Chapter 81 - The Tournament - Round of 32 - Day 3 - Part 2 (1/2)
”Even though the talent of Frozen Cloud Asgard's Xia Qingyue is great enough to enter level 8 Spirit Profound Realm at the age of 17, it is only one level short of the Ling Yun in the past. Frozen Cloud Asgard is still Frozen Cloud Asgard. It is impossible for them to nurture a true 'Ling Yun'. She is too young and not old or experienced enough. For her profound strength to reach level 8 Spirit Profound Realm so quickly, it is bound to be extremely unstable. As long as nothing unexpected happens, you will win this match very easily. But, you still must never underestimate your opponent. There have been many, many warriors who underestimated their opponents and paid the price for it. Understand?” Xiao Juetian reminded Xiao Kuanglei.
”Third brother, good luck. As long as you win this match, our overall ranking will be a guaranteed minimum of top four. All we can do this year is make sure that we end up at the second place, first place has already been taken by that monster 'Mesa Uchiha'. But for that you will have to beat Xia Qingyue and then Ling Yun. I know it will be difficult to beat Ling Yun. But he, unlike that 'Mesa Uchiha', is not unbeatable. This will be our Xiao Sect's historical breakthrough!” Xiao Kuangyu said as he patted Xiao Kuanglei's shoulder with a serious expression on his face.
”Don't worry. In this match, I will only win, and never lose! Don't forget, I still have not taken out my Earth Shocking Sword. If I reveal the Earth Shocking Sword, forget about Xia Qingyue who is only at level 8 Spirit Profound Realm, even if it's someone at the peak level 10 Spirit Profound Realm, it is still impossible for me to lose.” Xiao Kuanglei said with complete confidence.
”In the case of weaponry, we all pale in comparison to Mesa Uchiha's hammer, Mjolnir. But that is beside the point and you're lucky that you do not have to face him.” Xiao Wuji's brows sank: ”We have the Earth Shocking Sword, but don't forget, Frozen Cloud Asgard has the 'Ice Phoenix Snowflower Ribbon'. Shui Wushuang had already surrendered so in this match, so the Frozen Cloud Asgard has more reason than us not to lose. This time, Frozen Cloud Asgard will undoubtedly give Xia Qingyue a Sky Profound Weapon.” Said Xiao Wuji seriously as he looked over to the Blue Wind Imperial Family group and in particular to Mesa Uchiha. Mesa on the other hand, was not even bothering looking at the matches. He was very busy playing a game of chess against Cang Yue, after he had explained the rules of the game to her.
”Everyone, be at ease. If I lose this match, I would not have the face to return to Xiao Sect.” Xiao Kuanglei nodded once, and then suddenly jumped in the air before gently landing on the ground. He leapt over a hundred meters again and then steadily landed in the center of the Sword Discourse Arena. Before he landed, a longsword had already been taken out in the midst of the sound of its unsheathing.
”Hold back your strength as much as possible. Don't reveal too much. You have to avoid making tomorrow's opponent be on guard.” Said Chu Yueli, giving Xia Qingyue a few words of advice.
”Yes, Master.” Said Xia Qingyue, before she went to the arena to face Xiao Kuanglei. Arriving at the arena, she took out her sword, the 'Ice Phoenix Snowflower Ribbon'. It was a sword of ice, that emitted a very cold aura around itself. Locking eyes with her opponent, Xia Qingyue was ready for the battle ahead.
”Good!” Ling Wuhou nodded, and then raised his right hand: ”Third match of the Quarterfinals, Frozen Cloud Asgard's Xia Qingyue versus Xiao Sect's Xiao Kuanglei. Match start!”
And so, they went head to head against one another. Their sword clashes resounding across the arena, the audience were captivated by their duel. Xiao Kuanglei fighting like a ferocious eagle and swooping down on Xia Qingyue. Yet, she managed to parry and deflect all his sword strikes and in inflict him with cold damage. Every time their swords would clash, she would transmit more and more cold energy into Xiao Kuanglei, until his hands were red and numb from the cold. Rushing his Profound Energy through his hands, he dispelled the cold in two seconds, but he was still impressed. During their sword clashes, they didn't manage to hit each other and yet she managed to indirectly damage him by assaulting him with her cold energy.
Taking a few steps back, Xiao Kuanglei smiled at Xia Qingyue and said: ”I had heard that the Frozne Cloud Art was unparalleled under the heavens, and as expected it deserves its reputation. Next, I'll be more serious. Goddess should be careful now.”
Xiao Kuanglei's reminder didn't garner any response from Xia Qingyue, she got back into position and readied herself for his next attack. He immediately took in a deep breath as all of his profound strength surged up. The winds swirled around him and the image of a hawk appeared behind him.
”Extreme Wind Sword!”
Xiao Kuanglei's eyes flashed. The storm surged on his body as he suddenly rushed toward Xia Qingyue.
”Haha, looks like Third Younger Brother has gotten serious, to actually display his fastest speed right away. Seems like, this match will be over before long.” Xiao Kuangyu said with a leisure smile.
Xiao Juetian also slowly nodded: ”Seems like Lei'er did not ignore our advice. He did not underestimate the enemy, and did not hold back either. Very good. After this battle is won, he will be facing Ling Yun. And the battle with Ling Yun will be very difficult to win.”
Clang Clang Clang Clang!
Four ice lotus flowers bloomed in front of Xia Qingyue, and blocked all four sword gusts as they shattered. Xiao Kuanglei had also successfully closed in on Xia Qingyue at this moment, and his chain of sword combos assaulted at Xia Qingyue like a relentless storm of rain. Xia Qingyue retreated with leisure and uniform steps, and with every step retreated, a beautiful ice lotus would bloom below her feet...
”But it seems that Xia Qingyue is clearly at a disadvantage. She has been on the defense without any spare strength to retaliate. That can't be helped; the disadvantage in age and profound strength exists right there.”
The hawk's image behind Xiao Kuanglei's back spread its wings high, and his sword moves came one after another. That one longsword was swung by him into sword mirages that blotted out the sky; together with his speed, the illusory human mirage and the sword's mirage overlapped, making one dazzled and unable to follow with their eyes. The crossing strikes of the sword, as well as the collisions of storm and ice lotus, brought up a series of explosive sounds that made one's eardrums buzz.
The cyan colored sword gust, along and the ice lotus's broken shards, continually shot out from the profound storm, caging them. Facing the Xiao Kuanglei's astonishing speed, Xia Qingyue's movements was instead very light, yet she was not constrained by Xiao Kuanglei's speed. With every movement of their footsteps, many traces of sword marks as well as pit marks caused by colliding profound energy would emerge on the ground.
The audience was silent, and only the waves of ear-piercing explosive sounds could be heard. Everyone focused onto the two figures on the Sword Discourse Arena. They had thought that this was a match that would quickly end, and perhaps would even be over from the start; no one had expected that it would actually be this intense to such a degree. For the two who were three years apart in age and one rank apart in profound strength, their currently situation was actually without any doubt, evenly matched.