Chapter 80

Finally, people confirmed that he was praising Gou Hanshi, not Chen Changsheng.

Chen Changsheng's first move, as instructed to Luo Luo, seemed mediocre but was actually the best choice for the initial move. The one who moves first waits, while the one who moves second counters. Therefore, the one who moves first should be conservative to prevent the opponent from finding a way to counter.

In Mao Qiuyu's view, this was a good choice, but it was something everyone could think of, so it couldn't be called brilliant.

Gou Hanshi's response move was not considered exquisite by anyone—how could a small, unknown sect in Donglin County develop a sophisticated sword technique?—but at this moment, it was extremely clever because Chen Changsheng, like everyone else, had never seen this sword technique.

To put it elegantly, Gou Hanshi's response was like a gazelle hanging its horns, leaving no trace. To put it simply, he was like casually scattering some rice in a field and then ignoring it, not caring what would grow there next year, or even if it would be full of weeds. He himself didn't know.

How did Chen Changsheng know?

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Embracing the rain, this was Chen Changsheng's response.

Although it was just a demonstration, Luo Luo's expression remained focused, her mind entirely on the whip. This move was executed with great satisfaction, almost reaching perfection.

Gou Hanshi then called out another move.

No one in the audience knew the origin of this sword technique until a student from the countryside, who was participating in the preliminary exams, shouted in shock. Only then did people realize that this sword technique was created by an old Taoist in a dilapidated temple in the mountains around Wen Shui, and it was quite famous in that rural area.

Tang Sanshi's face turned a bit grim. He thought to himself that he had grown up in Wen Shui and had never heard of this sword technique. How did Gou Hanshi, who lived in Lishan, know about it?

"Brilliant," the masked senior from Holy Maiden Peak praised.

Chen Changsheng instructed Luo Luo to respond with the seventh move of the Zhongshan Wind and Rain Sword.

Gou Hanshi then called out another move, which was also from an obscure small sect.

Chen Changsheng responded again.

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In a moment, Luo Luo and Guan Feibai, standing more than ten yards apart, had exchanged over ten moves. The crowd on the stone steps in front of the hall did not become quieter; instead, the discussions grew louder.

People looked at Gou Hanshi with admiration, amazed that he knew so many obscure sword techniques. It was truly remarkable.

Xu Shiji nodded slightly, and the patriarch of the Qiu family's mountain regained his composure, both satisfied with the current situation.

Some people looked at Chen Changsheng, thinking that this young man was also remarkable. Under his guidance, Luo Luo used only the Zhongshan Wind and Rain Sword to counter Gou Hanshi's obscure sword techniques, and even used the same move twice to achieve completely different effects.

In the eyes of some, another person was also remarkable—Guan Feibai, one of the Four Laws of the Divine Kingdom.

Gou Hanshi knew so many obscure sword techniques, which showed his extensive knowledge. Everyone knew he had read the entire Daoist canon and had a vast knowledge of books. The Lishan Sword Sect also had countless sword manuals. While people admired him, they were not surprised. However, every time he called out a move, Guan Feibai could execute it without hesitation. What did this mean?

It meant that Guan Feibai also knew these obscure sword techniques and could master them completely!

There were countless sword techniques in the world, and some were so obscure that people had never even heard of them, but he knew them all!

How much time did it take to practice them? What kind of perseverance and patience was required?

"The Lishan Sword Sect is indeed well-deserved. No wonder so many remarkable young people have emerged in recent years..."

Mao Qiuyu looked at Guan Feibai with a complex expression, sighing.

Hearing this, the crowd on the stone steps finally came to their senses. The students from the Qingteng Colleges, especially those from the Heavenly Dao College, felt ashamed.

At this moment, the battle on the field suddenly changed.

With Gou Hanshi's voice, Guan Feibai's sword technique suddenly transformed from the obscure techniques to the most common Xuan Sect sword technique.

This sword technique was the mountain gate sword technique of the Southern Sect, dignified and bright.

It was also the sword technique that Guan Feibai was most skilled at. Among the young cultivators of the current continent, if one were to rank them solely by their mastery of this sword technique, Qiu Shan Jun would undoubtedly be first, and he would be second.

Seeing the grand sword moves on the square in front of the hall and the long sword advancing straight in the night, people finally fell silent.

Many people knew this sword technique, and many had practiced it, but few could practice it to this level, displaying the sword intent perfectly without using true essence.

Guan Feibai achieved this tonight, and at the same time, gave the young students on the stone steps a good lesson.

With Gou Hanshi's voice, Guan Feibai advanced with the mountain gate sword, and Luo Luo's pressure suddenly increased. Her young face, still with a hint of innocence, showed a serious expression for the first time—her opponent's sword technique was not rare, but combined with the previous obscure techniques, it created a unique rhythm.

Previously, she had been using the Zhongshan Wind and Rain Sword, maintaining her own rhythm, but with her opponent's change, her rhythm was disrupted and was being subtly drawn into the opponent's rhythm.

She had to make a corresponding change to break free from the opponent's rhythm.

How should she change?

Guan Feibai's long sword advanced like a raging fire, his face expressionless as he looked at her.

It was her turn to make a move.

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Luo Luo felt the pressure, but Chen Changsheng felt even more pressure. He did not expect Gou Hanshi to suddenly shift from the obscure techniques of the wild county mountains to the mountain gate sword technique at a moment no one could predict, leaving him somewhat unprepared.

Looking at the calm Gou Hanshi on the opposite side of the square, he had to admit that this person was truly remarkable.

In the battle between cultivators, the first priority is the actual strength, which is true essence, and the second is the more complex concept of momentum, which can be a sword move, a technique, a magical treasure, or a psychological state. Like a game of chess, the strength of the players ultimately depends on the changes on the board.

The sudden shift from the obscure techniques of the wild county mountains to the mountain gate sword technique, from a narrow place to the temple, was extremely strong and sudden. More frighteningly, this sudden change multiplied the sword intent of the mountain gate sword technique, making it almost tangible. How could one break through it with a sword?

This simple change concealed Gou Hanshi's profound wisdom and experience.

Chen Changsheng knew he was about to lose—he had read the entire Daoist canon since childhood and had been diligently studying in the National Teaching College's library, but he had only formally practiced cultivation for a few months. In terms of knowledge of various techniques and combat experience, he was still far behind Gou Hanshi.

He did not want to lose, and he did not want Luo Luo to lose because of him.

Perhaps it would be difficult to defeat Gou Hanshi, who seemed to master all techniques, tonight, but he wanted at least to avoid defeat.

To still have this confidence at this moment had little to do with the Dao he had practiced since childhood—following one's heart—because he believed Luo Luo was stronger than Guan Feibai.

So, first, he could not lose to Gou Hanshi in terms of moves.

Countless Daoist canons flashed through his mind, and the cultivation books and sword technique summaries from the National Teaching College's library appeared before his eyes, fluttering in the night wind and the increasingly fierce sword wind. The moves and experiences of the great masters of the past flashed by rapidly.

Which move should he use?

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(Today is really tiring, but I will keep writing. The next chapter might be a bit late, so you don't have to wait.)