Cheng Xiao vs. Tang San (Part 1)

Nuoding City, Soul Master Elementary Academy.

A month passed quickly. Over that month, Cheng Xiao cultivated while practicing the several skills granted by his first soul ring.

He had also fully mastered active skills such as Throwing Dagger, Swift Walk, and striking vital points. At first, he had merely felt familiar with them, but as he used them more often, they gradually became more natural to him.

When Cheng Xiao and Xiao Wu came to the Blacksmith Shop again with their second month's Soul Master Subsidy, the two short swords Cheng Xiao had paid to have forged were finally complete.

The two short swords had different shapes, but their blades both bore exquisite and unusual patterns. The moment Cheng Xiao held them, he could sense that they were extraordinary. They were heavy, yet extremely comfortable in his hands.

"Boss, they feel great, and the weight is perfectly controlled." Cheng Xiao picked up the two short swords, one in each hand, and gave them a few swings through the air. After confirming that they felt right, he praised the shop owner.

"Haha, you might not know this, little brother, but forging these two short swords really took a lot of effort. Luckily, a skilled young blacksmith recently joined our shop. Otherwise, it would probably have taken even longer to finish them," the Blacksmith Shop owner said.

"A young blacksmith?" Xiao Wu froze slightly beside Cheng Xiao. "Boss, is this young blacksmith a student from Nuoding Academy? His name is Tang San, and he's especially strong."

At that, the Blacksmith Shop owner slapped his forehead. "Ah, I nearly forgot. You're students from Nuoding Academy too."

"That's right, little girl. Tang San is the new young blacksmith at our shop. Let me tell you, don't be fooled by his age. His forging skills are better than even ours old blacksmiths. Tang San helped forge those two short swords the little brother is holding."

Hearing that, Cheng Xiao smiled. He took out two Gold Soul Coins he had received not long ago and handed them to the Blacksmith Shop owner. "Boss, here are this month's two Gold Soul Coins. There are still three months left, six Gold Soul Coins in total."

"Alright." The Blacksmith Shop owner accepted the Gold Soul Coins Cheng Xiao handed over, weighed them in his hand, and put them away after confirming they were genuine.

"Boss, we'll be heading back now. I'll still give you next month's payment today." Cheng Xiao returned the two short swords to their sheaths, habitually took Xiao Wu's hand, and prepared to leave.

But just as Cheng Xiao led Xiao Wu out the door, Tang San suddenly emerged. He first said something to the Blacksmith Shop owner, then quickly walked over to the pair who were about to leave. In a low voice, he said, "Cheng Xiao, I didn't expect these two short swords to be your design. If possible, could we spar at the Academy Back Mountain this afternoon? I've been waiting for you for over a month."

After Tang San demonstrated his inhuman forging talent at the Blacksmith Shop, he had quickly joined in forging the two short swords that had required the whole shop's efforts. At first, Tang San had been somewhat skeptical. They were only two short swords, so why did everyone in the Blacksmith Shop have to forge them together?

But after taking part, he discovered that they were not difficult to forge. Rather, the details had to be handled with extreme precision, and those details were what slowed the entire process.

However, forging at this level was very easy for Tang San. With his help, the forging speed of the two short swords increased greatly.

When he learned that the customers ordering the two short swords were two children, Tang San became even more curious. Thus, when he saw Cheng Xiao come to collect them today, the desire to spar that Master had suppressed resurfaced once again.

"Then let's do it." Cheng Xiao paused and said calmly, "I also happen to want to test my current strength."

Tang San was delighted. "Alright. When I return this afternoon, we'll meet at the Academy Back Mountain."

Cheng Xiao nodded slightly. "Okay."

After leaving the Blacksmith Shop, Cheng Xiao accompanied Xiao Wu around Nuoding City for the entire afternoon. They bought some tasty food, and only after the sky gradually darkened did he head to the Academy Back Mountain.

Upon arriving at the back mountain, Cheng Xiao spotted Tang San standing beneath a large tree from afar. It seemed he had already been waiting there for quite some time.

"You're here." Tang San looked at the late-arriving Cheng Xiao and could not help feeling somewhat frustrated.

For this spar, he had finished all of today's work early. Yet he had never expected that although he arrived ahead of time, Cheng Xiao would still be nearly two hours late!

Fortunately, Cheng Xiao had kept the appointment. He had not stood him up again.

"Sorry, I spent a little too long shopping with Xiao Wu," Cheng Xiao explained.

Tang San nodded at that. As he slowly stepped forward, he released his martial soul.

"Tang San, martial soul Blue Silver Grass, level thirteen Control Type War Soul Master."

As his words fell, a faint white glow rose from Tang San's body. With a wave of his right hand, Blue Silver Grass spread beneath his feet. A bright Yellow Soul Ring rose from below him, circling his body as it pulsed up and down.

"Cheng Xiao, martial soul Shadow Soldier, level thirteen one-ring War Soul Master."

Looking at Tang San before him, Cheng Xiao gripped the two short swords forged that day. As the sound of the blades leaving their sheaths rang out, Tang San's expression inevitably turned grave.

"Swift Walk!"

With a low shout only he could hear, Cheng Xiao lightly tapped off the ground. His body seemed to transform into a gust of wind, his speed instantly soaring as he arrived before Tang San in the blink of an eye.

So fast! Tang San's already solemn expression changed again. He had assumed Cheng Xiao would employ some tactics, but he had not expected him to charge so directly. His speed was no weaker than Tang San's Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.

Facing Cheng Xiao, who held two swords and charged with fierce momentum, Tang San instinctively retreated several steps, attempting to widen the distance. Immediately afterward, his first soul ring suddenly lit up. More than ten thick strands of Blue Silver Grass burst from beneath Cheng Xiao's feet, attempting to stop his advance.

Yet Cheng Xiao did not care in the slightest. Veins bulged along the arm gripping his swords as the two blades intertwined into a sharp streak of sword light, severing the Blue Silver Grass like lightning. Then he stepped forward once more and slashed at Tang San.

Tang San's pupils contracted slightly. His five fingers rapidly spread into a claw shape, and an invisible pulling force radiated from his hands.

This was the Tang Sect's ultimate technique, Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon.

Feeling an invisible force tugging at his body, Cheng Xiao decisively hurled one short sword at Tang San. It flashed like a streak of silver light, arriving before Tang San's chest in an instant.

Just as the short sword was about to strike Tang San's chest, his palms turned as white as jade. A chill burst forth from them, and he attempted to catch the fast-flying short sword with both hands.

The next instant, an unstoppable force surged from the short sword. Tang San's expression changed immediately, and he staggered back more than ten steps before barely steadying himself.

What terrifying force. It's not inferior in the slightest to the piercing power of Tang Sect Hidden Weapons. Tang San was shocked. He had not expected the short sword Cheng Xiao threw to possess such power. Could Cheng Xiao be the one with truly innate Divine Power?

Fortunately, his Mysterious Jade Hand possessed decent defensive power and blocked it. Otherwise, that sword strike just now would likely have pierced straight through his body.

Tang San also came to a realization. Cheng Xiao's attacks contained no tactics whatsoever. There was only one word for them: reckless!

Naturally, Tang San would not engage a reckless fighter in close combat. Judging from the force behind that thrown sword, Cheng Xiao's strength surpassed his own. Therefore, he intended to widen the distance and fight from range.

When it came to technique, Tang San feared no one!

Ah, writing battle scenes is so difficult...