"Green Vine Garment." He spread his limbs and let the Thunder Vine spread across his body. The vines intertwined and wove together in the blink of an eye, forming an airtight suit of armor made entirely of blue vines.
Chu Yun had already charged close.
"Stand down. The technique I'm about to use is devastating. A new student like you can't withstand it. Hurry up and surrender, so you don't suffer needlessly. It wouldn't look good if I seriously injured you and left you bedridden right at the start of the school year." Yan Que spoke coldly, advising Chu Yun to give up in the tone of an older student.
Chu Yun's charge didn't slow.
"Hmph. I tried to reason with you, but you're asking for trouble. Don't blame me, then. Thunder Vine, root yourself and stop him!" Yan Que sneered and issued a new command.
The Thunder Vine quickly pierced the arena floor, burrowing underground to absorb the earth's primordial energy. At the same time, it sent out leaf blades and wove whips from its vines, trying to halt Chu Yun's charge.
"Oh no, judging by this, Senior Yan Que is about to use that move!"
"That move is devastating and attacks indiscriminately. There's practically no way to counter it!"
"Young Tiger Chu Yun is in for a world of hurt. He'll have to retreat right now to escape it."
"But he's not retreating. He's still charging forward. Sigh! He's being brave for the sake of it. The outcome's already decided."
Everyone trembled as they saw Yan Que's stance, breaking out in cold sweat. They let out a collective sigh, convinced Chu Yun didn't know when to back down and was sure to lose.
Chu Yun's expression was icy. The Drunken Snow Blade danced in his hand, a mass of snowy shadows, cold air pouring from it as the scent of wine wafted through the arena. Its razor-sharp blade swept everything aside, shredding countless branches as broken vines and rotten leaves flew all around him.
"Freshman, ignorance is weakness. I'll show you how the Thunder Vine got its name. Bear fruit!" By this point, Yan Que was calm and composed, leisurely issuing the command.
The vines continued to absorb the earth's primordial energy. Their branches trembled, and clusters of deep blue fruit quickly formed. These were the famed Thunder Fruits, which burst with electrical plasma and thunderous energy, powerful enough to shatter rocks and blow up mountains.
"It's over." Yan Que watched Chu Yun steadily draw closer and sighed. "Learn from this and build up your knowledge. Remember, a Spirit Beast Master must know both himself and his enemy. I know you inside out, but you know nothing about my techniques. Your defeat was sealed from the very beginning."
"Chu Yun's done for!"
"Senior Yan Que really is a cut above!"
The crowd sighed in awe. Some had already covered their eyes, unable to bear seeing what would happen to Chu Yun next.
"Thunder Fruits, explode!" Yan Que suddenly roared.
Boom! Boom! Boom...
Explosions rang out one after another, deafening the crowd. Blinding light flashed across the arena as lightning crackled and electrical plasma burst in every direction. The spectators covered their ears and shut their eyes.
The Thunder Fruits exploded, each blast incredibly powerful. They even threatened the Thunder Vine itself; many of its tendrils were caught in the blasts and blown to pieces. Shattered vines and broken leaves flew everywhere, blotting out the sky.
"The Thunder Fruit explosion is a tactic that kills a thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred of your own. Chu Yun, forcing me to use this move is an honor. Remember how this feels. The next time you oppose us commoner scholars, think back to this moment."
Yan Que sneered inwardly. The Green Vine Garment still covered him, but the blasts shook him all the same, churning his insides and leaving his chest tight. After this battle, his Demon Plant, the Thunder Vine, would lose twenty years of cultivation. What's more, he would have to spend half a month recovering and wouldn't be able to use the Thunder Fruit explosion a second time.
Still, that sacrifice was worth it for the victory.
But just as he thought the outcome was settled, the spectators suddenly cried out in unison!
"Impossible! Did I see that wrong?" someone cried.
"In the middle of all those explosions, Young Tiger is still moving forward! Is this a dream?" someone asked, slapping himself before clutching his face and sucking in a breath at the pain.
The Thunder Fruits continued to explode, but the blasts were no longer as dense as before. They came in twos and threes, and the flashes of lightning were no longer blinding. The spectators stood gaping, unable to believe what they were seeing.
Chu Yun was moving forward!
Amid the explosions and the lightning, he kept stepping ahead without ever retreating!
"How can this be? That swordsmanship—this swordsmanship!" Even Yan Que was stunned when he got a good look.
The Thunder Fruits exploded violently all around him, yet they couldn't stop Chu Yun's advance. The Drunken Snow Blade danced freely in his hands, drawing a brilliant, dazzling arc of light.
Chop, lift, slice, shave—the four basic saber techniques flowed effortlessly from Chu Yun's hand. They linked together and spun seamlessly, without the slightest pause or hitch.
At that moment, Ning Yiyi's eyes widened, Hua Ying's mouth fell open, and Jin Bihan stared blankly. Everyone stood dumbstruck, their hearts shaken to the core.
"Young Tiger—this is Young Tiger! He's so fierce that even thunder can't stop him!"
"With a saber in hand, he's invincible! No wonder he slew Remnant Wolf. It wasn't luck. This is real strength!"
The shockwaves of the explosions reached him, only to be undone by the force of his blade. Lightning struck, only to be redirected by the blade itself. Chu Yun wielded the Drunken Snow Blade with perfect ease, as if it were part of his body.
"Only wandering warriors who've spent decades perfecting their demon blades and faced death time and again could have swordsmanship like that. Did Chu Yun start practicing in his mother's womb?"
Yan Que could hardly believe his eyes. Chu Yun's swordsmanship had reached the pinnacle. Man and blade had become one, forming an inseparable whole.
"Chu Yun is only thirteen. There's no mistake about that. The only explanation is that he's a once-in-a-generation saber genius! I thought victory was assured and that I had a massive advantage. I never imagined that he was the one with the real advantage!" Yan Que could only find this explanation. His thoughts were in turmoil, and his fighting spirit was already crumbling.
"One stroke to end it!" Chu Yun cleaved through the lightning and strode forward. He unleashed the final move of the Shu Family Island style. In an instant, the blade's light drew inward and its force vanished, leaving only the Drunken Snow Blade, like a sword carved from ice and snow.
The blade traced an unfathomable, mystical path, cutting straight through the Green Vine Garment and into Yan Que's chest.
Blood sprayed out. The branches of the Thunder Vine shuddered as if struck by lightning, then quickly fell still. Yan Que's eyes flew open as he toppled backward!
The arena fell utterly silent. Then, after a long pause, it erupted.
"He won! Young Tiger Chu Yun beat Senior Yan Que. He really is the strongest freshman in history!"
"He cut his way through without stopping. No matter how Senior Yan Que attacked, Chu Yun met him blow for blow, then brought down that final slash. Senior Yan Que just fell."
"Damn it, we can't get into the arena. Senior Yan Que's wound looks really serious..."
"Cough, cough. You won. I didn't expect you to be this strong. Cough, I misjudged you." Yan Que lay on the ground, a massive gash running from the upper right of his chest to the lower left, blood pouring out. One hand couldn't even cover it.
His wound was serious, but it wasn't fatal.
At the last moment, Chu Yun had held back a fraction of his blade's force, but he had still taught Yan Que a lesson he wouldn't forget.
"I told you I only speak with facts. I have no interest in the struggle between commoners and the wealthy clans. Don't stand in my way, Yan Que." Chu Yun looked down at his fallen opponent and slowly slid the Drunken Snow Blade, still unstained by blood, into the scabbard on his back.
As soon as he spoke, it was as if his words held some kind of magic. The surrounding crowd fell silent. Throughout the entire arena, only his calm voice could be heard.
After saying this, he walked over Yan Que's body and left the arena, his expression unchanged. The crowd parted of its own accord. Not a single student dared to stand in his way.