Chapter 20

In the original story, Linghu Chong’s sword skills were definitely not as advanced as they are now. However, after Feng Qingyang pointed out a few things, he could fight with Tian Boguang for over a hundred moves. Why?

The reason is simple: Feng Qingyang could immediately spot the flaws in Tian Boguang’s fast saber techniques and guide Linghu Chong to attack or defend using the Hua Mountain Sword Technique. Unlike the previous methods they had thought of, such as rapid attacks or single defense, which were more extreme and required corresponding powerful skills, Linghu Chong could not rely on these two methods to defeat Tian Boguang. Even if Tian Boguang did not use his internal strength, the outcome would still be a fifty-fifty chance.

To completely defeat Tian Boguang, the two of them needed to find the flaws in Tian Boguang’s fast saber techniques and attack those flaws to disrupt his saber techniques.

However, with their current level, it was almost impossible to spot the flaws in Tian Boguang’s fast saber techniques at a glance. Even Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze would find it difficult. Otherwise, Ning Zhongze would not have created the "Unparalleled, Ning's One Sword" technique, which counters speed with speed.

After some thought, Bai Xiaosheng explained the method of finding the flaws in his saber techniques to Linghu Chong. Linghu Chong listened in silence. Clearly, he also knew the difficulty of this method. However, Linghu Chong is Linghu Chong. His eyes twinkled, and a plan formed in his mind.

Linghu Chong stood up and said to Tian Boguang, "Tian Boguang, come on, let’s have our second match!"

Tian Boguang opened his eyes, nodded, and slowly walked to face Linghu Chong. He held a single saber that gleamed with a cold light. The two of them locked eyes, the sword hummed, and the saber whistled, like the sun and moon vying for brilliance, neither willing to yield.

Suddenly, Linghu Chong said, "Brother Tian, I wonder why you invited Linghu Chong to the Hengshan Sect?"

Tian Boguang was taken aback, shook his head, and smiled bitterly. "This is the most unfortunate thing that has happened to Tian Boguang. Why do you have to ask? In short, if Tian Boguang cannot persuade you to come down the mountain, I will die a terrible death in a month."

Linghu Chong was startled but showed no change in his expression. "Is there such a thing in the world?"

Tian Boguang rolled up his sleeves, bared his chest, and pointed to two red dots the size of coins below his nipples. "Tian Boguang was struck at these vital points and poisoned, forcing me to invite you to meet that young master. If I cannot persuade you, these red dots will fester and spread, becoming incurable, and eventually turn my entire body into rotten flesh. It will take three years and six months before I die from rotting."

His expression was serious. "Brother Linghu, I am telling you the truth, not to gain your sympathy, but to let you know that no matter how firmly you refuse, I must persuade you to come. If you really don’t come, Tian Boguang will do anything. I have already done many evil deeds, and at this critical moment, I have nothing to lose."

Bai Xiaosheng chuckled, making the atmosphere awkward. Tian Boguang glared at him, and Linghu Chong also gave him a speechless look. He waved his hand and said embarrassedly, "I just thought of the monk Bu Jie. Looking at Brother Tian’s injuries, they must have been caused by the monk Bu Jie."

Tian Boguang nodded. "That big monk has extremely high martial arts skills. Tian Boguang is not his match. I couldn’t fight or run away, so I had to come here to invite Brother Linghu. So, Brother Linghu, please..."

Before he finished the word "please," Linghu Chong’s sword flashed, and the long sword was already pointing at Tian Boguang’s throat. This sword was extremely fast, almost instantly reaching Tian Boguang, making his eyes narrow and his feet retreat. He swung his saber to cut towards Linghu Chong’s long sword, but the long sword bent and turned, stabbing towards his side.

"Such a fast sword..." Tian Boguang exclaimed, leaped, and his single saber drew a curtain of blades across his chest. Clang... The sound of the sword and saber clashing was clear and pleasant, yet filled with killing intent.

Linghu Chong’s sudden attack achieved his goal of taking the initiative. His sword skills became faster and faster, like a cloud of sword shadows enveloping him, stabbing towards Tian Boguang. Tian Boguang, however, was not to be outdone. Although he was mostly on the defensive, his saber techniques were flawless, making Linghu Chong’s attacks completely ineffective.

Watching Linghu Chong’s movements, Bai Xiaosheng was puzzled. Was this his plan? If so, he would surely collapse before Tian Boguang, as he was not trained in fast sword techniques, and using them would be extremely draining.

After some thought, Bai Xiaosheng concluded that this could not be Linghu Chong’s plan. He must have another trick up his sleeve; otherwise, he would be too foolish. This was not like Linghu Chong!

After a moment of speculation, Bai Xiaosheng was once again drawn into the fight. Both of their skills were higher than Bai Xiaosheng’s, but not by much. Watching their fight was highly beneficial for his own martial arts.

Soon, they had fought for forty to fifty moves. Compared to Tian Boguang’s ease, Linghu Chong was drenched in sweat, his face red and breath heavy, his movements much slower, clearly overexerted. Given his condition, he would surely lose in ten more moves.

Bai Xiaosheng saw this, and so did Tian Boguang. His eyes flashed, and his saber technique changed. A fierce blade light split the air and struck Linghu Chong’s long sword. With a thud, Linghu Chong’s sword was deflected, and the force seemed to make him stagger. Tian Boguang took advantage of this and swung his saber down. In an instant, it seemed Linghu Chong was about to lose.

Bai Xiaosheng’s eyes widened, and he eagerly awaited Linghu Chong’s countermove. He knew Linghu Chong would not go down the mountain with Tian Boguang, so his plan must be...

Linghu Chong tilted his body, circled his sword, and slashed horizontally at Tian Boguang’s waist. Tian Boguang’s saber also came down, as if they were about to die together.

Bai Xiaosheng was shocked, and so was Tian Boguang. He did not want to die.

Without hesitation, Tian Boguang leaped over the sword, and at that moment, Linghu Chong’s sword stabbed upwards, aiming for Tian Boguang’s back.

'The Three Immortal Swords of Death!' Bai Xiaosheng immediately recognized the sword technique. This was a deadly move from the Sword Sect, with only three forms but anticipating the enemy’s evasions and changes, making it impossible to dodge or avoid, leading to certain death.

Linghu Chong’s sudden attack was beyond Tian Boguang’s understanding, as it was a famous sword technique from twenty-five years ago, which Tian Boguang did not recognize. He also did not expect the seemingly exhausted Linghu Chong to launch such a deadly strike.

In mid-air, feeling the lethal sword intent behind him, Tian Boguang felt a chill. He pushed off with his feet, increasing his upward speed, rising an extra meter, and flipped in the air to dodge the sword.

With a thud, Linghu Chong fell to the ground due to the force of his attack, while Tian Boguang landed lightly nearby. His face was grim, his expression uncertain. Just now, he had used his internal strength, which, according to the rules of the match, meant he had lost.

Tian Boguang slowly calmed down and said seriously, "The first match, I lost!" Hearing this, Linghu Chong smiled, and Bai Xiaosheng, who had not expected this move, smiled at him. However, Tian Boguang added, "But, Brother Linghu, the technique you used doesn’t seem to be from the Hua Mountain Sect..."

"Nonsense, hmpf!" Linghu Chong coldly snorted, struggled to his feet, and said, "Tian Boguang, the Hua Mountain Sect’s sword techniques are profound and extensive. How could you understand them? The technique I used just now is the Three Immortal Swords of Death from the Hua Mountain Sect. This is a deadly move, with only three forms but anticipating the enemy’s evasions and changes, making it lethal. I didn’t use it before because I didn’t want anyone to die by my sword. I only used it just now out of necessity."

Tian Boguang remained silent, and Linghu Chong seemed very tired, sitting down again after speaking. Bai Xiaosheng was puzzled but quickly approached to help Linghu Chong up. However, when he touched Linghu Chong, he was pinched. Bai Xiaosheng immediately understood and said, "Brother Linghu, you were just seriously ill recently. You haven’t fully recovered, and now you’ve exerted yourself so much... sigh..."

Sighing heavily, Bai Xiaosheng continued. Seeing their act, Tian Boguang was indeed deceived. "What? Is Brother Linghu ill?"

Bai Xiaosheng nodded. "Yes! When I came, Brother Linghu was seriously ill. He has only slightly recovered in the past few days. I planned to exercise with him today, but Brother Tian came... sigh!" He sighed again, and Tian Boguang felt a bit embarrassed. "If that’s the case, Brother Linghu should rest. We can have the match tomorrow."

"Thank you, Brother Tian!" Linghu Chong grinned, stood up quickly, and pulled Bai Xiaosheng into the cave. His swift movements showed no signs of illness.

"You scoundrel..." Watching the two enter the cave, Tian Boguang, no matter how foolish, knew he had been tricked. These two were clearly trying to delay the match by a day. "Hmpf! Just one night, I’ll see what you can do."

Annoyed, Tian Boguang leaped to a large rock and closed his eyes to meditate.