18 Season 1 Episode 18: Experience

"Hmph! Cheap tricks! " Colton clenched his teeth and said unwillingly. He sprinted and instantly shortened the distance, as he thrust his palm out, and a pulsing scarlet blaze appeared on it.

"Scarlet Blossom Palm Strike!" Colton howled, his countenance incredibly unsightly to behold, as the scarlet light blasted out of his palms and zoomed forth.

Claude's eyes flashed with extreme coldness as he twisted his body to the side, avoiding the palm strike by a hair's breadth.

His expression was cold, without any shouting or aggression. But in his silence, there was an aura of absolute iciness emitting from him.

Before Colton could drag his fist back unrequited, Claude immediately thrust his palm out under his chin, and a palm strike blasted out of his hands. Virtually instantaneous.

BAM!

Colton's body curled as the force of the palm thrust him backward, almost causing him to vomit. Claude snapped his hand back just as fast, like a crisp parade ground move, and he stood upright and easy, like nothing had happened. Like you had blinked and missed it.

Not only did he successfully escape Colton's killer move, Claude actually landed a clean hit!

This scene caused the pupils of the surrounding crowd to widen in disbelief. Once again, their hearts pounded violently without cease, utterly dumbfounded in their amazement!

"Was that the Star Fury Palm Strike that he just used? Isn't that a mid level cultivation technique? Why did it look like it had a huge effect on Colton?"

"You clearly haven't been studying at all. If you had, you would know that the Star Fury Palm Strike is actually highly effective in close range. However, the more distance you create, the more it's effectiveness shall decrease."

The hearts of the crowd clenched as they continued watching, captivated by the battle on the stage. Their eyes were totally and completely fixated on this young man.

"This is not possible!" Colton's face turned cruel and leapt furiously towards Claude, and swung his sword once again.

"Azure Wave Slash!" With one swing, his sword seemed like the sea as waves after waves of power surged through it.

Claude took fluid steps, utilising the Floating Footsteps technique that he had learned, his body extremely agile. He moved intensely, and every time he managed to avoid the sword strike with no margin for error.

"This young man's footwork is insane! How is he avoiding Colton's sword strikes with such ease?"

"Madness." "Too strong!"

The crowd were all infected by Claude's elegant movements.

No one could have imagined that there would be a talented youngster who could fight on equal grounds with Colton Grey.

Ten moves… Twenty moves… Thirty moves…

The spectators watched in fright, as the battle became more intense and dangerous. Not only was Claude dodging every single sword strike in an impossible manner, he was striking back at Colton!

"How is this possible?" May Stafford's expression was extremely ugly and her two fists were tightly clenched. Claude's cultivation was two ranks lower than Colton. Then how was he fighting on par with him?

The Academy Headmaster and the Academy Elders all showed a serious expression.

How was he doing it?

On the martial arts field, Claude stared at the ashen faced Colton, and a smile could be seen on his face.

He knew that Colton was faster, stronger, and more talented in cultivation than he was. But no matter how good he was, he was still lacking experience in fighting.

And if one is inexperienced in fighting, then they're more likely to perform moves in an orderly manner. This is because when training to fight, one usually studies moves one by one, and then performs them in order to imprint them to their minds. The problem with this method was, along with the moves, the order is also imprinted into your subconscious mind. Even experts, if the fight stretches on for too long, will subconsciously revert back to this state of predictability. And if your moves are predictable, then it doesn't matter if you're fast or strong.

In the past two months, Claude had been closely observing Colton, keeping an eye on him and his training, learning the order in which he'll most likely attack, and how to counter it.

He was someone who had many years of battle experience, how could he be compared to Colton Grey, who was only a young spoiled brat, who hadn't even fought a real battle?

In Claude's eyes, Colton's moves, even though polished, were clear as crystal. No matter what moves he used, Claude could clearly see through it and counter it perfectly.

Every step he took was easily predicted by Claude. His eyes had kept track of all his movements. This was the difference in experience!

"I don't believe it! You're just a lowly sixth rank!" Colton howled in rage, his eyes crimson from his emotions, and once again thrust his palms out.

Claude stepped in, ducked and twisted, evading his attack, and as the distance between Colton and Claude got closer, he lashed out with his sword.

In an instant, Colton felt his heart trembling fiercely as a formless pressure abruptly surrounded him. His breathing was getting erratic as his heart thumped with increasing intensity.

The Invisible Sword Technique was extremely dangerous in close range. Colton wanted to avoid the attack at all costs, but it was already too late!

"Invisible Sword Technique," Claude said calmly, and the whistling sound of the sword piercing through the wind was audible.

Peng!

At that moment, Colton only felt his mind being assailed as he spat out a mouthful of blood, and everything turned dim. He flew back tens of metres and landed face first, unconscious.

Colton Grey had lost!