Chapter 36: This Sword, I’ve Practiced for Fifteen Years
This duel, which concerned the fate of Dawn Town, was quickly known to everyone in the town. The Players even helped clear a sufficiently large area outside the town for the occasion.
Both sides were present. For safety, they stood on the newly built City Wall of Dawn Town, gazing into the distance.
On the duel grounds two hundred meters away, Ye Hao and Xi Wei had already clashed fiercely.
Neither of them employed any flashy moves. With their Qi activated and amplification skills maxed out, they went straight for a deadly fight.
Having experienced multiple setbacks, Ye Hao had clearly become much more mature and steady. He spoke no unnecessary words, his entire attention focused on the combat.
There was no trace of underestimation in his eyes, only hatred and caution.
This made Xi Wei look at the Child of Destiny with a newfound respect. Indeed, to be the protagonist of destiny, few were truly useless.
However, Ye Hao’s silence did not mean Xi Wei would be silent. As a proper villain, how could he not deliver some lines to taunt the protagonist? He was gradually immersing himself in his role.
Xi Wei parried Ye Hao’s longsword, exploited an opening to deliver a kick, and then, with the gentlest voice and the most flippant tone, unleashed his most sarcastic trash talk at Ye Hao.
“Yo, why so quiet today, kid?”
“What are you baring your teeth for? Does it burn your mouth?”
“Why aren’t you doing your electric bum dance for me like last time?”
“Is this all the strength you have? Didn’t you eat breakfast?”
Ye Hao’s face turned crimson, unsure if it was from anger or the kick. He did not respond to Xi Wei’s mockery, quickly stabilized his posture, then dropped into a crouch on one knee, activated his acceleration, and instantly lunged at Xi Wei.
His longsword swung at a strange angle, and simultaneously, his left hand shot out like a viper, revealing a dagger. The dagger’s blade was darkened, clearly poisoned.
“You old schemer, poisoning your dagger? I can’t believe you thought of that!” *Hmph, you think you’re cunning?* Ye Hao cursed inwardly but remained silent outwardly. He held the sword in one hand and the poisoned dagger in the other, like a whirlwind, swift as lightning, with imposing momentum.
The blade of his sword seemed to create afterimages, and his whole body moved like a dancing butterfly.
In the air, the “clang” of weapon clashes was incessant, striking the hearts of everyone on the City Wall with each impact. Blue and gold Qi collided and exploded, the dispersed energy turning into howling gusts of wind that, centered on the combatants, shredded the surrounding vegetation.
Xi Wei seized an opening, spun and dodged the poisoned dagger. His greatsword was now trailed behind him by his right hand. Facing Ye Hao’s next incoming longsword strike, it seemed impossible to evade. His expression turned serious, and with a shout, he roared, “Rise!”
The heavy greatsword, initially dragged behind, now犁ed the ground under Xi Wei’s immense Strength. The violent force blasted away soil and rock, followed by a skyward cleave. Ye Hao’s pupils contracted. He quickly pulled back his force. The momentum of this Lord of Eagle Territory’s sword was heavy and his power immense. To be hit directly would render him crippled, if not dead. He couldn’t understand why the person he had previously suppressed was now so ferocious.
But now was not the time for him to ponder. After dodging Xi Wei’s cleave, he unleashed an enhanced Cross Slash of Cracking Light. The timing was perfect. Ye Hao seemed to see the dawn of victory.
Witnessing the Cross Slash of Cracking Light that arrived in an instant, Xi Wei felt an intense sense of crisis that sent pain through his head, his eyes splitting wide open. He knew that if he were hit by this powerful killing blow, he would surely die. Yet, he still did not activate his hero-grade armor to defend against Ye Hao’s killing move. External power was ultimately external. Though he was the villain in this lifetime, he had his own pride. “I’ve been practicing the greatsword for over ten years,” Xi Wei took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing. He reversed his grip on the greatsword, holding it behind his back. A heavy, oppressive aura began to condense around him, reaching its peak at a certain moment. Suddenly, he raised his eyes to meet the Cross Slash of Cracking Light head-on, his Qi, spirit, and all his strength concentrating in his sword-wielding right hand. The greatsword began to be driven by Xi Wei’s power, along with the extremely condensed, sea-like sword momentum. Everything happened in a flash. Golden Qi erupted with the sword momentum. Xi Wei vaguely saw the figure of himself at the age of four, splitting a mountain with a single sword strike before him. “Master…” “Boom—” Xi Wei brought his greatsword down vertically in front of him, shattering the Cross Slash of Cracking Light, and also shattering Ye Hao’s heart. The smoke and dust dispersed. On the ground before Xi Wei, a crack tens of meters long remained, running across the ground at Ye Hao’s feet, less than half a meter away. Ye Hao stared blankly ahead, his eyes vacant, his hands still held in the posture of unleashing the Cross Slash. A moment later, his whole body trembled, and he lost the strength to support himself. With a “plop,” he knelt on the ground. It was only after death’s scythe brushed past him that he realized how much he feared death. “I lost.”
