Chapter 480: Chapter 479: Superior Swordsmanship
"Dare to insult my little brother!"
The irises of Ai Wenqian’s eyes emitted a light as chilling as frozen air. In front of her, a desk affected by her invisible aura disintegrated into a pile of debris in an instant.
This scene startled the musicians, singers, and maids on the same boat.
They had seen plenty in the world and served young masters, yet none of them could match the woman’s aura that stood before them.
The fleeting aura she emitted just now was unmistakably at the fourth level of the Dragon Gate Realm!
Ai Wenqian was about to burst out, but paused as someone else had beaten her to it, apparently the companion of her younger brother.
"Brother Ai, there’s no need to fret about others’ opinions. Moreover, the one before you is beneath you."
Shi Xiaole landed on the Glazed Fairy Platform, comforted Ai Wenhong with a pat on his shoulder and a soft voice.
"Brother Shi."
Ai Wenhong managed a faint smile.
"What do you mean by saying I am beneath him?"
Upon hearing Shi Xiaole’s words, Xiahou Liang squinted his eyes, the sharpness within flashing non-stop.
"Brother Ai, I’ve already poured you a drink. Why don’t you head back and rest a bit?"
Knowing that Shi Xiaole was trying to dispel the tension on his behalf, Ai Wenhong was filled with gratitude. In a low voice, he said, "Be careful, Brother Shi." He then drifted back to the boat.
He didn’t fret at all about whether Shi Xiaole could defeat Xiahou Liang. It was ridiculous. Shi Xiaole was only slightly less powerful than his sister, and toppling Xiahou Liang would be extremely easy.
"Brother Shi is such an odd person; he has never been so tender-hearted with me before."
On the ship, Ren Mengzhen showed a faint smile. Looking at the handsome Ai Wenhong, then at Shi Xiaole standing tall and graceful in the distance, her beautiful eyes were filled with profound meaning.
"Ahem."
The Crown Sword Marquis, being a bit older, was taken aback and nearly spit out his drink.
Yang Feng seemed not to hear the sarcasm in Ren Mengzhen’s words and said, "That’s the exquisite allure of Brother Shi. He can dismiss any mockery or hostility aimed at him with a smile. However, he can’t tolerate it if it happens to his friends."
"Anyone who knows him only sees his outward calm and indifference, but beneath his icy exterior, Brother Shi has the heart of a passionate man."
Yang Feng was never one to befriend others without thought. However, for his true friends, he would be willing to go to great lengths. He felt a similar vibe from Shi Xiaole.
Crown Sword Marquis nodded: "Indeed."
Ren Mengzhen stopped talking. Her beautiful eyes flashed frequently, suggesting she was lost in thought.
"It appears you are Ai Wenhong’s friend. Birds of the same feather flock together. I hope you’re not like him: all show and no substance."
On the Glazed Fairy Platform, Xiahou Liang shook his head with a grin.
Just now, as Shi Xiaole demonstrated his Flying Skill, he exposed his aura at the second level of Dragon Gate Realm, leading Xiahou Liang to unconsciously let his guard down.
Of course. At the Linjiang Immortal Convention, there was an unspoken rule: contests would only be held between those of the same cultivation level. Otherwise, victory wouldn’t bring any excitement.
A shame this kid will never know what he has hidden within.
"You did that on purpose just now, didn’t you?"
Shi Xiaole questioned.
Xiahou Liang’s laughed even harder, "I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, but do introduce yourself properly. I don’t pick fights with nobodies."
"Shi Xiaole from Qingxue State."
"From Qingxue State? Ha ha ha. What do you know, another great talent from another Fish Belly State. Ai Wenhong, you’re silently bringing disgrace on your noble family. Are you not even selective about your choice of friends?"
Xiahou Liang laughed out loud. He thought Shi Xiaole seemed vaguely familiar but didn’t give it much thought. The fact that it didn’t immediately register spoke volumes about Shi Xiaole’s obscurity.
With his talent and background, even when facing the top three prodigies, he could still boast with confidence. The worst he could do was lose the fight.
A little worm from Qingxue State didn’t present any threat.
"Shi Xiaole?"
Yu Meiren gasped in mild surprise. During the rush for the boats at the riverside earlier, due to the large crowd and people minding their own business, she hadn’t noticed Shi Xiaole’s presence.
The scruffy man with the rugged facial features beside her queried, "You recognize him?"
"I’ve crossed paths with him for a few days."
"What’s his martial arts like?"
Tong Baizhan casually asked.
"Brother, we should never underestimate this man. You’re probably not aware due to your long seclusion, but he once defeated Shen Wumei in the Jade Sword Palace."
Mentioning this, Yu Meiren said.
"Oh?"
While Shen Wumei was alive, he was known as the top talent in the Xuanwu State. Although Tong Baizhan thought there was a good bit of exaggeration in this ranking, he recognized Shen Wumei’s considerable strength.
Defeating him meant this young man in green robes, named Shi Xiaole, was not to be trifled with.
Not fond of Xiahou Liang’s arrogant posturing, Yu Meiren decided to add fuel to the fire. "Brother, it seems our arrogant bald friend is about to taste defeat."
The last time they had seen each other, Shi Xiaole had the cultivation at the first level of Dragon Gate Realm. His command of the Wind True Intent was 20% sure, and his Sword Realm was inching closer towards the Heavenly Sword.
Half a year had only passed, and although he might not have made significant breakthroughs, any minor improvements would bring about vast differences in power once accumulated.
There were enough reasons for Yu Meiren to believe that, with Shi Xiaole’s astonishing talent, he would not stay put but would likely defeat Xiahou Liang.
"Don’t get ahead of yourself. In the fight just now, Tong Baizhan didn’t even use half of his strength."
Tong Baizhan’s sudden remark caught Yu Meiren off guard.
Another boat was filled with more than a dozen exceptional young talents.
"Brother Shi’s cultivation is similar to Xiahou Liang’s, they both have grasped 20% of the top-notch intent. In terms of Sword Realm, Brother Shi should be superior. However, Xiahou Liang has profound family teachings, and may have some astonishing resources at hand."
’Water Moon Swordsman’ Fan Donglai, a disciple of the Water Moon Sect, analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of both sides.
"So, they both have an equal chance of winning?"
A female disciple of the Water Moon Sect asked.
Not many had heard of the prodigy Shi Xiaole, but of those that had, many held a level of curiosity about him.
"Fifty-fifty, I’d say."
After some thought, Fan Donglai responded.
The power displayed by Ai Wenhong surpassed that of Shen Wumei from earlier. And Xiahou Liang, who effortlessly defeated Ai Wenhong, was unfathomably powerful. Comparing Shi Xiaole’s odds with Xiahou Liang to be equally fifty-fifty, it was easy to see how much Fan Donglai esteemed Shi Xiaole.
After all, not even the most gifted person could have such rapid progress in just half a year.
"Senior Sister, what do you think?"
Fan Donglai looked at the silent woman.
With his current level of skill, he certainly wasn’t qualified to enter Immortal Gorge, he owed all to his senior sister.
"Hard to say."
The woman responded indifferently.
"This kid? I want to see how much he’s got."
At the western location, the ’No Strategy to Employ’ Liang Shuhao, the head disciple of Heavenly Inquiry Sect, was leisurely sipping his wine. He was undoubtedly impressed by Shi Xiaole, curious about the strengths of this boy who dared to stand with the girl in black.
"Who is that person?"
Blue Tidal, on the farther Guanxian Tower, saw the familiar green figure and was stunned.
Due to the distance and the cover of night, Blue Tidal couldn’t make out the young man in green, but there was no mistaking the posture and demeanor.
On the Glazed Fairy Platform.
Xiahou Liang laughed for a long while before he finally stopped, saying: "Your biggest mistake was trying to stand up for Ai Wenhong."
Clang!
Even before the words had fallen, Xiahou Liang’s sword was drawn. His dark sword light rolled slowly but quickly, blending with the night and quietly pointing at thirteen of Shi Xiaole’s acupuncture points.
Though flippant in his words, Xiahou Liang was no fool, not committing the folly of underestimation.
The black sword light, which caught Ai Wenhong off guard, was about to land on Shi Xiaole.
Shi Xiaole’s eyes did not waver. His left hand gripped the sword, drew it, and in an instant, it was out of the sheath. Ding, the tip of the sword ignored the black sword light, accurately pointing at another sword.
Sparks flew.
A massive force acted on the surface of the long sword, passed through the blade to Xiahou Liang’s body, causing his entire back to bend like a boiled shrimp. His feet uncontrollably scraped the ground, retreating to a hundred meters away before successfully unloading the force.
Some people saw that Xiahou Liang’s shoe soles had been worn flat, his bare feet exposed on the Glazed Fairy Platform.
"How is this possible?"
Many talents from the Xiahou family were present, and their expressions froze - from relaxed to shocked, then to angry, as though they were chameleons.
"What a terrifying Sword Qi, and a brilliant move!"
Many people called in surprise, and there were young swordsmen exclaiming in awe.
Shi Xiaole’s brilliance lay in the fact that he spotted Xiahou Liang’s flaw in an instant, and fully exploited it to establish an advantage in the first clash.
While this process seemed lightning-fast, it required extremely sharp eyes and control, far beyond what any ordinary person could imagine.
"Approaching the Heavenly Sword Realm?"
Li Zifeng, who had been wiping his sword up to now, lifted his head for the first time.
The journey from Sword Heart completion to the Heavenly Sword Realm is not achieved overnight, but rather through several stages.
The first stage is to externalize the spirit and make it change at will. At this stage, the swordman’s perception greatly increases, often allowing him to predict his opponent’s moves in advance.
Going a step further, the spirit is attached to an object, which can greatly amplify the swordsman’s attack power, making his moves impeccable and completely without leaks.
The third stage is far more terrifying than the second. The swordsman’s moves are no longer confined to the sword, and any attack can be transformed into sharp Sword Qi, delivering a deadly blow to the opponent!
It can be said that a swordsman at this stage is already very close to the Heavenly Sword Realm, inherently having a great advantage in same-level competition.
The way Shi Xiaole made his move just now let Li Zifeng understand that he had reached the second stage, where he could command his moves as easily as moving his arm at will.
Of course, generally, any swordsman that reached the second stage could not be as calm as Shi Xiaole. His sword technique was dreadfully strong.
"Finally, a decent opponent has appeared."
Li Zifeng continued to lower his head, his face illuminated by the shiny sword he was polishing, cold and merciless, much like the sharpness of the sword.
"This Shi Xiaole is far more powerful than his reputation. We all underestimated him."
"He is definitely the strongest swordsman among all who have competed so far."
Laymen watch for excitement, experts watch for technique.
With just a single strike, Shi Xiaole let everyone know just how masterful his sword skills were.
