CRACK! CRACK!

The whip’s afterimages weaved through the air, which crackled with a continuous explosive sound.

Su Yu used his Swaying Forest Step, his body weaving left and right to dodge the whip as he tried to close in on Lin Jing.

However, the Purple Gold Whip was incredibly crafty. It switched between hard and soft, feinting in one direction while striking another. Every time Su Yu tried to close in, the tip would lash out like a viper’s tongue, aiming for his brow or throat and forcing him to retreat.

’An inch longer, an inch stronger. The ancients certainly weren’t wrong about that.’

Su Yu took a deep breath, gaining a newfound respect for how troublesome flexible weapons could be.

In the next moment, Su Yu changed his strategy. As he faced the impenetrable onslaught of the Purple Gold Whip, he continued to dodge while rapidly circling Lin Jing.

Lin Jing snorted with contempt. ’Trying to find an opening in my Purple Gold Whip? It won’t be that easy.’

"Muddy Wave Illusion, Snake Shadow Dance!"

In an instant, dozens of whip afterimages materialized, making it impossible to distinguish the real from the illusory. They formed a vast, silvery net that descended upon Su Yu from all directions, cutting off any path of retreat!

Faced with this impenetrable curtain of whip strikes, Su Yu finally made his move with the Mo Yuan Saber.

"Demon Ape’s Chaotic Dance!"

He gripped the hilt of the Mo Yuan Saber with both hands. His Qi and Blood surged like a torrential river, and his spine tensed like a coiled dragon.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The heavy black saber carved a dark arc through the air. Each strike was heavier than the last, like a raging tide crashing against the shore.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The saber and whip clashed repeatedly, sending sparks flying. The seemingly impenetrable web of strikes was brutally torn open by three ferocious slashes, forcing the Purple Gold Whip back!

"Nice move!"

Lin Jing’s hand went numb from the impact, but rather than being alarmed, she was thrilled.

"Then try this move of mine!"

Using the force of the recoil, she spun around, dragging the long whip behind her to build momentum. All the Power in her body spiraled and converged at the very tip of the whip.

"Thunder Shocking Whip!"

CRACK!!!

A deafening crack, like a clap of thunder, made the onlookers’ eardrums ache.

The whip instantly snapped taut as a spear, stabbing straight for Su Yu’s chest with terrifying speed that broke the sound barrier!

The Thunder Shocking Whip concentrated all its power into a single point at the tip, making it astonishingly potent. Even a Martial Artist at the Skin Tempering Realm would have their flesh torn open instantly if hit by this strike!

As the whip tip loomed larger and larger before his eyes, a sharp glint suddenly flashed in Su Yu’s gaze!

’Now!’

’This is the moment I’ve been waiting for! That whip strike is ferocious, but it’s an all-or-nothing attack. Now is the time to counter!’

"Thunderous Shock Step!"

His knees bent slightly as all his Qi and Blood instantly surged into the Yongquan Acupoints in the soles of his feet. His tendons snapped like a fully drawn bow being released.

CRACK!

The hard bluestone tiles beneath his feet instantly shattered.

Propelled by this terrifying recoil, Su Yu’s figure vanished, as if the ground had shrunk beneath his feet. All that remained was a spiderweb of cracks spreading out from where he’d stood.

As expected, Lin Jing’s deadly whip strike hit nothing but air, unleashing another thunderous crack.

But her heart skipped a beat, and a chill shot up her spine.

’Not good!’

She was just about to retract her whip to defend when she found a tall, slender figure had abruptly appeared within three feet of her side!

"Demon-slaying Mountain Splitting!"

Su Yu raised the long saber high with both hands. The jet-black blade shimmered with a silvery light as he brought it crashing down with the force of a collapsing mountain!

Su Yu held nothing back with this strike. Lin Jing’s whip technique was tricky and fluid, a strong counter to his direct, forceful saber style. It hadn’t been easy to get this close.

This was his chance to settle the match with a single blow!

Seeing she couldn’t recall her whip in time, Lin Jing could only rely on her body to evade.

She showed no hint of panic, instead displaying astonishing flexibility. Her supple waist bent backward into an exaggerated backbend as she pushed off her toes, her body sliding sideways like a slippery fish.

WHOOSH!

The heavy blade sliced past the tip of her nose, severing a lock of her dark hair.

BOOM!

The long saber slammed into the ground, sending stone fragments and dust flying. A gash several inches deep scarred the floor!

The crowd watched, their hearts pounding in their chests as cold sweat ran down their backs.

From the moment Su Yu dodged the Thunder Shocking Whip to when he instantly closed in on Lin Jing and unleashed that tyrannical mountain-splitting blow, only a few breaths had passed. The crowd was only just now processing what had happened.

But before the crowd could even catch their breath, Su Yu flicked his wrist. The Mo Yuan Saber flipped over, its brilliant flash instantly softening into a clear, tranquil arc, like a pool of autumn water, as it carved a perfect half-moon through the air.

"Ape Arm Star-Picking!"

This strike lacked the tyrannical force of Demon-slaying Mountain Splitting, but it was fluid, beautiful, and utterly lethal.

The blade followed her like a shadow, instantly catching up to Lin Jing as she tried to pull away.

SNIP!

Another lock of her hair drifted to the ground.

The Mo Yuan Saber’s lethally sharp blade came to a steady halt right beside her fair, slender neck.

The blade, glinting with a cold light, was less than a hair’s breadth from her skin. A single bead of blood welled up and slid silently down its edge. Like a dewdrop after the rain, carrying a trace of unwillingness, it slowly fell from the saber, gone forever.

The Martial Arts Arena fell deathly silent.

GULP.

The only sound was of someone swallowing hard.

All the Lin Family disciples stared at the tall, slender figure as if he were a monster.

As tyrannical as thunder, yet as agile as an ape.

His terrifying saber techniques had completely stunned them.

The next moment, the crowd erupted into a clamor of discussion.

"Is that guy’s name Su Yu? He actually beat Sister Jing!"

"The Spiritual Ape Demon-Slaying Saber! I know that technique! Sister Lin has used it before!"

"A prodigy! For Su Yu to have such saber skills at his age, he must be a prodigy from the White Ape Martial Arts Hall!"

"I was so reckless. To think I actually considered fighting this Su Yu!"

"Hiss... He’s terrifying!"

Lin Dong took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his eyes.

He knew his sister’s strength all too well. Her Qi and Blood was impressive for the First Acupoint level, and when she used her Spirit Snake Silk Binding Whip, she had few rivals in her realm!

He never imagined she would lose so easily to Su Yu today.

His mind raced as he wondered if he would stand a chance against Su Yu.

’No!’

’My Mountain-Suppressing Staff Technique is powerful, enough to give me an edge over my sister, but I could never block that instantaneous burst of speed and his saber technique!’

’No wonder Sister Lin told us to seek guidance from Su Yu!’

「In the center of the arena.」

Lin Jing felt the chilling aura of the blade at her neck. Her expression shifted from astonishment to something more complex. As she recalled those two brilliant and terrifying strikes, she knew she had lost fair and square. She was thoroughly convinced of her defeat! 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"I lost. Su Yu, you’re really something else!"

Seeing Lin Jing concede so readily, Su Yu nodded. With a clang, he sheathed his Mo Yuan Saber. "Thank you for the match. I apologize if I went too far."

His aura was now restrained, his demeanor as gentle as jade. He looked nothing like the God of Slaughter he had just been.

A deep curiosity flashed in Lin Jing’s beautiful eyes. Staring at him now, she found his current demeanor a stark contrast to his astonishing presence during the fight.

"You won, and no offense taken. A bet’s a bet!" She pulled a silver note from her robes and crisply handed it over. "Here. One hundred taels."

Su Yu accepted the silver note, his mood instantly lifting.

’Not bad,’ he thought. ’A single sparring match, I raised the Skill Level of my Spiritual Ape Demon-Slaying Saber, and I made one hundred taels of silver. A good deal all around.’

"In that case, I’ll be going to practice my fist techniques."

He cupped his fists and turned to leave.

Seeing Su Yu turn to go, Lin Jing suddenly bit her lip. Her voice, now as quiet as a mosquito’s buzz, was a complete reversal of her earlier fiery demeanor.

"Um..."

"Is there something else, Miss Lin?"

"Aiya! It’s about the bet!"

Seeing his expression, Lin Jing stomped her foot in a fit of embarrassed anger, her voice rising. "We agreed on one hundred taels, and... and three smacks on the butt! Are you going to do it here, or should we go inside?"

COUGH, COUGH, COUGH!

Lin Dong, who had just walked over, froze and began coughing uncontrollably.

’Oh, dear sister,’ he thought. ’The man didn’t even mention it, so why did you have to bring it up yourself?’

Su Yu gave her a surprised glance, only to be met with a fierce glare.

"Miss Lin, that part was just a joke. The one hundred taels is enough for the wager."

With that, he once again turned to go practice his fist techniques.

"Get back here! Are you looking down on me? I keep my word! Three smacks means three smacks!"

Lin Jing rushed forward and grabbed Su Yu’s sleeve, her large, fiery eyes glaring at him.

As she pulled him back, their bodies drew close, and the faint scent of rose-infused rouge washed over him.

"Well? Are you going to do it or not?" Lin Jing puffed out her chest and stood proudly.

"Then I will, Miss Lin."