Chapter 750: Fight!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Ling Xiaozui said spitefully, "Use your sword when you fight with him later, if you have the spine to do so – it'd best fit you and you can fight easily!"
"Do you think I'm stupid?" Dugu Chou scoffed and retorted by rolling his eyes.
Ling Xiaozui was tongue-tied with rage. 'If you're not stupid, then why did you look at me with that gaze? What's the meaning of it? Are you dumb?'
Ling Xiaozui's stance was natural and at ease, filled with grace and efficiency. Whatever sword it was, even a broken piece of steel, it could become an exquisite blade, a killing weapon that could break apart mountains and oceans, once he held it in his hands.
On the other hand, the saber in Yun Yang's grip looked insignificant. It was just an ordinary saber.
"Come on now," Ling Xiaozui spoke with ease, "Let me see how much you've improved."
Yun Yang did not hold back either. What the rocket-like escalation of his cultivation base needed the most now was an opponent like Ling Xiaozui.
This friendly match was significant to Yun Yang – it was utterly important.
Saber light glinted as Yun Yang's hands moved, spilling over into the vicinity. An abundance of mystical Qi surged like a roaring tsunami. The common saber actually flashed with blinding brilliance as it was raised, its wielder yelling, "This style is called Merciless Blade!"
A flash of cold light flickered as if it came straight down from the heavens, but it felt like the gleam separated the heaven and earth into two. The force did not seem to come close to stopping, even after dividing the land under one's feet into two!
"Merciless indeed!" Ling Xiaozui's sword light glinted as he drove against the style head on. Just as he came into contact with the attack, he could feel the intense backlash awaiting him. What shocked him, however, was the indescribable power hidden in the style that felt vaguely like it was locking in on the target's energy.
A wonderful saber style!
Ling Xiaozui's eyes were sparkling with glee.
Despite his astonishment at the initial attack of the Destiny Blade, he still had to break it with one style. After seven to eight twists, the tip of his sword deflected right against Yun Yang's saber blade before it yielded.
This was the first time an opponent had broken his style and he was even put on the defensive since Yun Yang had comprehended Destiny Blade as his own saber truth.
However, Ling Xiaozui could not launch his counterattack directly at the simple strike directed against him, but had, instead, used seven to eight distraction styles. It seemed easy to others, but Dugu Chou who was watching the match from the sidelines showed no small amount of surprise in his gaze.
Who was Ling Xiaozui?
He was a great master of his art. Without exaggeration, Ling Xiaozui could parry any style in this world, even if it was already halfway executed before him. He could break, deflect, counter, and subdue an opponent with just one strike.
Now that he was facing Yun Yang, why did he have to add so many twists? This should not be.
Yun Yang retracted his saber accordingly. "Merciless Dao!"
The saber light slithered like a dragon, gleaming ferociously. The saber light illuminated the mirage of a pathway to heaven; it was lonesome and very far up, so high that it seemed cold and distant. Anyone who walked the path would be chopped up mercilessly!
Ling Xiaozui switched his stance, making seventeen or eighteen position swaps, only to still be caught in the pursuit of this style. There was a flash of surprise in his eyes as he moved again. The sword light cried and made an aggressive counterattack.
Blade To Heaven's South! Ling Xiaozui made his move.
Dugu Chou squinted.
He was well aware of Ling Xiaozui's plan since the very beginning. Rather than calling this an exchange of skills, Ling Xiaozui was inclined to tutor Yun Yang's saber truth with his proficient cultivation base and years of experience. If he could help the youth in stabilizing his cultivation base through this friendly match, that would be best.
These were what Yun Yang needed the most due to his swift advancement. Like an exquisite sword that was being shaped, it needed to be pounded by a huge hammer to rid it of impurities and refine it to be the world's greatest blade.
The part that Ling Xiaozui was taking on now was the character of the huge hammer.
Since it was supposed to be a training session, it did not matter whether Ling Xiaozui initiated an attack. He only needed to tackle the drill with a secure defense and make some comments after it ended.
However, even Dugu Chou had not expected that Ling Xiaozui was already forced to make a move during the second exchange. It was easily discernible that if the latter was just going along the practice, it was impossible that he would be able to rebuff such a powerful strike that hinted at the cold Dao.
With a clang, both weapons collided.
Yun Yang made a flip and flicked his saber outwards. A spray of saber gleam showered outwards like a sky of meteors. As if from the heavens, they fell like they naturally belonged to heaven and earth.
"Saber Laic."
Ling Xiaozui remained stationary as he hollered, "Drunken Sword of Stars!"
Glittering bars of sword rays sprang out from his sword as his wrist flicked rapidly. The millions of sword gleams worked as a rebuttal, rebuffing the countless saber lights from the Saber Laic.
In spite of this, Ling Xiaozui realized the seriousness of the situation. He had only managed to deflect the style due to his proficient cultivation base and extensive experience. If it had been someone slightly weaker than he was, the only option was retreat! What was more, the retreat might not be done in time.
"Life and Death in a Thought!" Yun Yang's voice served as a timely reminder of this.
Instantly, a ruthless style was executed in full sequence; the sky was full of the saber glow, resembling the upended river of heaven, way more powerful than the Saber Laic.
"As expected!" Ling Xiaozui sucked in a deep breath. The main goal of the last style was indeed to force one to withdraw; if the opponent had indeed opted to retreat, he would have to pay a substantial price facing this subsequent pursuit – at the very least, the opponent would be panicking by now.
"This is a follow-up from victory. It's best to use when one is at the active end! Even when it can't kill the enemy immediately, it can aid the flow of events to true victory!" Ling Xiaozui exclaimed.
Based on his insight and experience, he could easily perceive the unique edge of this style. He even recognized the fact that Yun Yang did not give it his all due to certain reasons. If he had unleashed his full power…
"Upended River of Blood!" Yun Yang's clear voice rang out again and as it did, a surging saber light followed, coming in like a tidal wave.
Ling Xiaozui felt as if a flowing river of blood had suddenly materialized before him; it poured from the sky, its force unstoppable!
"Good one!" Facing the next attack, Ling Xiaozui could not help uttering the compliment with genuine astonishment. There was no other reason except that the style was truly ruthless and tyrannical!
The borderless bloodlust and endless murderous intent frightened even Ling Xiaozui, despite his experienced state of mind. Even when Yun Yang was yet to unleash the most powerful of this style, the terrifying image of a gushing river of blood from the sky falling to become a pool of crimson copper in the human realm sufficed to shake anyone.
Ling Xiaozui switched his state of mind instantly, chanting the Ice Core Charm inwardly to calm himself down. He closed his eyes to shut out the gory image, but the sword in his hand buzzed and drew a defensive wall, purely made of refined sword glow. He used his capability to defend and took two steps back for buffering space. Prepared for a follow-up attack, he would hit back at once when the strike slowed down.
Honestly, Ling Xiaozui's countermeasure was marvelous. Even if it were Dugu Chou or Jun Moyan, there could hardly be a better case.
It was too bad that before the Upended River of Blood matured, Yun Yang had retracted the saber before an unusual outline of a dome formed.
"Reincarnation under Saber!"