Chapter 121: Instant Kill
"Qin Xuan!" Bibi Dong's heart instantly leaped to her throat.
Tang Hao seized the opportunity, switching his hammer to his left hand. The 'Collapse' technique of the Clear Sky Nine Strikes was unleashed, striking towards Qin Xuan's right cheek.
However, the Clear Sky Hammer stopped abruptly, less than five centimeters from its target.
Blood dripped to the ground.
Qin Xuan's Changming Sword, which had been knocked away, had somehow fallen into his left hand. He held the longsword horizontally, its tip having already pierced Tang Hao's left forearm. Sword qi, imbued with the power of the Ghost Valley Breathing Technique and two different attributes of lightning and fire, drilled into his arm.
Under the searing pain, Tang Hao's grip on the Clear Sky Hammer became unstable. Qin Xuan seized the opening, pointing his sword directly at Tang Hao's throat. The fear of death spread through Tang Hao's heart, and for the first time in his life, he panicked during a battle. In utter desperation, he tried to retreat, but no matter how he moved, the Changming Sword remained pointed at his throat.
After continuously retreating for more than ten meters, Tang Hao's steps faltered, and he fell backward, catching himself with his left hand. Though his right hand still held the Clear Sky Hammer, he dared not move. The tip of Qin Xuan's sword was already pressed against his skin.
"The Clear Sky Nine Strikes: Empty, Seal, Pierce, Penetrate, Entangle, Shake, Break, Stop, Collapse," Qin Xuan said, his gaze icy. "I originally thought that a once-in-a-century genius of the Clear Sky Clan would be able to fully demonstrate them. Is this all there is?"
Cold sweat streamed down Tang Hao's forehead. Qin Xuan's figure seemed infinitely magnified in his eyes, and for the first time, he lost the courage to retort.
The scene had happened too suddenly; the battle had lasted less than a minute.
"It's over just like that?" Ning Fengzhi uttered, baffled. He and Bone Douluo looked at each other in disbelief. They had expected a clash of powerful Spirit Abilities, a true man's fight. But what was this? Qin Xuan had subdued Tang Hao without either of them using a single Spirit Ability.
Including Qian Xunji, almost everyone was confused. They didn't understand how Qin Xuan had won. Was he too strong, or was Tang Hao too weak?
Only Sword Douluo, the only other master swordsman present, saw some of the truth. His eyes lit up, and he uncharacteristically lost his composure, standing up and exclaiming, "Amazing." Though it was only a few short moves, it was as if he had witnessed a divine technique.
"What?" Ning Fengzhi asked, not understanding.
"Qin Xuan's swordplay has already surpassed the Clear Sky Nine Strikes," Sword Douluo explained, forcibly suppressing his excitement. "Although he didn't use any Spirit Abilities, every move—its strength, accuracy, and sword qi—reached an impeccable level. He is a true genius of swordsmanship. Compared to him, my own skills, which I have honed for over sixty years, are like the light of a firefly against the sun and moon. If he is promoted to Titled Douluo, he can freely take my title of 'Sword'."
As soon as these words came out, the entire audience erupted in an uproar.
Tang Hao only then reacted, feeling the gazes of doubt from all around. He felt like a fraud. He knew that today, he had not only failed to restore the Clear Sky Clan's face, but he had also disgraced himself.
"What, you seem very unconvinced?" Qin Xuan looked at him mockingly.
Feeling the bone-chilling coldness at his neck, Tang Hao proudly turned his head away. "That's right. You merely used a strange sword technique to catch me off guard. I haven't even unleashed the true power of the Clear Sky Hammer."
"It seems you're still a sore loser," Qin Xuan retorted. "Do you think I have to crash into your hammer head-on? Do you think I can't dodge, can't evade, can't attack your weak points? That only by accommodating your techniques can I truly defeat you? And when you're charging up, I can't interrupt, otherwise it's 'unfair'?"
The series of questions made Tang Hao's face flush red. The crowd burst into laughter, feeling that the so-called genius of the Clear Sky Clan was famous for nothing.
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