Chapter 228 - 189: There’s Still a Master!
After the ring was cleaned, Xie Yuan and a few other handymen stepped down. Then, two male disciples with extraordinary auras took their place.
Qin Zhenyang, the Sect Leader’s direct disciple and chief disciple of the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect, ranked twenty-sixth on the Hidden Dragon List, and He Jin, the chief disciple of the Sword Storage Pavilion, ranked seventh on the Hidden Dragon List.
Every spectator’s spirit was lifted. They craned their necks in anticipation, eager to see what kind of epic battle this clash between chief disciples—this fight between top-ranked experts on the Hidden Dragon List—would be.
The two prides of their respective Sects stood formally on the stage and bowed to one another.
Qin Zhenyang said calmly:
"I have long heard of Senior Brother He’s great name. Seeing you in person today, I see your reputation is well-deserved."
The composed-looking He Jin shook his head and said:
"You are too kind, Senior Brother Qin. I have also been looking forward to this battle for a long time. Please, do not hold back."
They exchanged courteous greetings, unlike other Sect disciples who might have started with taunts and curses. This was the proper bearing of a chief disciple.
At the referee’s command, the most anticipated sword duel between disciples began.
In stark contrast to their polite greetings, as soon as their swords came out, they exchanged only a couple of probing moves before sensing their opponent’s strength and suddenly erupting with power.
Qin Zhenyang twirled his Long Sword, and its momentum suddenly soared. It was as if he stood atop a high mountain amidst ethereal clouds, yet the Sword Edge was heavy and solid, breaking through the mists to ascend to the heavens!
His Swordsmanship was magnificent and multifaceted, possessing both the weight of mountains and the grace of layered clouds. The interplay between heavy and light created endless transformations, its power was boundless, and it was impossible to predict his next move.
He Jin’s sword style, however, had a completely different feel. He seemed to transform into a bluebird, his footwork nimble and his form graceful, as if he had escaped the pull of gravity. He flew around Qin Zhenyang, his trajectory erratic and strange. His Swordsmanship featured even more peculiar angles, as untraceable as a gazelle hanging by its horns—utterly unpredictable. His strikes came without warning, often launching a killing blow from an impossible angle, forcing Qin Zhenyang to fall back on defense. His swordplay was both exquisite and vicious.
The spectators were stunned into silence for a moment before suddenly erupting in cries of astonishment:
"The Thousand Mountains Mist Concealment Sword! Qin Zhenyang is using the Thousand Mountains Mist Concealment Sword!"
"Isn’t that He Jin using the Flying Bird Annihilating Gang Slash? That’s an ultimate technique of the Sword Storage Pavilion! Usually, only a Grandmaster can achieve Mastery of it. How is he so proficient, using it with such ease?"
"And what about Qin Zhenyang? The Swordsmanship of the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect is notoriously difficult to learn. Without being a Grandmaster, one couldn’t even begin to comprehend the transformations of the Thousand Mountains Mist Concealment Sword. Yet he has captured the essence of both the mountain’s weight and the cloud’s ethereality. It doesn’t look like he’s forcing it in the slightest!"
People exclaimed continuously. The two chief disciples were each using one of their Sects’ ultimate, foundational techniques—a top-tier Swordsmanship!
For such profound Swordsmanship, without extraordinary talent in the Sword Dao, one couldn’t even begin to learn the basics. Typically, only those at or above the Grandmaster level could truly master it.
Given their talent, people wouldn’t have been too shocked if they had merely managed to learn the basics at their current realm. However, watching their techniques, it was clear they were supremely proficient; this was far from something they had just learned!
It was no wonder the crowd was so shocked. Such unfathomably profound Swordsmanship, usually the exclusive domain of Grandmasters, was being unleashed by two disciples at the Qi and Blood Metamorphosis Realm.
The audience was completely mesmerized. The two continuously exchanged marvelous sword techniques, countering move for move in a dazzling back-and-forth. The flashes of their swords revealed a magnificent spectacle. Where else could one witness such Swordsmanship? The spectators shouted that it was an incredible thrill!
Suddenly, He Jin’s technique changed. As he brandished his Long Sword, a black light shot out from its edge, violently slicing through and shredding the illusion of a thousand mountains and endless clouds before him!
Qin Zhenyang’s sword momentum halted. With a loud WHOOSH, he slid back several steps, his expression turning grave and solemn.
Across the ring, He Jin stood firm. He angled his Long Sword toward the sky, and from its three-foot blade, another three feet of black light erupted, blazing fiercely like a black flame.
"Sword Gang!"
More cries of astonishment rose from below the stage.
At the Qi Blood First Transformation, one can project blade energy and Sword Qi to attack enemies from a distance.
At the Second Transformation Realm, this energy generates an aura, allowing one to unleash Sword Aura that streaks across the sky like a rainbow piercing the sun—just like Ning Zi’s killing blow.
Upon reaching the Third Transformation Realm, the Sword Aura solidifies to form Gang Qi, which is indestructible and incomparably powerful.
Seeing this, Qin Zhenyang executed a flourish with his sword. The illusion of rising peaks and swirling mists appeared once more. This time, however, his sword also projected three feet of green Gang Qi, which pulsed in and out of view amidst the misty mountains.
"Qin Zhenyang is using Sword Gang, too! They’re about to settle this!"
The spectators chattered excitedly.
Sword Gang was immensely powerful, but its consumption of energy was also immense; it couldn’t be maintained for long.
The two on stage were already expending considerable energy by using such profound Swordsmanship. By adding Sword Gang on top of that, it seemed the rest of the battle would decide the victor.
And indeed, with Sword Gang unleashed, both fighters’ techniques became much faster, and exponentially more dangerous!
Beams of immense power crisscrossed the stage, dispersing the misty clouds and grounding the flying bird. The spectacle was so dazzling that many in the audience below could no longer follow the action, some even having to close their eyes to avoid being blinded by the brilliant flashes of light.
BOOM—
As their Sword Gangs clashed, they began a contest of raw power, and for a moment, they were perfectly matched.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
With a series of thunderous impacts, both chief disciples realized their refined techniques were not enough to overcome the other. They abandoned their exquisite forms for the simplest, most fundamental sword strikes and began to clash head-on.
This kind of direct clash was a test of Blood Qi, Inner Strength, physical constitution, and reflexes—a test of a Martial Artist’s most fundamental abilities.
Both fighters gritted their teeth. A trickle of blood even escaped the corner of Qin Zhenyang’s mouth, yet his hands never stopped moving, right up until the final blow—
With a deafening BANG, a gale-force wind swept across the stage, and a burst of light made everyone instinctively shut their eyes.
When they opened their eyes again, the two had already separated. Their Sword Edges pointed at the ground, the Sword Gangs extinguished.
He Jin’s face was pale. He coughed twice and said in earnest: