Chapter 82

When Mao Qiuyu said this, people finally remembered the ages of the four people in the arena.

The oldest, Gou Hanshi, was only twenty years old.

Guan Feibai was eighteen.

Chen Changsheng and Luo Luo were even younger.

They were all still young, some at the Profound Pass realm, some at the Upper Illumination realm, and some like Chen Changsheng, who had not even successfully completed the Bone Washing ritual. Any senior expert in the crowd watching from the steps of the hall could easily defeat them, let alone compare them to Zhou Dufu and the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty of old.

But they were really young, so young that no one could predict their future. Tonight, they had already shown a level of skill that stunned the world. Who could say how far they would go in the future?

People quietly watched the sword winds and rain in the arena, listening to the names of the moves, silent and with complex emotions. In their view, the outcome of this match between the National University and the Lishan Sword Sect was no longer important. Or, to put it another way—there would be no losers tonight.

But Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi did not think so, nor did Luo Luo and Guan Feibai. Tang Sanshi, who was more nervous than anyone else on the sidelines, and the increasingly resentful Elder Xiaosonggong, as representatives of the National University and the Lishan Sword Sect, only wanted to defeat the other side.

No one knew how much time had passed.

Really, no one knew.

The hundreds of spectators and the two sides in the arena had all forgotten the passage of time.

Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi's speaking speed had not slowed, but their voices had gradually become hoarse.

Luo Luo and Guan Feibai's speed of attack had not slowed, still accurate and steady, but their breathing had gradually become rapid.

Finally, at a certain moment, Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi fell silent at the same time.

All the movements, all the steps, all the sword techniques had been exhausted, like the water receding to reveal the white stones.

At some point, the distance of over ten zhang between Luo Luo and Guan Feibai had disappeared without anyone noticing.

The two faced each other, the Rainfall Whip and the ordinary long sword meeting silently in the night sky.

The match had lasted a long time, and Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi each took a step forward in the arena.

Luo Luo and Guan Feibai had used hundreds of sword techniques, countless movements and steps, to cover the distance of over ten zhang.

In the final moment, the two met, the whip and the sword touching.

This was not a默契 (tacit understanding), but a natural harmony, and it was beautiful.

The sword trial had finally reached its climax, and the meeting was not a result of exhaustion but of the setting sun, as if it were time to end.

The Rainfall Whip and the long sword had met, and since they could not use true essence, they could not continue.

Such an intense, even dazzling, competition ended in a draw, which was truly beautiful and fitting to the aesthetics of cultivators.

The hall was silent.

For a long time, it remained silent.

Then, suddenly, applause broke out.

The person clapping was Dean Mao Qiuyu.

Then it was Prince Chenliu, the Bishop, and then everyone, including the head of the Qiushan family and Xu Shiji, who, despite their sour expressions, began to clap.

The applause grew louder, like a storm, mixed with sighs and admiration.

People praised the grace Luo Luo and Guan Feibai had shown in the sword trial, and admired the profound knowledge and abilities Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi had displayed to the world, especially Chen Changsheng—many people looked at this young man, amazed, thinking that he truly deserved the respect of Princess Luo Luo. If he could cultivate, wouldn't he become another Gou Hanshi?

The Bishop whispered two sentences to the priest Xin, who then led his subordinates to Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi, offering them the palace's spirit-restoring pills—many people might have thought that Luo Luo and Guan Feibai had consumed a lot of energy in the sword trial, but the Bishop knew that the mental and spiritual toll on Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi was truly terrifying, especially since Chen Changsheng could not cultivate and could not use true essence to nourish his spirit. If he did not take the pills in time, he might suffer serious injuries or even leave some lingering effects.

Unexpectedly, Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi did not take the pills, not even glancing at them.

They still watched the arena, looking at Luo Luo and Guan Feibai.

Only then did the spectators notice the unusual situation in the arena.

Luo Luo and Guan Feibai had not withdrawn their whip or sword; they had no intention of leaving the arena.

The crowd fell silent again, looking at the scene in surprise, unsure what would happen next.

Unwilling to accept a draw?

Was the match not over yet?

...

...

Luo Luo and Guan Feibai ignored the countless gazes on them, for they had their eyes closed.

The Rainfall Whip and the long sword had met in the night sky and had not separated.

They closed their eyes, sensing each other's will and thoughts through the slight vibrations in their palms.

Luo Luo's clothes were drenched in sweat, steaming in the cool autumn air, making her look like a fairy.

Guan Feibai, with his eyes closed, his eyebrows like swords, had a bead of sweat slowly trickling down his face, like the last invincible warrior on the battlefield.

Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi watched the arena silently, their faces pale but without a word—they had done everything they could to ensure that Luo Luo and Guan Feibai did not fail in the earlier part of the trial. Now, the decision of the match was no longer in their hands but in the hands of the two who had fought for so long.

Without any warning, Luo Luo and Guan Feibai opened their eyes simultaneously.

The long sword swept upward, moving casually!

Suddenly, several white threads appeared in the night, the result of the sword cutting through the air!

Gou Hanshi's eyes lit up.

He recognized this sword technique, which did not belong to the Lishan Sword Sect or any other sect, but only to Guan Feibai.

This was a sword technique Guan Feibai had created himself, named after himself—Feibai!

Feibai was a calligraphy technique, its movement like a flying lift, with dry threads connected, and a blank space in the middle!

This technique required a dry brush, a dry stroke, taking the meaning of dryness!

This sword technique was definitely not Guan Feibai's strongest, but it was definitely the one he understood the most deeply!

From the hall to the outside, the always proud and unmatched Guan Feibai had endured too much humiliation tonight, suppressing his anger for too long, even during the long trial with Luo Luo, he had always suppressed his anger, calmly and even coldly following his senior brother's guidance, until this moment...

Tonight, he had suppressed his anger for too long.

Yes, he had not reached the point of exhaustion, as he had not used true essence, but the anger and pride in his heart had been worn down to the brink of drying up.

In the final moment, he finally released the suppressed momentum, which was powerful, able to fly, and had a sense of dryness!

Without using true essence, with such a powerful sword intent, he could defeat any opponent!

...

...

The moment Guan Feibai moved his sword, Luo Luo also moved.

What kind of sword technique could she use to counter this Feibai?

The Rainfall Whip suddenly tightened, straight as a carefully selected branch.

She stared into Guan Feibai's eyes, not looking at or paying attention to his sword, and without hesitation, thrust forward with the whip handle!

Yes, there was no technique, no variation, no sword intent or preparation.

She held the whip as a sword and thrust forward simply.

The Rainfall Whip, like a branch, did not need to rise, it just moved forward and then fell.

Just like when Chen Changsheng, in the National University's library, thrust the branch at her body.

This thrust, of course, did not use true essence, but the night air buzzed with the sound of the air being cut.

One could imagine how fast she was.

One could imagine how many times she had practiced this thrust.

People had been puzzled earlier, as most Lishan Sword Sect disciples came from humble backgrounds, so they practiced diligently and were exceptionally hardworking and resilient. Why could Princess Luo Luo, the only daughter of the White Emperor, endure such hardship?

In the White Emperor City, no one dared to discipline her, so it was not something taught.

Chen Changsheng might have dared to discipline her, but she was so obedient and sensible, did she need discipline?

The National University did have a teaching stick, but he had never used it for anything other than guiding her to circulate true essence.

Luo Luo practiced on her own.

Because of a reason she did not want others to know, she had aspired to be strong since she was young.

So she practiced diligently and endured great hardship in her cultivation.

...

...

Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi watched the arena, silent.

The final sword of Luo Luo and Guan Feibai seemed unrelated to them, but in fact, it was still related.

Their daily guidance of Luo Luo and Guan Feibai at the National University and the Lishan Sword Sect would be reflected in this final sword.

The opportunity for Luo Luo and Guan Feibai to execute this final sword was, in fact, the result of their painstaking efforts.

Since they could not accept a draw, there would be a winner and a loser.

Who would win? Whose sword was stronger, or whose whip was faster?

People watched the arena, their expressions tense.

Guan Feibai's sword, like a dry brush, cut through the night sky, like a whip in the hands of a god.

Luo Luo's whip, like a branch, pierced the night sky, like a sword in the hands of a god.

...

...

The sword rose.

The whip rose.

The sword fell.

The whip did not fall.

...

...

A look of pain appeared in Guan Feibai's eyes, then it was replaced by an expression of disbelief.

He looked down at his chest, where his clothes had been torn, the Rainfall Whip like a sword, pinning him there, blood slowly seeping out.

He looked up at Luo Luo, shocked and angry, wanting to ask something but unable to speak.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

The Rainfall Whip had not advanced; Luo Luo had already stopped.

His injury was minor, the blood from the corner of his mouth not from Luo Luo's whip but from the explosion of anger and frustration, which had injured his heart meridian.

"Thank you for letting me win."

Luo Luo retracted the Rainfall Whip, bowed, her expression calm, and turned to walk towards Chen Changsheng.

Chen Changsheng looked at Gou Hanshi in the night, bowed slightly, and returned the bow.

Gou Hanshi was silent for a moment, then returned the bow.

Chen Changsheng looked at Luo Luo, a slight smile on his pale face.

Seeing him smile, Luo Luo also smiled happily.

The sword trial, at this point, was finally over.

The winner and loser were decided.

Luo Luo had defeated Guan Feibai.

The National University had defeated the Lishan Sword Sect.

No one could have predicted such an outcome.

The hall was silent.

Suddenly, a voice broke the silence.

"If we could use true essence, your final whip would not have pierced through."

Guan Feibai, looking at Luo Luo's back, said with a pale face, clearly unsatisfied.

Luo Luo stopped in her tracks.