Instant Kill

Below the arena, Jiang Tao held Chen Mo's backpack and weapon, watching with a smile as Chen Mo prepared.

The martial hall provided weapons, so Chen Mo naturally chose to freeload.

When Chen Mo looked over, Jiang Tao even said, "Good luck," but because of the distance and the noise, Chen Mo didn't hear him. He did, however, catch Jiang Tao's lip movements and understood his meaning, so he nodded.

Jiang Tao naturally saw Chen Mo nod and felt reassured.

If it had been noon, when Chen Mo was up against Li Donghai, Jiang Tao might have been worried. But now that Chen Mo's Basic Saber Technique had reached perfection, even if Li Donghai was a minor realm higher, victory wasn't guaranteed.

He had faith in Chen Mo.

That was why Jiang Tao hadn't tried to talk him out of it; instead, he cheered him on.

Zhang He and Yang Hu, seeing Jiang Tao's reaction, couldn't help but come over to make snide remarks.

"Jiang Tao, you and Chen Mo are together every day, practically best buddies. And you're just watching him get beaten up? What a 'good brother' you are!"

Zhang He stressed the words "good brother," his tone dripping with obvious mockery.

Jiang Tao naturally caught the implication and shot back:

"We are good brothers, but your relationship with Li Donghai isn't all that great either. When he loses, let's see how you console him!"

"Brother Donghai is a Seventh-grade Martial Trainee with his swordsmanship at Major Accomplishment, while Chen Mo is just a Fifth-grade Martial Disciple with his saber technique at Minor Accomplishment. How could he possibly lose? Jiang Tao, can't you see this is a one-sided stomp?"

Yang Hu couldn't help retorting, and Zhang He chimed in:

"Exactly! The gap is huge—no matter what, Chen Mo is going to lose! You're not even worried about him; instead, you're smiling. Remember, blades and swords have no eyes. Let's see if you're still smiling later!"

"You'll be the ones not smiling! I have faith in Chen Mo! You wouldn't understand even if I told you! Hmph!"

With a snort, Jiang Tao turned and walked away from the two.

He didn't want to argue with them. He simply wouldn't reveal Chen Mo's improvement, and even if he did, these two wouldn't believe him anyway.

He didn't have much of a relationship with them, so it wasn't worth wasting his mood explaining. Soon enough, Chen Mo would slap their faces himself.

"Hey, Jiang Tao, why are you leaving?" Zhang He was about to say something more when the referee's voice rang out:

"Silence!"

The audience below the arena immediately stopped their chatter, and Zhang He wisely shut up.

"Time's up. Chen Mo, Li Donghai, step onto the arena and prepare for the match!"

The arena was a circle with a radius of ten meters, covering over six hundred twenty-six square meters—nearly a mu of land—more than enough for the two to maneuver.

"Yes!"

Chen Mo and Li Donghai each took their weapons, walked onto the arena, and stood ten meters apart on opposite sides.

Li Donghai was brimming with confidence, looking at Chen Mo with a mocking gaze.

To provoke Chen Mo, he even gave him a thumbs-up, then turned it downward.

Chen Mo, in contrast, seemed not to notice Li Donghai's gesture at all, his expression calm.

Chen Mo's demeanor greatly disappointed the audience below, who had been hoping for some excitement.

They preferred it when opponents traded harsh words before a match, making the outcome all the more entertaining.

"Damn! This kid named Chen Mo is such a coward! The guy just gave him an insulting gesture, and he doesn't even react! Can't he at least talk some trash?"

"Maybe he's scared! The other guy's realm is higher. If he talks back, he might get hit harder—that would be trouble!"

The referee heard the murmurs from below but ignored them, instead looking at Chen Mo and the other and announcing loudly:

"The match is about to begin. Blades and swords have no eyes. Once one side loses combat capability, the other must not continue attacking."

"If you find yourself outmatched, you may concede voluntarily, and the other side must stop immediately."

"Also, no lethal strikes are allowed. If I detect any, I will intervene at once!"

"Do you understand?"

"Understood!" Chen Mo and Li Donghai replied in unison.

The referee wasted no time:

"Then, let the match begin!"

With that, he flashed to the edge of the arena.

Li Donghai immediately drew his longsword and pointed it at Chen Mo, saying:

"Chen Mo, don't you dare give up too quickly! I want to have some fun with you!"

"When you lose, don't go crying!"

"Are you done or not? Hurry up and attack—I'm in a rush. If you don't come at me, I'll just concede! I've already pocketed fifty thousand for nothing!"

Chen Mo drew his Tang Dao and said flatly.

He really was tempted to just concede right then—earning fifty thousand with just a few words was way too easy!

"You wouldn't dare!"

Li Donghai's anger surged, and he charged forward fiercely. He had no intention of letting Chen Mo give up so easily.

If that were the case, wouldn't he just be a sucker, spending fifty thousand yuan to step onto the arena and become a laughingstock?

Li Donghai charged over, but Chen Mo stood motionless, as if stunned.

In reality, he had already activated Spiritual Perception, waiting for Li Donghai's arrival.

Seeing Chen Mo's reaction, Li Donghai assumed he was frightened, so he quickly sped up, intending to teach Chen Mo a lesson before he could shout out his surrender.

From ten meters away, they closed to just three meters, and then Chen Mo moved.

The next second, they clashed.

Immediately after, Li Donghai felt a numbness in his right hand, and the sword in his grip clattered to the ground.

At the same time, a chill crept across his neck, freezing him in place, too scared to move.

Only then did Chen Mo's voice ring in his ears:

"You lost!"

The voice was soft, yet it struck like a thunderclap.

By now, Chen Mo stood behind Li Donghai, his blade pressed against his neck. The entire process had been completed in an instant.

The cold at his neck sent a shiver through Li Donghai; he had no idea how he had lost.

But Chen Mo paid no attention to Li Donghai's reaction, instead looking toward the referee in the distance:

"Referee, can you announce the result now?"

The referee snapped to attention, quickly approached the two, separated them, and declared:

"Arena battle, Chen Mo wins!"

The referee looked at Chen Mo, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

Chen Mo's blade technique was exquisite, his strike decisive—a single move to subdue the enemy, which had even startled him.

Only after the referee announced the result did Li Donghai and the audience below snap back to reality.

Li Donghai still couldn't figure out how he had lost.

Neither could the crowd below; before they could even see what had happened between the two, Chen Mo already had his blade at Li Donghai's neck.

Then the referee announced the result.

It was hard for them to believe.

This was a one-hit kill!

The crowd buzzed with disbelief, having expected a thrilling showdown, only to get this!

"How is this possible!" Li Donghai couldn't accept the result and shouted out, "Chen Mo, whether in cultivation realm or martial skill realm, I'm above you—how could I lose?"

"You must have ambushed me; I wasn't ready. No, we have to rematch!"

Chen Mo ignored Li Donghai entirely, instead turning to the referee:

"Referee, this Li Donghai refuses to accept your judgment and won't abide by the rules!"