CHAPTER 382: CHAPTER 273: YAN CHUAN SWORD DISCUSSION, PART 1: DING XIANG! TAKE HIM DOWN! [1 NEW UPDATE!]_2

"But Ding Xiang doesn’t need to face Ban Xianfu head-on to the death! Her movement technique is formidable; she only needs to keep circling for two hours, and even if Ban Xianfu loses, he won’t be able to entangle her. Ding Xiang managed to rank fifth among the ’Chufeng,’ surely she has her unique merits. I have confidence in Ding Xiang!"

Thousands of spectators outside the arena were intensely discussing.

Some believed Ban Xianfu was strong.

Others believed Ding Xiang wasn’t weak.

If placed in a situation where a fight to the death is mandatory, most people would naturally have more faith in Ban Xianfu.

But specifically on the stage of ’Cang Mountain Sword Discussion,’ many didn’t believe Ban Xianfu could succeed in challenging the arena.

The outcome, however, remained to be seen.

...

"Hiss!"

"So strong!"

Wang Zhengyi’s brow twitched.

Not only Wang Zhengyi, but all the spectators present collectively gasped in shock.

The Xu Character Arena had already begun.

Yet they saw Ban Xianfu wielding the divine weapon ’Avici Blade,’ continuously chopping, slashing, flicking, stabbing, intercepting, blocking, collapsing, cutting, wiping, carrying, and wrapping. Every move looked plain and simple, as if he was a beginner just learning saber skills, strictly following the rules, not daring to stray.

But it was precisely this saber skill that allowed Ban Xianfu to fight two with one, pressing Ding Xiang, ranked fifth among the ’Chufeng,’ and Du Ying, ranked fifty-fourth, into constant retreat.

Ding Xiang wielded a sword.

Du Ying thrust a spear.

But neither was a match for Ban Xianfu, completely suppressed.

As a result, Ban Xianfu’s teammates, Cao Zhenhai and Xiao Zhi, didn’t even need to take action; they only needed to stay behind to back up the formation to preserve their energy to the fullest. If Ban Xianfu could single-handedly take down Ding Xiang and Du Ying, they’d keep their strength intact, allowing them to contribute more in the subsequent defense rounds, giving Ban Xianfu more time to recover.

But the two were not idle bystanders either.

They closely followed Ban Xianfu’s lead, flanking left and right, blocking Ding Xiang and Du Ying’s escape routes.

With Ban Xianfu acting as the spearhead, constantly hacking and slashing, they seemed determined to crush Ding Xiang and Du Ying into dust. The pressure was terrifying, and even the bystanders outside the Xu Character Arena could clearly sense the resentment and killing intent in Ban Xianfu’s saber techniques.

The sense of oppression was overpowering!

"Ban Xianfu practices the ’Avici Saber Technique,’ a technique inscribed on the divine weapon ’Avici Blade,’ and he’s the only practitioner in the world."

"The ’Avici Path’ is the most sinister and evil base in hell."

"The ’Avici Saber Technique’ is the most evil saber technique, formed by the power of resentment and killing intent. When cultivated to its extreme, it almost completely separates from human emotional control."

"Ban Xianfu hasn’t fully demonstrated it yet and remains in control. In this state, his ’Avici Saber Technique’ hasn’t reached its limit, yet even this is enough to make the fifth-ranked among the ’Chufeng’ gasp for breath."

"Without a saber, Ban Xianfu was completely suppressed by the eighth-ranked ’Hidden Dragon’ ’Magic Child’ Tan Dou, with no ability to fight back."

"The moment a saber is in his hand, he becomes a different person!"

"So powerful!"

From the top of Chess Stone Peak, on the Immortal Chess Stone, a clear, loud voice echoed.

The Heavenly Masters also paid attention to the peak battle between Ban Xianfu and Ding Xiang, naturally hearing this commentary.

Tian Jing was taken aback and couldn’t help but smile.

Jiang Bianliu was more accustomed, bowing his head to look down, seeing that on the Hai Character Arena, Yan Chuan, who had a free slot this round, unconsciously took out his ’White Horn Trumpet,’ eyes fixed on the Xu Character Arena, passionately commentating.

"His old habit has returned."

Jiang Bianliu chuckled, explaining to the masters casting a sidelong glance: "Yan Chuan loves commentary, almost as a peculiar hobby."

With the masters present.

Even with Emperor Yan in attendance, Jiang Bianliu deliberately didn’t describe Yan Chuan’s habit as ’loves to be a teacher,’ defining it simply as ’commentating on the competition’ to avoid displeasing the masters.

But even so—

"Such a racket!"

"Who asked for his commentary?"

Yang Wang’s white eyebrows twitched, clearly unhappy.

Tian Jing, though inwardly annoyed, still smiled and said, "Being ’Heavenly Prides,’ it’s inevitable to be unique. Earlier when Wei Lingshan caused trouble, we all laughed it off. Now with Yan Chuan’s commentary, as long as it doesn’t breach the Sword Discussion rules, let him be. It’s not our place to interfere."

Tian Jing spoke with hidden meaning.

Yang Wang’s own Holy Daughter, Wei Lingshan, drove people off a cliff, taking them down with her, yet it was merely termed as ’mischievous’ and her ’nature isn’t bad.’

But when it came to Yan Chuan’s commentary, it was labeled as ’noisy.’

This Yang Wang!

Really something!

Tian Jing persisted in opinion, defining Yan Chuan’s action—

"Not violating the rules!"

"Not interfering!"

"That’s good!"

Qian Lingyi, who always held Yan Chuan in high regard, also spoke in his support.

"Without rules, nothing can be accomplished!"

"Anything not forbidden by law is permissible!"

Hui Zhenzi also viewed Yan Chuan differently, finding the young one’s commentary a new and enjoyable experience to listen to.

Seeing everyone siding with Yan Chuan, Yang Wang snorted and said no more.

Below.

On the Xu Character Arena, Ban Xianfu was still in intense combat against two enemies.

On the Hai Character Arena, Yan Chuan held up his ’White Horn Trumpet,’ passionately commentating—

"Look at Ban Xianfu, every saber strike and stance is firmly grounded, strictly adhering to the rules and regulations. The size of each motion, the extent of advance and retreat, all conducted within certain regulations, leaving no room for arbitrary changes or so-called movement technique acrobatics."

"But look closely, every strike and stance, advance and attack, all demand deep skill, requiring great effort and hard work, attaining success through thousands of practice attempts."

"I’ve heard, ever since Ban Xianfu joined the Licheng Academy, he practiced saber every day without rest. Each morning and evening, you could see him practicing every strike and stance on ’East Rising Peak’ of Licheng Academy."

"Day and night!"

"Year after year!"

"Long practice yields skill, and when the skill reaches its peak, the unique ’saber flavor’ gradually seeps out, and the saber’s distinct ’killing aura’ begins to radiate. At this point, as the ’Footwork’ becomes more refined, a sense of fluidity naturally emerges."

"Look, Ban Xianfu at this moment advances with a saber strike, moving smoothly and energetically, unable to stop, with an indescribable ’sense of momentum’ and ’rhythmic beauty.’"

"This saber technique is marvelous!"

Yan Chuan’s commentary, as he explained Ban Xianfu’s ’Avici Saber Technique,’ captivated even himself.

In the past, he focused more on swordsmanship, with less delving into saber techniques.

Now, combining the insights he gained at Tian Jing Mansion on the ’Avici Saber Technique’ with live combat expressions, alongside the feedback from ’Mutual Teaching and Learning,’ he dissects and reflects upon the ’Breaking Saber Form’ from the ’Dugu Nine Swords,’ immersing himself entirely in endless saber intent, oblivious to anything else.

Standing firm on stage!

Saber intent swelling in the heart!

Until—

"This strike gathers the most sinister energies of heaven and earth into the saber. Once the saber light passes, the opponent seems to find themselves amidst a mountain of sabers."

"This is the first killing move of the ’Avici Dao Three Strokes’ in the ’Avici Saber Technique’—"

"Saber Mountain!"

"Ding Xiang is in danger!"

Yan Chuan shouted urgently.

Ding Xiang also sensed it, feeling that Ban Xianfu’s saber technique had shifted, enveloping her like a mountain of sabers, as if she had descended into hell, rolling down a mountain of blades.

Saber saber saber!

Sharp sharp sharp!

"Escape!"

Ding Xiang hastily activated the ’Shadowy Charm,’ her figure flashing amid countless shadows, colliding directly with the saber light and saber mountain.

However, upon actual contact, each saber light was as solid as a mountain of blades, while each shadow disintegrated like smoke.

"Shadowy Charm!"

"Cloud Smoke Skill!"

"The technique and skill Ding Xiang practices are so harmonious."

"Her ’Shadowy Charm’ movement technique was learned from the head of the Ten Elders of the Sixth Chuqiu Academy among the Ten Great Academies, Wei Luofang. Wei Luofang hails from a Martial Arts Family with deep roots, and the ’Shadowy Charm’ movement technique is a family inheritance. With this technique, Wei Luofang is a hot pick for the ’Earthly List.’"

"Ding Xiang is currently twenty-two, and only joined Chuqiu Academy six years ago. After six years, she has fully acquired Wei Luofang’s authentic ’Shadowy Charm,’ mastering movement technique no less profound than Wei Luofang, who has been renowned for years in martial arts."

"Yet, the world only knows Wei Luofang and Ding Xiang’s remarkable movement skills but little realizes that the ’Cloud Smoke Skill’ they cultivate is the true foundation behind the extraordinary ’Shadowy Charm.’"

’"Cloud Smoke Skill" serves as the foundation, ’Shadowy Charm’ as the application, combining movement technique, stepping technique, and Gang Qi into one, marking it as the superior Qinggong of the Great Yan Martial Arts.’

"Relax all muscles, bones, flesh, and skin."

"Turn left once, half left. Turn right once, half right. Left and right turns once as one, transverse spin is grand unity."

"Left spin, right spin, heaven and earth spin, left step, right void level spin."

"Combining yin and yang by hand for top spin, right step, left void spin for none."

"Ding Xiang!"

"Confound him!"

...