That spear thrust was exquisitely executed, drawing gasps from everyone on the viewing stands.
"Well struck!" Jiang Chen roared. He seemed to have anticipated the move. His saber suddenly swept back, striking the spear shaft with a crisp clang and a shower of sparks, knocking the spear aside with pinpoint precision.
Immediately, Jiang Chen used the momentum to spin, sweeping his saber horizontally. "Wind Sweeps Away the Clouds!" The blade slashed toward Xie Qiu's waist, its fierce wind hissing through the air.
Xie Qiu pivoted sharply, then sprang straight up with "Onion Sprouting from Dry Land," evading the slash. From midair, he thrust his spear downward, thick true qi gathering at its tip. It was "Thunderbolt Pierces the Sun." The spear descended like an exploding thunderclap, driving straight toward the Hundred Meetings Acupoint atop Jiang Chen's head.
Jiang Chen's pupils contracted. Instead of retreating a single step, he reversed his grip and slashed upward to block. A tremendous clang rang out, and a shock wave spread from the collision of their true qi.
Dust and broken stones on the ground were once again blasted in every direction.
Jiang Chen immediately exerted force through his arm and wrist, twisting his saber with the momentum. "Dragon-Locking Stance" trapped the spear shaft, and his blade followed through toward Xie Qiu's spear-wielding wrist.
"Well struck!"
Xie Qiu was already prepared. He turned his wrist, making the spear shaft coil like a nimble serpent. As he slipped free of the saber's lock, the spear tip abruptly changed from a thrust to an upward flick, flashing silver as it swept toward Jiang Chen's lower abdomen. Its movements were agile and treacherous, almost impossible to guard against.
Jiang Chen ground his foot against the earth and swung his saber back. His other hand pushed against the spine