75: Chapter 72: The Counter Chop 75: Chapter 72: The Counter Chop As the two passed by one another, Chu Xisheng’s Blood Refining Light Steel Blade cleaved through Zhuang Hongfei’s soft armor like thunder and lightning, leaving a glaring bloodstain across his waist.
Zhuang Hongfei’s “Golden Silk Soft Armor” was indeed tough and hard to breach, but the Blood Refining Light Steel Blade fortified with Chu Xisheng’s True Yuan was extremely sharp.
Not only did his blade cut through the soft armor, but it also penetrated at least two inches into Zhuang Hongfei’s waist, causing him to stagger upon landing, the sudden pain in his left waist nearly rendering him unable to stand steady.
Zhuang Hongfei’s pupils dilated in fury, his thoughts momentarily coming to a halt.
This was partly due to the shock from Chu Xisheng’s Sword Intent and partly from the astonishment in his heart.
This injury at his waist wasn’t considered a serious wound, and it didn’t significantly affect his movement technique.
Yet, Zhuang Hongfei was dazed and incredulous.
This was the first time he had been injured in the Life and Death Arena since he started his career.
At that instant, the fifth layer of the stands within the Winning and Losing Tower fell silent as death.
A look of astonishment appeared on everyone’s face, as they had not expected Zhuang Hongfei to be the first to suffer an injury!
That newcomer named Chu, one who had emerged from who knows where, had actually managed to wound Zhuang Hongfei, who had already won nineteen consecutive matches on the arena!
“No way, he actually managed to cut Little Zhuang—”
“How is that possible?”
“How could Little Zhuang get wounded by him?”
“Damn, I’ve bet a whole hundred taels of Demon Silver on Zhuang Hongfei; he better not screw this up.”
“Dogshit, this Chu Xisheng’s sword skill and speed are actually so formidable.”
Above the arena, Zhuang Hongfei only remained bewildered for a moment before he snapped back to reality.
A peerless rage then rose within him like a volcanic eruption, filling his heart, chest, and his entire body.
“I’ll slaughter you!”
Zhuang Hongfei’s gaze reddened, and he hurled over a hundred Hidden Weapons in less than ten breaths’ time.
This exceeded even his best performance to date, the Thunder God Hammers and Funeral Door Nails launching at his opponent like a stormy deluge.
Chu Xisheng was also thrown into disarray for a moment, having to draw his backup Magic Light Steel Blade as well, slashing left and right to barely shield himself from the storm of hidden weapons.
Yet, the distance between the two widened again to nearly eight feet.
It was at this moment that he saw Zhuang Hongfei lifting his right arm once more.
Without hesitation, Chu Xisheng took a large step forward to the left.
Then, with a slight lift of his brows, he saw that Zhuang Hongfei was still rigid with an exposed weakness!
This time, he was even more prepared, his swing more vigorous and fierce.
His Hundred-refined Light Steel Saber once again breached Zhuang Hongfei’s golden silk soft armor!
This time Chu Xisheng’s blade targeted Zhuang Hongfei’s left arm, the sharp edge inflicting a deep gash and the formidable sword power nearly severing the bone of Zhuang Hongfei’s limb.
As the two brushed past each other again, the Winning and Losing Tower was as silent as death, with almost everyone looking on in shock and bewilderment at the scene.
Lu Luanyi watched the two on the platform and couldn’t help thinking it was inconceivable, “Has he actually won?”
Although the outcome was yet to be decided, Zhuang Hongfei, now with one less arm, would inevitably have his combat power greatly reduced.
As long as Chu Xisheng didn’t make a major mistake, he was bound to secure the victory today!
The issue was that, in her initial judgment, Chu Xisheng’s chances of winning should have been less than ten percent.
Chu Yunyun, on the other hand, had a hint of a smile curving at her lips, a look of ‘just as expected’ on her face.
Zhuang Hongfei had mastered the “Heavy Rain Qiankun” move two months ago but had only revealed it three times in the Life and Death Arena.
Having never encountered a worthy opponent on the platform, he naturally didn’t realize the flaw in his move.
In Martial Arts combat, moves with greater power are not necessarily the better choice.
Meanwhile, in the A-class compartment on the sixth layer, “One-Armed Blade” Li Cang could no longer sit still.
He stood up abruptly, his face looking dreadfully pale as he watched the arena below.
“Looks like the kid surnamed Zhuang is going to lose.”
Wo Meiniang, who had just filled her smoke gun with fresh tobacco, couldn’t bring herself to take a puff.
Instead, she watched Chu Xisheng, astonished, “I thought Zhuang Hongfei would be able to deal with Chu Xisheng with the ‘Heavy Rain Qiankun’.
Instead, he was wounded twice in a row using the same tactic by Chu Xisheng, is it because his weakness has been seen through?”
“It’s his vulnerability!
His starting pose for ‘Heavy Rain Qiankun’ is too obvious, and his movements are strained, making his upper body stiff.
That smart kid surnamed Chu always kept a distance of around eight feet.”
Cloud Sword Manor Master Du Yunlai shook his head slightly, “Zhuang Hongfei is too impatient, this match is truly unexpected.”
If Zhuang Hongfei had not been eager to settle the fight and had refrained from using ‘Heavy Rain Qiankun’, he could have dragged out the battle until Chu Xisheng’s True Yuan was exhausted.
Zuo Qingyun’s smile could no longer be suppressed, his lips curling up as he pretended to drink his tea calmly.
Just a moment ago, he had been in such a foul mood that he hadn’t cared for the superb ‘Snow Sun Spring’ tea on the table, and had let it cool completely.
But now, Zuo Qingyun found this chilled tea to have a different charm, bitter at first but sweet on the return.
“I’m surprised too, Little Chu actually won.
Old Li, when will you deliver those ten thousand Demon Silver?
Don’t just talk big.”
One-Armed Blade Li Cang was silent, his eyes filled with a venomous look as he gazed at Zhuang Hongfei and Chu Xisheng on the stage for a while, then took out a stack of silver notes from his sleeve and slapped it on the table.
“Today, I, Li, have taken a fall.”
Li Cang was a Sixth Grade Martial Cultivator, with his own judgment of the combat situation.
Seeing Chu Xisheng’s steady and cautious demeanor, he knew Zhuang Hongfei’s chances of winning were slim to none.
He had thus lost interest in the ensuing fight and walked out of the private box directly.
“After the Life and Death Arena concludes, if Zhuang Hongfei is dead, drag his body to feed the dogs; if he is not dead, still drag him to feed the dogs—”
His words also reached the ears of the three people in the private box.
Wo Meiniang and Zuo Qingyun both frowned deeply, their faces showing a hint of disgust.
Cloud Sword Manor Master Du Yunlai, however, remained unfazed; he offered a mocking smile, his eyes serene and indifferent.
Meanwhile, on the arena, Zhuang Hongfei was gasping for breath, large beads of sweat continually spilled down from his temple, and his right hand shook uncontrollably.
The blood loss from his arm and waist not only drained him of his strength but also depleted much of his True Yuan.
In order to prevent Chu Xisheng from getting closer, Zhuang Hongfei’s unscathed right hand had to swing even more frequently, dispatching hidden weapons at the fastest speed.
This not only caused his physical strength to deplete even more rapidly, but it also pushed his right hand’s muscles to the brink of their limit, edging towards spasms.
Yet the figure of Chu Xisheng was still relentlessly approaching.
The distance between them was now less than six feet, and with a single slash forward, Chu Xisheng’s long saber could sever Zhuang Hongfei’s throat.
The key issue was that not only did his muscles ache fiercely, but also the supply of hidden weapons in his pouch was nearly exhausted.
Zhuang Hongfei knew he could not drag this out any longer!
His eyes bulged with fury, a look of desperation in his pupils, “Give me the bag!”
Those were the two spare hidden weapon bags, placed in the resting area just below the stage.
The moment Zhuang Hongfei’s words ended, a burly man in red threw two bulging leather bags onto the stage.
Disappointment flashed in Zhuang Hongfei’s eyes.
Chu Xisheng didn’t even glance at those leather bags; he remained sharply focused, weaving a lethal web with his Blood Refining Light Steel Blade, continuously advancing, and advancing again!
Zhuang Hongfei felt the despair but still unhesitatingly raised his right hand above his shoulder once more.
It was still the move ‘Heavy Rain Qiankun’, the cause of his defeat today, yet the only means he had to turn around the combat situation.
Chu Xisheng’s brow slightly furrowed as he timely stepped to the left and slashed back!
Chu Xisheng did not adhere to convention; this time, his stepping distance was nearly halved from before.
In the next instant, his saber’s edge broke into Zhuang Hongfei’s chest, creating a glaring wound almost splitting Zhuang Hongfei in two.
Especially the tail end of the Blood Refining Light Steel Blade, which swept directly over Zhuang Hongfei’s heart.
Chu Xisheng was momentarily stunned; he had thought that this strike would at most sever Zhuang Hongfei’s left hand or inflict greater damage to Zhuang Hongfei’s waist.
But the man had actually charged his chest straight onto the blade’s edge.
“So it appears I’m the one to die today.”
Zhuang Hongfei stood still, looked down at his chest, and sneered at himself.
“Is this what dying feels like?
So unresigned, not even a final meal—”
The light in his eyes gradually faded, and he collapsed thunderously.
At that moment, the entire Winning and Losing Tower erupted into a din like thunder, hundreds of betting tickets were thrown from the stands, fluttering down like snowflakes.