Chen Xian's severed arm whipped against his body with every violent movement, worsening his injuries.
But he paid it no mind, focused only on killing Jiang Shuo.
That unshakable resolve lent his Mad Saber Technique peerless, overwhelming power, steadily devouring the space Jiang Shuo had left to move.
He had planned this strike for a long time. Its force surged like raging waves, sealing off every route of escape. The only way to break through was to meet it head-on.
The only people capable of saving Jiang Shuo, Feng En and Liu Ruyan, had been seized by Wenren Qiang before they could act. Jiang Shuo could rely on no one but himself. Yet the increasingly perilous situation made it clear that he had already run out of options.
"Heh. After this strike, Jiang Shuo will be gravely wounded at best. The Hundred Flowers Sect has lost for sure!" Shi Gangwei said with a smile, predicting the outcome.
Feng En had led a large force straight into the Mad Saber Sect's Forbidden Ground, leaving Shi Gangwei seething with resentment. As events unfolded, the outcome of the clash between the two sides had come to rest on the duel between Jiang Shuo and Chen Xian. Shi Gangwei could only hope Chen Xian would kill Jiang Shuo in one blow, restoring the Mad Saber Sect's lost face and dispelling the hatred pent up in his heart.
"What a shame!" Many people watched Jiang Shuo and sighed to themselves.
The fight was nearing its end. How could they fail to see that Jiang Shuo had no profound Inner Force at all? If he did, he would have used it long ago, given how close he was to death.
They didn't know why Jiang Shuo had managed to knock Chen Xian back and grievously injure him with a single strike. But Jiang Shuo had fought with astonishing tenacity ever since. Given his meager strength, holding his own against Chen Xian for this long was already impressive. In the end, though, he was simply outmatched.
Faced with this frenzied strike, Jiang Shuo, who had been dodging in desperate disarray, suddenly calmed down.
Even if he managed to dodge by sheer luck, given the situation, it was only a matter of time before he died beneath Chen Xian's blade.
If he couldn't escape, there was no point in trying.
Having made up his mind, Jiang Shuo narrowed his eyes and took a step forward.
Seeing this, Feng En couldn't help but freeze. "This is..."
Ordinarily, when faced with such a desperate situation, most people would be so terrified they froze in place. Avoiding danger was human instinct, yet Jiang Shuo had done the opposite.
To everyone else, it was just a simple step. But it changed the point where the blade would land, giving Jiang Shuo a sliver of initiative amid his utter disadvantage.
However, Chen Xian, whose use of the Mad Saber Technique had pushed him to the brink of madness, failed to notice.
The instant Jiang Shuo took that step, Chen Xian only felt that his move had become awkward. But the discomfort was immediately drowned out by the fury and killing intent filling his mind.
Chen Xian's eyes glinted with viciousness, killing intent pouring from him as he thrust his long saber straight ahead.
"Pfft—"
The next instant, the vicious blade plunged into Jiang Shuo's body.
Because Jiang Shuo had stepped forward beforehand, this strike, which should have been fatal, had lost some of its force and shifted off target. Even so, it still left him gravely wounded.
The long saber drove into the left side of Jiang Shuo's lower abdomen. Its blood-red tip pierced through his back, and great sprays of steaming blood burst out.
The piercing pain was unlike anything Jiang Shuo had ever experienced, far worse than he had imagined. His body shook uncontrollably like a sieve. Wave after wave of pain hammered the back of his head like a giant mallet, threatening to drag his consciousness into a dark abyss.
"Gah—" Jiang Shuo finally couldn't hold back and spat out a mouthful of hot blood.
Victory or defeat was decided!
The Mad Saber Sect disciples, led by Shi Gangwei, all wore smug expressions.
So the Hundred Flowers Sect thought they were so impressive? Their disciple had been gravely wounded in front of everyone. What could they do about it?
Meanwhile, the Hundred Flowers Sect members looked on with pained expressions. Li Zicheng, who was on close terms with Jiang Shuo, was the first to rush forward. But before he could get halfway there, Mad Saber Sect disciples guarding the area blocked him.
Wenren Qiang kept Feng En and Liu Ruyan under watch, preventing them from acting rashly. Then a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he called out as if to remind Chen Xian, "Chen Xian!"
The implication was clear: Chen Xian was to finish the job and leave no loose ends.
Chen Xian, who had just unleashed that furious slash, had begun to regain his senses. At Wenren Qiang's call, he finally came to himself. He was about to pull out his saber and attack again, ending Jiang Shuo's life.
Just then, Jiang Shuo suddenly moved.
His body, hunched over from the pain, slowly straightened. He raised his lowered head, and his eyes, like those of a jackal and a fierce tiger, fixed on Chen Xian.
Chen Xian shuddered despite himself. Jiang Shuo's gaze seemed to pierce straight into his soul, making him hesitate for the briefest moment.
Jiang Shuo stepped forward. One more step.
The bloodstained long saber was still embedded in his body. With every inch he advanced, its sharp blade shifted another inch inside him.
The faint, dreadful sound of blade scraping against flesh made Chen Xian's eyes slowly widen, disbelief filling them.
As if oblivious to his wound growing deeper and wider, Jiang Shuo kept moving forward. His steps faltered, but he never stopped. Just how insane was this?
Before you continue