Lu Ze sobered up!
However, he still swayed a little in his steps. He could not believe his eyes—Fang Lang was using Jiang Linglong's technique!
'Perhaps Fang Lang doesn't know who she is… but how could he not know?
'Jiang Linglong's talent was incredibly rare. She triumphed over everyone of the same generation even in the Imperial City!
'And her Four Season Form is legendary!'
Even Lu Ze's great grandfather did not dare to underestimate the founder of the Four Season Form!
Seeing Jiang Linglong's Four Season Form being used by Fang Lang had shocked Lu Ze out of his drunken state.
'Did Jiang Linglong teach Fang Lang her Four Season Form?
'Impossible!
'Passing down such a technique without permission is a great taboo!'
Boom!
An intense pressure enveloped Lu Ze. He howled. Being sober meant the ferocity of his Drunken Sword Style suffered.
He swung his sword but the energy that came from it was dull.
Fang Lang's two blades rained down rapidly, melding with the Four Season Form.
It was as if Jiang Linglong was beside him, guiding each swing.
Dual Sword Technique… Four Season Form!
Clang!
With a loud clang, the sword in Lu Ze's hand sailed through the air. Fang Lang thrusted his other blade and the sound of an explosion filled the air!
Splash!
His blade cut into Lu Ze's body. Blood flowed out like a blossoming lotus flower.
Lu Ze's body froze. He stumbled backward and fell on his butt.
Above the ring, the umpire raised his brows but did not step in. After all, Lu Ze's life was in no danger.
The spectators were silent!
The muffled gasps of astonishment could be heard among the crowd.
Lu Ze was defeated!
Fang Lang went against all their expectations! In truth, not many could identify the last technique Fang Lang used.
It did not matter to them—all they had to know was that Lu Ze was defeated by Fang Lang.
All they cared about was the final result.
Lin Yun narrowed his eyes, staring unblinkingly at Fang Lang. 'That bastard… He really was hiding his true strength.
'Fang Lang… He looked down on me!'
With a dark expression, Lin Yun grabbed his rusty sword and left.
In the designated area for Luojiang Academy.
Confusion flashed in Jiang Linglong's eyes.
'That sword style… What's going on?
'Had Fang Lang grasped the essence behind her Four Season Form?
'No… It wasn't just that… It wasn't just the Four Season Form. He combined it with his own Dual Sword Technique!'
"This boy… This little bastard! He has only observed your technique a few times, yet he managed to replicate your Four Season Form with such accuracy. His core may be weak, but his talent in sword mastery is definitely extraordinary!" Mentor Wen praised.
Needless to say, Fang Lang had shaken him to the core.
"Did you teach him?" Mentor Wen turned to Jiang Linglong and asked.
With her veil covering her face, Jiang Linglong shot a glance at Mentor Wen. "What do you think?"
"I think that's impossible. But damn, that little bastard sure has talent."
Mentor Wen sighed. 'But his core… how unfortunate…
'The gods must be jealous of his talents.'
…
On the summit of Mount Shu, the white-haired white-robed man, Chao Xiaojian let out a sigh.
"He actually won?
"That last attack had a hint of the Four Season Form. His talent for observation and replication is quite impressive.
"What a waste.
"Nonetheless, this year's Imperial Examination should be quite interesting."
Chao Xiaojian smiled. He left, making strides in the air and vanishing into the clouds.
…
Fang Lang felt as if his blood was boiling. The effects of the Enchantment Card lasted two hours only. Within those two hours, his sword mastery techniques could be enhanced with Jiang Linglong's Four Season Form!
This increased his sword mastery skill by more than a hundred percent.
When the Four Season Form was merged with his Dual Sword Technique, he fought like two people at once.
Lu Ze was forced into sobriety and had to fight a two-on-one battle. His loss was inevitable.
At that moment, Fang Lang was uncovering the secrets behind the Four Season Form. While the Enhancement Card was in play, it was as if Fang Lang had entered Jiang Linglong's body. He could fully experience Old Jiang's sword mastery techniques. It was an odd yet enlightening experience. It allowed him to grasp the true essence of the Four Season Form.
"Next."
Fang Lang did not spend too much time exploring the Four Season Form. With his head slightly tilted and two blades in hand, Fang Lang impassively asked for the next opponent.
While the Enhancement Card's effect was active, Fang Lang could carry on.
The mentor from Changan Academy came to help Lu Ze out of the ring. His expression was disturbing.
Lu Ze was defeated.
The defeat was too easy.
Lu Ze did not even manage to scratch Fang Lang. At that moment, Fang Lang was at peak performance. He would have no trouble fighting in the next match.
The remaining two students were no match for him!
Changan Academy had no hope.
On top of that, it seemed Changan Academy was about to yield a hat-trick to Fang Lang.
The realization dawned upon Changan Academy's mentor and many others in the crowd. Every mentor present wore an expression of disbelief.
'Changan Academy was the reigning champion for consecutive years. Are they really going to be eliminated by a single student?'
The mentor of Changan Academy clenched his teeth and prepared his next student for battle.
"Try to tire him out as much as you can. Don't leave him with any energy to win the third match!" the mentor instructed.
If Fang Lang were to win the semi-final match alone, the Changan Academy mentor would be utterly humiliated.
The second participant entered the battle ring.
Without wasting a second, Fang Lang rushed toward the student.
He swung his two blades aggressively.
His attacks were not flashy in the slightest.
A humming noise was heard.
The student from Changan Academy was no weakling. His cultivation abilities reached that of a sword master's and his sword mastery skills were equally outstanding.
However, he was facing a Fang Lang with an active Enchantment Card.
The student's vision blurred.
When Fang Lang delivered his strike, the student swore he saw two people wielding the blades.
The Dual Sword Technique on top of the Four Season Form…
It was like battling both Fang Lang and Old Jiang at once.
The student from Changan Academy could only fend off two blows. In mere seconds, he encountered the same end as Lu Ze. Blood sprayed out from his chest as he was flung out of the ring.
The more Fang Lang fought, the more pumped he was!
"Last match!" Fang Lang demanded.
Outside the battle ring, there was a heated discussion in the crowd.
"Is Fang Lang seriously planning to defeat a well-established academy solo?"
"What kind of monster is he!"
Everyone in the audience had felt bad for Lin Yun but after they saw these two battles, they realized… Fang Lang's most pitiable victim was Changan Academy!
At least Lin Yun managed to put up a fight with Fang Lang. Changan Academy was practically being curb stomped!
The last participant from Changan Academy clenched his teeth. With the weight of the academy on his shoulders, he entered the battle ring.
After winning two consecutive rounds, Fang Lang's aura burned violently. The Changan Academy student felt his sword hand shaking.
If he lost, Changan Academy would have been eliminated by a single student.
Through the decades, Changan Academy had never lost all three matches in the third stage.
Losing like this would be a disgrace! It would bring shame on their predecessors!
Outside the ring, Lu Ze swallowed a recovery pill to stop the bleeding. His face was chalk-white, but his eyes stared intensely at Fang Lang. He wanted to remember the formidable opponent.
The third student from Changan Academy was gunning for a win.
However, Fang Lang had no intentions of losing.
The Enchantment Card had given him immense power.
It was akin to a two-on-one fight. With such a big advantage, Fang Lang could not bring himself to lose.
Thus, he decided to give his opponent a relatively dignified end. He ended the match in the same manner as he did with Lu Ze and the second participant—two cuts on the chest burst open and blossomed into a crimson flower.
All three students lost in the same manner.
A little red blossom for each.
'A fair and dignified end…' Fang Lang thought.
Outside the ring.
The mentor from Changan Academy cradled his head in despair.
'F*ck!
'My career ends with this! Why me?
'Why did I choose to lead the team?
'With Lu Ze, I thought we'd win easily! Who knew… who knew the situation would take a 180-degree turn!'
"Victory to Luojiang Academy."
In the ring, the umpire gazed at Fang Lang intently as he made the announcement.
The winner had been declared.
Chatter erupted from the crowd as if a giant boulder was dropped into a stagnant pond.
Their voices filled the air!
Changan Academy was defeated by a single student!
In the designated area for Luojiang Academy.
Liu Bubai's eyes widened. Exhilarated, he burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! He actually won!
"We're the champions!"
Overjoyed, Liu Bubai looked as if he was about to start dancing.
Mentor Wen cleared his throat.
Mentor Wen and Jiang Linglong glared speechlessly at the gleeful boy.
"This is only the semi-finals. We'll still have to fight Beijiang Academy to win." Jiang Linglong reminded Liu Bubai.
Liu Bubai froze. Awkwardly, he asked, "Huh? We defeated Changan Academy. I… I think I got too carried away."
Jiang Linglong was a tad confused. She rolled her eyes at him and said, "You've contributed nothing. Why are you so excited?"
Liu Bubai grinned widely. He turned to Jiang Linglong. "Aren't you being carried too? Well, this is your first time being carried, you wouldn't know."
"..." Jiang Linglong was utterly speechless.
Just then, Fang Lang returned from the battle ring and overheard Liu Bubai's baseless accusation.
Fang Lang said, "Old Jiang is a far cry from you.
"The reality is, you're the only one being carried to victory."
The words were softly spoken but it caused an awkward silence in the group.
Liu Bubai turned to Fang Lang. After a moment, a desolated look filled his eyes.
'Lang'zi, you've changed!'