Chapter Sixty: The Battle Intensifies

When Lin Xiaobao finished practicing the Divine Mind Wave, daylight had already broken. With his powerful spiritual sense, Lin Xiaobao sensed that Wang Dashan outside the door seemed anxious, wanting to knock but hesitating.

The Divine Mind Wave was indeed miraculous; after one round of cultivation, the exhaustion from the previous night was replenished. He glanced at the low-grade spirit stone, which now shone a bit brighter, and silently calculated that by dusk, the formation should be able to dissolve the stone, just in time for his plans.

“Let’s go!” Pushing open the door, Lin Xiaobao exchanged a few words with Wang Dashan before heading straight to the Eternal Vision Hall.

Along the way, Wang Dashan tried several times to speak, opening his mouth only to hold back each time. Lin Xiaobao, intent on hastening their journey, paid little attention to this.

Even so, Lin Xiaobao arrived at the Eternal Vision Hall a bit late. At the center, on two main arenas, Long Xing Tian and Jiang Yuanwu—one of the Four Heroes of Wind and Snow—had already begun their battle. Though Jiang Yuanwu relied on numerous talismans for support, he could not close the gap between himself and Long Xing Tian, who was at the first stage of the Spiritual Path. The flow of battle was firmly in Long Xing Tian’s grasp; Lin Xiaobao estimated that within half an hour, Jiang Yuanwu would surely be defeated.

What surprised Lin Xiaobao, however, was that only the Grand Elder presided over the matches today; the Hall Master, other elders, Hua Xiaotian, and Ao Wuchen were still absent. For reasons unknown, Lin Xiaobao had a nagging feeling that something significant was about to occur.

On the other arena, Geng Zhiyi stood with hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on Lin Xiaobao from the moment he appeared. “I thought you wouldn’t dare show up.”

“Then I suppose I’ve disappointed you.” Lin Xiaobao smiled lightly, brushed aside unnecessary thoughts, and leapt onto the arena. Turning his head, he noticed Nie Feiyan now standing beside Wang Dashan.

He couldn’t help but smile inwardly; no wonder Wang Dashan seemed so strange today. After the match, he would have to interrogate him properly.

Geng Zhiyi shook his head. “If you hadn’t come, I would have been disappointed. After three years in seclusion, it seems the disciples of Wind and Snow Pavilion have forgotten the name of the Four Heroes, while your fame has soared.”

“Fighting for reputation?” Lin Xiaobao laughed. “You know, on the first day of the tournament, seeing your grand entrance, I resolved to outshine you all.”

“Is that so? Let’s see if you have the ability!” As Geng Zhiyi finished speaking, his wrist flicked, and three talismans shot toward Lin Xiaobao in a triangular formation. Almost at the moment the talismans left his hand, the renowned Azure Dragon Sword appeared in his grasp. With a rapid movement, he instantly appeared at Lin Xiaobao’s left, extending his sword toward Lin Xiaobao’s waist.

The entire action flowed seamlessly, as if rehearsed tens of thousands of times.

The three talismans in front, arranged in a triangular pattern, saw the last one surpass the first two, closing in on Lin Xiaobao within less than a yard, while the Azure Dragon Sword at his left gleamed coldly, thrusting straight and unadorned.

From the moment he stepped onto the arena, Lin Xiaobao’s spiritual sense had locked onto his opponent. As Geng Zhiyi attacked, the Seven Star Sword appeared in Lin Xiaobao’s palm. Lin Xiaobao flicked his sword, and a wave of spiritual energy surged before him, pushing against the three talismans. At the same time, Lin Xiaobao sidestepped, rushing toward Geng Zhiyi.

As he advanced, Lin Xiaobao’s Seven Star Sword lifted upward, striking precisely at the weakest point of Geng Zhiyi’s Azure Dragon Sword. If it connected, Geng Zhiyi’s sword would be deflected, leaving him exposed.

But as one of the Four Heroes of Wind and Snow, Geng Zhiyi was not so easily bested. Seeing Lin Xiaobao’s counterattack, he did not retreat, but rather shouted loudly, increasing the speed of his Azure Dragon Sword. Simultaneously, his left hand formed a secret seal. As the three talismans collided with Lin Xiaobao’s energy wall, he shouted, “Explode!”

The talismans erupted instantly, smoke and sparks enveloping the arena. Lin Xiaobao was shaken by the powerful blast, causing a slight hesitation and a subtle shift in the direction of his sword point.

It was enough; even a minor error was ample opportunity for Geng Zhiyi, who stood at the peak of the ninth stage of innate martial arts. Suddenly, Geng Zhiyi’s sword flew from his hand, shooting toward Lin Xiaobao’s heart with even greater speed.

Thirteen Swords Released!

The explosion of the talismans threw Lin Xiaobao’s breath into disorder. As he steadied himself, a cold sensation rushed toward his chest. When he finally saw the streak of light, the Azure Dragon Sword was less than a foot from his body.

A brilliant technique! Lin Xiaobao had to admit that from the outset, he had been drawn into his opponent’s rhythm. Losing the initiative, he could only fall back, swiftly evading the deadly strike before him.

No one expected that as soon as the two engaged, the battle would enter its most intense phase, without even a hint of probing exchanges.

Unconsciously, Wang Dashan gripped Nie Feiyan’s hand tightly in his palm. Though he remained silent, Nie Feiyan could feel his excitement through the strength of his grip and the sweat seeping from his hand.

Seeing Lin Xiaobao dodge the lethal blow, Geng Zhiyi showed no surprise. He drew sword seals with both hands, and the Azure Dragon Sword, as if pulled by a mysterious force, spun in midair and shot toward Lin Xiaobao’s head, even faster than before.

Flying sword? Watching the unmanned Azure Dragon Sword streak toward him, Lin Xiaobao recalled scenes from novels in his previous life describing such swords.

The Thirteen Swords Released, though its name was somewhat unrefined, was a sword technique devised by a master for his beloved disciple. At the time, the disciple had only reached the ninth stage of innate martial arts, so the master deliberately modified the technique, allowing it to be executed by innate martial artists rather than requiring the Spiritual Path.

Geng Zhiyi had stumbled upon this technique by chance, which cemented his status among the Four Heroes of Wind and Snow.

Lin Xiaobao, unfamiliar with its intricacies and facing it for the first time, was forced into a flurry of defense. Had he not cultivated extraordinary speed, believing firmly in the martial maxim that “nothing breaks speed,” he would have already perished beneath the sword.

Even so, amidst the chaotic flashes of sword light, Lin Xiaobao’s left arm was grazed by the Azure Dragon Sword, leaving a deep, bone-revealing wound.

Of course, Lin Xiaobao seized the opportunity to sweep his own sword fiercely against the Azure Dragon Sword, which emitted a mournful cry and returned to Geng Zhiyi’s hand.