"Ever since the Abundance's downfall, the monstrous creatures they raised and researched have been left behind here, where they have taken root and multiplied." Lingsha briefly explained, "If the three of you wish to compete, I will act as the referee: the time limit is one quarter of an hour, and whoever kills the most monstrous creatures within that time will be the winner."
"Sister Lingsha is really as always, making it sound so noble even when she's teaching people to do unpaid work..." Yunli was speechless. " Yunli, this is for your own good. The three of you are eager to compete, but swords have no eyes, and it's not good if anyone gets hurt," Lingsha said understandingly.
" Cauldron Master is indeed very thoughtful," Yanqing praised. Hanxing patted Yanqing's shoulder, "This time, let me do it." "Why?" Yanqing asked curiously. "She not only humiliated you, but also our train. I want to personally subdue her." "But..." Yanqing was about to object when Hanxing interrupted her, "Besides, I have some other plans."
Yanqing stood there for a moment, then finally shook her head. "Then... it's yours." Hanxing smiled and turned to Firefly beside her, "Could I borrow your sword for a moment?" "What's wrong?" Firefly asked, puzzled. "Using my sword might be seen as bullying someone," Hanxing replied briefly. A lightsaber suddenly appeared in Firefly's hand and was gently placed in Hanxing's. "Go, good luck!" Firefly gave her an encouraging look.
"Miss Yunli, how about we place another bet?" Hanxing then turned to the challenger. "Tell me, how do you want to bet?" Yunli replied with fighting spirit. "If I lose, you can have my knife, and you don't have to return Yanqing Qingxiaowei's flying sword either." With that, Hanxing took out the Embroidered Spring Knife and waved it in the air. "If I win, I apologize to the train and Yanqing Qingxiaowei, and return Yanqing's flying sword."
After saying that, Hanxing smiled again, "And, I heard you have the ability to hear swords speak. Help me hear the thoughts of three swords." To be honest, this isn't really a punishment; it could even be a good opportunity for Yunli to show off her skills. "Enough talk, let's fight first." Yunli's greatsword had already appeared in her hand.
"Well, is everyone ready?" Lingsha chuckled at the scene. "My predecessor left behind quite a mess. To reiterate, the time limit is one quarter of an hour. Whoever eliminates the most evil spirits within that time will be judged to have the superior swordsmanship. Please be careful when drawing your swords, and lest you injure each other."
"Sister Lingsha, can we begin?" Yunli impatiently. Lingsha nodded slightly, and the two of them vanished from their spot in an instant.
"I didn't expect you to be so fast at such a young age." Hanxing teased Yunli, who was sprinting alongside him. "Laugh now, but you won't be laughing when you lose." Yunli ignored him, throwing her massive sword at a monster and taking the first blood of the match.
Hanxing leaped into a place inhabited by monstrous creatures. With one slash, he severed the head of one monster, and with another, he pierced through a monstrous creature that was rushing towards him from behind. A monster attacked with a claw, but Hanxing dodged and chopped it off. "Well done!" His aura condensed into Hanxing's hands, and he grabbed the monstrous creature and tore it in two.
"This... is it this violent?" March 7th stared in astonishment at the bloody scene. "Yeah, I'm used to it." Firefly rubbed her wrist; she had indeed felt Hanxing's strength before, but she couldn't quite pinpoint where it came from.
" Scorched Earth!" As the Hanxing Technique was unleashed, flames that appeared out of nowhere condensed into spikes, piercing through the surrounding monsters and igniting a violent fire. A gigantic golden arm appeared, crushing a massive monster that came from the side. Blood splattered but was blocked by the light shield, slowly flowing downwards.
"It seems... there are already more than ten?" March 7th was dizzy from counting and could only tentatively ask Dan Heng beside her. "15." Dan Heng replied briefly. " Yunli, that girl, is still too young. She should be taught a lesson." Lingsha said with a smile from the side. "But... he seems to be getting a little carried away?" Firefly looked at Hanxing over there with some unease.
"No... not enough--" In Hanxing's eyes, blue and yellow patterns appeared instantly. He was about to raise his sword again, but froze in place. "No... I can't use this for now." His eyes turned gray and black again, and he stood aside, no longer moving.
"Eight—" Yunli gasped for breath. Swinging such a large sword to kill eight monstrous creatures in such a short time was quite a feat. Then she glanced around and saw Hanxing standing there effortlessly. "Just how many did he kill to have such confidence?"
A quarter of an hour passed quickly, 14:15, a narrow victory. However, Hanxing rested for most of that quarter of an hour, so Yunli's loss was inevitable.
"I won, Miss Yunli," Hanxing said easily. "How could you be so careless?" Yunli displeased. "Just return the sword to Yanqing Qingxiaowei and apologize to us, and that'll be the end of it. Anyway, I have no interest in your sword, as long as you fulfill your bet."
"You've gotten too cocky after slaying a few monsters. Hmph, you dare try to take this sword from me?" Yunli said arrogantly. "Sigh... I knew it would be like this." Hanxing smiled helplessly, his figure disappearing instantly, standing on a rooftop. "Come on, use your proud swordsmanship to defeat me!"
Before long, Yunli climbed onto another rooftop. Holding her sword, she chuckled and charged straight at Hanxing's position. The enormous sword, carrying unparalleled kinetic energy, struck, but Hanxing, anticipating the attack, lightly tapped the back of her lightsaber with it, deflecting the blow.
Hanxing took a step back and landed on another roof beam, unleashing a sword strike that once again forced back Yunli's attack. However, she quickly recovered, and her heavy sword slashed down again, only to be dodged by Hanxing.
"Pretty powerful," Hanxing praised, then took another step back, landing on the ground. Yunli's heavy sword slammed precisely where Hanxing had just stood. The aura once again condensed around Hanxing's hands, while Yunli also gathered her strength to unleash her blade. The two swords, one thick and one thin, clashed violently. A cloud of dust rose, and when it cleared, a surprising scene unfolded:
Hanxing stood still, the ground beneath her feet cracking inch by inch, while Yunli flew a few steps forward, her massive sword carving a terrifying mark on the ground.
"Don't underestimate your opponent!" Hanxing's figure vanished from his spot again, slashing at Yunli from her blind spot. Yunli was not to be outdone, moving her blade forward. Just before they were about to collide, a figure in cyan appeared.