Chapter 437: Chapter 436: Two Swords
Seeing Shi Xiaole unmoved, the man with a yellow face sneered.
Not because he was particularly good-hearted, he was simply trying to distract others. With his Fourth Tier of the Dragon Gate Realm, if he and Shi Xiaole were to pick the fruit together, who would the others target?
Obviously, the weaker Shi Xiaole.
However, the boy was quite crafty and did not fall for his trap.
Not daring to pick all the fruits, the man with a yellow face took two and shouted, "Everyone, there are still plenty left, hurry up!" His body already moved towards the dense forest on the left.
"Damn you, Ma. Pay with your life."
A flash of a blade fell, splitting the ground into a three-yard deep trench. Surge after surge of blade energy overflowed from it, forming a mirror and making the blade insurmountably sharp.
"You dare to ruin my plan, Yan?"
The yellow-faced man was quick to react, his sword piercing through the blade’s mirror. Yet the thick-browed man who attacked was no weaker than him, he raised his blade again and successfully held him back.
"You destroyed my martial sect, I, Yan, will kill you even if I have to chase you to the ends of the earth."
The thick-browed man was full of resentment. His blade was merciless, fighting with the resolve to trade life for life, caring little for the Sword Heart Fruit. He quickly pressured the yellow-faced man into an awkward position, making it hard for him to escape.
More people rushed towards the bare tree. There were already life and death struggles along the way. The multicolored Vigorous Air seemed like a massive ball, plowing a ditch dozens of yards wide and ten yards deep into the ground.
Fearing damage to the Sword Heart Fruit, a group of masters dared not approach and ended up holding back each other. As a result, no one attacked Shi Xiaole.
Seeing this, Shi Xiaole wasted no more time and directly picked three Sword Heart Fruits.
He would love to take them all, but with his current strength, he couldn’t bear the consequences of becoming the target of everyone.
"You dare, lad!"
Someone shouted, filled with intense killing intent.
Whoosh!
A sword light, soft as willow, and green rushed towards Shi Xiaole. Everyone else moved out of its way in fright. In the light of the sword, the Crown Sword Marquis walked in mid-air, directly taking six Sword Heart Fruits.
No one dared to say a word.
Don’t joke. Among the high level masters in the Dragon Gate Realm, the Crown Sword Marquis was a famous figure. Looking at the entire Xuanwu State, he was among the top fifty of his level. Who would dare to object?
The one-armed old man, Zhu Wen, and Fan Donglai, three Fifth-Tier of Dragon Gate Realm masters, weren’t slow either. They arrived later but each took four Sword Heart Fruits.
"Youngster, you’re young, but you sure are bold."
Zhu Wen was carrying a ring-knife, staring at Shi Xiaole with a grin.
The scene of Shi Xiaole taking three Sword Heart Fruits was noted by many. Many dangerous and strange eyes swept across him.
Yet no one made the first move.
Because there was no need.
Everyone was in tacit agreement that anyone could leave today, except this young man in a green robe. If he tried to move, everyone would make him pay.
Shi Xiaole didn’t move either.
Not out of fear, but after his Sword Realm got closer to the Heavenly Sword Realm, his heart craved for a duel with a master.
If he could leave Jade Sword Valley, it would be better. But since he can’t leave at the moment, why not stay and gauge the strength of everyone else, so he could prepare in advance.
Among the crowd of fighters, Shi Xiaole first set his eyes on a handsome young man with sword-like eyebrows.
"Burning Heaven!"
The handsome young man swung his sword, shooting out fire that covered a vast space. Two ordinary Third Tier Dragon Gate Realm masters were unprepared and continuously retreated by him, in utter disarray.
The man’s comprehension of the Truth of Fire was at least two levels superior to the ’Young Master Flame’ Zhang Qiuhua of Mirror State, truly grasping the essence of fire.
"Rain Pouring from Sky!"
This was a sharp-mouthed, monkey-faced middle-aged woman, who shockingly reached the Fourth Tier of the Dragon Gate Realm, waved her hands and a dense net of Vigorous Air poured down like a heavy rain.
"Urgent as Fire!"
The handsome young man did not step back. Changing from a single-hand grip to a double-hand grip, he channeled all his energy into a swing. Deep red flame sword energy, like a sea of fire, charged towards the Vigorous Air rain. Amid the sizzling sound, the mid-air part of their battle was shrouded by white mist.
When the white mist dispersed, a few holes appeared in the handsome young man’s clothes, but he was unhurt.
"Managed to take a blow from a Fourth Tier Dragon Gate Realm master head on?"
Many masters couldn’t help but feel extremely surprised.
"’Tyrant Fire Sword’ Zhan Shuo, indeed lives up to his reputation, no, his reputation does not live up to his abilities."
A first-rate genius in Xuanwu State could generally fight beyond his realm at the Dragon Gate Realm. Those who can fight beyond by three realms are definitely top-notch among first-rate geniuses.
In all of Xuanwu State, there couldn’t be more than ten such individuals.
Everyone was deeply amazed at Zhan Shuo’s talent and strength.
The monkey-faced middle-aged woman’s face turned serious, and she no longer made a move against Zhan Shuo.
If it was a fight to the death, she was confident that she could kill him, but there was no need.
Zhan Shuo, as the top disciple of the Thunderbolt Sect, a first-rate power in Xuanwu State with massive resources, once she made her move, if the news leaked out, she would definitely face retaliation from the Thunderbolt Sect.
"Water Moon Traceless."
As if stimulated by Zhan Shuo, the "Water Moon Swordsman" Fan Donglai let out a long cry, releasing waves of Sword Qi, and at the same time fighting with a Fourth Tier Dragon Gate Realm master.
After dozens of moves, he was continually forced backwards, and eventually displayed signs of defeat. However, the fact that he was able to hold out for so long against his opponent demonstrated Fan Donglai’s extraordinary talent.
Each time ’Beauty Sword’ Yu Meiren drew her sword, it carried a tender pink light, but her swordsmanship was far from tender. Merely ten moves in, there was already a second-tier Dragon Gate Realm master and three first-tier Dragon Gate Realm masters injured by her sword.
There were a total of four five-tier Dragon Gate Realm masters and six fourth-tier Dragon Gate Realm master present. Judging by the situation, apart from these ten, no one else could pose a challenge to Zhan Shuo, Fan Donglai, and Yu Meiren.
These ten, due to the three prodigies’ identities, would not make a move on them. Therefore, the many masters wisely let them be.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.
The three prodigies and four of the fourth-tier Dragon Gate Realm masters successively picked the Sword Heart Fruits.
The remaining masters once again engaged in a fierce battle. The first to withdraw from the competition were the other talents whose strengths were not on par with the three prodigies.
"My knife skills are still too weak."
Yang Feng looked at the three prodigies in the distance, each with their unique temperament, and his eyes flashed with various complex emotions.
Before he left Mirror State, he considered himself to have unparalleled talent, with few peers. However, it was not until he arrived in Xuanwu State that he realized how ludicrous his past thoughts were.
Mirror State was ultimately too remote to foster true Kirin talent.
However, Yang Feng overlooked the fact that he was a swordsman. His gains in Jade Sword Valley were far less than those of Zhan Shuo and the others, hence, in terms of talent alone, he was not necessarily much inferior to the three of them.
After many of the talented individuals withdrew, the skirmish became even more brutal, but Shi Xiaole astutely noticed that these people weren’t truly going all out, which left him sighing inwardly.
As expected, none of those who have survived in the Martial World for so long are simple.
These people were clearly holding back to prevent the Crown Sword Marquis and others from profiting off their chaos. After all, if the low-tier Dragon Gate Realm masters at the scene joined forces, even the likes of the Crown Sword Marquis would have a headache.
The united front of the masses meant that the Crown Sword Marquis and others could no longer touch the remaining Sword Heart Fruits.
The Crown Sword Marquis laughed as he stroked his beard and suddenly retreated a hundred feet.
"Sword Marquis, what do you mean by this?"
The one-armed old man asked with a smile.
"Contentment brings joy."
The Crown Sword Marquis replied lightly.
Everyone’s gaze flickered.
Everyone was wary of the ten masters above the fourth-tier Dragon Gate Realm, but little did they know that nine out of these ten people were extremely wary of the Crown Sword Marquis.
This was a profound swordsman, but no one knew whether his so-called withdrawal was genuine or a strategic retreat.
"Die, kid!"
The silence was broken when someone made the first move. It was ’Scar-faced Flying Mouse’ Fang Hao, who leaped out, targeting Shi Xiaole sitting underneath the tree.
The several mid-tier Dragon Gate Realm masters, including the three prodigies led by Zhan Shuo, all watched indifferently.
Everyone had to take responsibility for their actions. If anyone was to blame, it would be Shi Xiaole himself for misreading the situation and trying to seize something beyond his capabilities.
Even the fourth-tier Dragon Gate Realm masters at the scene dared to only take one or two Sword Heart Fruits. What makes you think you’re worthy of taking three?
"Prepare to make a move."
"We must snatch one."
The several powerful masters silently channeled their energy.
They were temporarily unable to touch the Sword Heart Fruits on the tree, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t target Shi Xiaole. Besides, this youngster didn’t seem to have any strong backing. If he died, it would be in vain.
As to why they didn’t immediately rush over, Shi Xiaole’s talent probably meant he’d made significant progress within Jade Sword Valley. He wouldn’t be killed by Fang Hao with the first strike, so it would be better to wait until the best moment to strike.
A vast palm force swept down, compressing even the air around it and bearing down harshly on Shi Xiaole.
Had this move been made prior to him entering Jade Sword Valley, Shi Xiaole would have been critically injured if not outright killed. But at this moment, he simply unsheathed his sword at his waist and swiftly swung out.
Swoosh.
The powerful palm force was like cloth, easily torn apart by the Sword Qi.
"Impossible, Dark Mouse Bite!"
Fang Hao’s smug expression instantly solidified; he couldn’t believe it.
He had anticipated Shi Xiaole’s improvement, but he could never have imagined it would be so significant. In just a day, it was almost as if he was a different person.
With a wave of his hand, a black light flashed in Fang Hao’s palm. A phantom black mouse dived into the ground, aiming for Shi Xiaole.
Without even lifting his eyes, Shi Xiaole swung his sword nonchalantly, with the sword energy rushing directly to several yards on his left.
"Pugh!"
Fang Hao spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, flung back, his eyeballs almost popping out.
The Dark Mouse Bite was difficult to anticipate because it was connected to his will, formed from condensed vital essence. Once broken, it would naturally inflict severe damage.
However, Fang Hao couldn’t comprehend how his move, which even a regular fifth-tier Dragon Gate Realm master couldn’t break, had been broken by this boy.
Little did he know that Shi Xiaole’s Heavenly Sword Realm could transform everything in the world into a sword. It was a mystical realm where Vigorous Air and mental strength extended outward simultaneously.
While Shi Xiaole hadn’t yet reached the Heavenly Sword Realm, his mental strength already connected him with everything his body touched. The underground attacking Dark Mouse Bite couldn’t escape Shi Xiaole’s notice, once it was within a range of several yards.
"Is this real?"
Having wounded fourth-tier Dragon Gate Realm master Fang Hao with two strikes, everyone present was stunned.
