The bright moon hangs in the sky, and the azure light of a sword flashes across the heavens.
Before the sword even arrived, its light illuminated Zhou Wuji's eyebrows and eyes, turning them a deep blue-green, while the surging Sword Qi caused his hair ribbon to flutter high.
A crimson light shone deep within Zhou Wuji's eyes, a manifestation of the perfected Six Yang Spirit Eyes.
The lightning-fast blade seemed to slow down in his eyes!
The Northern Dipper Tianshu Spirit Scripture made Zhou Wuji's Mind Mirror even clearer, allowing it to reflect more deeply and further.
His powerful Divine Sense allowed him to calmly analyze and understand the various changes reflected in the Mind Mirror.
Just as Xie Lingyun had predicted, Pei Zhengxiu agile and swift, his swordsmanship as swift as the wind, clearly using the Wind Character Sword.
However, this sword Swordsmanship clearly also contains the variations of lightning. With a single thrust, wind and lightning burst forth, and within its speed, thunder cleaves through everything with brutal force.
Pei Zhengxiu experienced a strong reaction of True Qi in his chest and lower abdomen, and his heart was pounding violently, his blood and Qi and Blood surging like a raging river.
All the muscles and bones in his body, including the powerful flow of True Qi, converged on the sword's edge through the strong Sword Intent.
When Swordsmanship reaches this level, one has truly grasped the Sword Intent.
In terms of Swordsmanship, he had already surpassed all the Fourth Rank masters he had ever seen. It was just that his Qi and Blood strength was much weaker than that powerful barbarian.
Through the Mind Mirror, Zhou Wuji instantly saw through Pei Zhengxiu, even reflecting some of the changes in the other's Sword Intent.
Judging from the changes in the opponent's muscles and True Qi, it is not much worse than the perfected Big Dipper Northern Dipper Seven Star Sword, but it is far inferior to the Divine Tier Xiaoxiang Sword.
Pei Zhengxiu possessed only an extremely pure and powerful Sword Intent. He was indeed a true swordsman. At least, fighting him was solely for the purpose of victory, without any irrelevant emotions such as hatred or loathing.
Zhou Wuji, relying on his powerful Divine Sense, far surpassed Pei Zhengxiu, and even in the blink of an eye, he still had the energy to calmly observe and analyze.
He even had time to observe the people on the corridor. Xie Lingyun, Yizhen, Zhiyuan, Wuleng, Wuming all clearly showed signs of nervousness.
Only his foolish apprentice remained, eyes wide with anticipation.
True Person Zhihua was the most composed, his bright eyes filled with tranquility.
Zhang Dingyang, the vice leader of the Great River Gang, had a face full of anticipation, with a hint of excitement in his eyes.
It was obvious that this old bastard was just waiting for Pei Zhengxiu to kill him with one sword!
Huo Dongling showed no obvious emotion, only slightly narrowing his eyes as he intently watched the battle, clearly sensing the power of Pei Zhengxiu's Swordsmanship...
In an instant, everyone's true emotions were inevitably projected through subtle changes in their eyes and expressions, which Zhou Wuji saw clearly.
Whether someone is an enemy or a friend, good or bad, it's all crystal clear!
Zhou Wuji even had the leisure to think about how to win, whether to use Thunder Method to bombard Pei Zhengxiu, or to give the old man a profound lesson through a real sword duel.
He thought of the note he had written: sword against sword, a true man should keep his word and fight Pei Zhengxiu with his sword.
With the eternal moon shining above and an ancient palace built hundreds of years ago standing beside him, witnessed by numerous relatives, friends, and enemies, he and a swordsman dueled.
It had nothing to do with love, hate, passion, or even fame and fortune; it was simply about wielding a sword to decide the outcome. This was the purest battle he had ever experienced.
Thinking of this Zhou Wuji couldn't help but feel a surge of heroic spirit. He suppressed all distracting thoughts and drew his sword.
The bright White Rainbow Sword's blade shone in the air, transforming into a radiant moon that illuminated the ancient palace and the spectators on the platform, making even the moon in the sky pale in comparison.
Pei Zhengxiu faced the bright moon without any hesitation. Instead, he adjusted his footwork and internal True Qi, accelerating forward.
He has believed since childhood that speed is the ultimate weapon in martial arts.
Any feint or change of moves is intended to confuse the enemy, but the time spent on such a change is less valuable than a direct strike.
Zhou Wuji's transformation of the sword blade into a radiant moon seemed miraculous, but the fact that he had to draw a circle with the sword made the transformation itself complex.
His sword strikes were simpler and more direct. If the two were on the same level, his sword would inevitably be faster.
To deflect his straight thrusting sword with a circular blade, Zhou Wuji needed to strike precisely three inches from the tip of the blade, where the blade was least stressed. This required Zhou Wuji to be even more precise in his sword strikes.
In short, both sides are constantly trying to outmaneuver each other. Zhou Wuji expend more energy and more True Qi, and he also needs to seize the opportunity precisely without making the slightest mistake in order to defeat him.
He had the advantage in every aspect, yet he still couldn't defeat Zhou Wuji. This only proves that his Swordsmanship was far inferior to Zhou Wuji's, so what else can be said about his defeat!
As a skilled swordsman, Pei Zhengxiu immediately made the correct judgment.
Zhou Wuji knew this too, but he still chose to use the Water Moon Sword, a move that combined the variations of the Tianxuan Sword and looked even better.
The sword transforming into the bright moon and the bright moon in the sky reflect each other, creating a more artistic effect.
As the two swords clashed, Pei Zhengxiu exerted his strength once more, and the blade condensed into a dazzling blue light.
Zhou Wuji then made an adjustment, his White Rainbow Sword precisely entangled with the opponent's longsword.
Although Pei Zhengxiu exerted all his strength, he ultimately could not stop the flawless rotation of the White Rainbow Sword, and the blade deflected outward uncontrollably.
Taking advantage of the momentum, the spinning White Rainbow Sword slashed across Pei Zhengxiu's chest, the blade penetrating several inches and leaving a semi-circular sword mark.
Pei Zhengxiu's surging Qi and Blood gushed outwards along the sword mark, turning into a large cloud of blood mist. The long sword in his hand also flew out of his hand, turning into a blue light that shot into the sky.
Zhou Wuji dodged to the side, simultaneously sheathing his sword, and passed Pei Zhengxiu, who was rushing forward at top speed.
Pei Zhengxiu charged forward more than ten steps before staggering to his feet. Clutching the deep sword wound on his chest, he turned and stared directly at Zhou Wuji: "Excellent Swordsmanship! I die without regret!"
After saying this, he collapsed to the ground, blood gushing from his chest, his face ashen, and his once bright, sword-like eyes dimmed.
The Flowing Wind Sword, which soared into the sky, twisted and fell in mid-air, landing with a thud in front of Pei Zhengxiu, its azure blade constantly bending and vibrating.
Pei Zhengxiu's blurry figure, reflected on the sword's blade, swayed and twisted with the blade's curves...
Only then did most people on the corridor realize that the battle was over and that Pei Zhengxiu had lost.
Among the spectators, only True Person Zhihua could see all the details of the battle clearly, while experts like Xie Lingyun and Huo Dongling only saw the general outline.
The swords of both sides were incredibly fast!
Seeing Pei Zhengxiu about to die, everyone had different expressions, but Yang Tie Ying clenched his fist and cheered without any hesitation. "Master's divine sword is invincible!"
Although Wuming and Wuleng were too embarrassed to praise him, their faces showed joy.
Zhiyuan and Yizhen both visibly relaxed.
Let Pei Zhengxiu die if he wants; Zhou Wuji won this battle fair and square, and his victory is beyond question.
Zhang Dingyang felt uneasy. He rushed to Pei Zhengxiu's side and was at a loss when he saw the large amount of blood in front of Pei Zhengxiu.
Pei Zhengxiu in this state is surely doomed.
Pei Zhengxiu blinked, his vision blurred by his severe injuries, and he could barely make out Zhang Dingyang in front of him. He said in a hoarse voice, "I am no match for him, and I have nothing to say about my defeat."
"Brother Zhang, please take my body back to the Pei Household and tell them they don't need to avenge me..."
Zhang Dingyang nodded quickly, then hurriedly added, "I'll go find a doctor."
"No."
Zhou Wuji walked over and pointed at Pei Zhengxiu. A blue light flowed from his fingertip as he unleashed the Rejuvenation Spirit Technique.
Zhou Wuji unleashed the full power of the Perfected Rejuvenation Technique, immediately sealing Pei Zhengxiu's sword wound and stopping the bleeding.
He showed mercy with this strike; the circular cutting blade bypassed Pei Zhengxiu's heart, only slicing through his liver, stomach, and a few ribs.
Such a severe injury would certainly kill an ordinary person.
Pei Zhengxiu was, after all, Fourth Rank sword cultivator. Even without special body training, he had reached the level of "blood as dark as mercury," and his vitality was extremely strong.
The main problem is that killing Pei Zhengxiu would only yield a six-tael life essence, but it would also incur the Pei Household.
Zhou Wuji was certain that Pei Zhengxiu was simply having a sword fight and had no other malicious intent, so he was willing to let the guy go to avoid a lot of trouble.
He then took out a Five-Transmutation Purple Gold Pill and had Yang Tie Ying feed it to Pei Zhengxiu.
This is a special medicine for healing injuries, or a reward from the abbot for winning the Dharma assembly.
A three-stage pill already costs several hundred taels of silver, while Five-Transmutation Purple Gold Pill, based on price calculations, would cost at least two to three thousand taels.
Although Yang Tie Ying was somewhat reluctant, he still obediently stuffed the pill into Pei Zhengxiu's mouth.
High-grade pills are indeed miraculous; after taking one, Pei Zhengxiu's complexion immediately improved.
Pei Zhengxiu was also somewhat surprised. He knew he was severely injured, yet Zhou Wuji had casually unleashed Law Technique that had somehow restored some of his internal organs from their terrible state. What kind of Law Technique was so miraculous?
By administering high-grade pills to him, his injuries were actually stabilized.
In this way, as long as he recuperates slowly, he won't die. However, he will inevitably suffer a great loss of vital energy.
Pei Zhengxiu thought he was going to die, but his opponent saved him. Even though he was stubborn and self-willed, he was a little embarrassed at this moment.
He knew perfectly well that challenging someone was an extremely excessive act, yet the other party had spared his life despite past grievances; such tolerance and kindness were truly saintly...
Pei Zhengxiu paused for a moment, then lowered his head and said softly, "Thank you."
Zhou Wuji said calmly, "We have no grudges against each other. A sword duel under the moon is a joyous occasion. It's enough to determine who is better; there's no need for it to be a fight to the death."
He paused for a moment and then said, "This Purple Gold Pill is worth three thousand taels of silver. Brother Pei, just remember to repay the money once you've recovered."
"Ah, oh, that's to be expected."
When Pei Zhengxiu heard Zhou Wuji say this, he breathed a sigh of relief. It was perfectly reasonable for him to pay for the medicine to treat his injuries himself.
The crowd that had gathered around saw that Pei Zhengxiu had come back to life and admired Zhou Wuji's magnanimity.
True Person Zhihua called for people to carry Pei Zhengxiu to a side room to rest. Since he was seriously injured, he could only be placed in the Heavenly Pivot Hall for the time being.
The remaining spectators then took their leave in twos and threes.
After descending Upright Yang Peak, Zhang Qingning couldn't help but whisper to Huo Dongling, "Uncle Huo, what level has Zhou Wuji's Swordsmanship reached? How did he defeat Pei Zhengxiu with just one sword strike?"
Huo Dongling shook his head slightly. "I don't understand. I only knew that Pei Zhengxiu was an extremely powerful swordsman of the Fourth Rank, and I was definitely no match for Pei Zhengxiu."
Speaking of this, Huo Dongling's face still showed a hint of horror.
The Swordsmanship was terrifying; he killed Pei Zhengxiu with a single strike. With his level of martial arts skill, he would have been killed by the same sword as him.
Although Jingyang City is large, I'm afraid no one below the Third Rank can stop Zhou Wuji!
Huo Dongling said to Zhang Qingning, " Zhou Wuji is not only skilled in Swordsmanship, but also adept at handling people and affairs. He has the potential to become a Celestial Master in the future. We should try our best to befriend such a person..."
He was speaking to Zhang Qingning, but he was actually saying it to Zhang Dingyang.
Zhang Dingyang remained silent. He was not afraid, nor was he unsurprised. But having come this far, would Zhou Wuji really let him go?