55: Chapter 52 Second Level 55: Chapter 52 Second Level It took a full three breaths after Heng Shiwu’s head fell before a thunderous roar rose from the crowd below the platform.
Did the leader of Heng’s Eighteen Riders just have his head fall off like that?”
I didn’t even have time to place a bet, thank goodness I didn’t!”
“Such a fast sword, I couldn’t even see it clearly just now, who is this guy?”
He is Chu Xisheng, rumored to be the Inner Chief of this batch at Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall.”
Had I known, I would’ve bet on this guy.
Is his True Yuan Cultivation really only at the Ninth Grade lower tier?”
While the crowd below was abuzz with discussion, Chu Xisheng’s vision suddenly exploded with a large firework.
At this moment, his System Panel underwent a change.
Character: Chu Xisheng
Reputation: Ninth Rank upper tier (fixed)
Martial Arts: Chasing Wind Saber Technique (Second Layer), Light Cloud Jump (First Level)
Martial Intent: Vengeful Residual Intent (First Level)
Primordial Skill: Nourishing Essence Skill (Second Level/Ninth Rank lower tier)
Martial Arts Points: 45
Talent: Eagle Eye, Chasing Wind and Lightning Hand (First Tier), Pure Yang Thunder Body (First Tier), Time Instant Shadow Body (First Tier)
Status: Six Yin Soul Revival Spell, Vengeance
His Martial Arts Points had actually skyrocketed by ten points to a total of forty-five.
Besides, the ‘Vengeance’ status appeared once more in his status bar.
As Chu Xisheng gazed at it, three snippets of information appeared in his mind:
——You sense the malice around you and desire revenge, stimulating the Vengeance Blade Intent, allowing your strikes to carry a Spiritual Shock.
——There are over thirty Martial Cultivators of Ninth Rank and above who harbor ill will towards you; hence, your Vengeance Blade Intent has enhanced to a trace level!
——You are being watched by a Sixth Rank upper tier Martial Cultivator with murderous intent; your Vengeance Blade Intent has improved to a Weak level of intensity!
Chu Xisheng thought to himself no wonder, after he struck that sword blow earlier, he felt a slight mental exhaustion.
So, the reason he could instantly kill Heng Shiwu wasn’t just because of his quick sword, but also because of the ‘Vengeance Blade Intent’?
While Chu Xisheng was deep in thought, he didn’t hesitate to fixate his gaze and intent on the words “Light Cloud Jump (First Level)”.
——Would you like to use 8 Martial Arts Points to upgrade Light Cloud Jump to (Second Level)?
Chu Xisheng chose yes.
Long Heng had many experts under his command, with twenty to thirty Martial Cultivators of Ninth Rank Upper Tier; they would certainly not let this go.
He couldn’t wait until the moment of battle to hastily upgrade the tier of ‘Light Cloud Jump’.
Unfortunately, the ‘Star Shifting Lightning Feet’ from the Martial Arts Treasure Vault could not be stacked with ‘Time Instant Shadow Body’, nor could it be exchanged.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have hesitated.
As Chu Xisheng was coping with the surge of memories flooding his mind, causing a prickling sensation within his brain, Young Master Long Heng was watching him intently from behind the third-floor window of a tavern.
“Heng Wu, did you manage to see his sword just now?”
Heng Wu was his personal guard, a Martial Cultivator of Eighth Rank upper tier.
The guard’s face flushed slightly, a look of shame upon it: “My apologies, Young Master.
I was too far away and it happened so suddenly, I failed to see clearly.
However, just now Heng Shiwu only managed to draw his sword two and a half inches!”
From this, one could infer the speed of Chu Xisheng’s sword draw.
Long Heng furrowed his brows and then looked towards another person in the crowd, “Heng Shijiu!
Take off your heavy armor, grab a shield, and be cautious of his Draw Sword Style.
I don’t expect you to win, just try to gauge his sword speed, and I will give you a piece of Eighth Rank Primordial Skill secret medicine.
If you can exhaust half of his True Yuan energy, I have another reward for you!”
Heng Shijiu was the second seat among Heng’s Eighteen Riders, only slightly inferior to Heng Shiwu, with nearly no difference in strength.
This person had an advantage over Heng Shiwu; he was skilled in using the Round Iron Shield and Earth Hall Blade.
His mastery of the shield was such that not a drop of water could penetrate it, better suited to defending against fast swords.
Heng Shijiu immediately followed the order, removed his armor, and holding a Round Iron Shield and a Magic Refining Light Steel Blade, made his way to the arena.
At this time, opposite Long Heng, Zuo Qingyun chuckled lightly, “I didn’t expect to actually witness a good show today.”
He slowly poured himself a cup of tea, “But Young Master Long, you are not playing by the rules.
Once you enter the Life and Death Arena, don’t expect to come down completely unscathed.
He can try out the young brother’s skills, but his life must remain on the platform.
To those below, listen well, if that fellow dares to jump out of the arena and play any tricks of surrendering or admitting defeat, send him on his way!”
Eldest Young Master Long Heng was unconcerned upon hearing this, and his brother Long Sheng disdainfully glanced at Zuo Qingyun.
If his elder brother wanted Heng Shijiu to come down from the arena safely, then not even gods could stop it, let alone Zuo Qingyun.
Could this second generation of the Governor’s family truly dare to turn against their Long Family?
But Chu Xisheng’s sword had actually become this fast—
Long Sheng’s hands were tightly clenched, an involuntary sense of fluke rising in his heart.
Over the past month, he had learned from shame and became braver, with his swordmanship improving quite a bit, but Chu Xisheng’s progress was even faster.
At that moment on the platform, someone had already dragged Heng Shiwu’s body away and cleaned the bloodstains on the ground.
Chu Xisheng saw another sign the life-and-death agreement below, then with a leap, directly flipped over the blade wall at the edge of the arena.
“Heng Shijiu!” Heng Shijiu bore a resemblance to Heng Shiwu in temperament, holding a shield in hand, he greeted Chu Xisheng with a cold fist, “I have come to learn from your esteemed techniques!”
Chu Xisheng was still absorbing the memories that flooded into his mind like enlightening Ti Hu after the improvement of Light Cloud Jump, so he did not respond.
Heng Shijiu squinted his eyes and silently gripped the hilt of his accompanying sword.
At this time, from below the platform, another resounding shout was heard: “Both of you, pay attention, on the third drumbeat!
You may only make a move after the third sound of the drum!”
At the first drumbeat, the pavilion was still surging with people, frantically placing bets.
They speculated that Heng Shijiu was unlikely to be Chu Xisheng’s opponent, and the gambling started within the pavilion didn’t include options for victory or defeat.
One could only bet on how many rounds Heng Shijiu would last before losing to Chu Xisheng.
At the second drumbeat, the crowd beneath the platform had all placed their bets.
They were packed tightly below, three layers inside and three layers outside, watching the platform with rapt attention.
Chu Xisheng was adjusting his breathing, still tightly holding onto his saber, standing in an unsteady stance.
On the opposite side, Heng Shijiu held up his shield in front of his chest, slightly hunched over, protecting the vital parts of his torso.
When the third drumbeat sounded, the two reacted simultaneously.
Heng Shijiu played defense, while Chu Xisheng went on the offense.
Heng Shijiu stepped back, his long saber ready to respond at any time.
Chu Xisheng, however, suddenly stepped forward with a large stride to his left.
His movement was like a fleeting shadow, chasing time itself!
With the Second Level of Light Cloud Jump, he crossed three lengths in one step, appearing behind Heng Shijiu.
Then came the Draw Sword Style of the Chasing Wind Saber—empty wind!
As the Secret Technique Totem engraved on Chu Xisheng’s right arm emitted an abnormal fluorescence, a black crescent saber light also flashed behind him.
That saber light chased the wind and struck like lightning!
Heng Shijiu’s head instantly flew into the air, a jet of crimson blood spurting skyward like a Blood Spring.
In that instant, inside and outside the arena, above and below the restaurant, complete silence fell!