Free Web NovelChapter 363: Chapter 173: Shock
"Yes. With a commotion this big, it would be hard not to notice."
Mo Xia’s voice was cool, but her gaze was unwavering. "Chen Lin’s Cyan Cloud Sword Technique has reached Perfection, and his Vast Sea True Qi is profound. To think he’s being pushed this far... This Chen Qing’s Spear Technique seems to have also reached the Realm of Perfection, and his strength is astonishing."
Mao Cheng chimed in, his tone grave. "It’s more than just great strength. He’s clearly cultivated some kind of exceptionally advanced Horizontal Hard Skill. His qi and blood are as vigorous as a furnace! Judging by his True Qi fluctuations, he should have opened Eleven Orthodox Meridians, but with that Hard Skill and Perfect Spear Technique, his actual combat prowess absolutely surpasses his Cultivation level!"
Shao Wenxuan added, "His Spear Technique is truly brilliant. Chen Lin’s Sword Tide can’t shake him in the slightest. Instead, he’s being overwhelmed by sheer force breaking through finesse..."
The group quickly exchanged their thoughts, their expressions growing more solemn with each analysis.
Although Chen Lin was officially ranked third, they all knew that their own strengths were comparable to his. Victory and defeat between them often came down to a hair’s breadth.
The fact that Chen Qing could suppress Chen Lin meant he was just as capable of threatening them!
Some sharp-eyed disciples even noticed that on the high-level viewing balconies at the edge of the Martial Arts Arena, several figures had appeared at some point. They were none other than a few of the Elders from Within the Sect, who rarely made public appearances. Though they kept their distance, their gazes were also fixed on the center of the arena, clearly drawn in by this sudden, fierce clash of titans.
In an instant, all eyes—from ordinary disciples and core elites to the Elders watching in secret—were focused on the center of the Haisa Sect’s Martial Arts Arena.
In the center of the arena, Chen Lin took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the churning qi and blood in his body as he tightened his grip on the Sea-Covering Sword.
His arm was still tingling from their earlier clash.
His gaze grew sharper. He realized he had to use his full strength.
"Junior Brother Chen, such ferocious power!"
Chen Lin said gravely, "Then face my Nine Transformations of Cyan Cloud!"
Before the words had even faded, Chen Lin’s movements suddenly became erratic, his Sea-Covering Sword tracing a series of profound arcs through the air.
The glint of his sword was no longer defined by grand, sweeping motions, but became dense and intricate, coiling toward his opponent like clouds and mist.
This was the true subtlety of the Cyan Cloud Sword Technique: a perfect balance of hard and soft.
Before, the Tide Sword was hard; now, the Cloud Sword was soft.
Chen Qing’s eyes narrowed, and the Cloud-Coiling Spear in his hand hummed.
Instead of retreating, he advanced, his long spear striking out like a dragon.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The tip of the spear and the tip of the sword clashed repeatedly within a tiny radius, producing a dense flurry of metallic impacts.
With every impact, Chen Lin’s sword moved like a Spiritual Snake, touching and instantly retreating, attempting to use Soft Force to neutralize the ferocious power of the spear and find an opening. ƒrēewebnovel.com
But Chen Qing’s Spear Technique was even more refined.
A long spear was meant to be a battlefield weapon, defined by wide, sweeping attacks, yet in his hands, it was wielded with the dexterity of a close-quarters weapon.
With a flick of the spear’s tip, he conjured seven points of cold light, like the Big Dipper hanging in the sky, forming a defense so impenetrable that not even the wind could pass through.
"What incredible Spear Technique!"
Qiao Hongyun couldn’t help but exclaim in a low voice, "This Chen Qing has a profound mastery of Weapons."
Even Shen Xiuyong was aghast. Though he had known Chen Qing’s strength was extraordinary, he had never expected his true combat prowess to be this formidable.
Unable to break through after a prolonged assault, Chen Lin changed his Swordsmanship once more.
The Cloud Vortex Sword of the Nine Transformations of Cyan Cloud!
His wrist spun rapidly, and the Sea-Covering Sword stirred the surrounding air, actually forming small vortexes around Chen Qing.
These vortexes exerted a pulling force, interfering with Chen Qing’s movements and Spear Momentum. At the same time, the sword remained hidden within them, appearing and disappearing unpredictably.
Chen Qing suddenly felt the air around him thicken, and his movements faltered for a fraction of a second.
In that instant, a glint of sword light shot out like a viper striking from its den, stabbing toward his ribs from an impossible angle!
Gasps of shock erupted from the crowd.
But Chen Qing remained calm in the face of danger.
He exploded with power from his waist and hips, his body twisting like a great python. Instead of blocking or parrying, he thrust his spear straight at Chen Lin’s face in a "Retreating Horse Spear" maneuver!
It was a mutually destructive Fighting Method!
If Chen Lin didn’t fall back to defend, even if his blade found its mark on Chen Qing, his own head would be skewered by the spear.
In that split second, Chen Lin had no choice but to pull his sword back to parry.
CLANG!
Sword and spear met once more.
Chen Qing used the momentum to spin, neutralizing the pulling force. He whipped his long spear out like a lash, creating a sharp whistling sound.
Chen Lin leaped backward, touched the ground with the tip of his sword, and landed lightly thirty feet away, his expression even more grave.
That last exchange had been exceptionally perilous.
He had thought the finesse of his Cyan Cloud Sword Technique could suppress his opponent’s long spear. He never expected Chen Qing’s Spear Technique to be a perfect balance of hard and soft, backed by a fearless ferocity. Several times, Chen Qing had used offense as his defense, shattering his intricate Sword Techniques.
"Something’s not right!"
On a distant high platform, a Haisa Sect senior’s brow furrowed. "This kid’s proficiency with the Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear is flawless. Could it be...?"
It wasn’t just him. The other elders beside him exchanged a look, and as if realizing the same thing, a jolt went through their hearts.
Back on the Martial Arts Arena.
Chen Lin stared at Chen Qing, his expression utterly serious. "Junior Brother, your strength is truly exceptional. I am impressed! This next move is my ultimate technique, my last resort. Its power is immense, and once unleashed, even I cannot fully control it. There’s a risk I might lose control. You... be careful!"
Chen Qing stood firm with his spear, the dark shaft of the Cloud-Coiling Spear seeming to hum faintly. "Senior Brother, please, unleash your full power. I can handle it."
’Chen Lin’s strength is indeed extraordinary. Not only has he opened all Twelve Orthodox Meridians, but he has also cultivated his Cyan Cloud Sword Technique to the Realm of Perfection. No wonder he’s ranked third in the Haisa Sect and earned the title ’Sea-Covering Sword’.’
’Coupled with the sharpness of the Top-Grade Treasure Artifact in his hand, if this were six months ago, I’m not sure I could have won without going all out.’
"Very well!"
Chen Lin said no more. A blinding light suddenly erupted from his eyes!
The Vast Sea True Qi in his body began to circulate with unprecedented, frantic speed, pouring entirely into the Sea-Covering Sword. The blade flared with brilliant blue light, and the sound it emitted was no longer that of the tide, but the low, rumbling roar of a deep-sea leviathan!
