Minglong

Chapter 198 Who Else? (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Zhang Jian could sense that Xie Jinhuan's tactics were too steady, and that defensive counterattacks were pointless. Therefore, he chose to take the initiative and launch an attack. In the instant of hesitation, he pounced like a tiger or a leopard, thrusting forward suddenly with both hands holding his gun.

Boom——

This burst of power was astonishing. Within a range of three zhang, it pushed the peak cultivation level to its limit. It wasn't a contest of technique, but rather a contest that left Xie Jinhuan, whose cultivation level was relatively low, completely unable to react. It relied on the strength of cultivation to suppress him!
Xie Jinhuan was indeed wary of the Daoist principle of 'one force can overcome ten techniques', but Zhang Jian's foundation was not strong enough for him to be unable to react in person. Faced with a straight thrust, he did not choose to parry the thrust, but instead bent his right leg, pressed his body backward to avoid the sharp edge, and raised his spear to stab Zhang Jian's throat, like a rabbit kicking an eagle.

Zhang Jian's spear missed its mark. Facing the cunning thrust, he drew his spear to deflect the attack, then spun around with lightning speed, delivering a powerful and devastating spear strike!

Boom——

Holding the butt of the gun, he lowered his body and slammed the entire gun onto the ground, instantly creating two waves of earth that split to the left and right, like meteors crashing into the earth, with a deafening explosion.

But Xie Jinhuan, who was in the lead, had already pushed off with both legs and pulled back, drawing his gun so far that he flung it behind his back. Then, his whole body muscles bulged, like a fully drawn bow.

As Zhang Jian unleashed his spear strike, he immediately realized something was amiss. The attack's range was too great; if it missed, the quickest course of action would be to raise his spear and adopt a defensive stance, making it difficult to continue the powerful push that would slam him into the ground.
Xie Jinhuan pulled back and then raised his arm sharply, clearly in a gun-throwing stance. The movement was so big that his center was no longer protected, and he had no choice but to take the hit head-on!

The instant he realized his opponent's intention, Zhang Jian had already drawn his spear and held it horizontally like a powerful overlord lifting a tripod. And at the same moment:

"drink--"

The roar pierced the sky, followed by the earth-shattering roar of the powerful dragon crashing to the ground!

Xie Jinhuan seized the momentary sway after throwing the spear, gripping it with one hand like a whip. In the instant he moved, the nine-foot-long spear, already strained under the brute force, morphed into a crescent moon. The raging energy deflected the dust and sand that Zhang Jian had thrown up, following closely behind the spearhead. Then:
clang--

With a terrifying force, the spear struck Zhang Jian's raised spear shaft. The jet-black spear bent instantly between Zhang Jian's arms, and the foot-and-a-half-long spearhead struck his head, the accompanying force instantly tearing his brocade robe into countless holes.

Zhang Jian seemed to have pinned the python dragon down with his hands, his body as unyielding as a mountain, but the ground beneath his feet could no longer withstand the attack. The sharp edge struck the top of his head, and he had no choice but to bow down before the powerful dragon.

The moment his posture became unstable and his lower body lost its balance, he was like a boulder being pulled away, crashing into the loess earth and creating a wave of dirt, almost sinking into the ground.

The aftershocks of the energy were still raging, and the yellow dust they stirred up reached the edge of the arena, startling several junior sect leaders and countless disciples, who quickly took up their weapons to block the flying stones carried by the sandstorm.

Xie Jinhuan's spear-throwing attack, relying on an extremely large upward swing to gather power, did not kill the spear's momentum. The spear slashed down with a thunderous force. He grabbed the shaft with his left hand, gripped the spear with both hands, and chased after the surging tide. The foot-and-a-half-long silver blade pierced towards Zhang Jian, who was tearing the earth apart.

Zhang Jian was shot down, his back almost splitting through the yellow earth, leaving a long groove in the ground. He had no chance to bounce up and regain his footing. Seeing Xie Jinhuan's spear coming at him like a shadow, he could only grit his teeth and use his ground-pushing spear, kicking his legs hard to create distance, and thrusting his nine-foot spear to parry the attack.

Xie Jinhuan charged forward, then changed to maintaining distance and fighting steadily, dragging his spear with his left hand while his right hand, like a green dragon exhaling its breath, thrust his legs into the ground repeatedly.

If Zhang Jian tries to force himself up to stabilize his lower body, he will inevitably injure one of his legs and will no longer be able to win. If he doesn't get up, he can only block and retreat to look for an opportunity.

Dang Dang Dang——

The two guns clashed incessantly, the sound so dense it resembled a string of firecrackers. Sparks and dust obscured the view, and the onlookers could only see Xie Jinhuan, like an iron ox plowing the field, pressing Zhang Jian to the ground and slamming him down, reaching the edge of the arena in an instant.

Even if it weren't for men, Nangong Ye, the bespectacled girl, couldn't stand this...

Although Zhang Jian has not yet been injured or defeated, if he wants to turn the tide, he can only hold on until Xie Jinhuan makes a mistake.

Neither of them were ordinary people. Before this moment, Xie Jinhuan was able to break through the crowd and force Zhang Jian to fall off the riverbank.

Zhang Jiwu, the head of the Liuhetang sect, who was seated at the table, knew that his youngest son still had a sliver of hope, but betting on the opponent's mistake was futile. If he were truly stabbed several miles away and pushed off the riverbank, the scene would be too humiliating. Therefore, before even reaching the edge of the arena, he raised his hand:

"okay!"

Sa——

Xie Jinhuan's palm, which had been moving like a dragon, suddenly stopped. Because the rapid thrusts of the gun were not very powerful, this time the commotion was not significant.

Zhang Jian was pinned down and unable to get up. Hearing the sound, he stopped blocking. Only after confirming that Xie Jinhuan had stopped did he breathe a sigh of relief, flip over and sprang up from the ground. His brocade robe was torn to pieces as if it had been dragged by a wild horse, and vertical bloodstains could be seen on his back. However, he had not been shot and all of them were just superficial wounds that did not hurt.

"Brother Xie's marksmanship may be comparable to others present, but his ability to seize opportunities is probably unmatched. One wrong step and he would be crushed to death. Zhang is completely convinced."

Xie Jinhuan relies on his ingrained fighting spirit and quick reflexes when he fights others.

Although he had forgotten what happened after falling into the sea, he didn't know how he had trained.

But on his first day in Danyang, he discovered that he was just like "Kai," able to detect the opponent's intentions through the slightest traces, thus enabling him to preemptively strike and counter their moves.

However, he is usually not able to force a serious fight against brutes and scoundrels from the martial arts world. His three-hit combo of the lewd dragon can take him down directly, and if he doesn't, he can just have to fight again.

Seeing Zhang Jian admit defeat, Xie Jinhuan's attitude became quite polite, and he bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.
"Brother Zhang, you must be the first person to leave the battlefield unscathed after exchanging blows with me. You flatter me."

Zhang Jian, covered in tattered rags like a refugee, and seemingly unharmed, still bowed and then left the scene somewhat dejectedly, spear in hand.

"Oh..."

The onlookers, all of whom were wandering martial arts practitioners, clearly realized at this moment that the national-level martial arts tournament was of exceptionally high quality, and that those who dared to participate were all extraordinary individuals.

When Nangong Ye saw Xie Jinhuan win, he was honestly on tenterhooks. After all, martial arts combat is not like the Taoist and witchcraft sects, where they stand far away to take out magic weapons and unleash powerful moves. Close-quarters melee combat is too dangerous. Life and death are decided in the blink of an eye, and there is no room for the slightest carelessness. Just watching it is a bit suffocating.

However, this match is clearly not over yet.

Xie Jinhuan remained unharmed, with less than 30% of his Qi Sea depleted. He stood with his spear pointed diagonally, facing the wind, and once again surveyed the assembled heroes:
"Who else?"

Xie Jinhuan's mockery earlier had infuriated many of the contestants, but they clearly calmed down after seeing Zhang Jian eliminated.

After all, even if they fight to the bitter end, the experts present who only seek medicinal herbs and not fame can still compete for a spot in the top three based on the number of matches they participate in.

Knowing full well that Xie Jinhuan was a tough nut to crack, and that he was currently full of energy after warming up, he still went up to confront him head-on, which was like going against the Tiger Bone Vine.

Fortunately, the disciples from the major sects present still had a strong will. They were all from large and powerful families, and even if they didn't get the Tiger Bone Vine, they would still have a chance to get it in the future.

How could he swallow the insult of being ridiculed by Xie Jinhuan for not being a man, and then avoid his sharp edge and remain inactive?
Therefore, after the conversation ended, still in the direction of the Dragon Offering Platform, Yang Zhen, Yang Qing's younger brother from Jingzhou, stepped down from the stage:

"I, Yang, have come to pay my respects to Brother Xie."

Yang Qing of the Jingzhou Gang is a rising star. In his forties, he is ranked sixth among the Seven Heroes of Martial Arts, making him the youngest of the seven. His nickname is "Mountain Climbing Tiger," and the mountain he climbs is the peak of martial arts.

His younger brother, Yang Zhen, is in his thirties and is supported by the Jingzhou Gang, so he has a solid financial foundation, but he is not a favorite to win the championship.

Xie Jinhuan turned his head to look and saw Yang Zhen using his sword to plant the Minglong Spear in the ground and beckoning to Wei Lu.

Wei Lu didn't know how he had become a sword-bearer, but he was quite happy about it. He immediately took his senior sister's sword and threw it into the arena.

Yang Zhen was slightly surprised when he saw this scene:
"Brother Xie has already fought two battles, so you can continue using the gun."

Xie Jinhuan caught the three-foot sword, which carried the scent of a woman, his eyes calm:

"Using strengths to attack weaknesses, winning is a given. Losing would be shameful. At least I can be more dignified if I lose to Brother Yang with a sword."

"..."

Many of the martial arts practitioners present were already used to it. Xie Jinhuan wasn't seeking dignity at all; he was simply using whatever his opponent used, leaving them with absolutely no excuse to lose. He was not only beating them, but also striking at their spirit!
Some sharp-eyed martial artists even asked in confusion:
"Young Master Xie, why aren't you using your own sword? Is it because you find it inconvenient to display your divine weapon in public?"

Xie Jinhuan had planted three weapons in the ground, all of them divine weapons, but the Zheng Lun Sword was not meant to be exposed to light, so he simply raised his left hand:

“I am a disciple of the Hidden Immortal Sect, and I also have some knowledge of Taoist magic. I carry a magic sword, which is not suitable for martial arts combat.”

Stab la la——

As soon as he finished speaking, lightning burst forth from his left hand, resembling a white ball of lightning.

The martial arts practitioners present suddenly realized what was going on.

The seven martial arts masters present were slightly taken aback. After all, they had observed for a long time and hadn't found any Daoist foundation in Xie Jinhuan. The power of the lightning in his palm was small, but having it or not made a difference. They couldn't help but sigh inwardly:
This child's potential is truly unfathomable...

……

Step, step...

Yang Zhen drew his sword and approached the other side. Although he wanted to say a few words to boost his morale, his opponent attacked twice and was even preparing to teach him a lesson. Unless he faced the blade bare-handed, he could not maintain his momentum.

Judging from Xie Jinhuan's appearance, he was unarmed while his opponent was also unarmed, and he couldn't very well cut off his own arm to open the book.

Yang Zhen didn't say anything polite, he simply held his sword and cupped his hands in greeting:
"Yang Zhen from Jingzhou, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Xie Jinhuan cupped his hands in greeting, then drew his three-foot sword and pointed it diagonally at the ground. His figure was as steady as a pine tree, and his white robe fluttered slowly in the autumn wind. His entire aura changed completely.

In the world of martial arts, the most skilled fighter is certainly not a swordsman, but the most handsome is unparalleled. The moment this aura was unleashed, the hearts of all the ladies and heroines present pounded.

Yang Zhen had a rather elegant demeanor, but he was older and rather ordinary-looking, somewhat like a background character. After slightly twirling his sword, he strode forward, gradually increasing his speed. When the distance between them closed to ten zhang, he suddenly exerted force with his right foot:

Sa——

The sword rang out like a startled bird, and the person's figure transformed into a ghost, only a sliver of silver light could be seen, like a dragon swaying left and right, its trajectory unpredictable yet as swift as lightning.

Hey~
Xie Jinhuan focused his gaze, not on the three-foot sword, but on Yang Zhen's eyes. His sword remained motionless. When Yang Zhen closed in to within three zhang, he slightly moved his right foot and leaned his body slightly to the left.

Sa——

In that instant, Yang Zhen moved like a viper striking, his body shifting to the side, his longsword defending his right flank while simultaneously piercing his chest and abdomen with a single blade!

But the white-robed swordsman, who should have dodged to the side, instead charged forward without warning, parrying the incoming sword with his own and then pulling it towards his ribs.

Hey~
Yang Zhen felt a chill run down his spine, but he misjudged the situation from the start, resulting in his sword being on the right side and blocked by his opponent. He hastily pressed down on his sword, but it was difficult to defend against his opponent who brushed past him from the left. He could only parry with the scabbard.

wipe--

Jian Qing was known for his swiftness, and the two of them moved with incredible speed, passing each other in the blink of an eye. Apart from a crisp "ding," there was no other earth-shattering sound.

But under the autumn sun, a few drops of blood splattered out.

Xie Jinhuan slid sideways, stopping with his right hand pointing his sword diagonally towards the sky. He held the sword upside down, protecting his central gate. His white robe fluttered in the wind, and his eyes were as cold as a spring. His elegant and unrestrained stance made Nangong Ye's heart tremble.

Yang Zhen staggered forward a few steps, stopped with his sword in hand, and a two-inch-long gash was visible on his left forearm, which was gripping the scabbard. Blood gushed out, staining his sleeve red, and dripped down the scabbard.

L……

Xie Jinhuan paused for a moment, then twirled his sword:

Whistle rustle~
Choking——

The three-foot sword is sheathed.

Standing up straight and turning around, Xie Jinhuan wanted to say something, but out of politeness, she finally said:

"Excellent swordsmanship. You flatter me."

Yang Qing of the Jingzhou Gang, a young man who ranked among the Seven Heroes, had a great reputation in the martial arts world and had never lost a match. When he saw his foolish younger brother being completely fooled by a small trick, his eyebrows furrowed into one.

Xu Guanfu of the Jiangzhou Gang, who was their adversary, even made a sarcastic remark:
"If you can't help him, don't force him. If you throw rare and precious materials at your disciple, he shouldn't be unable to withstand even one move."

"Why don't you let your apprentice go up and try?"

"Ha ha……"

……

Blood gushed from Yang Zhen's left hand. It appeared to be just a superficial wound, but he had blocked the sword with his scabbard and been slashed in the left arm. Even if a martial artist had the thickest skin, Xie Jinhuan, without holding back, would have crippled an arm. At this moment, his eyes were filled with shock as he secretly pondered:
Such a fast sword...

I've seen Zhang Jian fight this person, and he wasn't this fierce...

Zhang Jian, who was changing clothes between the seats, shook his head inwardly upon seeing this scene.

After all, the first time he fought Xie Jinhuan, he broke out in a cold sweat because he was frightened by Xie Jinhuan. If he hadn't reacted quickly, not being able to figure out Xie Jinhuan's intentions, and hadn't decisively pulled back and stopped his attack, he would have been in serious trouble.

Yang Zhen knew he was facing a formidable opponent, yet he still had a sudden inspiration and decided to attack from the left if the opponent dodged to the right. Wasn't that just asking for trouble?

The many martial arts practitioners present were utterly shocked to see Yang Zhen fall to the ground with a single sword strike, even less effective than Bao Xiaolin. Various murmurs and commotions erupted in their eyes.

"I was presumptuous just now, but Master Bao is indeed still vigorous despite his age; he almost managed to knock Xie Jinhuan off the field..."

"Young Master Xie, you're already invincible in your realm, aren't you?"

"There are few rivals among those at the same martial arts realm, but there are still some formidable figures present. Huo Zhonghu hasn't even stepped into the ring, and there seem to be a few elderly people hiding their faces..."

"Young Master Xie's technique is more than enough, but he is at a disadvantage due to his cultivation level; his strength is not strong enough. If he were half a grade stronger, he would be the strongest martial artist below the super grade, sweeping all before him..."

……

After his opponent left the arena, Xie Jinhuan stood there with his sword drawn, continuing to survey the surrounding heroes:

"Who else wants to give it a try?"

The onlookers, mostly martial arts practitioners, immediately showed eagerness, waiting for the next victim.

Meanwhile, the disciples of the various sects remained silent...
-
Requesting monthly votes or 2
(The words below are added after the text and do not count as points.)

Many thanks to the generous donations from the esteemed members 【非才】【木子木木719】!

Many thanks to the generous donations from the following individuals: [秋雨寒山Q], [阿佐有点困], [盲的痴愚人], [静静的等静静的看], and [薇尔莉特yif]!

Thank you so much for your generous donations, monthly tickets, and recommendation votes!
(End of this chapter)