58: Chapter 55 Overturning the Table 58: Chapter 55 Overturning the Table At the moment when Heng Wei’s head fell to the ground, his eyes were glaring angrily, filled with shock and disbelief.
The crowd below was mostly bewildered, staring at the scene in astonishment.
The next instant, countless paper notes fluttered into the air, blanketing the arena like snowflakes, as jeers and curses erupted from all sides.
What kind of trash is this, wielding a Seventh Rank rune sword and only blocking two moves.”
“This guy deserved to die on the arena, clearly lacking skill yet daring to bet his life.”
I really want to cripple him.
I’ve already lost fifteen taels on him today, that’s a month’s wage gone.”
“This is outrageous, could it be that the Long Family is in cahoots with that surname Zuo, scamming our money?”
Most of the people below had bet on Chu Xisheng losing.
As soon as Heng Wei brought out the rune sword, no one thought Chu Xisheng could survive this life and death duel.
However, there were some bold individuals who bet on Chu Xisheng, and a look of surprise appeared on their faces.
Chu Xisheng immediately reached out for the rune sword.
According to the rules of the life and death arena, the deceased’s belongings on the stage also belonged to the victor.
Chu Xisheng also did not want Long Heng to continue using this sword against him.
At this moment in Chu Xisheng’s eyes, another round of large fireworks burst forth.
His popularity status had changed from Ninth Grade Upper (Solid) to Ninth Grade Upper (Exceed).
The number of Martial Arts Points had increased by a full 13 points, swelling again to 25.
Chu Xisheng’s gaze then fell upon the words ‘Chasing Wind Saber Technique (Second Layer)’.
——Would you like to spend 13 Martial Arts Points to forcibly upgrade the Chasing Wind Saber Technique to the third layer?
Note: You have not mastered the third layer of Nourishing Essence Skill, thus you can only unleash 70% of the power of the third layer Chasing Wind Saber Technique.
Chu Xisheng unhesitatingly chose ‘Yes’, as any increase in strength was extremely precious at this time.
If he had mastered the third layer of the Chasing Wind Saber Technique before, he could have broken through Heng Wei’s Nine Palace Sword without even using the two secret moves, with just the Sword Intent.
Next, he looked at ‘Light Cloud Jump’, which required 30 Martial Arts Points for a forced upgrade.
Chu Xisheng guessed this result because he had not had any time to practice the Second Level of Light Cloud Jump.
He minimized the virtual screen to the edge of his field of view and then turned his head to look at the restaurant to the north.
The agreed one hour hadn’t even reached its midpoint yet.
He wondered what kind of expert Long Heng would send to the stage next?
On the third floor of the restaurant, Long Heng was also watching Chu Xisheng, his hands behind his back, his eyes dark and unpredictable.
“It seems you won’t be needing this bottle of wine,” Zuo Qingyun said to Long Heng, feeling indescribably pleased.
He laughed and picked up the wine bottle beside him, pouring another cup for himself.
“Do you have any suitable candidate left?
If not, you can call someone from the West Bank.
There is still time for six more quarter-hours; a fast boat can still make it in time.”
Long Heng’s gaze was icy, and a hidden killing intent swept over Zuo Qingyun.
He then looked towards the arena: “Heng Wu, go up!”
Zuo Qingyun’s pupils dilated as he slammed the cup of wine he was holding down onto the table.
“Long Heng, did you not hear what I said?
The cultivation of the participants today must not exceed Ninth Grade!”
The cultivation of the guard named Heng Wu beside Long Heng was at least Eighth Grade Upper.
Long Heng slightly smirked.
He drew his sword at his waist half an inch and a cold chill permeated the restaurant, starting to form ice even by the stairs.
“I heard you loud and clear, but so what?
I am determined to take this child’s life.”
If I can smoothly take down Chu Xisheng, then what’s the harm in giving you face?
If I can’t, I’ll flip the table.
A shade of blue instantly flashed across Zuo Qingyun’s face.
He slammed his wine bottle out the window.
Below, the ground responded with a loud ‘bang,’ as fragments of white porcelain and wine splashed in all directions.
Any cultivator above Ninth Grade daring to take the stage today will be killed without mercy!”
He lifted his head to lock eyes with Long Heng, who stood by the window across the table.
Their gazes clashed, sparking like flint and steel.
The cold suddenly whitened Zuo Qingyun’s hands.
But he showed no fear whatsoever.
This was South Street Temple Market, where only his rules applied!
Long Heng began to draw his sword, inch by inch it slid from the sheath.
With every inch pulled free, the temperature in the tavern dropped a few degrees more.
Just as Long Heng’s sword was about to be drawn completely, a hearty laugh suddenly came from afar, “Eldest Young Master Long truly is as unpredictable as the weather.
Tie Xiaosheng never expected that after what transpired in Fire Bone Cave, you would still dare to cross the river!”
On the platform, Chu Xisheng’s eyes brightened at the sound, recognizing it to be Tie Xiaosheng’s laugh.
Accompanied by the laughter, a burly figure clad in iron armor soared through the air like a shooting star, crashing heavily into the tavern.
The two exchanged blows inside the building, their clashes resounding like thunder.
Merely three exchanges were enough to conjure an unmatched Qi Gang, nearly flipping the entire roof of the tavern.
Zuo Qingyun also fled the tavern with the protection of two close guards, emerging with a face smeared with dirt and spitting out dust.
“Tie Xiaosheng, damn you, Immortal!
Of all the places, why did you choose to fight in South Street Temple Market?”
As soon as Zuo Qingyun finished speaking, the entire tavern behind him collapsed with a resounding crash.
But as the wooden boards and beams fell, they were encapsulated in cold ice mid-descent, while the figure of Long Heng soared out from the demolished structure.
His clothes fluttered as he pointed downward with his long sword, his face stern.
And in the next instant, Tie Xiaosheng, clad in iron armor, also burst out from the ruins.
In midair, the two fought; Long Heng’s sword shadows were dense, utterly impenetrable.
Occasionally, his sword light exploded forth like a leaping viper, insidiously unpredictable.
Tie Xiaosheng, however, wielded a Heavy Sword, powerful and vigorous, seemingly straightforward but with a refinement that belied his brute strength.
His defenses were as solid as a rock.
Each swing of his Heavy Sword could make Long Heng’s shudder incessantly.
Chu Xisheng could no longer stay on the platform because Long Heng’s sword-induced cold kept expanding.
The thin ice on the ground had extended to a radius of twenty yards, encompassing a tenth of Temple Street’s black market.
The Sword Energy from Tie Xiaosheng’s strikes was perilously close and dangerous, anyone grazed by it would be flung dozens of yards, their bones fractured.
The multitude beneath the platform had long since scattered like scared rabbits, fleeing in every direction.
Jumping down from the platform, Chu Xisheng saw Lu Luanyi and Chu Yunyun waving at him from behind a sturdy stele some distance away.
Chu Xisheng’s brows lifted as he strode over.
“I never imagined you could win this,” Lu Luanyi said with utter amazement.
“I would’ve bet some silver if I had known.
I could have made some pocket money.”
Chu Yunyun looked pensive with a hint of regret.
She had been fully focused on observing around the platform, ensuring Chu Xisheng’s safety, and had forgotten about placing a bet.
She had a thousand things to say to Chu Xisheng.
His performance on the platform was nothing short of appalling.
Whether it was the “empty wind” or the “Wind and Thunder” of the Secret Technique Totem, or his awakened “Pure Yang” body, he wasn’t using them correctly.
His movement technique was stiff and rigid, failing to show any flexibility.
In theory, if Chu Xisheng had completely mastered these elements, even against a martial artist of the Eighth Rank Lower Tier, he should have been able to hold his ground.
But with Lu Luan standing right there, Chu Yunyun had to hold her tongue for later.
She silently tore off a strip of cloth from her clothing to use as a bandage for Chu Xisheng’s right hand.
Everyone had seen Chu Xisheng dispatch Heng Wei with two moves, but they didn’t realize his hand had also been injured by the recoil from the rune sword.