He came like a swift wind, and he retreated without losing his composure.
Sensing the chilling killing intent behind him, Lin Shanhe executed the Eight Trigrams Wandering Dragon Steps, his clothes fluttering, retreating to the hall door, then suddenly stopping.
Then he twisted his waist and body, his blade flashing like lightning, shimmering with cold light, drawn from his waist!
The saber was like a swimming snake, its quivering tip like a viper flicking its tongue, striking from below, with an extremely tricky angle.
Sleeve Hidden Green Snake!
It was yet another Black-tier saber technique, and Lin Shanhe's mastery was not shallow.
"Excellent saber technique!" Han Qianhu praised loudly at this moment, "A big drink is in order!"
Ning Yue remained silent, smoke rising from his feet, his pursuing figure suddenly twisted, abruptly leaping out of everyone's sight.
The next instant, he had already appeared on Lin Shanhe's right side, and with a 'bang', his long saber struck horizontally, severing the viper's vulnerable seven inches.
In a flash of lightning, the situation on the field changed rapidly, leaving people dazzled.
Xue Ren's eyes flickered, not saying a word.
He had originally thought that after Han Yu took office, the Baihu positions would be decided by individual ability, but now Han Yu's attitude was subtle, and he had to prepare for the worst.
And Zhao Zhige looked at the brilliant light in his sister's eyes, and his brows couldn't help but furrow.
However, Lin Shanhe on the field truly had unspoken suffering; he had diligently practiced this saber technique for a long time, unwilling to expose it to others, waiting only for this year's Grand Military Competition.
Who knew that the soft persimmon he intended to easily handle had suddenly turned into a hard rock.
As soon as he fell into a disadvantage, he was pressed hard by his opponent step by step. The saber in his hand seemed to have a navigation system, not only relentlessly pursuing him but also subtly blocking his escape routes. After only a dozen exchanges, his Eight Trigrams Wandering Dragon Steps were about to become a trapped dragon in a shallow pond!
Everyone present was an expert in martial arts, so how could they not understand the current situation? Ning Yue wielded his saber like a thread, the saber qi dense as needlework, weaving a suffocating saber net filled with murderous intent.
His lightness skill had long reached perfection. The defensive and offensive moves of dodging and counterattacking just now were all secret techniques, and he had firmly seized the initiative on the field.
And Wild Field Eight Desolations was originally a martial art of grand, powerful, and overbearing movements, but he used it with a blend of rigidity and softness, not aiming to kill, but to display its trapping ability.
Lin Shanhe had long lost the composure he had at the beginning of the fight. Sweat frequently dripped from his forehead, falling into the corners of his eyes, where the salt dissolved, painfully burning his eyeballs and blurring his vision, but he had no time to wipe away the sweat.
He felt like a fish that had swum into a fishing net, or a snake trapped in a snake-catching bag by a cunning snake catcher. Even if he struggled with all his might, he could not escape his predetermined fate.
"Hiss--", in just a moment of distraction, his clothes were cut into ragged pieces by the sharp saber qi. As he dodged, cloth ropes flew, making him appear even more disheveled.
Ning Yue advanced with his saber, his face showing no sorrow or joy. His green robe floated in mid-air, billowing like a cluster of green flames flying against the wind!
The scattered clouds beneath his feet formed and dissipated, propelling him forward, his saber following his movements, agile and ethereal.
"It's time to close the net!" Ning Yue said to himself.
"It's time to end this!" Everyone witnessing the scene on the field made a reasonable deduction.
But Lin Shanhe was unwilling!
He desperately swung his already aching arms, blocking blow after blow, like a trapped beast fighting to the death, refusing to give up. But all he saw was dense saber light, making it impossible for him to distinguish between candlelight and saber glow.
The saber light instantly fell like a meteor shower, in front and behind him, above and below him. Lin Shanhe felt as if he had returned to the battlefield, pursued and intercepted by enemies from all directions.
There was no place where he could be safe.
"Clang!" A crisp sound, like a great bell, rang in his heart, making his head buzz, and the ring-pommel saber in his hand finally broke in response.
And after the broken saber, Ning Yue's saber momentum did not wane; he still had strength to spare.
The saber's edge was like a bird that flew out and then returned, "pecking" a strand of Lin Shanhe's broken hair before happily turning back.
With a "clang," the flying bird returned to its nest. Ning Yue sheathed his saber, and his aura quietly receded.
Just now, he was a valiant warrior who had fought a hundred battles without defeat; after sheathing his saber, he seemed to return to being a graceful young man who loved to read.
Silence fell all around. For a moment, everyone was immersed in the previous match, remaining silent for a long time.
They had originally thought it would be an easy victory for Lin Shanhe, at most requiring some effort. Who would have thought that the young man before them, who had been silent, would suddenly astonish everyone, actually defeating a Xiaoqi who was among the top fifty in the Grand Military Competition.
Seeing his clothes unchanged and his expression normal, it was clear that he hadn't expended much effort.
Everyone couldn't help but ponder, among the Xiaoqi, who else could truly suppress this person?
Besides the disciples of the major aristocratic families, perhaps only martial artists who had reached the pinnacle of the Flesh Refining Realm would dare to claim a sure victory.
Xue Youwei rubbed his eyes, only feeling that the Ning Yue before him was so handsome that he seemed somewhat unfamiliar. Was this the same person who had snatched his lion's head just now?!
And Xue Ren's mouth was slightly agape, seemingly still not recovered from Ning Yue's effortless victory.
He won just like that? This Lin Shanhe, who was in the top fifty of the Grand Military Competition, was too weak!
However, he immediately shook his head, dismissing that thought.
"Good! Well done, both of you are excellent young men of my Great Yuan Dynasty." Seeing that the victor had been decided, Han Yu was the first to speak, then raised his cup and drank it all.
Only then did everyone come to their senses, praising him one after another.
Zhao Zhige turned his head to look, his sister resting her chin on her hand, her beautiful eyes sparkling.
Zhao Zhige's brows furrowed into a knot.
"What? Ning Yue won, and you seem very happy?"
Zhao Silu's smile was completely undisguised, her two gem-like eyes sparkling, brighter than the lamplight. She put her arm around her brother's arm, shaking it vigorously, and said, "Yes, yes, Second Brother, I've made a huge profit this time!"
The crowd was boisterous; the intense fight just now seemed to have ignited the passion in many people's hearts, making everyone more talkative. Many reminisced about the past, their eyes filled with nostalgia.
Han Yu now smiled and greeted Ning Yue: "Ning Yue, please step forward!"
"A treasured saber has always belonged to a hero! This saber is named 'Cold Light'. I hope you treat it well in the future, and do not... let it be buried." Han Qianhu's voice carried a hint of reminiscence, showing his great fondness for this saber.
After he finished speaking, he waved his large hand, and the saber spun out, then stopped in front of Ning Yue.
Ning Yue grasped the scabbard, and his hand suddenly sank. What was an effortless weight for Han Qianhu felt quite heavy in his hands.
With a casual pull, Cold Light was unsheathed, instantly illuminating the room!
"I will not fail to live up to Qianhu's words!" Ning Yue smiled brightly.
Han Yu nodded with satisfaction and then said, "Your saber technique is sharp, and you can control it freely, which shows your daily drive for progress and lack of laziness. The Grand Competition is imminent this year; do you have confidence?"
Ning Yue bowed with cupped hands, "Xue Zongqi often teaches us that 'one regrets not having learned enough when it's time to use it.' You cannot wait until the battlefield to regret having wasted your years. Your subordinate deeply agrees with this."
"As for this year's Grand Competition, there are countless heroes in the army, and talents gather like clouds. Your subordinate was originally lacking in confidence, but with this saber in hand, I think I can still give it a try!"
"Haha, good! Well said! Xue Zongqi is a pillar of my Gu City. Today, seeing Ning Yue, I realize you are adept at managing your subordinates!" Han Yu laughed heartily.
"Exactly! Exactly! Xue Zongqi governs the army fairly and manages his subordinates well. Ning Xiaoqi's saber technique is exquisite and outstanding. It can be said that the officer and soldier are in harmony, complementing each other."
"Ning Xiaoqi was a hidden dragon in the abyss, and now he has emerged to fight, easily defeating the son-in-law. It truly makes one look at him with new eyes."
The flattery of the crowd, like a tide, engulfed Ning Yue.
Xue Ren quietly straightened his back, adjusted his collar, and then glanced at Mo Yingshuo, who was secretly grinding his teeth nearby, before standing up and cupping his hands, saying, "This humble subordinate is not talented; it is all due to Qianhu's discerning eye for talent that no talent has been overlooked."
Han Qianhu said with emotion, "Yes, I nearly overlooked a talent. I, this official, also didn't expect this battle to turn out this way."
"Ning Yue!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
Han Yu suddenly sat up straight and slowly said, "This official is still lacking a personal guard by my side. I wonder if you are willing to follow me?"