Chapter 77: The Swordless Take

Yan Zhai, sprinting at full speed, moved like a swift leopard, crossing ten meters in an instant and lunging before Luo Quan, his right hand gripping the hilt and snapping upward in a perfect Iaijutsu of the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū!

The Japanese Sword Saint’s speed was indeed beyond human capability; Yan Zhai had truly meant what he said—no mercy, no hesitation, striking instantly with a technique meant to decide victory in a single blow!

Yan Zhai targeted Luo Quan’s right shoulder; if it landed, she would be knocked to the ground in an instant.

Most people could not react effectively in such a short time, but Luo Quan’s swordsmanship had already reached the level of Menkyo Kaiden in the Hokushin Ittō-ryū—qualified to open her own dojo!

In the midst of this intense battle, Luo Quan’s mind remained hyper-focused; the moment Yan Zhai’s shoulder lifted, she sensed it instantly and swung her blade in response.

A sharp crack echoed as the two bamboo swords met, one above the other; Luo Quan was thrown back three steps by the force, while Yan Zhai’s expression showed surprise.

The Yagyū family’s Iaijutsu was famed for its divine speed; even seasoned swordsmen could barely dodge it, let alone stand their ground and counter!

Yet this girl didn’t dodge—she blocked it outright with her blade!

What stunned Yan Zhai further was that her bamboo sword wasn’t held horizontally to block his main blade; the edges of both blades nearly aligned perfectly in a single line! Had it been any other way, the sheer upward force of his Iaijutsu would have shattered her bamboo sword from her grip!

The girl’s precision and swordsmanship far exceeded Yan Zhai’s expectations, and he now began to believe she truly wielded the legendary Hokushin Ittō-ryū.

Ancient texts recorded that the Hokushin Ittō-ryū was famed for its precise, fluid technique—whether bamboo or iron, even the thin, nail-like edge of a blade could be blocked in precisely this manner!

To further test his theory, Yan Zhai abandoned Iaijutsu and closed in, engaging Luo Quan in direct swordplay.

Yan Zhai’s strikes were broad and forceful—horizontal cuts, downward slashes, direct thrusts—each motion clean, efficient, devoid of excess, yet powerful, heavy, and swift all at once!

As a Sword Saint, Yan Zhai had perfected not only his school’s secret techniques but also these fundamental moves to absolute mastery; every motion was textbook-perfect, flawless in every detail!

Yet against this suffocating wave of attacks, Luo Quan somehow held her ground.

Every one of Yan Zhai’s swings was blocked by her bamboo sword from angles no human could possibly achieve—this was precision only a machine could possess!

Watching from the side, Yagyū Junko was utterly awestruck; though she disliked training in swordsmanship, she was undeniably gifted, and at nearly eighteen, her skill already surpassed many senior students in the dojo.

But seeing Luo Quan, she finally understood the saying: beyond people, there are greater people; beyond heaven, there is higher heaven. In the entire Yagyū Sword Dojo, no more than two people could match her grandfather in direct swordplay without falling behind!

More terrifying still: she had lived with Luo Quan for three years and had never known her true strength. Had this not happened today, she might never have realized Luo Quan’s swordsmanship was this extraordinary!

Though the duel appeared evenly matched, Luo Quan was, in truth, barely holding on—like a man rowing a boat with bitter wormwood.

Any combat sport drains immense energy and stamina; even professional athletes, after just two or three minutes, are drenched in sweat, gasping for breath.

The average person couldn't even last that long; someone with poor stamina, swinging full force at the air, would be exhausted after forty or fifty punches.

Though the system granted Luo Quan elite swordsmanship, it did not alter her physical constitution; despite regular exercise, she was still a girl—and women are naturally at a disadvantage in combat.

Yan Zhai’s continuous strikes carried extraordinary force; had Hokushin Ittō-ryū not been so precise and uniquely suited to overcoming stronger opponents, Luo Quan would have lost long ago.

But she couldn’t keep this up forever. She had no idea where Yan Zhai drew such stamina—he hadn’t even broken a sweat, while she, on defense, was panting heavily; clearly, this level of exertion was nothing to a Sword Saint.

She had to find a breakthrough! Luo Quan’s mind raced, searching for any detail that might turn the tide.

Whether by divine luck or prolonged use—

After blocking Yan Zhai’s next strike with gritted teeth, she noticed a hairline crack forming on his bamboo sword—right at its center!

Yan Zhai sensed something odd but failed to realize his weapon was damaged; for Luo Quan, this was the perfect opportunity!

After enduring prolonged defense, Luo Quan launched her first offensive charge against Yan Zhai.

Yan Zhai’s expression shifted slightly—he couldn’t fathom why she had suddenly become so bold.

Yet his bamboo sword moved without hesitation, even faster, slashing horizontally toward her.

“Now!” At the instant the blade reached her shoulder, Luo Quan dropped her entire body downward, like a swimmer diving headfirst from the shore.

Her rapid dip sent her golden hair streaming upward, hanging suspended in midair—then the horizontal slash cleaved through the shimmering, lustrous strands.

Having evaded the strike, Luo Quan held her breath, stomped her left foot forward with force, and used the momentum to spin her body upward.

Turn! Slash!

Luo Quan’s desperate counterattack flowed seamlessly—her bamboo sword’s tip struck precisely at the crack in Yan Zhai’s blade!

Crack! Yan Zhai’s bamboo sword split cleanly in two; Luo Quan, lying on the ground, rolled with the spin’s inertia, flipping backward rapidly to escape his range.

Though her final posture was disheveled, she sprang up with a fish-leap, steadied herself, and finally smiled.

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