Chapter 311: Switching Martial Skills, Ground-Lying Technique

CLANG!!

Amid the ringing clash of metal, Su Wangchuan and Luo Laoqi’s arms both trembled slightly as they each stepped back cautiously.

A trace of gravity appeared in both men’s eyes.

Their first exchange.

One side had attacked with the intent to suppress, going all out.

The other had guarded tightly, fully focused and vigilant.

Luo Laoqi’s attacks were infused with internal energy—flexible and razor-sharp. In most fights, he could seize the initiative in the very first exchange, relying on the depth and advantage of his internal energy to force his opponent to reveal a flaw, then press the advantage and finish the battle swiftly.

But what he had not expected was that the seemingly young Su Wangchuan possessed a surprisingly solid foundation of internal energy. Not only had he blocked the assault, but from the Hundredfold Steel Longsword came a strand of resilient force that clearly blunted the edge of Luo Laoqi’s attack.

“Qingcheng Sword Art.”

“I did not expect, Helm Leader Wangchuan, that you cultivate such a mixed assortment of martial arts.”

Luo Laoqi, a seasoned veteran of the Jianghu, immediately recognized the origin of Su Wangchuan’s sword technique.

Su Wangchuan smiled faintly.

“Luo Laoqi, it seems you really are getting old. Why do you look so weak and sluggish? Come again!”

As they exchanged blows, Su Wangchuan sensed the powerful internal energy within Luo Laoqi’s techniques. However, the man must have begun cultivating internal energy only after reaching middle age. At most, his level had reached Entry-Level Mastery.

Moreover…

Luo Laoqi’s internal cultivation seemed more focused on increasing attack speed and power. Not only was it countered by the defensive bonuses of the 《Black Tortoise Art》, but it held no real advantage against an internal cultivation method that had reached Integration.

Su Wangchuan steadied his mind.

He had the advantage in internal energy.

That much was certain.

If the fight had initially been evenly matched, now he estimated his chances of victory at sixty percent.

“Heh heh, you brat. Stop running your mouth. Let us settle this with real skill!”

After catching his breath, Luo Laoqi’s pitch-black iron staff transformed like a serpent, accelerating toward Su Wangchuan’s lower body.

His figure circled around the pillars as the iron staff thrust out layers of staff shadows, quickening the tempo of the assault.

The combination of 《Misty Trace Steps》 and 《Yunmeng Internal Art》 truly unleashed his advantages in speed and agility to their fullest, immediately creating a powerful sense of pressure for Su Wangchuan.

Fortunately, the defining trait of the 《Qingcheng Sword Art》 was softness overcoming hardness, striking after the opponent moved.

Though its opening stances appeared slow, once unleashed the strikes were astonishingly swift.

CLANG! CLANG!

CLANG! CLANG!

Staff and sword collided repeatedly, sending sparks scattering through the air.

Su Wangchuan’s Strength attribute stood at fifty-seven points. With the assistance of the 《Black Tortoise Art》, his strength temporarily increased by twenty points, and his overall attack power rose by another fifty percent. The force behind his sword techniques already resembled that of a Third-Rank Martial Artist.

Luo Laoqi could gain no advantage.

This was because Su Wangchuan himself had practiced both 《Snake Fist》 and the 《Snake-Driving Staff Technique》. He was extremely familiar with Luo Laoqi’s patterns. Just by watching the opponent’s movements, he could predict the direction of the next strike. Even without a speed advantage, he could respond calmly.

CLANG! CLANG!

CLANG! CLANG!

The further the 《Qingcheng Sword Art》 progressed, the more ferocious it became. Once the offensive momentum built up, the attacks fell like a torrential storm, rapidly forcing Luo Laoqi to abandon his lower-body assault and shift entirely into defense.

“Helm Leader is mighty!”

“Helm Leader is incredible!”

“Helm Leader!!”

“Kill that old beggar!”

…

Seeing their Helm Leader gaining the upper hand, the Branch Helm disciples waved their arms and shouted encouragement.

Su Wangchuan grew more and more valiant as the battle continued. His execution of the 《Qingcheng Sword Art》 became increasingly smooth and fluid, its sharp edge fully unleashed, forcing Luo Laoqi to retreat again and again.

Chen Ergou and the others all revealed smiles.

In contrast, Luo Laoqi’s expression turned ugly. The old man clenched his teeth.

“Little beast.”

“This strength…”

“He is actually suppressing me.”

…

Standing at the entrance of the courtyard, Elder Zhu watched the battle calmly. He did not appear anxious despite Luo Laoqi’s temporary suppression. At most, he felt a trace of surprise at Su Wangchuan’s performance.

After several dozen exchanges—

Just as Luo Laoqi seemed about to be defeated under the pressure, he suddenly tilted and collapsed toward the ground, appearing to expose a flaw.

It seemed like an opening for Su Wangchuan to exploit.

But in reality, it was as elusive as antelope horns hanging in the void.

The iron staff pierced through his tattered robe, passing from his left hand into his right, and struck Su Wangchuan’s calf at an unbelievably tricky angle.

Su Wangchuan sprang backward.

His calf tingled with numbness.

With his back against the ground, Luo Laoqi’s legs spun like wheels as he slid across the floor, closing in. The iron staff became even more deadly and ferocious, constantly stabbing and sweeping at the lower body.

This was Luo Laoqi’s signature technique.

The Ground-Lying Technique.

By combining the 《Snake-Driving Staff Technique》 with the Ground-Lying Technique, he had made countless martial artists skilled in fists, blades, and swords unable to defend themselves.

The Dog-Meat Branch Master had relied on this very technique to stand toe-to-toe with Third-Rank Martial Artists.

Su Wangchuan possessed the protection of the Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique. Although the earlier strike had injured him, it did not trigger double damage. His health decreased by thirty-seven points.

Su Wangchuan retreated repeatedly.

The 《Qingcheng Sword Art》 truly struggled to defend against this Ground-Lying Technique.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!!

After a rapid series of parries, Su Wangchuan fell into a disadvantage.

Luo Laoqi seized the opportunity to reverse the situation and landed two more sudden strikes.

Health reduced by thirty-eight points, then forty-two points.

Su Wangchuan’s legs were gradually going numb, and his footwork slowed more and more.

Elder Zhu smiled.

A few more strikes and Su Wangchuan’s legs would be crippled.

Young people were still too inexperienced after all…

However—

At that very moment—

After blocking the iron staff with two quick sword strikes, Su Wangchuan suddenly leaped backward. He stepped onto the wall of the training yard and landed atop the roof. Throwing away his longsword, he pulled out the Yellow Dragon Bow and released four arrows at once.

TWANG!!

The sound rang out.

Luo Laoqi slapped the ground with one hand, his body spinning and flipping through the air to evade the arrows. Like a hawk, he made two swift leaps and pursued onto the rooftop.

“Haha… you have run out of tricks! Did you think I did not know that your archery is exceptional? You even killed a Third-Rank Martial Artist with it!”

“Without a weapon, you stand no chance now.”

As he spoke, he accelerated forward, launching a furious assault.

Su Wangchuan retreated rapidly.

He drew the bow again.

Luo Laoqi had clearly anticipated this. He dodged two arrows and, while moving, struck the other two aside with his staff, closing the distance.

Watching from below as Luo Laoqi chased their Helm Leader across the rooftop, drawing ever closer while the Yellow Dragon Bow in Su Wangchuan’s hands had nearly become useless, everyone held their breath in extreme tension.

In haste, Su Wangchuan threw away the Yellow Dragon Bow and hurriedly reached toward his waist.

Luo Laoqi sneered coldly.

Before coming here, he had already investigated all of Su Wangchuan’s methods.

The Heart-Piercing Dart of the Yulong Gang.

A mere First-Rank martial art.

And he thought that could deal with him?

Sure enough.

A flash of cold light appeared.

Luo Laoqi did not even sway. With a single swing of his iron staff, he knocked aside the Hundredfold Steel Throwing Knife.

But then—

WHOOSH!!

A streak of cold light suddenly extended and lengthened before his eyes, like a gleaming spirit serpent. It slid past the iron staff and whipped toward his face with astonishing speed, sweeping across his throat and carving a line of blood.

Luo Laoqi was struck as if by lightning.

Below, Elder Zhu’s eyes instantly froze.

They watched helplessly as Luo Laoqi’s throat was suddenly slit. Blood sprayed outward. Clutching his neck with both hands, he slid from the rooftop and crashed heavily onto the training ground below.

Su Wangchuan stood there, sword in his right hand.

The blade was flexible, and a streak of blood slid down the gleaming surface.

A flexible sword.

A trophy taken from a Crimson Pavilion assassin.

《Swift Sword Art》.

Su Wangchuan’s hidden trump card—never revealed to anyone until now.

Today, it finally appeared.

And it achieved a decisive feat.