Chapter 178 – [TBD](7) (2/2)
That’s right, that manoeuvre was the same blade he had used to cut the cold rice gruel.
At the moment Gou Han Shi had raised his blade, Chen Chang Sheng’s expression changed.
Before even seeing the manoeuvre, he could perceive the move’s quality, no, more accurately, the move was an unavoidable human affair.
Gou Han Shi had already utilised two sublime and powerful sword manoeuvres which he had used two death seeking charges to counter, yet, facing this current move, he had the thought that it was difficult to surmount.
Because this move was something he couldn’t overcome, if he wanted to achieve mutual destruction, then firstly, their swords had to meet.
Chen Chang Sheng didn’t want the short sword in his hand to meet Gou Han Shi’s Li Shan sword, because once they clashed, it would cause a change, this inquiry on the way of the sword was something he couldn’t be as accurate as Gou Han Shi in.
At the start, it was Gou Han Shi who did not want their swords to meet, currently, the positions had reversed.
What should he do?
The observers on the second floor were currently shocked with the marvel of Gou Han Shi’s bitter sword. Closely following this, Chen Chang Sheng’s move stunned their very minds, with cries of exclamation continuously erupting.
Chen Chang Sheng stamped his foot to the side, his step breaking the water that had accumulated on the green slabs below, his bent elbow carried a spray of rainwater; it remained a straight thrust, with the short sword carrying a faint golden glimmer, piercing towards Gou Han Shi.
A faint blood scent appeared within the tower.
That scent came from the wounds on both, him and Gou Han Shi, and also came from the blood of previous examinees that had participated in the duelling phase, but most of the scent came from his sword art.
“Isn’t this the Orthodoxy’s Perfect Sword…?” muttered one of the Archbishops of the Holy Church as their expression suddenly turned severe.
Xu Shi Ji could no longer maintain his silence and said, in a stern and reprimanding manner: “Hasn’t that move already been banned?”
Star Seizer Academy’s principal said: “It should still remain within the library of Orthodox Academy.”
The Orthodoxy’s Perfect Sword that Chen Chang Sheng was currently using, had an even more well-known name, it is called the Sword of Slaughter and was the secret sword of one of the academy’s previous principals. It was said that many years ago, when that principal who had fell on the path of slaughter was forcefully suppressed by His Holiness, The Pope, the sword art had actually managed to heavily injure His Holiness.
If it could be said that Gou Han Shi’s sword manoeuvre consisted of being miserly and resolute, then this sword manoeuvre used by Chen Chang Sheng consisted of slaughter and insanity.
With two such swords crossing each other, who would gain the upper hand?
The remaining rain within the tower suddenly dispersed, the wet sand that remained upon the floor, leapt into the air.
Two sword gusts entwined incessantly, its force seeping out in all directions. The black eaves continuously resounded in the wind.
Gou Han Shi and Chen Chang Sheng had already separated, bleeding ever more blood, sustaining ever more injuries.
No one had clearly seen what previously happened, but those two swords probably didn’t meet.
Mo Yu’s gaze shifted down, falling upon the footprint in front of Gou Han Shi, confirming that he was actually the first to have retreated, she couldn’t stop herself from feeling rather shocked, with her fine brows lightly arching, complex overtones appeared within her eyes, but the edge of her lips lifted.
It was silent within the tower, with everyone being endlessly shocked.
Qiu Shan Jun and Xu You Rong didn’t come to participate in this year’s examination, and a lot of people inevitably opined the thought that the examination would lose much of its lustre, yet who could have guessed, that this battle in the examination would actually be to this degree.
From the start till now, Chen Chang Sheng and Gou Han Shi had already crossed swords close to half a hundred times, yet their blades had still never really clashed, however, they had sustained many injuries, on some occasions being only an instant away from death itself.
This kind of will and ability, this kind of cultivation on the sword, it really did make others speechless with admiration.
Just what kind of cultivation do those two practise? How could they grasp so many secret swords that are close to being lost? Gou Han Shi had even self-created such a flawless sword art.
Of course, for the observers, they could rely upon the advantage of their cultivation and level to ignore Gou Han Shi and Chen Chang Sheng’s manoeuvres, relying upon strength to crush them, but what if they were of the same level?
It had to be known that both Gou Han Shi and Chen Chang Sheng were yet to reach twenty years of age, for them to know such a large quantity of sword arts, knowing when to select which manoeuvre and making the near perfect choice, this kind of ability made others rather dumbfounded.
Chen Chang Sheng especially, had grasped such powerful and severe moves that were only concerned with mutual destruction, continuously performing them. What was more frightening was that everyone could clearly see from that youth’s choices and sword manifestations that he wanted to take first place, and that he would even disregard death in order to achieve it.
“If this continues, someone is going to die,” said Prince Chen Liu as he looked at everyone else present.
They all knew that what he said was the truth and they also felt rather worried. They could obviously stop this frenzied battle from continuing further, but first place for the examination had yet to be decided, how could Gou Han Shi and Chen Chang Sheng possibly agree?
If a victor had to be judged – Chen Chang Sheng had relied upon seeking victory through death, how could he be judged as to losing?
An extremely powerful manoeuvre.
Chen Chang Sheng thought of that shabby sword manoeuvre of Gou Han Shi’s, that went from the heaven to the earth, silently contemplating. If Gou Han Shi hadn’t retracted his move at the last moment, he really might have lost by now.
“Why did you retreat in the end?” he looked at Gou Han Shi and asked seriously.
Gou Han Shi gave it a thought and said: “That manoeuvre of mine is for cutting cold rice gruel.”
Chen Chang Sheng remained silent for a while, then asked: “And then?”
“The cold rice gruel of those years were made by my mother.”
“Then?”
Gou Han Shi continued: “She still lives; therefore, I must also live on.”
Chen Chang Sheng remained silent for a long time, then said: “I’m sorry.”
“How about you? What are you doing this for?” Gou Han Shi looked at him and asked: “First upon the First Banner in the Grand Examination, is it really that important for you? Even more important than life and death?”
Chen Chang Sheng replied with a question of his own: “What about you? How important is it to you?”
Gou Han Shi replied: “For all cultivators, this honour is important, not to mention our sect has already taken first place three times in a row. I can’t possibly allow myself as the second senior brother to end it.”
“So it is as such.”
After giving it a thought, Chen Chang Sheng said: “I’m sorry, but first place is far more important for me, therefore I cannot withdraw, I have no retreat. This is inherently unfair to you.”
Gou Han Shi said: “I don’t really understand your meaning, but for some reason I can sort of sense it.”
Chen Chang Sheng raised the short sword in his hand, pointing it in Gou Han Shi’s direction and said: “In my previous match, Zhuang Huan Yu said to me, the barefooted doesn’t fear those wearing shoes. Thinking back on it, he was right.”
Golden sand lightly flew in the air, the cry of cicadas outside became more urgent and clouds streaked across the sky restlessly. Seeing his stance and sensing his sword manifestation, Gou Han Shi could vaguely guess something and his expression changed.
Chen Chang Sheng looked at him and said, extremely seriously: “I really don’t have a path of retreat, neither do I have anything to lose, therefore, even if I am wearing shoes, I am still a child that fights barefooted.”
Gou Han Shi said: “For people like us, shoes are inherently a luxury.”
“That’s why I have to apologise to you,” said Chen Chang Sheng.
Outside of the tower, Tang Thirty-Six had given him a very clear battle plan: first, move others through emotion; then persuade others through reason; finally, defeat others through strength. The most important part was to attack their feelings, then comes the sword.
Chen Chang Sheng didn’t do this, it wasn’t till now that he had finally conversed with Gou Han Shi earnestly, because this represented respect. The reason for starting this conversation now, was because he could sense the next manoeuvre will decide the victor.
Gou Han Shi asked: “For the next manoeuvre, I’m preparing to use the Master’s Blade, what about you?”
Chen Chang Sheng replied: “Li Shan Sword Arts’ final move.”
Gou Han Shi came to know that he had guessed correctly.
He remained silent for a very long time, gazing at the blue heavens above, feeling a little hungry, wanting to eat a little rice gruel.
After a long time, he shook his head, returned his sword to its scabbard and turned, leaving the Tower of Purging Dust.
Within the tower, only Chen Chang Sheng remained. He looked at the empty arena, looked at the grey wall opposite and slightly tilted his head, seeming to be rather bewildered.
It was very quiet, without any sort of sound.
His gaze persisted for a long time before he finally regained his senses, feeling rather tired, wanting to rest for a while.
He retreated backwards a few steps, getting closer to the wall, slowly returned his short sword to its scabbard. He then sat down, wiping his forehead, but it was hard to determine what was on his sleeve, be it blood or sweat.