Chapter 486 - 468: Shocking Everyone
As the auras of the two clashed, the coolies dredging the riverbed below also noticed the commotion.
Some, carrying baskets full of silt, walked along the dirt banks and constantly looked back. Others leaned on their shovels, craning their necks from below to get a better look.
Seeing this, several river officials hurriedly ordered them to back away. When experts at the Great Commander level exchanged blows, even a stray gust of power could cost them their lives.
Soon, the area around the two fighters was completely cleared.
This section of the river had yet to be flooded with water. The exposed riverbed was dozens of meters wide. Now that most of the silt had been excavated, piles of dirt, gravel, and rotting wooden stakes could be seen everywhere.
Rows of weeping willows lined the banks, their branches drooping low. Further away, scattered grass and wildflowers swayed gently in the wake of the two men’s clashing auras.
Sensing Su Yu’s aura, Cao Yanqing tightened his grip on his spear, the contempt in his eyes gradually fading. Such intense murderous intent was absolutely not something an ordinary person could possess. Even though this Su Yu came from the Outer City, he could not be underestimated.
"Make your move!" Cao Yanqing roared, his right foot stomping hard against the ground.
BANG!
The freshly compacted dirt beneath his boots suddenly exploded, sending several pieces of gravel shooting backward. Using the momentum, he charged forward. His black armor clattered in the wind, and the spear in his hands darted out like a Flood Dragon emerging from the water, aiming straight for Su Yu’s chest.
Vast Sea Submerging Wave Spear: Crashing Waves Piercing the Shore!
This was a Spear Technique Cao Yanqing had practiced bitterly for many years, possessing an astonishing might.
Even before the spear arrived, the biting gale it generated had already swept up the loose dirt on the riverbed, dragging a trail of grayish-yellow dust behind him.
In the crowd, a Great Commander who was familiar with Cao Yanqing spoke in a deep voice. "This Spear Technique connects one strike immediately to the next. The Power layers like ocean tides, growing stronger as the battle progresses. Commander Cao once relied on this Spear Technique to directly kill two Middle Dragon Tendon Incense Masters of the Black Lotus Sect. Although Su Yu has also killed a Middle Dragon Tendon Incense Master, his Realm is lower after all. I’m afraid he won’t be a match."
Hearing this assessment, a few people nodded slightly. Since Cao Yanqing dared to make a move, he was naturally no fool. Now it was time to see just how much strength Su Yu from the Outer City truly possessed, and whether his reputation was merely an empty rumor.
In the blink of an eye, the biting wind from the spear reached Su Yu. Su Yu’s eyes remained calm as he slashed his long saber diagonally upward.
CLANG!
Saber and spear collided. Accompanied by the piercing sound of metal striking metal, sparks scattered in all directions.
A terrifying gust of wind erupted from between the two men. The loose dirt on the ground rippled outward like waves, flipping over several empty bamboo baskets in the distance. The branches of the weeping willows along the bank were all whipped into the air, emitting a loud RUSTLE.
Su Yu’s feet sank an inch into the soft river mud, but his body didn’t move a single hair.
On the other hand, Cao Yanqing felt as if his spear had just struck a ten-thousand-pound boulder. The spear shaft trembled violently, sending a shockwave of recoil straight into his shoulder.
He marveled inwardly at the sheer weight of the saber.
Cao Yanqing’s eyes narrowed. Borrowing the rebounding force of the spear shaft, he twisted his waist and swept the spear in a silver arc right toward Su Yu’s midsection.
Horizontal Wave Intercepting the River!
His transition was incredibly fast, demonstrating his seasoned combat experience.
WHOOSH!
The spear shaft compressed the air, whipping up a low, rumbling howl.
Su Yu rotated his wrist, smoothly parrying outward with his long saber. On the edge of the blade, the Demon-Suppressing Stance erupted once again.
This slash was not particularly fast, but augmented by the Demon-Suppressing Stance, it remained as heavy as a crushing mountain.
From the brief exchange just now, Su Yu had already determined that after his recent breakthrough, he didn’t even need the Mo Yuan Long Saber; the sheer might of his Stance was enough to suppress an expert with a Middle Dragon Tendon.
CLANG!
Spear shaft and saber edge collided once more. This time, the result was unsurprising. Cao Yanqing felt the web of his hand go numb. His sweeping spear was forcefully pressed down by several inches, nearly smashing into the riverbed.
His expression turned solemn. Relying on his seasoned experience, he slid a half-step forward and abruptly flicked the tail of his spear upward.
Since the opponent possessed such overwhelming physical strength, he would have to win with technique.
The spear tip smoothly reversed its trajectory, thrusting out over a dozen flashes of cold light in rapid succession.
Overlapping Waves Piercing the Clouds!
SWISH SWISH SWISH!
A dense canopy of spear shadows unfolded layer by layer. Before one thrust was fully executed, the Spear Stance of the next was already following closely behind.
The endless barrage of spear shadows resembled a surging river, one wave overlapping the next, completely enveloping Su Yu’s entire body.
The sheer power of this move caused the surrounding spectators to exclaim in awe. "As expected of a Spear Technique master who has received personal guidance from Master Gu! This move alone is enough to instantly kill an ordinary expert at the Muscle Forging Realm Perfection."
However, facing such a formidable attack, Su Yu’s expression remained as calm as a placid lake.
He continuously reversed his grip on the long saber. The blade’s gleam was sometimes light and ethereal, gliding right past the spear’s edge, and other times heavy and domineering, crashing head-on to shatter the Spear Stance that Cao Yanqing had accumulated.
Alternating between light and heavy, his attacks were ever-changing and unpredictable.
This was exactly the impossible-to-defend Demon-Suppressing Stance.
CLANG CLANG CLANG!
The sound of the saber and spear clashing merged into a continuous din, much like the chorus of croaking frogs.
Sparks from the impacts kept exploding over the dried riverbed. The scattering shockwaves swept in all directions, carving grooves of varying depths into the piled-up silt.
In the blink of an eye, ten, then twenty exchanges passed.
The longer Cao Yanqing fought, the more alarmed he became, his expression growing increasingly serious. Relying on his Middle Dragon Tendon Realm, his Qi and Blood were vigorous, and his Great Tendons were like dragons. Each layer of Spear Stance he unleashed was stronger than the last.
Any ordinary opponent would have been defeated long ago.
Yet, relying solely on his Jiao Tendon Realm, this Su Yu actually blocked him—and was even suppressing him in return.
Just as he observed, Su Yu remained unhurried. The Demon-Slaying Saber Stance was as heavy as a mountain, while the Demon-Vibrating Saber Stance continuously guided the surrounding energy. As for the Ape Demon Evil Qi, it coiled and roiled around the edge of the blade like dark red flames.
Whenever Cao Yanqing’s Spear Stance was about to surge, Su Yu would smoothly strike out with his saber.
Whether chopping horizontally at the spear shaft or slashing diagonally at the spear tip, each seemingly simple strike always perfectly intercepted the Spear Stance, forcing Cao Yanqing to gather his power all over again.
This was no longer just a matter of Realm and physical strength. Su Yu’s terrifying comprehension and combat talent were also continuously on display.
The two fought all the way from the center of the riverbed to the nearby earth and wooden scaffolding. A sweep of the spear’s light cleanly snapped a bowl-thick wooden stake with a loud CRACK.
As the saber’s edge grazed by, a pile of silt violently exploded, raining down flecks of mud.
The murmurs among the spectators had long since quieted down. Everyone was staring intently at the battle between the two men.
"Commander Cao has thrust his spear no less than fifty times. Not only does Commander Su show no signs of losing, but he even appears to have the upper hand?"
"Why is this happening? Commander Su is clearly only at the Jiao Tendon Realm."
"It’s his Stance!" a seasoned expert provided the answer.
In the distance, a smile appeared on Li Jingxuan’s round face. He said in a relaxed tone, "I told you earlier, Younger Brother Su never disappoints."
Li Jingfeng had also long forgotten to maintain his cool profile. He faced the battlefield head-on, his eyes locked onto the long saber in Su Yu’s hand. "Three powerful Stances. Brother Su’s Saber Technique indeed possesses some real strength."
Li Jingxuan smiled and asked him, "How many of your swords can he take?"
Li Jingfeng pondered seriously for a moment before turning his body sideways again, acting like a lonely peerless master. "The Seventh Sword! If he’s still hiding some of his strength, he might be able to see my Eighth Sword."
Li Jingxuan’s mouth twitched slightly, musing that the kid’s confidence was still as inflated as ever.
However, by the looks of it, Younger Brother Su’s strength still couldn’t rival that of a Great Dragon Tendon. There were only four Nomination Orders for this Martial Examination. Aside from that freak Gu Changfeng, the remaining three would likely still fall into the hands of the three Commanders at the Great Dragon Tendon level.
The Mansion Master and the higher-ups’ intentions were crystal clear. They claimed to be offering four Nomination Orders for everyone to fight over, but in reality, it would still end up with those four.
At this moment, a commotion arose from the back of the crowd. Tiemu Xiaoyun, clad in a blood-red robe, hurried over with more than a dozen Blood Slaughter Guards in crimson uniforms trailing behind him.
Wherever they passed, the crowd of spectators silently dispersed, making way for them.
Tiemu Xiaoyun didn’t say a word. He merely stared at the battlefield with cold eyes, silently observing the battle between Su Yu and Cao Yanqing.