Chapter 604 - 600: Enemies on a Narrow Road
Chapter 604: Chapter 600: Enemies on a Narrow Road
Before long, the judge arrived.
It was the same white-haired old man. He walked to the front of the Battle Platform, his gaze slowly sweeping over everyone present, and announced:
"For the third round, the twenty Battle Platforms will be reduced to ten. Today’s competition rules are the same as the previous two days: winners advance, losers are eliminated."
He took a scroll from his sleeve, unfurled it, and read out two names:
"First match: Bai Yan of Celestial Essence County versus Meng Han of Golden Scale County."
From the crowd, a figure in moon-white robes stepped out in response. It was Bai Yan.
He ascended the Battle Platform with a calm, unhurried pace.
From the opposite side, a young man dressed in dark gold martial attire also strode onto the platform.
The man was powerfully built with rugged features. He held a heavy Profound Iron Heavy Sword, its blade glinting with a cold light in the morning sun.
The white-haired old man retreated to the edge of the Battle Platform, his voice flat. "Begin."
The moment his voice fell, Meng Han made the first move.
The Profound Iron Heavy Sword whistled through the air as it came cleaving straight down at Bai Yan. The blow was so heavy and fierce that the resulting gust of wind scattered the fine dust on the platform.
Bai Yan did not dodge. He didn’t even draw his sword.
He merely raised his right hand, holding his index and middle fingers together. Just as the Heavy Sword was about to land, he lightly flicked the side of the wide blade.
"DING—"
A clear sound, like that of a Jade Chime, echoed throughout the venue.
Meng Han felt an incredibly condensed Power travel up the blade, instantly numbing his entire right arm.
The Profound Iron Heavy Sword flew from his grasp, landing with a CLANG on the platform ten yards away.
He looked down at his empty right hand, then up at Bai Yan, his face filled with utter disbelief.
Bai Yan had already retracted his hand and now stood with them clasped behind his back, his expression calm, as if he had just performed some trivial task.
"Bai Yan of the Celestial Essence Sect wins."
The white-haired old man’s calm voice rang out.
Below the stage, a wave of low gasps rippled through the crowd.
"Second Grade... Late Stage of Second Grade!"
someone said in a strained voice, filled with irrepressible shock.
"To send Meng Han’s Heavy Sword flying with a single finger flick... that level of strength..."
"The Celestial Essence Sect truly lives up to its name as an Overlord-level Influence. The disciples they produce are terrifying."
Gaze after gaze fell upon Bai Yan. The looks that were once scrutinizing were now filled with nothing but deep apprehension.
Bai Yan walked off the Battle Platform and returned to the edge of the crowd, standing with his hands clasped behind him as if the surrounding chatter had nothing to do with him.
’He didn’t even use his specialty, Swordsmanship!’ Fang Han’s gaze fell upon Bai Yan, and a chill went through him.
’Defeating an opponent without using his signature Swordsmanship... that just shows how profound his mastery of Martial Techniques is. Add to that his Cultivation, at the Late Stage of Second Grade, same as mine...’
’Bai Yan is definitely a formidable opponent.’
"Next match: Fang Han of Qingyang County versus Zhao Zheng of Desert North County."
The white-haired old man’s voice pulled Fang Han’s thoughts back to the present.
He retracted his gaze and strode toward the Battle Platform.
From the other side, a young man in gray martial attire with a lean, powerful build also ascended the platform.
The man held a long, narrow, curved saber. Its blade was arched, the edge gleaming with a cold light.
The white-haired old man retreated to the edge.
"Begin."
Zhao Zheng attacked first, his curved saber transforming into a streak of silver-white silk as it whistled toward Fang Han’s neck.
The wind from the blade was biting, revealing his seasoned skill.
The contestants watching from around the platform held their breath, feeling that the slash was as fast as lightning; if it were them, they probably wouldn’t even have time to react.
Fang Han’s expression remained unchanged. He shifted his body slightly to the side, and his Cloud Splitting Sword thrust upward at an angle.
"DING—"
A crisp clash of metal exploded on the platform. The tip of his sword had precisely struck the side of the saber’s blade, gently deflecting the blow.
Zhao Zheng felt a slight numbness in his arm, and alarm flared in his heart.
With a flick of his wrist, he changed his move, his curved saber sweeping horizontally toward Fang Han’s waist.
An endless stream of Sword Intent erupted.
He was clearly a Saber Technique expert who had comprehended the Mental realm.
Instead of retreating, Fang Han advanced. With a shuffle of his feet, he slipped into an opening in Zhao Zheng’s Sword Intent like a nimble fish.
The Cloud Splitting Sword moved with his body, its gleam flowing like quicksilver. It slid up along the back of the curved saber, the edge aimed straight for the wrist of Zhao Zheng’s weapon hand.
The strike seemed casual, but its timing and angle were perfect, landing precisely in the instant when Zhao Zheng’s old power was spent and new power had yet to be generated.
Zhao Zheng’s pupils shrank. He was forced to pull back his saber and retreat half a step, barely dodging the sword’s edge.
Below the stage, some sharp-eyed contestants were already murmuring:
"Even Zhao Zheng, who has mastered Sword Intent, was forced back? This Fang Han is truly terrifying!"
Zhao Zheng stabilized himself, his expression turning grave.
He took a deep breath, pushing his body’s Inner Qi to its limit. A faint, pale green Sword Aura began to glow on his curved saber.
With a furious shout, he brought his curved saber down with overwhelming momentum.
Before the blade even arrived, its sharp wind had already carved a shallow white mark on the platform.
This strike contained all of his Cultivation; it was his ultimate attack.
Fang Han showed no intention of retreating.
He simply raised his hand and struck with his sword.
The Cloud Splitting Sword let out a long cry as clear as a dragon’s roar. The light of the sword flashed, so fast it was almost beyond the limit of what the naked eye could follow.
No one saw how the sword was thrust, only a dazzling azure-gold light flashing through the air.
Immediately after, with a loud CLANG, the curved saber flew from Zhao Zheng’s hand. It tumbled several times in the air before clattering onto the Battle Platform, where it shuddered and hummed.
Zhao Zheng himself staggered back several steps as if struck by a heavy blow before he managed to regain his footing.
Meanwhile, the tip of the Cloud Splitting Sword in Fang Han’s hand was hovering steadily an inch from his brow. The chill flowing from the blade made a fine layer of cold sweat break out on his forehead.
The entire platform fell silent.
Zhao Zheng stood frozen. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he finally let his hands drop in defeat.
He knew that if his opponent had intended to harm him, that sword strike would have already pierced his skull.
Three moves. In just three moves, he had been disarmed, his defeat sealed.
The gap in their strength was so vast that he couldn’t even summon a trace of resentment.
Fang Han sheathed his sword. As the Cloud Splitting Sword settled into place, its clear cry still echoed in the wind.
He glanced at Zhao Zheng and said flatly:
"Thank you for the match."
Zhao Zheng picked up his fallen saber and clasped his hands in a fist salute. "Thank you for holding back."
"It’s already the third round, and Fang Han still defeated his opponent in just a few moves!"
"Fang Han’s strength is truly terrifying!"
Below the stage, a low murmur of discussion arose.
The eyes of many turned grave.
After stepping down from the Battle Platform, Fang Han met up with Luo Yuntian. The two of them didn’t linger and headed toward the Battle Platforms where Liu Bai and Mad Saber were fighting.
On Battle Platform number sixteen, the fight was already over.
A few drops of blood stained Liu Bai’s moon-white robes. His Seven-Color Gemstone Longsword was held low, its tip pointing at the ground.
Across from him, a young man in purple martial attire clasped his fist and said, "Thank you for the match."
Liu Bai was silent for a moment before sheathing his sword. He clasped his fist and said, "I have lost."
He turned and walked down, his expression calm, showing no signs of inner turmoil.
But Fang Han could sense a trace of resentment in his slightly clenched fingers.
"Brother Liu, how are your injuries?" Fang Han went up to him.
Liu Bai shook his head, his voice steady.
"It’s a minor injury, nothing to worry about."
The three of them met up and walked on without stopping, heading for Mad Saber’s Battle Platform.
On the Battle Platform, Mad Saber was fighting a man in black martial attire.
The giant saber whirled in his hands, each slash carrying a Mountain-Splitting Stone-Shattering Momentum that made the platform tremble slightly.
But the black-clad man’s Body Technique was extremely deceptive, like a phantom weaving through the flashes of the saber, dodging Mad Saber’s attacks by a hair’s breadth every time.
"CLANG—"
With a dull clash of metal, Mad Saber’s giant saber was deflected by the black-clad man’s sword, leaving his guard wide open.
The black-clad man seized the opportunity, thrusting his longsword forward to press against Mad Saber’s chest.
Mad Saber looked down at the sword tip pressed against his chest and said,
"I’ve lost."
He grinned, his smile carrying a hint of nonchalance.
Turning and walking off the stage, he grinned when he saw Fang Han and Liu Bai:
"Just as I thought, I couldn’t make it through the third round."
He had a completely unconcerned look on his face.
When Fang Han and the others left the venue, the sun was shining brightly.
Fang Han glanced back at the magnificent circular building, then averted his gaze and looked off into the distance.
’Of the ten people from Qingyang County’s Celestial Pride List, after three rounds, I’m the only one left.’
’Although I don’t want to admit it, I have to: compared to the Central Thirty-Six Counties, Qingyang County truly is lagging by a considerable margin.’
...
「On the morning of the fourth day, as the first light of dawn broke.」
Fang Han and Luo Yuntian walked into the Martial Arts Assembly venue together.
Today, the number of contestants was significantly smaller than the day before.
The ten Battle Platforms had been reduced to five. Everyone still standing here was the elite of the elite.
The contestants around Battle Platform number ten had indeed changed again. There were many new, unfamiliar faces, which clearly meant that Battle Platform ten had been merged with others.
Fang Han’s gaze swept over the crowd and suddenly paused.
In the crowd, a figure in black stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
With a cold and stern face, and a faint, cold sneer playing on his lips, it was none other than Jiang Ying, the one who had defeated and verbally humiliated Luo Yuntian the day before yesterday.
Jiang Ying had obviously noticed Fang Han as well. His cold eyes landed on Fang Han and Luo Yuntian, and an undisguised look of provocation appeared in them.
He strode toward Fang Han, stopping a few steps away. His voice dripped with mockery:
"Well now, look at you. Pretty lucky, actually making it to the fourth round."
Fang Han didn’t answer, simply watching Jiang Ying calmly.
But Jiang Ying didn’t seem to mind his coldness and continued on his own, "You’d better hope you don’t run into me. Otherwise, your lucky streak ends here."
"I’ll show you just how big the gap is between a so-called prodigy from an ordinary county and a prodigy from the Central Thirty-Six Counties."
With that, a slight smirk touched the corner of his mouth, and he turned and walked back into the crowd.
Fang Han stood his ground, his expression calm and unreadable.
Many of the contestants witnessed this scene, and strange looks appeared on their faces.
Someone lowered their voice and said to their companion:
"Someone’s actually provoking Fang Han again, for the first time since day one."
The companion also spoke in a hushed tone, with a hint of confusion:
"Is this guy actually that strong, or does he just not know how strong Fang Han is?"
"Who knows."
The first person shook their head.
"Either he’s an idiot, or... he’s actually got the goods?"