Eternal Saber

Chapter 557 - 163: Spirit Communication

Back then, on the coast of Qingzhou, Chen Tang was being hunted down by two Marshals of the Profound Celestial Sect, Sun Tianlu and Zhou Haijian, as well as a Golden Core Realm Elder Qu.

Though he borrowed the Martial Arts True Intent of the Zen Sect and the Evil Emperor within his Dantian to counterkill Sun Tianlu and Zhou Haijian and severely wound Elder Qu, Eternal nonetheless fell into the sea amid the chaos.

Chen Tang had originally planned to wait until he returned to Beiqian in the future before searching for Eternal again.

After all, this blade meant a great deal to him.

He never expected that today Changsun He would bring it to him!

Chen Tang felt some doubt in his heart, but this was not the time to ask questions.

With Eternal in hand, his chances of victory rose by a few points!

Although this blade had once been damaged and broken, then reforged, it had nonetheless accompanied him through countless battles, slaughtering in all directions, drinking the blood of innumerable powerful foes, and had even beheaded a Flood Dragon.

Between man and blade, there had long been a tacit understanding far beyond the norm.

The instant Chen Tang gripped Eternal, the blade began to tremble lightly, humming and quivering.

Chen Tang could even feel Eternal radiating a joy of reunion after a long separation, excited and stirred.

Everyone noticed Eternal’s abnormal reaction, and could not help letting out soft exclamations, greatly astonished.

Sensing the killing intent in Chen Tang’s heart, Eternal instantly emitted a surge of murderous aura that made hearts palpitate!

Rip—!

The black cloth originally wrapped around Eternal was instantly shredded into fragments by that countless murderous aura, scattering across the ground.

"Hm?"

The Grandmasters on the platform all revealed a trace of surprise at this scene.

"It’s actually become sentient?"

"What a fine blade!"

"Generally speaking, only the personal weapons of Grandmasters or Great Grandmasters have a chance to develop spirit; it seems this blade has quite the origin."

"Even for a Divine Weapon, how much of its power can be brought out still depends on whose hand wields it."

Hall Master Bai, seeing this, smiled slightly and said, "Looks like little brother won’t be needing my saber anymore."

Chen Tang cupped his hands and said, "I still must thank Hall Master Bai."

Then Chen Tang turned his head toward the platform and suddenly raised his voice to ask, "May I ask Manor Master Yun, Gang Leader Jiang, and seniors—when we two cross hands on the Sword Discussion Platform, no one will interfere, correct?"

Yun Yifeng said in a deep voice, "You may rest easy on that point. In the Great Xia Martial World, everything is done by the rules. Even if you hail from Qian Country, once you step onto the Sword Discussion Platform, you can only fight a fair battle—no one is allowed to interfere!"

Chen Tang said with a smile, "With Manor Master Yun’s words, I’m at ease."

"Heh..."

He Shiyao let out a cold laugh and said, "To think you can defeat me just by relying on a good blade—what wishful thinking! Chen Tang, weapons are external things in the end. Back by the river I only used half my Power!"

"Is that so?"

Chen Tang said, "Back by the river I didn’t even use one-tenth of my Power—I just used a single thunderbolt."

He Shiyao’s smile froze; his face darkened, his fists clenched, knuckles cracking audibly.

He had intended to launch a verbal assault, piling on pressure to disturb Chen Tang’s mind.

Unexpectedly, Chen Tang shot back with one line, enraging him so much he nearly lost control and cursed out loud.

By the river that time, he had been blasted into a sorry state by Palm Thunder, seen by who knew how many people; it was truly the greatest humiliation of his life!

"Shiyao, no need to waste words with him. Get on the Sword Discussion Platform and let your moves do the talking!"

Shopkeeper He gave a reminder, hinting that he should not lose his composure.

He Shiyao closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again he had already regained his calm, striding toward the Sword Discussion Platform.

Guo Heng looked at Chen Tang, gave a slight nod, and also stepped onto the Sword Discussion Platform.

"Make your move."

He Shiyao said blandly, "Let me see what the ninth on the Earth Ranking is truly worth."

"Brother He, please instruct me!"

Guo Heng gave a simple salute, then drew his Long Sword, holding it horizontally before his chest in an opening stance, and strode forward in great steps, rapidly closing in on He Shiyao!

He did not use any Body Technique; every step he took landed solidly, producing a series of "ta-ta-ta" sounds.

Moreover, his footsteps grew heavier and heavier!

Guo Heng’s sword was broader and heavier than those of the other disciples of the Ba Mountain Sword Sect.

As Guo Heng drew closer and closer, the aura around him continually climbed!

It seemed that with every additional step he took, his momentum stacked up another layer.

By the time he was almost in front of He Shiyao, Guo Heng’s momentum had nearly reached its peak; man and sword rounded into one, like an indestructible boulder!

Guo Heng chose not to use the Swordsmanship of the Ba Mountain Sword Sect.

The Ba Mountain Sword Sect’s Swordsmanship was mostly offensive in nature.

If he traded blows head-on with He Shiyao, he simply would not last thirty moves.

Only his family’s Swordsmanship, focused mainly on defense, might allow him to endure past thirty moves.

"What a Rock Sword!"

"Man like rock, sword like rock, heart like rock—man, sword, and heart merging as one, solid as rock inside and out; it’s indeed hard to find a flaw."

"Let’s see how many moves it takes Young Master He to break this boulder."

As everyone discussed, they saw He Shiyao suddenly step forward. Without dodging, his Jade Bone Fan drove straight in, tapping heavily on Guo Heng’s sword.

Bang!

The two both channeled Inner Qi; their clash produced a dull boom, Qi Force bursting in all directions!

Guo Heng’s whole body shook and he staggered back a step, but he remained unified inside and out, still like a rock, without a single flaw.

He Shiyao, however, after that tap with his Jade Bone Fan, showed no intention of withdrawing and changing moves; instead he continuously drove his Inner Qi forward, surging toward Guo Heng!

In the blink of an eye, their exchange had turned into an Inner Power contest!

In that moment, Guo Heng’s Rock stance essentially became mere window dressing.

With their weapons locked together and Inner Qi constantly being driven forth, what they were competing in was Inner Strength alone; any techniques were now useless.

On the Sword Discussion Platform, as the Inner Power struggle had just begun, Guo Heng already felt an immense pressure!

The two of them both had All Eight Meridians Open, yet the purity and thickness of their Inner Power differed significantly.

Guo Heng dared not be careless, nor did he dare relax.

As long as his Inner Qi flagged, or he let even a trace of power leak, He Shiyao’s Inner Qi would swarm in and could instantly inflict severe injury!

Guo Heng could only hold nothing back, drawing all the Inner Qi in his Dantian, pouring it continuously into the Long Sword in his hand.

"Though I won’t last thirty moves, if I can consume some of He Shiyao’s Inner Qi, Chen Tang will have that much more chance of victory."

A thought flashed through Guo Heng’s mind.

In the instant he was just a bit distracted, he suddenly felt the force in front of him slacken. Before he could pull back, his own Inner Qi poured out in a rush, only to strike nothing but air!

"Heh, you’ve lost."

A soft chuckle came from the other side, full of mockery.

Before he could react, a palm landed on his chest, sending him flying off the Sword Discussion Platform.

"Clever."

Yun Yifeng let out a word of praise at this scene.

The two had been locked in an Inner Power clash, seemingly at a stalemate, yet in the blink of an eye a victor was decided. Many present wore puzzled expressions, not knowing what had happened.

The Grandmasters on the platform, of course, understood the subtlety within.

Using his Rock Sword Momentum, Guo Heng never intended to win; he only wanted to hold out for as many rounds as possible.

He Shiyao saw through his intention and simply chose to pit Inner Power.

This was the approach of using force to dissolve skill.

Just when Guo Heng thought He Shiyao meant to clash Inner Power with him to the end, He Shiyao suddenly withdrew his strength first and slipped aside.

With that withdrawal, Guo Heng, unable to pull back in time, let his Inner Qi pour out; his old strength spent, new strength not yet arisen, and with no time to re-form the Rock Sword stance, his entire body was full of openings.

He Shiyao used a single move of the Drunken Moon Palm Technique to defeat Guo Heng.

Normally, in an Inner Power lock, whichever side retracts first is the one who will fall into danger.

That He Shiyao could take the initiative to withdraw his power was entirely because, during the Inner Power clash, he held absolute superiority and thus the initiative.

If it had been Guo Heng who withdrew first, he would only have lost even faster.