CHAPTER 218: CHAPTER 222: CAGE

The sword lights intertwined.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged dozens of moves. Both were using the Profound Moon Sword Technique, and the fight was exceptionally impressive, yet paradoxically, a winner could not be determined just yet.

Even so, the spectacle left the observers astounded.

Who could have imagined that Wang Junze could truly hold his own against Guo Zhipeng?

Naturally, Wang Junze wouldn’t foolishly continue to use the same sword techniques against his opponent. Even within the Profound Moon Sword Technique, the sword moves can be unpredictable and varied.

Guo Zhipeng consistently tried to force Wang Junze into direct confrontation, but Wang Junze always managed to counter his attacks with unexpected sword techniques.

This level of fighting was already beyond the comprehension of most Inner Sect disciples; they couldn’t even foresee the battle’s direction.

Yet, the True Disciples and the Elders of the Sect saw everything quite clearly.

Wang Junze was fighting so nimbly!

In terms of individual sword moves, Wang Junze was still lagging behind Guo Zhipeng. After all, the absolute strength difference was evident. However, when connecting various moves, Wang Junze fought more fluidly, with a flow like running water.

It was as if each of his moves wasn’t isolated, but part of a cohesive whole!

"This kid is being crafty; this isn’t just the Profound Moon Sword Technique... he’s using the Chess Swordsmanship!"

Watching the fight, Luo Qingxuan understood clearly. Although it seemed Wang Junze was using the Profound Moon Sword Technique, he was actually employing many of the unique predictive strategies of Chess Swordsmanship to preemptively counter Guo Zhipeng’s moves, making his flow that seamless.

Of course, only someone like Luo Qingxuan, familiar with Chess Swordsmanship, could notice this. Others couldn’t detect any such subtleties.

However, standing from the perspectives of Zhou Dongfei and Luo Bingyun, they could see the battle from yet another level.

"It’s the Water Sword Intent!"

With a slight smile, Zhou Dongfei softly said, "This kid has hidden it well, disguising the traces of Water Sword Intent with the Profound Moon Sword Intent. The sword momentum is unending, like the surging river, which isn’t the essence of the Profound Moon Sword Technique... But he has integrated it well, so it’s not really a shortcut!"

"Guo Zhipeng is too rigid!" Luo Bingyun also commented, "He values the perfection of each sword technique too much, investing all his energy into the intricacies of the Profound Moon Sword Technique, thus falling behind."

The Profound Moon Sword Sect, in the end, is still a Sword Sect!

The Profound Moon Sword Technique, although strong, shouldn’t be a cage for the disciples of the Profound Moon Sword Sect.

To Guo Zhipeng, the Profound Moon Sword Technique had become his cage, which is why, despite clearly leading in strength, he couldn’t subdue Wang Junze.

"So, you never intervened because you wanted to break this cage?"

Suddenly realizing something, Luo Bingyun squinted slightly, lost in thought.

From the beginning, whether it was when the Sword Elder questioned Wang Junze or when Wang Junze challenged dozens of Inner Sect disciples, Zhou Dongfei could have stepped in to stop it, but he never did.

Initially, Luo Bingyun thought he wanted to test Wang Junze, but hearing these words now, she realized Zhou Dongfei’s thoughts were far deeper and further-reaching than hers.

The Sword Elder’s status was too high, and the Profound Moon Sword Technique’s standing in the Profound Moon Sword Sect was also too elevated, leading many disciples to unwittingly fall into this cage.

If one’s talent was slightly inferior, it wouldn’t matter, as they wouldn’t truly become obsessed. However, a True Disciple like Guo Zhipeng had long been trapped in this cage without realizing it.

Such words, even as the Sect Leader, Zhou Dongfei couldn’t say. Therefore, having Wang Junze voice this realization is a boon for the Sect!

...

Wang Junze surely wasn’t aware that his master had orchestrated this long ago.

In fact, during the fight against Guo Zhipeng, Wang Junze was also attempting to continue dissecting the Profound Moon Sword Technique.

During the Ascending Sword Tier phase, he had already tried doing this. However, due to his limited strength at the time, he failed to succeed, having to comprehend the Profound Moon Sword Technique and ascend the Sword Tier, placing this matter aside.

As his cultivation improved, Wang Junze’s understanding of the Profound Moon Sword Technique deepened, and during sword practice, he continually deconstructed the sword moves!

And at this moment, the duel with Guo Zhipeng was undeniably the best opportunity for Wang Junze.

Guo Zhipeng seemed to have thoroughly researched every sword move of the Profound Moon Sword Technique; clashing with such an opponent naturally increased the pressure, pushing Wang Junze to perfectly dismantle the sword moves.

Of course, it was precisely because Wang Junze’s understanding of the Profound Moon Sword Technique was more profound that he could unleash the power of Chess Swordsmanship, always staying ahead!

Thousands of exchanges also allowed Wang Junze to completely deconstruct the Profound Moon Sword Technique!

At this point, Wang Junze seemed to finally touch the true essence of Chess Swordsmanship.

The true strength of Chess Swordsmanship never lay in those Five Sword Techniques but in the realm and vision that transcends all swordsmanship!

There is no such thing as a perfect swordsmanship in this world!

Even the mighty Profound Moon Sword Technique, no matter how intensely Guo Zhipeng studied it, still bore flaws. By seizing these flaws, one could easily unravel the Profound Moon Sword Technique!

Buzz!

His mind was clear!

Wang Junze no longer had the intention to drag out the fight with Guo Zhipeng. With a slight flick of the sword edge in his hand, he suddenly closed in.

"Clang!"

In an instant, Wang Junze suddenly changed his move, in an unimaginable way, perfectly interrupted the opponent’s sword technique, the sword edge suddenly lifted, directly breaking through the opponent’s defense, the sword edge pointed directly at Guo Zhipeng’s throat!

This sword move was still one of the techniques from the Profound Moon Sword Technique, but this time, Wang Junze also executed only half of it, completely abandoning the subsequent changes, focusing solely on speed, forming an odd move that forcibly dismantled the opponent’s sword technique!

"..."

For a moment, Guo Zhipeng’s face was ashen!

Honestly, facing this sword, if he went all-out, he still had a chance to block it, but that would be a battle to the death, not a proper duel, and it would also exceed the bounds of a sword dao contest!

In terms of sword dao... The moment Wang Junze thrust out this sword, he had already lost!

"Why?"

The sword in his hand clattered to the ground, Guo Zhipeng’s eyes full of despair!

This was not simply a question of winning or losing a duel, but a devastating blow to his belief and understanding of the sword dao.

He was convinced that his talent in the sword dao was exceptional, having perfected every move of the Profound Moon Sword Technique, believing that no one in the sect, not even the Sword Elder, could surpass his understanding of it, and yet... Why did he lose to Wang Junze?!

Losing with a seemingly imperfect sword move, it completely shattered his perception.