Shi Lang and Tex both slashed at each other with their swords and the blades radiated a strong wind that clashed in the center of the ring. However, while the people were shocked, Shi Lang had already moved forward and met Tex in the center of the ring.
The interesting thing was that none of them exchanged a blow but they both sidestepped and made a backhand slash at each other. The outcome was the same, the two people moved around and fought like there is no tomorrow, but even within close quarters they did not touch each other’s blades directly and cast sword slashes.
The movement of blades let out slashing sounds and even more, the two people were moving almost identically. The crowd was excited and surprised at the same time. They did not expect the two people to compete in such a way. It was so exaggerated that it seemed like they were putting up a performance.
Xiao Ling said, “What is this, how can they be so identical, someone please answer my question.”
An old man in the crowd stood up and said loudly, “It is not that they are identical, it is the Terran who is predicting the movements and then imitating them with precision. If you all look at him with some focus you will understand that Shi Lang is delayed by a blink.”
The people were shocked by this information, they did not expect Shi Lang to be copying Tex like this. Suddenly, Tex stopped in his tracks, but after being delayed by a blink, Shi Lang charged in with a smirk on his face. The next moment, the young Terran slashed at the person in front of him.
The attack was sharp, and it was done in such close proximity that Tex had no option but to raise his sword and defend himself. However, when the blades were about to collide, Shi Lang pulled his sword back and then changed his attack into a stab.
Tex was surprised by this change that came at him so suddenly. Tex tried to retreat but then his back was covered with cold sweat when he sensed a sharp sword intent moving toward him. Shi Lang was not using something like an air slash attack but a real attack. Tex had fallen for a calculated trap that Shi Lang had set up for him.
The young terran had been copying his moves religiously and made himself doubt whether Shi Lang also used the same style of sword art. Tex was surprised and tried to disrupt the status quo but Shi Lang caught on to the chance in front of him and then he exploited the window in front of him and attacked him.
Tex was regretting his blunder when he got reeled into the pace of this Young Terran. The intent sword was about to attack him when he forcibly slashed the sword down, emitting a sword intent of his own. The two intents collided and the air around them turned sharp all of a sudden.
Even the onlookers had some difficulty looking at the two people. Shi Lang and Tex retreated and they both stopped moving. They looked at the ground and found two deep slash marks on the ground. Tex was surprised, he did not expect Shi Lang to be able to play with swords in such a manner. This person was on par with him, he thought.
Shi Lang said, “How about we settle this with one move?”
Tex was surprised but then he nodded and said, “Very well. May the best man wins.”
Shi Lang nodded to him subtly and closed his eyes. Tex also did the same, and Xiao Ling said, “I think they are both collecting their thoughts as they are going to settle this match with one strike.”
…
Crystal stood in the administrative box, watching the match with immense focus. One of the staff members said, “Final choice guys, do you really not want to bet on the result of this match?”
Someone replied, “I think Young Master Tex will win, he has mastered the sword intent and has reached the seed level. He has a chance to win.”
The rest of the staff also agreed and they placed their bets on Tex. Suddenly, Crystal asked, “What are the odds if I staked two hundred thousand credits on Shi Lang?”
The banker was surprised but then he replied, “One is to two, Your Highness.”
“Then I am also betting if you are fine with it.”, asked Crystal and the banker nodded with some hesitation.
He could only point all his hopes on tex to win this battle.
…
In the ring, Shi Lang and Tex opened their eyes. While Tex slashed at Shi Lang with a diagonal slash, Shi Lang replied with a simple overhead attack. The stance used by the Terran was the basic of basics, half a step forward and slashed down in a resolute manner without any hesitation in his mind.
The attacks looked simple but they were not something that could be dealt with casually. This time the sharp winds did not only sting the gazes of the onlookers, some weaker ones even got shallow-cut wounds. This was too terrifying for them. After all, the intent was leaking out from the restriction array set up around the place.
The two people responsible for this did not say anything, they just watched the attacks collide and entangle with each other. While Shi Lang was indifferent, Tex, who believed in himself and his mental fortitude thought, ‘This terran is amazing.’
At this moment, the scales shifted in Shi Lang’s favor. This entire match was something where Shi Lang had been overpowering Tex, in a manner and this constant suppression made him a bit helpless. This thought broke down his composure and his sword intent also shook.
Tex’s sword slash gradually lost its luster and vanished, while Shi Lang’s sword slash, still advanced towards him. The shadow guard that protected Tex in secret was about to make a move when Shi Lang’s sword intent vanished just when it was about to injure Tex severely.
The person in the shadow cast a deep gaze at Shi Lang, he was aware that this Terran had diffused his sword intent voluntarily. He wanted to see why Shi Lang gave Tex a way out of this.
Tex was breathing hard when he heard a calm voice ring in his ears, “You are the reason you lost today.”
Shi Lang said these words, and the silent Arena rang with them. Tex asked, “What do you mean?”
Shi Lang replied, “A sword master can be one with a sword, but being one with the sword does not mean that you have to let the blade take control of you. Think of the sword as a part of your body and then you assimilate it in your body. Your brain is what controls this part of your body.
If the intent is born from the heart, then the power to follow that instinct and thought comes from the mind. Earlier in the match, your mind and heart were in a disarray after my sudden change. That is why you hesitated in the last clash. This is why you lost.”
Tex was calm, while the people were surprised to see that Shi Lang was preaching in front of them. This was the second time this happened. Tex was surprised and asked, “How do I get over this hurdle.”
He has suffered defeats in the past because of this. Shi Lang smiled and said, “Do you want me to help you?”
Tex wanted to nod when he stopped, and his eyes opened wide. Shi Lang nodded and said, “Yes, that is why. It is your sword, it is your intent. Are you sure you want someone else to have influence over the path you want to walk? Defeat and victory mean nothing, you should always try to get better than what you were the day before. Compete with yourself. Improve yourself.
I will give you a proverb I like, ‘A sword master is the one, who is the master of the sword.’
It is very simple to understand what it means, right?”
…
Crystal turned her head to the banker and said, “You can pay me half my winnings and keep the rest. Consider this as a lesson, never judge someone before they have shown their truth. Also, this is not his full strength. If you look at it, his limiter was not changed in this fight.”
The people were shocked and the protector was stunned when he heard this. He could not understand why Shi Lang won at a lower realm, when Crystal said, “Sword Master.”