Chapter 1277: Chapter 1277: Battle of the Two Chiefs
On the Martial Arts Arena, the battle between Linghu Wang and Tang Qianliu has already begun.
However, on the surrounding spectator seats, nearly all eyes are focused on Linghu Wang.
Only a few glances are directed at Tang Qianliu.
Among them, one gaze is the most intense.
This gaze comes from Cangyun Academy; it is Tang Sha.
Thousand River Academy, ranked 7th.
At the same time, Tang Qianliu is the chief of Thousand River Academy.
In past martial arts exchanges among academies, Tang Qianliu has been considered an old rival of Tang Sha.
The two come from the 7th and 8th ranked academies, with their strength evenly matched.
The two are even referred to as the ’Two Tang’.
Tang Sha, the Sandstorm; Tang Qianliu, the Thousand River Sword.
Only the chiefs from the Five Great Academies and select Supreme Geniuses can surpass them.
However, though they are only slightly surpassed, considering the current state of battle, the gap seems significant.
The fight between Linghu Wang and Tang Qianliu is almost a foregone conclusion.
Linghu Wang wields his sword single-handedly, casually and with grace.
In contrast, Tang Qianliu, true to the name of the Thousand River Sword, truly has many sword shadows, much like a thousand rivers rushing.
The sword is swift and heavy, heavy and continuous.
If it were against another opponent, they might have already been defeated under his Thousand River Sword.
But in Linghu Wang’s hands, even with Tang Qianliu’s full force attacks, Linghu Wang doesn’t even need to dodge.
Every attack from Tang Qianliu is easily countered by Linghu Wang.
"Tang Qianliu, if you still can’t break my Sword Edge, I will have to attack," Linghu Wang calmly said.
Indeed, Linghu Wang has yet to attack; he has merely passively received Tang Qianliu’s strikes.
But Tang Qianliu is already attacking with full force.
"The Sword Obsession Disciples from Five Fools Academy are indeed formidable." Tang Qianliu slowly squints his eyes.
On the surrounding spectator seats, various academy disciples shake their heads.
They have long known that this battle holds no suspense.
"Both being chiefs, the gap between Tang Qianliu and Senior Brother Linghu Wang is enormous."
"Is this the difference between Thousand River Academy and Five Fools Academy?"
"Five Fools Academy, the second academy in the Central Region, truly lives up to its reputation."
"At most, within ten moves, Senior Brother Linghu Wang will strike, and Tang Qianliu is likely to be instantly defeated."
Discussions arise all around.
"Hmph." On the Martial Arts Arena, Tang Qianliu suddenly lets out a cold snort.
"Sword Breaks a Thousand Streams."
Clang...
A clear sword hum resounds.
Tang Qianliu slashes with his sword.
Crash...
In an instant, the sound of rushing water arises.
In a moment, thousands of giant streams appear out of thin air.
Above the entire Martial Arts Arena, the sky is dense with water flow.
Between Five Spirit Peak and the Heavenly Hidden Twelve Peaks, this expansive sky has become a land of running streams.
"Break." A voice roars out, as if exhausted.
The thousand streams above suddenly shoot down.
The incredible speed is like thousands of rushing river blades.
Whiz... whiz... whiz...
Though massive, those streams emit no roar, instead producing rapid sky-breaking sounds.
"Not good." A chorus of startled cries rings out nearby.
Amidst the Black Cloud Academy seats, Xiao Yi, who had been feigning sleep, suddenly opens his eyes.
"This guy." Xiao Yi mutters, a beam of Sword Qi condensing at his fingertips.
Just as the Sword Qi appears, large waves crash across the scene.
After a full ten seconds, the waves dissipate.
Throughout the arena, aside from the Martial Arts Elders and the quick-reacting Supreme Geniuses, most people are soaked through, looking quite disheveled.
"This guy, what an impressive mastery of Water Dao."
Behind him, Tong Ye, Qin Yi, and others shake the water from their faces, speaking with surprise.
Then, a surge of Primordial Power evaporates the moisture from their clothing.
"This guy has some skills." Qing Lin narrows his eyes, "Even I would have to exert full strength to defeat him."
He wasn’t soaked, yet his face still carried a trace of astonishment.
"Such impressive Sword Dao and Water Dao." The surrounding disciple spectators also wear expressions of surprise.
However, when all eyes return to the Martial Arts Arena, their faces explode with astonishment.
On the Martial Arts Arena, thousands of huge streams crash down.
Yet in the center, the target of the attack, Linghu Wang, remains entirely unharmed, without much change in his stance.
A sword, flashing blue light, effortlessly blocks before him.
The thousand streams haven’t even shattered a glimmer of sword light.
"Incredible, that’s surely Senior Brother Linghu Wang’s Forget Language Sword, truly living up to its name."
"Forget Language Sword, one of the famed Mid-grade Holy Artifacts in the Five Great Academies."
"Worthy of Senior Brother Linghu Wang, the power of a Mid-grade Holy Artifact displayed in his hands is exceptional."
"Only such Supreme Geniuses can wield a Mid-grade Holy Artifact, unleashing its absolute power."
Exclamations continue endlessly.
The entire first round of the contest reached its most thrilling moment at this point.
"You lost." On the Martial Arts Arena, Linghu Wang calmly looks at Tang Qianliu.
Tang Qianliu remains on the Martial Arts Arena, uninjured, but nods.
The previous strike was his strongest.
Yet it didn’t even qualify to force Linghu Wang to strike with full power.
Continuing to fight would be meaningless.
"I lost." Tang Qianliu says, turning to leave the stage.
Three judges swiftly step forward, announcing loudly, "In this battle, Five Fools Academy, Linghu Wang, wins."
Whoosh...
The crowd erupts into cheers.
For nearly all academy disciples present, the recent battle was undoubtedly exceptionally exciting.
Linghu Wang, the first chief from the Five Great Academies to fight, created the first highly thrilling battle.
Among Black Cloud Academy seats.
Qing Lin looks at Xiao Yi, smiling lightly, "This Linghu Wang is excessively formidable."
"Xiao Yi, if you encounter him, how confident are you?"
"Me?" Xiao Yi chuckles, "Do you want the truth?"
"What do you think?" Qing Lin rolls his eyes, "Of course, I want the truth."
Xiao Yi smiles, "If I go all out, one sword could defeat him."
"What?" Qing Lin’s face shows shock.
Beside him, Mo Youu who had been relaxed now turns her amazed gaze towards Xiao Yi.
"Junior Brother Xiao Yi, are you joking?" Mo Youu asks earnestly.
"Heh." Xiao Yi chuckles, "Perhaps."
At this moment, the loud voice of the judges rings out again on the Martial Arts Arena.
Two figures leap up to the stage.
Mo Youu and Qing Lin retract their gazes, focusing on the battle on the stage.
Xiao Yi continues pretending to sleep, resting, perhaps even thinking.
The following battles aren’t particularly thrilling, mostly involving ordinary academy disciples.
In the Hundred Schools Tournament, participating disciples number five thousand.
The numerous battles are naturally abundant.
Until several hours later, only hundreds of matches had occurred.
"Number 655, Heavenly Hidden Academy, Sikong Yu, step onto the stage." The judge loudly announces.
...
Second Chapter.
(Owe one, two will be supplemented tomorrow)
