Chapter 973: Chapter 972: Battle with Wudao Xuan (Part 1)
The battle hadn’t even begun, yet it was already over.
To describe the fight between Shi Xiaole and Ling Shangyun, no other phrase could be more fitting.
Many people only saw Ling Shangyun draw his knife, and then they heard his roar of rage as the long blade left his hand and his body was cleaved in two, with blood spurting down like rain.
It all happened too fast, catching everyone off guard.
Those who thought Ling Shangyun might not lose, or could even have the upper hand, were stunned into immobility; but even those who had faith in the Kirin were left gaping, unable to believe their eyes.
"Wasn’t it said that the Kirin had used all his strength to defeat the Qingyuan Sword Emperor? But this power..."
"Is the legend mistaken, or..."
Those who had not seen Shi Xiaole before, now looking at that youth in green like jade, could find no words other than shock to describe their feelings.
The swift rise and fall took everyone by surprise, as a top expert of the Human Realm Martial Emperor fell, killed by someone who hadn’t even reached the Void Origin Realm. Could such a prodigy really exist in this world?
And for those who had witnessed Shi Xiaole in the Twenty-Four Floors, their shock was even greater.
"He couldn’t have been holding back his strength back then, so has he improved again in these past six months?"
The Qingyuan Sword Emperor felt his hair stand on end. He had never before in his life encountered someone like Shi Xiaole. No, he’d never even heard of someone like him; the other’s talent was beyond his wildest imagination.
Purple Wood Sword Emperor, Mysterious Ice Sword Emperor, and even Mysterious Heart Blade Empress, Thunderbolt Martial Emperor, and others, were at a loss for words, their pupils constricting as they stared in a certain direction.
"Shangyun is dead?"
The Different-eyed Sword Emperor muttered, seemingly unable to accept the truth. After a few breaths, his expression twisted violently, and a boundless murderous aura filled him. He looked at Shi Xiaole, his voice trembling with repressed fury, "You scoundrel, in a fair spar, how dare you commit murder?"
"If he intended to kill me, why couldn’t I kill him?"
Shi Xiaole responded with neither arrogance nor humility.
"Good, very good!"
The development of the Evil Blade Sect hadn’t been going well these years, with its disciples showing signs of mediocrity, especially after Young Master Evil’s disappearance. Ling Shangyun was the only presentable disciple of the Evil Blade Sect, and now he had been cut down in an instant.
It was foreseeable that after today, the Evil Blade Sect would not only lose a future pillar but also become the laughingstock of the Martial World. Considering this, the Different-eyed Sword Emperor felt a surge of passion and glared at Shi Xiaole, almost losing control of his oath to commit murder.
"You’d better calm down, don’t do something you’ll regret,"
A voice snapped the Different-eyed Sword Emperor out of his fury. He lifted his head, meeting the gaze of the Wood Empress. His facial muscles twitched violently, and he said coldly, "Don’t be too smug too soon. I don’t believe that, with all the talented people gathered here today from the Daxia Martial World, we will let a foreign visitor from the Flying Horse Dynasty get away."
This statement was incredibly insidious. Seemingly a remark made in anger, it actually served as a subtle reminder to the young experts present, especially to the silent Yan Jicheng, Dark Night Proton, and Wudao Xuan. Their victory or defeat was not merely personal; it pertained to the dignity of the entire Daxia Martial World.
Failure was not an option!
Indeed, after hearing those words, not just the Yan Family, Dark Sect, Sky Water Palace, and Evil Blade Sect, but even other Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors looking at Shi Xiaole had an additional layer of meaning in their gaze.
To them, an outsider was still an outsider, and how could they allow a brash youngster to trample over their Martial World on the soil of Daxia?
"There are those who can take care of him, just watch."
"The Four Sword Moves to kill, such a ruthless heart, such a swift sword, yet I wonder, if you treat others this way, will they not treat you the same?"
Some people secretly vowed vengeance.
Surrounded by all sorts of gazes, Shi Xiaole remained indifferent, as if, as he had said, he only did what he thought was right. Did he need to care about what others thought?
The shocking incident that stunned everyone present happened at this very moment. Shi Xiaole looked towards Wudao Xuan in the distant sky, "Let’s start with you—come down, and let me give you the defeat you should have tasted long ago."
What does that mean?
Everyone was shocked by his words.
The Wind Thunder Blade Queen was seething with rage, her face ashen as she snapped, "You were clearly defeated by the Young Master and survived only thanks to the Yan family’s protection. Yet here you are, throwing your weight around without reason. Are all people from the Flying Horse Dynasty as shameless as you?"
Shi Xiaole did not even bother to reply but said to Wudao Xuan, "Will you come down or not?"
Wudao Xuan stood in the sky, his black hair fluttering slightly, his handsome face carrying an unfathomable depth. Without a word, this silent overlooking made the atmosphere even tenser.
Swish!
The Spring Fury Sword was drawn once again, and with a glint of cold light, Shi Xiaole, under the stunned expressions of everyone, gripped the sword with both hands, aimed at Wudao Xuan, and chopped down, letting his actions speak for him.
"How dare you make a move, you brat!"
A trace of ferocity flashed through her eyes. The Wind Thunder Blade Queen was about to act when she suddenly felt a chill all over her body, realizing she had been targeted by the Wood Empress’s aura. Neither Different-eyed Sword Emperor nor True Water Emperor made an attempt to stop it.
Recalling the oath they had made earlier, the Wind Thunder Blade Queen inwardly sighed in pity, but even so, she believed the Young Master would not disappoint her.
Facing the overwhelming sword strike, Wudao Xuan did not dodge but extended his left hand and gently pressed down. Many noticed that the strength of his palm and Sword Qi were nearly identical.
"What an arrogant man!"
"Is he going to defeat the opponent with the same strength as the Kirin?"
The one receiving the blow often has an advantage over the one initiating it, and Wudao Xuan understood this principle well. However, he did not use it to overpower with brute force—perhaps in his heart, doing so would be a disgrace. He wanted to defeat Shi Xiaole on equal ground.
What a bearer of the Selfless Sacred Bone, what a Wudao Xuan.
Crack!
As palm force and Sword Qi collided, there was no chaos, no explosion, just the sight of the palm force swiftly brushing against Sword Qi—while drawing the latter, its own force remained undamaged.
"Such brilliant skill, such grand bearing!"
Some exclaimed in admiration.
All those present were perceptive, how could they not see that this palm contained the might and technique of nature itself? After all, how could any force be detached from the natural order of the world?
Sizzle, sizzle.
But at that moment, the Sword Qi suddenly dispersed, giving birth to a new force that split again and again, each wave stronger than the last, seemingly endless.
"What kind of technique is this?"
Exclamations rose one after another.
If Wudao Xuan’s palm force was a piece of the natural world, then Shi Xiaole’s Sword Qi, unfettered by constraints, is a world unto itself—the world of the sword, fearless, cutting through all things in the world.
Under the relentless surging impact of Sword Qi, the palm force forcefully protruded at points and, in a fraction of a heartbeat, burst violently. The continuing Sword Qi charged towards Wudao Xuan, who dispersed it with a wave of his hand.
"You are not yet qualified to contend with me."
Shi Xiaole stated coolly.
One had only struck with a single sword, while the other had used two palms, and moreover was on the defensive. Strictly speaking, Shi Xiaole had gained the upper hand in that exchange.
