Chapter 56: Going All Out

Before the thought could even form, just as Liu Baiwei’s soft whip was about to strike the back of Meng Yuxi’s head, he felt a sudden tightening at the tip of the whip, followed immediately by a ferocious surge of force.

With a violent yank, Liu Baiwei was dragged forward. Unprepared for this, he was instantly pulled off the stage by the tremendous strength, crashing heavily outside the ring with a loud thud. It was only then that Liu Baiwei realized he had fallen into a trap.

"Liu Baiwei has fallen outside the ring. Meng Yuxi is the winner,"

Eunuch Wen announced in a ringing voice after checking the point rankings for this round.

"Seven contestants advance from this round."

"For the next round of the martial trials, Cui Xiucheng, currently ranked first in points, will face Meng Xueqiao, who had a bye in the previous round."

"Meng Yuxi versus Song Junyu!"

"Luo Pengtao versus Lu Licheng!"

"Wu Shuhan versus Wei Zikun!"

"We now invite Meng Xueqiao and Cui Xiucheng to take the stage for their duel."

Meng Xueqiao and Cui Xiucheng both strolled leisurely onto the arena stage.

"Brother Xiao Meng, you seemed quite dissatisfied with me earlier. This time, instead of playing civil and martial games like your kinsman did just now, let’s have a clean and straightforward fight!"

Cui Xiucheng said with a smile.

Meng Xueqiao replied coldly, "I was just about to see what tricks you have up your sleeve." Without another word, he stepped forward to attack.

Meng Xueqiao and Cui Xiucheng’s sword techniques intertwined, matching each other in power. As their blades danced, sword qi splashed in all directions, echoing like dragons and phoenixes roaring and weaving through the air. The surrounding airflow was stirred by their sword arts, forming swirling tornadoes. Their sword moves possessed the momentum of splitting bamboo, unstoppable and overwhelming. Every clash produced a thunderous explosion in the air.

Meng Xueqiao’s moves were skillful and profound, his sword momentum continuous and smooth, resembling exquisite and peerless starlight. Cui Xiucheng, relying on his true qi being a realm higher, elevated his own swordsmanship to new heights. His sword momentum was majestic and supreme, and with every stroke, it felt as though he could suppress everything in the mortal world.

Their figures flickered erratically, painting countless arcs in the air. Their swords crossed and struck, producing a sharp metallic clanging sound. Their auras clashed fiercely—Meng Xueqiao was like surging wind and clouds, while Cui Xiucheng possessed the force of a thousand jun.

The atmosphere on the stage was tense and fierce, and the onlookers were all awestruck by their swordsmanship. The figures of Meng Xueqiao and Cui Xiucheng crossed in the air like flying birds and sudden tempests. Their sword techniques changed unpredictably, at times like shattering thunder, at times like clear, pure streams.

In the end, relying on his superior realm of true qi, Cui Xiucheng erupted with immense power at the very instant their swords collided. His sword momentum shifted, striking Meng Xueqiao mercilessly like a rainstorm. Meng Xueqiao was forced back, the ground beneath his feet shattered by the shockwave of his opponent's force.

Cui Xiucheng’s sword momentum was as shocking as thunder, his aura enveloping his body to form a massive oppressive pressure. Meng Xueqiao felt a sense of desperate confinement; his sword moves began to waver, losing their previous fluidity.

Ultimately, under Cui Xiucheng’s overwhelming pressure, Meng Xueqiao was defeated. His body crashed to the ground, and his sword flew out of his hand. Cui Xiucheng stood before Meng Xueqiao, his gaze deep and profound, like a supreme ruler. The spectators were stunned by his victory; he had emerged triumphant in this duel.

"Heh, Brother Xiao Meng, no matter how much you sneer, before true martial skill, you are nothing more than this."

Cui Xiucheng chuckled coldly, feeling immensely gratified. However, these words were deliberately meant for Meng Yuxi, as Meng Xueqiao was currently lying unconscious before him.

Eunuch Wen declared, "Meng Xueqiao is unconscious. Cui Xiucheng wins."

"Next, we invite Meng Yuxi and Song Junyu to the stage."

Before stepping onto the stage, Meng Yuxi asked in a low voice, "Begging Eunuch Wen, is my fifth brother alright?"

Eunuch Wen replied in a deep tone, "Rest assured, Young Master Meng. This old servant knows my limits. There is no danger to his life. The young master just needs a few days of proper rest and he will be completely fine."

As soon as the two stepped onto the stage, they cupped their fists in a mutual salute. Meng Yuxi found Song Junyu’s face unfamiliar, but since this was a martial competition, there was no need for pleasantries, and the two immediately engaged in combat.

The heavy black iron fan in Meng Yuxi's hand was exceptionally weighty, resembling an indestructible giant mountain that exerted a heavy pressure on the heart. His footwork was agile and swift, moving like a cunning leopard as he deftly evaded Song Junyu’s saber strikes.

Song Junyu swung his single saber, every blow imbued with supreme force, yet under Meng Yuxi’s iron fan, the blade actually began to emit cracking sounds. Fractures marred the surface of the black fan, as if it were burdened by the weight of a mountain peak.

Song Junyu grew somewhat impatient. His saber techniques were becoming rigid, losing their initial sharpness. Sensing the vulnerability, Meng Xueqiao's brother Meng Yuxi suddenly spun around and gently pushed Song Junyu, causing him to tumble off the stage in astonishment.

This fierce battle unfolded swiftly on the stage. Meng Yuxi’s iron fan was like a divine weapon, irresistible and absolute. His footwork was both flexible and majestic, akin to an immortal descending to the mortal realm. Meanwhile, Song Junyu’s saber techniques were fierce and formidable, yet they appeared somewhat fragile when confronted with Meng Yuxi’s black iron fan.

With the unyielding black iron fan and nimble footwork, Meng Yuxi perfectly integrated the forces of heaven and earth into his strikes, displaying supreme majesty and divinity.

Driven by impatience, Song Junyu’s saber technique grew rigid, and he brought his blade down heavily toward the top of Meng Yuxi’s head. By this time, the two had moved to the edge of the stage. Meng Yuxi executed a light pivot, allowing the saber to smash heavily into the ring's border, gouging out a deep notch in the platform. Having lost his balance, Song Junyu was given a slight push by Meng Yuxi from behind and fell straight off the stage to the ground below.

"Song Junyu landed outside the boundary and loses. Meng Yuxi wins!"

"Brother Meng, I am deeply impressed. I never expected that besides your extraordinary literary talent, your martial arts are also this brilliant. You are truly accomplished in both pen and sword, and I admit my defeat wholeheartedly,"

Song Junyu said with a bow, and Meng Yuxi cupped his fists in return.

"Now, we invite Luo Pengtao and Lu Licheng to take the stage for their duel!"

Luo Pengtao wielded a sharp sword, its gleam weaving through the air like shooting stars, leaving spectators dumbfounded. With an upright posture, an aura of divine majesty emanated from between his brows, making him look like an immortal descended to earth. Lu Licheng grasped a massive saber, the blade's flash radiating supreme dominance. Standing tall and straight, he resembled an imposing and fierce ruler. Facing each other in the grand arena, they looked like two titans locked in a primordial battle.

Their sparring did not involve fatal or crippling techniques; instead, they maintained a rare and courteous restraint. Luo Pengtao’s swordsmanship was fierce yet fluid, smooth as floating clouds and flowing water, with every move fully channeling the essence of his sword dao. Lu Licheng’s saber technique was powerful and piercing, his momentum like a raging tempest, every strike embodying his profound comprehension of the saber.

They crossed paths, parrying and countering with agile and precise movements. Their flowing battle was a magnificent sight to behold. Wielding their respective weapons, they poured their strength and wisdom into the vast theater of the skies.