Chapter 6, Fencing Competition

"So be it!" Tian Xiong let out a long sigh, "If I lose to Xiao Hao this time, then there is no need to dwell on it any further"

"Alright, with this, I no longer need to overthink things in the future." Tianxiong wanted to close his eyes and enjoy the sense of relaxation that he should be feeling at this moment. Yes, he should feel relaxed, having set aside the heavy mission of saving the human world; his future life should be filled with endless happiness!

The Qingfeng sword swiftly made two turns in the air, its blade instantly pointing towards Tianxiong

At the moment he made this decision, the referee of the fencing match, the most beautiful swordmaster of the Azure Sky City, Hong Lianhua, smiled as she walked to the center of the arena and said loudly: "Before the match, please have both contestants stand in the center. I will cast a healing spell on your swords, so that when your swords strike your opponent, the wounds will automatically heal, and the match will thus determine a winner. Do you understand?"

However, he sadly felt how false this seemingly easy emotion was, "Why? Why do I feel this way?"

The surrounding audience began to fervently cheer for Xiaohao, and the affectionate young ladies even started to scream at the top of their lungs for every brilliant sword move he made, hoping to catch his attention

Xiao Hao revealed a hint of a bitter smile on his face, casting aside the Qingfeng Sword, and said to Tian Xiong: "Good skill. Although your swordsmanship is not as good as mine, your courage has defeated me"

Xiao Hao accurately discerned Tian Xiong's intentions and immediately unleashed his ranger's lightness skill, charging towards the fleeing Tian Xiong. The two figures resembled two eagles soaring in the sky, gracefully gliding through the air, their forms swiftly intertwining. The sword light flashed like lightning in a sky filled with dark clouds, and while people were still dazzled by the brilliance of the long sword, their figures had already drifted far away into the more distant sky

Xiao Hao suddenly whispered, "Tian Xiong, why haven't you thrown away the tip of the sword yet? Don't forget that a healing spell has been cast on the sword; if you don't dispose of it in time, it will become troublesome."

Xiaohao and Tianxiong nodded simultaneously to indicate their understanding. The healing technique passed down through the generations on Ranger Island is a divine art praised even by the celestial realm. Utilizing this technique to prevent injuries during fencing competitions not only ensures that the matches are thrilling and intense, but also guarantees a 100% assurance that there will be no aftereffects from any injuries sustained.

Although somewhat reluctant, faced with the onslaught of Xiao Hao's celestial storm, Tian Xiong had no choice but to abandon his offensive and adopt the completely defensive sword technique—the Iron Wall Sword Technique, passed down through generations on the Ranger Island. The pair of swords transformed into two iron curtains, firmly blocking in front of him. The Iron Wall Sword Technique could be described as the most conservative and unappealing sword technique; its total defense made onlookers feel drowsy. The crowd around him erupted in boos, eagerly urging Tian Xiong to change his defensive stance and engage in a counterattack against Xiao Hao.

Long after, when Tianxiong gradually awakened from his chaotic thoughts, he found that his right hand was tightly gripping a broken sword tip, its sharp edge firmly pointed at Xiaohau's throat. Blood flowed down his right hand to his elbow, then dripped onto the ground. Xiaohau weakly held the remaining half of the Qingfeng sword, staring at Tianxiong with a face full of astonishment. The surrounding spectators were left dumbfounded by this dazzling turn of events in the battle.

The sword-fighting arena of the Drunken Sword Workshop was teeming with people, as many young wanderers from Sword Island, passionate about swordsmanship, rushed to the surrounding viewing areas to catch a glimpse of the renowned fencing champion, Xiao Hao. The swordsmanship instructors from both the Drunken Sword Workshop and the Iron Sword Workshop also took this opportunity to gather and exchange experiences in sword techniques, creating a lively and harmonious atmosphere

During a conversation between two individuals, the referee, Hong Lianhua, approached Tian Xiong and said, "Young man, you seem full of energy; the final move was quite spectacular"

Xiao Hao seemed to have a clear understanding of Tian Xiong's techniques. His swift and fierce offensive suddenly came to an inexplicable halt as he sidestepped. Tian Xiong continued to wield his long sword vigorously for a while before noticing that Xiao Hao had already positioned himself to the side.

When his gaze fell upon Xiaohau's sword, his eyebrows slightly raised. It was a polished, gleaming green blade long sword, with the hilt also shining brightly, clearly having been carefully maintained. The width of the blade and the body of the sword were larger than that of an ordinary long sword, giving it a heavy and substantial appearance

Tianxiong and Xiaohau arrived at the center of the venue and stood side by side to express their gratitude to the audience present

Tianxiong had nearly given up; Xiaohau's swordsmanship possessed a spirit that he could never surpass, no matter how hard he practiced.

That was the most magnificent Heavenly Waterfall Sword Technique of the Rogue Island, consisting entirely of extremely fierce attacking sword techniques. The continuous sword light converged into a galaxy, resembling a surging waterfall cascading down from halfway up the mountain, rushing towards Tianxiong like a stormy assault. Indeed, Tianxiong's balanced offensive and defensive sword techniques were constrained by Xiaohau's Heavenly Waterfall Sword Technique, forced to retreat step by step under Xiaohau's onslaught.

Xiao Hao's entrance brought a wave of excitement to the sword-fighting arena. He is a tall, sun-kissed youth with dark skin, and his confident yet slightly languid smile immediately instilled a sense of anticipation and confidence in the crowd regarding his swordsmanship. In contrast, Tian Xiong's complexion appeared somewhat pale, and he was not as tall.

"Drink!" After a stick of incense's time of combat with Tianxiong in the air, Xiaohau had already grasped the flaws in Tianxiong's sword technique and decisively launched a close-range quick attack

Xiao Hao smiled nonchalantly and said, "It doesn't matter, I have many such long swords at home; my father is a swordsmith at the Iron Sword Workshop"

She turned her head to face the audience and raised her voice, saying: "Therefore, I announce that today's victor is the Heavenly Hero of the Drunken Sword Workshop"

A pair of delicate hands, like those of a red lotus flower, gently brushed against the weapons held by Xiaohao and Tianxiong, and a faint, rosy glow flickered briefly on the blade.

Observing the nonchalant demeanor of Xiaohao, Tianxiong let out a heavy sigh and thought to himself: "As expected of the champion, he already holds the advantage in terms of presence."

Tianxiong finally realized this crucial point and hurriedly threw the tip of the sword to the ground. However, due to the healing technique, the wound healed rapidly, and part of the wound closed too quickly, trapping a portion of the sword tip within the flesh. Tianxiong had no choice but to endure the pain and tear the sword tip out, casting it far away. The wounds that had just healed began to bleed profusely again

The earth-shattering cheers erupted outside the arena, and the bizarre swordsmanship of the smiling hero drove the crowd into a frenzy. Seemingly inspired by the audience, the smiling hero's long sword almost flaunted a beautiful flourish as it pointed towards the throat of Tianxiong. As long as his long sword pressed against the enemy's throat, this match would conclude with his perfect victory.

Tian Xiong finally came to his senses and hurriedly said, "Xiao Hao, I am sorry, I did not expect to damage your long sword"

The scenery before me began to blur, and the surrounding gasps and screams transformed into a distant echo that was difficult to articulate. A familiar sensation of headache surged towards me once again with an unstoppable force.

"Alright," said Hong Lianhua with a hint of pride, "now you are completely safe, so feel free to compete as you wish!"

The audience erupted in laughter, everyone was amused by the comical appearance of Tianxiong Kongwu wielding the long sword.

Tian Xiong was taken aback, hastily regaining his composure, and nervously aimed his long sword at Xiao Hao. It seemed that Xiao Hao had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time; with a sharp shout, he struck towards Tian Xiong with his long sword like thunder and lightning. Tian Xiong realized the gravity of the situation and raised his dual swords to block. Caught off guard, he did not use his full strength, while Xiao Hao, having built up his momentum, suddenly unleashed his power, his aura resembling a flood breaking through a dam, unstoppable. Although Tian Xiong's dual swords managed to withstand the oncoming Qingfeng sword with great difficulty, the overwhelming force transmitted through the swords was unbearable for him. He felt a searing pain in his hands, and the paired swords slipped from his grip, soaring into the air.

Xiao Hao and Tian Xiong simultaneously raised their long swords towards each other. Xiao Hao positioned the blade of the Qingfeng Sword horizontally at the height near his head and chest, bringing his hands together to perform a courteous sword salute. Tian Xiong, using his left hand, grasped the hilt of the paired Yuanyang Swords and returned the gesture with a bow.

Her resounding voice elicited a thunderous cheer from the audience at the Drunken Sword Tavern

His actions drew a round of applause from the audience. Everyone watching understood that this move by Tianxiong meant he had to first gauge Xiaohai's depth through the use of body techniques before engaging in close-quarters combat. This was far more exciting and thrilling than starting with a direct clash of blades, especially after both of them simultaneously employed the unique lightness skills of the Ranger Island.

After a while, the young men from the Drunken Sword Workshop, led by Gao Shan, were the first to cheer loudly for the victorious Tian Xiong. The audience, who had been stunned by Tian Xiong's final move, gradually came to their senses and began to cheer and applaud for him

"So fast!" Tianxiong exclaimed in genuine astonishment, swiftly dodging to the side, performing two consecutive somersaults, and creating a considerable distance between himself and Xiaohau.

As Tianxiong watched the long sword, which was gracefully and leisurely directed towards his throat by Xiaohua, he thought in confusion, "Could it be that deep down in my heart ... ... "

"Only those who truly love the sword are the real wanderers." As Tianxiong thought of this, he suddenly felt a sense of ease. "Perhaps I have been overthinking; he is indeed the one suited to rescue people in the world. I am just an ordinary person from Wanderer Island. Perhaps, like my father, I can be an excellent tavern owner, marry a woman from Wanderer Island who is as skilled in gardening as my mother, and then happily enjoy five hundred years of uninterrupted happiness"