Chapter 18: Sneak Attack

Tap! Tap!

Accompanied by steady footsteps, a young man approached from the front.

He had a tall and well-proportioned build, with thick eyebrows and thin lips that marked him as a ruthless character.

Ranked seventh on the Fengyun Bang, known in the Wai Yuan as Wen Laoda, he was Wen Chong!

Xu Xiaoshou felt a powerful pressure bearing down on him. He knew Wen Chong had a technique for building momentum, and if it fully formed, he might not even withstand a single move.

Holding a Ling Jing to his nose and sniffing it, Xu Xiaoshou chuckled lightly, "Hello, Shidi!"

Wen Chong stumbled in his steps, grinding his teeth in anger as the pressure dissipated on its own.

Indeed, no matter how imposing his aura, in front of Xu Xiaoshou, he was still a junior who had entered the sect a year later.

The audience had been worried about how Xu Xiaoshou would handle this opening pressure, but unexpectedly, he kept pulling out unconventional tricks that worked wonders.

"Ha, I'm impressed by this Xu Xiaoshou!"

"Damn, who'd dare talk to Wen Laoda like that? I'd be shaking in my boots."

"Ha ha, that's why he's still standing here. Xu Xiaoshou's actually pretty strong."

In the arena, Wen Chong fixed his eagle-like eyes on him. "Xu Xiaoshou, you're quite something. You dared to mess with my people, so I assume you've prepared yourself mentally."

Xu Xiaoshou knew exactly who he meant—Liu Zhen, of course, who didn't?

He fumed inwardly. How unlucky could he get? He had just beaten the underling, and now the boss showed up, giving him no time to recover.

He couldn't help but glare at the referee.

The referee waved his hand in irritation and shouted, "Let the match begin!"

Xu Xiaoshou instantly backed away. Wen Chong's strongest asset wasn't just his pressure—it was his Fen Ying Ling Fa technique.

This technique could create up to seven illusions at its peak, paired with Wen Chong's elusive dagger skills. Once caught, escape was impossible.

Though Fen Ying Ling Fa was only a Houtian-level skill, its practicality rivaled Xiantian techniques.

Seeing Xu Xiaoshou retreat, Wen Chong smirked coldly. This played right into his hands.

The longer Fen Ying Ling Fa built up, the more illusions he could summon at once. Since Xu Xiaoshou wanted distance, they'd drag this out.

With a hand seal formed, Wen Chong sneered, waiting to summon seven illusions and seal Xu Xiaoshou's fate!

The arena fell silent once the match started, but the audience seats remained buzzing with excitement.

"Has Xu Xiaoshou lost his mind? Doesn't he know Wen Laoda's Fen Ying Ling Fa can build momentum too? Pulling away is just waiting to die!"

"I heard he only knows one move from Bai Yun Jian Fa. Maybe he really doesn't know?"

"It's over for him. Once Wen Laoda unleashes those seven illusions, this guy's done for."

"Yeah, and not only does he have a Jiu Pin Ling Qi, but Wen Laoda's got those purple daggers—terrifying!"

"Look, Xu Xiaoshou's still holding a wooden sword? Wait—what? He's closed his eyes?"

Liu Zhen had just woken up under the medics' care and returned to the audience seats, only to see both fighters building their momentum.

His pupils shrank—not because of Wen Chong's Fen Ying Ling Fa, but because of Xu Xiaoshou's familiar closed eyes.

This was...

The sword technique Xu Xiaoshou hadn't used in their last fight?

Everyone's going all out right from the start? This is intense!

That was exactly Xu Xiaoshou's plan. His body couldn't handle a prolonged battle, so if both Fen Ying Ling Fa and Bai Yun Youyou needed buildup, it'd be a one-strike decider!

Still, to avoid serious injury, he chose the wooden sword. He was a compassionate fighter, always considering his opponents.

He had tested the wooden sword yesterday—it could barely scratch tree bark, which was good enough.

In truth, what made Bai Yun Youyou powerful wasn't the weapon, but the sword intent!

On the other side, illusory figures began appearing around Wen Chong, and the crowd held their breath, knowing the outcome would be decided in an instant.

The referee tensed up, ready to intervene. In their line of work, they dreaded these all-out clashes.

If they stopped it, you couldn't tell who won; if they let it go, someone might die.

"Huff!"

He stared intently at Xu Xiaoshou, at his wooden sword, at his closed eyes, at his fading aura. His heart raced.

Come on, give it your all!

Don't you have a Jiu Pin Ling Jian? Use it to counter!

If you can hold off Wen Chong's first assault, I can save you!

"Buzz!"

A clear sword hum rang out, making everyone's hearts tighten as they looked toward Xu Xiaoshou's sword.

Uh, a wooden sword?

Did we hear wrong?

Maybe it's Wen Chong's dagger vibrating?

Everyone turned back to see a flash in Wen Chong's eyes as his figure turned illusory, weaving with his illusions and closing in on Xu Xiaoshou.

The distance shrank...

Half the arena!

One zhang!

Xu Xiaoshou... still with his eyes closed!

Everyone inwardly cursed. He's done for—you idiot, open your eyes, or you might never open them again!

The referee lunged forward. Has Xu Xiaoshou gone mad? He's injured and must have given up!

But just as they were inches apart, Xu Xiaoshou's eyes snapped open, his right hand gripping the sword in a stroke that had already been drawn!

This sword strike was extraordinarily slow, like drifting white clouds, instantly calming the crowd's agitation.

"Buzz!"

Another sword hum—this time, everyone saw it clearly: it was Xu Xiaoshou's wooden sword resonating, not Wen Chong's dagger.

"A wooden sword?"

"What's going on?"

Before the audience could react, they felt it themselves.

"Clang—"

This sound came from everyone's swords trembling, as if drawn by the sword intent, resonating as one.

This scene was all too familiar. Every Jianxiu present involuntarily recalled the mysterious sword hum that had echoed a mile away in the Wai Yuan two days ago.

Could that have been Xu Xiaoshou's doing?

"This... how is this possible?"

"Am I seeing things?"

In the void, Xiao Qixiu widened his eyes in shock, gripping his own longsword.

Houtian sword intent?!

It was really Xu Xiaoshou?!

In the arena, as the hum rang out, Wen Chong changed tactics instantly, retreating just inches from Xu Xiaoshou's nose while his seven illusions blocked the way.

Clang, clang, clang...

Sword light clashed with the purple daggers in a barrage of metallic rings.

Wen Chong's face was full of shock. With one strike, this guy had unleashed hundreds of sword lights. This seemingly slow sword net not only blocked his attack but forced him to retreat repeatedly.

"How is this possible?"

"Isn't this kid just a body cultivator? How does he have such terrifying sword skills?"

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!

Wen Chong's illusions shattered one by one, and fine sword marks appeared on his body, blood spraying out!

In the audience, Liu Zhen was stunned. This sword technique...

He remembered Xu Xiaoshou had used Zang Ku back then. If he hadn't disrupted it with his hidden explosive, he'd be in pieces now.

As expected, this guy was as deceptive as he thought!

In the arena, Wen Chong was driven back to his original spot, on the verge of being forced off the platform.

He sheathed his daggers, crossing his arms over his chest as a burst of Lingqi shield exploded from within, shattering all the sword lights.

"Chong Ling Zhao!"

As the Lingqi faded, Wen Chong's pupils shrank.

Xu Xiaoshou's hair fluttered forward with his momentum, the wooden sword already poised at his throat.

"You've lost."

Gulp!

Wen Chong swallowed hard involuntarily, his Adam's apple moving and drawing a line of blood under the sword's energy.

His face was covered in blood, but it was all superficial wounds, and he was still in peak condition. Yet, he had lost.

One sword, one word.

The seventh on the Fengyun Bang had fallen!

The wind whispered through the silent arena, the audience seats deathly quiet, and the referee stood frozen in place.

Xu Xiaoshou sheathed his sword and turned to leave. He needed to rest and recover— that strike had drained all his Lingli.

His legs trembled...

Hold it together, don't fall. So many people are watching—got to keep up the act!

Wen Chong's eyes burned with unwillingness. The real fight had barely lasted a few breaths beyond the buildup, and he had lost?

The seventh on the Fengyun Bang, Wai Yuan's Wen Laoda, had actually lost!

Without turning back, trapped in the barrier, he seemed to hear the audience's merciless mockery.

Xu Xiaoshou had left Liu Zhen half-dead, and now Wen Laoda was defeated in a single strike!

Xu Xiaoshou had flirted with Di Xin'er using a wooden sword, and Wen Laoda was powerless against him!

A fierce glint flashed in Wen Chong's eyes!

The purple dagger hidden in his sleeve emitted a subtle aura, turning illusory as he lunged again!

"Watch out!"

"Wen Chong, stop!"

"The match is over, over!"

The referee roared, rushing forward. He never imagined that delaying his call of "match over" would lead to this.

Everyone could see Xu Xiaoshou had won, yet Wen Chong was launching a sneak attack!

He was too late to stop it!

"Under sneak attack, Passive Points +1."

Because of his greed for points, Xu Xiaoshou had kept a thread of attention on his status panel. Spotting the notification, he spun and countered instinctively.

Squelch!

Wen Chong's Jiu Pin Ling Bi stabbed deep into Xu Xiaoshou's shoulder, blood spurting out.

Squelch!

Xu Xiaoshou's right hand pierced through Wen Chong's chest—right where the heart was!