Chapter 524: Ascending the Steps (Continued)

Lord Uda staggered forward.

His vision was already blurred and unfocused, rising and falling with his steps. The belt wrapped around his waist and abdomen had also loosened slightly, so his tender intestines slipped out through the wound, rubbing against his rough clothing, bringing a bizarre and uncomfortable sensation.

But he couldn't stop.

Having wasted twenty years of time, he had to do what he hadn't done before the very last moment of his death.

Ahead, the middle-aged swordsman sitting cross-legged in the center of the path stood up. He must have been sitting there since early morning, and a thin layer of dew had accumulated on his shoulders, sliding down with his movements and dripping onto the katana resting on his knees.

Clang.

It made a clear ringing sound.

"Why don't you strike?"

The middle-aged swordsman said to Lord Uda, who was staggering toward him.

Lord Uda’s jaw was missing half its length, leaving only his tongue and throat, making it impossible for him to answer the question. But the crowd following behind heard it clearly.

The interjecting swordsman was stunned.

He suddenly realized that he had ignored one point from beginning to end—Lord Uda had walked to this point, defeating two strong enemies in succession, mostly relying on strategy, but had not used any moves.

As a swordsman, when engaged in a life-and-death struggle, why not use the sword moves of his own school?

Conversely, Lord Uda had defeated two [Sword Saints] in succession without even using any moves; his strength must be far stronger than he had anticipated... If he had used his moves normally, he would likely not have been injured like this.

Then why didn't he use his moves!

"Strike, Lord Uda!"

"Strike!"

"It’s already like this... why!"

The crowd was noisy, and several swordsmen shouted at Lord Uda, who couldn't even stand steadily ahead, their expressions anxious. One swordsman even saw that Lord Uda had no reaction, and in his eagerness, he took a step forward.

He stepped out of the crowd.

Clang!

A cold light flashed in the distance.

Splash!

A huge flower of blood suddenly bloomed on the swordsman who had stepped out of the crowd, and he fell to the ground before he could even let out a scream.

Ten zhang away, the middle-aged swordsman seemed never to have moved, just saying flatly.

"Ascending the steps, only one person."

"You can watch, but step out of the crowd, and you die."

The crowd watching the battle retreated suddenly.

The interjecting swordsman also wanted to retreat with the crowd, but as soon as he turned around, he bumped into the old man’s chest with a bang.

He didn't know what the old man’s skin and flesh were made of; it was as cold and hard as a piece of raw iron, catching him off guard and leaving him dizzy, standing in place for a few breaths.

In those few breaths, the crowd had already run to the back, instead revealing him, the old man, and the man and woman.

The middle-aged swordsman’s gaze instantly projected over, encompassing all four. The interjecting swordsman was dizzy, suddenly felt a cold chill sweep across his back, and immediately sobered up, but didn't dare to move at all.

"Oh my."

The woman wearing priestly attire said with a smile.

"Now the breath-restraining and form-hiding method is useless."

"Lord Li, we’ve been exposed."

The black-robed man replied with a smile.

"If Leader Ji is afraid, you can hide behind me."

The woman in priestly attire smiled sweetly.

"That wouldn't be good; I’m afraid Lord Li will turn around and give me an elbow when I’m not prepared. When fighting the Emperor and Anqisheng, that turning elbow smash of yours was hard for even them to take."

"Lord Li’s heart is too ruthless; I wouldn't dare to gamble."

The black-robed man smiled and shook his head, but didn't refute.

A few sentences clearly outlined the dangerous relationship between the two.

Unfortunately, no one present could understand it.

Fortunately, the middle-aged swordsman’s gaze only swept over them, frowned slightly, and then turned back to Lord Uda.

"Strike."

He repeated.

Before the voice fell, a cold light flashed!

It was that slash whose process was completely invisible!

Lord Uda’s figure tilted, as if he had fallen because he couldn't support his injuries, but he had just happened to dodge the slash.

With a thud, he fell to the ground.

After a long while, he slowly climbed up, supporting himself on the ground.

During this process, the middle-aged swordsman didn't strike, but waited until he had fully stood up before saying in a deep voice.

"To be able to dodge my slash in your current state, your strength is far stronger than the two pieces of trash before you... If it were a normal duel, they wouldn't have been able to hurt you."

"Why don't you strike?"