Chapter 18

Clack! Clack!

Accompanied by steady footsteps, a young man approached.

He was tall and well-proportioned, with thick eyebrows and very thin lips, clearly a ruthless type.

He was Wen Chong, the seventh on the Wind and Cloud List, known as Big Brother Wen in the Outer Court!

Xu Xiaoshou felt a powerful pressure wash over him. He knew Wen Chong had a technique for building momentum, and if it were to fully form, he probably wouldn't be able to withstand even one move.

Holding a spirit crystal, he sniffed it at the tip of his nose and chuckled, "Hello, Junior Brother!"

Wen Chong stumbled, so angry that his teeth ached, and the pressure dissipated on its own.

Indeed, no matter how imposing his presence, he was still a junior brother who had entered the sect a year later than Xu Xiaoshou.

The audience had been worried about how Xu Xiaoshou would withstand the initial pressure, but they didn't expect the boy to use such unconventional tactics, which proved quite effective.

"Ha, I'm convinced by this Xu Xiaoshou!"

"Good grief, to speak like that in front of Big Brother Wen, my legs would have turned to jelly."

"Ha, do you think he's standing here for nothing? Xu Xiaoshou is still pretty strong."

In the arena, Wen Chong's eyes were like an eagle's, staring at him intently: "Xu Xiaoshou, you're quite something. To dare touch my people, I assume you're mentally prepared."

Xu Xiaoshou naturally knew who he was talking about—Liu Zhen, who didn't need any introduction!

He inwardly cursed his bad luck. He had just beaten the junior, and now the senior was here, giving him no time to recover!

He couldn't help but glare at the referee.

The referee, enraged, waved his hand and shouted, "The match begins!"

Xu Xiaoshou immediately put some distance between them. Wen Chong's strongest technique wasn't just the pressure, but a spirit technique called "Phantom Shadow Spirit Technique."

This technique could create up to seven illusions at once, and when combined with Wen Chong's unpredictable dagger skills, once caught, there was no escape.

Although "Phantom Shadow Spirit Technique" was a postnatal-level technique, its practicality rivaled that of a prenatal-level technique.

Seeing Xu Xiaoshou retreat, Wen Chong smiled coldly, which suited his plan perfectly.

The longer "Phantom Shadow Spirit Technique" was prepared, the more illusions it could create in the first moment. Since Xu Xiaoshou wanted to put some distance, they would drag out the time together.

With a hand seal, Wen Chong sneered, knowing that once he created seven illusions, Xu Xiaoshou would be doomed!

Before the match started, there was noise, but once it began, the arena fell silent, while the audience remained沸腾.

"Is Xu Xiaoshou crazy? Doesn't he know that Big Brother Wen's 'Phantom Shadow Spirit Technique' can also build momentum? Pulling away is just asking for death?"

"I heard he only knows one move of 'White Cloud Sword Technique.' Maybe he really doesn't know?"

"Over, over. Once Big Brother Wen and his seven illusions attack, this guy will be sliced into pieces."

"Right, not only does he have a ninth-grade spirit weapon, others do too! Big Brother Wen's purple daggers, tsk tsk, terrifying!"

"Look, Xu Xiaoshou is still using a wooden sword? What the heck, he closed his eyes?"

Liu Zhen had already woken up from the care of the medical staff and, upon reaching the audience seats, saw both of them preparing to build momentum.

His pupils constricted, not because of Wen Chong's "Phantom Shadow Spirit Technique," but because of Xu Xiaoshou's familiar closed eyes.

This was…

The sword move he didn't use in the last moment of the previous match?

Everyone revealed their trump cards at the start, so aggressive?

Xu Xiaoshou indeed planned to do just that. His body couldn't handle a prolonged battle. Since both "Phantom Shadow Spirit Technique" and "White Cloud Drifting" required building momentum, he would decide the match with one move!

However, to prevent injury, he still used a wooden sword!

He was a considerate competitor, always thinking of his opponent's well-being.

He had tested the wooden sword yesterday; its attack was decent, barely able to scratch tree bark.

In fact, the strength of "White Cloud Drifting" wasn't in the weapon, but in the sword intent!

On the other side, one by one, illusory figures appeared around Wen Chong. Everyone held their breath, knowing the outcome would be decided in an instant.

The referee's body tensed, honestly, they feared such intense confrontations the most.

If you didn't let them clash, you couldn't see the outcome; if you did, someone might die.

"Whoosh!"

His eyes were fixed on Xu Xiaoshou, watching his wooden sword, his closed eyes, and his gradually fading aura, his heart racing with anxiety.

Come on, put in some effort!

Don't you have a ninth-grade spirit sword? Use it to clash!

As long as you can withstand Wen Chong's first attack, I can save you!

"Buzz!"

A clear sword hum echoed, and everyone's hearts tightened, looking at Xu Xiaoshou's sword.

Uh, a wooden sword?

Did I hear wrong?

Was it Wen Chong's dagger that was vibrating?

Everyone turned to see Wen Chong's eyes flash, his figure becoming a blur, moving and flashing with his illusions, slicing towards Xu Xiaoshou.

The distance closed…

Halfway…

Ten feet…

Xu Xiaoshou… still had his eyes closed!

Everyone cursed in their hearts. At the brink of death, you still don't open your eyes? You might never open them again!

The referee lunged forward, thinking Xu Xiaoshou was crazy, heavily injured and clearly giving up the match!

However, just as they were inches apart, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly opened his eyes, holding his sword in his right hand, and had already drawn a stroke!

This stroke was incredibly slow, like drifting white clouds, instantly calming everyone's restless hearts.

"Buzz!"

Another sword hum, and everyone saw clearly that it was Xu Xiaoshou's wooden sword that was vibrating, not Wen Chong's dagger.

"Wooden sword?"

"What's going on?"

The audience was still trying to react, but they were also in shock.

"Clang—"

This sound made everyone's swords vibrate, as if drawn by the sword intent, forming a single entity.

This scene was so familiar; all the sword cultivators present couldn't help but recall the unknown sword hum from the Outer Court two days ago.

Could it be that Xu Xiaoshou caused it?

"How is this possible?"

"Am I seeing things?"

In the air, Xiao Qiushu's eyes widened, gripping his long sword in shock.

Postnatal sword intent?!

Is it really Xu Xiaoshou?!

In the arena, with the hum, Wen Chong immediately changed his move, almost retreating right up to Xu Xiaoshou's nose, with seven illusions blocking in front of him.

Clang, clang, clang…

The sword light and purple daggers clashed, the sound of metal ringing continuously.

Wen Chong was shocked; this kid's single stroke had produced hundreds of sword lights. This seemingly slow sword net not only blocked his attack but forced him to retreat continuously.

"How is this possible?"

"Isn't this kid a body cultivator? How can he have such terrifying sword skills?"

Sss, sss, sss…

Wen Chong's illusions were sliced one by one, and his body was covered in fine sword marks, blood spurting out!

Liu Zhen, in the audience, was shocked. This sword skill…

He remembered when Xu Xiaoshou was still using "Zangku." If he hadn't used a hidden attack to break Xu Xiaoshou's momentum, wouldn't he have been the one in pieces now?

Indeed, this kid was as deep and unpredictable as he thought!

In the arena, Wen Chong was forced back to his original position, almost pushed off the stage.

He put away his daggers, crossed his arms, and a spirit shield burst out from his body, instantly dispelling all the sword lights.

"Chong Ling Shield!"

As the spirit energy dissipated, Wen Chong's pupils constricted.

Xu Xiaoshou's long hair tilted forward with the momentum, the wooden sword now at his throat.

"You lose."

Gulp!

Wen Chong subconsciously swallowed, his Adam's apple moving, a bloodline appearing under the sword's aura.

His face was covered in blood, but it was all superficial. Even his state was still at its peak, yet he had lost.

One stroke, one word.

The seventh on the Wind and Cloud List, defeated!

The wind rustled, the audience was silent, and the referee was frozen in place.

Xu Xiaoshou sheathed his sword and turned, needing to rest and recover. This stroke had drained all his spirit energy.

His legs trembled…

Hold on, can't fall down, so many people are watching, must finish the act!

Wen Chong's eyes were full of unwillingness. The real battle, apart from building momentum, lasted only a few breaths, and he had lost?

The seventh on the Wind and Cloud List, Big Brother Wen of the Outer Court, had lost!

He didn't turn back, in the barrier, he could already hear the merciless laughter from the audience.

This Xu Xiaoshou, who Liu Zhen could cripple, had defeated Big Brother Wen with one stroke!

This Xu Xiaoshou, who dared to tease Di Xiner with a wooden sword, had left Big Brother Wen helpless!

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Wen Chong's eyes!

The purple dagger hidden in his sleeve flashed, turning into a blur and rushing forward again!

"Be careful!"

"Stop, Wen Chong!"

"The match is over, over!"

The referee shouted and lunged forward, never expecting that a single delayed "match over" would lead to such consequences.

Everyone could see that Xu Xiaoshou had won, yet Wen Chong still launched a sneak attack!

He couldn't stop it in time!

"Received a sneak attack, passive value, +1."

Xu Xiaoshou, always greedy, had a thread of attention on the information bar. Seeing this information, he quickly turned and dodged.

Sss!

Wen Chong's ninth-grade spirit dagger pierced Xu Xiaoshou's shoulder, blood splattering.

Sss!

Xu Xiaoshou's right hand pierced through Wen Chong's chest, right at the heart!