Sneak Attack

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With steady footsteps, a young man approached from straight ahead.

He was tall and well-proportioned, with thick brows and exceptionally thin lips. One look told you he was a vicious sort.

Seventh on the Wind and Cloud Ranking, known throughout the outer court as Boss Wen—Wen Chong! Xu Xiaoshou felt a powerful pressure bearing down on him. He knew Wen Chong cultivated a technique that built momentum; if he let it fully take shape, Xu Xiaoshou probably would not be able to take even one move.

Holding a Spirit Crystal, he sniffed it beneath his nose and gave a soft laugh. "Hello, Junior Brother!"

Wen Chong staggered, so furious his teeth hurt. His pressure collapsed without a fight.

Yes, no matter how imposing and majestic Wen Chong's bearing was, before Xu Xiaoshou, he was still a junior brother who had entered the sect a year later.

The spectators had been worrying over how Xu Xiaoshou would withstand that opening wave of pressure, but who would have thought this kid had trick after trick up his sleeve, each one strangely effective.

"I'm dying laughing. I'm convinced by Xu Xiaoshou!"

"Mother of god, he dared talk like that in front of Boss Wen? If it were me, my legs would have gone soft."

"Hahaha, otherwise why do you think he's made it this far? Xu Xiaoshou's still very strong."

In the arena, Wen Chong stared at him like a hawk. "Xu Xiaoshou, you're quite something. You dared touch one of my people. I assume you've prepared yourself for the consequences."

Xu Xiaoshou naturally knew who he meant—Liu Zhen. Who didn't? He cursed inwardly. Why was he so unlucky? He had just beaten the little one, and the old one came running out, not giving him any time at all to grow!

He could not help shooting the referee a glare.

The referee angrily waved a hand. "The match begins!"

Xu Xiaoshou instantly widened the distance. Wen Chong's strongest move was not his pressure, but a spirit technique called the "Shadow-Splitting Spirit Technique."

At its peak, this spirit technique could conjure seven clones at once. Combined with Wen Chong's elusive dagger techniques, once it latched onto someone, there was no escape.

Though the "Shadow-Splitting Spirit Technique" was only at the Acquired level, its practicality rivaled that of an Innate technique.

Seeing Xu Xiaoshou retreat, Wen Chong gave a cold smile. This was exactly what he wanted.

The longer the "Shadow-Splitting Spirit Technique" built momentum, the more clones he could summon at once. Since Xu Xiaoshou wanted to open up the distance, then they would drag it out together.

As his hand seals fell, Wen Chong sneered. Once he summoned seven clones, Xu Xiaoshou would undoubtedly die! Before the battle began, the arena still had its share of noise, but once it started, it instead fell silent. The spectator stands, however, remained in constant uproar.

"Is Xu Xiaoshou insane? Doesn't he know Boss Wen's 'Shadow-Splitting Spirit Technique' can build momentum too? Is he pulling away just to wait for death?"

"I heard he only knows one move from the 'White Cloud Sword Technique.' Maybe he really doesn't know?"

"It's over, it's over. Once Boss Wen and seven clones swarm him, this guy's going to be sliced into pieces."

"Yeah, it's not like he's the only one with a ninth-grade spirit weapon! Boss Wen's pair of purple daggers—tsk, tsk, terrifying!"

"Look, Xu Xiaoshou is still holding that wooden sword? Holy shit, he... he closed his eyes?"

Liu Zhen had already awakened under the care of the medics. The moment he reached the spectator stands, he saw that the two were both gathering momentum.

His pupils shrank—not because of Wen Chong's "Shadow-Splitting Spirit Technique," but because he saw Xu Xiaoshou close his eyes in that familiar way.

This was...

That sword move he had not used at the final moment of their last match? Everyone was revealing their trump cards right from the start? Wasn't this a little too explosive?

That was indeed what Xu Xiaoshou intended. His body could no longer endure a prolonged battle. Since both the "Shadow-Splitting Spirit Technique" and "Leisurely White Clouds" required building momentum, then one move would decide the victor!

Still, to avoid hurting anyone, he used a wooden sword!

He was a caring competitor who always considered his opponents.

He had tested the wooden sword yesterday. Its attack power was decent enough; it could barely cut through tree bark.

In truth, what made "Leisurely White Clouds" powerful was not the weapon, but the Sword Intent!

On the other side, illusory figures appeared one after another around Wen Chong. No one dared even breathe, knowing the outcome would be decided in an instant.

The referee had already lowered his stance. To be honest, what people in their line of work feared most was exactly this kind of clash.

If you did not let them exchange a blow, you could not tell who would win; if you did let them exchange a blow, someone might die.

"Huff!"

He stared fixedly at Xu Xiaoshou—at his wooden sword, at his closed eyes, at the aura around him gradually dimming—and panicked like mad.

Pull yourself together! Don't you have a Ninth-Grade Spirit Sword? Take it out and clash with him!

As long as you survive Wen Chong's first wave of attacks, I can save you!

"Buzz!"

A crisp sword cry rang out. Everyone's hearts tightened as they looked toward Xu Xiaoshou's sword.

Uh, a wooden sword?

Had they heard wrong? Could it be Wen Chong's daggers trembling? Everyone turned their heads at once, only to see a gleam flash in Wen Chong's eyes. His body became an afterimage as he shifted positions, crossing and flickering with his clones while slicing toward Xu Xiaoshou.

The distance closed...

Half the arena!

One zhang! Xu Xiaoshou... still had his eyes closed! Everyone was cursing inwardly. Death was already at your doorstep, and you still won't open your eyes? You might never open them again! The referee instantly lunged forward. Xu Xiaoshou had gone mad; seriously injured as he was, he had surely already given up the match! Yet just as the two came within inches of each other, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly opened his eyes. Sword in his right hand, he had somehow already drawn a slash! This slash was incomparably slow, like leisurely white clouds, instantly soothing everyone's agitated hearts.

"Buzz!"

Another sword cry rang out. This time, everyone saw it clearly—it was Xu Xiaoshou's wooden sword rejoicing, not Wen Chong's daggers.

"A wooden sword?"

"What's going on?"

The spectators were desperate to react, but they themselves were caught in the disaster.

"Clang—"

This sound came from every sword at everyone's waist trembling, as though drawn together by Sword Intent into a single chorus.

The scene was so familiar that every sword cultivator present could not help recalling the mysterious mile-long chorus of swords from the outer court two days ago.

Could that have been caused by Xu Xiaoshou? "Th-this is impossible!"

"Are my eyes playing tricks on me?"

In midair, Xiao Qixiu's eyes widened as he gripped his own sword in shock.

Acquired Sword Intent?! It really was Xu Xiaoshou?!

In the arena, the instant the humming began, Wen Chong immediately changed tactics. He retreated almost brushing against Xu Xiaoshou's nose, and seven clones instantly blocked the way before him.

Clang, clang, clang...

Sword light met purple daggers, and the sound of clashing steel rang without end.

Wen Chong's face was full of shock. That one slash from this kid had unleashed no fewer than hundreds of sword lights. This seemingly slow net of sword light not only sealed off his attack routes, but forced him back again and again.

"How is this possible?"

"Isn't this kid a body temperer? How can he possess such terrifying swordsmanship?"

Sss! Sss! Sss! Wen Chong's clones were cut apart one after another. Fine sword marks appeared all over his body, and blood sprayed out!

Outside the arena, Liu Zhen was stunned by the swordsmanship...

He remembered that Xu Xiaoshou had held Hidden Pain back then. If he had not used Dark Calamity to blow apart Xu Xiaoshou's attack, would he not have become a pile of minced flesh by now? Sure enough, this kid was just as he had thought—hiding his true strength deep beneath the surface!

In the arena, Wen Chong was driven back to where he had started, nearly forced off the platform.

He put away his daggers and crossed his hands before his chest. A spiritual energy shield abruptly burst from his body, instantly blasting away all the sword lights.

"Spirit-Rushing Shield!"

As the spiritual energy dispersed, Wen Chong's pupils shrank.

Xu Xiaoshou's long bangs tilted upward with his forward momentum. His wooden sword was already pressed against Wen Chong's throat.

"You lost."

Gulp!

Wen Chong swallowed instinctively. As his Adam's apple bobbed, a streak of blood was cut across it by the wooden sword's sword aura.

His face was covered in blood, but they were all superficial wounds. He was even still at his peak condition, yet he had lost.

One sword, one sentence.

Seventh on the Wind and Cloud Ranking, defeated!

The wind swept through the sand. The spectator stands fell deathly silent, and the referee stood frozen behind them.

Xu Xiaoshou sheathed his sword and turned around. He needed to go back and rest, to recover. That single sword strike had drained all his spiritual energy.

His leg trembled...

Endure it. Don't fall. So many people are watching. I have to see this act through!

Wen Chong's eyes were full of unwillingness. Other than gathering momentum, the real battle had lasted less than a few breaths, yet he had lost? Seventh on the Wind and Cloud Ranking, Boss Wen of the outer court, had actually lost! He did not turn around. Standing within the barrier, he seemed already able to hear the merciless laughter from the spectator stands.

Xu Xiaoshou had allowed Liu Zhen to cripple him, yet Boss Wen had been defeated by him in a single sword strike! Xu Xiaoshou had dared tease Di Xin'er with a wooden sword, yet after Boss Wen entered the arena, he had still been powerless against him!

A vicious glint flashed through Wen Chong's eyes!

The purple daggers he held upside down within his sleeves flashed with a subtle aura. He transformed into an afterimage and charged forward again!

"Watch out!"

"Wen Chong, stop!"

"The match is over! Over!"

The referee roared as he pounced forward. He never could have imagined that because he had called out "The match is over" a moment too late, such consequences would result.

Anyone with eyes could see Xu Xiaoshou had won, yet Wen Chong had actually launched a sneak attack!

He had absolutely no time to stop it! "Sneak attacked. Passive Value +1."

Because Xu Xiaoshou was greedy for money, he always kept a thread of attention on the information panel. Catching sight of this message, he abruptly turned and struck at an angle.

Ssh! Wen Chong's ninth-grade spirit dagger plunged viciously into Xu Xiaoshou's shoulder, blood bursting forth.

Ssh! Xu Xiaoshou's right hand pierced through Wen Chong's chest. That position was where his heart lay!

The contract offer came this afternoon. I just mailed the contract out, and I'll be signing soon. I'm so happy.