Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Gentle Rain Sword vs Wind-capturing Hand
"Tao Ding has long respected the reputation of the Huajian Sect. I wonder who would be willing to teach me a thing or two?"
Tao Ding fixed his eyes directly on the four disciples of the Huajian Sect, deliberately raising his voice.
In an instant, many regulars of the Cloud Sky Gathering showed expressions of ’I knew it’.
The Huajian Sect and the Fiery Fire Sect do not get along, a fact known to everyone who has attended the Cloud Sky Gathering.
Almost every gathering, the stronger Fiery Fire Sect would seek trouble with the Huajian Sect, set on stepping on them and completely humiliating them.
The last gathering was an exception, for the Huajian Sect did not participate.
This time, with the addition of the gifted Tao Ding on the Fiery Fire Sect side, while preserving their own strength, they would definitely not let the Huajian Sect off the hook.
Hearing Tao Ding’s words, the expression of the disciples in the Huajian Sect changed.
Yu Fangge gave a sigh as he paused from holding his cup.
In their previous bouts, Tao Ding has fully demonstrated his strength, which is most likely just a notch below Chu Lin who is at the Qi Absorption Stage. On their side, only Shi Xiaole could match him.
The problem is, Shi Xiaole defeated Chu Lin by exploiting the advantage of the Chaotic Intent Realm. If Tao Ding is mentally powerful enough, Shi Xiaole might not have a solution.
In the silence, Shi Xiaole was the first to rise. As a disciple of the Huajian Sect, he could not let his sect’s honor be compromised.
"Junior brother, let me take this round."
However, at this moment, a soft voice spoke. It was Mao Wenjing.
"Senior Sister Mao?"
"Junior sister Mao, you shouldn’t."
Whether it was Shi Xiaole, or Yuan Qiuwei, Xiao Yuanbo and even Yu Fangge, everyone tried to dissuade Mao Wenjing.
Mao Wenjing gave a faint smile and released her aura a little, causing Xiao Yuanbo to widen his eyes in surprise, "Your cultivation level has reached the Hidden Qi Stage Eight?"
"At the same level, I want to see the result."
Mao Wenjing’s beautiful face bore a smile, but her gaze was burning as she watched Shi Xiaole.
Shi Xiaole immediately understood. This teenage girl harbored a competitive spirit against him, and he could only shake his head with a bitter smile.
Realizing that Mao Wenjing was not going to the ring to be a scapegoat, but to test her strength, along with the fact that she was a lady, Tao Ding dared not go overboard. Yu Fangge could only say, "Be careful."
Mao Wenjing nodded, stepping forward to the stage.
"The lady has a heroic spirit amidst the danger."
Tao Ding said sarcastically.
Before coming to the ring, Yan Donghua had reminded him to do everything possible to tarnish the Huajian Sect’s reputation. The worse the humiliation, the better.
"The real master of the Huajian Sect far surpasses you. You’re not even qualified for him to step into the ring."
Mao Wenjing spoke lightly.
"Haha, really? Since you have taken the stage, I believe your strength isn’t weak. I really want to test it out."
Tao Ding laughed casually, determined in his mind to defeat Mao Wenjing as quickly as possible, to force out the so-called ’real master’, to fiercely slap the Huajian Sect’s face!
Whoosh.
A gust of wind picked up. Tao Ding made his move, immediately using the mediocre level palm skill that he had demonstrated previously, the Wind-catching Palm.
In terms of sheer power, the Wind-catching Palm was not terrifying.
What was terrifying was that the Wind-catching Palm and Tao Ding’s flying skill were a perfect match. With the support of flying skills, the special features of the Wind-catching Palm were fully demonstrated, making it mysteriously elusive and extremely difficult to guard against.
Boom boom boom.
In an instant, there were five or six figures of Tao Ding appearing in the plaza’s center, attacking Mao Wenjing from various angles.
"This jerk!"
Xiao Yuanbo’s hand, holding his wine cup, was suddenly trembling with anger.
In this world’s customs, women tend to be conservative. When men and women from the righteous path engage in combat, men mostly respect the rules and do not attack women’s sensitive areas.
Otherwise, in this age where even kissing can lead to death, although children of the martial world don’t fuss over details, it is still an act that significantly damages one’s reputation.
However, Tao Ding’s attacks were too disrespectful. He actually targeted Mao Wenjing’s chest, neck, and even her legs. This was clearly intended to humiliate Mao Wenjing and the entire Huajian Sect!
Seeing this scene, many people gasped in surprise, obviously shocked by Tao Ding’s actions.
Some were enraged, some cursed, but there were also those who secretly revealed ambitious looks, as if they wished they could take Tao Ding’s place.
"Mysterious Painting Sword Technique!"
Mao Wenjing’s face turned red with anger, so, under the stimulation of her great wrath, she directly used the strongest technique of the Huajian Sect, the high-level Mysterious Painting Sword Technique.
With the succession of swishing sounds, sword light danced with Mao Wenjing’s moves like ink spilling on paper, instantly piercing through all of Tao Ding’s multiple illusions.
"Why so serious? I was just joking!"
While waiting for the opportunity to attack, Tao Ding laughed heartily.
Mao Wenjing kept quiet, with her feet employing the Pomegranate Step Technique, her hands executing the Mysterious Painting Sword Technique, displaying all her skills to an exceptional extent, immediately seized the advantage.
"Senior Sister Mao and I are the same age, but she broke through to the Hidden Qi Eight stage earlier. Her talent has always been underestimated."
Watching the situation on the field, Shi Xiaole secretly nodded.
Before he emerged, Mao Wenjing was considered a genius that the Huajian Sect encounters only once in decades. She could even be said to be the top prodigy of Mountain Luyan.
It was just that she was too young and temporarily unable to surpass the Four Elites of Luyan. To some extent, her own presence overshadowed Mao Wenjing’s shine and cutting edge.
Shi Xiaole sighed quietly.
What he did not know was that his own presence not only overshadowed Mao Wenjing but also stimulated her. Otherwise, Mao Wenjing would not have advanced to the Hidden Qi Eight stage so quickly.
If Mao Wenjing could choose, she wished that Shi Xiaole could be even stronger. Only through comparison is there motivation, and who is not clearing the path for those behind when they are leading?
"Who is this woman, her martial arts prowess is astonishingly strong?"
"Each move and tactic, she fully comprehends the essence of the Huajian Sect’s swordsmanship. She even looks younger than Tao Ding."
The crowd was in awe of Mao Wenjing’s martial arts. Some of the young men, looking at Mao Wenjing, already revealed a certain color of admiration in their eyes.
"Humph, do you think Tao Ding only has this ability? Dreaming of winning, simply delusional."
On the side of the Fiery Fire Sect, Yan Donghua snorted coldly. The Fiery Fire Sect disciples on his left and right also had expressions of anticipation for the show.
"Miss, if you are so angry, how about Tao here helps you dissipate it?"
Being continuously forced back by the longsword, Tao Ding shows no panic. Suddenly, with a slight step, he rushed forward at an even faster speed. Midway, a punch was already thrown.
This punch carried an intense wind breaking sound and even a scorching breath erupted, making the already hot air three points more terrifying.
Third-class high-quality fist technique, Fiery Fire Fist.
Bang!
With a slight twist of the longsword, Mao Wenjing’s sword stance was slightly disrupted by the sudden punch.
Both at the eighth level of Hidden Qi, Tao Ding’s use of the third-class high-quality martial arts is undoubtedly three points more proficient. Mainly because he broke through the realm earlier, and is also a year older than Mao Wenjing.
"Fiery Fire Heavenly Flame."
Tao Ding laughed heartily, violently shaking his fist, and flame sparks flew out like Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flower, burning towards Mao Wenjing from all directions.
"Junior Brother refined the Fiery Fire Fist to the Transformation Phase to perfection, I didn’t expect that."
The senior disciple of the Fiery Fire Sect, Zhang Qingfang, laughed. He was a bit worried about Tao Ding at first, but now he was completely relieved.
Tao Ding carried out fierce attacks one after another, not giving Mao Wenjing any chance to breathe.
Just when everyone thought that Mao Wenjing would be defeated in one wave, they saw her swordplay changing, and the Mysterious Painting Sword Technique abruptly reached a new level.
"Is it also the Transformation Phase to perfection?"
Upon seeing this, the crowd couldn’t help but exclaim.
"When did Junior Sister Mao start to hide her abilities like Junior Brother?"
Xiao Yuanbo breathed a sigh of relief and couldn’t help but mutter.
He probably didn’t know that he hit the nail on the head.
No one knew how much stimulation Shi Xiaole had caused Mao Wenjing. So while she was competing, she was also being influenced uncontrollably, and even her fighting style slowly began to change.
"Smelly woman, let’s see how many moves you can hold."
Tao Ding gritted his teeth with fury and lashed out at Mao Wenjing with a succession of Fiery Fire Fist moves.
Sword light and fist fire were in constant fierce collision. In the end, the two figures had completely forgotten everything, throwing out one moving killing technique after another, causing many spectators to sweat.
After a few hundred moves, using the force of the Fiery Fire Fist, Mao Wenjing suddenly braced her shoulder, the hilt of the sword was struck by her shoulder, and it struck at Tao Ding from an unexpected angle and speed.
"What?"
Tao Ding had never seen such a nimble and bizarre technique. He quickly tried to counter it with a punch, but he was too late, and a wound was scratched out by the sword tip.
But Tao Ding was also a tenacious person. Ignoring the bleeding wound, he gritted his teeth and struck a punch at Mao Wenjing.
Bang!
Mao Wenjing retreated more than a dozen steps, coughing up a trace of fresh blood from the corner of her mouth.
"You dare to hurt me?"
Tao Ding’s face was gloomy, and he roared.
He thought it would be just a simple humiliation, Tao Ding never imagined that he would be injured, and even more by a disciple of the Huajian Sect. It was simply a disgrace.
"Injuries are inevitable in fights. If you are not convinced, you can continue."
Mao Wenjing said coldly.
"Both of you, listen to Yue’s advice, why not call it a draw?"
Seeing that the situation was not looking good, Yue Changzheng quickly spoke up loudly.
Given his status as the main holder of the Sky Alliance, his words were basically decisive. Although Tao Ding was unwilling, he dared not defy Yue Changzheng and remained silent.
Mao Wenjing simply picked up her longsword and returned to the position of the Huajian Sect.
"Junior Sister, how are your injuries?"
Xiao Yuanbo asked repeatedly.
"Don’t worry, Second Senior Brother, it’s just a minor injury, it’s not a big deal."
Mao Wenjing revealed a trace of a smile.
Hearing these words, Shi Xiaole and the others all breathed a sigh of relief. Yu Fangge praised Mao Wenjing even more, clearly very satisfied with her progression in strength.
Indeed, after this battle, Mao Wenjing’s reputation was well-established. Especially since she fought to a draw with Tao Ding, who had just earned the name "Wind-catching Palm".
"Who else from the Huajian Sect, come out, one by one!"
Just then, Tao Ding, who was hastily bandaging his wounds, shouted in the middle of the field. Looking at the redness in his eyes and the twisted expression on his face, he had no intention of stepping down.
Tao Ding could not accept the reality of being on par with a disciple of the Huajian Sect, so he secretly decided to at least defeat one Huajian Sect disciple.
What’s more, his senior brother had already signaled him earlier, believing that Mao Wenjing’s strength was not weaker than Yuan Qiuwei’s, and should be one of the most top-notch among the Huajian Sect disciples.
With that being the case, what was he afraid of?!
