"Hmph, Chen Xifeng, I was defeated by your sword back then, and today is the time to get my revenge," Chen Han said proudly to Chen Xifeng.
"Do you really think you can defeat me?" Chen Xifeng asked mockingly.
Chen Han sneered, "These past two years, I have been tirelessly practicing with my heavy sword. Today, I will let you see just how powerful my heavy sword really is."
With that, Chen Han drew a large broadsword from behind him. The broadsword hit the ground, causing a thunderous boom as the floor trembled.
The audience all showed surprised expressions, the sword seemed extraordinarily heavy.
"Ha ha, my heavy sword weighs eight hundred pounds. One strike can shatter even the hardest bluestones. What about that, Chen Xifeng, are you scared?" Chen Han laughed arrogantly.
Chen Xifeng simply smiled.
After experiencing Xu Nian's Meteorite Iron Hammer, he was no longer surprised by any heavy weapons.
Eight hundred pounds?
Compared to Xu Nian's four thousand eight hundred pounds, Chen Han was like a child playing house, hardly worth mentioning.
"Only eight hundred pounds and you dare show off?" Chen Xifeng mocked.
"You dare underestimate my heavy sword," Chen Han shouted angrily, raising his heavy sword suddenly and leaping toward Chen Xifeng with a crushing blow.
The sword strike was as formidable as a mountain, smashing down toward Chen Xifeng with an immensely heavy aura.
In an instant, Chen Xifeng's eyes became sharp, and he reached to his waist, drawing a soft sword into his hand.
The audience all showed their surprise.
Chen Han was using a heavy sword, but Chen Xifeng unexpectedly chose a soft sword, a complete contrast!
Xu Nian was also astonished. During their last hurried encounter in Jade Cave Heaven, he hadn't noticed Chen Xifeng's choice of weapon; it was actually a soft sword.
In group battles, a soft sword's light and elegant form has a great advantage, but in single combat, heavy weapons unquestionably have the upper hand.
After all, heavy weapons can exert the greatest force.
Chen Xifeng moved swiftly, skillfully dodging Chen Han's heavy sword strike while his soft sword aimed straight for Chen Han's chest.
Powered by Spiritual Energy, the soft sword became incredibly agile and unpredictable.
In the blink of an eye, the light blade approached Chen Han, slashing directly toward his arm.
Chen Han's expression changed, and he quickly repositioned his heavy sword, swinging it horizontally toward Chen Xifeng.
The heavy sword swept across, bringing a terrifying gust.
Chen Xifeng's eyes narrowed, and he retracted the thrusting sword, grabbing the tip with one hand and the hilt with the other, blocking the oncoming heavy strike.
The soft sword flexed to an extreme curve, yet it did not snap; the force from the heavy sword was completely dissipated.
"Huh?" Chen Han was clearly stunned, not expecting his strike to be blocked.
Chen Xifeng snickered coldly, his finger flicking hard on the blade.
A piercing ringing sound erupted, and the sword Qi exploded.
Chen Han's heavy sword was immediately sent flying, and at the same time, Chen Xifeng leaped up, kicking Chen Han in the abdomen and sending him flying.
Chen Han skidded ten or so meters back before he could stabilize himself, a trickle of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth.
The audience cheered, impressed by Chen Xifeng's finger flicking technique.
Even the Prefectural Governor, sitting in the high stand, brightened up, marveling at the exquisite finger skill of Chen Xifeng.
Xu Nian gave a slight chuckle at that moment. He was all too familiar with that Finger Skill, naturally, it was the same move he had used when he battled Ouyang Chengfeng, and he hadn't expected Chen Xifeng to have learned it.
Using the finger to tap the sword released Sword Qi in one burst, achieving an effect similar to Collapse Thunder.
This bore some resemblance to the Collapse Thunder Hammer Technique that Xu Nian was currently practicing, but there were differences; after all, the Collapse Thunder Hammer Technique was a hundred times more difficult than the Finger Sword.
Chen Xifeng held his Soft Sword, moved his foot, and once again pressed straight toward Chen Han.
Seeing this, Chen Han immediately became furious, roared, and swung his Heavy Sword again at Chen Xifeng.
Chen Xifeng's eyes turned cold in an instant, and a hint of a cold smile flashed across his lips as his arm trembled and his Soft Sword surged out like a spirit snake.
Chen Xifeng's Soft Sword struck Chen Han's Heavy Sword and instantly sent it flying out of Chen Han's grip and falling outside the Battle Platform.
"How... how is this possible?" Chen Han grasped his right hand, his face a picture of shock.
Just that instant, he had felt as if his tiger's mouth was struck by lightning, rendering his whole arm completely numb.
Knowing that he was using a Heavy Sword, how could he have let his opponent knock the sword out of his hand?
Chen Xifeng's sword tip rested on Chen Han's neck as he said coldly with a smirk.
Chen Han collapsed dejectedly onto the Battle Platform.
"Qinglin Academy's Chen Xifeng wins!" Elder Song Heng announced.
The crowd was stunned, their exclamations unceasing.
Chen Xifeng's swordsmanship had been incredibly exquisite, to actually shake off the opponent's Heavy Sword with a Soft Sword; they deemed such a feat impossible.
Even Xu Nian in the preparatory area was mildly surprised, not expecting Chen Xifeng to have taken this step.
That moment, Chen Xifeng had not randomly shaken his Soft Sword into the shape of a spirit snake.
The layers upon layers of folds, like wave upon wave, accumulating all the force to be finally unleashed through the sword tip—that was why the power was so immense.
This move should be a distinctive sword technique created by Chen Xifeng based on the fundamentals of using the fingertips.
Xu Nian hadn't thought Chen Xifeng could exploit his Finger Sword to this extent; he was somewhat taken aback.
Chen Xifeng swept across to Xu Nian's side and said with a smile, "How was it? I didn't disappoint you, did I? However, I'm looking forward to your next performance. Just a hint, will you be using that hammer soon?"
Beside them, Dugu Jingcheng also looked at Xu Nian, curious about when he would use his Meteorite Iron Hammer, given that they had witnessed its weight.
Just thinking about that terrifying weight smashing down on someone gave them all a shiver.
Xu Nian smiled and said, "Why don't you just watch and see?"
Chen Xifeng didn't expect Xu Nian to keep such a tight lid on his secrets, and could only suppress his curiosity.
Xu Nian, however, could not help but chuckle. Deal with Qin Tian?
Would he even need his Meteorite Iron Hammer?
A single sword would suffice!
"The final match, Tianhen Academy's Qin Tian versus Qinglin Academy's Xu Nian! Please both contestants enter the Battle Platform," Elder Song Heng announced.
As soon as Elder Song Heng's voice fell, Qin Tian directly swept up onto the Battle Platform.
With Qin Tian's appearance, the crowd also burst into cheers.
Although Qin Tian was not as famed as Ji Yun, he still enjoyed considerable renown at Tianhen Academy; coupled with Xu Nian's role in the preliminary rounds eliciting widespread dislike, the entire crowd almost unanimously chanted: "Defeat Xu Nian, victory to Qin Tian!"
The shouts echoed through the venue, lingering on and on.