Imperial Cultivation

80: Chapter 78 Strike

80 -78 Strike

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To completely ruin him, you have to shatter his confidence, leaving a shadow in his heart, thus cutting off his path forward.

If you can’t remove the shadow in your heart, you can’t step onto the path of a Grandmaster, let alone a Great Grandmaster.

The shadow in the heart, the more you want to dispel it, the harder it is to do so.

In such a public setting, in this kind of occasion, it’s easiest to form a psychological shadow for him, can’t miss this opportunity.

If Cheng Tianfeng doesn’t admit defeat, then we’ll keep fighting until he completely admits defeat, only then will it be considered perfect.

…

Cheng Tianfeng staggered as he crossed the high threshold, blood already seeping from the corner of his mouth, his clothes somewhat disheveled, no longer maintaining his former graceful and steady demeanor.

He strode over to Chu Zhiyuan, staring intently at him: “Again!”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled at him: “Brother Cheng, is it really necessary?”

Cheng Tianfeng gritted his teeth and said: “I haven’t lost yet!”

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Prince Ying.

Prince Ying gently said: “Feng’er, let’s stop here.

Victory or defeat is common in the world of combat, if you lose, then train well and spar again next time.”

Cheng Tianfeng gritted his teeth, glaring at Chu Zhiyuan, and slowly said: “I haven’t lost!”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed and said: “Brother Cheng, why keep holding back?

It’s better to bring out your trump card earlier.”

He knew that Cheng Tianfeng still hadn’t used his trump card, which was the Left Hand Sword, likely a more fierce swordsmanship than his right hand.

But Cheng Tianfeng had never used it.

He could guess Cheng Tianfeng’s thoughts.

Cheng Tianfeng was specifically looking for his weaknesses, avoiding using his trump card unless necessary.

This move was meant for surviving critical moments, not to be used unless it was a matter of life and death.

In his place, the trump card would be more important than winning or losing.

But in such a situation, carrying such high stakes, if it were him, would he have used it?

He estimated he would have, and likely used it long ago.

That Cheng Tianfeng could endure until now was truly remarkable.

It showed he was more selfish and more egotistical.

But now, if he didn’t use it, he might really lose.

Cheng Tianfeng absolutely couldn’t allow something like this to happen.

Especially couldn’t stand losing in front of himself, couldn’t lose in front of Yujing’s number one beauty, Xiao Ruoling.

Thinking of this, Chu Zhiyuan turned to glance at Xiao Ruoling.

Xiao Ruoling was sitting quietly between Bai Ningshuang and Chu Yi, watching this side, her clear eyes glistening like autumn water.

Seeing Chu Zhiyuan look over, Xiao Ruoling didn’t show any shyness, just smiled slightly, revealing an encouragement.

She hated Cheng Tianfeng deeply.

She wished Chu Zhiyuan would defeat him with a single sword, but she also knew it was impossible, only by completely defeating and seriously injuring him could she vent this grievance.

She faintly guessed Chu Zhiyuan’s intention, otherwise, he could have just defeated him outright, no need to hold back repeatedly.

Pushing his advantage, Cheng Tianfeng would have probably lost long ago.

Cheng Tianfeng turned to look at Xiao Ruoling, then at Chu Zhiyuan, his killing intent boiling over, no longer suppressible.

This killing move he originally didn’t want to use, no matter how much he wanted to kill him, it wasn’t suitable to use in such a setting; it could be used in a place with no one around.

Now looking at it, there’s no choice!

Thinking this, he said in a deep voice: “I’m not one to pester endlessly, Brother Chu, if you can take this last move of mine, then the outcome will be settled.”

“Alright, I’ll accept Brother Cheng’s high move!” Chu Zhiyuan laughed: “Please—!”

Cheng Tianfeng struck again, the sword light like lightning, extremely fast.

He seemed like a different person, his sword posture faster by threefold than before, Chu Zhiyuan knew he was using some secret technique to stimulate his potential.

Such a secret technique generally couldn’t be sustained for long, but in such settings it was most suitable, no need to worry about the exhaustion after the secret technique ended.

His body flickered, deftly maneuvering through the sword light, shaking his head with a laugh: “Brother Cheng, is this your trump card?”

“Heh!” Cheng Tianfeng sneered.

His sword posture became faster and faster, eventually becoming just a mass of electric light, the sword becoming invisible, even Chu Zhiyuan’s figure indistinct.

Chu Zhiyuan was entirely engulfed, obscured, and submerged in the sword light, seemingly disappearing without a trace in the sea of light.

At this moment, Cheng Tianfeng suddenly switched the sword to his left hand, the sword light dimmed suddenly, the myriad of electric lights converging into a single purple light, stabbing towards Chu Zhiyuan.

His left arm beneath his attire had swelled a circle thicker, veins bulging like countless earthworms wriggling and crawling under his skin, quite terrifying.

Under the vast power, this sword accumulating explosive force moved at a speed beyond imagination, too fast to dodge.

Cheng Tianfeng’s mouth curled with a smirk.

He seemed to envision Chu Zhiyuan being pierced through the heart.

The sword tip was about to hit Chu Zhiyuan’s heart when Chu Zhiyuan suddenly sidestepped, gracefully avoiding, the sword tip grazing his garment and stabbing into empty air.

“Psst!” Chu Zhiyuan’s sword tip pierced the original spot of the Heavenly Hidden Pendant, breaking through the Treasure Armor, stabbing into his Shan Zhong.

The sword tip only penetrated a shallow layer, and the Gang Qi contained on the sword immediately poured out, penetrating his body, severely injuring his internal organs, causing him to spurt out a stream of blood.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped back, flicked his sword tip lightly, a droplet of blood landing on a piece of Heavenly Hidden Pendant on the ground.

Qingying Sword returned to its sheath, Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fists: “Brother Cheng, my apologies, I didn’t expect your Treasure Armor to actually break.”

Under the Super Sense, the texture of the Treasure Armor was exceedingly clear, several strikes at the same point, a point that already had a crack.

The armor originally had a flaw, so minute it was invisible to the naked eye, yet it couldn’t hide from his Super Sense; damage upon damage and continuously deepening the harm at the original spot, ultimately it disrupted its structure.

Cheng Tianfeng clutched his Shan Zhong, coughing violently, bending over.

Blood continuously oozed from his mouth and nose, looking miserable.

The Qi of the Washing Sword Technique wasn’t ordinary Qi; its destructive power was immense.

A small elderly man stepped forward to support Cheng Tianfeng, infusing Spiritual Energy, immediately dispelling the Gang Qi of the Blood Purification Technique.

He gave Chu Zhiyuan a profound look, making Chu Zhiyuan’s heart tremble.

The Spiritual Energy entered Cheng Tianfeng’s body, but the damage had already been done.

The Great Grandmaster’s Spiritual Energy couldn’t instantly repair it, so they had him take a Spirit Pill.

The Spirit Pill worked wonders, showing immediate effect.

Cheng Tianfeng straightened up, stopped coughing, but his face remained ashen.

Chu Zhiyuan watched him, full of remorse and awkwardness: “Brother Cheng, are you alright?

I couldn’t hold back my hand, originally thought with the Treasure Armor, it could protect you, never imagined…”

Cheng Tianfeng stared at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan looked back at him with a smile, though his eyes were cold.

“Fine!

Fine, fine!” Cheng Tianfeng slowly said: “I have lost, you have won!”

Chu Zhiyuan sighed: “It was just luck, Brother Cheng, you originally had the chance to win.”

To sow a seed of regret in him, hopefully forming a Heart Demon.

Cheng Tianfeng let out a cold laugh.

Chu Zhiyuan said: “If Brother Cheng had used this move from the start, I might have already been pierced by the sword, unable to continue fighting.”

He pointed to his own chest, smiling: “I don’t have Brother Cheng’s Treasure Armor to protect me, once pierced by the sword I could only concede defeat.”

This statement carried three parts sincerity, and three parts sarcasm.

Sarcasm at Cheng Tianfeng for being beaten back time and again, yet shamelessly returning for another fight, having already lost many times.

Cheng Tianfeng coldly said: “A loss is a loss, I won’t make excuses for myself, Brother Chu, when we both enter the Realm of the Grandmaster, let’s fight again!”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed: “Then Brother Cheng, you need to hurry up, my martial arts progress is pretty swift.”

Cheng Tianfeng sneered.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head and said: “Training requires undistracted focus, cannot allow distractions, especially not being overly distracted by women, or else, when I step into the Realm of the Grandmaster, Brother Cheng, you might still be stuck in the Innate Realm.”

Cheng Tianfeng’s face darkened.

He understood Chu Zhiyuan was once again mocking him.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and clasped his fists: “Then Brother Cheng, until we meet again, let’s spar once more when we’re both Grandmasters.”

“Alright!” Cheng Tianfeng gritted his teeth.

After returning, he would retreat to Wentian Cliff for seclusion, ignore worldly matters, and advance bravely to first step into the Realm of the Grandmaster.

The shame of today would be repaid a hundredfold!

Chu Zhiyuan also clasped his fists in salute to the small elderly man beside Cheng Tianfeng, then stepped back.

“Bravo—!” Chu Mingxuan suddenly shouted.

“We won!”

“Bravo—!”

Immediately the cheers rose and fell.

They had been fixated on the field, watching Chu Zhiyuan and Cheng Tianfeng compete with swords, and then watching Chu Zhiyuan and Cheng Tianfeng spar with words.

Not wanting to miss a single exciting moment.

Now that it had finally ended, they could no longer restrain their excitement and enthusiasm, shouting aloud.