Chapter 8: Shocking the Entire Audience

Let alone Shen Sheng, even the honored guests below who had not joined the struggle for the swords felt that Li Xiao was doomed the moment they saw this scene.

After all, the gap in strength between the two was simply too great.

Beside Chu Feng, both Su Yanran and Gu Yueyue cried out in alarm and covered their eyes, unable to bear looking any further.

But in the very next instant, a crisp clash of metal rang across the arena.

The corners of Chu Feng’s lips curved slightly upward, and a sharp gleam flickered deep within his eyes.

Su Yanran and Gu Yueyue slowly lowered their hands. The moment they saw the scene on the arena, their pupils trembled.

There had been no spray of blood across the platform.

The crimson sword in Shen Sheng’s hand had actually been blocked by the broad sword in Li Xiao’s hands!

The two blades collided, yet the crimson sword failed to leave even the slightest mark on the broad sword’s surface. Li Xiao had only been forced back a few steps.

“H-How is that possible?!”

“How could you block that strike of mine?!” Shen Sheng’s face was full of disbelief.

The crowd below was equally stunned, all of them wondering if they were seeing things.

A man who had only just stepped into the Fourth Rank had actually blocked a strike from a late-stage Second-Rank expert without suffering even the slightest injury!

“How can Li Xiao possibly be this strong?!” Su Yanran exclaimed.

Chu Feng smiled and shook his head. “It is not that he is strong. The problem lies with the broad sword in his hands.”

Su Yanran was startled by those words, and her gaze immediately locked onto the broad sword in Li Xiao’s hands.

The broad sword was completely jet-black. Even after staring at it for a long time, Su Yanran could not tell what kind of material it had been forged from.

Yet after Chu Feng’s reminder, she did notice something that no one else had caught.

There were actually several faint wisps of black qi drifting across the sword’s surface, and those wisps were continuously flowing along the blade and into Li Xiao’s body.

Only then did Su Yanran understand. Li Xiao had most likely relied on that black qi to block Shen Sheng’s attack.

On the arena, Li Xiao looked straight at Shen Sheng and said coldly, “Hand over the sword.”

Shen Sheng’s face instantly twisted with anger, veins bulging along his neck.

His opponent was nothing more than a young man in the Fourth Rank, yet he dared speak to him in such a tone.

If he let the matter end here, he would undoubtedly become a laughingstock in everyone else’s eyes. That was something he absolutely could not tolerate.

“Brat, you brought this upon yourself, so do not blame me!” Shen Sheng roared in fury as the aura of a late-stage Second-Rank expert erupted violently from within him.

With a sword in one hand and a clenched fist in the other, Shen Sheng charged straight at Li Xiao.

The crimson sword flashed with a sinister glow, instantly splitting into several illusory shadows in the air, each strike aimed at one of Li Xiao’s vital points.

At the same time, Shen Sheng unleashed his exquisite fist technique. His fists stirred up wave after wave of violent wind, each punch carrying terrifying force.

Li Xiao’s eyes focused sharply. Gripping the broad sword with both hands, he wielded a sword style that was broad and unrestrained, simple yet masterful.

Facing Shen Sheng, who stood a full two major realms above him, Li Xiao not only refused to retreat—he advanced instead!

The crimson sword and Shen Sheng’s iron fists struck the broad sword again and again, each impact producing heavy, muffled explosions. Terrifying shockwaves spread outward from between the two of them.

In the span of only a dozen or so breaths, the two had already exchanged two to three hundred moves.

By now, many of the honored guests below had already risen to their feet, staring at the battle between the two in utter shock.

At the beginning, Li Xiao had only been able to defend with difficulty under Shen Sheng’s relentless assault.

But as time passed, the situation suddenly changed.

Li Xiao gradually grew stronger in the midst of the battle. Not only could he now neutralize Shen Sheng’s attacks with ease, he had even begun to counterattack!

Was this Li Xiao truly only at the Fourth Rank?

“What is this Li Xiao’s background?” Even Chu Jingshan was moved, his face filled with eager desire for talent.

To be able to fight a late-stage Second-Rank expert to a standstill while only in the Fourth Rank—such monstrous ability was beyond anything Chu Jingshan had ever even heard of, let alone seen among the geniuses of the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

If such a person could grow in the future and serve under him, then would not the imperial throne be his for the taking?

But Chu Jingshan’s beautiful dream was immediately doused with a bucket of cold water.

“Your Highness, it is not Li Xiao who is impressive. The problem lies with the broad sword in his hands,” Gu Feng said quietly.

At that moment, Gu Feng stood ramrod straight behind Chu Jingshan, both hands lowered at his sides, his eyes fixed intently upon the arena.

There was no trace of laziness left on him. His entire person now resembled a sword drawn from its sheath, radiating a fierce edge.

Gu Feng was not the only one. Quite a few experts present had noticed the same clue.

After trading hundreds of moves with Shen Sheng, the few streams of black qi on the broad sword had become increasingly obvious. It was difficult for them to escape notice.

“Elder Xiao, what is the origin of that broad sword?” Chu Jingshan turned and asked Xiao Shan.

“Reporting to Your Highness, I... I cannot tell either,” Xiao Shan answered with his head lowered in shame.

“Useless trash!” Chu Jingshan cursed.

“I do not care what its origin is. This prince wants that sword. You understand what I mean, do you not?”

“This subordinate understands. I understand!” Xiao Shan nodded frantically in response.

At once, Xiao Shan hurriedly shot a look toward Shen Sheng on the arena.

Shen Sheng caught the signal and drove Li Xiao back with a single punch.

He then flung the crimson sword from his hand and planted it in the arena floor.

In the next instant, the thick muscles across Shen Sheng’s body bulged, and a terrifying, violent aura erupted from his frame.

His eyes were bloodshot, and with both fists clenched, streams of force surged wildly toward them.

“Ganghong Fist!”

Shen Sheng let out a low roar. Like a raging bull, he charged straight ahead, the force of his iron fists condensing into something almost tangible as they smashed toward Li Xiao’s face.

That punch contained Shen Sheng’s full power. Its force was enough to shatter a thousand-jin boulder with ease. Even an ordinary First-Rank expert would not dare take it head-on.

The moment that punch was unleashed, Shen Sheng became certain that Li Xiao would never be able to withstand it.

“Good! That is more like it!” Li Xiao threw back his head and roared. His long hair flew wildly about, and a frenzied expression emerged upon his cold face, making him seem like an entirely different person from before.

Gripping the broad sword tightly in both hands, Li Xiao fixed Shen Sheng with a savage gaze, as though he were staring at prey.

A streak of red light suddenly flashed from within the black broad sword, and vast quantities of black qi surged into Li Xiao’s mouth and nose.

Under the horrified gazes of the crowd, Li Xiao’s aura began soaring upward without end!

In the next instant, Li Xiao’s figure vanished from the spot.

Before anyone could react, a scream rang out.

Everyone turned toward the sound, and their expressions changed drastically. A chill shot up from the soles of their feet straight to the crowns of their heads.

Shen Sheng lay on the arena with a deathly pale face, both of his arms severed cleanly at the shoulders. Blood splashed across the platform.

Li Xiao stood indifferently before him with the broad sword in hand, the blade still stained with blood...

“I-I won’t fight anymore. The sword is yours!” Shen Sheng said in a trembling voice as he looked at Li Xiao before him.

Li Xiao cast him a cold glance and gave a dismissive snort. Then the broad sword in his hand came down.

Shen Sheng died.

After killing Shen Sheng, Li Xiao walked over to the crimson sword, pulled it from the ground, and examined it.

Just as everyone thought Li Xiao was about to keep the crimson sword for himself, he instead raised the broad sword and hacked down at it!

Crack!

A crisp shattering sound rang out.

Under everyone’s gaze, the crimson sword shattered. The red gleam within the broad sword flashed once more, as though it were rejoicing...