Chapter 1173: Effortless with Ease

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Although Xia Yang used the tenth layer of the Thunder Fire Art, the strength that he burst forth with was strongly correlated to his having stored up power for a while.

However, no one could deny Xia Yang’s results. Everything he had done was within the rules. After all, the first test only tested strength. He managed to light up nine gems, obtaining nine points. This is practically the highest score of this first test.

As Xia Yang dispelled the ten layers of thunder fire on his body, his complexion was slightly red; he appeared somewhat weakened. Clearly, his cultivation of the Thunder Fire Art’s tenth layer was not very stable yet.

However, he radiated joy and pride on his face. Looking arrogantly at Xiao Chen, he said with a loud laugh, “I managed to light up nine gems of the sixth row of the first test. How are you going to compete with me?!”

To surpass nine gems, ordinary people would have to erupt with the strength of a half-step Martial Emperor to light up ten gems. Obviously, no youth was capable of doing this.

Having obtained nine points, Xia Yang believed that there was already no way for Xiao Chen to surpass him. He would definitely win.

“White Robed Bladesman, how are you going to defeat me?!”

After lighting up nine purple gems in one go, Xia Yang appeared extremely cocky.

His purpose in revealing his tenth layer of the Thunder Fire Art was not defeating Xiao Chen but building up some hype for the Outstanding Talent Summit Meeting that would take place in one month.

To Xia Yang, Xiao Chen was just an appetizer, a trivial matter. He could get revenge on Xiao Chen for kicking his younger brother, and at the same time, he could spread his fame.

When seeing this scene, Liu Yun smiled and said to Ba Tu, “You’d better prepare the two hundred Essence Stones. Haha! If you are unable to take them out, don’t blame me for making you look bad in public for doing something embarrassing.”

Ba Tu’s face sank slightly, and rage built in his heart. However, when he saw that Xia Yang obtained nine points, he felt utterly helpless.

In reality, he did not have two hundred Essence Stones. He only unconditionally believed in Xiao Chen. That was why he dared to wager such a large amount.

Ba Tu wanted to return all the frustration that Liu Yun had caused him all this time. Unexpectedly, Xia Yang obtained nine points in the first test.

If Xia Yang managed to maintain his momentum, his total points would be sufficient to get him into the top twenty on the ranking.

“Don’t be too happy so early. This is just the first test. There are still three more to go, testing Movement Technique, vision, and practical combat. There will be plenty of opportunities to turn the situation around,” Ba Tu argued, but his tone lacked confidence.

When Liu Yun heard this, he laughed in disdain, “Still so stubborn with your words? Just continue struggling. When we reach the last test, let’s see what you have to say then.”

Everyone’s gaze focused on Xiao Chen. They wanted to see the white-robed bladesman in despair after Xia Yang obtained nine points.

However, to everyone’s disappointment, the expected shock and despair did not appear on Xiao Chen. His delicate face still looked calm.

Xiao Chen stepped forward and touched the metal puppet. The places he touched were the vital points of the metal puppet: the chest, the throat, the forehead, and others.

This action surprised everyone. What was Xiao Chen doing? Could it be that he was overestimating himself and wanted to attack the vital points of the metal puppet?

If one succeeded in penetrating the reinforced defense of the vital points, one would be able to obtain high points. However, if one failed, the result would be fewer points than what one’s strength merited. This was very risky.

Of the people who challenged the vital points, hardly anyone managed to obtain high points. Most of them did not even light up any purple gems.

Liu Yun smiled and said, “This fellow has gone crazy thinking of winning.”

After glancing at the sluggish Ba Tu, Liu Yun added, “He is indeed someone you brought; his way of thinking is truly different from others’. However, he does not know that he is just a big joke.”

Ba Tu could not help retorting, “If you can get high points by attacking the vital points, my brother can as well!”

Liu Yun said with a conceited smile, “Do you think everyone is a descendant of Ku Yejian? Even if your first brother came over, he would not be able to obtain a high score by attacking the vital points. This is something that only a peak swordsman can do. You idiots don’t understand anything.”

Many people present agreed with Liu Yun. Unless one was a peak swordsman, able to focus the attack on one point, it would be tough to break through the reinforced defense.

Although the attacks of a bladesman were tyrannical, holding the advantage in chopping and hacking, they did not focus on a single point.

In history, there had never been a bladesman that obtained a high score by attacking the vital points.

When everyone saw that Xiao Chen wanted to obtain victory by attacking a vital point, they all shook their heads, their eyes filled with disdain. They thought that this white-robed bladesman overestimated himself.

Xiao Chen stepped back and asked that city affairs office elder, “Can I use a saber?” He felt confident.

That elder smiled and said, “Naturally, you can. If a bladesman does not use a saber, how can he bring out his greatest strength? However, let me give you some advice. In the history of Dark City, no bladesman has ever passed by attacking the vital points and obtaining a high score.”

Xiao Chen smiled back and said, “There will be soon.”

When the elder heard that, he could not help a weak laugh. However, his expression did not change much. It was understandable that youths were arrogant. He had seen too many of such people in his lifetime and would no longer kick up a fuss over such matters.

“What arrogance! Let me see what a joke you will make of yourself!” Unable to bear Xiao Chen’s indifferent attitude, Xia Yang mocked him.

“Whoosh!”

Just after Xia Yang spoke, everyone in the large hall saw a bright flash of saber light. The saber light was so bright that all the onlookers could not help closing their eyes.

As the saber light flashed, a wind blew as well. This wind gently blew aside everyone’s fringe.

All this happened in a mere blink of an eye. Earlier, everyone saw that Xiao Chen’s hand was empty. Now, his posture was that of having already sheathed his saber and slowly returning his Lunar Shadow Saber into his embrace.

Has he drawn his saber?

This saber strike was too fast; it even gave the impression of being just a flash, a complete blur.

Naturally, the saber had been drawn!

Although few, there were those who had seen Xiao Chen draw his saber, like Liu Yun, the elder, and Xia Yang, who was standing beside Xiao Chen.

When Xia Yang saw that the stele did not light up, he could not help bursting out in laughter. “That’s right. That’s indeed a good pose. Unfortunately, not a single gem lit up. You will probably become the greatest joke of Dark City!”

Everyone released their bated breath. Xiao Chen’s earlier saber strike was incredibly fast, startling them.

However, after hearing Xia Yang’s words, they realized that this was a great joke. It was just superficial speed; not a single gem lit up.

Although this was somewhat surprising, it was rather typical. This had happened with several people who attempted to gain a high score with this method.

However, Xiao Chen behaved so mysteriously earlier, acting like an expert. In the end, this was still the outcome. This was indeed a joke.

“That’s not right!” Liu Yun, who had initially been smiling, suddenly frowned. He had discovered that something was wrong.

The elder by the stele also showed a grave expression, which appeared extremely strange.

With a sharp, snapping sound, a crack appeared on the neck of the metal puppet. A resplendent saber light shot out from that crack, looking as dazzling as the sun.

“Ka ca!” Before everyone’s incredulous gaze, the metal puppet’s head fell off.

The instant the metal puppet’s head fell off, a boundless saber wind surged out from the neck. A strong saber intent buzzed together with the wind, ranging through the large hall, moving to every corner.

The strong and horrifying saber intent startled everyone and made their hearts pound.

The wind kept blowing and blowing, not stopping for a long time. It slowly hushed the noisy hall. Only this buzzing saber wind remained.

Such a scene drew several of the city affairs office’s elders out from the shadows. When they saw the headless metal puppet, the sight astounded them.

Someone actually chopped off the head of the metal testing puppet that had stood in this hall for more than a thousand years.

The neck of the metal puppet had been specially reinforced. Cultivators under the age of fifty would definitely be unable to chop it off.

However, right now, such an incredible scene had happened in front of everyone.

The elder by the stele blinked and sighed. Unexpectedly, he made such a misjudgment. He smiled bitterly and said, “Little Friend, please make the saber wind stop.”

“There is no need. Let this wind continue blowing. I want a certain person to remember how I defeated him!”

Amid the boundless strong wind, Xiao Chen cradled his Lunar Shadow Saber and glanced indifferently at Xia Yang, whose mouth gaped wide.

Let the wind continue blowing so that some people would know how I defeated him!

These words sounded very insipid with no significance at all. However, they were like a heavy slap on Xia Yang, resounding loudly.

Everyone remembered Xia Yang’s cocky expression after he obtained nine points and how he arrogantly demanded, ”How are you going to defeat me?”

Right now, Xiao Chen used his actions to prove himself, to answer Xia Yang’s question. The victory was beautiful and simple. The wind underlined Xia Yang’s embarrassment.

“For this test, we, the staff of the city affairs office, have discussed the earlier result. Although the gems did not light up, this youth displayed strength without a doubt. We give him ten points for this test!”

The wind slowly subsided. To everyone’s surprise, Xiao Chen, who chopped off the metal puppet’s head, obtained the rarely seen full points.

Xiao Chen firmly surpassed Xia Yang, coming out ahead of him.

After hearing the city affairs office’s judgment, Ba Tu could not help laughing, “Sorry, Young Master Liu. My brother made a joke of himself. Unfortunately, you are not even comparable to a joke. I remember that when you passed this test, you also got only nine points.”

Liu Yun was extremely frustrated. Unexpectedly, Xiao Chen had turned the tables in such a decisive fashion.

Xiao Chen turned things around in a situation where everyone believed that he would lose.

“Don’t get cocky. There are still three more stages to go. Victory is not decided yet!” Liu Yun said coldly.

Ba Tu rubbed his chin and countered with a smile, “These words seem very familiar. Oh, right, didn’t I say them just now? Haha! Brother Liu, why are you echoing me?”

Now that the tables had turned and Liu Yun was at a disadvantage, Ba Tu felt incomparably carefree.

It had been many years since Ba Tu saw Liu Yun this frustrated. This large bet was worth it.

“Don’t get cocky. I will not lose to you in the next three tests!” Xia Yang said coldly to Xiao Chen before heading to the next test.

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