Chapter 63 - 62: Demon Barrier in the Heart

Chapter 63: Chapter 62: Demon Barrier in the Heart

Exhilarating!

Fighting felt amazing!

Zheng Jun’s arms felt slightly sore, but as True Qi washed over them, the ache vanished in an instant, replaced by boundless vitality.

He was absolutely brimming with energy!

His eyes overflowed with fighting spirit as he stared at Gao Jingxing, blood trickling from the corner of the latter’s mouth. He was genuinely worried his opponent might stop fighting.

Fighting against a Martial Artist who was also in the Great Success Realm with the Wave-Treading Blade Technique and had similarly comprehended the Wave-Treading Blade Intent—this was the true path to leveling up!

He firmly believed that after this battle, he would only grow stronger, swiftly bringing his repayment of the Wave-Treading Blade Technique to Perfection!

Gao Jingxing played right into Zheng Jun’s desires. Despite the blood at the corner of his mouth, he still gripped his Wide-Backed Saber tightly, glaring fiercely at Zheng Jun with eyes full of killing intent.

"Want to kill me?" Zheng Jun thought.

"Bring it on," Zheng Jun provoked.

He raised his saber, and his Wave-Treading Blade Intent bloomed once more. Faintly, the surrounding spectators seemed to hear a dragon’s roar echoing across the training ground!

"Hmm?"

"Did some sound just come from over there?"

"Is it from Captain Zheng’s saber? I once heard that when a Saber Technique reaches Great Success Perfection, it condenses into Blade Intent. When Blade Intent flows with the heart, it can manifest a physical form!"

"Captain Zheng is terrifyingly powerful!"

"..."

The surrounding county soldiers exclaimed in shock, exchanging bewildered glances. They were completely appalled that their own Captain could unleash such incredible strength.

They had long known Captain Zheng was formidable, but they never expected him to be this powerful!

Vice Captain Yang Jun watched with a grave expression, finding the scene entirely unbelievable.

The pale-faced Bian Kuang cried out in disbelief, "Wave-Treading Blade Intent... H-how is this possible?!"

Cai Xun, on the other hand, revealed a faint smile.

However, that smile concealed a great deal of hidden meaning.

Previously, both Zheng Jun’s and Gao Jingxing’s Wave-Treading Blade Intent had only been directed at each other. Although their clashes conjured imagery of crashing waves and a Flood Dragon, their cultivation levels were ultimately still too low. Apart from the two combatants, the ordinary bystanders could hardly perceive it.

But just now, when Zheng Jun raised his saber, that crisp roar of a Flood Dragon—though brief—had genuinely echoed in everyone’s ears.

"Go!"

This slash mobilized all the True Qi and Qi and Blood in Zheng Jun’s body. As the blade descended, not only were the falling snowflakes swept up by his formidable saber wind, but even the thin layer of snow on the ground was drawn into the vortex!

The dense mass of snow followed the gleam of Zheng Jun’s blade, nearly transforming into a Wind Snow Flood Dragon. Amidst the howling gale and sudden blizzard, it slashed straight toward Gao Jingxing!

Watching the Wind Snow Flood Dragon surging toward him, Gao Jingxing’s pupils violently contracted. Gritting his teeth, he raised his saber. Without taking a single step back, he unleashed another slash imbued with his Wave-Treading Blade Intent.

His slash resembled a calm sea suddenly churning into massive waves. Fueled by his surging True Qi, the surrounding snow was blown into the air. However, unlike Zheng Jun’s attack, which converged into a powerful torrent, Gao Jingxing’s snow merely scattered wildly and chaotically.

It looked like fish mercilessly swallowed by the tide, forced to tumble aimlessly with the waves.

"Kill!"

Gao Jingxing gritted his teeth and swung his saber with all his might!

He wielded a Wide-Backed Saber. Logically speaking, his Blade Intent should have been heavy and forceful—far more ferocious than Zheng Jun’s Ceremonial Saber-styled Beirong Saber. Yet, in this clash of Wave-Treading Blade Intent, he completely fell into a disadvantage, unable to resist Zheng Jun’s strike at all!

Zheng Jun’s Wind Snow Flood Dragon tore straight toward him. It cleaved through the massive waves, swept up the scattered snow, and crashed down upon Gao Jingxing with overwhelming force!

"CLANG!"

The sharp clash of metal rang out. Amidst the exploding Blade Intent and the raging blizzard, Gao Jingxing’s feet left the ground. He flew backward like a loosed arrow for dozens of feet, violently coughing up thick blood that sprayed across the air.

Only one thought remained in his mind:

"I’m finished!"

Thick blood spewed from his lips as he crashed heavily to the ground. The swirling snow from Zheng Jun’s slash piled up over him, burying him in a mound that looked no different from any ordinary snowbank by the roadside.

Only, this snowbank was stained a vibrant crimson.

After a short while, Gao Jingxing crawled out of the blood-stained snow. His complexion was ghastly, but as a Qi Storage Martial Artist, circulating his True Qi had largely mitigated the impact trauma. Even so, his True Qi was now floating and unstable, and his internal organs had suffered damage.

After undergoing Blood Refining, a Martial Artist’s Life Force vastly improved. Combined with the nourishment of True Qi, they could cling to life even with shattered internal organs—provided their heart remained intact. For Gao Jingxing, who had merely sustained internal damage, his robust Life Force would inevitably allow him to recover.

However, he would need two to three months of rest to heal completely.

"Captain Zheng’s skills are formidable. I am deeply impressed."

Taking a deep breath to suppress the metallic taste of blood in his mouth, Gao Jingxing cupped his hands in a formal Ritual bow toward Zheng Jun.

In these past two exchanges, Gao Jingxing had been utterly suppressed and humiliated.

But that didn’t mean his core strength had been permanently damaged.

It was simply because he had stubbornly refused to accept defeat, repeatedly using the Wave-Treading Blade Technique to try and overpower his opponent—only to be counter-suppressed instead.

"If I had known, I wouldn’t have used the Wave-Treading Blade Technique. I should have engaged him with the Threefold Waves of the Vast Sea or the Profound Body Wave-breaking Slash," Gao Jingxing thought to himself.

Yet, even as he rationalized his defeat, a lingering fear began to multiply wildly in his heart, spreading like a plague.

Every time he recalled the clash, he saw that Flood Dragon roaring amidst the blizzard!

His hand, still gripping the Wide-Backed Saber, began to tremble. He had completely lost confidence in his proudest skill, the Wave-Treading Blade Technique.

Meanwhile, Zheng Jun sheathed his Beirong Saber, a joyful smile spreading across his face.

[The blade strikes like a Flood Dragon! Engaged in combat with a fellow practitioner and broke their Blade Intent! Wave-Treading Saber repayment progress +2,539. Current repayment progress: 3,131/5,000.]

"How much?" Zheng Jun thought, stunned. "2,539?! That repays half the progress in one go!

"Is this the true worth of the Vast Sea Sect’s head disciple, the greatest genius in three generations?!

"Who said the Vast Sea Sect had fallen into decline? The Vast Sea Sect is fantastic!"

Overjoyed, Zheng Jun’s gaze toward Gao Jingxing lost all its previous hostility. Instead, it was replaced by a layer of delight—and sheer greed.

He was looking at Gao Jingxing as if staring at a priceless treasure.

"I need to find a way to make him stay here and spar with me every day," Zheng Jun pondered.

He had absolutely no idea why the progress had increased so drastically.

Then again, it made sense.

Gao Jingxing was genuinely the strongest Qi Storage Martial Artist he had ever encountered, aside from Zhang Qingyu.

These two slashes had been a clash of equals. He had pushed himself so hard that his True Qi was momentarily depleted, leaving him exhausted.

Even his arms were trembling slightly.

Fortunately, he had won.

Having adjusted his mindset, Zheng Jun cupped his hands toward Gao Jingxing and said, "Chief Gao is not bad yourself. You’ve practiced this Wave-Treading Saber quite decently."

Before Gao Jingxing could reply, Zheng Jun added, "You already possess one-tenth of my Blade Intent. That is more than enough to be proud of."

Hearing this, Gao Jingxing felt his Qi and Blood reverse its flow. He nearly spat out a mouthful of Essence Blood on the spot.

"You!" Gao Jingxing thought, enraged.

"I have practiced the Wave-Treading Blade Technique for a full ten years to finally comprehend the Wave-Treading Blade Intent, allowing my slashes to surge endlessly like the ocean waves.

"And now you’re telling me my ten years of hard work only amounts to one-tenth of your skill?!

"While you’ve only been practicing the saber for two months!"

Gao Jingxing completely lost his previous calm and effortless demeanor. Right now, he just felt deeply depressed.

Had he heard Zheng Jun’s words this morning, Gao Jingxing would have only felt enraged.

But now, the moment he looked at Zheng Jun, all he could think of was the sky full of snow and the roaring Flood Dragon thrashing within it.

For a moment, he couldn’t stop himself from trembling.

Seeing this, Bian Kuang glared with wide eyes, trembling with fury. He indignantly shouted, "You arrogant scoundrel! Don’t think that just because you beat Senior Brother Gao, you can sit back and relax! Senior Brother Gao was simply going easy on..."

Just because he couldn’t beat Zheng Jun didn’t mean Zheng Jun had the right to humiliate the Vast Sea Sect and Senior Brother Gao like this!

"Shut up!"

Gao Jingxing fiercely rebuked Bian Kuang. He then turned back to Zheng Jun, forcing a strained smile. "Captain Zheng is right. If my Blade Intent possesses even one-tenth of Captain Zheng’s skill, it is indeed something to be proud of. As a token of our apology, the Vast Sea Sect respectfully offers fifty... five hundred taels of silver. Farewell."

With that, Gao Jingxing hastily took out five one hundred tael silver notes, handed them to Zheng Jun, and prepared to leave.

Before coming here, the sect had only intended to pay fifty taels in compensation.

That amount would have been more than enough to send a Captain packing.

But after fighting Zheng Jun, Gao Jingxing’s mind was now consumed by fear. As a result, he took it upon himself to multiply the compensation by ten, handing over his entire life savings in the process.

Right now, he only wanted to leave.

"Senior Brother Gao?"

Seeing Gao Jingxing act so cowardly and submissive, Bian Kuang was utterly bewildered. He had never expected his eldest senior brother to behave like this!

Just what exactly had happened?!

Having never comprehended the Wave-Treading Blade Intent, Bian Kuang couldn’t understand the bitterness in Gao Jingxing’s heart. He only felt as though the sky had fallen.

"Let’s go!"

Gao Jingxing didn’t elaborate; he coldly spat out the command at Bian Kuang.

Helpless, Bian Kuang could only follow Gao Jingxing and prepare to leave with him.

"Your sect underestimates me far too much. Do I look like someone so greedy for wealth that I would covet mere silver and gold?"

Zheng Jun snorted coldly. Ignoring the five hundred taels Gao Jingxing was offering, he flourished the sleeve of his Official Robe and declared, "If your sect truly wishes to reconcile, I will visit your mountain gates in the future. I hope your sect will be willing to accept my challenge then."

"I will definitely inform the Sect Leader and the Elders."

Gao Jingxing nodded. Though his eyes were filled with fear, he was still quite irritated. He forced himself to sound tough as he added, "We will quietly await Captain Zheng’s arrival."

"Farewell!"

With that, Gao Jingxing turned and walked away without the slightest hesitation, not even sparing a glance around him.

Seeing this, Bian Kuang had no choice but to hurry after Gao Jingxing.

His mind was full of questions, entirely unsure why his Senior Brother Gao was showing such weakness.

Even if he lost, he shouldn’t be acting like this, right?

What Bian Kuang couldn’t see, however, was that beneath Gao Jingxing’s sleeves, his saber-wielding hand was trembling uncontrollably.

After this battle, Gao Jingxing never wanted to use the Wave-Treading Blade Technique ever again.

The moment he even thought of executing the Wave-Treading Blade Technique, he would vividly remember the roaring Flood Dragon tearing through the blizzard—the very Flood Dragon hidden within that terrifying Wave-Treading Blade Intent.

He had developed a Demon Barrier.