Chapter 178 – [TBD](7) (1/2)
How would Chen Chang Sheng counter the Secret Sword of the Golden Crow? Why was he acting so confident?
Was it because the full form of Li Shan’s Sword Arts was currently at Orthodox Academy and he knew their swords arts like the back of his hand?
No, this secret sword was a legacy of that legendary junior uncle, that junior uncle’s complex relationship with Li Shan Sword Sect and the entire Longevity Sect meant that this sword art wasn’t entered into the full manual, thus, Chen Chang Sheng definitely would not have seen it before.
Though Gou Han Shi was slightly enraged, he had thought of this point, therefore he was even more confused, those personages up on the second floor also couldn’t understand, having indescribable expressions.
Chen Chang Sheng was indeed unable to counter this powerful move, he clearly knew this, but this didn’t mean he had to concede defeat, because apart from countering, there are a lot of methods to face it.
His wrist twirled akin to a falling leaf, and the short sword cut through the curtain of rain, becoming a thin line of rain, slanting from the lower right upwards, slashing towards Gou Han Shi.
He had never intended to counter Gou Han Shi’s sword, neither had he intended to block it or dodge, he completely ignored the sword and only quietly concerned himself with his own blade’s movement.
With the scorching Sun above, the remnants of rain inside of the tower became countless, dense, golden strands. Several golden strands fell upon Chen Chang Sheng’s face, but these couldn’t even make him blink. He stared at Gou Han Shi’s face and continued advancing, his speed suddenly increased once more, arriving before Gou Han Shi’s body like a flash of lightning.
He was using Zhong Shan’s Sword of Wind and Rain, not the most powerful movement of Turbulent Heaven and Earth, but the most absolute, most unrelenting seventh movement: A Fervent Blade.
Being fervent and generous is opposed to being miserly, but the word fervent could also be used for other situations. A situation such as fervently meeting death; this word, at times, could represent a certain spirit, manner, presence; the spirit of disregarding life and death.
Chen Chang Sheng’s body and sword encapsulated this spirit, completely ignoring the Sun upon Gou Han Shi’s blade, ignoring the most mysterious and powerful sword art of Li Shan Sword Sect, ignoring all these things and rushing ahead.
If Gou Han Shi didn’t change his manoeuvre, then Chen Chang Sheng would undoubtedly be cleaved apart at the next moment by the technique, but at the same time, Chen Chang Sheng’s sword would also slice apart Gou Han Shi’s chest.
The seventh movement from Zhong Shan’s Sword of Wind and Rain had a fervent presence, though it didn’t have as much power as the Secret Sword of the Golden Crow, Gou Han Shi would probably die or be heavily injured upon receiving this strike; the problem was, no one knew what the result might be.
The personages up on the second floor could tell what Chen Chang Sheng’s intent was and let out cries of alarm.
Gou Han Shi could perceive it more clearly, within but a moment, countless thoughts filled his head – Chen Chang Sheng wanted to pit their lives against each other, determining who had the better chance of living, this was naturally something he wouldn’t accept; he was stronger, and thus, had an inherent advantage.
Li Shan’s sword struck out horizontally, the Golden Crow’s sword momentum immediately transitioned into a defensive stance.
The two swords still didn’t touch, the rustle of pines once again appeared, extremely densely.
Chen Chang Sheng’s Fervent Blade didn’t have any chance of approaching Gou Han Shi’s vitals.
All that could be heard was a loud ringing sound within the tower, its reverberations dispersing in all directions, Chen Chang Sheng was sent flying backwards while tumbling, spinning in the air several times before landing upon the ground, his boots stamping out several rippling flower patterns upon the water.
Silence filled the tower. Those up on the second floor looked at Chen Chang Sheng with complex expressions, such a powerful and terrifying Secret Sword of the Golden Crow was actually countered by Chen Chang Sheng using such a simple method.
Of course, in actuality, this wasn’t simple in the slightest.
If Chen Chang Sheng hadn’t chosen the sharpest and most unyielding movement from Zhong Shan’s Sword of Wind and Rain, conveying an incredibly repressive feeling to Gou Han Shi, while ensuring he didn’t reveal any sort of weakness in his state of mind, how could he have forced Gou Han Shi to abandon such an advantageous position?
Chen Chang Sheng once again swiftly lunged forwards, his short sword carrying with it a crisp cutting sound, slicing through the air to strike at Gou Han Shi.
His face didn’t have any sort of expression, the vitality and refreshing feeling that had previous appeared, was akin to a misconception, with his face once again becoming quiet and stoic, yet remaining resolute.
What kind of sword was this? Those observing the match continuously tried to guess.
Gou Han Shi raised his sword and broke through the air, carrying with it a horrifying force of True Essence, directly scattering the countless layers of rain that was slowly falling within the tower, his sword manifestation travelled from all directions, striking towards Chen Chang Sheng.
Chen Chang Sheng’s expression didn’t change, remaining the same as it had been before. He didn’t even give a glance or pay it any attention, focusing all his concentration upon his own sword to a terrifying degree and striking out with a thrust.
A sharp and mournful sword wail rang out within the tower.
His technique was not as transcendent as Gou Han Shi’s, but it was far simpler, with his thoughts even more so.
It looked as if he had struck out first, but he had actually struck last, in the end, both swords arrived at the same time, howling as they crossed.
The two blades still didn’t have the chance to meet.
It remained life against life, a state of mutual destruction.
Gou Han Shi let out a single hiss, the hiss was filled with anger and a faint sense of frustration.
The Li Shan Sword within his hand became akin to a multitude of blossoming flowers.
“A Brocade of Blossoms,” a gasp came down from the second floor.
At the very last moment, Gou Han Shi had changed his manoeuvre, but it still followed the momentum, turning the rain into a multitude of blossoms; with a single move, he had instantly left behind several sword wounds upon Chen Chang Sheng’s shoulder.
This manoeuvre of a changing sword was exquisitely sublime, and could be said to fully demonstrate Li Shan Sword Sect’s standard and level, however, it was nevertheless a change at the last moment and inevitably lacked a little in might and spirit.
Though his Brocade of Blossoms manoeuvre had injured Chen Chang Sheng, it couldn’t defeat him, at the same time, his own upper left arm had been gashed open by Chen Chang Sheng’s sword.
After entering the Ethereal Opening realm, Chen Chang Sheng had crossed swords against Gou Han Shi twice, they would all end with this type of result. He was using swift and fierce manoeuvres that aimed for mutual destruction, as if he had never considered being able to defeat his opponent.
The two of them stood at opposite ends of the tower, calmly observing each other, silent and wordless. Between them there were countless layers of rain, as if it were veiling many things and obscuring their respective visages.
Gou Han Shi’s expression was grave, because he was certain as to what Chen Chang Sheng wanted to do.
Chen Chang Sheng grasped the blade in his hand and nodded his head in acknowledgement to the faraway Gou Han Shi, a conveyance of apology.
That’s right, he was not Gou Han Shi’s equal, no matter how strenuously he had trained, how high his talent or how many scriptures of the way he had read, he was still inferior to Gou Han Shi.
That’s because Gou Han Shi’s training was also strenuous, his talent was also high and he had also read all the scriptures. With Gou Han Shi’s age being greater than Chen Chang Sheng’s, he had also cultivated for a longer time.
Even if Chen Chang Sheng was to seek desperately, using the battles of the examination to constantly improve himself, to the point of having achieved Ethereal Opening with that manner which could shock the world, he still couldn’t possibly be Gou Han Shi’s equal in battle.
Failing at Purification and then continuing to purify, risking his life to meditate and then continuing to undergo multiple initial meditations, all until he had inexplicably achieved Ethereal Opening. All of this was still insufficient for defeating a strong opponent in terms of cultivation level, this feeling seemed a little bitter, but Chen Chang Sheng didn’t think like this.
He wasn’t disappointed, neither did he lose hope, rather, he was full of confidence over being able to obtain victory in this match, because he had currently obtained the qualifications to pit life against life with Gou Han Shi.
Before obtaining this increase of level, before achieving Ethereal Opening, the difference between him and Gou Han Shi was far larger, wanting to die with his opponent was something he couldn’t even do, currently, at the very least, he had obtained that right.
This was enough.
Because no one else had as much experience in facing death as he does.
In other words, no one feared death as much as he did, nor remained as fearless of death as he.
Gou Han Shi couldn’t understand Chen Chang Sheng’s strength in this aspect, but he could perceive it, therefore, if he wished to defeat Chen Chang Sheng, then he also had to bring out what he was strongest with.
“Try this manoeuvre of mine,” he said to Chen Chang Sheng, he then calmly walked forward, his steps firm and slow, his gaze becoming increasingly bright, as if he had returned to the time when he was still but a child studying at a rural school.
Gou Han Shi’s manoeuvre was very simple, from above to below, a slash across.
It was perhaps even a little shabby.
But that manoeuvre was not ordinary in the slightest, with the movement above it reached the deep-blue heavens, with the movement below it reached the golden earth; between heaven and earth it was this sword, this strike belonged to reality’s fragmentary world.
However, this manoeuvre really was extremely shabby.
Those seeing this move and perceiving its manifestation all felt a little sorrowed.
Everyone could see their own bitter experiences of the past.
Gou Han Shi saw even more, because this was a manoeuvre he had created himself.
He saw the poverty of his family back in his childhood; his mother made a living by washing the clothes of relatives from the same clan, he himself didn’t have any money to enter the village school, having to kneel at the door of that teacher who had a triangular beard for an entire night.
After entering the village school, he could study, but he didn’t have money for a stove.
The chill wind from outside the window was cold to the bone; this represented his strenuous studies. Neither did he have any dinner, only being able to cook a pot of cold gruel every morning, and cutting it into two once it hardened, one piece per meal; this represented eating coldly.
Strenuously studying for ten years, then how many did he spend on eating coldly?
Upon the motions of that manoeuvre, Gou Han Shi really had thought of a lot of things.
Poverty really was the most horrifying thing in the world. How did he manage to endure until entering Li Shan Sword Sect? Endure to this point? Wasn’t it precisely for this battle?