CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 56: PUT SOME STRENGTH INTO IT, HAVEN’T YOU EATEN?

"Number 001, Changjun Middle School, Liu Dingjian, against Number 404, Linjiang First High School, Ye Qingzhou."

The first battle of the semi-finals finally begins.

Liu Dingjian looked displeased as he stared at Ye Qingzhou, especially at Ye’s "colorful" and "flamboyant" attire, which made him quite annoyed.

He took the match so seriously, yet his opponent treated it so casually.

For the first time, Liu Dingjian felt the frustration of being underestimated, a feeling of overwhelming anger.

With an angry shout, Liu Dingjian hoisted the heavy Thunder Dragon Sword onto his shoulder, taking on a stance like Erlang carrying a mountain.

He set his feet firmly on the ground, drawing power from the earth, his aura around him as solid as a mountain, yet as lush as a forest, a dynamic stillness, blending motion and stillness, showcasing the beauty of martial arts in the flow of power.

From the commentary booth, Xin’er and Wandering Son both exclaimed in surprise.

"Mid-Tier Martial Technique, Standing Form!"

"Looks like contestant Liu Dingjian is being very cautious, starting off in a defensive posture!"

"Indeed, the characteristic of the Standing Form is to be grounded, accumulating strength for a sudden release. Liu Dingjian plans to counter and exhaust Ye Qingzhou!"

Many spectators found it unbelievable, as they believed that Liu Dingjian, who possessed a Martial Bone, was clearly stronger than Ye Qingzhou, so why start with a defensive stance?

Do you have to be so cowardly?

Weren’t you crushing your opponents to win before?

Ye Qingzhou wasn’t in a hurry to attack. Dressed in brand new "two-million-dollar" clothes, he stood leisurely outside his opponent’s attack range, using Cicada Sense to perceive Liu Dingjian’s inner breath changes.

"Alternating between Mountain Technique and Forest Technique, inner breath perfectly integrated, interesting."

Intending to test his opponent’s defensive limits, Ye Qingzhou raised his hand and launched a combination of sword skills.

Overlapping Waves!

Double Strike!

Dragon-Shaped Sword Qi Slash!

Six Forms Unification!

The fierce Sword Qi split in two, transforming into twin dragons, playfully soaring into the sky, bathed in fiery clouds, treading on high mountains; their scales like the woods, breathing in shadow, exhaling thunder, emitting a resounding dragon roar toward Liu Dingjian, with imposing grandeur.

The massive semi-final stage was nearly torn in half by this dual Sword Qi, bricks shattering, raising a cloud of dust that completely enveloped Liu Dingjian’s figure.

The two commentators were both startled.

"It’s Mid-Tier Martial Technique Sword Qi Slash!"

"I think I just saw a dragon!"

"Obviously two!"

"This move is powerful, can contestant Liu Dingjian withstand it?"

As the dust settled, Liu Dingjian’s upright figure reappeared, albeit his clothing was already tattered, many places torn apart by the Sword Qi.

"He withstood it!"

"The defense of the Standing Form truly lives up to its reputation!"

Not only the two commentators, even the audience was shocked. This Standing Form, within Mid-Tier Martial Techniques, is always known for its defense.

But if it were only at the Entry Level, it would still be unable to withstand Ye Qingzhou’s Double Dragon Sword Qi Slash just now.

The skill level must be at least Skilled, plus the unique directional force characteristic of the Sword Bone, to block it head-on.

"Quite tough."

Ye Qingzhou also used Cicada Sense to observe the various changes within Liu Dingjian, especially noting how the Sword Bone could deflect attacks and temporarily absorb and convert the opponent’s inner breath into his own.

This means that attacks that don’t kill Liu Dingjian will only make him stronger!

No wonder he took my sword head-on, so that’s how it is.

"Was that Sword Qi Slash your ultimate move?"

Although Liu Dingjian was in tattered clothes, he looked ragged on the surface, but his inner breath surged, making him three times stronger than before: "Now, it’s my turn!"

The Thunder Dragon Sword was raised high, like a Celestial Pillar, standing firm against the sky.

Ye Qingzhou immediately felt locked onto by Liu Dingjian’s aura, with a premonition of impending catastrophe, as if the sky was about to collapse.

Multiple attempts to escape the lock failed, as Ye Qingzhou realized as long as he remained on the stage, he couldn’t evade this move.

In the commentary booth, Wandering Son was also excited: "Here it comes! Here it comes! That move is coming!"

In the Mountain Technique’s Mid-Tier Martial Techniques, it’s the second most destructive move!

It’s also Liu Dingjian’s signature martial technique!

Cliff!

As Liu Dingjian fiercely swung down the Thunder Dragon Sword, the Celestial Pillar seemed to break, a force as overwhelming as a mountain flood, rushing in at an unbelievable speed, tearing the stage in two.

Mountain Technique isn’t just about defense.

It can be unmovable as a mountain and also cause mountain-shattering, unstoppable destruction.

"Amazing Swordsmanship!"

Ye Qingzhou secretly praised, his opponent’s mid-tier martial technique nearly mastered, making the attack speed so fast that he couldn’t dodge it.

No wonder in previous matches Liu Dingjian was unbeatable.

Facing Cliff, only a few contestants in this Sword Fighting Competition could withstand it, but Ye Qingzhou happened to be one of them, so he calmly prepared his moves to counter it.

Pan Guard!

Swaying Willow with the Wind!

Clang~

Ye Qingzhou raised his sword to block, first using the Pan Guard’s Mountain Technique stance to withstand the fierce attack of Cliff, then employing Swaying Willow with the Wind, using the flexibility of his muscles to redirect the force to his feet.

Rumble~

Ye Qingzhou’s position, now sunk three feet into the ground, looked like it was hit by a cannon, forming a deep pit.

"What did I just see?"

"Contestant Ye Qingzhou, whose Martial Bone is not formed, can withstand Liu Dingjian’s Cliff-breaking Sword?"

"His bones didn’t even crack?"

"Unbelievable!"

Xin’er and Wandering Son at the commentary booth didn’t know how to explain it. Liu Dingjian’s techniques and strategies were partly analyzable, but Ye Qingzhou’s situation was bewildering!

It’s completely illogical!

"Not a bad sword, I’ll gladly accept it."

With the soles of his shoes torn, Ye Qingzhou barefooted himself out of the pit, with a delighted expression on his face, waved at Liu Dingjian: "I can still handle it, show me whatever techniques you have."

That sword just now allowed Ye Qingzhou to glimpse deeper mysteries of the Mountain Technique, a considerable gain.

However, his action was taken as provocation by Liu Dingjian, whose anger burned even hotter, and he again raised the Thunder Dragon Sword, posing for the opening stance of Cliff again.

"Let’s see how many more swords you can take!"

Ye Qingzhou remained calm: "My body can probably withstand three more swords."

Boom~

Once again, the Cliff-breaking Sword tore through the earth.

But this time, Ye Qingzhou was unharmed, once again causing astonishment.

"What happened just now?"

"Isn’t Liu Dingjian’s Cliff infallible once unleashed?"

The two commentators admitted they couldn’t understand, until Xin’er couldn’t help but ask the nearby Nan Gongyi: "God Yi, what exactly is going on?"

Nan Gongyi didn’t want to speak initially, as he was a guest and didn’t want to offend Liu Yiming, but now that Liu Dingjian’s technique has been countered, there was no need to hide it.

"Contestant Liu Dingjian’s Cliff is so accurate because he has a Mountain Technique secret known as Earth Listener. As long as the opponent has their feet on the ground, they can’t escape his aura lock."