Chapter 800: Comparison of Misery

Blades are a type of weapon, adhering to their unique principles: only after grasping the true essence of a weapon can one comprehend its core spirit.

It's similar to swordplay; one must first grasp the true essence of sword techniques before being able to comprehend the lower, middle, and even higher levels of the sword's spirit.

He was a top student at the Martial Arts Academy, with a profound understanding of blade techniques, but he had only reached the pinnacle of a weapon's true essence, still a considerable distance from comprehending the lower level of the blade's spirit.

Yet, the person before him, whose blade sparked with lightning and whose aura was like a rainbow, was directly employing an ability that only comes from comprehending the blade's spirit!

How was that possible?

He had fought this person just moments ago, and the opponent had only grasped the ordinary essence of blade techniques, with a significant gap between them. How could Master Zhang's single transmitted blade move have brought about such a drastic change?

"Damn it..."

His body trembled with shock, knowing that any hesitation would lead to defeat. White Face gritted his teeth and brought his long blade forward to meet the attack.

In his view, what did it matter if the opponent had grasped the essence of the blade's spirit?

The blade move just now had been weak and slow, and he had meticulously studied it, finding countless flaws. He believed that by acting swiftly, using speed to counter slowness, he could easily overcome and defeat his opponent.

Just as his long blade was about to connect with the opponent's, he saw the opponent's blade trace an elegant arc in the air and continue its descent.

It was as if his own movements had no effect whatsoever.

"This... is simplifying the complex, breaking through with raw power?"

His entire body stiffened instantly.

When practicing blade techniques, he had heard powerful master teachers say that upon reaching a certain realm, one could simplify complex blade forms.

At that point, the simplest moves would possess an irresistible power.

He had always thought this was nonsense, but unexpectedly, it was actually happening before his eyes!

The long blade in the freshman's hand employed techniques that were neither complicated nor flashy, yet they carried a power that seemed to strike directly at everything. Enveloped by this blade art, it felt as if all his vital points were locked by the aura, making escape impossible regardless of what move he tried.

"Retreat!"

In that instant, fear crept into his heart. Unwilling to meet the strike head-on, he hastily retreated.

Had it been anyone else, retreating after fully committing to a blade technique would surely have resulted in a backlash. However, he had suppressed his cultivation, and his true abilities far surpassed his current display. Furthermore, his insight and experience were superior to the freshman's, so despite his discomfiture, he suffered no significant injury.

Whoosh!

After retreating two steps and preparing to counterattack, he saw the young man step forward again, his long blade sweeping out once more, unleashing the Wood-Chopping Blade Art.

The blade aura was like a dragon, and his presence was like electricity.

This time, the power from the previous blade move, which had not yet dissipated, was concentrated, surging like wind and clouds, increasing its might by more than double.

"This is... blade force superposition?"

White Face was on the verge of spitting blood.

He had thought that by dodging, the opponent's power would inevitably wane and exhaust itself. Yet, not only did that not happen, but the first wave of blade energy was superposed, greatly increasing its power!

He couldn't even withstand the first move; how could he possibly defend against two combined?

He retreated once more.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Seeing his continuous retreat, the young man's confidence swelled, and he brought down a third strike.

The three consecutive blade strikes converged, their light like a hundred streams uniting to form a vast river or sea, carrying an irresistible force.

The young man originally only possessed the strength of a Half-Spirit Realm initial stage practitioner, but with these three blade strikes imbued with the blade's spirit, even Half-Spirit Realm mid-stage, or even late-stage experts, would likely find them difficult to resist!

"No... if I let him keep accumulating power, I'm bound to lose..."

At this point, White Face finally realized the problem, and his expression grew solemn.

He had initially thought that by simply dodging, the opponent's momentum would fade, leaving them vulnerable to his counterattack. He never dreamed that this person's blade techniques would grow progressively stronger and even stack. Once he dodged, he would lose the initiative and be unable to defend himself.

"I'll risk it..."

Gritting his teeth, power surged wildly through his body, and his long blade swept across the air to meet the attack.

A high-grade Spirit-level martial technique: Raging Blade Slashes the River!

This move was said to have been created by a Saint Realm expert who, in a fit of rage for a beauty, cleaved a river tens of thousands of meters wide into two sections with a single strike, preventing it from ever reuniting.

This was the most formidable technique he had cultivated over many years.

Although he had suppressed his cultivation to the initial stage of the Half-Spirit Realm, making his true qi somewhat insufficient, he was still able to execute it completely thanks to his understanding and comprehension of blade techniques.

A furious torrent of blade energy surged forward, immediately colliding with the young man's stacked blade techniques.

Boom!

With a thunderous roar, the two blades clashed. White Face felt his face flush as the power of Raging Blade Slashes the River was instantly obliterated. Immediately afterward, the superposed blade energy continued to surge forward, seemingly intent on shredding all his meridians.

"This is bad..."

His face darkened.

He had considered the possibility of being unable to defend, but he hadn't expected the opponent's stacked blade energy to be so terrifying. It shattered his attack without being affected in the slightest, continuing its fierce advance.

Ignoring all else, he let out a roar, and his suppressed cultivation surged upward.

Half-Spirit Realm mid-stage!

Half-Spirit Realm late-stage!

Half-Spirit Realm peak!

Bridge-to-Heaven Realm initial stage!

His cultivation increased by an entire major realm, reaching the initial stage of the Bridge-to-Heaven Realm. Only then was he able to block the blade energy from entering his body and avert disaster.

As his power increased, the young man opposite suffered a backlash, involuntarily staggering back several steps and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Although injured, his eyes glowed with excitement: "You... lost!"

If the opponent hadn't unsealed his true power, he would surely have been cleaved to death on the spot, which meant he had lost the previous match!

Hearing this, White Face's face turned ashen, and his pupils dilated: "I... I lost!"

He couldn't deny it; in front of so many people, he had been beaten so badly he couldn't even retaliate. It was an undeniable defeat!

When this guy first came up, he had been cleaved down by his own blade, but the second time, he had defeated him... Even having experienced it himself, he found it hard to believe.

This Zhang Xuan, by teaching just one move... had defeated him? How was that even possible?

Not only could he not believe it, but all the freshmen below the stage felt like their eyeballs were about to pop out.

They had all witnessed the freshman's strength. For Master Zhang to teach a single blade technique and have him defeat a top student from the Martial Arts Academy... it was simply too incredible!

The President... he's going against the heavens!

"President, I... I succeeded! I defeated a fourth-year student..."

Upon hearing the opponent's direct admission, the young man excitedly jumped off the high platform and quickly approached Zhang Xuan, clenching his fists.

As a practitioner of blade techniques, he knew how powerful the move taught by the President truly was. With long-term practice, his understanding of blade arts would undoubtedly grow stronger and stronger, eventually making him a grandmaster.

Thus, his excitement was palpable.

Before he could finish his excited words, he saw Master Zhang, who was standing before him, slap him on the head, scolding him with a livid expression, much like a teacher disciplining a disappointing student.

"President..."

The young man froze in place, his face bewildered.

He had defeated his opponent, so why was the President so angry?

"You still have the nerve to be happy? What kind of display was that? Is that even blade technique? In the first move, if you had used your full power, your opponent wouldn't have been able to dodge at all! You could have clearly won in one move, but you insisted on using three. Isn't that embarrassing?"

The more he spoke, the angrier Zhang Xuan became, wishing he could give the guy a good beating.

He was truly too slow-witted!

He had personally taught him the Heaven's Path Blade Art, and even imparted a trace of blade intent, yet this guy still took three moves to defeat his opponent. It was an insult!

"Could have won in one move..."

White Face's eyes rolled, and he nearly spat blood.

"I'm a fourth-year student, a top student from the Martial Arts Academy... for you to teach a blade technique and defeat me in three moves is already incredible, but you're complaining that it took too many moves..."

"Yes..."

Rebuked by the President, the young man dared not argue and could only lower his head.

The President was right. If he had used his full power in the first move, White Face would undoubtedly have surrendered on the spot, instead of struggling desperately until the end and even injuring himself.

"Alright, I don't blame you, but pay attention next time. When facing an enemy, never hold back!"

Seeing that the guy knew his mistake, Zhang Xuan's anger subsided. He waved his hand and looked back at the high platform.

"Who are you sending this time?"

"I request Master Zhang's guidance!" Yuan Gang stepped forward.

White Face's public defeat had shocked even him; he no longer dared to underestimate this young man.

"Hmm!" Zhang Xuan nodded. "Who among you was defeated by him just now?"

"Me!"

"President, I also lost!"

"Your defeat wasn't as miserable as mine; let me go!"

"What misery are you talking about? You just fell off the stage. I even got slapped in the face by him! I'm the most miserable! So, I want to challenge!"

"I even spat blood, I'll go..."

Hearing Zhang Xuan's call, the crowd below the stage erupted in an uproar. All those who had been injured earlier rushed forward indignantly, each one shouting excitedly.

They were all master teachers. Just moments ago, the young man couldn't even withstand a single move from White Face, but after Master Zhang's guidance, he immediately turned the tables and defeated him. If they could learn such a skill, their strength would undoubtedly improve greatly as well.

Only a fool would pass up such a good opportunity!

"There's even this kind of tactic..."

Yuan Gang and Ying Qin on the stage simultaneously twitched their lips.

Damn it!

They had seen people retreat in fear when facing senior students, but never seen them eagerly rushing forward to fight.

And besides, if you want to rush, why are you competing over who's more miserable?

The more miserable you are, the weaker your strength, and the more passive you were in the previous exchange. You've been beaten to this extent, yet you're still scrambling to come up. Do you even show any respect for us, your seniors?

That's just too arrogant!

"Yuan Gang, in a moment, just attack directly. You absolutely cannot hold back... if we lose again, we'll have no face to go back!"

Seeing the increasingly fierce bickering below, and everyone regretting why they hadn't stood still and taken a few more hits from Yuan Gang to appear more miserable... Ying Qin couldn't bear it anymore and sent a voice transmission.

The disastrous first defeat made him realize Master Zhang's terrifying abilities. They couldn't afford to lose the second round!

If they lost again, they would have no face to return, and would effectively become gatekeepers for this Xuanxuan Society.

"Don't worry, I'll use my full strength!"

Yuan Gang nodded.

While the two were talking, they saw Zhang Xuan below the stage had already chosen his opponent: a person with a bruised and swollen face, a slightly crooked nose and mouth, and who was still continuously spitting blood.

"This guy... I know him. He wasn't hit that hard, was he? Did he beat himself up just to appear more miserable than others?"

Seeing the person's appearance clearly, Yuan Gang's eyes rolled, and he nearly stumbled.