Chapter 357: The Sparring Begins

Chapter 357: The Sparring Begins

The atmosphere around the council hall suddenly grew tense. The guards, sweating profusely, watched Zhao Changhe draw his blade, uncertain whether they should intervene.

This situation was entirely different from the imagined scenario of someone coming to pick a fight—it was more akin to a sparring match. It was like a challenge issued on a bustling street, drawing the attention of the crowd, where no one considered it an offense. If the fight went well, mutual admiration might even arise.

And this internal challenge was even more private than a street duel. He had offered guidance beforehand and made it clear it was a mutual exchange. The nature of this was almost indistinguishable from a sparring session within a sect. In such internal sparring, the outcome would likely not even warrant a flash from the Book of Chaos.

A thought suddenly crossed Sun Jiaoxi’s mind: *Could this man be doing this deliberately? Is he merely trying to avoid taking Xue’s position as sect leader, fearing his wife might mock him?*

Clearly, no one else would think of this. At that moment, Xue Canghai was deeply moved. He took a deep breath and said earnestly, “If Young Master Zhao has no objections, we could spar in the grand training ground, allowing the sect members to observe and learn. It would benefit everyone.”

Zhao Changhe held the hilt of his blade in reverse and clasped his fists. “Sect Leader Xue is a good leader.”

Xue Canghai shook his head slightly and gestured, “Please.”

One of the sect members nearby grew anxious and whispered, “Sect Leader, the Maitreya Envoy…”

Xue Canghai paused, nearly forgetting about that matter entirely.

But it wasn’t a big issue. The Maitreya Envoy was in the sect’s secret chamber and wouldn’t know what was happening outside. He lowered his voice and ordered, “Send a few people to block the envoy from wandering around. Remember, keep your mouths shut. Don’t say Zhao Changhe is here.”

The sect member looked troubled. “Sect Leader, we also want to watch the duel.”

Xue Canghai chuckled. “With your level of cultivation and understanding of the blade, watching would be a waste. You don’t train hard usually, so cramming now is useless. Go.”

He gestured to Zhao Changhe again. “A small matter delayed us. Please.”

Zhao Changhe had caught the words “Maitreya Envoy” but paid them no mind. He returned the gesture. “Please.”

When they arrived at the grand training ground, Zhao Changhe realized that the layout of the Northern Mang Stronghold was largely modeled after this place. But this one was larger—the training ground could accommodate thousands of people for practice. Here, there was no fear of accidentally injuring bystanders. The crowd around them was immense, stretching endlessly into the distance.

From the looks of it, there were at least ten thousand people here. The Blood God Sect had secretly amassed this many followers—were they aiming for the heavens? Where did they get their resources? Had they raided the granaries of neighboring counties?

No wonder the Maitreya Envoy had come here. This was clearly a full-fledged rebel force. But the problem was, their development had likely been supported by the Vermilion Bird, who was herself a rebel. She had organized these forces for her own use when the time was right. Did the Maitreya Sect think they could take them over?

Wishful thinking…

Zhao Changhe didn’t dwell on it. The feeling of dueling in front of a massive crowd was something he realized he had never experienced before. He was giving that honor to Xue Canghai, and it was worth the long anticipation.

*Clang!* Xue Canghai drew his blade. “This blade is called Blood God. It is forged from…”

He paused, then chuckled. “I was about to say the materials and forging intent are best suited for our sect’s techniques. But after what Young Master Zhao said earlier, that’s meaningless. Though I don’t entirely agree with your interpretation, I offer this blade to you for mutual insight.”

Zhao Changhe didn’t introduce his own blade, Longque. He couldn’t. He simply stood with his blade in hand, quietly watching the crimson blade in Xue Canghai’s grip.

The spring breeze blew, but the atmosphere turned deadly.

*Whoosh!* The next moment, as if by mutual agreement, they both struck, their blades sweeping horizontally.

The Blood Fiend Blade Technique, unlike other martial arts that began with a “greeting” move like “Pine Welcomes the Guest,” was designed for killing from the very first strike.

Both of them, without prior arrangement, used the first move of the Blood Fiend Blade Technique as a form of opening courtesy. This move had no name, essentially an advanced horizontal slash derived from basic blade techniques. It contained more follow-up variations and techniques than the basics. The difference between various schools’ horizontal slashes lay in these follow-ups and the application of force.

Though Zhao Changhe now struck with effortless freedom, seemingly able to change his moves at will, there was still a pattern. His foundation was the Blood Fiend Blade Technique, and the inertia of his force application and follow-up moves followed its path. Anyone knowledgeable would recognize his roots after just two moves.

Similarly, studying someone’s blade technique to counter it relied on this principle. Every move’s follow-up would only go in a few predictable directions. If you were prepared, you could anticipate his actions and seize the initiative.

In a spar between peers of similar cultivation, victory depended entirely on who had mastered their blade technique more thoroughly.

Under the gaze of the crowd, the two blades met.

What puzzled the onlookers most was that, even though it was only the first move, both men’s eyes turned red the moment their blades clashed. A bloody glow emanated from their weapons. Xue Canghai’s crimson blade shone like fresh blood, while Zhao Changhe’s dull broadsword flickered with a dark red light.

“Scatter Gods and Buddhas!” someone whispered in shock. “How are they using the intent of Scatter Gods and Buddhas without the actual motion?”

*Clang!* There was no time for commentary. The two blades collided heavily. Before the speaker could finish his sentence, the blades spun and clashed a dozen times in rapid succession.

Only then did Sun Jiaoxi explain to the others, “Their Scatter Gods and Buddhas has long surpassed the level of a mere technique. As long as the intent is there, every strike is Scatter Gods and Buddhas.”

If Zhao Changhe had heard this, he would have explained it in more modern terms: Scatter Gods and Buddhas had become a kind of enchantment, adding 20% attack power and a fear effect.

Its foundation was the use of killing intent. In the past, when Xue Canghai practiced the Blood God Art, he couldn’t imbue every strike with Scatter Gods and Buddhas. His combat power was far inferior to now.

The more perceptive members of the sect, like Sun Jiaoxi, could also see subtle differences between Xue Canghai’s and Zhao Changhe’s blade intents.

It was exactly the difference Zhao Changhe had mentioned earlier.

Xue Canghai’s Scatter Gods and Buddhas was bloody and ferocious, thick with killing intent. Just looking at it from a distance sent chills down one’s spine. Those with low cultivation or weak nerves dared not even look, turning their heads away.

In the early days, Zhao Changhe’s Scatter Gods and Buddhas had been similar, just less bloody because he hadn’t killed as many. But the fear effect and explosive power had been enough to turn the tide in many battles.

Now, however, Zhao Changhe’s blade had a subtle difference from Xue Canghai’s and even from his own past.

The bloody ferocity was relatively subdued. His blood-red eyes weren’t as terrifying as Xue Canghai’s. If Xue Canghai was like a bloody demon god roaring and slashing in fury, Zhao Changhe was more like… not a demon god himself, but a man standing amidst a battlefield littered with corpses and rivers of blood. The earth was a vast expanse of crimson, while the stars in the sky watched silently from afar.

Among the stars, the eye of a god or Buddha faintly appeared, gazing coldly at the slaughter below. Humans were like ants, life like grass. In the eyes of gods and demons, it was all just a game.

And so, the man standing amidst the mountains of corpses and seas of blood swung his wild blade not at his enemies, but at the heavens.

Scatter Gods and Buddhas!

*Boom!* A deafening explosion rang out. Both men retreated across the training ground.

Zhao Changhe stepped back three paces.

Xue Canghai stepped back five, his expression one of shock and contemplation.

In that moment, he was like a demon god.

But Zhao Changhe was Scatter Gods and Buddhas.

Which form of intent was the true one?