364: Chapter 357: Exchanging Skills Begins 364: Chapter 357: Exchanging Skills Begins The council hall’s surroundings suddenly tensed, the guards sweating as they watched Zhao Changhe draw his sword, unsure if they should intervene.
This type of encounter seed wholly different from what they had imagined, more akin to sparring than an actual confrontation.
It was similar to the challenges on the streets of the Worldly Society, under the watchful eyes of the many; to the people, this wasn’t seen as offensive, and a good fight might even earn mutual respect.
Moreover, this internal challenge was even more private than a street duel, with advice given beforehand and mutual verification stated clearly.
It very much resembled internal sparring within the Sect, which wasn’t usually disclosed in the “Chaotic World Book.”
A thought suddenly struck Sun the novice’s mind: Such a deanor from him, could it be deliberate?
Was he really just not aiming to replace Sect Hierarch Xue, fearing ridicule from his wife?
Clearly, others wouldn’t think of this.
At the mont, Xue Canghai felt imnsely stirred, took a deep breath, and said earnestly, “If Young Master Zhao doesn’t mind, we can spar in the grand Martial Arts Arena, allowing the sect mbers to watch and verify, benefitting from the demonstration.”
Zhao Changhe held the hilt of his sword upside down and saluted, “Sect Hierarch Xue is a good leader.”
Xue Canghai shook his head slightly and gestured with his hand, “Please.”
A sect mber nearby beca anxious and whispered, “Hierarch, the Maitreya envoy…”
Xue Canghai paused, nearly forgetting the matter completely.
It wasn’t a big problem, though—the Maitreya envoy was in the Sect’s secret den and wouldn’t know what was happening outside.
He lowered his voice and instructed, “Send so people to make sure the envoy does not co out rashly.
Rember to keep tight-lipped, don’t ntion Zhao Changhe’s arrival.”
The sect mber looked troubled, “Hierarch, we also want to watch the duel.”
Xue Canghai chuckled, “With your level of cultivation and understanding of saber techniques, watching will be futile.
You should focus on diligent practice instead of seeking quick fixes now.
Go on.”
He gestured again towards Zhao Changhe, “Apologies for the delay caused by so minor matters, please.”
Zhao Changhe, though he had heard the ntion of the Maitreya envoy, didn’t care and responded with a bow, “Please.”
Arriving at the grand Martial Arts Arena, Zhao Changhe realized that the layout of Beimang Mountain’s stronghold was basically modeled after this one, but this place was much larger.
The arena could accommodate thousands of fighters, ensuring no risk of stray injuries to bystanders.
The periter was congested with spectators, the crowd growing and seemingly endless at the edges.
Well, from the sight of the packed crowd, at least there are no pitfalls here…
The gathering must number in tens of thousands by now.
The Blood God Sect had surreptitiously grown so large—were they aiming for heaven?
From where had they sourced their supplies?
Could they have raided commandery storehouses in the vicinity?
No wonder the Maitreya envoy had co; this was a proper rebel force in size.
But the issue was that their developnt was evidently supported by Vermilion Bird, who was a rebel themselves, creating such a force for their own use when the ti was right—they thought Maitreya Sect wanted to use it?
That was wishful thinking…
Zhao Changhe couldn’t be bothered to think further.
The sensation of competing in front of a huge crowd, upon reflection, seed to be the first of his life, and having given this opportunity to Sect Hierarch Xue, he didn’t regret it.
With a ‘clang,’ Xue Canghai drew his sword from its sheath and indicated, “This sword is called the Blood God, made of…uh…”
He paused, then laughed, “I intended to say that the material and forged sword intent are best suited to display our Sect’s cultivation techniques, but following Young Master Zhao’s earlier words, there seems little point.
Though I don’t fully agree with Young Master Zhao’s interpretation, I present this sword to verify with you.”
Zhao Changhe didn’t introduce his Dragon Sparrow; it was not sothing he could explain, simply standing with his sword, quietly observing the blood-hued saber in Xue Canghai’s hand.
The spring breeze blew, yet the atmosphere instantly turned deadly.
“Whoosh!” In the next mont, as if they had agreed at once, both n drew their swords and perford a horizontal slash simultaneously.
Blood Evil Saber Technique did not feature ceremonial moves like the so-called “Welcoming Pine” in other martial arts; every move aid to kill.
Simultaneously, the two fighters used the first form of the Blood Evil Saber Technique, considered a routine opening gesture.
This form was unnad and essentially an advanced version of a basic horizontal slash, involving more follow-up variations and energy transfer techniques than the foundational saber moves.
The differences among various schools in performing the sa type of horizontal slash lie in these follow-up moves and energy applications.
For Zhao Changhe, though his moves flowed freely and seed adaptable to his whims, there was a pattern to follow; his root was in the Blood Evil Saber Technique.
The inertia of energy transfer and subsequent connecting moves were governed by the principles of the Saber Technique.
Those who understood could see his foundation with just a couple of exchanges.
Similarly, to study soone’s saber technique and unravel it followed the sa principle.
Every subsequent move he took was limited to certain patterns, and if you were prepared, you could anticipate his actions and gain the upper hand.
In sparring sessions among fellow Sect mbers of equal cultivation, the outco depended entirely on who had mastered their saber technique more thoroughly and intimately.
Under the watchful eyes of many, their sabers clashed.
To the bafflent of the onlookers, it was ostensibly just the first move, yet upon contact, both their eyes turned red and their sabers simultaneously emanated a bloody hue.
Xue Canghai’s originally scarlet saber shone vivid as blood, while Zhao Changhe’s initially dull broadsword glead with a dark red glow.
“Gods and demons disperse!” soone exclaid softly in surprise, “How are they exhibiting the essence of ‘Gods and Demons Disperse’ without performing the actual move?”
“Clang!” There was no ti to comnt, their sabers collided forcefully, and before another word could be uttered, they exchanged over ten rapid blows.
Only then did Master Sun explain to the bystanders, “Their ‘Gods and Demons Disperse’ has already transcended the realm of movents; as long as the intent is there, every strike embodies it.”
Had Zhao Changhe heard this, he might have put it in more modern terms: ‘Gods and Demons Disperse’ had beco an enchantnt, increasing attack power by 20%, with an added effect of fear.
The basis of this was the use of Evil Qi.
Back when Xue Canghai practiced the Blood God Skill, he couldn’t imbue each strike with ‘Gods and Demons Disperse’; his combat prowess was far less than it is today.
Yet discerning observers like Sun, a high-ranking mber, could detect subtle differences between Xue Canghai and Zhao Changhe’s Sword Intent.
It was the difference Zhao Changhe had ntioned before.
Xue Canghai’s ‘Gods and Demons Disperse’ was bloody and fierce, with a deep, ominous Qi; even from afar, it instilled a terrifying dread, causing those of weak cultivation or faint heart to turn their heads away.
Originally, Zhao Changhe’s ‘Gods and Demons Disperse’ was of the sa nature—just not so bloody since he hadn’t killed as many.
But now, both his saber and his own deanor had subtly changed.
The feeling of bloody fierceness was sowhat muted; even the bloody hue in his eyes wasn’t as horrifying as Xue Canghai’s.
If Xue Canghai seed like a bloody Demon God furiously slashing, then Zhao Changhe sowhat resembled…
not a Demon God but rather amidst a battlefield dappled with bones and awash with blood, under a vast somber sky with quietly distant stars.
Within those stars, a divine Buddha’s eyes faintly erged, indifferently watching the massacre below, where people sward like ants, their lives as trivial as grass.
In the gaze of a God Demon, it was all just a ga.
Thus, the man who still stood amidst the mountain of corpses and a sea of blood didn’t strike down his foes with a mad saber.
Instead, he swung at the heavens.
Gods and Demons Disperse!
“Boom!” An earth-shattering sound erupted, and both fighters retreated in the martial arts arena.
Zhao Changhe stepped back three paces.
Xue Canghai took five steps back, his expression one of imnse shock yet contemplative.
At that mont, he was like a Demon God, and Zhao Changhe—Gods and Demons Disperse.
Which expression should that strike embody?
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