he had to dodge temporarily because of the effect of the shock wave and his position happened to be not far from Shi Xiaole.
Was it intentional or coincidental?
Boom!
He was kicked to the ground.
"The third one."
He pushed off with his palm and Shi Xiaole rushed towards the third person. The sword and sword qi in his hands seemed to be two distinct streams of power, spreading out.
Sword Gang with Flow!
Yes, what Shi Xiaole performed was a unique skill of the Demon Door true-school branch, a second-rate mid-level sword technique, Sword Gang with Flow.
This technique was formed by fusing the Meridian Sky Gang internal power with Ren Bing Sword Technique. The sword qi is fierce, domineering, sinister, and has infinite power. Unfortunately, except for the Long Eyebrow Elder, no one in the true-school can practice it to the highest realm.
The essence of Sword Gang with Flow is the simultaneous movement of internal power and sword qi. Shi Xiaole couldn’t relearn the Meridian Sky Gang, so he simply modified the Sword Gang with Flow into two parallel sword qi streams.
"Do you think I’m made of wood?"
The attacked Sky Edge Pavilion disciple was furious and slapped out heavily. The other people also rushed from all directions, feeling both anger and hatred.
The astonishing thing happened.
The two streams of sword qi thrown out by Shi Xiaole had originally deviated from their position. But in the fierce qi from the remaining seven elites, they instead made a turn and hit a Sky Edge Pavilion disciple causing him to falter. Shi Xiaole pointedly sealed his acupoint.
At present, Shi Xiaole can barely fight an elite of the Spiritual-Passage Realm’s fourth level. One-on-one, his strength completely crushes any one of the nine and facing their combined strength only tires him a little at most.
"What?"
The six remaining elites were greatly shocked.
The people watching the battle were also completely befuddled.
Most people had only heard that Xie Xiaofeng had the strength to fight the top experts of the Feng Chen List, but seeing it with their own eyes was much more shocking.
Nine top elites joined forces, and in the blink of an eye, he defeated three of them. This calm demeanor and the aura of playing with his opponents in his palm charmed many girls at the scene.
Arrogance without real strength will only be a laughing stock. But arrogance with real strength is not arrogance but extraordinary confidence.
The fourth, the fifth...
One after another, the opponents were defeated. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Shi Xiaole left the Sunset Little Sword Marquis, who was also a swordsman, last. With one hand behind his back, he said, "Let me see your sword technique."
"Sunset Nine Forms!"
The Sunset Little Sword Marquis’ original anger had long disappeared, replaced only by endless bitterness. He finally understood that he and Xie Xiaofeng were not from the same world.
Nine flashes of firelines rushed out in succession, intersecting and rushing towards Shi Xiaole.
Shi Xiaole slightly lifted his arm, stood still, and swung his sword upward. The two streams of sword qi merged into one, completely defeating the invincible Sunset Nine Forms of the Sunset Little Sword Marquis.
"I’m far from being your opponent."
The Sunset Little Sword Marquis had never admired any of his peers before, but at this moment, he knew that he had started to admire Xie Xiaofeng in front of him.
