Chapter 766: 765
Sheng Xingzhi’s swordsmanship was the Thunderbolt, while Liu Xuantong’s was the Yunshui. Both were top-tier swordsmanship techniques. In theory, the Thunderbolt sword was supposed to counter the Yunshui.
However, that wasn’t the case.
Just as water could extinguish fire and fire could burn water, Liu Xuantong’s Yunshui swordsmanship possessed the properties of water’s flexibility and cloud’s unpredictability, enabling both long-range and close-conflict attacks.
In less than hundreds of moves, Liu Xuantong managed to defeat the Array illusions of Sheng Xingzhi under the premise that they were not as fast as he was.
If he didn’t step down after that, he went straight to the Earth-level stage.
The spectators were astonished.
The elders of the major powerhouses and reclusive masters didn’t lose their composure, but their eyes conveyed a noticeably different expression, whereas the younger ones outright lost their cool.
From ancient times till now, there had only been thirty-seven Earth-level swordsmen in total. Each one of them exalted in the Martial World. Liu Xuantong was not even a hundred years old and he was already challenging the Earth-level stage. What’s more, he didn’t even take a break?
"Such self-overestimation!"
A bald man jeered.
He was the Sea and Sky Sword King, ranked seventy-first on the Earth Immortal list, and was also one of the thirty-seven Earth-level swordsmen. When he was undergoing cultivation, he had used almost all his strength and made numerous preparations in advance.
The other swordsmen also looked uncomfortable.
To the Earth-level swordsmen, Liu Xuantong’s actions were nothing less than an insult.
Yet Shi Xiaole realized that Liu Xuantong may not intend as such. He simply took on a challenge when he felt like it, as spontaneous as a cloud and as clear as water, just like his swordsmanship.
"To truly exert the power of swordsmanship, one should get close to it and go along with it."
Shi Xiaole seemed to have gained some insight.
As the light loomed, a robust middle-aged man appeared opposite Liu Xuantong, holding a three-foot-long sword in his hand. On the blade of the sword, seven gems were inlaid.
"It’s really Martial Uncle Zhuge, let’s see how he handles this."
The disciples from Dragon View Ridge laughed coldly.
The keeper of the stage was known as Zhuge Xuan, nicknamed Seven Stars Sword King, and was one of the exceptional warriors at Dragon View Ridge.
The surprise of the spectators hadn’t ended yet.
They suddenly saw Liu Xuantong on the stage turn around and said to the real Zhuge Xuan in the shade, "Senior Zhuge, I have always admired your reputation. May I have the honor of a duel with you?"
At first, the audience did not understand. After three seconds of stunned silence, their jaws dropped. There was an uproar at the venue.
"Good courage!"
The disciples from Dragon View Ridge had an undulating chest due to his audacious statement.
The duel Liu Xuantong referred to was obviously not with Zhuge Xuan’s Array illusions. He blatantly intended to duel with Zhuge Xuan himself. From where did he get such audacity and confidence?
Perhaps at the same age, Liu Xuantong might have a higher reputation and strength than Zhuge Xuan, but the strength of a fighter was not constant.
The same fighter might fare better if he is challenged by a people of the same-tier from the Divine Barrier Realm, rather than someone from the Dragon Gate Realm, because the former will have more strategies at his disposal.
Zhuge Xuan was a Sword King of the Earth Immortal list, ranked two hundred and ninety-three, and this was transient.
Think about it, Earth-level swordsmen were only thirty-seven in total, but Sword Kings among the top hundred Earth Immortals, as well as other unparalleled swordsmen who were not in the ’contemporary’ category, surely outnumbered thirty-seven.
The fact that Zhuge Xuan managed to become an Earth-level swordsman only proved his exceptional talent and strong same-tier combat power.
The facts did indeed corroborate that. Zhuge Xuan was merely a little over a hundred and eighty years old and belonged to the younger generation among the three hundred and sixty Earth Immortal list masters. With a supreme talent and the accumulation of years, Liu Xuantong was simply no match for him.
"Young heroes often emerge from a young age, ha-ha, I’ve grown old."
Zhuge Xuan chuckled indifferently, but there was no amusement in his eyes.
Could the Martial World’s high praise for this generation have given them illusions that they could overwhelm past generations and surpass future generations?
In the history of the sword assessment convention, there were people who directly challenged the challenger himself, but Zhuge Xuan never thought that this kind of ’outrageous humiliation’ would happen to him.
"Defeating the predecessor’s Array illusion is disrespectful to the predecessor."
Liu Xuantong stated sincerely.
People from Dragon View Ridge were almost exploding in anger.
Tang Mei giggled, "Is this person really foolish or is he pretending to be? By provoking Zhuge Xuan like this, he won’t be able to not take action even if he wanted to. Hmm, it seems to be getting interesting."
What’s the point of fighting against an Array? If it’s a real fight, Tang Mei wouldn’t mind watching it for entertainment. Besides, it was always said how strong the new generation was. In her eyes, they should at least be able to defeat a swordsman of the same tier to live up to their reputation.
Could those young swordsmen do that?
"Just afraid that they’re boasting too much."
The gloomy young man next to Tang Mei rolled his eyes.
Zhuge Xuan did not have an excessively reactive response. His many years of cultivation had already granted him the ability to maintain composure even if Mount Tai collapsed, but it was impossible for him not to be heated up by the situation.
Just as well, he had intended to challenge the star-level stage. Before that, it would be good to teach Liu Xuantong a lesson, to let him and those so-called geniuses of his generation know the real deal.
Whoosh!
Zhuge Xuan took position opposite Liu Xuantong, and the Array illusion representing him quickly dissipated.
This was also a rule of the sword assessesment convention, which did not stop challenges from others. However, people had always been considerate of each other’s faces in the past and rarely did this.
"Senior Zhuge, please."
As soon as the words fell, Liu Xuantong made his move. A sword appeared, and layers of cloud vigor accompanied by surging water vigor attacked Zhuge Xuan. The thousand-foot stage was shrouded by sword qi.
This very sword had suppressed Sheng Xingzhi previously.
Starlight tore through the cloud and water vigor, presenting itself before the eyes. Zhuge Xuan’s body was enveloped in starlight. As he pointed his long sword, the starlight shot directly at Liu Xuantong. Before it actually approached, the barrier behind Liu Xuantong was exhibiting obvious fluctuations.
"Cloud and Water Distance!"
His body spinning, Liu Xuantong transformed into a wisp of vapor, and reappeared next to Zhuge Xuan, his long sword diagonally pointed, his Sword Qi threateningly close to his opponent’s body.
"What swift body movements, what incredible sword strikes!"
Many eyes lit up.
They had previously witnessed Sheng Xingzhi integrate swordsmanship with body movements, but they hadn’t expected Liu Xuantong to be as impressive, even exceeding in terms of technique.
Hissss...
The Yunshui Sword Qi seemed delicate but was incredibly sharp, swiftly slicing through Zhuge Xuan’s Vigorous Air. However, what met him was a layer of surging starlight.
"Five Stars Move!"
As if expecting this, Zhuge Xuan’s Seven Stars Sword’s tip formed Sword Qi into five points, resembling five stars compressed multiple times, charging out.
Clang!
The empty air vibrated incessantly. Liu Xuantong was sent flying.
"After not seeing him for many years, the Seven Stars Sword King’s Seven Stars Swordsmanship has become more refined."
"The Seven Stars Swordsmanship corresponds to the seven stars of the Big Dipper in the sky. Its progression may be initially slow, but it wins with sudden and immediate force. A same level showdown? It’s only a joke."
Several swordsmen sneered.
The so-called equal level battle does not imply absolute fairness.
Zhuge Xuan had already elevated his Seven Stars Swordsmanship to seventy percent mastery. Although he intentionally suppressed it to forty percent mastery during his confrontation with Liu Xuantong. However, this forty percent mastery is not the same as the actual forty percent. There’s a significant difference, at least in terms of quality.
If Liu Xuantong had defeated the array shadow of Zhuge Xuan, people would have been shocked and admiring. However, challenging Zhuge Xuan directly was only a laughing matter.
"Yunshui Cloud Space, Sunny Thunderbolt!"
In the midst of retreating, Liu Xuantong’s eyes suddenly emanate an intimidating gleam. With a wave of his hand, the Yunshui Sword Qi surprisingly transforms into a frightening thunderbolt, thunderously aiming at Zhuge Xuan.
"What?!"
Sheng Xingzhi almost leapt from his seat.
That certainly wasn’t a thunderbolt, but Liu Xuantong had manifested the might of a thunderbolt. Recalling the half a year he had exchanged with him, could it be during that time, that the latter had grasped some essence of the Thunderbolt Swordsmanship?
Zhuge Xuan’s face also changed slightly.
From this Sword Qi, he sensed a hint of power capable of threatening him. He quickly exerted his internal strength, raising his Seven Stars Sword diagonally upwards: "Six Stars Shift!"
Six stars arranged from top to bottom in front of him. As the Yunshui thunderbolt struck the highest star, the star shattered immediately, but its power was somewhat consumed. And then it fell onto the second star, followed by the third, the fourth...
When the fifth star shattered, the Yunshui thunderbolt finally disappeared. Seizing this opportunity, Zhuge Xuan, despite suppressing his palpitations, fiercely thrust his Seven Stars Sword out.
Shoom!
The sixth star transformed into a ray of starlight, ruthlessly bombarding Liu Xuantong, sending him out of the ring, spurting a mouthful of blood in mid-air.
"Arrogance requires paying the price of arrogance. Young man, remember this lesson."
Zhuge Xuan sheathed his sword, noticeably somewhat shaken.
Despite having the upper hand, the fact that he had to use his sixth star capabilities against Liu Xuantong, made him question his own confidence in securing a victory, if they were truly equal.
However, in this world, there’s no fair competition. Who hasn’t undergone years of torment? If you want to become an Earth-level swordsman, wait another fifty years.
The anticipated scene of mockery didn’t occur. Though the fight happened in an instant, the process was thrilling, with Liu Xuantong putting up quite a struggle to defeat Zhuge Xuan.
No one doubted that given fifty more years, he would certainly be counted amongst the Earth-level swordsmen.
With a smile, Liu Xuantong paid a fist salute and returned to his seat. Not only did he show no embarrassment, but it even seemed like he was contemplating something.
Shi Xiaole looked puzzled.
This guy...He wasn’t using Zhuge Xuan to gain insight into swordsmanship, was he? Indeed, the effect of combat with the Array’s shadows was far less than that with a real person.
"I’ll take you on!"
After a moment of silence, Sheng Xingzhi rushed onto the Earth-level stage, his sword slashing towards Liu Xuantong.
Clang, clang, clang...
The two fought for dozens of exchanges.
"Thunder Sea Waves!"
With a ferocious slash from Sheng Xingzhi, countless purple sparks, accompanied by rolling dampness, surged forward. Like Liu Xuantong, he had also integrated the mysteries of thunder and water, creating a similarly terrifying killing technique.
"Six Stars Shift!"
Zhuge Xuan’s face darkened, not daring to slack.
"Pfft!"
Sheng Xingzhi was sent flying back, suffering a miserable defeat.
Sometimes the slightest difference in strength represents an insurmountable chasm.
Especially when Zhuge Xuan’s Seven Stars Swordsmanship can be used for both attack and defense, extremely substantial, making it very difficult for strong opponents to win against him, while weaker ones would lose quickly.
"The disparity is indeed a disparity. Even high talent can’t make up for it."
"Indeed. Compared to the masters of the Sword King, the accumulation of small Earth Immortal List talents is not worth mention. Their understanding of martial arts and martial studies cannot be compared either."
Liu Xuantong and Sheng Xingzhi are undoubtedly representatives amongst the young swordsmen. There are others stronger than them, but it would be difficult to say who’s stronger under the same level.
But even these two do not qualify to make Zhuge Xuan use his full strength.
After making such a comparison, amongst the young swordsmen at this year’s competition, it appears that no one can achieve the Earth-level evaluation. Of course, the main reason was that the most hopeful and nailed-on ’Young Dragon’, due to personal reasons, did not appear.
