Chapter 440 - 422: Dragon Slaying 9 Swords, 1 Draw 1 Loss

"Watch out, he’s about to use the Dragon-slaying Nine Swords!"

Over on the Public Security Bureau’s side, Li Jingxuan’s heart skipped a beat when he saw his cousin’s stance, and he quickly shouted a warning.

Ye Xiaohong heard the warning and immediately quickened his assault. He unleashed three consecutive slashes that transformed into three bolts of cold light, striking at Li Jingfeng from three different angles in an attempt to interrupt his technique.

However, Li Jingfeng’s aura suddenly erupted. An invisible pressure washed over Ye Xiaohong, causing the flow of his Qi and Blood to falter.

At the same time, the unassuming longsword in his hand flared with brilliant light, transforming into a blade of blazing sunfire.

"First Sword: Rainbow Through the Sun!"

Following Li Jingfeng’s suave murmur, the longsword in his hand descended like a rainbow at sunset, slashing straight down at Ye Xiaohong’s head!

"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!"

Ye Xiaohong’s three stunning slashes were shattered as if they were made of rotten wood. His expression filled with shock as he quickly brought his saber back to defend himself.

The next moment, an immense force slammed into his blade, sending him stumbling backward and nearly knocking the long saber from his grasp.

’So strong!’

’Is this the Dragon-slaying Nine Swords?’

Before Ye Xiaohong could react, his opponent’s second strike was upon him.

"Second Sword: Cold Gleam Slashes the Dragon!"

Frost condensed on the longsword, and the very air crackled and froze wherever it passed.

"BANG!"

Ye Xiaohong had just raised his long saber when it was struck and sent flying, completely torn from his grasp.

"The third sword... never mind. Just surrender."

Seeing that his opponent was now unarmed, Li Jingfeng was confident he couldn’t possibly withstand the third sword. With a stylish flourish, he sheathed his longsword on his back.

Ye Xiaohong’s expression was grim. ’If I could have kept going and built up to my hundredth slash, maybe I would have stood a chance. But he’s right. I can’t block his next strike. There’s no opportunity at all.’

"I lose!"

He said nothing more. His military background had taught him to despise excuses. Inferior skill was inferior skill; on the battlefield, the enemy doesn’t wait for an explanation.

As Ye Xiaohong left the stage in defeat, a dead silence fell over the Public Security Bureau’s side.

"He lost... Even Commander Ye lost so decisively. There are too many experts in the Inspection Bureau!"

"Can our Public Security Bureau really stand on equal footing with them? Perhaps the Outer City is simply inferior to the Inner City..."

Li Jingxuan sighed. He had expected this outcome all along.

’After all, my cousin Li Jingfeng is a top-ten expert from the Martial Examination. I’ve sparred with him before, and I couldn’t even withstand three of his strikes!’

Wang Lingran took a delicate sip of tea and spoke to the returning Ye Xiaohong. "You fought well, Commander Ye. This loss is not your fault."

The other Great Commanders all silently agreed, but this just made the upcoming matches even more troublesome.

At the edge of the arena, Pang Xuan let out a cold snort. "Commander Liu, if the Inspection Bureau has any more hidden masters like that, then we might as well call off the rest of the competition!"

Liu Longyu smiled. "Mansion Master Pang, I’m just following orders. The participant list was decided by the higher-ups long ago, so don’t blame me. But you can rest easy. Aside from Li Jingfeng, the rest of our fighters are all here."

"Hmph. Then let’s continue!"

Pang Xuan snorted again, but inwardly he breathed a sigh of relief. ’Although I didn’t have high hopes for this competition, it would be a huge embarrassment for me as Mansion Master if we were to lose this badly.’

"Zhao Sen, you’re up!"

Hearing the Mansion Master’s command, Zhao Sen rose from his seat, a murderous, battle-forged aura erupting from him.

He strode onto the arena stage with the gait of a stalking tiger.

"Zhao Sen of the Public Security Bureau. Who will come forth to offer some pointers?"

The words had barely left his mouth when someone from the Inspection Bureau’s side rose to their feet.

He was a middle-aged man with a slender build and a long saber at his waist. He had a simple, honest-looking face and walked toward the arena at an unhurried pace.

"Wang Lishu! You, a man I’ve already defeated, dare to challenge me?"

Zhao Sen unslung the long spear from his back. His aura grew even more fearsome, and the spear in his hand began to hum, as if straining to leap from his grasp.

Seeing this display, Su Yu immediately recognized the weapon as a Profound Tier long spear.

In contrast, Wang Lishu still wore that same simple, honest expression. He held his long saber with a contained aura and said softly, "Wang Lishu of the Inspection Bureau. I await your instruction."

"BOOM!"

Showing no mercy, Zhao Sen stomped, shattering the arena floor beneath his foot. His spear then shot forward like a dragon, aimed to kill!

"CLANG!"

Wang Lishu met the attack with a powerful downward slash, and a shower of sparks erupted at the point of impact.

In the blink of an eye, the two had already exchanged a dozen blows.

From this initial probing exchange, it was clear they were evenly matched in strength.

This caused Zhao Sen’s expression to darken further.

’I fought Wang Lishu during the Martial Examination and defeated him. But afterward, I came to the Public Security Bureau in the Outer City, while he remained with the Inspection Bureau.’

’In just one short year, his strength has grown immensely. It’s obvious he’s caught up to me.’

"Haha! Zhao Sen, you went to a place like the Outer City to hang around with a bunch of weaklings all day. No wonder your progress has been so slow!"

Someone from the Inspection Bureau’s side called out with a laugh, his tone dripping with contempt for the Outer City.

Someone from the Public Security Bureau wanted to retort, but with Commander Ye’s recent defeat and Commander Zhao failing to gain an advantage, they lacked the confidence to say anything.

The battle raged on for a while longer, and Zhao Sen found that the advantage from his martial aura was gradually slipping away.

He cultivated the explosive Burning Fire Style, and since his continuous bursts had failed to defeat his opponent, his follow-up attacks were now lacking power.

Wang Lishu, in contrast, cultivated a Mountain Rock Style. He grew steadier the longer the battle went on, and was now beginning to suppress Zhao Sen.

’Damn it, I can’t lose this round!’

As a Great Commander and a member of the Zhao Family, Zhao Sen had always been incredibly arrogant.

Faced with a situation where he was steadily losing ground, he decided to take drastic action.

"DIE!"

With a furious roar, his Burning Fire Aura exploded. He instantly delivered more than a dozen thrusts, which manifested as fiery pythons surging to devour Wang Lishu.

Wang Lishu met this with a simple, honest smile, instantly unleashing a dozen slashes of his own to defend.

"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!"

Flashes from the saber and phantoms from the spear clashed. The Burning Fire and Mountain Rock auras collided, seeming to take on physical form and illuminating the entire arena in a dazzling display of light and shadow.

"SHLICK!"

Wang Lishu still came out on top. His final slash landed on Zhao Sen’s arm. He had held back slightly on the blow; otherwise, Zhao Sen’s arm would have been severed.

"GET OFF!"

But a vicious glint flashed in Zhao Sen’s eyes. He ignored the pain in his arm and thrust his spear out again. It struck like a fire serpent leaving its den, sinking into Wang Lishu’s abdomen with a sickening squelch.

"Stop!"

"Stop!"

From below, Pang Xuan and Liu Longyu both shot to their feet, flashing onto the stage to stop the fight.

With two Profound Bone Realm masters intervening, the combatants were immediately separated, neither daring to make another move.

"Zhao Sen, Wang Lishu clearly held back. Why did you still attack?"

Liu Longyu glared at him.

Zhao Sen, however, was utterly unafraid. "Commander Liu," he said coldly, "I’m used to fighting to the death. When he swung that saber, I was prepared to lose my arm. But no matter what, I was always going to make that counter-thrust!"

"Commander Liu, we all know Zhao Sen’s temperament. He’s not lying about that. How about we call this round a draw?"

Liu Longyu considered for a moment, then agreed.

"Fine. We’ll call it a draw. The final outcome will depend on the third round!"

She remained outwardly calm. ’For the third round, our side is sending out Tiemu Chuan. He was originally meant to fight Li Jingxuan, and his strength is in no way inferior to Wang Lishu’s.’

’Now their opponent is Su Yu, who’s only in the measly Ape Tendon Realm. The third round is a guaranteed win for us!’

Full of confidence, she returned to her seat.

On the stage, Zhao Sen and Wang Lishu also withdrew, each returning to their own side.

"Alright, let’s begin the third round! It’s the Inspection Bureau’s turn to send up a fighter!"