Chapter 111: Chapter ill: Abandon the Knife for the Sword
Zhou Heng!?
This roar from Li Tonghe immediately attracted the attention of many.
Adding to his fame in Yuanhe Prefectural City, many had set eyes on him as soon as he stepped onto the stage, and now even more people were watching.
“Li Tonghe is challenging Zhou Heng, is it that newly ranked forty-second on the People’s List?”
“It should be, an outer disciple of Pure Yang Palace, suspected reincarnation of a great power, that status is quite extraordinary!”
“Let’s forget about the suspected reincarnation of a great power, Shenwu Si loves these nebulous claims. Among the top fifty in the People’s List each year, there are at least eight or ten claimed reincarnations, but few are true.”
“That’s true, but Zhou Heng’s strength is really formidable. To fight three Seventh Rank opponents alone and still emerge victoriously, that’s too powerful!”
“Li Tonghe actually dares to directly challenge Zhou Heng, he’s really brave. Even if he is Seventh Rank, he might not be a match for Zhou Heng.”
“He definitely can’t beat Zhou Heng. Is the Purple Lightning Thunder Blade something to be scoffed at?”
The crowd was abuzz with chatter.
Li Tonghe was so angry he was puffing out his beard and glaring. He was a man quick to take offense and someone who cared deeply about face. The thought that his nephew considered him inferior to Zhou Heng was something he couldn’t swallow.
Oftentimes, the conflicts in the martial world do not have any deep-seated reasons. They are mostly about fighting for a breath of air.
Mortals struggle for a breath of air, Buddhas for an incense stick’s time.
It was nothing more than this.
“Master, he’s challenged you,” Bai Jingtian informed Zhou Heng, “This man is the relative that Li Zhe mentioned, Seventh Rank in martial path, known as ‘ Black Smoke Siege’.
“He excels in using the great sword to deliver heavy blows, and his muscles and bones are strong. It is said that he has even encountered a fortuitous opportunity to cultivate a Seventh Rank inner strength technique that greatly enhances physical power. During a fight, he dominates with his strength, and his prowess is formidable indeed.”
“Good at using power… that’s a bit interesting,” Zhou Heng noted, looking at Li Tonghe on the stage. He was quite interested and lifted his hand to Bai Jingtian, “Give me the Zhi Zhi Sword.”
Ever since Bai Jingtian became his follower, Zhou Heng did not carry his bag, only keeping the high-quality gloves in a close-fitting waist pouch, while the swords were left with Bai Jingtian.
“Ah? You, you’re going to use a sword to fight him?” Bai Jingtian was astonished. In his mind, Zhou Heng’s strongest skill should have been his saber technique.
Even if it were a slightly less strong method, it should be hand-to-hand combat. Swordsmanship… He seemed to have not heard much about Zhou Heng practicing swordsmanship.
Li Tonghe, with his strength-oriented Seventh Rank warrior skills, would pose no significant threat, but he undoubtedly was a formidable opponent. Was it really okay for his master to be so overconfident?
However, understanding his own strength and standing, not to mention his limited experience, he didn’t say much. Though puzzled, he still obediently took out the Zhi Zhi Sword from the bag and handed it to Zhou Heng.
“Don’t worry,” Zhou Heng, seeing the doubt in Bai Jingtian’s mind, smiled and then stepped onto the stage.
“Brother, are you worried that Big Brother will lose if he uses a sword?” said Bai Yuejian with a smile to Bai Jingtian. “How about we make a bet?”
“Ah? How do we bet?” Bai Jingtian asked curiously.
“If Big Brother wins, then I win, and you’ll have to buy me chicken legs to eat every day for the next month,” Bai Yuejian said, licking her lips, looking almost drooling with anticipation.
“That won’t do, you’re just changing your teeth; how can you eat chicken legs every day?” Bai Jingtian quickly shookhis head. “Father has instructed me to keep an eye on how much meat you eat.”
“Humph!” Bai Yuejian pouted, clearly miffed at his response.
“Don’t be upset. Hey, you seemed so confident just now; do you think the master will surely win?” Bai Jingtian asked out of curiosity.
He knew that despite his sister’s young age, her intuition seemed to be exceptionally accurate. Based on past experience, what she believed was often correct.
“Big Brother is so strong, he will definitely win,” said Bai Yuejian, brimming with a cheerful smile.
“Little sister might be disappointed, I’m afraid.”
At that moment, a mature female voice came through, belonging to a woman whose features were not particularly remarkable, but together they produced a distinct charm that made her appear beautiful.
She seemed to be in her thirties, exuding mature allure. Bai Jingtian was slightly distracted when he saw her, only snapping out of it when Bai Yuejian pinched him with her little hand.
“Why do you say I’ll be disappointed?” Bai Yuejian looked at the beautiful woman, a bit defiant.
“Li Tonghe’s strength is immense, and the great sword he wields is far from ordinary.” The woman said with a smile: “If Zhou Heng was using a saber, he could win, as his saber technique is of Middle Third Rank, an exceptional study. But if he’s using a sword, I’m afraid his chances aren’t so good.”
“…” Bai Jingtian fell silent upon hearing this. He wanted to argue, but couldn’t find the words to refute her, as it was a fact that Zhou Heng’s swordsmanship was not as strong as his saber technique.
“Your words don’t count,” Bai Yuejian retorted, confident in Zhou Heng’s victory, “Big Brother will definitely win, and win handsomely!”
“Then little sister, watch and see,” the woman’s smile remained undimmed, appearing quite confident in her own predictions.
At this moment, a young girl dressed in a moon-white skirt approached, holding two melons in her hands. She came beside the woman and said, “Master, the melons you asked for have arrived.”
The girl passed the two melons to the woman, then turned her head toward the stage, suddenly exclaiming in surprise, “He, he, how did he get on stage? I just stepped away for a moment, and Heng has gone up there, and his opponent is really formidable!”
“Xiu’er, who do you think can win?” the woman said with a light laugh, then took a bite of the melon and praised, “Mmm, not a bad taste. Xiu’er, let’s enjoy the melons together.”
“It should be Heng, after all his saber technique is very powerful…” Yun Xiu answered subconsciously, but then she saw the weapon in Zhou Heng’s hand, “Oh my heavens, why is he using a saber, how can he fight against Li Tonghe like this?”
“Big sister, you don’t think big brother can win using a sword against that big guy?” Bai Yuejian looked at Yun Xiu, frowning slightly and with some dissatisfaction.
“I naturally hope that Heng can win, but his swordsmanship…” Yun Xiu said with a wry smile. She knew the martial arts Zhou Heng practiced better than anyone, but since when did Zhou Heng know any swordsmanship?
As for the speculation written on the Hero Ranking about reincarnated powerful beings born with innate knowledge, she didn’t believe it. After all, it was common for the God of War Office to bestow the title of reincarnated powerful being to young martial artists on the Hero Ranking, but its credibility was extremely low.
“I think big brother will win,” Bai Yuejian pouted, saying, “My intuition tells me that all of you are definitely wrong.”
Meanwhile, not far away at a tavern.
Liu Changsheng was sitting on the railing of a private room, gazing at the situation on the stage. He had been leisurely sipping tea while watching the Ninth Grade novices pecking at each other on the stage.
The appearance of Li Tonghe had perked him up, as the Seventh Rank expert known as “Black Smoke for Sacking Cities” was not lacking in strength, and the Black Smoke Greatsword in his hand also had some unique features, roughly equivalent to the strength of those ranked in the thirties or forties on the Hero Ranking.
Upon hearing Li Tonghe challenge Zhou Heng, he became even more spirited.
A month had passed since he had parted ways with Zhou Heng.
In such a short time, the growth of Zhou Heng’s strength had astounded him, and he was very eager to find out just how powerful Zhou Heng had become.
But seeing Zhou Heng taking the stage with a sword, he was momentarily stunned.
“What’s going on?” Liu Changsheng’s eyebrows furrowed, puzzled, “Why is Zhou Heng using a sword, does he know swordsmanship?”
“Did the young master forget that he excels in both sword and saber?” Sitting beside him, Wang Lang said with a smile, “It seems that he should know some swordsmanship, though it’s definitely not at the same rank as his saber technique. To be honest, I also can’t figure out what he intends by taking up a sword now.”
“Zhou Heng doesn’t seem like an arrogant person.” Liu Changsheng’s gaze remained fixed on the stage, “Perhaps he had some sort of adventure in this last month? Otherwise, he wouldn’t have risen to Eighth Rank so quickly.”
When he had met Zhou Heng, he hadn’t even reached Entry Rank, and the reason he could enter Ninth Grade was due to the Tiger Bone Refining Pill that he had given him. And now, merely a month later, Zhou Heng had actually reached Eighth Rank.
Liu Changsheng almost thought he was seeing things when he first learned of this news, it was hard for him to believe.
It was really too outrageous, too exaggerated.
“Let’s just watch,” Wang Lang also gazed at the stage, “Moreover, our primary purpose for coming here isn’t to watch the contests.”
“Manager Wang’s reminder is well-timed,” Liu Changsheng looked toward Wang Lang, “Is that wordless stele really so important? Why is the sect so determined to have it?”
He and Wang Lang were here on a mission to obtain that wordless stele at all costs, a task issued by the Five Elements Sect.
If they could accomplish it, the reward would be quite substantial.
“It must be related to the senior members of our sect,” Wang Lang shook his head slightly, “Young master, with our status, it is often best not to know too much about many matters, as it does more harm than good.”
Wang Lang was a Sixth Rank expert. The high ranks he was referring to were at least Fourth Rank, or even Third Rank or higher powerful figures.
“I know that,” Liu Changsheng nodded, his gaze returning to the direction of the stage, “First, let’s see how Zhou Heng plans to win.”
Zhou Heng taking the stage with a sword also caused a heated discussion among the spectators present.
Information about this “Purple Lightning Thunder Blade” was clearly written on the Hero Ranking. His specialty was a Middle Third Rank saber technique unique skill.
It was precisely by using this unique saber technique that he was able to achieve the feat of fighting against three by himself, reaching a level of strength comparable to Seventh Rank warriors while being at Eighth Rank in martial path.
Now, facing Li Tonghe, who was no weakling among Seventh Rank Warriors, he had chosen to use a sword!??
What was going on?!
This not only left the onlookers baffled and shocked but also infuriated Li Tonghe who was challenging from the stage.
“Kid, are you looking down on me?” Li Tonghe’s eyes, as big as copper bells, glared at Zhou Heng, his voice deep, “I’ll give you a chance, go change for a saber.”
“No need,” Zhou Heng, however, gently shook his head, the Zhi Zhi Sword unsheathed in his hand and shone like a burst of light under the sun, he turned the sword’s edge toward Li Tonghe, smiling as he said,
“Make your move.”