Chapter 1005: The Beheading Contest
Chapter 1005: The Beheading Contest
This round of the Swordsman Competition Congress was a beheading contest.
Mo Hua had originally planned a better approach for the "beheading" contest format, but with the Xuan Zhi Ju having just begun, there was still time, and exposing too many trump cards wouldn't be wise.
Additionally, Mo Hua wanted to prove the worth of the Fireball Technique.
He wanted to convey a principle to everyone: There are countless Dao Fa, each with its strengths and weaknesses, and it's not just the superior Dao Fa that are powerful.
With dedicated research, proper usage, and exquisite mastery, even an ordinary Fireball Technique could be formidable.
The Lunjian began as the Lundao Zhong Sheng sounded.
Both sides' disciples started to move.
The "beheading" contest of the Xuan Zhi Ju required a larger arena with more complex terrain, featuring mountains, forests, streams, swamps, and trees.
The entry positions were randomized.
The two sides might encounter each other directly, so there was no room for carelessness.
Leading the Gui Shui Men disciples, Qin Cang Liu immediately unleashed his Shen Shi upon entering the arena, holding his sword in a defensive stance.
After confirming the safety of the surroundings, the Gui Shui Men, with Qin Cang Liu as the "leader," began their advance while scouting for enemy movements.
They chose to "attack."
On the other hand, Mo Hua opted for "defense."
In the beheading contest, the opposing "leader" was "strong," while his own "leader" was "weak."
Mo Hua didn't need to think; he was certain the other side would choose a "strong offense."
Even if he were in their shoes, he would make the same choice.
After all, a "squishy" leader who could be killed with a single sword strike was an irresistible temptation.
Therefore, Mo Hua planned to "wait for the rabbit under the tree."
Unlike the alertness of the Gui Shui Men disciples, Mo Hua entered the arena with a calm demeanor.
With his powerful Shen Shi, he quickly scanned the nearby terrain and pointed to a small grove several li to the right:
"Let's go there."
Ling Hu Xiao and several others nodded.
Although Ou Yang Xuan didn't nod, he obediently followed.
Upon reaching the grove, Mo Hua began setting up his battle formation and arranging the formation.
The five Gui Shui Men disciples circled around, searching through swamps and hillsides, but they couldn't find anyone. After some time, they headed towards Mo Hua's grove.
The two sides were not far apart, and within a quarter of an hour, they were expected to meet.
Outside the Lundao arena, the spectators, after a dull wait, began to anticipate the upcoming clash.
"Finally, we'll get to see a good show..."
"I also heard that he's originally from Dao Zhou and was sent to the Qin family in Qian Zhou for his studies..."
"Is that true?"
"I said it's just what I heard..."
"Regardless of whether it's true or not, his status is not low. I also heard that in Qian Xue Prefecture, many aristocratic families of the Five Grade have asked for his hand in marriage, hoping to form a good marital alliance with this Qin Gongzi, but they couldn't even get past the threshold..."
"His marriage was arranged by Dao Zhou."
"Other things can be fake, but a marriage arrangement is not something you can fake. Without a solid family background, you wouldn't have the confidence to do so."
"Not only that, but I heard that Qin Cang Liu inherited an excellent sword technique."
"The Gui Shui Sword Technique of Gui Shui Men?"
"No, he didn't inherit the sword technique of Gui Shui Men. Instead, he inherited the 'Canghai Heng Liu Sword Jue' from his Qin family, which is a top-tier water-based sword technique with a famous reputation. It's the Qin family's Zhen Jia Zhi Bao, and very few people can learn it..."
"How does he compare to Ling Hu Xiao?"
"That's hard to say. Ling Hu Xiao has a clear and renowned sword heart, but Qin Cang Liu is a low-key and steady aristocratic disciple, not one to show off."
"I estimate that he's focused on perfecting his sword for a decade, aiming to make a name for himself at this Swordsman Competition Congress, surprising everyone with his talent."
"That's how geniuses are. Sometimes, we hype each other up, and it seems impressive, but beneath the fame, there are those who can't live up to the expectations. When you truly test them, you'll know who is 'real gold' and who is 'plated gold.'"
"This Lunjian will be worth watching..."
"This is a true clash of sword geniuses!"
Everyone's attention was almost entirely focused on the confrontation between Ling Hu Xiao and Qin Cang Liu, the two Tian Jiao.
Additionally, many also remembered Mo Hua, the Zhen Shi who used the Fireball Technique.
"This is a beheading contest, and that Mo Hua, who became the 'leader' without a clue, now wants to be a bystander, but he won't have that luxury..."
"He can't just be a bystander. What else can he do?"
"Will he still use the Fireball Technique?"
"That Wu Ming last time was a fraud. He's from Kun Zhou, a nouveau riche family. Their disciples lack ambition and only focus on flashy Ling Qi. They also came to the Swordsman Competition Congress..."
"Wu Ming was incompetent, which is why he fell to the Fireball Technique."
"But Qin Cang Liu is different. He's a genuine Tian Jiao from a prestigious sect and won't be caught off guard by a mere Fireball Technique."
"Who knows, they might meet, and before Mo Hua can use his Fireball Technique, he might be killed by a single sword strike..."
"That would be a pity, as we won't get to see the clash of two sword geniuses."
"I hope Mo Hua can hold on a little longer and not lose too quickly, or else it won't be fun to watch..."
...
Outside the arena, as the spectators chatted, the two groups of disciples finally met outside the grove.
Qin Cang Liu and his four companions, dressed in black water-style robes and holding water-cold longswords, looked towards the Tai Xu Men's disciples:
Ling Hu Xiao, Ou Yang Xuan, Cheng Mo, and Si Tu Jian.
Mo Hua was not among them.
The four Tai Xu Men disciples were in a "defensive" formation, facing off against the Gui Shui Men, guarding the grove.
Qin Cang Liu's gaze went past the four, focusing on the distant grove.
The grove was dense, and within it, a faint aura could be sensed, indicating someone hiding inside.
"That Zhen Shi won't be much help in a duel, so they chose him as the 'leader' and hid him in the forest, allowing the other four to fight without restraint..."
"That's not a bad strategy under the circumstances."
Qin Cang Liu's eyes flashed, and he lightly commanded:
"Kill!"
The other four Gui Shui Men disciples immediately moved in unison, their bodies like the wind and their sword lights like water, as they charged towards the Tai Xu Men disciples.
These four Gui Shui Men disciples used the Gui Shui Sword in unison, coordinating their sword techniques, and quickly engaged in battle with Ou Yang Xuan and the others.
As the sword lights intertwined, Qin Cangliu drew his longsword and engaged in combat with Ling Huxiao.
Both were swordsman geniuses, and despite their contrasting personalities, they shared a deep-rooted arrogance. From a young age, they had dedicated themselves to the sword, pouring their hearts and souls into their craft.
With just one clash of their blades, they both realized that their opponent was a formidable swordsman, not to be underestimated.
Both hearts sank, and their eyes gleamed with determination, no longer holding back.
The sword aura surged, and as the blades clashed, the two geniuses engaged in a fierce battle.
A true master's skill is evident from the first move.
Outside the Lunjian Field.
The observing cultivators were full of admiration.
"Indeed, they are both swordsman geniuses!"
"They've only just started fighting, but their extraordinary skills are already apparent."
"Ling Huxiao's sword aura is pure, and his comprehension is incredibly high. Qin Cangliu is no slouch either; his sword techniques are steady and vast like the sea..."
Even some of the elders were quite satisfied: "To have honed their sword skills to this level at such a young age, they are truly talented..."
Some of the observing disciples, witnessing the clash of the Tianjiao, couldn't help but look on with envy and admiration.
...
The audience was thoroughly satisfied.
Inside the arena, however, the situation gradually began to shift.
The battle between Qin Cangliu and Ling Huxiao was spectacular, with neither gaining the upper hand.
But the other battles were more straightforward.
Four against three.
Four sword disciples from the Gui Shui Men were engaged. Two were entangled with Ou Yang Xuan, one was fighting Si Tu Jian who wielded the Lifu Sword, and another was clashing with Cheng Mo, who was swinging a large axe.
Those participating in the Lunjian were all elite disciples.
Without resorting to their ultimate killing moves, the ordinary exchanges of moves and styles couldn't compensate for the disparity in cultivation levels between the Tianjiao.
The Tai Xu Men disciples were clearly at a disadvantage, and it was becoming increasingly difficult for them to hold their ground.
Finally, Ou Yang Xuan, who was forced to fight two opponents, was the first to show a weakness.
Though he had good natural talent, he couldn't fight against four hands with just two. After struggling for a while, he became enraged and lashed out with a sword, but it missed.
Ou Yang Xuan immediately sensed the danger and quickly retracted his sword to defend, avoiding a treacherous attack from the Gui Shui Sword.
But then, nothing happened.
The Gui Shui Men's sword cultivator didn't seize this opportunity to press the attack. Instead, he took advantage of this gap to abandon Ou Yang Xuan and rush towards the small grove.
His goal was clear: to behead.
This was a beheading match, not a melee.
Stabbing Ou Yang Xuan with this sword would only aggravate his injuries, but it wouldn't decide the victory.
Conversely, rushing into the small grove and killing Mo Hua with a single sword strike would secure their win.
This was Qin Cangliu's initial plan.
This was a Lunjian, a clash of the Tianjiao, but the purpose of the clash was to "win," not necessarily to prove who was superior.
Seeing the Gui Shui Men disciple heading towards the small grove, Cheng Mo roared and leaped, swinging his double-bladed axe and striking out.
This strike was both swift and fierce, leaving the Gui Shui Men disciple no time to react, forcing him to draw his sword to block.
Blocking this axe bought him a moment, but the opportunity was lost.
Ou Yang Xuan thrust his longsword forward, engaging the Gui Shui Men disciple again and entangling him.
The situation was once again at a stalemate.
But at this moment, another Gui Shui Men disciple in the crowd suddenly flickered, directly transforming into a water shadow and disappearing. When he reappeared, he was already within ten zhang of the small grove.
This sudden move caught everyone off guard.
Cheng Mo and the others were startled.
The cultivators outside the arena also reacted with surprise:
"What's going on?"
"Is that... the Shuiying Bu of Gui Shui Men?" asked a cultivator with extensive knowledge.
"Shuiying Bu is the ultimate skill of Gui Shui Men. For a seemingly ordinary Gui Shui Men disciple to have mastered this skill to such a high level in the late Zhujixiu stage is truly remarkable..."
"His talent in body movement is probably not ordinary..."
"Qian Xue Prefecture indeed produces outstanding talents."
Inside the Lunjian Field, after Cheng Mo's initial surprise, he quickly reacted, raising his axe and striking again. Ou Yang Xuan also provided cover for him.
But his axe missed again.
The Gui Shui Men disciple transformed into water mist, escaping once more. When he reappeared, he had already reached the edge of the small grove.
Cheng Mo was a large man, and his body movement was at a disadvantage. He couldn't catch up in time.
The Gui Shui Men disciple smirked, then, with a cold sword in hand, he moved towards the grove.
Mo Hua was too "fragile," and killing him would only take a single sword strike.
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Anyone could be the killer.
As long as they killed him, Gui Shui Men would win this victory.
He was confident in his body movement skills, and that short-legged formation master would surely "die" under his Gui Shui Sword.
The Gui Shui Men disciple had just stepped into the small grove.
Amidst the dense forest, a sudden howl sent a fireball flying.
This fireball was incredibly fast.
The Gui Shui Men disciple wasn't surprised. His eyes turned cold, and he blocked the fireball with his longsword.
But in the next instant, his expression changed.
The fireball exploded, and the resulting blast wave shook the Gui Shui Men disciple's sword, causing his hand to go numb, and he even took two steps back.
"This thing... is it a fireball spell?"
He was momentarily incredulous.
On the surface, it didn't seem much different, just a slightly deeper color, but its power was a whole level above an ordinary fireball spell.
Without experiencing it firsthand, one couldn't truly understand its power.
"Indeed... as the leader of Zhen Dao, he does have some skills..."
The Gui Shui Men disciple's heart sank.
But a fireball spell is still just a fireball spell.
After finally gaining this opportunity, all they needed to do was kill Mo Hua, and they would win.
Even when a lion hunts a rabbit, it gives its all.
At this moment, they had to go all out, leaving no room for carelessness.
The Gui Shui Men disciple's eyes were determined, and he repeated his technique, transforming into water mist and attempting to rush into the grove using the cover of Shuiying Bu to drag out Mo Hua.
But as soon as he started his Shuiying Bu, transforming into water mist, another fireball, as if it had grown "eyes," struck him with incredible "precision."
The Lundao Yu dimmed slightly.
He felt the pain of burns and the explosion on his body.
The Gui Shui Men disciple was forced back several steps, and his expression gradually changed:
"How... could I still be hit by a fireball spell?"
"What's going on?"
"I clearly used the exquisite 'Shuiying Bu,' with water shadows and water mist to obscure my movements. How could he still hit me?"
The Gui Shui Men disciple was perplexed.
In the grove, Mo Hua coldly hummed in his heart:
"Playing with Shui Ying Bu in front of me? It's like a little kid paying respects to his ancestors, so ridiculous..."
He pointed his finger, and another fireball spell shot out with a whistle.
The Gui Shui Men disciple could only block it head-on, but he was still knocked back several feet, and his "health" in Lundao Yu was also reduced.
He was a bit annoyed and flustered.
"It must be a coincidence!"
"I've practiced Shui Ying Bu for over a decade, pouring countless effort into it. How could it be so easily seen through by others?"
"I don't believe it!"
He continued to use Shui Ying Bu, approaching the grove, and as expected, he was blasted out by a precise fireball spell.
This fireball spell was fast, accurate, and fierce, as if it had grown eyes, staring at him and exploding.
No matter how he pushed Shui Ying Bu to the extreme, he couldn't escape this life-threatening fireball spell.
The Gui Shui Men disciple felt like vomiting blood.
"Damn it! How bored must someone be to cultivate the fireball spell to this level?!"
At the same time, he felt deep regret in his heart.
With Shui Ying Bu's advance and the fireball spell's retreat, after several rounds, the opportunity to "behead" Mo Hua in the grove had already been delayed.
Cheng Mo, Ou Yang Xuan, and Si Tu Jian, the three of them, gathered around.
With this, the crowd fought together with burning tension.
Tai Xu Men was still four against five.
But this time, it was a bit different. Because in the grove, from time to time, a fireball would fly out, precisely blasting the Gui Shui Men disciple.
Not only was it fast, but its power was also formidable, forcing them to divide their attention, stay alert, and be extremely exhausting.
The Gui Shui Men disciples instantly felt the pressure.
With Mo Hua's fireball spell support, Tai Xu Men's formation also changed.
Cheng Mo was still at the forefront, brandishing a pair of mountain-splitting axes with a formidable aura.
Si Tu Jian switched from offense to defense, guarding in front of Ling Hu Xiao, using the Lifu Sword to block the enemy's attacks and buy time for Ling Hu Xiao to gather Chong Xu Jian Qi.
With the front row protection, Ling Hu Xiao could focus on offense, using sword Qi for killing.
Ou Yang Xuan played the role of a vanguard, restraining the enemy.
Mo Hua hid in the grove, using the fireball spell to respond, assist, and oversee the overall situation, controlling the battle.
One defense, one guard, one offense, and one vanguard.
Plus, Mo Hua was an "assistant."
With this, Tai Xu Men's formation was almost like a fledgling, with the grove in front, figures intertwining, sword Qi surging, fireballs flying, and an intense battle.
In the face-off with Gui Shui Men, they were not at a disadvantage.
Among them, the most troublesome was Mo Hua's fireball spell.
During the battle, if any Gui Shui Men disciple showed a flaw, they would undoubtedly be hit by a fireball spell.
If someone attacked forcefully, they would be blocked by the fireball spell.
If someone used water escape, they would be bombarded by fireballs.
If someone was injured, they would be "adding insult to injury" with a fireball spell.
It combined suppression, rescue, interruption, insight, and damage.
Mo Hua's fireball spell was used to perfection.
Especially since he was hiding in the woods, never showing his face, only using the fireball spell to "join the battle," this mysterious sense of the unknown gave the Gui Shui Men disciples a tremendous sense of oppression.
But this was how the Gui Shui Men felt.
The spectators outside had a different experience.
The Gui Shui Men disciples couldn't see Mo Hua, so they felt it was mysterious, but they could see him.
On the giant Fangtian Huayin, Mo Hua's image was clearly displayed.
He was "hiding" in the grove, frequently pointing his fingers and throwing fireballs.
It gave off a playful vibe.
On the Huayin, through the overall perspective, they couldn't feel the speed, power, and accuracy of the fireball spell with their eyes alone. They couldn't sense the helplessness and oppression when facing the fireball spell.
They only felt it was a bit "absurd."
This was Qian Xue Prefecture, the Swordsman Competition Congress, where the geniuses of the nine states gathered, the top event where the proud sons of the four sects, eight gates, and twelve streams competed.
When would a beginner-level fireball spell appear on such a grand stage?
What's more infuriating was that someone was afraid of the fireball spell.
"That Gui Shui Men disciple, who knows Shui Ying Bu, has reached the edge of the grove. If he goes in and beheads Mo Hua, won't they win?"
"After being blasted by the fireball spell a few times, he actually retreated?"
"What's so scary about a mere fireball spell?"
"Exactly, and the other Gui Shui Men disciples look like rice buckets. After fighting for so long, they've taken all the fireballs without dodging a single one."
"Can they even dodge it?"
"This fireball spell is dragging down the level of the Swordsman Competition Congress..."
"I deeply agree..."
Most of the ordinary disciples and cultivators without personal experience discussed this matter.
But some elite disciples, as well as sect elders and family leaders, frowned.
They were experienced and had a high understanding of spells.
Even with the distortion from the Fangtian Huayin, they could still see some of the tricks.
It wasn't that the Gui Shui Men disciples were incapable, but this fireball spell was indeed extraordinary...
...
The swordsman competition on the field continued.
With the fireball spell used to perfection, Tai Xu Men gradually gained the upper hand.
Qin Cang Liu frowned.
He knew that in this situation, it was unlikely to sneak into the grove and behead Mo Hua, the "leader."
Since that was the case, they could only attack head-on.
Defeat Ling Hu Xiao, "kill" the other Tai Xu Men disciples, then rush into the grove and behead that despicable Mo Hua who used the fireball spell.
In this situation, it all depended on the performance of the proud sons.
Changing the situation, turning the tide, doing what ordinary people couldn't, that's what truly made them the "proud sons of heaven" of the family.
Without the ability to break the stalemate, they didn't deserve to be called proud sons.
The water light flashed, like the Canghai Overflowing Sword, gathering on Qin Cang Liu's sword, and for a moment, the sword light surged, and the might was astonishing.
His gaze was cruel and cold, fixed on Ling Hu Xiao.
Ling Hu Xiao's expression was calm, but his eyes also gathered fighting intent, and the sword Qi around him was stimulated.
The two stared at each other, and in the void, the sword Qi was as sharp as a blade.
All the observing cultivators felt their hearts tighten, and then their eyes showed anticipation.
They knew that the upcoming battle was the true meaning of Qian Xue Lunjian, the true "proud sons' showdown"...
(End of Chapter)
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