CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48: CELESTIAL NET SWORD

Mid-Tier Martial Technique, Overlapping Waves!

This technique, Liang Jia originally planned to reserve for the round of sixteen, but had to use it ahead of time.

The Fast and Slow Sword adjusts the speed of sword strikes to disrupt the opponent’s vision. In contrast, Overlapping Waves is a martial technique that can layer force.

By triggering the Inner Breath in stages and then combining multiple forces, it’s an extremely sophisticated martial arts technique.

Overlapping Waves, Double Strike!

Liang Jia slashed out with her sword, and even before she approached, Ye Qingzhou already felt the gust of wind hitting his face.

Facing this formidable attack, Ye Qingzhou showed an expression of delight: "A good swordsmanship, a clever blend of Wind Force and Forest Technique."

Clang~

Liang Jia’s blade was easily blocked by Ye Qingzhou. She bit her lip and urged her Inner Breath again, forcefully swinging a second sword, trying to breach Ye Qingzhou’s defense.

Overlapping Waves, Triple Strike!

The third burst, merging the forces, pushing Liang Jia’s physique to its limits. Her fair wrists showed bulging veins with muscles tensed to the extreme, her Qi and Blood rushing, Inner Breath surging out, forming sharp Sword Qi.

"Break it for me!"

The sword edge roared towards Ye Qingzhou, a strike that could cleave through steel.

However, Ye Qingzhou remained calm, raised his sword, first blocking Liang Jia’s weapon, then effortlessly drawing a semicircle, easily deflecting her all-out effort.

Boom~

Liang Jia’s sword was guided by Ye Qingzhou to strike the arena, exploding a large pit, the recoil even dispersing her Qi and Blood, unable to sustain her Inner Breath.

"Oops!"

She thought Ye Qingzhou would seize the opportunity to counterattack and end the match.

Unexpectedly, after retreating five meters, gaining distance, Liang Jia found that Ye Qingzhou still stood there, his feet unmoved throughout.

Ye Qingzhou raised his index finger, his tone encouraging, signaling Liang Jia: "One more strike."

"You!"

Liang Jia was extremely annoyed, yet at this moment, she understood the gap between herself and Ye Qingzhou, as if an invisible cosmic chasm separates them.

So unwilling!

After showcasing talent since middle school, training hard for years, how could she stop here!

Taking a deep breath to quickly adjust her emotions.

Even if she defeats, she must fight bravely, and then she channeled the remaining Primordial Qi within, simultaneously activating Wind’s Inner Breath and Forest’s Inner Breath.

Ye Qingzhou, dare to underestimate me, you’ll pay the price for this!

Liang Jia’s movement soon prompted shock from White Crane Tower and Spirit Snake Sect scouts in the audience, both revealing expressions of disbelief.

"High-Tier Martial Technique: Celestial Net Sword?"

"Liang Jia actually possesses such prowess!"

"She’s even stronger than Golden Dragon, yet wasn’t selected as a top eighth seed? What is Mingjian Group doing?"

Both couldn’t help but complain. The Kan District’s top eighth seed Golden Dragon now seemed unlikely to qualify, simply absurd.

Having acquired Mid-Tier Martial Technique Overlapping Waves, Ye Qingzhou, seeing Liang Jia’s stance preparing to unleash a major technique, rather than moving forward to interrupt her skill prep, allowed her to complete her power-up.

"Ye Qingzhou!"

"Receive the sword!"

After charging, thirty-six streams of Sword Qi erupted from within Liang Jia, interweaving in mid-air, forming a Celestial Net to cover Ye Qingzhou.

Though Liang Jia’s skill level barely reached entry-level, the power of High-Tier Martial Technique is incomparable!

The fierce Sword Qi seems capable of slicing through steel, making observers feel goosebumps.

"Good swordsmanship!"

Ye Qingzhou shouldered his sword, silently channeling Mountain’s Inner Breath, and posed with the martial technique Pan Guard learned from Gao Dong, making his aura as mighty as the weight of Mt. Tai, unmovable.

Clang clang clang~

One after another, the Sword Qi was directly blocked by Ye Qingzhou, wielding Pan Guard for barely a day yet already more skilled and adept than Gao Dong.

"Three strikes over, my turn."

After taking Liang Jia’s thirty-six streams of Sword Qi, Ye Qingzhou’s figure flickered, disappearing instantly from the spot.

"Not good!"

Liang Jia sensed the force behind her, raised her sword to block.

Unfortunately, Pan Guard is renowned in Mid-Tier Martial Techniques for defense and counterattack. Having absorbed the thirty-six streams of Celestial Net Sword, it now becomes overwhelmingly powerful.

Clang~

This sword had the strength to cleave mountains and break peaks; Liang Jia’s weapon snapped upon impact, sweat streaming down her temples.

Yet Ye Qingzhou wasn’t ruthless, only cutting through Liang Jia’s weapon, not her being, simply using the sword side to lightly pat her shoulder, indicating the outcome was decided.

The referee regained composure, immediately announcing: "Ye Qingzhou wins!"

Wow~

The audience erupted in excitement.

"Won!"

"Won again!"

"The undefeated qualifier from Kan District is Ye Qingzhou?"

"I’m doomed, I sold my house betting Ye Qingzhou would lose!"

No one anticipated this result before the duel began.

The assessment of Ye Qingzhou’s combat prowess was even absurdly off.

Frustrated gamblers rushed to veto on the Sword Fighting Competition’s website, almost overwhelming the comment section, each filled with indignation: "Mingjian Group, what are they pulling!"

"Why isn’t Ye Qingzhou a top-eight seed?"

"You’re telling me someone with this skill isn’t a top-eight seed? I’m starting to doubt Zhu Jinfeng and Liu Dingjian can beat Ye Qingzhou!"

Facing the audience’s skepticism, Mingjian Group directly closed the comment section, playing dead.

After all, some rules are unwritten; things don’t weigh four liang off-scale, but on-scale weigh a thousand jin unable to hold.

The Dongji Kingdom is now heavily nurturing civilian martial artists, Mingjian Group dared not blatantly oppose.

You couldn’t say because Ye Qingzhou wasn’t from a Martial Arts Family, nor had a wealthy benefactor supporting publicity, he lacks fame, hence wasn’t made a top-eight seed, right?

With this battle, Ye Qingzhou emerges as a hot favorite to win this Sword Fighting Competition, standing alongside Zhu Jinfeng and Liu Dingjian, due to that half-arena-cleaving sword, truly awe-inspiring.

As for Golden Dragon, he was rather unlucky, later meeting a seed-bursting Liang Jia in the competition, forfeiting again, becoming the sole top-eight seed unqualified from this Sword Fighting Competition, proving the biggest loser.

......

Just returning to the hotel, Ye Qingzhou received a call from Huang Liwen.

"Old Ye, amazing!"

"You must’ve won a lot of money following my lead, right?"

"Haha, certainly, I’m your beloved friend, of course I bet on your win."

Huang Liwen’s laugh was cheerful, obviously hitting the big time, betting on Ye Qingzhou’s complete undefeated qualification from the beginning, a forty-fold odds exhilarating to no end.

"By the way, Old Ye, the odds for you winning the tournament have just appeared."

"Oh, who did you bet to win?"

"Of course, Zhu Jinfeng."

"...Brother Wen, we’re supposed to be beloved friends?"

"Is it my fault? I read posts by famous analysts, they all believe Zhu Jinfeng will win this tournament. Plus, she’s a beauty... though I bet on her to win, we’re still good brothers."

"Thank you."

"Hehe, no problem."