Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Let Him Fight
Sword Qi howled as it intertwined with the azure axe light, with two different hues of radiance clashing amidst the dense sounds of thunder.
Countless glimmers scattered outward, forming a glowing sphere that flickered with captivating yet perilous colors.
Clang clang clang!
A symphony of metal striking stone resounded, sparks flying everywhere.
In the moment of the standstill between the two combatants, Yang Ji suddenly heightened his Sword Intent by a notch.
In an explosive burst, Sword Qi erupted, sending Man Kuai along with his axe flying backward.
At that moment, Man Kuai's heart shook wildly, his eyes filled with disbelief.
How could this man's Sword Intent seem bottomless? How was this possible?
Before he could steady his shock, Yang Ji suddenly moved.
With the grace of a swan, he floated upwards and, under the shocked gazes of the onlookers, gently landed on Man Kuai's shoulder.
Before Man Kuai could touch the ground, he felt a heaviness on his shoulder and as he looked up, Yang Ji's foot was descending upon him.
Boom!
Falling to the ground like a stone, "thump" went the sound as half of Man Kuai's body plunged directly into the earth.
A flicker of pain flashed through his eyes as Man Kuai felt his internal organs heave together, a muffled groan immediately escaping his lips.
"Brother Man Kuai has been suppressed?" the crowd exclaimed in surprise.
"You've lost!" Yang Ji stated flatly, standing on his shoulder.
"No! I still have beast blood within me that hasn't been stirred yet, I can be stronger, I can't possibly lose!"
Man Kuai's tiger-like eyes glared upward, roaring furiously, and during his outcry, the blood-colored patterns all over his body flashed with blood light, as the beast blood within him was vigorously activated in an attempt to leap up.
But Yang Ji just glanced at him coldly, the Flying Sword at Man Kuai's neck silent yet threatening.
If he were to rise up, the sword would surely pierce his throat.
"Hmph! Don't embarrass me." Granny Tianshang suddenly scoffed at Man Kuai.
Seeing this, Man Kuai reluctantly retracted his surging beast blood.
Yang Ji, on the other hand, sheathed his sword and slowly walked to one side.
At this moment, he realized that the gap between a genius and an ordinary person was simply too vast; he hadn't even exerted a tenth of his Sword Intent before he had already suppressed Man Kuai.
If he had struck with his full strength, Man Kuai probably would have died a million times over from a single one of his blows.
"Not bad, junior brother, you know how to hide your skills," Li Changxiao voiced through mental transmission, making no effort to conceal it from Jian Yuanzi.
Jian Yuanzi smiled faintly and transmitted back, "Hiding one's skills is not necessarily a bad thing; keeping others from grasping your depth means you're safe."
"Granny Tianshang, like this, we've won the first match," Jian Yuanzi said with a smile.
"Humph! That doesn't count, my grandson Man Kuai has yet to show his full strength, we haven't lost. Let's change fighters and continue," Granny Tianshang retorted coldly, casting a glance at the person behind her.
In an instant, a young man carrying a long blade on his back suddenly grew solemn and stepped forward, saying, "Ren Jingtian is here to learn from your sword techniques!"
"Granny Tianshang, are you trying to renege?" Jian Yuanzi's expression became stern, his robes moving without wind as traces of Sword Qi dispersed from him, filling the sky with sharpness.
"Jian Yuanzi, do you want to fight me?" Granny Tianshang's face shifted, her voice suddenly turning shrill.
"Master, don't be angry. If they want to fight, let's just fight with them," Yang Ji interjected with a smile, stepping forward again.
"I will only use one blade strike. This blade strike contains my lifelong understanding of the Path of the Blade. If I cannot defeat you, then I admit my defeat."
Ren Jingtian's eyes shot out with a brilliant light, overwhelming energy surging through him while the long blade on his back vibrated suddenly due to the force he generated.
With a "hum" of a muffled blade's ring, the blade shot out of its sheath like lightning and within a breath, Ren Jingtian had it in hand, emanating a blade light of ten zhang unmatched, truly done in one swift motion.
Boom!
Ren Jingtian raised the long blade over his head decisively and fiercely slashed diagonally downward.
A peerless blade light burst forth with a piercing, strange howl, mixed with the sound-killing force that targets the heart and splits intelligence, intimidating the spirit and enveloping all directions.
With one strike, he contained two killing moves, as swift as lightning, so fast it demanded a sideways glance.
Yet Yang Ji remained unmoved, employing the same technique, equally simple, he lifted his hand to strike with his sword, releasing a strangle move that gathered two types of Sword Intent, carrying an inexplicable great force, boldly meeting Ren Jingtian's domineering blow.
This blade had once gloriously slain an injured Demon Marshal, but faced with Yang Ji's sword, the blade light was instantly extinguished in a moment, snuffed out by the endless Sword Qi, dissipating into the empty sky.
The Sword Qi's momentum remained unabated, turning into a pale blue Flying Sword hovering at his brow, and only when a droplet of blood seeped from his forehead did Ren Jingtian, sweating coldly, realize he had already been defeated.
He prided himself on being a genius, had watched the battles for a long time, convinced that Yang Ji absolutely could not withstand his all-powerful slash, yet he did not anticipate losing so quickly, so utterly.
If it were a life-and-death fight, the Sword Qi before him would definitely pierce through his brow, strangle his spirit, and extinguish his life in an instant.
He lost, fell to a single sword strike, a sword strike wielded by someone in the midst of Foundation Establishment.
He felt an endless sense of loss deep inside, the gap between them like a chasm he found unbearable, still hoping it was due to a lower level of technique.
He slowly lowered his long blade, his expression complex, while clinging to some hope, he asked dejectedly, "Fellow Daoist, what level of sword technique did you use?"
"As you guessed!" Yang Ji saw through his thoughts and responded indifferently.
"Indeed..." Ren Jingtian took a deep breath, feeling as though a weight had lifted from his heart.
He could accept defeat but not a defeat like this, his pride did not allow it.
Yet looking at Yang Ji's full confidence, he still smiled bitterly inside. Knowing that the higher the level of techniques, the harder they are to comprehend, he had immersed himself in the supreme technique, "Falling Heaven Blade," for over twenty years and had only just barely touched completion.
But the person before him was younger, and yet the Great Divine Power in his hands was executed with a proficiency more terrifying than his own blade technique.
Such an exceptionally talented person, even if cultivating the same technique, would still be ahead, and in the end, it was still he who would lose.
This was the crushing disadvantage brought on by his own inferior talent and comprehension.
Upon knowing that he was inferior both in comprehension and technique, Ren Jingtian sighed in disappointment, but this led to a sense of release.
At this moment, looking up at the steadfast Yang Ji, another person stepped forward from behind Granny Tianshang.
This person's expression was solemn, his eyes devoid of any underestimation, he said gravely, "My name is Jian Chuan, and like Brother Ren, I will only unleash one strike. This strike will gather all the mysteries of my swordsmanship, and if Fellow Daoist can withstand it, then I shall concede defeat."
"Be careful!"
Jian Chuan moved with such speed that two steps appeared as one, and in an instant, he lunged forward, simultaneously drawing the Flying Sword from behind with a flick of his hand.
Clang!
A sword cry rang out, like the long call of a bird flying high in the Nine Heavens, reaching the heart, transporting one into a peach garden paradise, forgetting all danger.
Jian Chuan's sword was very unique, very round and thin, resembling a spear, yet only as thick as a thumb, with an exceedingly sharp point.
Whoosh!
With one thrust of his sword, the air was immediately torn apart.
A point of white light appeared at the tip of the sword, brilliant and dazzling, compelling one to avert their eyes.
In an instant, it was a mere few yards from Yang Ji.
Facing this sword, Yang Ji was somewhat surprised, and perhaps as a fellow swordsman, he rarely commented.
"Your swordsmanship not only possesses mesmerizing properties, but also the dazzling light of the Sword Qi. The most lethal aspect is the sword's ultimate speed, coupled with its peerless sharpness."
"The ultimate speed of a sword is a point, the smallest point that can reduce resistance to its lowest."
"Once this sword is drawn, it is a killing blow for the vast majority in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, leaving them with no power to resist."