Martial Arts Overlord-Chapter 635 - 633: Prodigy

The two of them were less than half a foot apart. He Qin could even feel Luo Feng’s breath, the warmth billowing near her ears, stirring strange feelings within her. A rosy flush crept up her delicate earlobes.

However, after hearing Luo Feng’s words, her dark eyebrows knitted slightly. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with doubt:

"Is that all?"

"Yes."

Luo Feng nodded and replied confidently, "This way, you are certain to win."

He Qin arched an eyebrow, watching Luo Feng, and suddenly asked, "Were you considering this just now?"

"Indeed."

He Qin’s eyes shimmered. With the Cold Snow Sword in hand, she exhaled softly and declared, "I will surely win."

WHOOSH!

With a gentle tap of her toes, He Qin seemed to drift like a light snowflake, landing twenty paces before Liu Ling.

Upon making eye contact with He Qin, Liu Ling was momentarily taken aback, then immediately smiled and said, "That’s quite a determined gaze. It seems you’re confident you can defeat me today."

He Qin glanced towards the audience below, her face expressionless as she unsheathed the Cold Snow Sword. "Today, I must win."

"That might be problematic."

Liu Ling’s face held a charming smile as her twin swords cast a cold light, like driven snow. Gazing at He Qin, she said, "I feel the same."

They stood facing each other. He Qin, in her snow-colored dress, seemed to merge with her Sword Intent, her hemline fluttering though there was no wind. Snowflakes whirled in the air currents around her. A cold current swirled chaotically, exuding an intimidating chill—not ordinary cold, but an intensely sharp aura.

Similarly, Liu Ling’s gaze was fiercely sharp, her dual swords radiating a bright green light that illuminated half the combat stage in an emerald hue, matching He Qin’s intensity.

Their auras permeated the stage, and it was as if the entire world had vanished from their perception.

"Such impressive presence!"

"It seems that after yesterday’s battle, they both consider each other rivals they must surpass. I wonder who will emerge victorious today!"

The crowd in the stands was infected by the palpable tension between the two, their eyes fixed, unblinking.

Raising her Sword Intent to its peak, He Qin’s gaze was as piercing as winter frost. "Well then, let’s begin!"

"Alright."

Liu Ling responded and stood her ground, releasing a Sword Qi directed at He Qin.

He Qin remained unfazed. Her wrist flicked, and the surrounding wind and snow intensified, forming a massive blizzard of Sword Qi that blocked the green Sword Qi.

"Thousand Mountain Covered with Snow!"

After blocking Liu Ling’s sword, He Qin’s assault didn’t pause. Her figure flitted out, instantly crossing the dozen-or-so paces between them. Her sword, wreathed in a maelstrom of wind and snow, swept towards Liu Ling’s right flank.

"Hmm?"

An unusual glint flashed across Liu Ling’s eyes. She lashed out with both swords, her green Sword Qi coalescing into a ferocious torrent that swept outward.

HISS! HISS! HISS! HISS!

Two entirely different forces met mid-air. Shattered Sword Qi scattered in every direction, riddling the combat stage with gaping holes.

"Evenly matched again! I guess the victor can only be decided after at least a thousand moves."

Seeing the two blasts of Sword Qi, so evenly matched, a similar thought flashed through many minds in the audience.

"Snowy Sky!"

Seeing Liu Ling block her blow, He Qin remained unfazed. She shifted her stance slightly and swung the Cold Snow Sword repeatedly. Each swing unleashed a formidable, chilling Sword Qi towards Liu Ling’s right side. The sharp Qi Force whipped the wind and snow on the combat platform into a frenzy.

The same side again... Could it be...?

The smile faded from Liu Ling’s face as she watched He Qin with an utterly serious expression. A sense of dread crept into her heart.

Perhaps it’s just a coincidence...

A thought flashed through Liu Ling’s mind as a bright green glow burst from her sword’s edge.

"Spring Swallows Take Flight!"

The green Sword Qi transformed into numerous green swallows, emitting delightful chirping sounds as they enveloped Liu Ling in a three-meter radius.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The Sword Qi and the swallows collided repeatedly, creating violent shockwaves that made the entire stage buzz and tremble.

Fifty moves.

A hundred moves.

...

Two hundred moves.

Below the stage, Zi Hongyuan gazed at the heated battle and frowned. "It seems this duel is going to end in a draw again."

Zhou Zhiyun nodded slightly. He Qin had comprehended Sword Intent, while Liu Ling possessed superior Cultivation. Their strengths could be considered evenly matched. Unless one side revealed a fatal flaw, deciding a victor wouldn’t be easy.

POP!

The Sword Qi collided, the impact radiating outwards.

Attacking my weakness again...

Liu Ling retreated, her face flushed and panting delicately, her gaze fixed on He Qin with utmost gravity. Once or twice could be explained by chance, but He Qin was relentlessly targeting her weakness. This was no coincidence. To an outsider, she might seem evenly matched with He Qin right now. However, only she knew that these mere two hundred-odd moves had drained her more than the eight hundred moves from yesterday. If this stalemate continued, defeat was certain. It seemed she had to end this duel quickly.

"Double Swallows Flying Together!"

Her beautiful eyes flashed as Liu Ling took the offensive. Her twin swords merged, their Sword Qi forming a green cyclone that assaulted He Qin with a high-pitched whistling sound. Her speed was like lightning, seemingly drawing a white line through the air.

He Qin sensed Liu Ling’s urgency but remained unruffled. With a flick of her wrist, the Cold Snow Sword drew a half-circle in the air, and she thrust twice in quick succession.

"Roaming Cloud of Wind and Snow!"

The Sword Qi stirred the wind and snow on the platform, its power even greater. The two streams of Sword Qi traced ethereal and unpredictable paths, suddenly veering left, then right.

SWISH!

One stream of Sword Qi blocked Liu Ling’s attack, while the other, initially aimed at Liu Ling’s left, suddenly changed course and swept out to her right.

Liu Ling’s expression changed drastically. Furiously circulating the Yuan Qi in her body, she brandished her twin swords to counter.

CLANG!

Caught off guard, the sword in Liu Ling’s right hand flew from her grasp. Her figure retreated step after step, her right sleeve torn open by the Sword Qi, leaving a clear gash.

CLATTER!

The dislodged sword flew a hundred meters before falling below the combat stage, where it bounced and quivered.

"What happened? How did Liu Ling suddenly fall into a disadvantage?"

"I didn’t see clearly either. He Qin’s sword strikes just now didn’t seem particularly special."

"Could it be that He Qin, in just one night, has far surpassed Liu Ling in strength?"

"How is that possible..."

The spectators stared at Liu Ling, who had been disarmed of one sword, their eyes filled with puzzlement.

Zhou Zhiyun chuckled softly. "Who would have thought He Qin would discover that Liu Ling’s weakness is her right side." She watched He Qin’s figure, a smile playing on her lips. If He Qin can defeat Liu Ling, she’ll have a real hope of reaching the top five.

Zi Hongyuan nodded slightly and said with a sigh, "I’m ashamed to admit, I hadn’t noticed that at all."

Zhou Zhiyun replied, "I only just realized it myself."

He Qin stood firmly on the ravaged combat stage, her cool eyes fixed on Liu Ling. "Do you want to continue?"

Liu Ling shook her head slightly, returning her remaining sword to its scabbard. "The Flying Swallow Swordsmanship I practice requires the use of two swords. Without one, it’s like losing an arm. Continuing would only guarantee my defeat. I admit defeat."

Upon hearing Liu Ling surrender, the official in charge of the assessment immediately declared He Qin the winner.

As she walked past He Qin, Liu Ling suddenly stopped and asked, "I have a question. How did you know my right side was my weakness?"

This puzzled Liu Ling greatly. Since childhood, she was accustomed to wielding her sword with her left hand and had started practicing with twin swords at the age of ten, continuing to this day. Ordinary Martial Artists, when dueling her, would usually attack her left side. This played right into her hands, often allowing her to win easily. But in the duel just now, He Qin had relentlessly attacked her right side, clearly having discovered her weakness.

He Qin sheathed her Cold Snow Sword and shook her head. She glanced towards the audience below, her eyes trembling slightly as she said, "You didn’t lose to me, but to Luo Feng. He was the one who told me your weakness was on your right."

"Luo Feng?"

Liu Ling stared at Luo Feng. A storm raged within her. If He Qin had discovered her weakness, she wouldn’t have been too surprised; after all, they had exchanged nearly a thousand moves. But it was Luo Feng... She had exchanged fewer than three moves with him, yet he had already discerned her weakness. What terrifying perception!

"Your four academies of Flowing Cloud Region have indeed produced a prodigy," Liu Ling said, her voice filled with sincere admiration. "I am thoroughly convinced of my defeat."

He Qin said nothing, walking off the combat stage. She approached Luo Feng and said, "Liu Ling called you a prodigy."

"Am I that intimidating?" Luo Feng touched his nose.

He Qin stared intently at Luo Feng, her cool eyes twinkling for a moment before she nodded suddenly.

"I agree with her."

「In the fifth round of the contest」

The duels on the other combat stages were also incredibly exciting, drawing enthusiastic cheers from the spectators.

「In the sixth round」

Luo Feng encountered his first Saber Man opponent.

Tenth of the young top ten masters: ’Broken Thought Saber’ Shi Zhong.

Everyone initially thought Shi Zhong would surely admit defeat, since Luo Feng had consecutively beaten Wu Tong, ranked sixth, and Liu Ling, ranked fifth. His strength was apparent to all.

However, to everyone’s surprise, Shi Zhong did not surrender.

THUD!

Shi Zhong stepped forcefully onto the combat stage, drew the Glistening Treasure Saber from his back, and looked at Luo Feng, his eyes burning with fighting spirit:

"There are few Saber Men among all the academy students. Besides the ’Black-faced Killer’ Xie Xuantong, you are the second opponent I admire. I hope to compete with you, Saber Man to Saber Man."

Shi Zhong’s voice was thunderous, his slow speech carrying a palpable, heart-shaking power.

Luo Feng swiped his finger across his storage ring, and the Rage Flame Knife appeared in his hand. He nodded. "Alright."

"Take my strike!"

Shi Zhong let out a low growl, stepped forward, and his Glistening Treasure Saber slashed straight out.

SWISH!

It was a simple saber strike, yet the saber light was incredibly condensed, like a towering mountain, its substance pushed to the absolute limit. It bore some resemblance to the legendary Blade Mountain, its might terrifying.

Luo Feng nodded slightly. It seems Shi Zhong’s favor with the Yuangang Hall elders is no accident, he mused. Although this man hasn’t comprehended Grand Momentum, the intent realm in his Saber Technique is already formidable. An ordinary person facing this strike would likely be scared to death.

Taking a deep breath, Luo Feng also slashed out with his knife.

BOOM!

The light from his knife condensed infinitely. Within its boundless radiance, something seemed to merge into the Saber Qi. The instant it manifested, an intense, sharp aura immediately bifurcated the air across the entire platform.

All the spectators around the combat stage were aghast. The moment the knife-light appeared, a single thought simultaneously arose in their hearts: Unstoppable!

BOOM!

The two streams of Saber Qi met in mid-air, erupting with a deafening noise, as though the whole Sky Feather Square trembled.

CRACK!

Shi Zhong’s Saber Qi shattered. He staggered back several steps, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. Beside him, a massive gash, over three meters wide, was carved into the combat stage by the force of the blow.