Chapter 171: Chapter 170: Who is Faster_1
SZZZ! SZZZ!
As he drew his knife, a rich azure current surged around Yu Yue. This current was incredibly sharp, like saw teeth, twisting and splitting the air it contacted, emitting a hissing sound.
CLANG!
As his sword was drawn, Ling Chen’s figure had already vanished. A whip-like sword light swept out, counterattacking head-on.
"Daring to compete with me in speed? You’re overestimating yourself!"
Yu Yue was not surprised but pleased, a mocking look in his eyes growing deeper. Since he began his career, very few among the younger generation had blades faster than his. Nie Wu Xiang and Feng Piaoliu, for instance, were both top experts renowned in the Jianghu. For Ling Chen to dare compete with him in speed was like a moth to a flame, seeking his own death.
"Your blade may not be faster than my sword," Ling Chen stated calmly. He used to wield the Heavenly Emperor Heavy Sword. It wasn’t that the Heavenly Emperor Heavy Sword was weak; it simply greatly affected his sword speed. But now things were different. Ling Chen’s main weapon was the Cloud-hidden Sword. This Cloud-hidden Sword was like a breeze or a cloud; its material was unique and lightweight, as if it were nothing.
With the Cloud-hidden Sword, Ling Chen’s speed could increase by more than double, albeit slightly lacking in power. However, the sword’s speed was enough to compensate for this shortcoming.
"Then let’s try! We’ll see if you get torn to shreds by my quick knife!"
In Yu Yue’s hand, a whip-like brilliance flashed from his Miao knife as he appeared before Ling Chen, his weapon dancing. It seemed there was only one blade, yet it appeared as three, the extreme speed leaving afterimages.
So fast! That’s the renowned Quick Blade Yu Yue. Isn’t Ling Chen playing right into his hands by competing in speed? Xiao Muyu began to worry for Ling Chen.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
In the blink of an eye, their weapons had clashed six times. Yu Yue’s blade strikes sliced towards different vital points on Ling Chen but ultimately hit nothing but Ling Chen’s sword, producing loud metallic clashes.
Sparks flew as Ling Chen and Yu Yue simultaneously leaped from their original positions. Their weapons collided once again before they landed.
He blocked all six of my strikes! Shock colored Yu Yue’s face. If blocking one strike was luck, then blocking six could not merely be attributed to good fortune.
This young man, capable of defeating Yu Qingxuan, indeed possessed some skill.
"Is there a need to continue?" Ling Chen asked, maintaining an appearance of indifference. While his opponent’s blade was fast, his own sword was not slow. He couldn’t be defeated by quick blade techniques alone. In that case, Yu Yue should have known to retreat.
"Don’t get carried away! You’re just a Fifth Stage Martial Artist. Let’s see how long you can persist against my blade!" Yu Yue’s face darkened; he still couldn’t accept this outcome. He refused to believe he was unable to handle Ling Chen. With his Eighth Level cultivation, even if it were a test of endurance, he would wear Ling Chen down. After all, how much True Qi could Ling Chen possess with his Fifth Level cultivation? In the end, Ling Chen would still lose to him.
"Stubborn fool! Very well, let’s decide the victor then!" A sharp gleam suddenly burst from Ling Chen’s eyes as the True Qi in his body surged out. He activated the Ancient Saint King Battle Technique, boosting his cultivation to the Martial Artist Sixth Layer Realm in one go.
After elevating his Realm, Ling Chen immediately launched an attack, leaving only an afterimage behind. This was the third style of the Dragon Seeking Sword Technique: Seeking Dragon Without Shadows.
"Sky Wolf Seven Style!" Yu Yue also roared, the speed of his blade dramatically increasing. His powerful blade energy condensed into a wolf’s head, baring its teeth and claws as it pounced on Ling Chen.
The blinding flashes of their interweaving sword and blade created an image like an electrifying spark.
In the world of martial arts, there’s a saying: ’No defense is so strong it cannot be broken, only speed is truly unbeatable.’ Speed is not just about quickness; it also represents attack power. When speed reaches a certain Realm, even a piece of paper or a leaf can penetrate armor and kill unseen.
Ling Chen saw more clearly than anyone: Yu Yue’s attack power wasn’t overwhelmingly strong. It was just that with the sudden increase in speed, he could easily slice through True Qi armor. With each attack, he probed for a weak spot, preparing for the final blow.
But he had to do the same; his sword *must* be faster than Yu Yue’s knife.
Twenty moves. Xiao Muyu’s mouth hung open. The speed at which the two wielded their weapons even dazzled her, and it seemed to be ever-increasing.
At this moment, whoever was even a fraction slower than their opponent would suffer a cruel defeat.
Suddenly, the sword light from Ling Chen’s hand extended dramatically, reaching several meters in length. It surpassed Yu Yue’s blade gleam and pierced through Yu Yue’s waist.
Ling Chen sheathed his Cloud-hidden Sword and walked towards Xiao Muyu.
"Boy, what do you think you’re doing? The outcome isn’t decided yet!" Yu Yue, seeing Ling Chen turn and walk away as if no one else was present, shouted harshly.
However, in the next moment, Ling Chen’s voice calmly echoed, "No, the outcome has been decided."
PFFT!
Almost silently, a sword mark appeared on Yu Yue’s waist, his clothes bursting open with a large tear.
How is this possible? Yu Yue’s face was filled with disbelief. He couldn’t believe Ling Chen’s sword was faster than his knife. He, the renowned Quick Blade Yu Yue, had actually lost in speed to someone he had utterly disregarded.
In a surge of anger, he wanted to rush towards Ling Chen again and repay this humiliation.
Not preparing for Yu Yue’s potential actions, Ling Chen smiled faintly. "You’d better not move right now. This sword didn’t harm your internal organs, but it did cut your flesh. If you act recklessly, your organs might shift. Don’t blame me for not warning you then."
At these words, Yu Yue’s expression changed drastically. He froze on the spot, not daring to make the slightest move.
He desperately wanted to sit down and treat his wound, but he feared Ling Chen would attack him while he was vulnerable during his healing. So, for a moment, he didn’t dare to move, remaining frozen in a battle-ready posture.
"Don’t worry," Ling Chen said. "If I had wanted to kill you, that last sword strike would have pierced your vitals. Sit down and treat your wound. If others come across you, they might not be so merciful."
Ling Chen snorted, then turned to Xiao Muyu. "Let’s go."
Xiao Muyu nodded and followed Ling Chen away from the medicine pool.
Hearing Ling Chen’s words, Yu Yue quickly sat down and took out Gold Creation Medicine from his sleeve to treat his wound. Ling Chen was right. If someone else passed by now and saw him healing, they might try to take advantage of his situation and kill him.
Xiao Muyu glanced at Yu Yue, who was not far behind them, and said, "Ling Chen, even though you spared him, he might not be grateful."
"I don’t need his gratitude. Sparing him is my decision. If he chooses to repay kindness with resentment, that’s his affair." Ling Chen shook his head. "The way of chivalry, first and foremost, is to refrain from senseless killing. It is to punish the wicked and promote good, to help those in need, and to uphold justice. Yu Yue, though arrogant, is still a member of the Righteous Path. If he can be spared, it’s better not to kill him."
Yu Yue was a genius from a Righteous Path Sect and hadn’t committed any major evil. In Ling Chen’s view, his offense didn’t warrant death.