Chapter 27: Xu Da's Big Bluff

Izumo Platform, Main Arena.

"Xu Xiaoshou!"

"Zhou Tianshen!"

Two tall figures entered under the setting sun. Zhou Tianshen's waiting area wasn't far from Xu Xiaoshou's, and as soon as they stepped out, their eyes met.

Xu Xiaoshou saw the saber behind his opponent, which was taller than a person, and the burning fighting spirit in his gaze. He nodded with satisfaction. It seemed Zhou Tianshen wouldn't surrender. Indeed, this was a qualifying match from the top 32 to the top 16; who would give up such an opportunity?

Zhou Tianshen was born exceptionally handsome. His dashing appearance, combined with his diligent study of the Hegemonic Saber technique, added a touch of youthful ferocity, drawing screams from the female disciples in the audience.

On the arena stage, he gently planted his massive golden-yellow hegemonic saber, as wide as his waist and as tall as he was, into the ground. He crossed his arms over the saber's hilt and slightly raised his chin.

"Acquired Sword Intent, Innate Physique..."

"Xu Xiaoshou, I, Zhou Tianshen, admit that you are very strong!"

"In this outer court, you are strong enough to rank below me, placing fifth on the Wind and Cloud List!"

The audience was in an uproar, many impressed by his imposing aura. Zhou Tianshen's words conveyed an unquestionable authority, and combined with his strength as the fourth-ranked on the Wind and Cloud List, it was truly domineering.

Xu Xiaoshou smiled nonchalantly. For the first time, he was provoked after stepping onto the stage, rather than having to provoke others. This feeling was particularly novel.

Before he could speak, Zhou Tianshen continued, "However, my goal this time is to be number one."

"Therefore, you can only surrender beneath my saber!"

With that, he drew his golden-yellow hegemonic saber, pointed it at Xu Xiaoshou, and an immeasurable, surging saber intent erupted.

Crackle!

The saber intent rampaged, shattering nearby arena stages.

"Acquired Saber Intent?!"

A wave of shock instantly swept through the audience, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"When did Zhou Tianshen master Acquired Saber Intent? My goodness!"

"Judging by how effortlessly he controls it, he's definitely had it for more than a year. Xu Xiaoshou is in danger."

"With this saber intent, he's strong enough to contend with an Innate master. I thought his claim for the top spot was an exaggeration, but now, it's not so certain..."

Xiao Qixiu was equally astonished. This young man had kept his strength so hidden; no one in the group stage or breakthrough matches had forced him to reveal his full power? If his opponent weren't Xu Xiaoshou, he probably could have kept this Acquired Saber Intent hidden until the finals?

Xu Xiaoshou's nonchalant smile faltered. "What the heck is going on?"

"Acquired Saber Intent?"

"And he controls it effortlessly?"

He thought of his own sword intent, which could drain his spiritual energy with just one move, 'White Clouds Drifting,' then looked at his opponent... There was no comparison whatsoever!

However, not wanting to lose face, Xu Xiaoshou twitched his lips and chuckled, "Junior Brother Zhou, don't let your words get ahead of you."

Zhou Tianshen's fierce saber intent paused, and the audience immediately burst into laughter, doubling over.

"Hahaha, it seems Xu Xiaoshou is among the oldest batch in the outer court, right?"

"Batch? He's basically the only one left. Those older and more qualified have entered the inner court, and those weaker than him couldn't make it to the qualifying matches!"

"Oh, right, so Xu Xiaoshou is essentially the Senior Brother?"

"Theoretically, yes, but he's been in the outer court for three years, and he used to be so inconspicuous, almost getting expelled from the Spirit Palace..."

"Now, somehow, he's suddenly exploded, a real dark horse! It feels like he's been possessed!"

"Haha, you're hilarious, 'possessed'!"

"Thinking about it, even strong figures like Mo Mo and Chao Qingteng are like his younger siblings... Haha, I can't take it anymore! Look at Zhou Tianshen, his face is completely darkened!"

Zhou Tianshen's face indeed darkened, but his saber intent intensified. Seeing the atmosphere reach its peak, Xiao Qixiu immediately waved his hand.

"The match begins!"

"Wait!" Zhou Tianshen said indifferently, holding his saber horizontally, which brought Xiao Qixiu's heightened emotions to an abrupt halt.

"What kind of contestants are these? Xu Xiaoshou has corrupted them, hasn't he? Each one is so eccentric."

The audience was also curious: if he wasn't going to fight, what more did he want to say?

"There's something I still need to clarify before we begin."

Zhou Tianshen said, "Regarding yesterday's incident, while Wen Chong's sneak attack on you was indeed shameful, you, Xu Xiaoshou, shouldn't have taken his life. A simple disciplinary action would have sufficed, but you mercilessly struck him down!"

He pointed his saber directly at Xu Xiaoshou, his eyes filled with righteousness: "In my view, you are also a despicable and shameless person who will never achieve great things!"

At that moment, Xu Xiaoshou really wanted to put a cape on him. He sneered, "Is this your reason for needing to mock me and 'destroy the spirit' before the fight even begins?"

Zhou Tianshen was stunned, as if choked. He said, "I'm not trying to 'destroy the spirit'; I'm just discussing the facts!"

"Heh, did you even get close to the arena? Could you see clearly?" Xu Xiaoshou fired back in rapid succession: "You know nothing, yet you come up here spouting nonsense and slandering me. If I were to say now that I did it on purpose, would you then have a righteous excuse to attack me?"

"No, that's not it!" Zhou Tianshen panicked, his saber-wielding hand waving repeatedly. His face flushed scarlet, as if he wanted to say something but had nothing to say.

"Don't bother!" Xu Xiaoshou retorted, his words hitting hard, like Mount Tai bearing down, "I know your next line will be that I'm sharp-tongued!"

"No, I didn't!"

"Heh, you people always stand on the moral high ground to criticize others, yet you never consider that these so-called righteous words are the true blades that 'destroy the spirit'!"

Zhou Tianshen retreated repeatedly, his gaze unfocused. His saber intent had been suppressed by Xu Xiaoshou to the point of disarray. He abruptly verticalized his saber, using it to steady himself, and decided not to speak further.

"What's wrong?" Xu Xiaoshou changed tack, "When you shouldn't speak, you insist on speaking. When it comes to actually speaking, you can't win the argument. And if you can't win the argument, then you resort to fighting?"

Zhou Tianshen held his saber, unsure whether to strike or not. He was completely at a loss, extremely awkward.

Xu Xiaoshou appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly, he was already laughing madly. He had figured it out: this Zhou Tianshen was a straightforward person who had only one way of thinking. His sense of justice was overflowing, and he was very passionate, often seeing only the surface of things, or being used as a pawn after being misled. He was adorably naive.

The audience members were all stunned. Xu Xiaoshou's words were not only the best response to yesterday's incident, but they also thoroughly silenced many people with ill intentions.

"Sob, sob, Xu Xiaoshou is so pitiful, I misjudged him!"

"Hateful Zhou Tianshen, trash! Shameless! Trying to 'destroy the spirit'!"

"Holy crap, are you guys crazy? Shouldn't Xu Xiaoshou be the one 'destroying the spirit' here?"

"Oh my god, how can this guy talk so much? I almost fell for his trickery! Zhou Tianshen, cheer up, don't let him fool you, pick up your saber and cut him down!"

In the arena, Xu Xiaoshou watched the guy opposite him, who looked hesitant and on the verge of surrendering. He immediately realized he had gone too far and quickly spoke:

"Junior Brother Zhou, while one shouldn't always judge things by their surface, as a qualified Spirit Refiner, once you step onto the arena, you must never mention surrender."

"Remember: Flinching before battle is a great taboo against your opponent; fleeing without a fight is a disgrace to a Spirit Refiner; surrendering meekly is a blemish on your life!"

He flicked his sleeve, looking ethereal, and spoke with conviction.

Opposite him, Zhou Tianshen's heart settled. He gripped his golden-yellow hegemonic saber, and his eyes once again flared with fighting spirit. He cupped his hands and said, "Senior Brother Xu, I have learned a lesson!"

Xu Xiaoshou nodded slightly, showing he considered Zhou Tianshen a teachable student.

Xiao Qixiu: "..."