240: Chapter 239 Victory!!!

The news of the seventh match of the lower group, where Jiang Hanzhou defeated Senior Brother Su Jingyuan in three moves, swept across the entire square like a hurricane.

The Disciples who were originally focusing on the battles of other groups now turned their gazes toward the lower group's stage. Discussions rose and fell, buzzing through the air above the square.

"Defeating Senior Brother Su Jingyuan in three moves? He’s the second-ranked Inner Sect Disciple of the Bibo Pool..."

"Merging four types of True Intent into one strike? Are you sure you didn't see it wrong?"

"Absolutely certain! Tide, Pure Yang, and Golden Sharpness—three types of True Intent appeared simultaneously, and a single strike shattered Senior Brother Su Jingyuan's Thousand Layers of Jade Waves. That power, tsk tsk..."

"Where did this guy come from? To be able to reach this level in less than half a year since joining the sect?"

"I heard he's a Disciple Elder Xue personally picked. You know how sharp Elder Xue's eyes are..."

"Interesting. Those over at Heavenly Sword Peak probably won't be able to sit still now."

The discussions reached his ears, but Jiang Hanzhou ignored them. He simply walked back to a corner, sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to regulate his breathing.

Inside his body, that great water-fire cycle rotated slowly, bit by bit replenishing the blood Qi consumed by that strike just now. Tidal True Intent and Pure Yang True Intent flowed alternately through his Meridians, while Golden Sharpness True Intent acted like an invisible dividing line, steadily separating them yet pulling them together when needed.

For that strike just now, he had used three types of True Intent, but the fourth—Heavenly Fire True Intent—he still kept hidden.

It wasn't that he didn't want to use it, but rather that it wasn't necessary.

Although Senior Brother Su Jingyuan was strong, he wasn't strong enough to require him to reveal all his trump cards.

The referee's voice rang out again:

"Lower group, eighth match: Number Three versus Number Eight."

Jiang Hanzhou did not open his eyes.

Number Three was Zhou Han, and Number Eight was another Disciple from Heavenly Sword Peak. He could guess the outcome of this match without even looking.

Sure enough, after thirty breaths, the referee announced Zhou Han's victory.

After two more matches, the referee's voice suddenly became solemn:

"Lower group, eleventh match: Number Two versus Number Seven."

Number Two.

Jiang Hanzhou opened his eyes.

Number Seven was him.

He stood up and walked toward the stage.

At the same time, on the other side of the stage, a figure also walked over slowly.

It was a young man of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with a slender build and a cold face, dressed in the blue and white martial attire unique to the Inner Sect Disciples of Heavenly Sword Peak.

A long sword hung at his waist, its scabbard entirely silver-white and engraved with fine frost patterns.

Ao Zhan.

Ranked first in the Inner Sect of Heavenly Sword Peak.

Primal Elephant Realm Peak.

His pace was neither fast nor slow, each step steady and powerful, making a slight "thud-thud" sound as he stepped on the white jade floor.

The sound wasn't loud, yet it was like a drumbeat, striking the heart of everyone present one by one.

Around the stage, the Disciples watching the match instantly fell silent.

Everyone's gaze fell upon the center of the stage.

Jiang Hanzhou.

Ao Zhan.

A newcomer who had joined the sect for less than half a year, displaying four types of True Intent and defeating the second-ranked Inner Sect Disciple of Bibo Pool in three moves.

A veteran Prodigy who had cultivated for seven years, with thirty percent mastery of Ice Soul True Intent, defeating enemies with a single sword strike, and having yet to reveal a second strike.

This battle was the fight for the top spot in the lower group, and also one of the most anticipated duels of this Inner Sect Minor Competition.

The two stood facing each other in the center of the stage, three zhang apart.

Ao Zhan looked at Jiang Hanzhou; in those deep blue eyes, there was no contempt or arrogance, only an indescribable solemnity.

"Jiang Hanzhou," he spoke, his voice low and carrying a metallic quality. "In front of the Yuelong Hall, you forced me back three steps."

Jiang Hanzhou looked at him and didn't speak.

Ao Zhan continued, "At that time, I thought you were just lucky. But now—"

He paused, looking directly into Jiang Hanzhou's eyes:

"I take those words back."

Jiang Hanzhou's brow twitched slightly.

Ao Zhan placed his right hand on the sword hilt and said slowly:

"Defeating Senior Brother Su Jingyuan in three moves and merging three types of True Intent into one strike. Your strength is worthy of my serious attention."

A slight smile slowly curled at the corner of his mouth. It was a cold smile, yet it carried an indescribable sense of anticipation:

"Therefore, I will not hold back."

Jiang Hanzhou was silent for a moment, then said flatly:

"I don't plan on holding back either."

Their gazes collided in the air, sparks flying.

The referee glanced at the two and waved his hand:

"Begin!"

The moment the words fell—

Ao Zhan drew his sword.

The moment the blade left its scabbard, a bone-chilling coldness erupted from his body! That coldness condensed into ice, forming a layer of deep blue frost on the sword blade, within which countless fine ice crystals could be seen flowing!

His sword was astonishingly fast.

Fast to the extreme.

With one thrust, the sword light appeared deep blue, like an ice serpent aimed straight for Jiang Hanzhou's throat!

This strike had no flourishes, only the purest—speed.

Jiang Hanzhou's pupils contracted slightly.

He didn't take it head-on.

Activating Wave-Treading Step to the fullest, his figure spun rapidly, barely dodging that sword strike!

The sword light grazed his cheek, taking a strand of hair with it. That strand of hair drifted in the air and was instantly frozen by the coldness attached to the sword light, turning into tiny ice crystals that scattered away.

So fast.

Jiang Hanzhou was secretly alarmed.

Ao Zhan's fast sword was not just a simple variation of sword techniques; it was the integration of Ice Soul True Intent into the swordplay, using coldness to freeze the opponent's reactions and fast swordplay to seize the initiative. Once a strike was made, it was continuous, like ice blades in a blizzard, leaving no gaps.

The first strike had just fallen when the second arrived!

Ao Zhan's figure was like a phantom, and the sword light was like rain, pouring down toward Jiang Hanzhou!

One strike, two strikes, three strikes... ten, twenty, thirty strikes!

Every strike was incomparably sharp, and every strike contained the coldness of Ice Soul True Intent. Those sword lights wove into an airtight net in the center of the stage, firmly trapping Jiang Hanzhou in the middle.

Jiang Hanzhou wove through the sword lights, pushing Wave-Treading Step to the limit, barely dodging every strike. But Ao Zhan's sword was too fast, so fast that even his Wave-Treading Step could hardly keep up.

Screech—

A sword light grazed his left arm, leaving a long, thin slit in his sleeve. At the edge of the slit, a thin layer of frost was spreading, freezing the sleeve into a stiff piece.

Jiang Hanzhou glanced down, his brow furrowing slightly.

Ao Zhan's fast sword was more than twice as fast as Liu Chengfeng's. Moreover, every strike contained the coldness of Ice Soul True Intent; even if it just grazed him, that coldness would seep into his body through the wound, slowing the flow of blood Qi.

If this continued, his speed would become slower and slower, eventually being swallowed by that continuous sword light.

He couldn't dodge anymore.

He took a deep breath, and that great water-fire cycle inside him suddenly accelerated!

Tidal True Intent surged toward his right arm, and Pure Yang True Intent surged toward his left arm. The two forces converged in his palm but were not released; instead, they were compressed, compressed, and compressed again—condensing into a red and blue saber glow only an inch long, focused on the edge of the tiger soul saber.

He didn't strike with the saber.

He was waiting.

Waiting for an opportunity.

Ao Zhan's sword became faster and sharper.

His figure dashed across the center of the stage, the sword light like a rainbow. Every strike carried a bone-chilling coldness, freezing a thin layer of frost onto the white jade floor in the center of the stage.

Thirty strikes.

Forty strikes.

Fifty strikes.

Finally—

At the moment the fifty-third strike was thrust out, a very slight stagnation appeared in Ao Zhan's aura.

That was the price of the fast sword.

Continuous fast sword strikes required extremely pure True Intent to support. Although Ao Zhan's Ice Soul True Intent had been refined to thirty percent, continuously driving it for over fifty strikes had reached its limit.

That moment of stagnation lasted only an instant.

But this instant was enough.

Jiang Hanzhou moved!

He took a step forward, his figure like lightning!

The red and blue saber glow on the tiger soul saber suddenly surged at the moment of the strike! From an inch, it surged to three feet, and from three feet, it surged to over a zhang!

Tide, Pure Yang, and Golden Sharpness—three types of True Intent erupted simultaneously!

The red and blue interwoven saber light, like a bolt of lightning tearing through the darkness, slashed straight toward Ao Zhan!

Ao Zhan's expression changed.

He hadn't expected that under such dense sword light suppression, Jiang Hanzhou could still unleash such a strike.

But he didn't retreat.

He just gritted his teeth, pushing the Ice Soul True Intent in his body to the limit to condense a deep blue ice wall on the sword blade—

Boom—!!

The saber glow slashed onto the ice wall, erupting in a deafening roar!

The ice wall trembled violently, countless fine cracks appearing on its surface!

But—

It didn't shatter.

A sharp light flashed in Ao Zhan's eyes. He was about to take the opportunity to counterattack when suddenly—

Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, there was a sudden shock!

An invisible force, like a sharp blade, slashed deep into his Divine Soul!

That slash wasn't heavy, but it was precise to the extreme.

It was as if, in a blizzard, someone had precisely found the weakest gap and gently inserted the blade edge.

His consciousness experienced a brief trance in this moment.

Though it was only for an instant.

But this instant was enough to change everything.

At this moment, the ice wall crumbled.

The red and blue saber glow on the tiger soul saber took the opportunity to enter, slashing straight toward his chest!

Ao Zhan gritted his teeth, putting all his strength into parrying with his sword—

Clang—!!!

The tiger soul saber struck the sword blade, erupting in a piercing sound of clashing metal!

Ao Zhan felt an indescribable, massive force surge from the sword blade, vibrating until his arms went numb and his web of the hand split. He was sent flying three zhang, crashing heavily into the protective Formation at the edge of the stage!

Pfft—

A mouthful of blood sprayed out, and his face instantly turned pale.

He looked up toward the youth standing in the center of the stage.

Jiang Hanzhou stood where he was, the tiger soul saber held across his body, the layer of red and blue light on the blade slowly dissipating.

His breathing was slightly hurried, but his eyes remained as calm as water.

Ao Zhan was silent for a long time.

Then, he slowly stood up and looked down at the long sword in his hand.

On the sword blade, a fine crack had unexpectedly appeared.

That was a crack slashed out by Jiang Hanzhou's single strike.

His face became even paler.

"You..." he spoke, his voice hoarse. "That strike just now wasn't just three types of True Intent."

Jiang Hanzhou did not speak.

Ao Zhan stared at him, saying word by word:

"In your Sea of Consciousness, there is also a... Divine Soul Tool."

Jiang Hanzhou's brow twitched slightly.

Ao Zhan looked at him, a complex light flashing in those deep blue eyes—there was surprise, solemnity, and an indescribable... respect.

"Divine Soul attack," he whispered. "To be able to split your attention to drive a Divine Soul Tool for an attack during a clash of that level. Your willpower is far beyond my imagination."

He was silent for a moment, then slowly sheathed his sword.

"I concede."

The three words weren't loud, but they clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

Around the stage, there was a dead silence.

The expressions on the faces of the watching Disciples turned from tension to shock, and from shock to disbelief.

Ao Zhan had conceded.

The number one of the Heavenly Sword Peak's Inner Sect, the veteran Prodigy who had cultivated for seven years and defeated enemies with a single strike—Ao Zhan had conceded.

Moreover, after delivering fifty-three strikes, his spiritual sword was cracked by a single blow, he was suppressed by a Divine Soul attack, and he finally had to concede.

What did this mean?

It meant that Jiang Hanzhou's strength had already surpassed the number one of the Heavenly Sword Peak's Inner Sect.

It meant that this newcomer who had joined for less than half a year was already among the top existences of the Inner Sect Disciples.

The referee glanced at the two and said in a resonant voice:

"Lower group, eleventh match: Number Seven wins!"

Jiang Hanzhou sheathed his saber and gave a cupped-fist salute:

"Senior Brother Ao, thank you for the match."

Ao Zhan looked at him, was silent for three breaths, and then slowly returned the salute:

"Junior Brother Jiang... good methods."

He turned and staggered off the stage.

At the edge of the stage, the Disciples of Heavenly Sword Peak had ashen faces but couldn't say a single word.

Meanwhile, the Disciples of Red Fire Peak all had eyes wide open, their faces full of disbelief.

Zhou Lie stood in the crowd, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.

"Holy shit..." he muttered. "Junior Brother Jiang... beat Ao Zhan?"

Beside him, Liu Ningshuang didn't speak, but just quietly watched the figure in the center of the stage, a complex light flashing in her eyes.

On the high platform, the reactions of the seven Elders were all different.

Fierce Sun Master stroked his beard, unable to suppress the smile on his face. He glanced at Cold Frost Master beside him, his gaze clearly saying: "See that? That's a Disciple of my Red Fire Peak."

Cold Frost Master was expressionless, but in those cold eyes, there was an added touch of solemnity.

Master Qingxuan nodded slightly, his eyes full of admiration.

Fairy Ziyun had a smile on her lips, her gaze lingering on Jiang Hanzhou for a long time.

And Great Elder Xuanjizi—

He remained as calm as water, but within his slightly closed eyes, a sharp light flickered and vanished.

Master Xue Mu stood at the side of the high platform with his hands behind his back.

He looked at Jiang Hanzhou on the stage, a slight smile slowly curling at the corner of his mouth.

That smile was very faint, yet it carried an indescribable sense of pride.

Brat.

Nicely done.