Chapter 246: Chapter 342: Blade Storm! (Seven Updates)_1
"Xia Yuntian's daughter? Hah, for a man so full of righteousness, how did he end up raising a daughter like this?"
Sitting at the top of the conference hall, Jiang Ling couldn't help but look down upon the scene, well aware that the true love between Fang Ren and Mu Huanqing, with Bai Qi being nothing but an accident.
However, the fact that she twisted the truth to agitate the crowd against Fang Ren just goes to show how malicious Xia Fu Lan can be.
Amidst the venue, Song Mobei watched the scene with his usual gentle smile, as if nothing concerned him whatsoever.
As for Bai Qi's feelings for him, he was of course aware; out of so many female disciples at the Tiandao Sword Sect, how many could claim they didn't fancy him?
Upon hearing these words, Fang Liqun from the Fang Family camp burst into unbridled laughter: "Hahaha! How could I have such a disgraceful older brother? This is laughable! He can't even win the affection of his fiancee, he might as well let go early! Pretending to be something he's not, losing face for our Fang Family!"
Fang Tong frowned upon hearing this. Regardless of what Fang Ren had done, it wasn't outrageous or harmful. Was it necessary to mock him as a family member?
Fang Lizhong shook his head and sighed, "Such a waste of talent. He's only shown his face for a few days, seeking trouble for himself, clearly inexperienced with the world."
Upon hearing this, Fang Tong suddenly couldn't muster any good feelings for this Brother Li Zhong either. After all, didn't the Fang Family abandon Fang Ren when he initially left the clan?
Now that he had made a name for himself, the Fang Family felt honored to accept him back. Yet now, just because of his unrequited love and frustration, they defame him and hastily disassociate themselves, as if he had always been an outcast disdained by the Fang Family people.
These family members... they chilled her heart too much.
Fang Tong couldn't help but think, if her mother and father hadn't been busy with missions and had come to the event today, what would they think upon seeing Fang Ren?
...
At the center, Fang Ren didn't offer any explanations and just kept an indifferent demeanor, laughing before speaking, "Princess Fulan seems to love spreading rumors. However, I won't be giving lessons on fixing that habit for free."
"Hah, Young Master Fang, you might as well just admit it openly," snickered Xia Fu Lan.
"Words are useless. I'm here today to teach Princess Fulan a lesson. If the Princess wishes to fabricate a few more rumors, then continue; after you're done, we can begin," said Fang Ren.
Xia Fu Lan turned to the chairman and spoke, "I think we should clarify the rules of our sparring to the chairman beforehand, to prevent it from seeming like an unfair victory later on."
Seeing that the duel was inevitable, the chairman immediately spoke, "Let's pause the video playback for now. Since both parties have agreed in advance, let's consider this duel a part of the opening ceremony. Princess Fulan, if you have anything to add, please go ahead."
Xia Fu Lan spoke, "Young Master Fang's current realm is merely the early stages of the Cloud Interstice, and if I were to strike with full force, it could end in a single blow, barely having the essence of a spar. So for fairness's sake, in this contest, neither Young Master Fang nor I will use True Qi, only our sword skills."
Upon hearing this, Fang Ren suddenly decided to change his mind. He now needed to use True Qi; he wanted to thoroughly crush all of Xia Fu Lan's confidence. After all, sooner or later, he would become an enemy she faced with full force, better sooner than later.
"Princess Fulan, are you sure you won't use True Qi?" Fang Ren asked.
Xia Fu Lan sneered, "Me use True Qi? Aren't you afraid I might accidentally put you in life-threatening danger, Young Master Fang?"
"I just feel that not using True Qi would give the impression that I'm bullying Princess Fulan," Fang Ren replied.
"Hahaha!" Xia Fu Lan burst into laughter upon hearing this: "Young Master Fang, you really have a talent for telling cold jokes. Have you been scared into delirium? Can't find a way down from your pedestal, so you start spouting nonsense?"
"Whatever Princess Fulan thinks, but this is your chance to use True Qi."
Having said that, Fang Ren started walking in the opposite direction of the field, increasing the distance between him and Xia Fu Lan.
"Opportunity? That's the funniest joke I've heard!"
Xia Fu Lan didn't move from her spot; there was no need for her to increase the distance. In her eyes, a casual swing of her sword would be enough to mangle Fang Ren's legs beyond recognition; what need was there for extraneous movements?
Ching—
A strand of True Qi flew out from Xia Fu Lan's body, turning into a silver longsword; it was her Spirit Form rather than a sword simply condensed from True Qi.
"Does Young Master Fang even have a Spirit Form that can turn into a sword?" Xia Fu Lan laughed. "If not, I can switch to using a real longsword to have a fair contest with Young Master Fang."
"No need, let's begin now," Fang Ren said.
The moment his words fell, the entire venue fell silent, because he didn't even have a sword in his hand to spar with.
"Is Young Master Fang playing with me?" asked Xia Fu Lan, frowning.
Fang Ren spoke, "Not at all. Princess Fulan, have you not heard of a realm in swordsmanship called 'Swordless'?"
As his words concluded, the hall erupted into noise once more.
"Has Young Master Fang gone mad?"
"Indeed, what is this 'Swordless' nonsense? How can there be swordsmanship without a sword? It must be a joke!"
"It seems Young Master Fang is indeed pretending to be more than he is, utterly lacking in skill but still challenging others in that domain."
"Either start quickly or just admit defeat. Why all this talk about 'Swordless' or not? Could it be that the number one Tiandao Sword Sect doesn't know as much as him, an Alchemist?"
"Exactly, let's get started!"
...
Xia Fu Lan looked at Fang Ren as if he were a fool, and laughed, "Young Master Fang, playing the fool like this actually makes me feel a bit sorry for you."
Seeing her like this, clearly not believing his words, Fang Ren didn't want to drag things out any longer. If not starting without a sword was the issue, then he would get a sword.
"Well then, since a sword must be used, that will do," Fang Ren looked at the sword in Xia Fu Lan's hand and said, "I suppose the Spirit Form is the Princess's weapon of choice, so I wouldn't want Princess Fulan to switch weapons."
Xia Fu Lan glanced at her own sword and smiled, "My sword is called the Jade Water Linglong Sword. Generally, when I wield it, no disciple in the Sword Sect can defeat me, except for Brother Song. Using it against Young Master Fang, would that be too much?"
Fang Ren smiled indifferently and turned to Mu Huanqing, "Madame Xuan, may I borrow a suitable weapon."
Hum—
Before Fang Ren's voice had even faded, a gigantic Silver Wheel, a hundred meters in diameter, appeared out of thin air above Mu Huanqing's head, with countless silver weapons displayed on it, continuously emitting a sacred aura.
Whoosh—
A beam of silver light shot out directly towards Fang Ren. With a casual wave of his hand, the longsword that flew out from Mu Huanqing's Spirit Form fell obediently into his hands, as if recognizing its master.
"Madame Xuan actually gave him a weapon!?"
"This… Madame Xuan probably wants to see a fair duel."
"In my opinion, Madame Xuan might be trying to save some face for Young Master Fang. After all, he's bound to be the winning Alchemist of this tournament. He can't spoil his reputation at this time."
"Thanks to Madame Xuan's kindness, otherwise, he would have no weapon today."
…
Xia Fu Lan coldly watched the longsword that came flying out of Mu Huanqing's Spirit Form. It seemed Mu Huanqing was openly opposing her.
The Tianjiang Family Masters sighed and shook their heads as they saw Fang Ren using Mu Huanqing's Spirit Form.
Although they didn't specialize in Sword Dao, they still had some understanding of it.
For instance, the state of Person-Sword Unity which many swordsmen strive to achieve yet cannot attain, as well as the higher level of the Minute Realm, and Song Mobei's state of Voidness Realm, the peak of the sword path—all of these were somewhat understood by them.
And now, Xia Fu Lan's realm of Sword Dao was at the Minute Realm.
On the other hand, Fang Ren was using Mu Huanqing's Spirit Form—someone else's at that. No matter how he wielded it, he could not possibly achieve the state of Person-Sword Unity.
If Fang Ren had significant expertise in Sword Dao and had chosen the weapon given by Mu Huanqing, that would mean he was voluntarily weakening his own power.
From this perspective, Fang Ren didn't even understand the state of Person-Sword Unity, so how could he compete with someone like Xia Fu Lan, who was in the Minute Realm of Sword Dao?
"Shall we start?" Xia Fu Lan asked with a smile.
"Anytime."
Fang Ren gripped the longsword given by Mu Huanqing, his gaze not even resting on Xia Fu Lan; after all, he was blind and couldn't see. Giving her a look to show respect would make sense, but not doing so would be considered disrespectful.
"Today, you will learn what it means to bring humiliation upon yourself!"
Xia Fu Lan was furious at Fang Ren for not even glancing at her, feeling this was a great humiliation. She unleashed her swordsmanship to its utmost limit without any reservation.
Hum—
A Sword Qi burst forth from Xia Fu Lan's longsword, sweeping towards Fang Ren's legs like the wind. She was determined to make Fang Ren need a wheelchair for his wedding day!
Sword Qi was the standard symbol of a swordsman in the Minute Realm, and Fang Ren, unable to even achieve Person-Sword Unity, could not possibly unleash Sword Qi!
The crowd exclaimed, "This is it, Young Master Fang will probably lose a leg!"
Fang Liqun remarked disdainfully, "Truly bringing disgrace upon himself!"
The faces of the patriarchs of the great families were grave; Fang Yuanhao felt a surge of anger inside. This Fang Ren was about to embarrass him in such a setting! Bai Chaojin, however, still wore a slight smile.
Shang Han flicked away his cigarette butt.
Mu Huanqing was ready to rush forward at any moment.
Outside the venue, the hearts of all the teachers and students of the Third Class of the Medical Academy were in their throats.
Jiang Ling frowned deeply at the top of the venue.
Bai Qi clenched her clothes tightly, her teeth biting down on her silver teeth.
"This is what you asked for!" Xia Fu Lan shouted.
At that moment, almost everyone believed the outcome was decided.
"Peak State of Countless Martial Techniques!"
Just as the Sword Qi was halfway there, Fang Ren's longsword suddenly burst into a beam of light—not a result of True Qi but pure Sword Intent!
Boom—
The next moment, that Sword Intent instantly transformed into a Blade Storm several tens of meters wide! It rushed towards the Sword Qi that was flying at Xia Fu Lan with lightning speed!
The Blade Storm, like thunder, was amazingly fast, the sound like the roar of a wild storm! It barreled through the arena unstoppable!
In the blink of an eye, the Blade Storm overpowered Xia Fu Lan's Sword Qi without the slightest pause and continued to bear down on Xia Fu Lan!
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