115 Chapter 115: True Master of the Sword (1/2)
The crowds went wild as soon as the next match was announced especially the women. As the only female participant in this selection. This woman carries the hearts of every female despite not knowing it. It was strange that she is the only woman from the Empire and had the cultivation of Peak Sky Profound Realm. Moreover, she had the guts of participating without any affiliation from any sect. Those qualities are enough to put her the same rank as all the old masters of the empire.
It is unknown where she came from and who this woman Li Yue is. She just used a hooded robe that covers herself from head to toe as well as covered her slender body underneath it. The only clue that gives away her figure are the two bountiful mounds underneath it. Probably it's too big to be covered. She seems to wear a mask that covers her face accept for her eyes. Most people are curious of her as she is the only woman who entered the stage as a participant.
As soon as the woman Li Yue went on stage. All eyes are on her as if they are trying to pry into her secrets. Even Yun Che and the others were curious as well. What cause him to be curious was not the fact of this participant is a woman but she was the only one who came here without any backup. It means she was confident in her strength and her origin is probably not simple.
Kon feast his eyes on Li Yue's figure before turning his head to the other girls. ”So, who is pretty woman? Any of you girls can figure it out?”
”No, I am sure she's not any woman I've encountered before.”
”Really, I thought that Sister YueChan would be her but her energy isn't actually the same. Also, she must be confident and strong enough to enter this selection without any backups.”
”Yes, I thought the same as well but her strength is at Seventh Level of Emperor Profound Realm. That necklace of her can't hide her true strength when it comes to that age measuring pearl.” Retsu spoke emphasizing her point. Unless she had the help of the system like Yun Che. Maybe all of this would be possible.
Mio listened attentively as she too was curious when she heard of a foreign name being mentioned. ”Sister YueChan?”
”Ara, you two haven't met yet. She's Chu YueChan. Our sister we met before we went to the Dragon God Trial. Yuu-kun told her to return to her sect to avoid any suspicion. Otherwise, she'll be in trouble.”
”She's like a friend?”
”Ehheee, I am sure a closest friend to us and a special friend to Yun Che.” Cang Yue explained.
”Special? Danna-sama sure really like making friends with women though. Makes me wanted to double my efforts in seducing him.” Mio spoke in her heart as she heard her.
As the girls making their speculation about the so called Li Yue, Yun Che was having his own thoughts on her. ”Strange, I felt a sense of familiarity with this woman. I am sure this woman is not Little Fairy as I memorize her energy and she's not Qingyue as well. Hmmm… But I felt her energy somewhere but can't pinpoint it. Whatever this Li Yue is planning, she came her prepared and didn't want her identity exposed. Her name is probably fake as well.”
Li Yue stood on the center of the stage while her opponent step in as well. When looking closely, he is a middle age man wearing the clan's robe with the insignia on his back. Yun Che also seems to know this man as well but only because he had the system. Using the system's trivia, her opponent was Fen Zhong. He is the twenty-seventh elder of the Burning Heaven Clan but his strength is considered the weakest even if he's at the Peak of Sky Profound Realm. The other elders are being told to back down by the sect masters to avoid any injuries happening to avoid any clans from taking advantage when the selections are done.But he had high hopes for Fen Zhong to enter the tomb as one of the strongest eight.
Using the system's trivia, Yun Che was able to pinpoint him on the spot. Not much known about him but he was killed during Yun Che's assault on the clan back in the original novel. Never expected him to be here of all places.
”To see a beautiful doll standing on the same stage as me. Will you do the honors of taking off your mask so we can see the true beauty lies underneath the robes, fair lady?” Fen Zhong use his sweetest words to let the lady off her guard but she was prepared.
Li Yue shook her head before drawing her sword. ”Thank you for the compliment kind sir. I don't think that is necessary.”
”Oh, maybe this is your last chance. It's better for the people to know the identity of the only woman to participate. Even if you lose, you still have your dignity.”
”Don't worry, I won't lose.”
”You…. Then don't blame this master for tearing your robe and see for myself.” Fen Zhong smirked while licking his lips as he too was curious on this woman's identity.
”You wish… Why don't you spoke those words after I defeated you?”
”As you wish fair lady.” With that, Fen Zhong immediately launch himself towards Li Yue in order to engage her. Li Yue immediately draw her sword before positioning it in front of her. Fen Zhong drew his sword before smashing it as hard as he could on her.
”Clang!!!!'
The sound of two swords colliding with one another forced both of them to be stagnant. But, Fen Zhong widen his eyes as his strike just now failed to push Li Yue and she only fell one step backward. She didn't even lose her footing and her sword.
”It seems the fair lady had some skill.” As he spoke, he was also shocked that this woman had the capabilities to block his Burning Heaven Blade. The blade forged by a skilled craftsman from the clan for all the cultivators of the clan. But, the most powerful of the sword was bestowed to the elders of Sky Profound Realm. He uses half of his strength to force the woman to lose but she immediately countered it and fell back one step.
”Then, let's see whether you have the skill to repel this!!!” Fen Zhong immediately went back a few steps before channeling his attack. ”Hmph, fair lady you are… There's no way….”
SHING!!!
BOOM!!!
He didn't even finish channeling his attack before Li Yue closing in on him and begin her close range attacks.
”You…. I wasn't finish.”
”If you had the moment to cease an opponent's momentum, then why should you waste it?”
As Yun Che heard those words, he immediately widens his eyes as he knew clearly who spoke those words before. ”Wait, those words...”
”Such cowardice, …Hahaha… No matter, this technique doesn't actually take that long to channel. Now take this…. Burning Heaven Arts: Seafaring Flame Dragon!!!!” Suddenly, the sound of flames swirling around Fen Zhong as he waved his sword in the air before releasing a massively thick flames in the air. The flames slowly formed a dragon-shaped flame flew out from the blade accompanied by a scorching heatwave and the whistling of the wind.
One of the clan master immediately recognized the flaming dragon and exclaimed ”The Seafaring Flame Dragon!! That Fen Zhong used the Burning Heaven Arts against her.Is he wanted to kill that woman?” From their experience, the technique was executed multiple times in the past and was known as homing type technique. The technique used to track down their opponent even if they tried to run away,
However, Li Yue was relaxed as she immediately dived towards the flaming dragon with her sword on her side. Suddenly, her body began to blur as she slowly side step a few meters to the left side of the dragon. Gaining the required momentum, she immediately went to the side of the dragon in an instant before using her momentum to travel forward. The dragon might be massive but she timed it perfectly, she immediately evaded the dragon's trajectory before it hits her. Then, she's closing in on him. Fen Zhong widen his eyes as he saw her ganking on the side before engaging him thoroughly.
Yun Che's eyes immediately widen as he saw her quick side step just now. Not only him, there's one more person suddenly activated her eagle vision as she saw the executed technique before both of them thinking at the same time. ”The Table Hopper?!? how did she know...?”
SMASH!!!
She immediately smashed her sword on him but Fen Zhong managed to raise his sword on the spot but one thing shocks him as the smash attack just now was enough to cause his hand to go numb.The flaming dragon just now smashed onto the barrier as dispersing itself. As for Fen Zhong and Li Yue, both them are back on stage with Fen Zhong almost stood at the edge of the arena.
”Damn, first that Hawk Eyes and now this Mysterious Fairy. Looks like both of them are going to be the dark horses of this selection.” One of the disciple from an unknown clan spoke.
”You're right. Both of them doesn't belong to any sect and yet they were able to hold their ground easily.”
”Aren't they supposed to be afraid whether they offended their opponents. Those clans behind them aren't simple.”
”Never mind that. Did you see how she evaded that fire dragon just now? It looks like her body was blurring as she moved to the side of the fire dragon in an instant.”
”That's impossible. Even if a person could only jump to in the air but the dragon will chase them but that side step moments before the execution was inhumane. No wonder she's the dark horse of this tournament.”
Despite the talk of the spectators, Yun Che and Retsu were looking at the match as both of them were a little shock. The problem is not lies with the flow of the match but the fighting style. He knew that style clearly. It was the Table Hopper. The move from a game that he adapted into this world. The technique allows the user to avoid any cast techniques and attacks by sidestepping to the side with maximum speed by deviant themselves of their aura and strength. Making them totally invisible for a period of time. The execution, the engagement as well as the technique just now. Even the words she used just now were similar. However, the technique needed one particular moment to ensure success and used. It must be used during the last moment before an attack as it will trigger the adrenaline rush fused with their movement speed and instinct to avoid it. It was more of a last minute evasion technique. Even Retsu needed at least three days to complete and perfected the technique.
”Strange, I only taught one-person aside from Retsu to use the Table Hopper like that. Although her execution wasn't perfect but she managed to side step at the last minute before ganking on him. I am sure this one is not her but if she taught this fighting style to another person then it means she is someone close to her or someone she could trust. Looks like I need to get closer to her to figure it out.” Yun Che spoke in his heart. It's true that he taught Retsu table hopper fighting style but he also taught another. That is his previous companion, Little Fairy during the one-month period before he met Cang Yue. But her aura isn't the same as this one even if she tried to mask it. So to be short, how did this woman learned Table Hopper? And more importantly, who is she? Even if the technique is not perfect, she was able to cast one side jump slide compared to Retsu, who perfected the move and cast five jump slides.
Feng Zhong was on the edge of the arena as he was recovering from his shock. The dragon he executed just now was enough to harm a Sky Profound Realm practitioner but this woman was able to avoid it at the very last minute before ganking on him. If he didn't raise his sword, he will be the one getting thrown off the arena.
Feng Zhong looked at Li Yue's figure with serious expression as he spoke ”Hmph, little girl, looks like you really wanted to me to go serious on you.”
Then, he slowly channel his profound strength into his Burning Heaven Sword. His aura was slowly flaring with flames as he spoke ”You will face this technique with pride…. Even though you will die in the process. It is an honor to fight you…” Fen Zhong started channeling flames and profound strength into his sword before charging it to the maximum. As for Li Yue, her robes suddenly wave itself in the air as it reveals her black clothing underneath it. She channeled her profound strength into blocking the scorching heatwaves but what she did next revealing a little bit of her identity to Yun Che and the others as their sensitivity of elemental energy.
As Yun Che detected her profound strength, he immediately widens his eyes. ”Cold aura? So I was right. She's an ice profound cultivator. It means she's a disciple of the Frozen Cloud Asgard by default. By the looks of it, she entered this place in secret and doesn't want her identity known to the world. She's not Little Fairy and she's not QingYue as well. Then, who is she?” Yun Che slowly wondered as he didn't know much members of the Frozen Cloud Asgard currently. He had to postponed his trip there until he obtained the Evil God Seed of Water.
The fire pillar process was almost complete. By the looks of it, it seems that Fen Zhong wanted to end this instantly by slashing all over arena. This way, Li Yue won't be able to escape the firery wrath of this technique. ”You will never live to tell the tale. Take this slash of mine!!! Burning Heaven SLA….”
Swoosh!!
What happens next shocked Fen Zhong to the core as she appeared right in front of him while and pushing her speed to the maximum. She didn't use any revealing signature move but she immediately increased her speed to the maximum before approaching right in front of him.
”What!!?!” Fen Zhong wasn't ready to counter her but Li Yue immediately slammed her sword on his body launching Fen Zhong outside the arena. The massive fire pillar created by him just now immediately dispersed into thin air as he coughs blood while being catapult from the arena.
”Wow, looks like she really does take any chances. That guy's weakness was his techniques are all channeling technique. If that moment was his most vulnerable state, I would take that chance as well.” Mio make a remark as she was impressed with how this Li Yue girl defeated her opponent.
”That's right. Nee-san. Why bother taking those techniques on if we can just beat the hell out of it?” Kon nodded as he stood on her shoulder.
On the arena, Fen Zhong suffered a backlash from his incomplete technique as he coughs out more blood than the initial part. Li Yue sheath her sword once more as she walked out of the arena with a relaxed expression. Until….
”YOU COWARD!!! ARE YOU COWARD ENOUGH TO INTERRUPT MY TECHNIQUE?!?” Fen Zhong roared to her accusing of her being a coward for not letting him finish her technique.
”Hmph, why should I face it if I can just beat you? It might be a bizarre technique but I am not taking it on like everyone else.” She spoke with a cold and muffled voice without as much as turning her head. She immediately steps down from the arena back to the empty seating zone to recuperate. Yun Che and the others could feel that her profound energy was scrambled indicate that she pushed herself to the limit just now. It was scrambled as the table hopper required absolute concentration to be executed. Clearly she didn't have enough training to use it.
”You…YOU!!!” Fen Zhong cough out blood once more before collapsing due to internal injuries.
”The twenty-seventh elder is down. Have our men carry him out. Looks like the sect master isn't going to be pleased when he hears this.” The Burning Heaven Clan escort elder ordered the disciples to carry Fen Zhong out of the arena. The moment they lose, humiliation was inevitable. Moreover, their opponent isn't affiliated with any sect and took him down even if he uses bizarre techniques just now.
The crowd went wild as The Burning Heaven Clan faced humiliation just now as they're one of the strongest sect in the empire but being defeated on the first round by an unknown female cultivator. The humiliation was unbearable as the other sect started to doubt their position but none of them can rebuked. Even if they lose, their backbone as the strongest sect still exist which other clans won't dare to offend.
The announcer immediately spoke with a hoarse voice as he too tried to comprehending the situation from Li Yue's battle. ”With our mysterious Fairy Li Yue win just now concluded our first round matches and will proceed on to the next thirty-two fighters. Then, we will begin the third stage where the final sixteen match will be conducted to select the final eight.”
”For the semifinal thirty-two participants will be conducted and their opponents will not be chosen at random. They will fight the opponent who won the match after them. The winner of the first match will fight the winner of the second match and so on.” With that explanation, the audience nodded in understanding while Yun Che maintained his calm composure. He was on the twentieth match so his opponent should be the winner of the ninetieth match. This match up should place him on the tenth match against him while Li Yue should be placed on the sixteenth match. Even in the finals he can't even face her. So, he decided to find her later in the tomb to acquire her identity. He wanted to know who did Little Fairy trust to teach his Table Hopper technique to.
He immediately shifted his eyes to the winner of the ninetieth match who sat quite far from his current position. From his observation, his opponent is also an elder but this time he is from the strongest sect from the Northern part of the Empire. Aside from the four strongest sect, he'll be facing an elder from the Heavenly Spear Thunderfire Fortress. Mu Jiu.
From the system's information, this sect will send two of their strongest disciples underneath Earth Profound Realm during the Blue Wind Empire Ranking Tournament. From what he read, the sect master of this sect himself will attend the tournament in order to emerge as the strongest and tried recruit him. But, the original Yun Che rejected before teaming up with Fen JueCheng to kill him. Only ended up being slaughtered by Jasmine inside the secret realm. As he read the trivia, he slowly smiled as he can send an early message to him through this match. Only this time, he will not be chased by him but he will be doing the chasing instead.
Seeing Mu Jiu's expression, it seems that middle age man wanted to face him as he looked at him with curious eyes. He seems unfazed by the bizarre display Yun Che performed in defeating the strongest sect of the southern half of the empire. The Qin clan. Probably their pride as the strongest sect underneath the four great sect won't let them. Not that he would mind any way.
As the matches begun. The atmosphere was intense as this match is even more serious than the rest. The previous match up was merely testing the waters and now the fight between elders are even more serious. Techniques after techniques were cast and it sometimes hit the barrier and shaking it but not enough to shatter it. The crowds going wild as they saw the bizarre techniques of the higher realms being cast in the arena. Some of them taking the fight in the air but the arena only allows limited height so they won't get far or destroy other places during the battle. Some matches are won and some lose their dignity in the battles. However, most of them decided to stay to find out the final eight who had the capabilities to enter the tomb.
The matches proceed and ended with a bang as the elders went all out with one another. Yun Che could feel like gazes are on him like a piece of meat waiting to be devoured. Aside from that, the crowds gave him admiration gazes while the other clans either look at him with contempt or admiration. He can feel the same gaze were shifted to Li Yue as well. As the dark horses of the tournament, all of them will do whatever it takes to recruit him and her to their cause so they could obtain for whatever is in that tomb.
When the match reached the ninth match, the crowd were going wild once more. The ninth match involves around an elder from the Heavenly Sword Villa which considered as the strongest sect in the empire. From Cang Yue's explanation, they are also will be the host for the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament two months from now but it seems that they also wanted the inheritance of the Moon Empress. They will spare no effort in keeping the strongest title in place and the Moon Empress inheritance was the ticket for them. Moreover, Yun Che also smiled as not only the Xiao Clan and the Burning Heaven Clan. He also had some beef going on with the Sword Villa as that villa held something important to him.
As expected the match up was bad on the opponent's side as he easily defeated an elder from smaller part of empire with ease. Seeing the crowd's reaction, it seems that the people knew this elder quite well and he did some background searching on him through the crowds using his Kenbunshoku No Haki. Looks like little of what he knew, this elder is quite famous in the Blue Wind Empire as the political elder. He might be unfamiliar but this elder's name is Ling Hai, one of the great elders in the sword villa. From the crowd, he was famous for entering city by city establishing relationship as well as making the smaller sects bid to the villa's command.