261: Chapter 260 Semifinals

The results of the semi-final draw were announced in the early morning as the first ray of sunlight pierced through the defensive barrier of the Sword Discussion Platform.

Jiang Hanzhou against Su Muhe. Han Qing against Zhao Yuanjing.

Two sets of match information hovered directly above the arena in large golden characters, each stroke imbued with the pressure of the Dragon Abyss Palace Formation, pushing the atmosphere of the entire Sword Discussion Platform to a boiling point.

"Su Muhe! The number one Inner Sect Disciple of the Bibo Pool! At the Peak of the Primal Form Realm, with thirty percent Water True Intent, it's said he has already touched the threshold of the Dragon Fetus Realm!"

"Zhao Yuanjing is not weak either! A True Disciple of the Black Jade Mansion, representing the Black Jade Mansion in this Sword Discussion Assembly. His cultivation is also at the Peak of the Primal Form Realm, and he Cultivates the 'Black Jade True Art,' with a Physical Body so tough it's unbelievable!"

"But Jiang Hanzhou and Han Qing are even more terrifying... one is at the Early Stage of the Dragon Fetus Realm, with four intents combined into one, breaking the Three Talents Sword Formation with a single strike; the other is at the Peak of the Early Stage of the Dragon Fetus Realm, with a mysterious and unpredictable Sword Gu Secret Technique, even Zhao Yuanjing might not be his match..."

"Facing Su Muhe and Zhao Yuanjing in the semi-finals, this luck with the draw..."

"Luck? Haven't you realized yet? Those people from the Heavenly Sword Peak want to wear down Jiang Hanzhou through a war of attrition! Facing Su Muhe in the semi-finals and Han Qing in the finals—even if Jiang Hanzhou beats Su Muhe, he will definitely consume a huge amount of energy. How will he fight Han Qing then?"

Discussions surged like a tide in the viewing seats; some were indignant, some sneered, and some watched the excitement as if it had nothing to do with them.

In the viewing seats of the Red Fire Peak, Zhou Lie's face was ashen with rage as he slammed a fist onto the armrest: "This is fucking intentional! Arranging Su Muhe for the semi-finals and Han Qing for the finals—those bastards from the Heavenly Sword Peak want Junior Brother Jiang to fight a hard battle first before risking his life against Han Qing!"

Liu Ningshuang didn't speak, but a cold glint flashed in her clear, cool eyes.

Master Xue Mu sat at the very front, his face as calm as water. But his right hand unconsciously tightened around the crimson longsword at his waist.

In the viewing seats of the Heavenly Sword Peak, a faint smile played at the corners of Cold Frost Master's mouth.

"Xue Mu," he murmured, "you think Jiang Hanzhou can win just by breaking through to the Dragon Fetus Realm? No. I'll have him fight Su Muhe first to consume his True Intent, his Divine Soul, and his physical strength. Then—Han Qing will step on him in his most perfect state."

In the viewing seats of the Bibo Pool, Master Qingxuan frowned slightly.

Beside him, Teng Yuzhi was expressionless, but her eyes were fixed on the arena, her fingers unconsciously clutching the hem of her clothes.

"Master," she spoke, her voice cold and clear, "can Jiang Hanzhou beat Senior Brother Su?"

Master Qingxuan was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "He can. But it will be a very difficult win."

He paused, his gaze sharp: "Su Muhe's Water True Intent has reached the Realm of 'Controlling Water Like Life.' His Ten Thousand Hectares Water Curtain Formation would take even a Middle Stage Dragon Fetus Realm Cultivator some effort to break. Although Jiang Hanzhou broke through to the Dragon Fetus Realm, he is only at the Early Stage after all—and his Tidal True Intent is only at thirty percent."

Teng Yuzhi didn't speak, just nodded.

In the center of the arena, Su Muhe had already taken his position.

He wore the green Daoist robe of a Bibo Pool Inner Sect Disciple, his long hair tied up with a green jade hairpin, his face handsome and his temperament as gentle as jade. A deep blue longsword hung at his waist, its blade engraved with fine water-wave patterns; it was one of the Peak-guarding treasures of the Bibo Pool—the Clear Water Sword.

A faint water-blue light swirled around him; the light wasn't dazzling but contained an indescribable lingering softness and resilience. That was the Water True Intent, at the Peak of thirty percent.

"Junior Brother Jiang," he spoke, his voice gentle. "Please."

Jiang Hanzhou stood at the other end of the arena, the tiger soul saber at his waist, his expression normal.

He looked at Su Muhe and nodded slightly: "Senior Brother Su, please."

The moment the words fell—

Su Muhe moved.

He didn't draw his sword but instead raised his right hand and gave a gentle push.

That push seemed effortless, but at that moment, the Heaven And Earth Spiritual Essence of the entire arena rioted simultaneously!

Tidal True Intent, Peak of thirty percent—it wasn't an attack, but an inducement.

The Water Spiritual Essence within a hundred-foot radius, as if pulled by an invisible giant hand, surged frantically from the void, condensing into countless water-blue threads in front of Su Muhe.

Those threads were dense and layered, spreading, diffusing, and intertwining in all directions with Su Muhe as the center.

In a single breath, the entire arena was enveloped by a massive water curtain.

The water curtain was translucent, its surface flowing with fine runes, each rune containing Su Muhe's Peak thirty percent Water True Intent. Within the water curtain, countless streams of water flowed slowly like living things, like swimming snakes, like thousands of tentacles dancing in the void.

Ten Thousand Hectares Water Curtain Formation.

A secret art of the Bibo Pool, with Water True Intent as the Foundation, Heaven And Earth Spiritual Essence as nourishment, and the array Master's will as the Soul, constructing a world of water independent of the world outside.

Within this Formation, the array Master is a god.

The speed, direction, and density of the water flow are all controlled by his single thought. Every breath, every step, and every attack of the opponent will be perceived, weakened, and guided by the water flow.

"Ten Thousand Hectares Water Curtain Formation..." someone in the viewing seats exclaimed, "Su Muhe is using his full strength right from the start!"

"Nonsense! Jiang Hanzhou is in the Dragon Fetus Realm, does Su Muhe dare to hold back?"

"But the Ten Thousand Hectares Water Curtain Formation consumes a lot of energy, Su Muhe won't be able to hold it for long..."

"He doesn't need to hold it for long. He only needs to wear down Jiang Hanzhou, and that's enough."

Amidst the discussions, Jiang Hanzhou stood quietly within the water curtain.

He didn't move.

He just watched the water streams flowing around him, feeling the will contained in every movement.

Not an attack, but guidance.

Su Muhe's Water True Intent wasn't meant to hurt him, but to trap him.

Those water streams were like invisible chains, wrapping around his limbs, his tiger soul saber, and every trace of True Intent flowing within his body.

Under the guidance of the water flow, his Tidal True Intent began to deviate from its original path; under the weakening of the water flow, his Pure Yang True Intent began to become lukewarm; under the obstruction of the water flow, his Golden Sharpness True Intent began to become sluggish; under the erosion of the water flow, his Heavenly Fire True Intent began to flicker.

"Do you feel it?" Su Muhe's voice echoed in the water curtain, gentle yet unquestionable. "The essence of Water True Intent is not attack, not defense, but—guidance. Guiding the opponent's power, guiding the opponent's will, guiding the opponent's life and death."

He raised his right hand and gave a gentle squeeze.

The water flow in the curtain suddenly accelerated, changing from a slow flow to a rapid rotation! Those water streams turned into countless water-blue chains, coiling toward Jiang Hanzhou!

The speed of the chains was like lightning, each containing the Peak thirty percent Water True Intent, enough to bind a Peak Primal Form Realm Cultivator until they were unable to move.

But Jiang Hanzhou didn't retreat.

He just stood there, watching the chains getting closer and closer, and then—

He closed his eyes.

"What's wrong with him?" someone in the viewing seats cried out, "Why isn't he moving?"

"Has he given up?"

"No—look at his hand!"

Everyone's gaze fell on Jiang Hanzhou's right hand.

That hand was slowly reaching for the hilt of the tiger soul saber at his waist.

The movement was very slow, so slow that everyone could see every frame clearly.

But the moment that hand gripped the hilt—

An indescribable aura erupted from within his body!

That aura wasn't Dragon Might, nor Saber Intent, nor True Intent, but—Tide.

Pure Tidal True Intent, without any Impurities.

Peak of thirty percent.

From the same source as Su Muhe's Water True Intent, but of a different quality.

Su Muhe's Water True Intent was "guidance"—guiding the opponent's power, will, and life and death.

Jiang Hanzhou's Tidal True Intent was "reverse guidance"—not obedience, not compromise, but taking over the power of guidance with a stronger will.

Those water-blue chains came to a sudden halt three feet away from Jiang Hanzhou.

Not because they were blocked, but because—they no longer listened to Su Muhe.

Su Muhe's pupils shrank suddenly: "What?!"

His thoughts raced as he pushed his Water True Intent to its limit, trying to regain control of those chains. But the chains were as if held by a much stronger hand, remaining motionless.

"Senior Brother Su," Jiang Hanzhou opened his eyes, his voice as calm as water. "Your Water True Intent is very strong. But—Tide is also water."

As his voice fell, he drew his saber.

The moment tiger soul was unsheathed, those water-blue chains suddenly surged back, turning against Su Muhe!

Su Muhe's expression changed drastically as he fully activated the water curtain Formation, attempting to block the rebounding chains. But the chains no longer contained his Water True Intent, but Jiang Hanzhou's Tidal True Intent—at the Peak of thirty percent, combined with the Golden Sharpness of the tiger soul saber.

The chains slammed into the water curtain, making a piercing grinding sound!

The water curtain vibrated violently, and fine cracks appeared on its surface. Su Muhe gritted his teeth, forcibly stabilizing the water curtain with his will, but the cracks grew more numerous and deeper until finally—

Crack!

The water curtain shattered.

The Ten Thousand Hectares Water Curtain Formation collapsed under a single strike from Jiang Hanzhou.

Su Muhe's face turned pale, and a trickle of blood escaped the corner of his mouth. His Water True Intent was deeply bound to the water curtain Formation; with the Formation broken, his Divine Soul also suffered a severe backlash.

But he didn't admit defeat.

He just took a deep breath and slowly drew the Clear Water Sword from his waist.

The water-wave patterns on the sword suddenly lit up, the water-blue light illuminating the entire arena like the deep sea.

"Junior Brother Jiang," his voice was still gentle, but it held a hint of determination, "You are very strong. But—I still have one sword strike."

He gripped the hilt tightly, and all the True Intent, all the heart's blood, and all the will within his body were poured into the sword at this moment.

The light on the sword grew brighter and more intense until finally—

"Jade Wave: Ten Thousand Streams Returning to the Source!"

He swung his sword!

That sword strike didn't have a thousand rays of light or an earth-shattering momentum. It was just a simple slash, yet it caused all the Water Spiritual Essence of the entire arena to condense onto the sword's edge, turning into a simple and unadorned blue sword light.

That sword light contained the entirety of Su Muhe's martial will.

It wasn't a probe or an attempt to wear him down, but—a full-strength strike.

Jiang Hanzhou watched the approaching sword light, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

Then, he struck with his saber.

The four-colored radiance on the tiger soul saber suddenly converged, turning into a simple and unadorned saber light. That saber light contained the lingering length of Tide, the blazing heat of Pure Yang, the sharpness of Golden Sharpness, and the transformations of Heavenly Fire—four types of True Intent, perfectly fused.

"Tidal Heaven-Burning Slash."

Saber light and sword light collided.

There was no loud crash, no explosion, and no earth-shattering momentum.

Only a soft sound—

"Chiss."

Like a knife through tofu, like a hot blade through snow, like a sharp edge slicing through silk.

That simple blue sword light was silently split into two from the very center.

The cut was as smooth as a mirror, without even a trace of spiritual essence splashing out.

The saber light's momentum didn't decrease as it slashed straight toward Su Muhe.

But three feet away from Su Muhe, the saber light came to a sudden halt.

Not because it was blocked, but because—Jiang Hanzhou had withdrawn his strength.

"Senior Brother Su," he sheathed his saber, his voice calm, "I accept your concession."

Su Muhe stood where he was, holding the Clear Water Sword, silent for a long time.

Then, he slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, a bitter smile touching the corners of his mouth.

"I lost."

Those three words were as soft as a mosquito's hum.

But in this deathly silent arena, they clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

Three moves.

From Su Muhe setting up the Ten Thousand Hectares Water Curtain Formation to Jiang Hanzhou breaking the Formation with one strike, breaking the sword strike with another, and withdrawing his strength with the third—three moves.

A Peak Primal Form Realm Cultivator, the number one Inner Sect Disciple of the Bibo Pool, with Peak thirty percent Water True Intent—in front of Jiang Hanzhou, he only lasted three moves.

Total silence.

That silence lasted for five full breaths, and then—

"Whoosh—!"

Discussions surged like a tide, nearly overturning the entire Sword Discussion Platform.

"Three moves! He only used three moves!"

"That was Su Muhe! The number one Inner Sect Disciple of the Bibo Pool! Peak Primal Form Realm! Peak thirty percent Water True Intent! Ten Thousand Hectares Water Curtain Formation! Jade Wave: Ten Thousand Streams Returning to the Source!—He actually only lasted three moves?!"

"Did you notice? His first strike broke the water curtain Formation, the second strike broke the Ten Thousand Streams Returning to the Source, and the third strike he withdrew his strength—from beginning to end, he didn't use his full power!"

"Heavens... what kind of monster is he..."

"Dragon Fetus Realm... this is the true Dragon Fetus Realm..."

Amidst the discussions, Jiang Hanzhou had already walked off the arena.

His pace was steady, his face was as usual, and his breathing was long—as if those three moves just now were merely done in passing.

In the viewing seats of the Red Fire Peak, Zhou Lie jumped up from his seat in excitement: "He won! Three moves! Junior Brother Jiang won in just three moves!"

Liu Ningshuang didn't speak, but an indescribable light flashed in her clear, cool eyes.

It was relief, pride, and also a hint of—shock.

She considered her talent not bad and her cultivation diligent enough. But seeing those three moves from Jiang Hanzhou, she finally knew what a true Genius was.

It wasn't being exceptionally gifted or having an extraordinary skeletal structure, but—when everyone thought you had reached your limit, you could still erupt with a power that made them feel despair.

Master Xue Mu sat at the very front, a faint smile touching the corners of his mouth.

"Stupid brat," he murmured, "nicely done."

In the viewing seats of the Heavenly Sword Peak, Cold Frost Master's face was as dark as water.

Beside him, the faces of the two Inner Sect Elders were also unpleasant.

"Three moves..." an Elder whispered, "Su Muhe only lasted three moves in front of him..."

"His Tidal True Intent is no longer just at thirty percent," another Elder said solemnly. "Within Su Muhe's Ten Thousand Hectares Water Curtain Formation, he reverse-guided the Water Spiritual Essence—this shows that his understanding of water power has already surpassed Su Muhe's."

Cold Frost Master didn't speak, just stared intently at Jiang Hanzhou's departing figure, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Han Qing," he whispered, "did you see that?"

Behind him, Han Qing sat in the shadows, his face as pale as paper and his eyes hollow.

But a savage smile played at the corners of his mouth.

"I saw it." His voice was hoarse, like a curse coming from the depths of Hell. "His Tidal True Intent is very strong. But—my Sword Gu specifically counters True Intent."

He paused, saying word by word, "In the finals, I will let him know—what despair feels like."