Chapter 303: Hoodwinking Techniques
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
"Come, although I've reached the stage where I can use anything as my sword. However, the highest attainment of sword cultivation is the stage where the one who has no sword can still defeat the one with a sword. But, in order to show my utmost respect for you, I have decided to use a sword, although reluctantly!" Xu Que wore an inscrutable expression.
The crowd twitched their mouths uncontrollably.
Brother, your guts must be big and fat for you to say that! You dare to boast in front of the Sword Spirit!
Are you asking to die by sparring with the Sword Spirit?
Even if both of you don't use your True Core Strength and fight each other purely with swordplay, you can't be a match against the Sword Spirit.
This is because the one who understands the most about the sword is not any member of the human race, but the Sword Spirit!
The Sword Spirit was born in the sword and will die in the sword. The Sword is his world!
How can you win against an entity like this?
The Sword Spirit has the greatest advantage for any competition on sword will and swordsmanship!
...
Nobody expected Xu Que to win against the Sword Spirit!
Everyone looked at Xu Que as if he was dead, all of them sighing with regret.
Xu Que, however, was indifferent.
From his point of view, humans could and should be the master of their own swords, and not the other way round. One should look at a problem objectively rather than subjectively. Only then could one be the strongest.
In addition, the Broken Sword Technique of the Lone Nine Swords could counter and nullify any swordplay it encountered.
This set of swordplay focused on the philosophy 'no strokes will beat the other with strokes'.
"You first!" said Xu Que proudly, lifting his sword slowly as he looked at the Sword Spirit.
It was not that he didn't want to strike first, but was because the Lone Nine Swords focused on counterattacks. Therefore, he had to let the other party strike first before countering the attack.
And when he did that, system notifications rang in his mind that he had gained Acting Tough Points.
Of course, sometimes, one needed to pay a price for acting tough.
Swish!
The Sword Spirit didn't waste any more time and started sparring. A sword was formed with the black fog. It looked real, and piercingly sharp. Cold light gleamed on its shiny surface.
Xu Que was taken aback as the sword stroke was too fast!
It was lucky that he had mastered the Lone Nine Swords and he instinctively reacted against the attack by being faster in order to nullify or counter the attack!
Any swordplay in the world would have its shortcomings. Once a set of moves was executed, it was destined not to be perfect.
The moves of the Lone Nine Swords focused on using the shortcomings of the other's swordplay as the basis for the counterattack, and the idea that attacking was defending at the same time. This thinking was deeply etched in Xu Que's mind.
The moment Xu Que reacted to counter, the Sword Spirit's expression turned grim as he executed another set of moves.
Clang!
Sounds of metal hitting each other were heard. A series of sparks flew between the swords.
After the Sword Spirit changed a set of moves, Xu Que still continued to pick up on his flaws and attacked in a frenzy, for he had the upper hand.
As long as the Sword Spirit had moves, Xu Que could maintain his advantage, as long as the cycle continued.
However, the Sword Spirit's understanding of the sword obviously surpassed that of many humans!
When the Sword Spirit realised this fact, he started to slow down on his moves and began to imitate the moves of Xu Que's Lone Nine Swords, learning his technique move by move.
Everyone felt a quiver of shock in their heart. It was the same for Xu Que as well. The Sword Spirit's talent was too terrifying!
The Lone Nine Swords was the strongest type of swordplay—it had the best moves and could emanate the most sword will. Ordinary people would have trouble learning it even if they spent their entire lives trying to understand it. But alas! The Sword Spirit could actually start to emulate him just by watching him execute several sets of moves.
This feels dreadful!
Too horrendous!
The Sword Spirit truly lives up to his name!
His talent is so good that it spells trouble!
But so what if his talent is good?
Xu Que had already started acting tough earlier, and he had to continue his act.
"Not bad, I learned this swordplay 100 years ago and have never taught anyone else. I didn't think that you could learn it in such a short time. You're very good with the sword indeed."
Xu Que glanced at the Sword Spirit with an expression of appreciation.
Everyone felt shameful for Xu Que, stunned speechless.
Brother, can you even boast more outrageously than that?
You weren't even born 100 years ago, alright?
Hats off to you for having the guts to boast in the face of the Sword Spirit, you're basically acting tough with your life on the line!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Crisp sounds of swords colliding with each other could be heard in the lava cave. Sparks from the swords could be seen from time to time.
As time passed, the Sword Spirit gradually started to master the Broken Sword Technique. The two of them started to fight faster and their bodies gradually became a blur to the naked eye!
The cultivators were astounded by the fight. They never knew that sparring with only swordplay and without True Core Strength could ever be so powerful!
It was most fortunate or Xu Que that True Core Strength could not be used. With the Sword Spirit's understanding of sword will and swordplay and its unfathomable True Core Strength, Xu Que would have been taken down within a second.
But even so, with the Sword Spirit learning and comprehend Xu Que's Lone Nine Swords by imitating his moves steadily, Xu Que slowly started to lose his advantage. His calm and composed manner began to dissipate as well.
Fuck! The Sword Spirit is so fucking sinister, thought Xu Que. He can clearly speed up to gain the upper hand, yet he intentionally dragged this on so he could continue learning my Lone Nine Swords … Bastard! I'm supposed to be sparring with you! Who gave you the permission to learn my moves? And you fucking didn't pay me for the teaching fees…
Xu Que was flustered.
If he couldn't beat the Sword Spirit now, he expected to lose very soon. The Sword Spirit really had a scary talent, so he would have to change tactics.
"System, I want to exchange for Godly Six Swordstrokes. Will it be against the rules if I use sword Qi to fight him?" Xu Que asked the System.
Ding! "This System does not advise the host to do so!" System responded directly.
Apparently, that meant that even if Xu Que used the sword Qi, he still would not be able to defeat the Sword Spirit.
Xu Que was anxious now. As he fed the Sword Spirit the moves, he continued to consult the System. "Tell me, is there any swordplay that can beat him? Or what is the probability of me winning this?"
Ding! "After calculation, if the host use swordplay to fight, the probability of winning is zero!"
"What?"
Xu Que was instantly dumbstruck when he heard System's reply.
Originally, he had thought that it would be fifty-fifty. But, in the end, the probability had actually been zero!
This scheming System doesn't even want to give some hope?
Since I can't win, why didn't you remind me earlier? I've wasted so much time acting tough on this sparring.
But on second thought, he knew what was going on.
The Lone Nine Swords were already top-notch swordplay. And in the fight with the Sword Spirit, he was barely hanging on—but currently he still had the upper hand.
Nonetheless, this upper hand would only be temporary, as the Sword Spirit was constantly learning all the moves of the Lone Nine Swords and would soon move from imitation to total mastery of the swordplay.
Presumably it would not be long before the Sword Spirit could completely master the Broken Sword Technique of the Lone Nine Swords. And then, no matter what type of swordplay that Xu Que used, it would be countered by the Sword Spirit.
He felt he had dug a hole for himself!
Not only was he not able to win the Sword Spirit, but the Sword Spirit had actually gained the skills of the most powerful type of swordplay from him.
This is so not worth it!
Really not worth it!
Need to find a way out of this!
Damn it, this is called failing to act tough and getting fucked instead! Xu Que was swearing in his mind.
Suddenly, an idea popped out in his head as if he thought of something. "Seems like I need to use my Hoodwinking Techniques!"