"Clang!"

The clash of broadsword and heavy sword marked the end of their warm-up and the beginning of the battle between Qianlong Eighteen and the second-ranked contender.

Everyone, including Wang Zhaoling, watched intently.

Although it was considered a formal battle, it was not a contest of strength. The main focus was on showcasing their techniques.

Situ Xiaoyue's cultivation level was widely known due to his prestigious background. He had reached the eighth level of Xuan Guan.

On the other hand, people were unaware that Zhao Changhe had recently broken through to the sixth level, as he was still known to be at the fifth level when he killed the disciple of the Mile Sect.

If they were to use their full strength against each other, it would be meaningless. The attraction of martial arts lies not only in strength but also in the opportunity to learn from others and enhance one's own understanding of martial arts. Martial artists grow through repeated battles.

One said, "I hope you can teach me something," while the other said, "I want to see how skilled your sword is."

Therefore, Situ Xiaoyue consciously restrained his power to the level of the fifth level of Xuan Guan, and Zhao Changhe was happy to not reveal his recent breakthrough and also fought at the fifth level.

In a battle between two fifth-level cultivators, victory or defeat depended on their understanding and application of their respective skills, as well as their combat wisdom and intuition.

"Swish!" The heavy sword swung towards Zhao Changhe's shoulder, seemingly as ordinary as chopping firewood, with no remarkable speed.

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The dragon and sparrow soared, relying on the longer length of its blade, and directly struck Situ Xiaoyue's wrist.

The speed seemed equally unremarkable.

Both of them seemed to be suppressed at the fifth level of strength, losing the aura that others had imagined.

However, just as someone started to think "Is that all?" they were astonished to find that the swords had not even clashed yet, or rather, Situ Xiaoyue's sword hadn't even seen the change in Zhao Changhe's defensive move, but the sound of their collision seemed to have occurred earlier. Looking closely, they realized that the hilt of the sword had lightly tapped the tip of the dragon and sparrow, deflecting the strike.

"What's going on?" exclaimed the young master of the Dai family from the northwest.

Wang Zhaoling stared intently at the scene and casually explained, "Situ's sword was impossible to block... Don't fall into the trap of thinking that being at the same level of the fifth level of Xuan Guan means equal strength. There are differences in power even among those at the same level, not to mention the different methods of power utilization in each family."

"The Shenhuang Sect focuses on physical strength and has techniques that surpass all other sects. Situ's slow sword is actually gathering power all the way. If you think his sword is easy to block and casually try to parry it, the power that bursts out upon contact will directly send your sword flying. The so-called 'great skill without artifice' is still a matter of overpowering the opponent with strength."

"And Zhao Changhe's response is the best option I can think of. By taking advantage of the difference in the length of their weapons, he attacks while Situ is on the defensive, forcing him to defend instead of continuing to gather power. Interestingly, there are very few moves in swordsmanship that involve challenging the opponent's wrist like this. This fucking guy is using swordsmanship..."

"What's even more interesting is that Zhao Changhe's strike incorporates the folding light technique of the Tang family. It seems like it hasn't reached Situ Xiaoyue's wrist yet, but in reality, it's a bit faster. This is the trap he set for Situ. If Situ underestimates him and thinks he can suddenly accelerate and attack without defending, his wrist will be injured first."

"In fact, both sides have seen through each other's intentions and responded perfectly."

Everyone fell silent.

Not to mention instantly finding the best response, even just realizing the misconception of being at the same fifth level or sixth level, there were probably only a few who could see through it clearly.

Some people silently realized that although they were both at the fifth or sixth level, if either of them were replaced by themselves, they would have already lost in that previous round...

As the saying goes, experts can see the way. However, the way cannot be explained in a few words. Just this encounter alone, Wang Zhaoling's explanation had already taken as long as the two of them had fought for twenty or thirty rounds. The commentary of the bystanders had completely lost its meaning.

Fortunately, everyone present was among the ranks of the Qianlong, and there were not many who couldn't understand. The majority could understand, and even if they didn't immediately comprehend, they would realize it later. They all watched intently, no longer uttering a word.

The battle in the arena was no longer the slow-paced, probing kind of beginning. The movements of the two became extremely swift, with one displaying the Drunken Immortal Gazing at the Moon, while the other exhibited the Water Crossing and Wave Lingering, both using heavy weapons weighing tens of kilograms. The extreme contrast between lightness and heaviness made it very uncomfortable to watch, and it was difficult to understand how these two people could control them, yet they were so harmonious within themselves.

"Swish!" The dragon and sparrow soared, and Situ Xiaoyue's footwork suddenly shifted in a bizarre manner, sliding past at an angle that seemed impossible, and then swiftly turning around to strike Zhao Changhe's ribs.The whistling sound brought about by this sword was like being in a mountain cave, experiencing the violent feeling of a fierce wind outside. No more pretending, it truly displayed what it meant to use a sword that even someone at the sixth level of cultivation couldn't block.

The explosive ultimate skill of the Shenhuang Sect, with a simple name, called "Divine Arrival"!

To put it bluntly, Situ Xiao was not someone who played with clever techniques. He and Zhao Changhe belonged to a very similar type. If this sword was used with full force, there would definitely be external changes to highlight the presence of a divine being.

At the same time, Zhao Changhe, who seemed to have missed with his slash, cleverly transformed it into a downward strike, colliding heavily with Situ Xiao's sweeping sword.

With a loud "clang," the hall resounded with a long cry.

The onlookers were astonished to find that Zhao Changhe's strike was completely on par with Situ Xiao's power, not inferior at all!

Because of the bloody aura on this strike, including Zhao Changhe's red eyes, it was completely divine and Buddha-like.

He had integrated the essence of this move into ordinary techniques, no longer limited to the original method of execution. The aura, bloodthirstiness, true energy, and physical body merged and erupted without restraint, unleashing a sword that was no less inferior to the ultimate skill of the Shenhuang Sect.

If your divine might descends...

Then both gods and Buddhas will scatter!

"Boom!" The residual energy waves spread violently, causing nearby cups and bowls to tremble and shake, giving the illusion of an earthquake.

They were getting a bit carried away...

The two people locked eyes amidst the clash of swords and laughed out loud, "How exhilarating!"

"So strong..."

"Is this really the sixth level of Xuan Guan?"

"I would believe it if you said it was the seventh level or even higher..."

"If it were me, I probably wouldn't be able to handle it... It was fine before, but I really can't block this round. I mean, even if I go all out, I can't block it."

"It's normal for Situ Xiao to have such an understanding of martial arts. He's not really at the sixth level of Xuan Guan. He has been famous for so many years... But this Zhao Changhe is truly at the sixth level of Xuan Guan. His understanding of martial arts has actually reached the level of Situ Xiao, and his techniques are extensive, with almost no weaknesses..."

"This is truly a battle between the second and eighteenth on the Qianlong List, not just a battle between the second and third!"

Wang Zhaoling: "..."

The third on the Qianlong List is right here...

But they saw that the two people in the battle took three steps back each. Zhao Changhe raised his sword and laughed loudly, "Brother Situ, I'm sure you also have many ultimate skills that you can't use, not satisfying enough... Let me make the first move and let you try it!"

Situ Xiao stared intently at the dragon and sparrow in Zhao Changhe's hand, but saw Zhao Changhe's wrist shake, and the dragon and sparrow rushed towards him in a strange arc, like a stab and a slash.

This was a modified sword technique, and Situ Xiao immediately made a judgment.

It didn't matter what it was modified from. The fact that Zhao Changhe made such a solemn reminder meant that it was an ultimate skill, and it didn't matter if it was casually shown in front of everyone. It meant that it wasn't tricky in terms of technique, but rather in terms of the use of energy. Others wouldn't know how to break it just by watching.

Sure enough, when Situ Xiao solemnly received this strike, he found that the dragon and sparrow seemed to touch lightly and retract, without giving him a chance to strike, and had already made a second strike, with incredible speed.

Situ Xiao blocked another strike, and the third strike had already arrived.

Then one strike followed another, faster and heavier, as if being in an endless river, with waves surging one after another, endlessly, and with each wave, it seemed to absorb some of the power of the previous wave and gather it again to surge forward. So each strike was stronger than the previous one. By the time it reached the fourth or fifth strike, the power had already surpassed the divine and Buddha-like strike just now... No, the divine and Buddha-like strike was already contained within it.

Situ Xiao suddenly felt that it was becoming difficult, both in terms of speed and power. He couldn't keep up.

What kind of strange move was this? How could it surpass his own limitations in terms of speed and power?

Such a surging and unstoppable force!

Situ Xiao suddenly remembered a line from the Chaos Chronicles: "The long river flows, unstoppable..."

In this situation, wouldn't it be completely applicable?

But Situ Xiao still felt very exhilarated, the more he blocked, the more exhilarated he felt. He even burst into laughter, "Exhilarating, good! Good! Hahaha, what a great sword technique!"

As the continuous sound of "clang clang clang" echoed like pearls falling on a jade plate, Wang Zhaoling stood up with a solemn expression.

Beside him, Lu Bingcheng asked, "Zhao Changhe's endless sword technique is suffocating even to watch. It's truly terrifying... What kind of ultimate skill is this, and how did he achieve it?"

Wang Zhaoling couldn't answer.

He didn't know how he achieved it...

Because this was not a martial art of this world at all. This was the Sword Emperor's ultimate skill, selected by Zhao Changhe from thousands of ultimate skills and kept hidden. How could people of this world recognize it?

"Brother Zhao, be careful!"In the midst of the battle, a loud shout from Situ Xiao echoed. The spectators saw a dazzling light burst at the point where the sword and knife clashed, causing them to momentarily lose their sight.

The secret technique of the Divine Brilliance Sect, Divine Might Heavenly Brilliance!

As the light faded, Zhao Changhe staggered back several steps, a clear trace of blood on his right shoulder, but the injury didn't seem severe.

Situ Xiao stood quietly in his original spot, unscathed.

Had the outcome been decided?

Just as Wang Zhaoling was about to speak, he heard Situ Xiao sigh, "I lost."

Wang Zhaoling said, "I saw clearly, Brother Situ was not injured."

"But I just used the power of the seventh level of Xuan Guan, I can't think of how to counter this move with the same level of strength! If I lost, I lost!" Situ Xiao burst into laughter, "Great knife technique, great sword technique, absolutely thrilling! This battle alone makes my trip worthwhile!"

Zhao Changhe, clutching his wound, was also laughing, "I said at the door, the moment I saw you bump your head on the door, my trip was already worthwhile."

Situ Xiao turned around and grabbed a pot of wine from the table, "Care for a drink?"

Zhao Changhe untied the gourd from his waist and gestured, "Please!"

Both of them raised their wine pot and gourd, tilting their heads back to drink heartily, as if no one else was present.

It was as if this wasn't a martial arts competition, but a meeting of lifelong friends.

Xia Chichi's eyes flickered, staring at the old and out-of-place wine gourd for a long time.

She suddenly remembered, why Zhao Changhe would have such an old wine gourd.