Chapter 14: Strike with a Knife

"Senior Sister Mao is so strong."

"No kidding. Senior Sister Mao is only fifteen years old now, but she already possesses the seventh level of the Hidden Qi Realm. With more time, she's bound to be the top master of our Huajian Sect."

Most of the male disciples in Huajian Sect were excited, while the female disciples, besides admiring her, felt a tinge of jealousy.

From the time Mao Wenjing joined Huajian Sect, everyone from the Sect Master to the common men treated her differently. Even some of the older disciples, due to her inherent charisma, willingly called her Senior Sister.

After Mao Wenjing stepped down, the crowd's attention was all focused on Shi Xiaole. The crowd, which had been jubilant moments ago, suddenly quieted down.

Compared to the first three personal disciples, Shi Xiaole was significantly inferior, which worried everyone. They were not concerned for Shi Xiaole's safety, but more so for the Huajian Sect's reputation that he might tarnish.

"Master, I would like to go on the stage."

From the Duster Gate section, one disciple volunteered to fight. It was none other than Qi Hui.

Having been saved twice by Shi Xiaole, Qi Hui didn't have much gratitude, but instead was filled with jealousy and resentment. He was jealous that Shi Xiaole won the sincere admiration of the big brother, and was angry that Zhao Molan was indifferent to him because of Shi Xiaole.

Hmph, if it weren't for my injury last time, would I have needed your rescue?

Qi Hui stared at Shi Xiaole, gripping his sword tightly.

"Younger brother, you..."

"Senior Brother Qi, you're really disappointing."

Qi Guang and Zhao Molan both shifted their gaze away.

Qi Hui laughed heartily. With Hua Chaoqun's silent approval, he leaped a few times and landed opposite Shi Xiaole.

"Enough talking, start the fight."

Fearing Qi Hui might mention his past involvements down the mountain, Shi Xiaole urged him to start.

"Since you're so eager to make a fool of yourself, I won't disappoint you."

With the cultivation at the initial stage of the Hidden Qi sixth level, Qi Hui was brimming with confidence. He brandished his sword, employing a third-rate intermediate sword technique of Duster Gate, the Mystic Wind Twenty-Five Strikes.

The light of his sword was continuous, stirring up an almost invisible breeze. Shi Xiaole suddenly felt enveloped, finding it difficult to escape.

Without a moment's hesitation, he thrust his sword out, still using the basic sword technique.

Clang clang.

As the swords collided, sparks flew. Qi Hui had gone all out from the beginning, aiming for Shi Xiaole's vital parts with his sword, making many people frown.

Very quickly, Shi Xiaole was put on the defensive.

"That's all you got?"

Qi Hui sneered continuously. Recalling Shi Xiaole's swordsmanship in defeating the skinny old man, his attack intensified, not giving Shi Xiaole any chance to change his sword moves.

"You want to fight me to the death? I'll indulge you."

Spotting a flaw in his opponent, Shi Xiaole made a direct charge. While his guard was wide open, his sword pointed directly at Qi Hui's chest, seemingly ready for a mutual destruction.

Who among the audience, including Qi Hui, had ever seen this kind of fight-to-the-death technique?

Qi Hui had no choice but to retract his sword to defend.

Seizing this opportunity, Shi Xiaole launched a series of relentless attacks, like a tiger unleashed.

Since so many people from the Huajian Sect were present, Shi Xiaole was unable to display his exceptional martial arts, as it would raise more questions, thus putting him in another big trouble.

Luckily, he had cultivated the Huashan Sword Technique to the Transformation Phase. Therefore, as long as it was broken down into many forms, he wasn't afraid of being exposed. Combined with his life-and-death sword moves, he painstakingly maintained an undefeated position.

Ten moves.

Twenty moves.

By the time they had exchanged fifty moves, Qi Hui couldn't suppress his anger anymore, and roared, "You dare to die, thinking that I won't dare? When did you surpass me?!"

As both swords were about to strike each other, threatening to take their lives, many people screamed out loud.

Shi Xiaole smiled silently.

His swordplay seemed reckless, but in fact, he held back in every move. At the critical moment, he sidestepped and taking advantage of Qi Hui's forward motion, he changed his stab into a sweeping motion, brutally striking Qi Hui's face with his sword.

With a loud crash.

Qi Hui slammed heavily onto the ground, his furious face bearing a huge, embarrassing crimson mark, and he passed out immediately.

Suppressing the murderous intention in his heart, Shi Xiaole retreated as if nothing had happened.

"He actually won?"

The disciples of Huajian Sect looked at each other in disbelief.

If Shi Xiaole's triumph over Qian Tong proved that he had some strength, then him narrowly defeating the personal disciple from Duster Gate, despite being at the fourth level of the Hidden Qi Realm versus the sixth level, seemingly demonstrated that he didn't betray his identity of a personal disciple?

"This little rascal."

A hint of undisguisable gloom flashed in the Grand Elder's eyes, narrowing his gaze.

"He just got lucky."

Qin Zhao clinched his fists, took a deep breath, and nearly cursed Qi Hui as a waste while looking at him lying on the ground.

But Qi Guang and Zhao Molan had a different viewpoint.

In their eyes, Shi Xiaole held back and did not use the Miao Family Sword Technique at all. Qi Hui had wronged him time and time again, but he still returned kindness for malice. This great personality truly deserves respect.

As everyone had different thoughts, Hua Chaoqun was more straightforward. Swatting the arm of his chair, he yelled, "Good thinking, Huajian Sect! It's a match for martial art exchange, but you guys are going to the extreme. Is anyone overseeing here?"

This time, Second Elder immediately refuted, "Your Duster Gate were the first to be heavy-handed, Sect Master Hua, please don't confuse right and wrong."

Hua Chaoqun glanced at the Grand Elder and thought that he had accepted a significant gift after all, so he couldn't just walk away. He then said, "Wan Chong, you go and have a taste of that young man's skill."

Wan Chong was a tall young man, nearly eight feet high, with muscles that seemed ready to burst through his clothes. His tiger-like eyes were incredibly intense. Holding a large knife, he stepped toward Shi Xiaole.

He didn't say a word, but merely his presence, like that of a fierce tiger, made many people behind Shi Xiaole inexplicably afraid.

"Sect Master Hua, the exchange between both sides has ended, isn't it inappropriate for you to do this?"

The Second Elder stood up abruptly, clearly aware of Wan Chong's strength.

Hua Chaoqun casually said: "Before the competition, both sides didn't mention that one can only participate in one exchange. Here's a deal, as long as Wan Chong loses, I'll leave immediately."

The Second Elder still didn't let up, only saying that it was inappropriate.

At this point, the Grand Elder gestured: "Second Elder, they've issued a challenge, isn't it against our principles as the Huajian Sect not to compete? I believe the young talents of Duster Gate knows their capabilities."

Hua Chaoqun just smiled and said, "Wan Chong, mind your manners." The last four words were heavily emphasized.

Wan Chong naturally understood the implications. He looked down at Shi Xiaole and laughed loudly. "Kid, attack. I'm afraid if I strike first, you won't even have the chance to retaliate."

"Such an arrogant fellow!"

"He's really not afraid of biting his own tongue off."

Hearing these words, the disciples of the Huajian Sect yelled angrily in response. At this crucial moment of inter-sect exchange, they subconsciously stood by Shi Xiaole.

"You don't believe me?"

With a ferocious smile, Wan Chong suddenly drew his sword, producing a flash. Next moment, a strand of black hair fell on the ground, it was Shi Xiaole's temples.

As if a cold wind swooped in, the venue instantly fell silent.

Wan Chong's sword strike was incredibly fast, so fast that many hadn't even seen the shape of the sword before everything was already over. If the target had been Shi Xiaole's head, then…

Many people dared not think any further, only now truly understanding the terrifying strength of Wan Chong.

"With his cultivation of the seventh level of Hidden Qi Realm, apart from the three of us, I guess only Master Qin Zhao can compete with him."

Xiao Yuanbo sighed helplessly, shouting toward the front: "Junior Brother Shi, come back, you're not his match."

Qin Zhao's body was thoroughly relaxed; his pores were all opened. He had even clenched his sword, readied his power and was prepared to replace Shi Xiaole to fight at any moment.

But Shi Xiaole in the field did not retreat.

"Your swordsmanship is not bad."

Shi Xiaole said.

"Just not bad? Hehe, it's enough to kill ten of you instantly."

Wan Chong was full of confidence.

To be honest, if Wan Chong had gone for the kill with that strike just now, Shi Xiaole wouldn't have been able to do anything, as he surely couldn't block Wan Chong's attack.

But Wan Chong's mistake was his unnecessary showboating.

Shi Xiaole said: "In my spare time, I once practiced a sword technique, dare to compete?"

Wan Chong thought he had heard wrong, he laughed loudly. After a while he said, "My sword technique is unique among the disciples of Duster Gate. Even Senior Brother He admires it. You want to compete in swordsmanship with me?"

Not only Wan Chong, but people from the Huajian Sect also had puzzled faces, unsure of what was happening.

The Huajian Sect is known for swords. The whole sect only has a few inferior sword techniques, could it be that Shi Xiaole has had some extraordinary experiences? But even so, it wasn't a wise choice for him, with his cultivation at fourth level of Qi Realm, to dare to compete with Wan Chong.

"Sword technique, could this kid be hiding some unique skill?"

The Grand Elder smiled faintly, each word crushed people's hearts.

For most martial sects in the Flying Horse Dynasty, it was a serious offense for disciples to privately learn unique skills or other sects' martial arts; it was an intolerable one.

"Who has a sword, lend me one."

Shi Xiaole seemed indifferent to others' opinions, sayings so to the crowd.

"Senior Brother Shi, catch."

A sword was thrown from the crowd, Shi Xiaole caught it effortlessly.

Holding the sword, Shi Xiaole's mind fully relaxed. He looked at Wan Chong and said, "I bet you can't take this strike."

Wan Chong felt insulted, he began to chuckle maliciously. With his big fist clenched hard, he said ominously, "Do whatever you can, but I guarantee you'll pay for that comment!"

The noise from the crowd disappeared at that moment. In Shi Xiaole's eyes, there were no other people, no other things.

The only things left were himself and his sword.

The sword was not just a tool, but a vessel and extension of his emotions.

Fu Hongxue's sword was a sword of revenge, every strike would draw blood.

But Shi Xiaole didn't use his sword to take revenge. He did it to shatter all doubts in the world!

With the sword in his right hand, Shi Xiaole let his emotions rise to a certain level, and then they surged out abruptly, like a flood breaking through a dam.

Swish!

A flash of white light that was exceptionally blinding under the sunlight.

The way Shi Xiaole was holding the sword didn't change. However, the sword he had drawn was already returning to its sheath.

Drop.

A drop of blood fell on the ground, Wan Chong's previously smug face froze, a sudden pain from his wrist made his arm powerless and the large knife fell to the ground.

"What?!"

Hua Chaoqun stood up abruptly, his face showing disbelief for the first time.

Not just him, the three elders of the Huajian Sect, along with their three key disciples, Qin Zhao, and the Duster Gate's privileged disciples, all changed their colours, shocked by Shi Xiaole's sword strike just now!