Chapter 121: Sparring

Besides Chengjiang Hong, the gazes of Seeing Pei Ye and Zhang Junxue also fell on the porcelain bottle.

Seeing Pei Ye had never heard of the great name of the "Ascension Pill," but the phrase "all family assets" had long ago piqued his interest. Not to mention the old man's later words about "urging the meridian tree to branch."

——Isn't his biggest shortcoming right now his cultivation?

"Can I consume this kind of pill?" Seeing Pei Ye cast a thought into the Chiying in his belly.

"Other meridian trees can use it, Ice Dew can naturally use it too."

"Oh right, it just can only absorb Heaven and Earth Profound Qi before hatching—how much effect can this pill have?"

"That person wants to use it to rise from four to five, so let's estimate, it should be enough to let you step into the Third Life Realm in one go and still have some left over."

"Tsk!" Seeing Pei Ye took a bite of the steamed bun.

Zhang Junxue was still sullen, only her gaze had moved from the floor to the porcelain bottle.

No one spoke for a while, and in the end, it was Chengjiang Hong who broke the silence, cupped his hands and said: "Cheng is willing to ask for advice from the two, I don't know what the two think?"

And then he looked at the two with bated breath.

Zhang Junxue nodded.

Seeing Pei Ye was not coy either, cupped his hands and agreed.

Chengjiang Hong breathed a sigh of relief, smiled, and said: "Sister Zhang and I are both in the Fourth Life Realm, little brother, what is your cultivation?"

"I, First Life Realm."

"... Hm, the younger generation is formidable," Chengjiang Hong laughed.

Seeing Pei Ye noticed that his emotions were much higher than just now. Faced with the sparring in front of him, his relaxation was more than his trepidation; it seemed he indeed believed as the old man said, that he was more formidable than Zhang Junxue—at least he should think so himself.

"Then, there is a wasteland behind the inn, let's go over there."

"Okay."

"Add one sentence," the old man suddenly said, "This comparison must be done with all your strength, no hiding. There is no fifth pair of eyes here, just use whatever profound martial arts you have; as long as the moves are brilliant enough, even if you lose, there will be an Ascension Pill; but if you intentionally hide, even if you win, I will take back the pill."

The three nodded.

The woman stood up first, lifted a weapon from the ground, and a coarse iron sound scraped across the floor.

Seeing Pei Ye was thinking about the "saber technique" mentioned earlier, and was wondering why such a heavy and sharp weapon wasn't sheathed but dragged on the ground, when he saw that weapon being carried on her shoulder.

A large guillotine saber!

A thick, heavy, and large, solid large saber.

Seeing Pei Ye widened his eyes and opened his mouth slightly, turning his head to look at the man. Fortunately, the man didn't take out any surprising weapons; it was just a simple iron sword, but the hilt was thicker than an ordinary sword, as if to adapt to his broad palms.

The two walked toward the door one after the other.

Seeing Pei Ye put down the steamed bun into the vegetable bowl, stood up with it, and followed behind.

The old man walked behind him with his crutch "thump, thump."

The four left the inn, passed two vegetable plots, and this wasteland was larger than Seeing Pei Ye had imagined.

When Seeing Pei Ye stood still on the sidelines, Zhang Junxue and Chengjiang Hong were already standing in the field, one on the left and one on the right. Strictly speaking, Seeing Pei Ye should have gone first, so as not to let the two strong ones fight first and let the weakest pick up the bargain in the end.

But either out of generosity or confidence, neither of them cared about this point.

Both sides cupped their hands; Zhang Junxue placed the heavy saber on the ground, while Chengjiang Hong drew his sword slowly, holding the scabbard in his hand—Seeing Pei Ye noticed that the scabbard was also made of iron.

Fluctuations like fine water and light wind spread from their palms to their respective sabers and swords.

True Qi.

Seeing Pei Ye didn't lower his head to take a bite of cabbage, watching the field intently.

This was the first obvious disadvantage he had encountered when facing an enemy above the Fourth Life Realm—True Qi leaving the body.

Below the Third Life Realm, True Qi can only circulate within the body; from the Fourth Life Realm, it can be transmitted through contact, and only after the Seventh Life Realm can it leave the body out of thin air, completing many incredible operations like flying across the air.

In front of him, Chengjiang Hong had already rushed up.

As soon as the sword move came out, Seeing Pei Ye stopped chewing—what a steady sword! What a righteous sword!

Clumsy Realm.

This big brother who was eager for the Ascension Pill and loved to talk and laugh had at least been pondering in the first sword realm for more than three years.

Not greedy for the first opportunity, but also not revealing any flaws; such a steady and righteous start was exactly "sword like the person," and the first sword was only to weigh the opponent's level.

Zhang Junxue had no expression of being surprised, still like a wooden stake; she raised her hand.

"Hm!" Seeing Pei Ye gave a muffled surprise while holding food.

Anyone who saw this combination of broad shoulders and a large saber would subconsciously think she was a heavy saber user of great opening and closing; who would have thought that this saber in her hand was like the thin blade of a barber, drawing a floating curve in the air to pick at Chengjiang Hong's wrist.

Almost like a butterfly flying.

In ordinary fighting, this kind of unexpected contrast often gains the upper hand, but at this moment, Chengjiang Hong's steady sword path played a role—although he didn't expect the girl's saber wind to be light and fast, he also didn't use his preconceived impression in actual combat. He didn't intend to take advantage of her heavy saber, so naturally, he wouldn't suffer from her light saber.

Chengjiang Hong retreated his wrist and met this saber with the root of his sword.

This was the first clash between saber and sword, and also the birthplace of the first share of opportunity; both their True Qi surged toward this place, without the slightest concession.

A high-pitched, clear sound of metal clashing, and it was Zhang Junxue's saber that was knocked back further.

Chengjiang Hong immediately seized this trace of advantage, straightened his arm, and a silver light flashed under the bright moon in an instant.

Seeing Pei Ye's eyes lit up; he didn't recognize this sword, but it didn't prevent him from appreciating it. As soon as this sword came out, he keenly felt that the intensity of the battle was about to rise to a higher level.

Sure enough, Zhang Junxue's body suddenly tightened into a thick and tough cowhide, and with her whole body as a rope, she "swung" the large saber toward Chengjiang Hong's waist.

Dust and leaves flew into a semicircle around her body.

Waist-Slicing Saber, Waist-Slicing Saber; the saber is wide and long, the waist is in the middle and hard to move, and the large saber slicing the waist is inherently the most difficult attack to dodge.

Zhang Junxue took the initiative to use her broad shoulders to "block" the sword blade, while her offensive moves went forward without hesitation.

Chengjiang Hong had three choices at this time: crouch to dodge, jump to dodge, or retract the sword to block.

Crouching would inevitably lead to being suppressed in stance, and the moves he could change to afterward would inevitably be limited; jumping would make him a target, and the next attack would definitely be more fierce. The best choice was still to retract the sword to block; although he would lose the advantage gained in the first round, there would still be a chance to regain it in this clash.

However, Chengjiang Hong didn't choose any of them; he actually reached out to grab this saber that was like wind and thunder!

In an instant, thick True Qi like solidified white jade covered this left hand.

A huge and crisp, chime-like sound echoed in the fields; Chengjiang Hong was shocked back a step, and the "white jade" condensed on his hand shattered inch by inch, but after these True Qi dissipated, the exposed broad palm showed prominent tendons and bones, dead-gripping the blade.

Although it was only a hair's breadth, it was indeed gripped.

And his right-hand sword was able to stick to Zhang Junxue's shoulder without obstruction.

It was truly sticking—he could have pierced through it, but in the end, he just patted it lightly.

The winner was decided.

Zhang Junxue retracted her saber and retreated, cupped her hands and bowed; Chengjiang Hong laughed and returned the salute.

The mouthful of vegetables Seeing Pei Ye had just put into his mouth hadn't been chewed yet.

If it were a real life-and-death struggle, this battle could naturally have been fought for a long time, and Zhang Junxue must have had more fierce sabers that she didn't have time to use, and the final winner wouldn't necessarily be Chengjiang Hong.

——Actually, if this sword had really pierced through her shoulder, her saber would have erupted with a more violent second slash. But the opponent stopped at the right moment, so she was willing to admit defeat. After all, as far as sparring was concerned, both had shown their true strength without reservation, and the high and low were already clear.

Watching Zhang Junxue walk off the field, Chengjiang Hong turned to Seeing Pei Ye and laughed: "Little brother, do you want to try? Just spar two moves at will."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 122 =====

(End of Chapter)