Sword Momentum

Sword Momentum

Weapon racks were carried onto the arena, fully stocked with sabers, swords, spears, cudgels, forks, axes, yues, and hooks.

Nie Xiaoyue went straight for a longsword. The moment the sword entered her hand, her entire aura seemed to rise by a large margin.

Yu Feng took a long spear. From the way he gripped it, anyone could tell his attainment with weapons fell far short of Nie Xiaoyue's. Add to that the fact that his cultivation was one level lower, and his chances of winning this battle were not high.

"Yu Feng, be careful. I won't be holding back!" After giving that warning, Nie Xiaoyue immediately launched her attack.

Her goal was simple: first place on this year's Youth Ranking. No matter who stood in her way, she would kick them aside without the slightest courtesy, and Yu Feng was no exception!

"Look, Nie Xiaoyue's Nie Family Sword Technique has actually reached this level. With her qi force driving it, the sword technique's power has increased tremendously. If Yu Feng wants to win, it'll be harder than climbing to the heavens!"

"That's right. Nie Xiaoyue has practiced swordsmanship since she was little. Who would've thought it would actually have its moment today?"

"As expected of the proud daughter of heaven of our Zhushan Town. In my opinion, the Dragon Tower Master will definitely recommend her for admission into the empire's Huilong Academy."

Yu Feng raised his spear to meet the enemy. The long spear danced in his hands as he barely dealt with Nie Xiaoyue's sword moves. Though his spear skills were poor, he still understood one principle—he absolutely could not let Nie Xiaoyue get close!

Because of that, his spearwork focused even more on defense, and little by little, even the slight bit of structure it had originally possessed vanished. Several times, he was nearly stabbed by Nie Xiaoyue's longsword.

This can't go on. I have no chance of winning at all! Yu Feng's brows were tightly furrowed. If they were not using weapons, he might still have been able to rely on his experience with fists and feet to defeat Nie Xiaoyue, but now he had even lost in terms of moves. His chances of victory were practically zero.

Do I really have to use that move? Yu Feng was unwilling.

Once he used that forbidden move, he would no longer have the ability to oppose Jiang Feng. Because that move could only sustain him for a brief moment, and after that brief moment passed, he himself would suffer damage and need a long time of recuperation before he could recover.

No. If I use that move and defeat Xiaoyue, I'll have to face Jiang Feng immediately afterward. At that point, I won't be Jiang Feng's match at all. Then Jiang Feng will fight Xiaoyue again. Not only will I lose the Meridian Opening Pill, I'll also put Xiaoyue in danger. If Jiang Feng defeats Xiaoyue, then he'll take the championship and obtain the Meridian Opening Pill. No. I absolutely cannot let Jiang Feng obtain the Meridian Opening Pill.

If I lose to Xiaoyue in this round, Xiaoyue will still fight Jiang Feng in the next. Whether she wins or loses, the third round will be me against Jiang Feng. If I use that move to beat Jiang Feng, the champion may still be Xiaoyue, and at the very least, I'll be able to obtain second place.

After weighing it over, Yu Feng made his choice. No matter what, he would not be getting the Meridian Opening Pill anymore. Under these circumstances, he could only do everything he could to ensure Xiaoyue could win.

"I concede!" Yu Feng suddenly retreated and shouted.

With his strength, he could still have held on for a while, but he knew it was meaningless and would only waste both their stamina for nothing. He had to make sure Nie Xiaoyue had enough strength to face Jiang Feng and defeat Jiang Feng in one stroke.

Nie Xiaoyue put away her longsword. Though Yu Feng's concession was beyond her expectations, she knew very well that if they continued fighting, Yu Feng would undoubtedly lose.

Yu Feng withdrew from the arena. Jiang Feng rose and walked toward it, and the two brushed past each other.

This moment had finally arrived!

Nie Xiaoyue looked at Jiang Feng. Their eyes met, their expressions entirely different.

Jiang Feng's face was as calm as drifting clouds and a gentle breeze, as though he did not take this duel to heart at all. His eyes were so deep they were frightening, like a pool of bottomless stagnant water, making those who looked upon them feel awe and fear.

Nie Xiaoyue gave a cold snort. Compared to Jiang Feng's calm, she felt somewhat uneasy. She did not know why either. She clearly possessed cultivation at the second level of the Yellow Martial Realm, and among her peers in Zhushan Town, she had an absolute advantage. She had even felt before that Jiang Feng posed no threat to her at all. Yet now, when they were truly face-to-face, a trace of timidity actually rose within her!

"Nie Xiaoyue, do you remember the agreement between us three days ago?" Jiang Feng stopped one zhang in front of Nie Xiaoyue and asked.

"Of course I remember!" Nie Xiaoyue said sternly. "I'm waiting for you to kneel before me!"

"As long as you remember." Jiang Feng said no more. "Begin."

"Wait..." Nie Xiaoyue's brows furrowed. "You're not using a weapon?"

Jiang Feng nodded and said, "I've never used a weapon before, so I'll pass."

Nie Xiaoyue was slightly stunned. Where does his confidence come from?

The reason weapons were weapons was that their existence increased the threat of an attack. Martial Artists of the Yellow Martial Realm could not release their qi force externally; even if someone did not know how to use weapons, an attack made while holding one was absolutely stronger than ordinary fists and feet!

Jiang Feng actually said he would not use a weapon. Was he looking down on her?

"What?" Wei Changqing froze. "He's actually not using a weapon!?"

Unease rose in Wei Changqing's heart. Could this boy really be that strong?

With Nie Xiaoyue's sword technique, if she displayed it with all her strength, even a Martial Artist at the fourth level of the Yellow Martial Realm could not fight her bare-handed. Where did this Jiang Feng get his courage and confidence?

"Fine. Since you sincerely seek death, I'll grant it to you!" Nie Xiaoyue gave a cold snort and thrust her sword forward.

Just now, from his seat, Jiang Feng had carefully watched the battle between Nie Xiaoyue and Yu Feng. Nie Xiaoyue's sword technique was indeed not bad, but he had already studied it thoroughly. He had long since grasped every flaw and weak point in the sword technique like the lines in his own palm.

To outsiders, Nie Xiaoyue's swordsmanship looked like drifting clouds and flowing water. Wherever the longsword pointed, sword shadows trembled.

"What a powerful sword technique."

"Nie Xiaoyue is so young, yet not only is her cultivation astonishing, she can even find time to train her sword technique to this level."

"That's right. As expected of the proud daughter of heaven of our Zhushan Town."

"This Jiang Feng really is courting death. Arrogant and conceited—facing Nie Xiaoyue's sword, he actually dares not to use a weapon!"

"That's right. Look at him. Several times, he's nearly died under Nie Xiaoyue's sword."

Relying on his movement technique, Jiang Feng dodged Nie Xiaoyue's longsword. But to outsiders, it seemed as though every time, he only narrowly escaped by luck.

At first, Nie Xiaoyue still held strong confidence, but the more she fought, the more she realized that after expending so much effort, she had not even touched the corner of Jiang Feng's clothes.

What's going on? Nie Xiaoyue herself was utterly confused. My sword technique has clearly threatened him several times, but why is he still so calm and composed? My sword... forget injuring him, it hasn't even touched the corner of his clothes!

Is this guy really that strong? I don't believe it!

Nie Xiaoyue roused herself with all her might. Her qi force surged as she pushed her sword technique to its limit. Wherever the longsword passed, sword shadows densely filled the air, even piercing through it and releasing bursts of metallic ringing.

"What a powerful sword!" In the spectator stands, even Wei Changqing could not help but praise her. Relative to Nie Xiaoyue's age and cultivation, her sword technique could already be said to have been trained to its peak.

"It even faintly shows signs of forming Sword Momentum; at such a young age, it is truly admirable!"

The so-called "Sword Momentum" was a realm within sword arts. Only those with an extremely deep understanding of the sword could possibly comprehend Sword Momentum. Within the area covered by Sword Momentum, the one being attacked would find it very difficult to dodge.

"Looks like using Nie Xiaoyue's hand to get rid of Jiang Feng is practically in the bag!" Wei Changqing rejoiced inwardly.

Below the stage, the crowd was likewise buzzing with discussion.

"Nie Xiaoyue's swordsmanship is even fiercer than before. Jiang Feng is relying on his movement technique to dodge; sooner or later, he'll lose."

"Right. As long as she beats Jiang Feng, Nie Xiaoyue will be the champion."

"Miss Xiaoyue, keep it up! Defeat that hateful bastard!"

"Yeah, let him see how powerful you are!"

On the viewing platform, Nie Hu and Wei Changqing looked especially tense, because with their insight, how could they fail to see that under the cover of Nie Xiaoyue's Sword Momentum, Jiang Feng was actually still dodging as if taking a leisurely stroll!

In truth, with Jiang Feng's strength, if he truly wanted to defeat Nie Xiaoyue, Nie Xiaoyue would never have had the chance to make a second move. The reason Jiang Feng had dragged the fight out like this was merely to conceal his strength. To him, defeating Nie Xiaoyue was no great matter to begin with. He did not want to reveal too much of his strength and invite speculation and disaster.

"Bastard, how is he still this calm?" Although Nie Xiaoyue had been attacking from a position of advantage the entire time, doubt had already begun to rise in her heart.

"I've practiced swordsmanship since I was young, and at thirteen I first glimpsed the rudimentary form of Sword Momentum. Now, though I can't maintain my Sword Momentum for too long, I dare say I could rely on it to fight even a fourth-level Yellow Martial Realm expert. This Jiang Feng... he... is he even human?"

"And... and I actually feel like he hasn't used his full strength!"

As the person involved, she naturally knew clearly that Jiang Feng was not without the ability to counterattack at all—he was deliberately hiding it!

Once Jiang Feng counterattacked, she had almost no chance of resisting!

"No, I won't accept this!" The more Nie Xiaoyue thought about it, the angrier she became. "I, Nie Xiaoyue, am a favored daughter of heaven. How could I lose to a crippled beggar like him?" As she thought this, the sword in Nie Xiaoyue's hand grew even more ferocious, but it had already lost all order, and her Sword Momentum collapsed then and there.

With panic burning in her heart, Nie Xiaoyue's formation fell into complete chaos!

She, Nie Xiaoyue, had been shrouded in radiance since childhood. When had she ever suffered such frustration as today? Especially when she thought that Jiang Feng might actually defeat her, her state of mind became even more unsettled.

For the sake of today, she had taken a Flesh Pellet, and in an extremely short time, she had even opened her Dantian Qi Sea and impossibly possessed a naturally unobstructed meridian. But... but even so, she still could not beat Jiang Feng!

Today, if she lost at someone else's hands, such as Yu Feng or Xiang Pang, perhaps she would still be sincerely convinced. But why did it have to be Jiang Feng?

Jiang Feng, Jiang Feng—this hateful little beggar, he... he was actually going to trample her beneath his feet!

"Jiang Feng, you bastard, die!"

Nie Xiaoyue suddenly let out a furious roar. The sword in her hand abruptly stabbed straight forward, while at the same time all the energy inside her body was mobilized. Her longsword shot straight for Jiang Feng's throat at an extremely high speed, the blade vibrating, the air trembling, humming with a buzzing sound.

In an instant, her momentum surged greatly!

This sword contained all of her emotions!

She could not lose!