Chapter 192

Beside him stood a handsome boy of about ten-plus years, his face full of shrewd playfulness, looking utterly nonchalant and irreverent.

At such an age, he naturally could not be Yan Nan Tian.

Then… these two must be Yan Nan Tian's sword page and sword attendant or the like.

Some bigwigs of the jianghu are most particular about pomp; some are constantly surrounded by a great crowd of people, and whenever they meet anyone or face any matter, they first shout and holler, making sure everyone knows a great master has arrived.

This is nothing strange.

Although he had never heard that Yan Nan Tian had this quirk, after so many years, who knows whether his tastes might have changed?

So the crowd all turned to look in the direction from which the two had come.

Unfortunately, what met their eyes was not a single person who looked like the "Wedding Garment Divine Sword."

Xie Xiaofeng's gaze swept over the two, and he said calmly, "Where is Yan Nan Tian?"

The elegant Young Master did not speak; the handsome boy laughed and said, "To deal with a mere junior like you, there's no need for my Master to come in person!"

What? Yan Nan Tian didn't come?

Hearing this, the watching crowd was greatly disappointed.

But if Yan Nan Tian had not arrived, and they had still come to keep the appointment, then who would fight?

As if by unspoken agreement, everyone's gaze—including Xie Xiaofeng's—locked onto that elegant Young Master.

The elegant Young Master offered a salute and said, "I am Jiang Wuque; this is my younger brother Jiang Xiaoyu. I have come this time especially to fulfill my Master's appointment on his behalf."

Jiang Wuque?

Hearing this name, everyone found it unfamiliar.

Clearly, compared with Xie Xiaofeng's fame, Jiang Wuque fell far short.

Still, since this man was Yan Nan Tian's top disciple and had been permitted to come fight in his master's place, he surely was no mediocre hand.

His previous lack of fame might be because his training was not yet complete, and he had only now begun to roam the jianghu.

Therefore, although Jiang Wuque was an unknown, no one harbored any underestimation of him.

Of course, the vast majority still did not think well of his chances—that went without saying.

After all, a man's name and a tree's shadow—Xie Xiaofeng's mighty reputation had been carved out step by step through killing; it was nothing a greenhorn just out of the nest could compare to.

Nearly everyone thought Xie Xiaofeng had the win in the bag, and Xie Xiaofeng himself thought so as well.

He had absolute confidence in himself.

But confidence was confidence; he did not let down his guard in the slightest.

Never underestimating anyone, and always giving his all against an enemy—this was the principle he had kept firmly in mind since his very debut.

Having confirmed today's opponent, without any superfluous words, Xie Xiaofeng raised his sword before him and said lightly, "Please."

"Brother, take him out! Teach him how to be a proper person in his next life!" Jiang Xiaoyu handed over the long sword, his face full of killing intent.

Hearing this, Jiang Wuque seemed to think of something, and the warmth in his eyes chilled.

He took the long sword and handed the folding fan in his hand to Jiang Xiaoyu.

Nodding to Jiang Xiaoyu, Jiang Wuque stepped forward slowly and said, "In this battle between you and me, we shall both determine who is superior and decide life and death."

Xie Xiaofeng's face was expressionless as he said coldly, "Beneath my sword, mercy has never been shown."

"Shring—"

Two rapid yet drawn-out sword-chimes rang out at the same time; the "Nine Songs Sword" and the "Cold Snow Sword" leapt from their scabbards together.

At the same instant, two mighty sword-intents burst forth from within Xie Xiaofeng and Jiang Wuque.

In an instant, both men's forms grew blurred, as if they were no longer flesh and blood but condensed from layer upon layer of sword Qi.

A flash of blazing white, dazzling sword-light—and the two men with their two swords, like two bolts of lightning, cut across the crowd's line of sight and crashed violently together!

Sword-intents ran rampant, sword Qi flew freely; the sunlight reflected from the gleaming blades fell across the onlookers' faces, now bright, now dim.

Just like the expressions on those discerning ones' faces at this moment.

Grand Master Ninth Layer!

Jiang Wuque's cultivation had, shockingly, already reached the absolute peak of Grand Master—two layers higher than Xie Xiaofeng!

This truly knocked a whole row of jaws to the floor.

No one had underestimated Jiang Wuque; everyone knew he must be very strong, yet no one had expected him to be this absurdly strong!

How on earth did this kid cultivate? Barely in his twenties, and only one step away from Heavenly Being!

To walk ahead of Xie Xiaofeng—could his talent be even more terrifying than Xie Xiaofeng's and Yan Nan Tian's back in the day?

Thinking of this, the crowd could not help but feel their hearts stirred.

Jiang Sishui and Qin Keqing had long since arrived and were watching the battle from the side.

"Jiang Wuque? Jiang Xiaoyu? Yan Nan Tian's disciples? Must be those two brothers, but there's quite an age gap between them."

Jiang Sishui's face showed thought, and then his gaze settled on Jiang Wuque.

"Grand Master Ninth Layer… what's going on?"

Compared with the others who knew nothing about Jiang Wuque, the astonishment in his heart was even greater.

Xie Xiaofeng and Jiang Wuque were the same age, yet the latter's cultivation was higher—how could that be possible?

As for saying Jiang Wuque's talent surpassed that of the "Sword Emperor" Xie Xiaofeng, he did not quite believe it.

"Mm? Something's off!"

"Jiang Wuque's realm is profound, his true Qi is vast and powerful, yet the strength of his sword-intent is, on the contrary, no match for Xie Xiaofeng's."

"This feeling…"

Jiang Sishui suddenly thought of Wu Ya Zi.

"Transmit skills…"

Jiang Sishui murmured, and a flash of inspiration struck his mind; he looked again at Jiang Wuque's true Qi.

The utmost yang, the utmost hardness, overbearing like flame…

"Bridal Dress Divine Art!" Jiang Sishui's eyes lit up.

Bitterly I regret, year after year, pressing out golden thread, only to make bridal robes for another.

Perhaps only this can explain why Jiang Wuque's realm is so extraordinarily high.

This guy's just like me—he hacked himself a maxed-out account!

"Cling-cling-cling—"

Like a fierce wind and torrential rain lashing plantain leaves, sparks flew within the layered sword-curtain as the Nine Songs Sword and the Hanxue Sword clashed no less than a hundred times.

Suddenly, a pale-gold sword-edge over three feet long shot from the sword-tip, enveloping the entire blade.

A seven-foot edge swept sideways and hacked downward—going from light as a feather, shifting through myriad forms, to broad and forceful strokes that shattered technique with sheer power—directly forcing Jiang Wuque back.

Right after, Xie Xiaofeng swung his sword, lifting it upward from below!

The sword-edge split open the earth; boundless sword-qi, laden with thick waves of soil, exploded violently, bearing the force of a thousand jun, cleaving straight at Jiang Wuque.

At this moment, sword-intent filled the heavens.

Not only did sword-qi drift through every inch of air, but even every grain of sand and earth shooting toward Jiang Wuque grew sharp as arrows, blanketing the sky and earth as they pounced straight at him.

Jiang Wuque likewise sent a long edge from his sword; with a casual sweep, he broke through Xie Xiaofeng's sword-force.

Then, his whole body began to spin like a top.

In an instant, it seemed as though a thousand long-swords were swinging at once from every direction, sweeping away all the sand and gravel clinging to sword-qi.

Before he could even catch his breath, sword-light flared ahead; the pale-gold sword-edge, bearing an oppressive pressure, came pouring down like a waterfall, engulfing him.

Jiang Wuque did not change his move either; he simply kept spinning, like a water-divider cleaving straight up through the waves—unstoppable.

Xie Xiaofeng's gaze flashed; his body, agile as a dragon, leapt into the air. The Nine Songs Sword swept forward, and a curtain of sword-water fell from above, dazzling as a rainbow, so brilliant it made one unable to keep one's eyes open.

That sword was incomparably fierce, yet Jiang Wuque did not retreat a single step.

He was seen to move his body—and his speed exploded!

The next instant, with Xie Xiaofeng at the center, dozens of "Jiang Wuques" appeared all around.

213 Perish Together? The Four Ghosts of Xiangxi and Grandson Xie Wangsun

The sword-waterfall swept past, and over a dozen "Jiang Wuque" figures crumbled—only to coalesce once more in the next instant.

Right after, dozens of "Jiang Wuques" began circling around Xie Xiaofeng.

The sword followed the body; in the eyes of onlookers, Xie Xiaofeng seemed to have fallen into a barrel of whirling blades.

Moreover, this "barrel of whirling blades" was still steadily shrinking.

"What exquisite Lightness Skill—even more formidable than 'Lingbo Weixu.' Could it be a Holy Scripture?" Jiang Sishui mused.

From the look of it, Jiang Wuque must have his own opportunity.

In front, behind, left, and right—all were connected silhouettes of Jiang Wuque. Xie Xiaofeng held his sword upright before him, his fierce gaze sweeping across.