Chapter 18: Wu Li vs. Yang Chen
With boundless confidence, the dashing youth Wu Li strode up onto the Life and Death Platform, followed by Yang Chen.
Since Wu Li got up on the platform, Lin Xiaoqing decided to take a seat. With the seat next to Wu Yang empty, Lin Xiaoqing took it upon herself to sit there and witness the duel between the two.
Wu Bailian, who also came from the Wu Clan and joined the Frozen Cloud Peak, climbed up on the platform and prepared to announce the start of the duel.
The platform itself was adorned with shimmering jade. All in attendance held their breath in anticipation of the impending battle.
As the majority of the outer disciples of the Extreme Jade Sword Sect were cultivating diligently, any fight between two cultivators was a highly anticipated event.
Wu Bailian's eyes shifted uneasily towards Wu Li. She despised him, he was nothing more than a stepping stone for her. She had used him to elevate her position in the Wu Clan, but once he was injured and deemed useless, she quickly moved onto another person, Wu Kang.
But now, Wu Kang was dead, killed by Wu Li in a brutal battle. Wu Bailian knew that Wu Li was furious with her and would seek revenge. In desperation, she sought the protection of Yang Chen.
Although Wu Bailian was not particularly beautiful, Yang Chen accepted her advances knowing that she was Wu Li's childhood sweetheart. He relished the idea of having Wu Li's beloved as his plaything, and the fact that it could infuriate Wu Li only made it more enjoyable for him.
Wu Bailian turned to Yang Chen with a confident look and whispered, "I have faith in you, Young Master. I know you will succeed in defeating that trash."
Wu Li also heard Wu Bailian's words, and he was filled with anger, feeling that Wu Bailian's words and emotions were a slap to his face. He muttered to himself, "This woman is really treacherous! She's like a snake in the grass, showing her true colors at the critical moment! I won't let her off the hook easily."
Yang Chen smiled graciously when he noticed Wu Li's vexation. "Thank you, Wu Bailian. You can follow the instructions."
Wu Bailian nodded and stepped forward. She spoke with a clear voice, "Brothers and sisters of the Extreme Jade Sword Sect, we are here to witness a life and death duel between Wu Li and Yang Chen!"
There was a sudden uproar from the crowd. Wu Li and Yang Chen both stood on the Life and Death Platform, their eyes locked in a fierce glare.
"Are both parties ready?" she asked, her voice echoing throughout the arena.
Wu Li unsheathed his Primordial Abyss Sword and smiled slightly, his eyes shining. "I was born ready," he said arrogantly.
Yang Chen nodded and said, "I am ready."
As Wu Li unsheathed his Primordial Abyss Sword, a fierce Qi surged forth from his body, displaying his battle readiness.
Venerable Li Yun frowned when he saw Wu Li's sword. He felt that this sword was not ordinary at all.
Yang Chen calmly unsheathed his Ninefold Metal Annihilator Blade, causing a faint Metal Qi to emanate from the blade, hinting at its formidable power.
"Wow, what a magnificent weapon! It's a middle Earth Grade Refined Treasure!" one of the spectators exclaimed.
"Amazing! Is this the difference between an inner disciple and an outer disciple?" another spectator asked in disbelief. He knew Yang Chen before he became an inner disciple, and he didn't possess this kind of treasure.
Both cultivators stood poised with their weapons, their auras surging with a sense of determination, ready to fight.
Wu Bailian raised her sword, the tip pointing towards the sky. "Begin!" she shouted, and with a swift movement of her sword, she signaled the start of the duel.
With a sudden flash of movement, the battle began. Wu Li and Yang Chen clashed in a flurry of strikes and parries, their weapons ringing out in a deadly dance.
The clashing of their swords echoed through the arena, as Wu Li and Yang Chen engaged in a fierce battle.
For the first thirty exchanges, neither of them could gain the upper hand, each relying solely on their sword skills. The air crackled with anticipation as the two combatants circled each other, their eyes locked in intense concentration.
Wu Li sneered and mocked, "Is that all you're capable of? I thought you'd be more impressive considering you accepted the challenge."
Yang Chen's expression showed a hint of surprise, but he quickly regained his composure and retorted, "Don't be too arrogant, Wu Li. You were only able to parry some of my casual strikes!"
Yang Chen squinted his eyes and continued, "Furthermore, you rely on your sword. Your sword is only an external weapon." Yang Chen doesn't believe that it is Wu Li's battle strength that is capable of parrying his strikes.
Wu Li's sneered as he watched Yang Chen channel his Qi and execute the Silver Crescent Sword Style.
Despite relying on his Primordial Abyss Sword, Wu Li was confident in his own strength.
The Silver Crescent Sword Style was a technique known for its elegance and lethality. Yang Chen's sword glowed with a silver light as he sliced through the air, the power of the technique evident in the way it cut through anything in its path.
With lightning speed, Yang Chen used a movement technique to get close to Wu Li, and with a loud cry, he launched his attack. "Silver Crescent Sword Style!"
Wu Li was not intimidated, and his sword met Yang Chen's with a loud clang. However, as he felt the force of the strike, he realized that it was not an ordinary attack.
As Yang Chen's Silver Crescent Sword Style sliced through the air again, it carried a powerful force capable of penetrating even the toughest of defenses and causing devastating internal damage. Wu Li felt a jolt of shock as the two swords made contact.
After defending, Wu Li felt the power within him surging, as if lightning coursed through his veins. With a shout, he unleashed his sword technique, "Extreme Lightning Strike!"
The Flowing Water Sword Style that he had cultivated before was no longer able to keep up with his cultivation. He wanted to cultivate a more powerful cultivation technique that could match his talent in the Dao of Lightning.
The Extreme Lightning Strike was a perfect fit, allowing him to channel his Lightning Qi into every strike. The technique was raw and brutal, lacking the finesse of a lesser Earth Grade technique but making up for it with its overwhelming power.
As Wu Li swung his sword, bolts of lightning crackled and hissed in the air, causing the jade platform to tremble beneath their feet. Yang Chen barely managed to deflect the first few strikes, but he soon found himself pushed back by the sheer force of Wu Li's attacks.
Boom! Boom!
Explosions echoed throughout the arena, sending shockwaves through the onlookers. Despite Yang Chen's valiant efforts, he was unable to keep up with Wu Li's unrelenting barrage of lightning strikes.
As Wu Li pushed Yang Chen back, the spectators marveled at his strength. "Wu Li is so strong! He's capable of pushing back Yang Chen!"
However, Lin Dong couldn't help but scoff in disdain. "Hmph! Wu Li, this scum, is nothing compared to Young Master Yang Chen. Young Master is only keeping him as a fish on the chopping board, controlling his fate and life."
Lin Dong remained composed because Yang Chen kept two trump cards, the lesser Earth Grade Silvermoon Metal Slash technique and his two Dao Marks.
The technique had the power of a greater Earth Grade technique and it required the cultivator to deliver nine increasingly powerful strikes, making it difficult to use in a real battle.
No cultivator would stay still in a combat!
Wu Bailian nodded in agreement, feeling reassured by Lin Dong's confidence in Yang Chen's abilities. She wanted Lin Dong to be right.
Yang Chen's eyes glinted with malice as he slashed his sword, its blade glittering with a dangerous light. With a quick intake of breath, he channeled his Qi into the sword, causing it to hum with power. "Silver Crescent Sword Style!" he shouted, the words echoing across the arena.
"Hmph, you think you can defeat me with your little tricks?" Wu Li scoffed, channeling his Qi through the Primordial Abyss Sword. "I've experienced life and death many times. A true man fears no one!"
With a fierce roar, Wu Li unleashed his technique, the Extreme Lightning Strike, heedless of the danger it posed to himself. The clash of their swords echoed through the arena, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. Wu Li's swordsmanship was like a bolt of lightning, striking with deadly precision and ferocity.
However, this time, Wu Li's strike was not as powerful as Yang Chen's and he was forced back five steps.
Despite this, Wu Li's dedication to improve his Extreme Lightning Strike was obvious. Each time he used it, he seemed to gain more control, adjusting his stance and Qi flow for maximum impact.
The spectators were in disbelief, some of them whispering to each other, "Did Wu Li improve his comprehension of the Extreme Lightning Strike? It's hard to believe, but his display of the technique was definitely better than the last time."
Venerable Li Yun, the most experienced cultivator, doubted that anyone could improve their mastery of a technique so quickly. He believed that Wu Li was just utilizing more knowledge of the technique rather than actually improving. He muttered disdainfully, "Such a flashy display."
Wu Yang, on the other hand, was unfazed by the turn of events. He had always known that Wu Li was extremely talented, and his Dao Companion shared the same belief.
Yang Chen sneered as he watched Wu Li's improving his mastery of the technique. "Show off more! I'll execute the Silvermoon Metal Slash when you're out of Qi, kill you, then steal your sword," he thought. Wu Li's sword piqued his interest.
Little did Yang Chen know that Wu Li was using their fight as a way to refine his Extreme Lightning Strike.
With each exchange, Wu Li's understanding of the technique deepened. In the next fifty exchanges, he held his ground better, taking only three steps back.
In the following fifty exchanges, he improved further, being pushed back only two steps.
As they reached a hundred exchanges, Wu Li's Extreme Lightning Strike technique reached the Greater Success Realm, and he was no longer being pushed back by Yang Chen's attacks.
Yang Chen's thoughts raced as he parried another strike from Wu Li's Primordial Abyss Sword. "Is he really improving this much? I don't believe it!"
The two swords clashed again and again, their sharp clangs ringing through the arena. Yang Chen's arms trembled from the impact, but he refused to back down.
Wu Li's eyes glinted with determination as he poured more Qi into his sword, unleashing the Extreme Lightning Strike with even greater force. "Take this!" he shouted.
Yang Chen gritted his teeth and countered with his own technique, the Silver Crescent Sword Style. The two swords met with a resounding clash, and this time, to his surprise, Yang Chen was pushed back a step.
As the crowd expressed their shock, a spectator exclaimed, "Yang Chen was pushed back! Wu Li hid his strength well!"
Lin Dong interjected with a sneer, "Didn't you notice that Young Master Yang Chen didn't channel his two Dao Marks yet? He also has a hidden technique that he hasn't shown yet."
The crowd finally realized the truth. It appeared that Yang Chen was playing with Wu Li like a cat toying with a mouse.
Infuriated, Yang Chen sneered at Wu Li, "You should have no Qi left in your Dantian. Surrender now, and I'll make your death quick and painless."
Wu Li's eyes burned with determination as he replied, "I, Wu Li, will never bow down to the likes of you!"
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