Chapter 134: What

Shengzai, cutting through successive tree roots with swift blade flashes, and Tohru Aoi, constantly shifting position, exchanged a glance and quickly realized that if they continued fighting at this pace, defeat was inevitable for them.

No matter how powerful Shengzai’s swordsmanship and Tohru Aoi’s Shushi were, each time they defended against the opponent’s attacks, they consumed massive amounts of stamina and Zhouli .

But for Hanami, within his domain, controlling all the plants here was as easy as breathing.

Moreover, they were already overwhelmed just trying to fend off his attacks—how could they possibly close the distance to strike back?

Shengzai, realizing that if they didn’t change tactics now, they would likely be worn down and killed, swiftly altered his approach.

Previously only defending desperately, he now began advancing with extremely risky maneuvers, disregarding the injuries his body sustained during the charges.

Even at the cost of minor wounds, and despite Shengzai’s exceptional swordsmanship, he could only reduce the distance from fifty meters to ten meters from Hanami.

Within ten meters of Hanami, his control over plants intensified, and his defense became even stronger.

“Ainsworth Sword Art—Throwing Blade!”

For a competent swordsman, the blade in hand is his second life; unless defeated or slain, a swordsman never releases his weapon until his final moment.

Sanrin Kaori, who also excelled in swordsmanship and had previously admired Shengzai’s skill, had always believed this.

But when she saw Shengzai hurl his magical tool longsword from less than ten meters away from Hanami, she was stunned to realize sword art could be used this way.

The thrown longsword, like a swift arrow, surged toward Hanami’s eyes at incredible speed, enveloped in magical energy and tearing through the air.

Yet just as everyone assumed Shengzai’s surprise attack, even if it didn’t kill Hanami, would at least trouble him, Hanami merely grinned slightly as he watched the longsword hurtling toward him.

“Tree Wall!”

The magical tool longsword, wrapped in magical energy and launched with sword art, possessed formidable speed and power; even a Special-Rank sorcerer would be severely injured if struck directly in the head.

But just as the thrown magical tool longsword was about to strike Hanami’s eye, the ground before him suddenly cracked open in a large area.

Soon, massive tree roots, as if alive, twisted and entwined together, forming a wall of roots before Hanami.

“Clang————!”

Though the magical tool Shinyu, coated in magical energy, had considerable penetration and destructive power, when it struck the tree root wall, it emitted a metallic clang.

Although the tree root wall eventually collapsed under the impact of Shinyu’s thrown strike, the delay caused the once lightning-fast longsword to spin and rebound into the air.

Watching the flying longsword, Hanami turned his gaze toward Shengzai’s position and immediately commanded more roots to coil toward him.

To be honest, Shengzai’s decisive act of throwing his longsword had impressed Hanami.

Whether the skill to hurl the blade or the control to coat it in magical energy before throwing—neither was something an ordinary sorcerer could easily accomplish.

Had he not preemptively set up a defensive Shushi around himself just in case, he might have truly been caught off guard.

According to the intelligence provided by Xia Youjie and the mole within the Jujutsu High, among the two branch schools participating in the exchange, wasn’t the only one worth his attention Tohru Aoi?

Then who was this sword-wielding boy? He clearly wasn’t an ordinary fighter, yet there was no record of him in the intelligence at all.

Although Tokyo Branch and Kyoto Branch had many students, Hanami had never worried from the start.

Even Tohru Aoi, who had once exterminated a Special-Rank cursed spirit, was nothing special in Hanami’s eyes.

His earlier attack hadn’t even used his full strength, because his original mission was merely to create chaos and draw the attention of the Jujutsu High’s strong fighters.

But now things were different: Xia Youjie and Luhu had clashed with Wu Teng, so to secure sufficient leverage for negotiation, Hanami had finally begun to take this seriously and activated his domain.

With his domain’s power, he had had many opportunities to kill most of those present, yet he chose not to.

Because Luhu and the others said only living hostages had value; Wu Teng’s power was indeed invincible, but while he himself had no weaknesses, that didn’t mean those around him were the same.

Shinyu, still spinning above Hanami’s head, and as Shengzai saw more roots, like tentacles, sweeping toward him, he turned and shouted to the muscular man still dodging nearby: “Tohru Aoi!”

Hearing Shengzai’s shout and seeing his glance, Tohru Aoi—intelligent and battle-hardened—instantly understood his intent.

“Snap————!”

With a sharp clap, Tohru Aoi activated his Shushi “Unjust Game” again, yet his figure remained in place.

Hanami, now realizing what was happening, looked up in shock and saw that Shengzai and his previously thrown longsword had swapped positions.

Shengzai’s original location was now entangled by roots around “Shinyu,” but he himself now appeared above Hanami, plummeting downward at astonishing speed, fist clenched, driving a punch straight at him.

The earlier dazzling throwing technique had merely been a feint—the real killing blow came from Shengzai himself!

Not only was the opponent powerful, but his mind moved so quickly—he’d constructed this two-stage attack using himself and Tohru Aoi’s Shushi in mere moments!

Watching Shengzai’s fist hurtling toward him, Hanami’s expression showed surprise, and his evaluation of Shengzai rose again.

Though surprised by Shengzai’s tactic, Hanami wasn’t alarmed; from Shengzai’s previous fighting style, he was clearly a sorcerer skilled with blades.

To activate “Unjust Game,” he had now become unarmed—and facing a bare-handed sword master, should a Special-Rank cursed spirit be afraid?

What was there to fear from a sword master’s fists? With this thought, Hanami clenched his own fist and punched back at Shengzai!

(End of Chapter)