114: Chapter 114 Another Conceded Defeat

Li Changsheng stopped wasting words and drew his sword immediately!

The battle erupted in an instant!

Su Qianxue's swordsmanship was different from all his previous opponents.

Her sword was light and elegant, like clouds and smoke, as if it had no physical form.

As the sword light flickered, white Sword Qi fell like snowflakes, enveloping him from all directions.

Those traces of Sword Qi appeared soft and weak, as if they would dissipate at a touch, but Li Changsheng knew that was merely an illusion.

The first strike of Sword Qi grazed his shoulder; his robe was instantly sliced open, leaving a thin trail of blood on his skin.

What sharp Sword Intent!

Li Changsheng felt a chill in his heart, quickening his pace as he wove through the sky full of Sword Qi.

He unleashed his Qinglan Sword Art to its full potential, blocking, dodging, and counterattacking.

But Su Qianxue's sword was too fast.

It was so fast that one could not see its trajectory, so fast that it was impossible to defend against.

Every time he thought he had blocked a strike, the next one was already piercing toward him from another direction.

Ten moves, twenty moves, thirty moves.

Li Changsheng had added seven or eight wounds to his body; although none were deep, they were enough to show that he was on the defensive.

Off the stage, the Disciples of the Qinglan Sword Sect watched with bated breath.

"This Su Qianxue's sword is indeed, as she said, pure and powerful!"

"This is bad, this is bad..."

"Senior Brother Li is being suppressed; the situation is not looking good!"

Li Changqing bit her lip, her nails almost digging into her flesh.

She had seen Li Changsheng fight many battles, but she had never seen him so passive.

On the Jinyang Sect side, Lin Jingyun's brows were also furrowed.

Zhou Yuan, who was beside him, said calmly,

"Su Qianxue's sword has already touched the threshold of 'Intent'. It is already no small feat for Li Changsheng to have lasted until now."

Lin Jingyun did not speak, merely staring at the arena.

On the arena, the battle continued.

At the fiftieth move, Li Changsheng finally found an opportunity to counterattack!

He thrust his sword out, aiming straight for Su Qianxue's chest!

This strike was fast and fierce, a blow he had been charging up for a long time!

A flash of appreciation appeared in Su Qianxue's eyes as she shifted slightly, avoiding the sword in the nick of time!

At the same time, she struck back with her sword, aiming for Li Changsheng's ribs!

Li Changsheng had no time to dodge and could only take it head-on!

Clang!

Sword met sword, and sparks flew everywhere!

Li Changsheng was shaken back three steps, and Su Qianxue also retreated half a step!

The two looked at each other, both panting slightly.

Seventy moves, eighty moves, ninety moves...

Li Changsheng became calmer the more he fought.

He discovered that although Su Qianxue's sword was fast, it was not without a traceable pattern.

There was a unique rhythm in her swordsmanship.

It was the "Clear Heart" intent unique to the Qingxin Pavilion's Cultivation Technique, like the murmuring of a stream, like the rustling of mountain winds.

If he could grasp that rhythm, perhaps he could find a flaw.

He began to adjust his own pace, no longer rushing to counterattack, but instead following that rhythm.

One sword, two swords, three swords...

His footwork became lighter, his swordsmanship softer, as if he were also merging into that rhythm.

A flash of surprise appeared in Su Qianxue's eyes.

She realized that Li Changsheng was adapting to her swordsmanship.

He was not forcibly breaking it, but rather... merging with it.

Just like a tree swaying gently in the wind, complying with the direction of the wind, yet not being blown over by it.

At the one-hundredth move, Li Changsheng suddenly thrust his sword out!

This strike was neither fast nor slow, neither hard nor soft, yet it pierced exactly into a gap in Su Qianxue's swordsmanship!

Su Qianxue's expression shifted slightly, her sword momentum turning to neutralize the strike.

But she knew that if this were a life-or-death struggle, that strike would have been enough to threaten her.

She suddenly withdrew her sword and took a step back.

"That is enough."

She said.

Li Changsheng was stunned, stopping his movements as well.

Su Qianxue looked at him, her eyes carrying a trace of admiration.

"Your Foundation is indeed very stable."

"And you learn very quickly."

"That last strike just now already caught the rhythm of my swordsmanship."

She paused and continued,

"Although your Cultivation is not as high as mine, if we were truly fighting for our lives, the outcome would be hard to predict. Besides..."

She smiled, a smile more genuine than before.

"I am not here to risk my life."

"The Qingxin Pavilion and the Qinglan Sword Sect have no grudges; there is no need to fight to the death just for a ranking."

She sheathed her sword and turned to leave the stage.

Below the stage, there was an uproar.

"She conceded? Su Qianxue conceded?"

"She seemed to still have the upper hand, so why did she suddenly concede?"

"This..."

"Incomprehensible!"

Li Changsheng was also stunned.

He watched Su Qianxue's retreating figure, momentarily not knowing what to say.

Su Qianxue walked to the edge of the arena, suddenly stopped, and turned back to look at him.

Those clear eyes held a trace of seriousness.

"Be careful in tomorrow's match."

Su Qianxue looked at Li Changsheng and cautioned,

"Li Sha is not easy to deal with. His Blood Fiend Cultivation Technique specifically counters vitality."

"That 'Withered Wood Meets Spring' fist technique of yours may not necessarily be useful against him."

Li Changsheng felt a chill in his heart and nodded solemnly.

"Many thanks."

Su Qianxue did not say more, leaping off the arena and walking toward the Qingxin Pavilion's area.

Off the stage, countless gazes followed her figure until she disappeared into the crowd.

Li Changsheng also leaped off the arena.

Li Changqing and Shi Tiezhu came up to meet him, and Li Xiaocao tugged on his sleeve, her little face full of worry.

"Brother Changsheng, are you alright?"

Li Changsheng shook his head, but his gaze fell into the distance.

There, on the northern arena, the battle had already ended.

A tall figure was standing on the stage, his complexion pale and his eyes blood-red.

Li Sha.

He was also looking in this direction.

Their gazes met in the air, as if invisible sparks were flying.

The corners of Li Sha's mouth slowly curled into a sinister smile.

That smile was more dangerous than any time before.

Li Changsheng withdrew his gaze and gripped the sword in his hand.

His opponent in the finals was indeed Li Sha.

The Blood Butcher.

Peak of Qi Refining Level 9.

He took a deep breath and turned to walk toward the inn.

Today's matches had produced the top four: "Iron Sword" Chen Yuanba of the Jinyang Sect, Li Changsheng of the Qinglan Sword Sect, "Medicine Fanatic" Yun Yifei of the Medicine King Valley, and "Blood Butcher" Li Sha of the Blood Fiend Sect.

These four represented the highest combat power of the Qi Refining Stage in Yunzhou.

No matter who he encountered, they would be difficult to deal with.

After returning to the inn, he did not rest immediately, but sat alone in his room, recalling the battle with Su Qianxue during the day.

He had won that battle, but it had been a narrow victory.

Su Qianxue's swordsmanship had already touched the threshold of "Intent".

If she hadn't voluntarily conceded, the outcome would have been hard to predict if they had continued fighting.

And Su Qianxue was only at the Late Stage of Qi Refining Level 9, while Li Sha was at the Peak of Qi Refining Level 9, and he had even richer combat experience and more ruthless methods.

The gap was too large.

He lowered his head, looking at his own hands.

Early Stage of Qi Refining Level 9 against the Peak of Qi Refining Level 9.

A difference of three minor stages.

If it were an ordinary opponent, he could still compensate with combat experience and his Green Wood Fist, having the strength for a fight.

But none of those remaining were easy to deal with.

Especially Li Sha, who already had old grudges with the Blood Fiend Sect, and he was not an ordinary opponent; he was the strongest Qi Refining Stage Disciple of the Blood Fiend Sect in this generation, with over a hundred lives on his hands.

What to do?

He took out the nine-turn azure profound bead and placed it in his palm.

The bead was still emerald green and crystalline, the light inside dimmer than before, but it still contained vast power.

Over the past six months, he had already refined nearly half of its power, breaking through from Qi Refining Level 7 to the Early Stage of Level 9.

If he could refine a portion of the remaining power...

He closed his eyes and pressed the bead against his brow.

Spiritual energy slowly seeped into the bead, drawing out the force of vitality within it.

That power flowed like a trickling stream, surging into his body from his brow and flowing slowly along his Meridians.

The night passed in silence.

When the first ray of sunlight shone through the window, Li Changsheng opened his eyes.

A faint trace of green flashed in his eyes.

Middle Stage of Qi Refining Level 9.

He had broken through.