Seeing that the Eleventh Elder had approached within inches of the Jade Dragon Sacred Sword's summoning array and placed his hand upon it, he began reciting several phrases in a language Brando could not understand at all. All he could tell was that the words rose and fell with a sonorous, forceful rhythm.
..
But Brando could faintly sense the other party's aura suddenly linking with the Azure Dragon suspended in midair. His heart sank. He glanced at the Seventh Elder and Third Elder before him, then suddenly took something from the Floating Celestial Sphere hanging before his chest.
It was an ancient-looking long-toothed bone flute with five holes. Gold ornaments encircled its mouthpiece, and a relief of an ivy-wreathed goddess holding a vase was carved upon it. It was none other than the Hofward Horn of Commendation he had traded for from the Tirmosians.
Without a word, he activated Flash Sword, followed by two Wind Empress Nine Luminaries attacks, one before and one behind. Two figures stabbed toward the Third Elder and Seventh Elder like bolts of lightning, nearly making both men's eyes pop out of their sockets.
"No, they're not afterimages! Watch out! His attacks ignore distance!"
The Third Elder felt every hair on his body stand on end. When had Swallow Plain gained such a terrifying person? Yet his heart remained utterly calm. Iron Heart Style placed the greatest emphasis on a heart harder than steel. As a grandmaster of Iron Heart Style, the closer he came to death, the more tranquil he became.
He changed from a one-handed grip to a two-handed one and summoned the power of the iron heart within him. All his previous surprise, delight, shock, and jealousy vanished, melting into his cold, ironlike heart. The person before him was no longer Brando,