Chapter 73

Hein's face twisted.

The phrase "a castrated duck" had thoroughly enraged his most sensitive spot. His appearance and the tone and manner of his speech had long been secretly mocked by others as being like a castrated person—castration existed in this world, but those castrated were not used to serve the emperor as eunuchs, but rather as singers... their voices were naturally quite unique.

Although some people had talked about it behind his back, only Ji Ran had said it to his face.

"Do you want to die? Then I'll grant your wish. I'll let you know what kind of price a second-rank swordsman pays for provoking a fifth-rank one like me!"

Hein looked at Ji Ran, and suddenly, his martial aura burst out from his body, circling around him once before slowly retracting.

This was a show of force! First, to display the amount of his martial aura, and second, to show his control.

However, this did not scare Ji Ran. So what if his martial aura was strong? I won't foolishly engage in a direct confrontation with you!

Slowly placing his hand on the hilt of his sword, Ji Ran stared at Hein. The cheers of the onlookers, who were eager for a spectacle, were blocked out from his senses.

A fifth-rank swordsman, this was the strongest opponent he had encountered so far.

Although the fifth-rank priest of the True God Sect was powerful, he wasn't the only one fighting against him. Moreover, the priest's combat methods were subtly restrained by Ji Ran, allowing him to be killed in one move. But the swordsman in front of him was of the same profession as himself!

The difference in rank between swordsmen still had a significant impact. For Ji Ran to defeat this Hein, he would have to use all his strength!

Hein looked at Ji Ran with a hint of disdain on his lips.

"To avoid others saying I'm bullying the weak, I'll give you ten moves! But after ten moves, you'll have to be prepared to bear my anger..."

After saying this, Hein crossed his arms behind his back and didn't even draw his sword.

He indeed had the confidence to do so. He was a fifth-rank swordsman, not one who had forcibly broken through to the Silver Rank, but a genuine fifth-rank!

A fifth-rank swordsman against a second-rank youngster, did he really need to take it seriously? Even if the youngster had a Gold Rank sword technique, what did it matter? Hein's technique, though not of the Gold Rank, was among the best of the Silver Rank. Once he reached the Gold Rank, he would definitely be able to elevate it to the Gold Rank!

That damned old Alexander, who had taken so many benefits, hadn't given him anything good. Otherwise, if he could also practice an appropriate Gold Rank sword technique, his current strength would definitely be higher!

While he was still basking in the high and mighty posture he had assumed, Ji Ran was already making his move.

"Then I'll thank you in advance, senior!"

With a push of his feet, his body flickered, and in an instant, he was right next to Hein. Chuxiao was drawn, and a sword slash aimed at Hein's arm!

He didn't directly aim at vital areas like the neck or chest because, in the Azure Wind, he couldn't kill. Moreover, his first strike was destined to be ineffective—after all, Hein was a fifth-rank swordsman and a disciple of a swordmaster.

Ji Ran had never underestimated Hein; the fifth-rank priest had left a deep impression on him.

Hein's eyes narrowed sharply.

That kid's speed was actually so fast! He almost didn't react in time! He quickly took a step back, sidestepped to avoid Ji Ran's sword, and immediately reached for his own longsword.

He was a swordsman, not a martial artist. Facing an enemy with such speed unarmed was no different from courting death!

Although he had said he would let Ji Ran have ten moves, he hadn't said he wouldn't block or parry. As long as he drew his weapon, Ji Ran's attacks wouldn't pose much of a threat...

But Ji Ran had precisely seen through this.

Chuxiao sword left a faint trail in the air, each strike aimed at Hein's vital points. More insidiously, each of Ji Ran's strikes made Hein extremely uncomfortable, and his right hand never had the chance to grip the hilt and draw his longsword.

Ji Ran advanced step by step, while Hein retreated step by step. Ji Ran's steps weren't just forward but also to the side. The longsword he thrust out, whether stabbing, slashing, or sweeping, had angles that were both strange and bizarre, something Hein had never seen or even imagined. It turned out, attacks could come from such angles!

But he didn't have time to study these; he could only keep retreating and dodging. The sword tip was always around his body, and for most of the time, it was near his right arm. As soon as he tried to draw his longsword, the sword tip would inevitably reach a place he couldn't avoid!

Thus, Hein was forced to retreat without even drawing his sword. If it weren't for his fifth-rank strength, he would have been pierced by Ji Ran long ago.

That kid's speed was too unexpected! And something was off with him too; it felt as if he was being enveloped by something sticky, making his movements slower...

In this way, one attacked while the other retreated. In just a few seconds, they had moved a considerable distance. In those few seconds, Ji Ran had made countless strikes—definitely more than ten.

Then, Hein finally couldn't bear it and burst out.

With a roar, his martial aura suddenly surged out in all directions. Dust and rocks were blown away, and even the onlookers were affected, forcing them to retreat.

Ji Ran, who was at the forefront, naturally didn't fare much better. Although he retreated in time, he was still blown away by the shockwave of the martial aura. However, the shockwave, though powerful, lacked lethal force, and Ji Ran wasn't injured, landing lightly on the ground.

Hein's eyes were bloodshot, and he glared at Ji Ran.

"You've surprised me, but that's all! Let me show you the difference between a second-rank and a fifth-rank swordsman..."

"You lost," Ji Ran interrupted, throwing out those three words.

Hein was instantly stunned.

"I lost? How is that possible! Are you crazy? Even though you temporarily had the upper hand, it's impossible to defeat me..."

"Look at your right rib," Ji Ran said, his gaze fixed on Hein's body.

Hein looked down and his face turned ashen.

On his right rib, a shallow sword mark had cut through his school uniform.

The cut wasn't large, but the position was critical. If it had gone a few more inches, it would have undoubtedly pierced his liver.

"Impossible! How did you damage my clothes... It must have been a fluke! Yes, just a fluke! You just left a mark on my clothes and want me to admit defeat? Dream on!"

Hein's face contorted as he drew his longsword.

"The fight isn't over!" Then, he suddenly swung his longsword, and the martial aura along the sword's path formed a massive energy blade, slicing directly toward Ji Ran!

Ji Ran dared not take this attack head-on.

His strength was only at the second rank. Although he was about to reach the third rank, he couldn't directly confront a fifth-rank swordsman.

Perhaps if he activated the Armed Alchemy, it might be possible, but that one-time move was definitely not something he could do at this moment.

He could only dodge, and even then, he couldn't resist. In this world, martial aura could enhance lethality and greatly amplify strength. But his sword qi was far inferior in this aspect.

True qi converted to sword qi couldn't directly confront a fifth-rank swordsman's energy blade. Sword qi was better suited for offense, not defense.

Of course, if he had a two-handed greatsword, it would be different. But he was currently using the Heart Sword technique with a single-handed Tang knife.

So, he could only dodge.

The "Zhi Chi Tian Ya" technique activated, and he instantly darted to the side. Without waiting for Hein to make his next move, he charged forward!

He could only attack! Continuously attack! Only by forcing Hein to be out of breath, just like before, would he have a chance to win!

Or, at least, a chance to hold out until someone came to intervene...

The Student Council, always dedicated to maintaining order in the academy, had not yet arrived, indicating they were dealing with other matters. But this situation wouldn't last long, and the Student Council would eventually come. At that time, no matter how unwilling Hein was, he would have to stop. As long as he didn't lose before then, he would be fine!

The sword mark earlier was made when Ji Ran took the opportunity to release a sword qi during his attack. Even amidst such frequent and intense attacks, all Ji Ran could do was damage his clothes... truly injuring him wasn't that easy.

After all, Hein was a fifth-rank swordsman, and he had only been caught off guard at the beginning. Thinking that he could defeat him with just a surprise attack was overly arrogant.

Ji Ran had a clear understanding of his own strength, so he knew that what he needed now was to buy time!

And it would be best to appear to have the upper hand.

A surprise attack was the best way to create this situation!

He instantly charged to Hein's side and thrust his sword upward. Hein's reaction was quick, and he immediately countered with his own sword.

Boom! A wave of energy spread out again. The martial aura on Hein's longsword almost made Ji Ran unable to hold onto Chuxiao!

Indeed, the absolute difference in strength was too great... Ji Ran couldn't help but sigh. The nature of sword qi and martial aura was different; the increase in sharpness was even greater, but the enhancement of strength was much less. Eastern sword techniques emphasized skill over strength.

But most sword techniques in this world aimed to maximize strength. Like Hein's previous strike, the burst of martial aura made Ji Ran's hands numb, and his body felt as if it had been hit by a heavy hammer!

Fortunately, the Four Seasons Sword Technique contained many techniques for redirecting force. No matter how strong your force, I can guide it elsewhere, preventing it from harming me!

Of course, this had its limits. Too powerful a force was beyond Ji Ran's current ability to resist. But for a fifth-rank swordsman's martial aura...

He wasn't completely helpless. At least, he could redirect more than half of the force.

So, with a clever twist of his body and a slanted longsword, Ji Ran withstood the strike.