PDLP Chapter 441 A decisive sword draw, one man looking down with disdain.
Chapter 441 A decisive sword draw, one man looking down with disdain.
Sword! Sword!
Its head is sharp as a awn, shining brightly. (Note)
Jing Yun made the first move; his sword was as swift as thunder and wind, aimed directly at Chu Lengyu.
Chu Lengyu remained calm and composed. With a gentle turn of her sword, the sword light flowed like water, yet in an instant, it transformed into a fine net of swords, dissolving Jing Yun's attacks one by one.
Her swordsmanship appears gentle, yet it contains endless variations, sometimes like a spring breeze caressing willows, sometimes like continuous autumn rain, and can transform into a monstrous wave at any moment, engulfing her opponent.
Jing Yun's gaze sharpened, and he made another move.
The audience held their breath, watching as sword energy spread wildly across the arena.
The sharp sword energy, even after penetrating the protective array, still caused a stinging pain on the face, demonstrating its immense power.
The elders of the Hundred Swords Pavilion watched with a mixture of surprise and delight.
He hadn't expected Chu Lengyu's swordsmanship to be so exquisite. He couldn't help but feel secretly glad that he had brought her along. Otherwise, he didn't know how long she would have kept her skills hidden.
However, a hint of doubt arose in the elders' hearts.
Although Chu Lengyu possessed an innate sword heart and an extraordinary comprehension of the sword, she had repeatedly refused to formally study swordsmanship. Could it be... that the sect leader was secretly giving her private lessons?
After much deliberation, the elders concluded that this was the only explanation that made sense.
After all, Chu Lengyu's swordsmanship is so exquisite that it cannot be mastered overnight. If no one taught her, was she born with this skill?
After a round of probing, Jing Yun suddenly changed his swordsmanship, his swordplay becoming more expansive and powerful, as dazzling as the blazing sun in the sky.
The sword light was as intense as flames, as if it wanted to burn everything to ashes.
Chu Lengyu's sword light remained as gentle and changeable as water, flowing like a clear mountain spring.
Her swordsmanship was mysterious and unpredictable; the flowing light of her sword made it difficult to grasp.
The gentle sword light collided with Jing Yun's blazing sword light in the air, constantly producing crisp sounds, like metal striking stone, or like pearls falling onto a jade plate, echoing across the arena.
As the battle progressed, Jing Yun felt increasingly exhilarated, his sword intent growing stronger, and a powerful force surging within him.
His swordsmanship became increasingly unrestrained and wild, the sword light flashing like lightning, slicing through the sky. That violent sword intent seemed to transform into a giant dragon, churning and roaring in the air.
However, Chu Lengyu transformed her sword intent into a gentle touch, effortlessly deflecting Jing Yun's attacks one by one.
Her swordsmanship appears gentle and unassuming, yet it can turn danger into safety at crucial moments, defusing Jing Yun's fierce attacks one by one.
Before long, the ground of the arena became pitted and uneven, marks left by the surging sword energy.
Amidst the swirling dust, swords clashed, sparks flew, and onlookers watched intently, afraid to miss a single exciting moment.
They were all discussing how spectacular the kendo duel was.
Some people stared wide-eyed, marveling at Jing Yun's unparalleled and fierce swordsmanship. Each strike seemed capable of splitting mountains and cleaving seas, demonstrating his profound swordsmanship skills.
Some people frowned, their eyes following Chu Lengyu's unpredictable sword intent. Her swordsmanship was like the first ripples of spring water, soft yet strong, and like the vast autumn sky, with profound artistic conception that left people in awe.
One swordsman commented, "Who can't launch a wide-ranging attack? But such ever-changing sword intent is truly rare, and it tests a person's comprehension and cultivation even more."
The surrounding audience nodded in agreement; they had never seen such a spectacular kendo duel.
At that moment, they saw the true charm of Kendo, a contest of intent that transcends moves and techniques.
On the stage, Jing Yun couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.
He sensed the tranquility and resilience within Chu Lengyu's sword intent, as if it were a pure land amidst a raging storm, inspiring his longing.
Among his peers, he had never met a woman like her. Her swordsmanship was so exquisite and her sword intent so profound that he felt inferior to her.
"How could someone with an innate sword heart be able to wield the variations of swordsmanship with such mastery? Is it simply due to talent?" Jing Yun thought to himself. "No, as someone with an innate sword bone, I know best that this is definitely not something that talent alone brings."
He began to re-evaluate Chu Lengyu, no longer seeing her merely as an opponent with great talent, but as a truly respectable sword cultivator.
This made him feel both admiration and excitement.
He knew that only by clashing with such an opponent could he advance further in his swordsmanship.
As the battle intensified, the two swords clashed repeatedly in the air.
Jing Yun's eyes sharpened, and he changed his sword technique once again.
This time, his swordsmanship was even more fierce and extraordinary than before, with a long and thin sword beam that carried an invincible aura.
Sword beams slashed fiercely at the ground, cutting countless crisscrossing cracks that were shocking to behold, as if they were about to split the arena in two.
Chu Lengyu retreated repeatedly, her slender fingers gently tracing the blade of the sword, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes.
Just as Jing Yun looked up, he suddenly saw Chu Lengyu unleash a dazzling sword light.
The sword light was like a cascading galaxy, or the changing seasons and the warmth and fragrance of the mortal world, instantly immersing Jing Yun in it, leaving him stunned for a moment.
However, this momentary lapse in concentration is a fatal flaw for a swordsman.
Jing Yun suddenly came to his senses and hurriedly held his sword horizontally in front of his chest.
However, the power contained in Chu Lengyu's sword was too great, and his sword simply could not withstand such pressure.
With a "crack," the longsword broke in two, and Jing Yun was sent flying as if struck by a giant hammer.
The surrounding vegetation swayed violently from the blow, shedding countless petals and leaves.
Jing Yun struggled to his feet, his gaze still firm, but his heart was filled with awe for Chu Lengyu's sword intent.
"I... lost." Jing Yun sighed, his voice filled with both resentment and relief.
He tossed aside the broken sword in his hand, then smiled and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Chu Lengyu, saying, "You are very strong. I, Jing Yun, am completely convinced!"
Although neither side used any spiritual power in this match, it still exhausted Jing Yun's mental energy.
He felt completely drained, both physically and mentally exhausted. However, the gains from sparring with a master were undoubtedly enormous. This match with Chu Lengyu was better than a hundred of his battles with others.
Excitement gleamed in Jing Yun's eyes as he looked at Chu Lengyu, already having made up his mind.
He would then find a way to recruit her to the Thousand Mist Sect. Such a talented and beautiful woman would be wasted if she stayed in a remote second-rate sect like the Hundred Swords Pavilion.
However, thinking of this, Jing Yun couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
If Chu Lengyu were to be recruited, would my position within the sect be shaken? After all, the Thousand Mist Sect is teeming with experts, and the competition is fierce.
But then I thought, wouldn't it be a foolish thing to give up such talent just because of fear of competition?
Jing Yun's eyes gradually hardened, and he secretly made up his mind to give it a try no matter what.
Chu Lengyu was a little puzzled. She clearly hadn't used much force with that sword strike, so how could she have broken the other person's sword?
She took a few steps closer and examined the broken sword carefully.
The sword's engravings were simple and its spiritual light was dim, clearly indicating that it was a very cheap first-tier magic sword.
Such magical swords are usually only purchased and used by newcomers to the world of cultivation who are short of money. Their hardness is only slightly stronger than that of a hundred-refined longsword in the mortal world.
Seeing this, Jing Yun gave a wry smile and explained, "My master once said that when I can defeat my senior sister with this ordinary longsword, that will be the time when I graduate. Today, the sword is broken, it's just that my skills are not good enough, so please don't worry about it."
Upon hearing this, Chu Lengyu gently shook her head, but ultimately remained silent.
The peach blossoms nearby were in full bloom, so she broke off a branch and handed it to him: "Broken sword is not my wish, but I give you a branch of spring."
The peach blossoms were clustered on the branch. Jing Yun's eyes darted around, and he felt a little nervous. He quickly took them with both hands.
When your fingertips touch the soft petals, the fragrance of the flowers fills your sleeves.
Jing Yun held the peach blossom in his hand, his gaze complex.
He has always been a pragmatic person and has never paid much attention to romantic or frivolous things.
In his mind, flowers are nothing more than fragile and fleeting beings, good for nothing except being pretty.
Some predecessors used flowers as a metaphor to create sword techniques, which he could not understand.
However, at this moment, looking at the peach blossom in his hand, he seemed to vaguely understand the feelings of those people.
Perhaps people admire the beauty of flowers not only for their appearance, but also for the splendor they embody and the memories of a sunny spring afternoon.
Chu Lengyu could never have predicted how a peach blossom she casually plucked would change Jing Yun's fate in the future.
She was currently confirming the results of the competition with the referee and learned that both competitions were valid.
With this, she had accumulated ten wins and successfully earned the right to enter the second floor to choose a treasure.
After exchanging a few words with the elder via telepathy, she went off with anticipation.
After today's arena battle, Chu Lengyu's status rose again in the eyes of the Hundred Swords Pavilion elders. Although he had some doubts about her words, he still listened to them.
Little did she know that, on the other side, after witnessing the competition between Jing Yun and Chu Lengyu, Wei Wuxin had largely dispelled his suspicions about her.
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Note:
Sword! Sword! You and I will live and die together. — Ming Dynasty, Zheng Shanfu, "The Ancient Sword, Presented to General Qiu on His Northern Expedition"
The sword's tip is sharp as a thorn, always held to illuminate the eyes. — Tang Dynasty, Wu Yun, "Walking Among the Barbarians"
Hu drew his sword to initiate a battle, causing a single man to stand defiantly before him. The sword's gleam shone like autumn frost, his sleeves unfurled, and a chilling wind arose. — Yuan Dynasty, Liang Yin, "Gong Mo Wu"