Chapter 328: Chapter 163: Scheming (Part 2)

A momentary silence fell over the area, broken only by the lingering hum of the saber and spear and the ragged breaths of the onlookers.

Their figures blurred together once more, saber meeting spear. In the blink of an eye, another twenty-odd moves had been exchanged.

The clang of metal on metal was incessant. Overflowing Qi Force carved countless gashes, deep and shallow, into the ground around the tea shed.

The bloody gash on Miao Zhicheng’s chest throbbed with a faint sting.

He had assumed that his fierce and unpredictable Golden Slaughter Soul-Splitting Saber would be enough to quickly dispatch Chen Qing. To his surprise, his opponent’s Spear Technique was steady and masterful, his Body Technique exceptionally agile. After a prolonged assault with no success, he was the one who had drawn first blood—his own.

Miao Zhicheng’s assault suddenly eased. He feinted with his saber, baiting Chen Qing to advance with his spear.

Then, he took a sharp breath, and the surging Profound Yuan True Qi around him instantly converged, drawing inward like the dead calm before a storm.

The hum from the bizarre Curved Saber changed its tune, shifting from a low drone to a sharp, ear-piercing vibration—a strange tremolo that seemed to bore straight into the mind!

SCREEE—!

A shriek that did not exist in the physical world suddenly exploded deep within everyone’s consciousness!

Following the shriek, the Curved Saber in Miao Zhicheng’s hand blazed with light, its blade transforming into a blurry, dark-golden phantom!

Golden Soul Shattering! Soul Shriek!

This was a bizarre killing technique, a fusion of his Profound Yuan True Qi’s properties, designed to directly strike an opponent’s Heart and Spirit!

The shriek could disrupt the five senses, and the flash of the blade could bewilder the mind. An ordinary expert, caught off guard by this move, would often fall into a trance as illusions bloomed before their eyes.

From a distance, Xu Qi and Zhao Stone were hit by a wave of nausea. They grew dizzy and nearly lost their footing.

At the edge of the field, Luo Wei’s expression shifted. He secretly circulated his own energy to resist the formless, intangible assault.

As the primary target, Chen Qing felt the shriek pierce his mind like a steel needle. Before his eyes, Miao Zhicheng’s figure and the saber’s light distorted and blurred. Even the smooth circulation of the Cyan Wood True Qi within him faltered for a moment!

Chen Qing knew at once. This was no ordinary Saber Technique, but a lethal strike aimed directly at his Heart and Spirit!

In that split second, Chen Qing’s pupils contracted. He channeled his full power into the Eight Extremes Vajra Body.

ROAR!!!

A low but powerful roar erupted from deep within his chest.

In an instant, the qi and blood in his body began to boil like lava. His muscles and bones hummed in unison, emitting the faint roars of tigers and trumpeting of elephants!

The bizarre, mind-eroding shriek and the bewildering flash of the blade were instantly scattered, dissolved, and utterly neutralized!

"Huh!?"

The smile on Miao Zhicheng’s face froze, replaced by utter, disbelieving horror!

His Soul Shriek had always been successful. Unless an opponent was specifically prepared for it, few in the same Realm could withstand the blow.

The next instant, Chen Qing’s counterattack came!

The Cloud-Coiling Spear trembled and transformed into a ferocious, cyan-black dragon tearing through the air.

The Spear Momentum was as heavy as a mountain, yet incomparably fierce, completely enveloping Miao Zhicheng in an instant!

Miao Zhicheng desperately brought his saber back to block, pouring his Profound Yuan True Qi into the blade without reservation. The saber let out a piteous cry as he held it horizontally in front of him!

CLANG—!!!!!

A deafening crash exploded outward, far louder than any of their previous clashes!

Miao Zhicheng felt an unstoppable Power surge from his blade. The web of his hand split open, gushing blood, and the Golden Slaughter Soul-Splitting Saber was nearly torn from his grasp!

He felt as if he’d been struck head-on by a charging behemoth. His qi and blood churned violently as he staggered back seven or eight steps, each one leaving a deep imprint in the earth. When he finally steadied himself, his face was ashen.

The hand gripping his saber trembled violently as he stared at Chen Qing in stunned disbelief.

The power behind that last spear strike had been ferocious and explosive, far beyond anything he had imagined!

And judging by the man’s calm composure, he clearly hadn’t even used his full strength!

Miao Zhicheng understood instantly. ’I’m no match for him. If this fight continues, I’m going to die right here.’

His mind raced, and in an instant, he made his decision.

Miao Zhicheng suppressed his roiling qi and blood and forced a smile onto his face. With a flick of his wrist—SHIING—he sheathed his Curved Saber. Cupping his fist toward Chen Qing, he said, "Brother Chen, your Spear Technique is superb and your True Qi is immense. I am thoroughly impressed! My skills are inferior, and I have greatly offended you. This Profound Iron Box... is naturally Brother Chen’s prize. I will no longer dare to covet it."

He changed his tune so quickly and his tone so naturally, it was as if he weren’t the same person who had been making aggressive demands just moments before.

Chen Qing watched him with a calm gaze, sneering inwardly. ’This man certainly knows when to bend and when to yield. The moment things looked bad, he backed down to make peace. So arrogant before, so deferential now—he feels no shame at all.’

He said coolly, "Are you sure you don’t want it, Young Hero Miao?"

Miao Zhicheng waved his hands frantically, his smile widening even more. "Some fights lead to friendship! Brother Chen, your strength is astonishing, and I am truly impressed. Compared to the chance to befriend you, what’s a mere Profound Iron Box?"

Chen Qing gave Miao Zhicheng a look. "Is that so?"

’The Jianghu is a treacherous place, and the hearts of men are impossible to read.’

’Is he just feigning weakness to buy time? Is he waiting for his cronies from Golden Sand Castle to show up and ambush me?’

Miao Zhicheng met Chen Qing’s gaze and said earnestly, "Ahem, ahem... Some of the rumors about me in the Jianghu are mostly misunderstandings, truly... In fact, I love nothing more than befriending young heroes like yourself, Brother Chen."

Chen Qing didn’t believe a word of it, but he wasn’t some hot-headed rookie either.

’Killing an important disciple from a powerful backer like Golden Sand Castle, right here in public and without absolute justification, would surely bring endless trouble.’

’It might even provoke an Astral Force Realm expert to come after me.’

’Killing him in secret is the safest option.’

So, Chen Qing decided to Go with the Flow. "If it was just a misunderstanding," he said, "then it’s good that we’ve cleared it up."

Miao Zhicheng laughed heartily, then turned to the surrounding Wandering Martial Artists who were still watching. In a loud voice, he announced, "Everyone, the show is over! You can all disperse! Brother Chen and I have simply become friends through combat. Our little misunderstanding has been resolved."