Changshan’s defeat to a Kun Ding technique from a Longhu Mountain disciple had already been surprising. Now, with A Gong about to step onto the stage to face the renowned Yuan Jianxin, everyone felt a sense of unease.
Yet, A Gong’s reaction was remarkably calm. He turned to comfort them, “This time, the protagonist isn’t us. Reaching the peak of Longhu is Brother Yan’s mission. Our task is to showcase the spirit of the folk sects and earn everyone’s respect. So, win or lose, as long as we display our abilities, that’s enough.”
Long Feicheng and He Xiping agreed wholeheartedly.
Long Feicheng, in particular, laughed, “Indeed, sometimes losing feels even better than winning. Like that match I had against Zhao Tiedan.”
Yan Nanfei coughed twice. “Keep your voice down. If you keep calling Zhao Chengxiang Zhao Tiedan, I’m afraid he’ll really snap and fight you.”
“Let him fight! I have my own grandfather, and he won’t just stand by and do nothing!” Long Feicheng was utterly unfazed.
While others were showing off their fathers, Long Feicheng was showing off his grandfather.
Yuan Jianxin had already ascended the Wanfa Zongtan, waiting with his sword box. A Gong also tidied himself up and strode onto the stage.
The audience was quite interested in A Gong. This paper effigy master had displayed a variety of tricks the previous day, single-handedly emerging from the group of eight without even needing to attack, leaving a deep impression.
Many were also curious why A Gong wore a mask. Was it to appear more mysterious?
As A Gong stepped onto the stage and greeted Yuan Jianxin, he was met with a cold reception. Yuan Jianxin said dismissively, “No need for pleasantries. I have no interest in your name. A defeated opponent is not worth mentioning.”
A Gong didn’t get angry. He intended to make Yuan Jianxin remember his name through his actions.
“Begin the match!”
The Second Elder of Longhu Mountain struck the gong. Just as Yuan Jianxin was about to make a move, A Gong called out for a pause, causing Yuan Jianxin to frown.
“What else do you need?”
“Just a moment.”
After speaking, A Gong raised his hand and removed his mask.
Yan Shouyi and the others in the audience were astonished, unable to comprehend why A Gong would remove his mask at this juncture.
His face was severely burned.
However, when A Gong removed his mask, Yan Shouyi and the others were taken aback again.
Standing on the Wanfa Zongtan was not the disfigured A Gong, but a young man with remarkably refined features.
“What… what is going on?” Yan Shouyi exclaimed in surprise.
This person was undoubtedly A Gong in terms of build and voice, but where were the burn scars on his face?
Old Jin, standing beside them, chuckled softly. “After we dealt with Chu Liang last time, A Gong also broke through his inner demons. He quietly found me and asked me to restore his appearance, telling me not to tell you all, planning to give you a surprise.”
“That’s quite a surprise…” Wang Ji said with emotion. “We have a new handsome guy among us now.”
A Gong’s refined appearance, fitting the “little boy next door” type, was sure to attract many older female fans.
Perhaps his choice to remove the mask at this moment was to ensure people remembered him, and the paper effigy master.
A Gong dropped his mask and said to Yuan Jianxin, “It’s fine now. Let’s begin.”
Yuan Jianxin didn’t care about A Gong’s appearance. The moment he heard A Gong’s words, he lunged towards him.
Strangely, Yuan Jianxin left his sword box behind and attacked A Gong empty-handed!
Even though Yuan Jianxin wasn’t carrying a sword, A Gong dared not underestimate him. He threw two paper effigies from his sleeve. The paper figures immediately came to life, charging forward like dead warrior guards, throwing themselves to intercept Yuan Jianxin without regard for their own safety!
“This A Gong has quite some talent,” the Old Celestial Master admired.
“But Yuan Jianxin is not to be trifled with either,” Zhang Sishui habitually countered the Old Celestial Master.
“Sishui, who do you think has a higher chance of winning between the two?”
“Naturally, Yuan Jianxin,” Zhang Sishui replied. “Yuan Jianxin has practiced swordplay since childhood, achieving sword intent at thirteen. He is a once-in-a-millennium genius from Laoshan. Rumor has it he is a reincarnation of Lü Dongbin. His strength is evident for all to see. While A Gong has good talent, he ultimately won’t be Yuan Jianxin’s match.”
The Old Celestial Master smiled without speaking, as if, in his eyes, the outcome of this battle was still uncertain.
As Yuan Jianxin formed a sword finger, his hand seemed to hold a sword without actually having one. He charged past the two paper figures, and in the next instant, the two figures were cleaved in two, falling powerlessly to the ground.
Seeing this, A Gong’s heart sank. This Yuan Jianxin, without a sword in hand, could use his sword finger with sword intent to such a degree that he could cleave his paper figures!
If Yuan Jianxin were to wield a real sword, wouldn’t he be even more formidable?
This Luotian Grand Ceremony was truly filled with hidden talents!
A Gong became incredibly serious, engaging Yuan Jianxin with all his might.
“Good heavens, Yuan Jianxin’s sword intent has improved even further since the last Luotian Grand Ceremony!”
“This young man is the only hope for Laoshan, so the Sword Sect naturally cultivates him greatly!”
“A Gong has also exceeded expectations, actually managing to fight Yuan Jianxin to a temporary draw!”
“Indeed! I thought it would be a one-sided affair, but I didn’t expect A Gong to hold his ground so well.”
“The folk sects indeed possess some strength…”
“Don’t forget, Yuan Jianxin hasn’t drawn his sword yet. This is just a probe. Once Yuan Jianxin draws his sword, this A Gong won’t be able to hold on!”
The audience below murmured amongst themselves. On stage, A Gong and Yuan Jianxin had already exchanged hundreds of blows.
The various paper effigies summoned by A Gong were all broken by Yuan Jianxin’s finger.
Yuan Jianxin’s sword-finger attacks were met with paper figures from A Gong that provided cover.
The two traded blows back and forth, fighting a fierce and exhilarating battle. It was, since Yan Shouyi’s match against Yan Guichao, the most thrilling contest of the Luotian Grand Ceremony!
“Well fought!”
“Yuan Jianxin, draw your sword quickly!”
“Looks are justice! We support A Gong!”
Unexpectedly, by the halfway point of the match, both A Gong and Yuan Jianxin had gained quite a few fans.
Yan Shouyi asked them, “When I was on stage earlier, did anyone shout like this?”
Luo Ning cast him a sideways glance. “Don’t flatter yourself. Everyone actually wanted to see you make a fool of yourself.”
“But I ended up performing the Dou Zhuan Xing Yi and Jiu Xing Lian Zhu!”
“Perhaps that’s because you’re not as handsome as A Gong.”
Yan Shouyi touched his face. “It can’t be that bad, can it? A Gong is at most on par with me. Have your tastes changed recently? Do you all now prefer the ‘little boy next door’ type?”
Zhao Yiyao thought for a moment and replied, “Look at the ages of those cheering for A Gong.”
Yan Shouyi looked back and immediately understood. The youngest among those cheering for A Gong was at least thirty.
Long Feicheng envied, “A Gong is so lucky. He’s been noticed by rich older women at such a young age. When will I have such luck!”
“Stop chatting and watch the match seriously!” Zhang Shantong reminded them.
Everyone quickly shifted their attention back to the Wanfa Zongtan.
A Gong and Yuan Jianxin had been fighting for a full ten minutes, neither able to gain the upper hand.
Finally, Yuan Jianxin could no longer hold back.
He retreated to his sword box and said coldly, “I thought dealing with the likes of you wouldn’t require me to draw my sword, but I must admit, you are an excellent opponent. What is your name?”
It seemed Yuan Jianxin was finally going to take A Gong seriously as an opponent.
Unexpectedly, A Gong retorted, “When asking someone’s name, shouldn’t you introduce yourself first?”
Yuan Jianxin was taken aback and was about to state his name when A Gong interrupted again, “Never mind. A defeated opponent is not worth mentioning!”
This verbal counter-attack pushed the atmosphere to its peak. Everyone was cheering for their favored contestant, and the tension between the two was palpable.
Offended by A Gong’s retort, Yuan Jianxin felt his dignity challenged. Although his expression remained unchanged, everyone could sense Yuan Jianxin’s irritation.
*Bang!*
Yuan Jianxin struck the sword box with his palm. The sword box, like a sturdy wooden stake, was directly embedded into the Wanfa Zongtan!
The bluestone floor tiles cracked!
The Old Celestial Master frowned. “Damn it, don’t let this kid participate in the Luotian Grand Ceremony next year. How many floor tiles does he break every year!”
Yuan Jianxin pressed a switch, and the sword box opened, revealing a black peach wood sword.
“Is that a lightning-struck peach wood sword?” Long Feicheng asked curiously. “Is it the same as my Cai Wei sword?”
“It’s the same, but also not quite the same,” Yan Nanfei explained. “It’s said Yuan Jianxin’s sword is named ‘Tao Xin’. Its material is thousand-year-old peach wood, and the heavenly lightning that struck it was also unusual. It was five-colored heavenly lightning that the former sect leader of Laoshan Sword Sect traded his life for.”
“So it’s still a lightning-struck peach wood sword, isn’t it?” Long Feicheng said sourly.
Zhang Shantong flicked Long Feicheng’s forehead.
“Is a penguin a goose? Is a weasel a wolf? Is a panda a cat? Although they are all lightning-struck peach wood swords, his Tao Xin is fundamentally different from your Cai Wei. Not to mention, his Tao Xin was obtained with the life of the former Laoshan sect leader… To summon heavenly lightning with one’s life and temper the peach heart with one’s soul, Yuan Jianxin’s sword is no weaker than my Zanpakuto.”
Zhang Shantong’s high praise for Yuan Jianxin’s sword surprised Long Feicheng. Recalling the fearsome power of the Zanpakuto, he immediately grew wary of Yuan Jianxin’s Tao Xin.
“Sword, emerge!”
On the Wanfa Zongtan, Yuan Jianxin drew the Tao Xin sword from his sword box. Instantly, five-colored lightning flashed along the sword’s body.
It looked formidable.
A Gong also became serious, knowing Yuan Jianxin was finally getting serious and that he, too, had to bring out his ultimate skills to counter.
Yuan Jianxin, holding the Tao Xin sword, walked amidst the five-colored lightning. A wind, seemingly from nowhere, whipped Yuan Jianxin’s clothes wildly, and his eyes seemed to ignite with flames.
“This strike is named ‘Po Jun’ (Army Breaker). If you can withstand it, I, Yuan Jianxin, will befriend you!”
With a sweeping stroke, his power broke through a thousand armies!
Yuan Jianxin swung his sword horizontally, his sword intent transforming into sword qi, covering half the Wanfa Zongtan, leaving A Gong nowhere to hide!
A Gong plunged his hands into his sleeves and quickly pulled out two long strips, which unrolled like scrolls!
People couldn’t help but wonder how much A Gong’s sleeves could possibly contain.
The two long strips instantly transformed into two hundred-meter-long paper effigy pythons. One python used its massive head to carry A Gong, lifting him dozens of meters into the air!
The other python positioned itself in front of A Gong, using its tail to whip Yuan Jianxin’s sword qi!
*Boom!!*
The collision between the two kicked up thick dust!!