Chapter 333 - 178: Defeating Su Linfeng! The Top Four Emerge
Yet, faced with this unfathomably powerful ultimate move, Jiang Che’s eyes glittered with even greater excitement!
He could sense a faint, yet fatal, tinge of danger emanating from the illusion of a vast army.
’This is more like it!’
Without the slightest hesitation, he once again unleashed his strongest trump card!
’Eighteenfold Strike!’
"Break!"
Accompanying his earth-shattering roar, a Fist Force erupted. It was even more condensed and ferocious than the one he’d used to defeat Fang Muye. Like a golden bolt of lightning tearing through the night, it ripped apart the sky of blades and sword shadows, ignored the demonic music that rattled the Divine Soul, and slammed precisely into Su Linfeng’s chest!
CRACK!
Under the horrified gazes of the crowd, the illusion of a vast army shattered like a popped bubble!
Su Linfeng’s White Jade Flute snapped in two!
As if struck by lightning, he spat out a great mouthful of blood as he was sent flying backward. He landed hard below the stage, unconscious!
The entire arena fell silent.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Jiang Che stood on the stage, slowly withdrawing his fist, feeling a bit speechless.
’How... was he so weak?’
’He couldn’t even take a hit as well as that doped-up Fang Muye...’
Down below, if the unconscious Su Linfeng could have heard that, he probably would have passed out all over again from sheer fury!
On the high platform, the face of Liu Ruyan, Sect Leader of the Profound Sound Sect, swiftly darkened.
Xu Qingshan, on the other hand, looked as composed as ever, as if he had anticipated this outcome all along.
Jiang Che shook his head. Under the referee Elder’s gaze—one you’d give a monster—he calmly stepped off the stage.
...
Meanwhile,
on another stage,
a highly anticipated, peak-level duel of the Sword Dao was quietly underway.
Chief Disciple of the Cangyun Sect, third on the Hidden Dragon List, Gu Qingxuan!
Versus!
Prodigy of the Taiyuan Sect, seventh on the Hidden Dragon List, Lin Qingyun!
Both were renowned for their swordsmanship.
One possessed Sword Heart Clarity and was hailed as a generational prodigy of the Sword Dao.
The other’s sword was like lightning, a pure expression of ultimate speed and killing power.
One could say that this battle represented the pinnacle of swordsmanship among the younger generation of the entire Cangzhou Prefecture!
On the stage, the two stood opposite one another.
Lin Qingyun was dressed in white, a longsword cradled in his arms, his expression stern and cold.
There wasn’t a hint of nervousness in his pitch-black eyes.
There was only a pure focus, like that of a hunter stalking its prey.
Gu Qingxuan was clad in her usual azure robes, as cool and aloof as a lotus atop a snow-capped peak, untouched by the dust of the Mortal world.
"Taiyuan Sect, Lin Qingyun," he stated, his words clipped and spare.
"Cangyun Sect, Gu Qingxuan," she replied, her voice just as cold.
There were no more words, not even a referee’s signal to begin.
The moment their eyes met, the battle was on!
"SHING!"
With the clear ring of a sword, Lin Qingyun moved!
His sword was fast.
Blindingly fast.
All the crowd saw was a flash of silver light that vanished in an instant.
In the next moment, the cicada-wing thin blade was already before Gu Qingxuan’s brow!
However, Gu Qingxuan simply formed a Finger Sword and casually tapped forward.
"DING!"
A crisp sound, like a jade bead dropping onto a platter, echoed.
Her fair, jade-like fingertips had, with unerring precision, met the very tip of Lin Qingyun’s blade—a blade moving too fast for the naked eye to follow!
A supple yet immense Sword Intent traveled up the blade!
Lin Qingyun felt a vast, irresistible force surge toward him. He was sent stumbling back several steps before he could regain his footing.
"Again!"
He roared, his form blurring into a streak of light once more!
This time, it was not a single strike!
But a sky filled with sword shadows!
Fast! Precise! Ruthless!
Lin Qingyun was unleashing the very essence of his Fast Sword style to its absolute limit!
Each strike aimed for the most difficult-to-defend openings in Gu Qingxuan’s guard!
Yet Gu Qingxuan remained as serene and unperturbed as ever.
She didn’t even move from her spot. With her fingers held as a sword, she simply drew one smooth, perfect arc after another in the air before her.
No matter how cunning the angle of Lin Qingyun’s thrust, her fingertips—seemingly slow, yet always arriving first—would effortlessly parry the blow, deflect its force, and guide it into empty air.
She was like a master artist, using the Sword Intent in her fingertips to paint an impregnable circle before her, sealing herself off from the storm of his attacks.
"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!"
The incessant ringing of clashing steel filled the air, but everyone could see that Lin Qingyun was being completely suppressed!
His supremely fast swordsmanship seemed utterly futile against the flawless defense of Gu Qingxuan’s Finger Sword!
"Your sword is too fixated on speed."
Amidst the furious exchange of blows, Gu Qingxuan’s cool voice rang out with perfect clarity. Her words were like the tolling of a great bell, striking directly at Lin Qingyun’s Sword Heart.
"Speed is but one part of the sword, not its entirety."
Upon hearing her words, Lin Qingyun faltered for a moment. A flicker of conflict crossed his eyes, but it was instantly replaced by an even fiercer battle intent!
He knew Gu Qingxuan was right, but his path—his dao—was the pursuit of ultimate speed!
He leaped back, putting distance between himself and Gu Qingxuan. He took a deep breath, and in an instant, his entire aura became ethereal and indistinct.
The longsword in his hand began to hum, and the very air around the blade started to visibly distort.
Lin Qingyun looked at Gu Qingxuan, his expression graver than ever before.
"This is my ultimate move, Extreme Shadow! I ask for your instruction!"
The instant the words left his mouth, his entire body, along with the sword in his hand, vanished. They became a blur, a shadow impossible to track with the naked eye, flashing past in utter silence!