Martial Arts Overlord-Chapter 625 - 623: Luo Feng vs. Xu Zhan!

WHOOSH...

On the martial arts stage, the sound of rushing water could be heard.

As soon as Qin Yue made her move, she was a completely different person, acting decisively and swiftly. Her azure sword radiated a dazzling light, twisting and turning, darting left and right like a strange python in the water—elusive and unpredictable, impossible to capture with the naked eye.

Such a strange sword technique, Luo Feng thought, a glint appearing in his eyes.

He Qin stood beside Luo Feng, her cold eyes reflecting the glint of swords, as she explained, "This is Azure Water School’s Water Flow Swordsmanship, renowned for its numerous variations. Rumor has it that it has ninety-one distinct forms, making it incredibly hard to defend against."

Luo Feng nodded, not particularly worried. Qin Yue’s and Bing Ruolan’s cultivation levels were comparable; victory or defeat hinged on whose swordsmanship was superior. Considering Bing Ruolan’s mastery of swordsmanship, she was unlikely to lose.

SWISH!

The strange Sword Qi moved at an extremely fast speed, approaching in the blink of an eye. It initially aimed for Bing Ruolan’s left shoulder but suddenly changed direction towards her right hand. This series of changes happened in an instant, catching many people off guard.

Despite her surprise, Bing Ruolan remained calm. With a flick of her wrist, she reversed her grip on her deep blue sword, perfectly blocking Qin Yue’s unpredictable attack.

Qin Yue was taken aback, not expecting Bing Ruolan’s rapid response. She prepared to launch another attack. However, Bing Ruolan’s last strike was not merely defensive.

"Flowing Cloud Crosses the Peak!"

After blocking Qin Yue’s attack, Bing Ruolan’s wrist moved, and she gripped her deep blue sword, her graceful figure dancing through the air. Her movements were light and agile, like a drifting cloud among mountain peaks, as she skirted past Qin Yue’s blade and thrust her deep blue sword forward.

Qin Yue was taken aback, surprised by Bing Ruolan’s counterattack from such a desperate situation.

"Rapid Stream Retreat!"

With a tap of her toes, Qin Yue retreated, her azure sword weaving a defensive curtain in front of her.

Naturally, Bing Ruolan wouldn’t miss such an opportunity. Her sword light converged, and she executed ’Chasing the Moon,’ the fastest technique of the Star-Piercing Swordsmanship, to pursue her.

DING DING DING DING DING...

In an instant, the two swords clashed over a dozen times, generating countless sparks that dazzled the eyes. The two beautiful swordswomen exchanged blows. Though the fight was extremely intense, it emanated no killing intent. Instead, the spectacle was a feast for the eyes, captivating everyone watching.

Qin Yue was already a renowned sword genius from the summit, while Bing Ruolan was merely a rising star. Many people initially favored Qin Yue. However, to everyone’s surprise, after over a dozen clashes, it was Qin Yue who was gradually losing ground.

Looking at the intense exchange on the martial arts stage, Luo Feng smiled and said, "Ruolan is sure to win."

He Qin nodded slightly. In a swordsman’s duel, victory or defeat is often decided in an instant. Bing Ruolan’s counterattack from a desperate situation, seizing the initiative, was enough to determine the duel’s outcome.

As the fight progressed, Qin Yue’s expression grew increasingly serious. Bing Ruolan’s swordsmanship was stronger than she had imagined. Coupled with her movement technique, it was graceful and agile, swift as the wind. Her Flowing Cloud Swordsmanship, known for its myriad variations, still struggled to match her opponent’s speed.

CLANG!

With a slash of her sword, Qin Yue created distance between herself and Bing Ruolan before saying solemnly, "If you can withstand this strike, I will concede defeat."

Before she finished speaking, Qin Yue’s wrist shook rapidly. Her azure sword hummed softly and vanished into thin air. Only wisps of azure Sword Qi could be seen, appearing erratically.

SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH...

The Sword Qi did not dissipate but instead converged madly around Qin Yue, like a cloud of azure mist. The azure mist rapidly expanded. Wherever it passed, the air tore silently, and the martial arts stage was ravaged, its surface scraped down by at least a foot!

"How much Sword Qi is there!?"

The nearby students, watching the martial arts stage enveloped in azure mist, felt chills run down their spines and gasped in astonishment.

Bing Ruolan’s Daimei furrowed slightly, her sapphire-like eyes growing more serious as she stood still, sword in hand. The azure mist expanded rapidly, covering half the martial arts stage within two or three breaths.

At this moment, beads of sweat covered Qin Yue’s smooth forehead. Her face was flushed, and her breathing was labored; this technique had clearly consumed a great deal of her energy.

Suddenly, a delicate shout echoed on the martial arts stage.

"Flowing Cloud Reflects the Moon!"

Qin Yue’s figure flickered as she thrust out her sword with incredible, lightning-fast speed.

ZING ZING ZING ZING ZING ZING...

Almost simultaneously, the azure mist transformed into more than a dozen illusory figures of Qin Yue, all attacking Bing Ruolan at once.

"What a strange sword technique! Flowing Cloud Reflects the Moon! This is the highest realm of the Water Flow Swordsmanship! Those figures are all formed from Sword Qi!" Among the spectating students, someone cried out in shock.

Luo Feng remained calm and smiled. Ruolan will probably have to use that move, he thought.

"That move?" He Qin questioned.

「At this moment」

A sudden change occurred atop the martial arts stage.

"Illusion Phoenix Thousand Changes Dance!"

Just as the Sword Qi was about to strike Bing Ruolan, a clear and resonant Feng Yin echoed across the stage. Bing Ruolan’s dress fluttered as she danced like a soaring phoenix of the nine heavens. Each step left a vivid, lifelike afterimage in its place, each figure holding a sword glinting with cold light, and each bearing a unique expression. In the span of a breath, the entire martial arts stage was filled with Bing Ruolan’s figures.

ZING ZING ZING...

The Sword Qi tore through several figures, but they were all illusions. One illusion even launched a sudden attack that nearly injured Qin Yue. After a few such exchanges, Qin Yue suddenly retracted her aura, saying, "I admit defeat."

Her swordsmanship was simply no match for her opponent’s movement technique. Continuing the stalemate offered no chance of victory.

"You let me win." Bing Ruolan appeared three steps to Qin Yue’s left.

A flicker of surprise crossed Qin Yue’s eyes; she hadn’t noticed when Bing Ruolan had appeared by her side. With a bitter smile, Qin Yue said, "What impressive movement techniques. I willingly concede. And congratulations on making it to the Martial Champion Board."

Bing Ruolan’s eyebrows rose. "This is only the seventh round."

Qin Yue, with her carefree personality, didn’t dwell on winning or losing. She sheathed her sword and smiled, saying, "Since you’ve beaten me, no one in Group Eight is your match, including ’Shock Mountain Tiger’ He Wu."

Bing Ruolan gave a faint smile. Qin Yue certainly spoke her mind.

Following Bing Ruolan’s victory, the arena fell silent for a moment before erupting into enthusiastic cheers. The preceding battle, full of twists and turns, could aptly be described as breathtaking. At the same time, many people began reassessing Bing Ruolan. Her proficiency in both Sword Dao and Light Martial Arts was so outstanding, it was clear she possessed exceptional martial talent.

"Junior Brother, this woman is formidable. You must be careful when you face her," Xie Xuantong told a broad-backed, powerfully built youth beside him.

This young man was ’Shock Mountain Tiger’ He Wu. He glanced at Bing Ruolan and nodded slightly. "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother. I will definitely defeat her!"

Luo Feng wasn’t surprised by Bing Ruolan’s victory. After the night of the mermaid illusion, Bing Ruolan’s Phantom Phoenix Sky Cloud Dance had reached perfection, her Qinggong only marginally inferior to his own.

「In the eighth round」

Luo Feng, He Qin, and Bing Ruolan were all selected. He Qin and Bing Ruolan faced opponents of average strength and won easily.

Luo Feng’s opponent was a late-stage Spiritual Rotation Realm Martial Artist. Seeing his opponent was Luo Feng, his face changed, and he immediately conceded. A single instance might be luck, but defeating two opponents in a row with a single move was definitely not. Rather than be defeated in one blow on stage, it was better to concede and preserve some dignity.

Luo Feng paid this no mind. He noticed Xu Tao, whom he had met several times, also known as ’Breaking Wave Sword’. And Xu Tao’s opponent was Ye Siyi, the top young expert known as ’Fragrance Without Shadow’.

Luo Feng had some understanding of Xu Tao’s strength and expected him to withstand several exchanges. However, the moment Xu Tao stepped onto the martial arts stage, Ye Siyi defeated him with a single, clean sword strike. He hadn’t even managed to fully draw his sword.

Luo Feng thought, Truly strong...

Watching Ye Siyi calmly walk off the martial arts stage, Luo Feng’s eyes flickered. Xu Tao was the top expert of Bluemoon School, stronger even than ’Stone Man’ Xue Fei, and held some renown throughout the Six Southern Domains. Yet, he still couldn’t withstand a single strike from Ye Siyi. However, Luo Feng knew Xu Tao hadn’t lost due to his cultivation level, but to speed. Ye Siyi’s speed was too great, like a phantom, elusive and unpredictable. Her opponents were often defeated before they even had a chance to make a move.

"If even Xu Tao was defeated in a single strike, who could possibly be Ye Siyi’s match?"

"One’s eyes can’t follow, one’s senses can’t keep up—how can anyone fight her?"

"It looks like she’s the most likely candidate for Martial Champion this time. Only Yi Wuxue might have a chance to contend with her."

The crowd was also shocked by Ye Siyi’s astonishing Qinggong, and discussions erupted.

"Speaking of speed, among the top ten young talents, the only one who can compare with Ye Siyi is probably ’Dove Eye’ Han Xing," one of the examining students remarked, looking towards the seventh martial arts stage.

At this moment, Luo Feng was also observing the seventh martial arts stage, where a youth with sharp eyes stood holding a golden longbow.

Luo Feng thought, He’s actually a Bow Cultivator, quite rare... Watching the youth on the martial arts stage, Luo Feng raised an eyebrow.

He Qin, who happened to approach, heard him. Her gaze fell on the bow-wielding youth as she said, "This person is Han Xing, a student from Sky Wind School in the Black Cloud Domain. All students of Sky Wind School are Bow Cultivators. He ranked seventh at the Six Southern Domains Summit. His arrows never miss their mark, earning him the moniker ’Dove Eye’. He once killed a first-stage Spiritual Rotation Realm Martial Artist with a single arrow from several miles away!"

Luo Feng thought, This person is formidable! He nodded.

Han Xing’s opponent was a swordsman dressed in azure. He clearly recognized Han Xing. Upon stepping onto the martial arts stage, he immediately drew his sword and advanced on Han Xing, attempting to seize the initiative.

Surprisingly, seeing the azure-clothed swordsman approaching, Han Xing didn’t dodge. Instead, a cold smirk touched Han Xing’s lips as he gripped his bow and advanced to meet him.

Seeing this, the azure-clothed swordsman smiled confidently. In close combat, I obviously have the advantage!

SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH!

The swordsman in azure thrust his Three Feet Green Edge left and right, unleashing four sword lights that covered Han Xing’s vital points in a precise pattern. Han Xing moved undeterred into the path of the Sword Qi.

Suddenly, the azure-clothed swordsman’s expression froze. His eyes widened in disbelief. Before him, Han Xing stood three steps away, his golden longbow drawn taut like a full moon, an azure Yuan Gang arrow aimed directly at the azure-clothed swordsman’s forehead. The arrowhead was a mere inch from his forehead.

"You’re dead," Han Xing said coldly, lowering his longbow.

DRIP!

A drop of cold sweat trickled from the tip of the azure-clothed swordsman’s nose. In that instant, he had genuinely felt the chilling threat of death.

Luo Feng thought, He truly is a dangerous individual. He narrowed his eyes, watching Han Xing’s departing figure.

Soon, the eighth round of the competition ended. By now, only five individuals still maintained a perfect record of defeating their opponents in a single move: Ye Siyi, Yi Wuxue, Liu Changfeng, Xie Xuantong, and Luo Feng.

「The ninth round began.」

"Group Nine, Luo Feng versus Xu Zhan!"