Chapter 34: Striving to Be First

Feng Yi's Divine Illumination Skill was indeed profound and unmatched, its power incomparable, yet when he channeled it into his sleeves, although it had the ability to cover a wide area, it could only restrain Shui Dai's exquisite sword techniques.

Although Shui Dai's internal strength was not as great as Feng Yi's, it was still very formidable, and with his long sword infused with internal strength, attacking a single point was like how, although an elephant's strength is immense, a woman or child could still pierce its skin with a tiny embroidery needle—same principle.

With this move, Feng Yi found himself at a disadvantage.

At that moment, it was truly said that when words are slow, actions are fast: Shui Dai pierced through Feng Yi's sleeve, a mass of azure sword light, vast and boundless, chilling air spreading everywhere, momentum endless, unceasing, surging forth like a rushing torrent.

Hua Tiegan was also a master; seeing this situation, he was about to follow up with a move, but Lu Tian Shu grabbed him, Hua Tiegan was greatly startled, yet he quickly realized.

With the reputation of the Southern Four Oddities in the martial world, how could they possibly fight two against one?

Feng Yi lost the initiative, and seeing Shui Dai's sword shadows closing in, Hua Tiegan actually had the intention to join the attack; he leaned back to evade the sword, and with a tap of his foot, he fled like an arrow released from a bow, retreating more than ten feet away.

Suddenly, the silver light vanished, and heaven and earth became clear.

Shui Dai immediately retracted his sword and leapt back; he merely wanted to stop Feng Yi and Hua Tiegan from fighting, not to engage in a two-on-one.

The two advanced and retreated rapidly, so fast that Shui Sheng and the others felt both tense and exhilarated.

Lu Tian Shu, Hua Tiegan, and Liu Chengfeng were utterly stunned, their spirits shaken.

Their martial arts far surpassed that of Shui Sheng and the others; naturally they saw that Shui Dai's move was as swift as lightning, as fierce as thunder, yet such exquisite swordsmanship was nearly broken by Feng Yi's single sleeve.

Although Shui Dai forced Feng Yi back and gained the upper hand, it was not glorious; they knew deep down that although it appeared to be a one-on-one, it was actually a two-on-one.

Because Shui Dai's sword strike came at just the right moment, exploiting the opening when Feng Yi attacked Hua Tiegan, yet even so, he could not injure him in the slightest. This alone made Lu Tian Shu and the others believe that Feng Yi's bare-handed block of the Cold Moon Sword was not a slight against the Southern Four Oddities.

They also realized that their three-on-one had finally allowed the renowned "Southern Four Oddities" to encounter a truly formidable opponent.

Perhaps they should now be called the "Hard Four Oddities".

As for the others, they thought Shui Dai's sword technique was exquisite and pleasing to watch, while Feng Yi's strike could kill with a grab and block a sword with a sleeve flick, which seemed like sorcery rather than martial arts.

Feng Yi examined the sword mark on his sleeve, his face as still as water.

After mastering the Divine Illumination Classic, Ding Dian had said that in single combat it was enough to dominate the martial world, but when facing many with few, one's strength still fell short; today he finally understood.

In martial arts theory, no matter how high one's skill, the moment of attack is also when one's own flaws and weaknesses are exposed; if the opponent is a master, they can find gaps and exploit them.

If it were single combat, when one attacks, the speed is fast and the opponent struggles to block, so one's own flaws need not be guarded.

But when the opponent attacks in concert—for example, when I attack Hua Tiegan, Shui Dai can target my flaws and surround me.

This is the principle of mutual generation and mutual restriction.

After all, Shui Dai and Hua Tiegan are both top-tier masters of the present age; when I deal with Hua Tiegan, Shui Dai can instantly strike my weak point, forcing me to hastily change my move to defend, and although I did not expect him to suddenly strike despite his status, this move put me at a disadvantage.

But this is only two people; what if three or four joined forces to attack together?

Even if I had preparations and could withstand three attacks, the remaining one's technique landing on me would mean either death or injury. Feng Yi thought of this, and cold sweat instantly broke out—no wonder in the original plot Ding Dian, when facing the five top experts of the Blood Blade Sect, his first thought was to launch a sneak attack.

Before, he had not taken it seriously, thinking Ding Dian was making a fuss over nothing.

But now he understood: when several people attack together, the threat is enormous; they could encircle him from five sides, attacking from different directions; even if Ding Dian could instantly kill one or two, the others' weapons and fists would inevitably miss some targets, and as long as he was injured, the opponent would surely take advantage of his sickness to take his life.

Is this a victory or a defeat? This style of fighting seems like exchanging lives for lives, too costly! Feng Yi's Divine Illumination Skill had reached perfection, and only now did he truly encounter a formidable opponent in martial arts; just Shui Dai's single sword made him realize this immediately.

If I, alone, wished to defeat four people working together, I would have to be faster than them by one move.

I would need to be able to, when I attack someone, also defend myself calmly when they attack me, and then again find gaps and exploit them.

It would be like Dongfang Bubai facing the siege of Linghu Chong, Ren Wo Xing, and Xiang Wentian.

Otherwise, this is a situation with no chance of victory, only defeat.

But being faster by one move, though it sounds simple, is actually very difficult!

In the martial arts world, speed breaks all; it has never been mere talk.

After all, if I were faster than them by one move, I could kill one in single combat; faster by two or three moves, the four would have no ability to resist at all!

Then how should I proceed to further increase my speed?

Having mastered the Divine Illumination Skill, my internal strength is deep and unmatched in the world; increasing its purity further would not yield a qualitative leap! Perhaps I should rely on weapons to compensate for my shortcomings? Everyone saw him staring fixedly at his own sleeve, alternating between worry and joy, not knowing what he was thinking; the Southern Four Oddities exchanged glances, full of bewilderment.

Shui Sheng had been watching him from the side; seeing him stare intently at his own sleeve, sweat on his forehead, she thought: "Just because his father tore his sleeve, he becomes timid and dispirited—still a master? Hmph, I think even I am not as good as him!"

Feng Yi's mind was sharp; with a turn of thought he understood everything, immediately made a decision, flicked his sleeve and laughed loudly: "People say Hero Hua's spear technique is divine and unfathomable, yet his Iron Cloth Shirt skill is also perfected. With these three shields protecting him thoroughly, heh, calling him Old Hero Hua is truly deserved! But I wonder, one day without these three shields, will he still be Old Hero Hua?

Let's all four attack together; let me have a satisfying fight!"

These words were sharp and cutting, not only mocking Hua Tiegan but also laying bare the reason he became a petty villain in the original plot.

The faces of the Southern Four Oddities changed slightly; they ignored Feng Yi's teasing of Hua Tiegan, thinking he was merely dissatisfied with the two-on-one.

After all, no matter how high Feng Yi's martial arts, there is no reason he could overcome four people joining forces.

Although they each dominated Jiangnan, were invincible sideways, and in single combat their opponents were honored to face them, how could they bully the few with the many? If four of them teamed up to attack a junior, a lifetime of fame would be ruined! Even if they won, they would be as good as dead, for the spit of the martial world would drown them! Now Hua Tiegan is a celebrated hero, with his three brothers beside him; no matter how strong the enemy, they would look down on him with contempt—how could they bear it? His face darkened like clouds, he said coldly: "Good, Feng Young Hero, your ambition is truly unmatched in the world, but in this world there has never been anyone who let my four brothers join forces to attack, and you are not among them! Let me, Hua, receive your instruction again!" Having said that, he straightened his body to move forward.

Feng Yi was certain they would not all four attack together; he was merely provoking him to come out, but little did he know that Shui Dai placed his long sword horizontally, blocking his way and saying: "Hua Second Brother, wait!"

Turning to Feng Yi, he spoke slowly: "Attacking the many with the few, using poison and sneak attacks, is the way to deal with great villains and evils; facing someone like you, whose chivalry is hidden deep within, my brothers, even if we are not virtuous, would not do such a thing!

The reason Shui earlier made a move was because we had a prior agreement; how could you fight with my second brother?"

His words were filled with righteous vigor.

Feng Yi had not yet spoken when Shui Dai flicked his finger against the long sword in his hand, as if a dragon's roar, and he said loudly: "Old Master Mei is a towering hero of the age; I have always wanted to use this Cold Moon Sword to test his Linked City Sword Technique, never expecting that he old man has sealed his sword and retreated to nurture his remaining years.

Hearing the news, it turned out to be tragic news; I am deeply grieved.

Fortunately, the immortal has wandered away, but his divine skill remains; to be able to receive Feng Young Hero's instruction again in the Divine Illumination Skill is also a blessing for me in my old age—please proceed!"

(End of Chapter)