System: I Can Open Martial Arts Chests

Chapter 151 - 108: One Blade, One Sword (2)

Gentle nodded slightly:

"Be careful."

"Mm."

Chu Qing stood up:

"The inn is too small, let’s go outside and spar."

"Kid."

Cheng Tieshan spoke coldly:

"Fists and feet have no eyes, think it over before you speak, if you’re not careful and lose your life..."

"Life and death are destined, wealth is in the heavens."

Chu Qing said calmly:

"Since I’ve been entrusted by someone, I must fulfill their request faithfully."

"Good, you’re a real man!"

Cheng Tieshan laughed heartily:

"Let’s go, let’s spar outside!!"

The group hustled out of the inn, and the people of Iron Blood Hall blocked both sides of the street, leaving an empty space in the middle.

Hua Jinnian followed nervously beside Bian City, peeking and whispering:

"Brother Bian, who is this Third Young Master after all?

"He spoke with Cheng Tieshan just now, not losing any momentum, yet clearly so young, how does he seem like a local power?"

Bian City gazed at the scene and, hearing this, couldn’t help but grimace inwardly.

Although Chu Qing is not a local power, saying so wouldn’t be incorrect either.

After all, Jiang Divine Saber fell by his hand, and experts from the Celestial Evil Cult perished under his Flying Saber... Such a master, wishing to dominate a region, isn’t that difficult.

Yet now he had no mind to explain in detail to Hua Jinnian, as he saw Chu Qing standing on the long street, holding a Single Saber in his hand.

His gaze swept over the two, one with a saber and one with a sword:

"Who of you two will make the first move?"

The two exchanged a glance, and the one wielding the saber had drooping eyelids, seeming lethargic.

The one with the sword stepped forward:

"Young man, you don’t know the immensity of the heavens and earth... thinking you can use an ant’s arm to stop a chariot.

"Yet you don’t know, beyond the heavens there are greater heavens, beyond people there are greater people.

"I have a Yijian..."

As he was speaking, suddenly feeling a blur before his eyes, realizing something amiss, and in that instant, the blade was already drawn.

A clink rang out, the clash of blade and sword happened in a flash.

The fierce Sword Qi had not even exerted, before being struck by the saber and forced to retreat repeatedly.

"You talk too much."

Chu Qing stepped forward, the Single Saber in his hand rolling in, displaying the Golden Crow Saber Technique.

The Saber Momentum flowed like layered waves, rolling like the Yangtze River.

The swordsman opposite felt supremely stifled, his Sword Intent hadn’t even spread, and the opponent already attacked, and now, upon gaining an advantage with one move, maintained it relentlessly.

Saber after saber came from all directions, the Techniques sometimes intricate, sometimes bizarre.

In the first three strikes, he was still thinking about how to change moves to turn defeat into victory.

After three strikes, he was left only with the power to defend, with no strength to counterattack.

Furthermore, strands of chilling air followed each of the opponent’s saber strikes, gradually infiltrating his meridians.

The more he fought, the more his body became stiff, feeling as if his speed in wielding the sword had slowed significantly...

At this point, Chu Qing had already won.

Yet he continued, not aiming for the vital spots, but specifically targeting the sword in the swordsman’s hand.

In no time, the constant clinking of metal echoed, and finally, the man could no longer grip his sword, which was sent flying by Chu Qing’s strike, and he himself was forcefully knocked backward.

His figure slid back several zhang before he could barely stand.

Chu Qing asked:

"Do you still have a Yijian?"

The swordsman’s expression turned from blue to white, finally taking a long breath:

"I am defeated."

In that moment, many thoughts flashed in his mind.

He wanted to accuse Chu Qing of sneak attacks, wanted to say he didn’t exhibit his true abilities...

But after a whirl of these thoughts in his head, they all went unsaid.

Winning is winning, losing is losing.

Relying on the sword alone, failing to fend off the opponent’s surprise attack, what excuse is there?

If, under this assault, he couldn’t even display his hidden skills, shouldn’t he blame himself for not being proficient enough?

After considering it, suddenly he felt an enlightenment.

He then turned and bowed to Cheng Tieshan:

"Vice Hall Master, upon returning to the Iron Blood Hall, I will accept my punishment."

"Did you gain anything?"

Cheng Tieshan sat on a Grandmaster’s Chair, moved there by someone, holding a teacup in his large hand, which appeared particularly delicate in the contrast.

"Yes."

The swordsman spoke bluntly.

"Even in defeat, it’s worth it."

Cheng Tieshan looked up at Chu Qing, his expression devoid of any waves.

No one could tell what was on his mind at this moment.

"Impressive saber technique."

The swordsman behind Cheng Tieshan stepped forward, speaking as he walked:

"The techniques are exquisite, harmoniously blending the orthodox and unorthodox. It seems like a fusion rather than a single path. Remarkably, the saber technique has no obvious flaws, with seamless transitions."

With every step he took, the saber intent around him intensified.

As he walked and spoke, saber intent swirled around him as if stepping into the range of his saber intent would result in a fatal strike.

"Do you also have a saber?"

Chu Qing’s saber pointed diagonally to the ground, revealing traces of his own saber technique, showing that he was indeed a master.

Over this period, Chu Qing had never been idle.

He continuously pondered his own martial arts—what could be integrated, what needed improvement...

The Golden Crow Saber Technique and the Blood Saber Technique were both extremely rare saber techniques. If he could combine the finesse of the Golden Crow and the mystery of the Blood Saber to create an entirely new technique, he could definitely elevate his skills to another level.

However, while it’s easy to say, truly achieving it is difficult.

So far, Chu Qing had only managed to properly disassemble two martial arts, allowing seamless transitions without obvious flaws when needed.

The distance from creating his own technique was immeasurably vast.

Suddenly, the drooping eyelids of the swordsman lifted.

It seemed as if two sharp glints flashed from his eyes:

"He has a Yijian, yet to be unleashed.

"I, however, have a saber... I invite you to try it out!"

As the sharpness in his eyes surged, it seemed to draw out his surrounding saber intent. With a clang, his single saber was unsheathed.

Endless saber light flowed out from the scabbard.

In an instant, Chu Qing felt as if he was in a desolate desert.

The swirling sand was a saber, the scorching sun was a saber, and even the indifferent world was a saber!

"Fine saber!"

Chu Qing suddenly raised his saber, the blade flowing with saber intent, the momentum weaving through the sword qi.

Clang clang clang, clang clang clang!

Chu Qing’s saber collided with the sword qi, producing solid-sounding clashes.

With each step forward, he executed a strike, constantly altering his technique.

Every change lightened his steps forward.

In just three to five steps, Chu Qing broke through the relentless saber intent.

The sharp edge came to rest three inches from the swordsman’s face.

Fixing his intent, halting the momentum, not a fraction of deviation.

On the other side, the swordsman’s saber had unknowingly returned to its sheath.

"Fine saber."

He too spoke two words, lowered his eyelids, and turned back.

Chu Qing glanced at his retreating figure:

"Why?"

The question was abrupt, but the swordsman’s steps paused. He turned to Chu Qing with a smile:

"I’ve disliked him for a long time. It felt good just now."

"..."

Chu Qing was momentarily speechless.

This swordsman’s technique was exceptionally refined, and since he harbored no intent to win, Chu Qing saw no need for serious effort either.

Yet, in that moment when the swordsman struck, Chu Qing seemingly glimpsed vast horizons and the countless transformations of saber technique.

With each step he took, the previously difficult-to-integrate techniques smoothly merged with the aid of the other’s saber intent.

This brief distance saved Chu Qing three to five years of deep contemplation.

Thus, Chu Qing had asked why he had helped him.

He couldn’t be too explicit, after all, Cheng Tieshan was still sitting there.

The answer was... seeing him strike the swordsman earlier amused him?

This was indeed a strange person.

Chu Qing shook his head with a smile, sheathing his single saber. Both the saber and sword were wielded by experts, but this contest was merely a skirmish, neither side letting loose or tearing through the facade.

As it stood, it was somewhat regrettable.

He looked towards Cheng Tieshan:

"Vice Hall Master Cheng, it’s your turn."

Cheng Tieshan rubbed his chin, scrutinizing Chu Qing up and down.

After rubbing his chin vigorously, he suddenly stood up with a flourish:

"I’ve heard recently there’s a young master among the ranks...

"He first showed his edge at the First Grade Conference, and later assisted that Dragon Spear Fang Tianrui in competing for the Divine Blade Hall.

"Overnight, he slaughtered so many that several sabers were worn blunt.

"Kid... could that person be you?"