Chapter 131: Saving Jiang Longyu
All the examinees, spectators, and examiners were astonished by this turn of events.
Tao Zhiyue's smile vanished and he exclaimed, "What's going on? He was no match for Jiang Longyu just now!"
"How did Chu Qiguang suddenly become so strong?" another examinee exclaimed.
"Chu Qiguang is no less skilled than Jiang Longyu," Chen Yuebai conceded begrudgingly. "However, up to this point, Jiang Longyu has only been using fist and leg techniques, whereas the Seven Kill Faction is most renowned for its saber techniques."
On the platform, Jiang Longyu suddenly burst into laughter.
"I certainly wasn't expecting to encounter such an interesting opponent here."
As he spoke, his disposition began to change. A palpable killing intent slowly emanated from his body. Even the examinees and spectators around the platform felt a chill run down their spines, as if they had been targeted by some fearsome beast.
"You're right," Jiang Longyu continued. "The other trash here are not worthy of seeing our best techniques. That's why I've only been using my weakest leg techniques this entire time."
He raised a hand as he spoke, holding it out flat like a blade. At the same time, he directed his qi and blood into his hand, and it quickly turned bright red, as if it had been dipped in blood.
Weapons weren't permitted in the martial examination, but in this moment, Jiang Longyu's hand was no less dangerous than a real blade.
"This is the saber intent that I've accumulated after killing over a hundred fiends over the course of three years. I—"
"Shut up!" Chu Qiguang abruptly cut him off. "You really like the sound of your own voice don't you? If I let you finish, you're going to end up dead, so I'll have to stop you there."
As soon as his voice trailed off, Chu Qiguang began making his way toward Jiang Longyu, and he said, "It may hurt a little, but it's better than ending up dead..."
Jiang Longyu let out an explosive roar. His right hand began giving off a lethal aura of sharpness, while the hardwood platform beneath his feet trembled and creaked, looking as if it could collapse at any moment.
However, in the next instant, he concealed his hand inside his sleeve, and all of his killing intent abruptly vanished.
"He's even mastered the hidden saber technique!" Wu Liangxu exclaimed. "By temporarily restraining his qi and blood and killing intent, his attack will become even more formidable when it's finally unleashed. I doubt that there exists a third-state martial artist under the heavens capable of withstanding this blow."
"A blade that's out in the open can be easily guarded against, but a hidden blade can strike from any angle, which makes it far more dangerous," Xue Chengdao said with a solemn expression.
"Looks like Jiang Longyu is going all-out," Shang Ziyan remarked with tightly furrowed brows. "It's going to be a little troublesome if he ends up killing Chu Qiguang..."
Meanwhile, Chu Qiguang continued advancing across the platform, and the distance between the two combatants rapidly shrank.
All the spectators, examinees, and examiners watched with bated breath, waiting for the clash to come.
Shang Ziyan abruptly sprang to his feet with an incredulous expression. "What?!"
Jiang Longyu's hand came swinging up like a crimson blade, and all of his killing intent returned in full force, striking all the nearby spectators and examinees with a suffocating pressure.
They were all but certain that they were witnessing the final moments of Chu Qiguang's life. They could almost smell the blood that was about to gush from his dismembered body.
However, what was even more astonishing than Jiang Longyu's saber technique was the way Chu Qiguang reacted to the attack.
Faced with Jiang Longyu's killing blow, Chu Qiguang merely extended a finger in the most casual manner imaginable. As soon as Chu Qiguang's finger came into contact with Jiang Longyu's hand, Jiang Longyu's attack was stopped cold in its tracks.
Jiang Longyu felt as if his hand had been glued to Chu Qiguang's finger, and all the power in his attack was rapidly being drained away. Immediately afterward, Chu Qiguang raised his other hand and extended his index finger toward Jiang Longyu.
The tip of Chu Qiguang's finger glowed bright red, forcing Jiang Longyu to lash out with his other fist in retaliation.
The instant his fist made contact with Chu Qiguang's finger tip, he was sent flying by a burst of unimaginable force.
How did he do that? He used my own power against me! He stole the power from my attack, then amplified it and directed it back at me!
The force behind Chu Qiguang's finger strike was far too much for him to withstand, and he was sent flying off the platform.
At the same time, the platform was finally pushed beyond its limits. It exploded violently, sending countless pieces of wooden shrapnel flying in all directions.
Jiang Longyu crashed to the ground outside the platform, while Chu Qiguang remained standing on the lone wooden stump left behind.
The entire venue fell completely silent. Jiang Longyu reflexively sprang back to his feet with an indignant expression, clearly intending to continue the battle.
"You've already lost."
"No, I haven't! The platform collapsed!"
Jiang Longyu was unwilling to accept this outcome, but as soon as he tried to deny his defeat, Chu Qiguang's demeanor suddenly changed. A near-deranged killing intent appeared in his eyes, and in that instant, Jiang Longyu felt as if he were standing before a cold-blooded demon.
"Do you want to die?"
Chu Qiguang's menacing voice was like a bucket of ice-cold water poured directly over Jiang Longyu's head, and all of his fighting spirit was instantly extinguished.
I... I lost?
