Eternal Saber

Chapter 429 - 35: Unexpected Turn

In the Martial Arts Arena, two individuals faced off; among them, a young sword cultivator dressed in a robe as white as snow. The cuffs bore the unique insignia of the Sword Pavilion. His features were handsome, his eyes bright, and he tightly gripped a longsword as thin as a cicada’s wing, gleaming with a cold light.

Listening to the surrounding discussions, this was Ye Lingyun from the Sword Pavilion, who had already cultivated to the Fourth Grade Awakening.

His opponent, named Lu Gang, hailed from the Imperial Palace, an unknown figure in the Jianghu, reportedly just a minor leader among the Imperial Guard.

This man was clad in a military uniform woven with black and gold, his gaze piercing, a ruthless air between his brows, wielding a sword with both hands that emitted a fierce, cold light, at the Fifth Grade Inner Core Realm.

The realm difference between the two was a grade apart, with Ye Lingyun being a disciple of the Sword Pavilion, the outcome of this battle seemed predetermined as soon as it began.

Indeed, it was as expected.

In fewer than ten moves, Lu Gang was at a disadvantage, retreating step by step.

Under Ye Lingyun’s extremely fierce sword techniques, he could hardly resist!

If you defend too long, you are bound to lose. Lu Gang seemed to realize this and suddenly changed his Sword Skill, completely abandoning defense, ignoring Ye Lingyun’s sword techniques, and counterattacking sword-to-sword!

This approach was utterly reckless, going beyond the scope of a duel.

Only someone who has been on the battlefield, surviving through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, could hone such a murderous Sword Skill!

In some rounds, Lu Gang even chose to risk his life just to leave a wound on Ye Lingyun, even if only a minor injury!

Yet Ye Lingyun never gave him the opportunity.

Tapping into this fierceness, Lu Gang managed to regain some ground.

But in the eyes of many experts, the gap between the two remained too vast.

The people of Langya Pavilion, watching this scene, were not worried.

After a few more moves, Ye Lingyun’s sword techniques suddenly seemed to slow down, each stab so heavy it felt like a thousand jun, though they still starkly illustrated the disparity.

The gap was too wide; even if one wanted to fight desperately, there was no chance.

Ye Lingyun no longer sought victory through sword techniques but through sheer strength, each strike intercepting Lu Gang’s Sword Skill, clashing head-on.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

After just three moves, Lu Gang couldn’t bear it, retreating three steps consecutively, spitting a mouthful of blood, already injured.

The outcome was decided.

Ye Lingyun sheathed his sword and stood, appearing calm but with a trace of pride flashing in his eyes.

"As expected of a Sword Pavilion disciple, easily handled."

"What did you think? Langya Pavilion sent out Ye Lingyun first, also as a favor to Sword Pavilion, allowing him to take on three at once. This single battle could earn him fame across the world."

"Indeed, if not for this, Ye Lingyun, being at the Opening Acupoints Realm, would surely be saving his strength for the finale."

"Hehe! The Prime Minister’s Mansion is probably in agony. After all this fuss and such a commotion, and it ends up making wedding clothes for the Sword Pavilion heir."

Small discussions echoed among the crowd.

Chen Tang listened for a while and roughly understood.

The Prime Minister’s Mansion and Langya Pavilion arranged a duel, each sending three participants, but it wasn’t a series of three matches determining a two-out-of-three winner.

Instead, each side’s three would take turns, seeing which side could remain standing till the end.

In this way, there’s indeed the possibility of Ye Lingyun coming out first, continuously victorious, single-handedly overthrowing all three from the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

"What are you all waiting for? Get down there!"

"Send someone else up!"

The Jianghu camp urged.

Those from the Prime Minister’s Mansion stayed calm, showing no signs of planning to send someone else up.

"What are you all shouting about!"

Shen Guobao reproached, "The victory isn’t yet decided, this is only the beginning!"

On the Martial Arts Arena, Lu Gang wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his palm, swallowed his saliva, took a deep breath, Inner Qi flowing, his gaze growing more and more fierce, almost maniacal!

"Kill!"

Lu Gang bellowed and launched himself at Ye Lingyun once more.

Ye Lingyun slightly frowned, with a reverse-hand sword strike, Inner Strength bursting forth, connecting with Lu Gang’s long sword.

Lu Gang was already internally injured; this strike was enough to blow him away, worsening his wound!

Clang!

At the instant of the sword’s clash, Ye Lingyun’s expression changed.

This strike did not send Lu Gang flying; instead, he felt a tremendous force surging from the opponent’s Sword Skill!

How is this possible?

The power in Lu Gang’s strike had already reached the level of Awakening!

Though injured, his power had not decreased but rather surged to such an extent, catching Ye Lingyun off guard.

Lu Gang gripped his sword with both hands, twisting ferociously, trying to disarm Ye Lingyun!

Ye Lingyun, after all, was a Sword Pavilion heir, swiftly changed techniques, his sword vibrating, emitting a clear and resonant sword hum, and directly lunged towards Lu Gang’s chest!

This strike demonstrated intense power, even Chen Tang, watching, had to secretly praise.

However, Lu Gang seemed oblivious to the approaching longsword, discarding his weapon, his eyes bloodshot, utterly frenzied, as he lunged at Ye Lingyun like a madman!

The two were mere inches apart; Ye Lingyun saw Lu Gang charging forward like a fierce ghost, and his heart trembled, unable to change his move.

Pssh!

The longsword pierced through, penetrating Lu Gang’s chest!

At the same time, Lu Gang had already reached Ye Lingyun, both palms slammed heavily against the latter’s chest, a dull thud resonating!

Puh!

Ye Lingyun, struck heavily, spat a mouthful of blood, lost grip of his sword, and was sent flying uncontrollably, crashing hard to the ground.

This series of changes happened in the blink of an eye.

Many had not reacted before the battle ended.

The entire place was in an uproar!

The people of Langya Pavilion all had drastic changes in their expressions.

This outcome had exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Even Ye Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

Ye Lingyun indeed lacked some life-and-death combat experience, yet the way he lost just now seemed rather peculiar, with a hint of strangeness.

Originally, Ye Lingyun had the upper hand completely, but for some reason, Lu Gang suddenly erupted, and he reversed the situation, risking his life to severely injure Ye Lingyun!

Lu Gang fell to the ground, unmoving, a sword in his chest, already deceased.

Meanwhile, Ye Lingyun slowly stood up from the ground, his body a bit shaky, breathing slightly heavy, a hint of fear in his eyes.

He had practiced martial arts to this day and had never encountered such a madman!

He won, but it was a pyrrhic victory.

"Take him away and bury him properly."

From the Prime Minister’s Mansion side, a composed young man beside Xia Daozi spoke, his tone indifferent. After speaking, he closed his eyes to rest, showing no concern for the scene that just occurred.

It was as if the one who had just died was not a person but an ant.

"That was way too intense."

Zhu Lingxue clicked her tongue and said, "Wasn’t it agreed to be a friendly match? How did it come to taking lives? The matches in our sect are much more amicable."

"What happened?"

Mei Zhenyu looked puzzled, unable to resist asking: "How did Ye Lingyun just lose? It doesn’t make sense?"

"I don’t know either."

Chen Tang shook his head, also unable to see the mystery within.

Lu Gang indeed was not afraid of death, but without sufficient strength as a foundation, it would also be difficult to bring down Ye Lingyun.

This person, after being injured, seemed to suddenly have his strength soar, which was indeed somewhat strange.

At this moment, Ah Li, behind, stretched out a finger, gently poking Chen Tang’s lower back.

Chen Tang turned around.

Ah Li extended her palm and swiped it across her mouth.

Chen Tang didn’t understand what Ah Li meant and was about to ask when Ah Li opened her palm.

In her palm, there was surprisingly an elixir pill!

Chen Tang’s heart stirred, and he asked softly, "Are you saying that when that person wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth just now, he took the opportunity to take some kind of medicine?"

Ah Li nodded.

Ah Li, as Ghost Concealment, had an astonishing power of observation, able to catch many subtle details that ordinary people might miss.

Chen Tang asked again, "What kind of medicine has such an effect, do you know?"

Ah Li shook her head.

In the Martial Arts Arena.

The Prime Minister’s Mansion side sent out a second person to appear.

"Isn’t that the ’Bladeless Sword’ Mu Qianjun of the Cloud-Sundering Sword Sect, also ranked eleventh on the Wind and Cloud Ranking!"

"Why is he helping the Prime Minister’s Mansion to fight?"

"Ha ha, what does it matter how high the ranking is? Who would’ve thought the Bladeless Sword would fall so low as to run under the treacherous Prime Minister’s command, willing to be his henchman!"

Among those present in the Jianghu Camp, there wasn’t any resentment against involvement in the imperial court.

After all, some vagabonds would join the Northern Expedition Army as well.

But what everyone resisted was knowing that Xia Daozi and Shen Guobao, this pair of treacherous officials, and still going to be the tiger’s accomplice, aiding the tyrant.

Mu Qianjun showed no expression, leaning on a colossal heavy sword, seeming oblivious to the surrounding chatter.

Ye Lingyun, after a brief period of adjusting his breath, was about to hold the sword to fight again, but Madam Su said, "Lingyun, come back."

"Great-Grandmother, I can fight again!"

Ye Lingyun felt unwilling and did not want to step down like this.

"Hmph!"

Ye Xuan suddenly let out a cold snort.

Ye Lingyun’s whole body trembled, lowered his head, silently returning to the side of the Langya Pavilion.

In fact, Ye Lingyun indeed still had the strength for another fight.

But after all, he was internally injured, and if he were to fight another battle, it would certainly aggravate the injury and not be worth the loss.

"Lingyun, leave the rest to me and Zhiyuan, don’t worry."

Su Muzhe stepped forward towards Ye Lingyun, gently comforting him, holding his sword and walking onto the Martial Arts Arena.

"Ye Lingyun’s pyrrhic victory seems not good for Langya Pavilion."

"It’s nothing. As long as Su Muzhe wins this fight, the third battle will be an easy victory for Langya Pavilion."

"Who is the third person sent by the Prime Minister’s Mansion?"

"It’s Xia Yuanxian, his good-for-nothing son!"

"Haha, then it’s definitely secure."

In the Martial Arts Arena, Mu Qianjun, Su Muzhe greeted each other with swords, and without another word, they were already fighting.

Both were Five Grade Inner Core Realm.

Although Mu Qianjun’s ranking on the Wind and Cloud Ranking was slightly behind, in fact, the gap between the two was not significant.

The sword techniques of the two differed greatly.

Mu Qianjun wielded the Bladeless Heavy Sword, the sword techniques of the Cloud-Sundering Thirteen Forms were open and wide, vigorous and swift, each move contained a tremendous force, as if it could tear through clouds and rush straight to the nine heavens.

Whereas Su Muzhe’s ’Peach Blossom Flying Sword’ was graceful and agile, the swordplay as if poetry and painting, the body light and nimble, matched with a body technique and lightweight skill like a startled swan, akin to a sword immortal fallen to the mortal world.

These two distinct sword styles, with their levels equivalent, the outcome of this battle not only pertained to the duel between the Prime Minister’s Mansion and Langya Pavilion.

It would also affect this year’s ranking on the Wind and Cloud Ranking!

As time passed, the two had already exchanged hundreds of moves.

At this moment, Mu Qianjun’s sword techniques became unexpectedly agile and elegant; although he wielded a heavy sword, the sword moves became extremely delicate.

While Su Muzhe holding the long sword, the sword moves gradually slower, each sword swing seemed like wielding a giant sword, the force astonishing!

This perception was extremely bizarre, many people watched in puzzlement, not understanding the rationale within.

Chen Tang’s cultivation in Sword Dao was far inferior to Sword Skill.

But his perceptiveness was remarkable, able to see that Mu Qianjun achieved ’Lifting Heavy as Light,’ while Su Muzhe reached ’Lifting Light as Heavy’ in the Sword Dao realm.

Both indeed could be considered geniuses in the Sword Dao!

If nothing unexpected happens, Su Muzhe was still slightly superior.