The red-robed elder glanced at the two men, then retreated to the edge of the platform, his voice calm:
"Start."
The instant the two words were uttered—two figures moved simultaneously!
Without any probing or words, he attacked with all his might!
Qin Yuan drew his sword and unleashed the full power of his " Metal Blade Intent ".
Dark Gold Saber Aura swept across the sky, carrying a terrifying power that surpassed even the Break Three Passes and rivaled that of a Grandmaster. It transformed into a blade of light that seemed capable of cleaving the heavens and earth, directly slashing at Chu Jinghong!
As the Saber Aura, a series of ear-piercing sonic booms echoed through the air.
Chu Jinghong drew his sword, and a purple sword light surged forth as he fully unleashed the " Rainbow Sword Intent " he had comprehended.
With a thrust of the sword, the sword light was like a purple rainbow tearing through the sky, carrying the sharp intent to cut through everything, and fiercely met the Saber Aura!
Where the sword passed, the air was torn open by a dark rift more than ten feet long, emitting a low groan, as if space itself trembled under this sword strike.
"Boom--!!!"
Swords clashed, unleashing a deafening roar!
The sound was so intense that the entire venue trembled violently, causing countless audience members' eardrums to ring, and some who were close by even felt their blood surging in their chests.
A visible shockwave spread wildly outwards from the point of impact, forming a murky ripple in mid-air.
On the stage, before the dust had even settled, the two figures crossed paths once again!
Qin Yuan's swordsmanship was expansive and powerful, each strike containing terrifying power capable of shattering mountains and splitting rocks. The sword light flowed like a waterfall, continuously enveloping all of Chu Jinghong's vital points.
Chu Jinghong's Sword Technique relies on speed to overcome speed and skill to defeat force. Her purple sword light is as agile as a snake, always finding gaps where the blade light is most concentrated, allowing her to launch a fierce counterattack.
Each thrust of the sword left a dark crack in the air.
The two fought with lightning speed, their figures rapidly intersecting on the stage, their dark gold and cyan gold lights colliding, intertwining, and annihilating each other.
Each collision produced a deafening roar, with shockwaves spreading outwards wave after wave.
One hundred moves... two hundred moves... three hundred moves...
Their breathing became rapid, and their robes were torn to shreds by the aftershocks of the Sword Qi and the wind from the blades.
A sword wound appeared on Qin Yuan's left shoulder, and blood soaked through his Dark Gold outfit, leaving a dark mark on his left shoulder.
A knife wound appeared on the outside of Chu Jinghong's right arm, and blood dripped down the hilt of the sword, leaving a series of shocking blood spots on the white jade table.
But their gazes remained as sharp as ever.
After another fierce collision, Qin Yuan's movements became slightly sluggish due to his depleted Internal Qi.
It's that slight delay!
Chu Jinghong's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and the longsword in his hand emitted a sharp whistle like tearing silk. The purple sword light surged to its limit, transforming into an ultimate sword light that seemed to be able to pierce through the void, and stabbed straight at Qin Yuan!
This sword strike embodied all his energy and spirit; it was the strongest he had unleashed since reaching the First Grade Late Stage!
Qin Yuan's pupils contracted sharply, and he mustered all his strength to hold his longsword horizontally in front of him, attempting to block the attack.
However—this sword strike was too fast and too fierce!
"Clang—Click!"
A piercing cracking sound rang out.
The dark gold longsword let out a mournful cry of unbearable strain as it was pierced through the middle by the purple sword light!
The sword tip pierced through the blade, its momentum undiminished, and stopped firmly three inches from Qin Yuan's throat.
The cold light emanating from the sword's blade stirred up a fine granulation on Qin Yuan's skin.
The entire venue was deathly silent.
A deathly silence.
Qin Yuan gripped the broken longsword, stared at the sword tip pressed against his throat, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly released his grip on the hilt.
With a clang, the broken knife fell onto the white jade table, making a crisp sound.
"I lost."
His voice was hoarse, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.
The red-robed elder's voice rang out in the silence, not loud, but carrying an undeniable authority:
" Chu Jinghong of Cangwu Prefecture wins."
As the red-robed elder finished speaking, a deafening clamor erupted.
" Chu Jinghong won! Chu Jinghong won!"
"Both possess combat power surpassing the Break Three Passes, it seems Chu Jinghong is still slightly superior!"
Some were amazed, some felt regret, and many more were still reeling from the shock of that earth-shattering sword strike.
Fang Han on the stands, gazing at the pale figure holding a sword on the stage, and slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.
The power of that sword strike was indeed astonishing.
Qin Yuan's Saber Aura was already extremely powerful, yet it was still pierced through by Chu Jinghong's sword.
Even he had to admit that he was currently not up to par with this level of skill.
However, that gap is not insurmountable.
What he lacks is simply time.
After the Martial Arts Tournament concluded, Fang Han, Luo Yuntian, and the others returned to the Royal Annex together.
Along the way, Luo Yuntian and his companions were constantly discussing the day's epic showdown.
Fang Han mostly listened quietly, occasionally responding with a few words.
It was already afternoon when I returned to my residence in the villa.
At the door, a figure dressed in a purple steward's robe was waiting respectfully.
The steward, who was around forty years old and had a thin face, immediately stepped forward and bowed when he saw Fang Han and his group return.
"Young Master Fang, I am here on the orders of the royal family to handle the redemption of your Martial Arts Tournament rewards."
Fang Han nodded slightly. "Thank you for your trouble, Steward."
He stepped aside to invite him in, and the steward followed him into the courtyard.
Luo Yuntian and the others wisely refrained from following them inside and returned to their respective residences.
Inside the Living Room, the steward took out a booklet bound in gold thread from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.
"Young Master Fang, this is the list of rare and precious materials for exchange, as well as the catalog of cultivation techniques for exchange. Please take a look."
Fang Han took the booklet and slowly unfolded it.
The booklet was quite heavy to hold. The cover was made of an unknown animal hide, and the inner pages were made of a light gold-colored thin paper with clear and neat ink.
The section on natural and rare medicinal materials is categorized and records in detail the name, appearance, age, efficacy, and grade of each type.
The martial arts techniques are arranged by type and grade, from Low-Grade Artistic Conception martial arts to Middle-Grade Artistic Conception martial arts, with a brief introduction to each.
He observed carefully, and the manager did not urge him, but simply stood quietly to the side with his hands at his sides.
According to the rules of the Martial Arts Tournament, participants will receive one Low-Grade Heavenly Treasure, and will receive an additional herb for each round won.
He made it through the eighth round, and with the participation rewards, he will be able to obtain a total of nine Low-Grade Heavenly Treasure.
Fang Han's gaze slowly swept over the list of rare and precious materials for exchange, his mind quickly weighing the options.
His Body Movement Talent is still greatly improved, having only consumed one dose of Howling Moon Spirit Deer antler.
Even with Body Tempering Talent, having only consumed one Golden Flame Sacred Lotus, there is still great potential for improvement.
Despite consuming two rare and precious herbs, his innate talent in Secret Art Talent still has room for improvement.
As for his Root Bone Talent and Sword Technique talent, he had already consumed four Low-Grade Heavenly Treasure of the same type, and his body had developed a strong resistance to these herbs, so further consumption would only result in limited improvement.
Unless one is consuming a higher-grade, Mid-Grade Heavenly Treasure.
Unfortunately, the reward for obtaining Mid-Grade Heavenly Treasure is only after passing the ninth level, but he only managed to pass the eighth level.
"Three Body Movement Talent, three rare and precious materials for Body Tempering Talent, two rare and precious materials for Secret Art Talent, and... one rare and precious material for Sword Technique."
He made up his mind, looked up at the steward, and named out the rare and precious materials he needed.
The steward wrote everything down.
"Regarding cultivation techniques, if Young Master Fang passes the eighth round, he will obtain one Low-Grade Artistic Conception technique and one Middle-Grade Artistic Conception arts technique."
The manager spoke again.
Fang Han nodded slightly and opened the cultivation technique exchange catalog.
There are quite a few Low-Grade Artistic Conception martial arts techniques, covering various categories such as swords, fists, palms, Body Movement techniques, and secret arts.
His gaze lingered on the category of tracking-type arcane arts.
Of all the martial arts he currently practices, only the Tracking Secret Technique is of the lowest grade, belonging to the level below Grandmaster.
After a moment's thought, he chose a Low-Grade Artistic Conception Tracking Secret Technique called " Soul-Chasing Art ".
Then there are Middle-Grade Artistic Conception martial arts techniques.
In terms of Sword Technique, the < Great Void Wind God Sword >, which I am currently practicing but have not yet Beginner stage, is already at the Middle-Grade Artistic Conception and does not need to be replaced.
Compared to Body Movement, Horizontal Training, and secret arts, Internal Qi cultivation, being the most fundamental of all, is undoubtedly the most important.
His gaze swept over the internal cultivation category. He originally wanted to choose a wind-attribute internal cultivation technique, but in the end, he stopped at the description of a technique called < Greenwood Poison-Avoidance Scripture >.
The Internal Qi cultivated through this technique contains the vitality of plants and trees, and is not only long-lasting and mellow, but also has a remarkable detoxifying effect.
When practiced to a high level, ordinary toxins entering the body will be resolved by the Internal Qi on their own.
"When you're traveling, the most difficult thing to guard against is poison."
Fang Han muttered to himself.
The < Greenwood Poison-Avoidance Scripture >, a Middle-Grade Artistic Conception martial art capable of detoxification, combined with the Shenshu Aperture Divine Treasury his body that can also detoxify, makes him fearless of most poisons and free from the worry of poisoning.
Compared to the slight enhancement of wind-attribute sword techniques by wind-attribute internal Sword Technique techniques, this detoxification effect of internal energy cultivation techniques was more attractive to him.
"That's it, the < Greenwood Poison-Avoidance Scripture >."
He closed the booklet and said to the steward.
The steward noted it down and said:
"The items to be exchanged need to be retrieved from the royal treasury and should arrive by tomorrow at the latest. I will personally deliver them then."
Thank you for your trouble.
Fang Han nodded slightly, and the steward bowed before turning and leaving.
The steward arrived on time the next day.
This time, he was followed by four Royal Annex Guard dressed in tight-fitting clothes, each carrying a wooden box.
Four wooden boxes were laid out in a row on the Living Room table. The steward opened the lids of each box one by one and asked Fang Han to inspect them.
The first wooden box contained three rare and precious herbs, each with a different shape, that could enhance one's Body Movement Talent.
A Seven-Leaf Spirit Herb, entirely silvery-white, with faint shimmering light on its veins; a fist-sized, bird-shaped, crimson fruit; and a thumb-sized, pale blue fruit covered in cloud-like patterns.
The second wooden box contained three rare and precious medicinal herbs that could enhance one's Body Tempering Talent.
A rare ancient ginseng with gnarled roots and a dark golden body; a rare Ganoderma lucidum with jet-black skin and dark red markings; and a fist-sized, translucent white fruit.
The third wooden box contained two rare and precious herbs that could enhance one's Secret Art Talent.
An Eight-Petaled Purple Lotus, its petals shimmering with a faint silver light; a Dark Green fruit, its surface covered with fine, rune-like patterns.
The fourth wooden box contained only one rare and precious herb that could enhance Sword Technique talent.
It was a plant that resembled the Sword-Shaped Grass in shape, but it had Three-Leaf Sword Grass leaves, and the leaves were sword-shaped.
"These four wooden boxes contain the rare and precious materials you exchanged, young master. Please check them."
The steward pointed to the four Dark Cyan boxes.
Fang Han stepped forward to check, and it was indeed the rare and precious material he had exchanged.
"Young master, these are the < Soul-Chasing Art > and < Greenwood Poison-Avoidance Scripture > you exchanged."
Fang Han's inspection was correct, the steward took out two secret manuals from his sleeve and solemnly handed them over.
"Thank you, steward."
After briefly glancing through the Fang Han put it into his pocket, and then the steward and his Guard took their leave.