Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Light Sword Great Method
In the gusty wind, the fan, due to its high speed, resembled a round grinding plate. With a few clanking noises, it made the knife in Ye Kang’s hand tremble uncontrollably, preventing him from using his normal knife technique.
The Flying Phoenix footwork combined with the Flying Phoenix knife technique, was claimed to be on par with third-tier high-grade martial arts. However, it was not actually a third-tier high-grade martial art. Coupled with the fact that Ye Kang had only achieved the initial stage of the Transformation Phase, and lacked experience, he couldn’t unlock the full power of the Flying Phoenix technique.
Therefore, facing Sha Zongheng’s complete Transformation Phase of Flowing Cloud 18 Fans, Ye Kang quickly showed signs of weakening.
"Flying Phoenix Dragon Soar!"
Seeing the opponent’s unstoppable momentum, Ye Kang abruptly changed his strategy, switching from attack to defense, earning a nod of approval from Shi Xiaole.
With the Flying Phoenix footwork, once Ye Kang began to dodge, it would be challenging for an average person to counter him. If he could utilize his strengths well and continually drain the opponent’s internal power, he might stand a chance of winning.
When the fight was at a stalemate, Ye Kang’s choices were undoubtedly smarter than Leng Feng’s. No wonder his aunt valued him more.
"Junior brother Ye, your idea is good, but..."
Seeing Ye Kang moving around, a glint of sharpness flashed in Sha Zongheng’s eyes. He brought his hands together, and the spinning iron fan in between immediately shot out at a speed much greater than before, as if it has been repelling some force.
The ultimate technique of the Flowing Cloud 18 Fans, Flowing Cloud Disc.
"Not good!"
Ye Kang was taken aback and quickly blocked with his knife.
With a clang!
He felt an irresistible force hit him, causing his entire body to be uncontrollably thrown back. What’s worse, after the iron fan flew back, it turned again and struck him fiercely again.
Caught off guard, Ye Kang shouted, and was directly knocked out of the ring.
"Sha Zongheng wins."
Seeing this, the referee immediately announced loudly.
"That last move was quite powerful, a continuous double strike. People with no knowledge of it wouldn’t have any chance to block it. Ye Kang didn’t lose unfairly."
"Is that Sha Zongheng’s trump card?"
There was discussion among the crowd, but they weren’t particularly surprised by Sha Zongheng’s victory over Ye Kang.
"Trump card? If this is your trump card, Sha Zongheng, you’re no match for me."
Jin Wuwei thought to himself.
With the warm-up of the first match, the atmosphere at the venue became even more heated.
In the second match, Shi Xiaole came to fight again. His opponent was a top expert from the fourth floor master’s lineage who had advanced earlier.
Knowing full well that he was not a match for Shi Xiaole, the man immediately used full strength in the hope of gaining an early advantage and pressurizing his opponent.
But could such a trick deceive Shi Xiaole?
In all fairness, the hidden momentum of Shi Xiaole, who had been through numerous blood battles, was probably the strongest among all the contenders, not even the domineering Jin Wuwei could surpass.
Without holding back, Shi Xiaole executed the Raising Sword White Crane Spreads Wings move and defeated his opponent in one move.
"This..."
People looked at each other, with a sense of bewilderment, as if the sword just now was even stronger than the strength Shi Xiaole had previously demonstrated.
The fourth floor master’s face was filled with anger, grinding his teeth secretly, wishing to let Sha Zongheng teach this kid a lesson immediately.
"Lele, why can’t your little aunt see through you now?"
Su Yanru murmured to herself, staring at the composed Shi Xiaole in his blue robe, wondering where his martial skill came from.
As the saying goes, one’s character can be seen at the age of three, and she knew Shi Xiaole’s temperament better than anyone. Could a person really change so drastically after being alone outside for a year?
The crowd was in an uproar as if it was about to break through the sky, because the third match began.
The competitors in this match were none other than the two hot favourites for the championship, Jin Wuwei and Lan Ning.
Jin Wuwei, also known as the Domineering Iron Fist. Not only was his demeanor domineering, his personality was also domineering, but his fist technique was even more so. Since the start of the competition, no one has been able to withstand a single punch from him.
Lan Ning, a genius from the Golden Phoenix Tower, also known as Cold Frost Sword. Her sword technique was extremely cold, and no one in the tower was her match. Moreover, she was the personal disciple of the Grand Elder of Light Sword Sect. It was said that she had already learned the Light Sword Great Method of the Light Sword Sect.
A meeting between the two could be seen as an early final.
"Ning’er, bring honor to your grandfather."
The second floor master became slightly nervous.
The third floor master was also nervous.
They both knew that the fight between Lan Ning and Jin Wuwei could potentially determine the next master of the tower, and greatly influence the voting choices of the ten elders at the self-examination meeting tomorrow.
Therefore, this battle could not be lost.
"Lan Ning, are you ready to lose?"
As soon as Jin Wuwei spoke, his boundless domineering personality was displayed.
A rare smile appeared on Lan Ning’s face, a cold one: "The one who will lose will only be you."
Boom!
Before his words fell, Jin Wuwei directly threw a punch, the first time he had taken the initiative, the power of his punch seemed to have started a gust of wind on the stage.
At the same time, Lan Ning didn’t retreat but advanced. The delicate sword in her hand came out of its sheath, cutting through the punch that was coming straight at her.
Swish, swish, swish.
The two met quickly, their fists and sword strokes raining down on their opponent, not giving them a chance to catch their breath, as if they wanted to immediately decide the winner.
This tight rhythm made the surrounding people dare not breathe, just staring at the stage with their eyes wide open.
"Lan Ning, admit defeat earlier, don’t force me to be serious!"
After throwing another punch, Jin Wuwei retreated, speaking coldly.
"The wind is so strong, are you afraid of biting your tongue?"
Lan Ning’s response was an even faster sword strike.
"Since you’re being stubborn, I’ll let you see my real strength."
Jin Wuwei kept retreating. When he reached the edge of the stage, his long-held power seemed to find an outlet, turning into a punch that struck Lan Ning’s sword.
Roar!
An illusory tiger figure about three-feet long burst from the fist, opened its mouth and bit towards the stabbing sword tip, forcing Lan Ning to momentarily suspend her sword movement.
Third-tier mid-level martial art, Dragon Tiger Fist.
With Jin Wuwei’s nine-fold Hidden Qi, complemented by his fully comprehended Dragon Tiger Fist to the Transformation Phase, the power of this fist is even more formidable than Sha Zongheng’s Flowing Cloud 18 Fans.
It’s not that Sha Zongheng’s internal power or movements are inferior to Jin Wuwei’s, but that Jin Wuwei’s fist technique emphasizes lethality, while Flowing Cloud 18 Fans is more about technique, evidently less impressive in terms of power.
"Well done!"
Lan Ning’s brows rose, her sword glint turning unbelievably cold. A thin white frost wrapped around the sword, causing a trace of mist to form in the air as it swept across.
The two talents of the Golden Phoenix Tower fought from the edge of the stage to the center, then from the center to beneath the stage. Their figures intertwined and changed, so much so that by the end, many people could not recall how many exchanges occurred between them.
"Are these really seventeen-year-olds? Their power... I feel mine pales in comparison."
"The waves behind drive the waves in front. These young people of today are remarkable."
Many martial arts experts present in Feiyan City were astonished and felt inferior facing these two young fighters from the martial world.
"These two truly are the most brilliant of our Golden Phoenix Tower."
Even though they came from different factions, Su Yanru couldn’t help but comment with a touch of admiration.
However, thinking of Shi Xiaole, she felt a bit more relaxed. Su Yanru believed that after a few years of mild grooming, Shi Xiaole’s achievement might not be inferior to these two.
"Jin Wuwei, be careful!"
Back on the stage, Lan Ning shouted, and the sword in her hand suddenly accelerated, leaving a series of white shadows in the air.
The long sword in her hand felt as light as nothingness.
"Light Sword Great Method!"
Sha Zongheng took a deep breath, his expression growing a bit more serious.
The Light Sword Great Method was a third-tier top-level sword technique belonging to the Light Sword Sect.
Though it appears the difference between third-tier top-level and mid-level is just a small step, the power of their martial arts is completely different. An objective estimate would place it at least 20 or 30% stronger.
What was even more shocking was that Lan Ning managed to train the Light Sword Great Method to the Transformation Phase, instantly suppressing Jin Wuwei.
"Good. One more push, Ning, and the match will be yours."
The second floor leader excitedly stood up.
The third floor leader also refused to show weakness and shouted, "Wuwei, unleash your ultimate move!"
What, an ultimate move?
Before the crowd could collect their thoughts, they heard Jin Wuwei laugh out loud and exclaim, "Breaking Iron Fist!"
Thud!
The seemingly unstoppable Light Sword Great Method was met with its nemesis -- a heavy fist that forced the sword to deflect and almost break on the spot.
"The Three Iron Fist Techniques of the Iron Fist Sect?"
Lan Ning’s pretty face changed color.
The Iron Fist Sect was a martial arts sect no less powerful than the Light Sword Sect. Its ancestral Three Iron Fist Techniques were as famous as the Light Sword Great Method, with even greater lethality.
It was beyond Lan Ning’s expectations that Jin Wuwei had learned the Three Iron Fist Techniques and had also trained them to the Transformation Phase.
"You should feel proud, Lan Ning, to have forced me to reveal my trump card."
Jin Wuwei was brimming with fighting spirit. His formidable fists continued to hammer down, reversing the situation once again.
"It seems Jin Wuwei is indeed the superior one."
"To fight to such an extent, both are truly remarkable."
Hearing the others’ discussions, Shi Xiaole shook his head slightly.
"Shattering Iron Fist!"
Jin Wuwei executed the strongest move amongst the Three Iron Fist Techniques, aiming to conclude the match.
Faced with the overwhelming fist-power assault, a hint of triumph flashed in Lan Ning’s eyes. At that moment, her long sword, which was almost a phantom, suddenly sped up again and cut right through Jin Wuwei’s punch before slashing downwards.
"Transformation Phase, Lan Ning, she’s actually trained the Light Sword Great Method to the Transformation Phase?!"
Sha Zongheng was so surprised, he nearly bit his own tongue.
The same Transformation Phase held different meanings for third-tier top-level and mid-level techniques. With this display of her technique, Lan Ning proved herself to be the number one talent within the Golden Phoenix Tower.
Bang!
Jin Wuwei eventually failed to block the shot and was struck by the sword, thrown off the stage.
The grounds instantly fell silent.
"Haha, Ning won!"
The second floor leader, his face red with excitement, began shouting loudly.
In contrast, the third floor leader’s expression was as if he was suffering from constipation, looking extremely uncomfortable.
"You...well done!"
Jin Wuwei’s chest heaved, he stared at Lan Ning for a long while before finally, ungrudgingly, unclenching his fist.
He was clear that Lan Ning, who’d trained the Light Sword Great Method to the Transformation Phase, was indeed more skilled than him, unless he also trained the Three Iron Fist Techniques to a similar level.
"Lan Ning is so powerful, I think our next leader should be her."
"Don’t forget there’s also Sha Zongheng. But since even Jin Wuwei lost, I doubt Sha Zongheng will be a match."
This duel left the audience deep in thought.
Without a doubt, the extraordinarily powerful Lan Ning with her nine-fold Hidden Qi cultivation and superior martial art techniques made it almost impossible to see any hope of defeating her.
Unless something unexpected occurs, she will be the ultimate victor of this grand competition.
After several rounds of competition, it was now noon, a time of bright and shining sun. The martial arts experts present were led inside the great hall to dine, with others dispersing to their respective destinations.
After lunch, following a half-an-hour break, the competition resumed.
The referee announced loudly, "First round, Shi Xiaole versus Sha Zongheng."
