The Glory of the Tribe

Chapter 30

The censor asked the question, and he had no choice but to answer.

"Master, the technique I have mastered is indeed the ninth style of the Wind-Chasing Sword, called ‘Wind Chase.’" Jiang Xuan respectfully said, facing Lei Hong.

"How many styles have you mastered?" Lei Hong asked again.

"The first four and the ninth," Jiang Xuan replied.

"I see." Lei Hong nodded. He understood now that Jiang Xuan had skipped the other styles of the Wind-Chasing Sword and had directly forced himself to practice the ninth style, which he actually managed to perfect. This demonstrated Jiang Xuan's talent in swordsmanship, which was extraordinary.

Lei Hong didn't ask further questions.

Originally, only a few people had figured out or guessed which technique Jiang Xuan was using, but with Lei Hong’s question, everyone present now knew. The whole arena was in an uproar.

"The ninth style! He’s mastered the ninth style!"

"Even Jiang Hanfeng only mastered eight styles of the Wind-Chasing Sword!"

"According to the Black Swamp Mountain Warriors' rankings, if I’m not mistaken, the last person from the Jiang clan to master the ninth style of the Wind-Chasing Sword was Jiang Hun, who did so 160 years ago. He was also the greatest on Black Swamp Mountain at the time..." The warriors of various tribes were all moved, and a flash of fear passed through their eyes.

The situation on Black Swamp Mountain was about to change.

"Fifteen years old! No! This is impossible! He must have used some forbidden drugs or some other underhanded methods!" No one understood the significance of mastering the ninth style more than Jiang Jing Sheng. He was the highest-ranking person in the arena—complete innate perfection, unity of man and sword! And he had mastered the seventh style of the Wind-Chasing Sword!

Jiang Jing Sheng truly doubted it.

He knew how difficult it was to master the ninth style! Let alone the ninth, he couldn’t even enter the eighth style in his entire life!

How could Jiang Xuan have done it?

But he had.

Rather than disbelief, Jiang Jing Sheng felt fear.

After watching the three years of life-and-death battles, when it seemed like the Shentu tribe was about to win, he had joined them! But in just a month, the Jiang clan was about to counterattack, a counterattack by one person! According to the rules of the life-and-death battle, it could be overwhelming!

"Hahaha! The head of the Jiang clan’s swordsmanship is world-renowned! A true hero!" The one-eyed elder of the Nalan clan suddenly burst out laughing, causing a wave of praise.

"We’re leaving!" Wei Yuanlang turned sharply, his face darkened.

No need to watch anymore! Although the life-and-death battle today had not yet ended, Jiang Xuan had already killed Shentu Lie with one move. How could the Shentu clan possibly win against him?@@@@

One battle or a hundred, the result would be the same.

The two walked out of the training ground and toward the main city gates.

"Actually," Cao Tai thought and said, "Although Jiang Xuan’s killing move is extremely powerful, it only applies in the arena. The rules of the life-and-death battle gave him an advantage. The arena is small, and it’s large enough for his techniques to cover all of it, leaving no way to avoid them, as if he had a cannon in his hand—its power is great, and it doesn’t allow the enemy to leave the attack range..."

"But if it were a running battle, like in the forest, where there is more space to maneuver, one could avoid his sharp edges and fight in a way that relies more on superior physical strength and faster movements. They could definitely defeat him! Shentu Lie lost in the arena because he was overconfident! If it had been in the forest, Shentu Lie would not have retreated immediately, and he would have died!"

"And if Shentu Lie knew in advance that Jiang Xuan had this killing move, and they fought in the forest or in an open area, then... the outcome is uncertain. I believe Shentu Lie would have a greater chance of winning."

"Jiang Xuan’s realm is still too low, that’s the problem."

Cao Tai gave a full analysis of Jiang Xuan’s situation.

After his speech, Wei Yuanlang’s mood didn’t improve.

"If Uncle Cao went up to the arena, how confident would you be to win against him?" Wei Yuanlang asked.

"Ten out of ten," Cao Tai answered calmly and confidently.

"What if he practiced for another five years?" Wei Yuanlang asked again.

"This... it’s hard to say!" Cao Tai realized. Jiang Xuan was only fifteen this year. Even if he was twenty in five years, he was still too young! And Cao Tai, the top innate warrior in Feixue City, wasn’t confident he could win!

This was the problem.

"From my understanding of the cultivation methods of the tribes, Jiang Xuan, born from a millennia-old tribe, has such talent that uniting man and sword won’t be a problem for him. But mastering the 'Heavenly Man’s Will'—he might master it by the time he’s eighteen or nineteen, or thirty, or perhaps never at all!"

Cao Tai shook his head. "The cultivation methods of the tribes are actually flawed and underdeveloped! They lack proper guidance, and the system is not clear enough. This is why, despite their historical inheritance, the overall strength of the tribes is far weaker than the city dwellers."

The two continued their conversation as they arrived at the city gates, took their horses, and left the city.

"Uncle Cao, let’s not go back to Feixue City yet. Since we’re out here, how about we visit other cities?" Wei Yuanlang proposed.

"Good! As you wish, Young Master Yuanlang!" Cao Tai did not object.

He understood that Wei Yuanlang wanted to "avoid the matter"!

This was clearly unfair, but the imperial law didn’t have any rules about keeping quiet during life-and-death battles. Everything was under the control of the Inspecting Master, and whatever he said went.

Lei Hong glanced at Jiang Cuiyun, then at Jiang Jing Sheng.

With a cold, detached gaze, he gave a brief look toward Jiang Jing Sheng, who immediately felt like he had been marked by a wild beast. His hair stood on end, and his spine turned cold! He lowered his head, afraid to even glance up at Lei Hong again.

Suddenly, the entire scene became much quieter.

However, because Jiang Jing Sheng had already given instructions on how to break Jiang Xuan’s moves, Jiang Xuan now seemed to be "on the edge."

Shentu Donghu, being extremely experienced, immediately understood Jiang Jing Sheng’s instructions and adjusted his attack, putting Jiang Xuan in a difficult situation. His movements became less fluid, and Shentu Donghu began to press the advantage. Shentu Donghu’s offensive moved to sixty percent, while his defense dropped to forty.

Jiang Xuan, on the other hand, found himself defending sixty percent of the time and only attacking forty percent.

The longer the battle lasted, the more Shentu Donghu’s advantage grew, and he began to overpower Jiang Xuan.

Jiang Jing Sheng raised his head to look at the platform.

"This..." he murmured.

"Is he...?"

"There’s also the move from the seventh style, which is both offensive and defensive. It can be used to defend and attack..."

Jiang Jing Sheng was becoming more anxious as he watched. The longer he watched, the more urgent he became.

Jiang Xuan was still practicing his sword techniques! And judging by the techniques Jiang Xuan had been using, it wasn’t because he was at a disadvantage and slowed down, but rather because he wasn’t yet familiar with the technique, and he was still attempting to master it.

"Doesn’t anyone see this? What’s going on with Shentu Yan and the others? You’ve all sparred with Jiang Hanfeng. You’ve seen these techniques before! Remind Shentu Donghu to fight for his life!" Jiang Jing Sheng thought urgently but dared not speak. Lei Hong had already given him a warning look.

Shentu Donghu, believing he could gain the upper hand against Jiang Xuan, started to press harder.

But in reality, he didn’t have the advantage. It was all an illusion! If he didn’t fight with everything he had, using his ultimate moves, he wouldn’t win!

Otherwise, Jiang Xuan only needed to create some distance and he would be able to effortlessly use the ninth style to kill Shentu Donghu.

Lei Hong could tell Jiang Xuan was still practicing his sword techniques with ease.

Whoosh!

A figure suddenly appeared on the observation platform.

It wasn’t a space shift but a figure moving so fast that it seemed to materialize out of thin air.

"Why are they still fighting? The first round hasn’t finished?" The old man with a goatee frowned as he looked around. He had come from the main city, expecting the life-and-death battle to be over by the time he arrived, so he could discuss matters with Lei Hong, but he didn’t expect the fight to still be going.

"This is the second round. In the first round, Jiang Xuan killed Shentu Lie," Lei Hong answered calmly.

"What?!" The old man gasped in surprise.

Lei Hong explained briefly, and the old man nodded, deeply impressed. "A true swordsmanship genius! Genius! But his realm is still lacking."

"His realm is also second-tier," Lei Hong replied.

"Lei, I need to speak with you alone." The old man with the goatee looked at Lei Hong.

Lei Hong glanced at him and nodded, then stood up. This was an action he hadn’t taken in three years. "Let’s end this fight early. I have something to handle."

"Yes, sir." Jiang Xuan was certain that Lei Hong was speaking to him.

Shentu Donghu also realized... Lei Hong wasn’t talking to him!

"Are you messing with me?" Shentu Donghu shouted angrily.

"You’re the one who’s going to die," Jiang Xuan said coldly.

"Hahaha! If I die, then so be it! Come on! Use your Wind-Chasing style to kill me! After sixteen years, I’ll still be a warrior! Come on!" Shentu Donghu attacked with sudden ferocity, truly fearless.

Jiang Xuan responded with a fierce slash! This strike used eighty percent of his power—four times the power of his previous strikes!

Clang!

Shentu Donghu’s spear was knocked away.

Jiang Xuan quickly reversed his sword and danced it in a flourish, effortlessly sheathing it.

"Wind-Chasing style? You think you’re worthy of it!" Jiang Xuan said indifferently.

Shentu Donghu’s neck immediately started to bleed.