"Xiao Chen! You injured a cultivator from my Northern Region. Do you really think there's no one else in my Northern Region?"
A furious shout erupted from the crowd, and a cultivator dressed in a blue robe strode out, his long sword humming at his waist, his brows furrowed with arrogance—it was Li Xuan, the core disciple of the "Jinghong Sword Sect" in the Northern Region, renowned for his swift swordsmanship and quite famous among the younger generation in the Northern Region.
He pointed at Xiao Chen, his voice righteous and stern: "The Hidden Dragon Society is a place for exchanges between the four regions, yet you attacked and injured someone, disregarding the rules of the Northern Region! Today, I will teach you, this arrogant fool, a lesson on behalf of the Northern Region!"
The surrounding cultivators immediately began to discuss:
"It's Li Xuan! His 'Seven Strikes of the Startling Swan' is ridiculously fast; it's said he can even hold his own against people two or three minor realms higher than him!"
"Xiao Chen just injured someone from the Iron Saber Sect, and now he's facing Li Xuan. He's probably going to be in trouble!"
"The cultivators from the Northern Region are determined to target him; this fight won't be easy..."
Xiao Chen raised his eyes and saw the deliberate anger in Li Xuan's eyes. He understood immediately—another pawn being pushed forward. Too lazy to waste words, he moved swiftly, charging towards Li Xuan. His rusty iron spear twirled in his palm, its wind sharp and fierce.
"Well done!" Li Xuan shouted, drawing his longsword and transforming it into a streak of azure light, aiming straight for Xiao Chen's face. It was the starting move of the "Seven Strikes of Startling Beauty," as fast as lightning.
Xiao Chen neither dodged nor evaded; instead, he flicked the tip of his spear diagonally, precisely striking the weakest point on the sword's spine.
"clang!"
With a crisp sound, Li Xuan felt a clever force coming from him, and the trajectory of his fast sword was unexpectedly deflected. He was shocked – Xiao Chen's spear technique was so exquisite.
He dared not be negligent, and his sword flashed repeatedly, the blue and green colors intertwining, like locusts flying all over the sky, enveloping Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen, however, remained completely at ease. His rusty iron spear sometimes stood as steady as a rock, directly parrying sword strikes; at other times, it moved like a nimble snake, dodging the sharpest attacks, with the spear tip occasionally counterattacking, forcing Li Xuan to retreat repeatedly. In just five moves, Xiao Chen seized upon a slight hesitation in Li Xuan's swift swordplay, and the spear tip suddenly accelerated, striking Li Xuan's wrist.
"Clang!"
The longsword fell to the ground, and Li Xuan clutched his numb wrist, looking at Xiao Chen in disbelief—his proud swift sword had been broken so easily.
"Get lost." Xiao Chen put away his gun, his tone still indifferent.
Li Xuan's face turned pale and then red. Finally, he gritted his teeth, picked up his longsword, and retreated in a sorry state under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
The entire room fell silent.
No one expected that Li Xuan, who was somewhat famous in the Northern Region, couldn't even last five moves against Xiao Chen!
"This...this Xiao Chen's spear skills are terrifying!"
"Judging from his strength, he is stronger than most people at the same level!"
"When did such a ruthless character emerge in the Southern Region?"
Ignoring the shock around him, Xiao Chen's gaze swept over the seats in front and finally landed on a young man in white at the third table. Ever since he entered Wangyue Tower, the young man's gaze had never left him, filled with scrutiny and inquiry. The long sword at his waist exuded a faint chill, clearly indicating that he was a master swordsman.
Carrying his rusty iron spear, he walked step by step toward the table, and amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, he addressed the young man in white in a loud voice: "You've been watching for so long, do you dare to fight?"
The young man in white raised his eyes. He had a handsome face and a cold gaze. He was Qin Shuang, a core disciple of the "Cold Water Pavilion," a top power in the Northern Region. Qin Shuang was extremely famous in the Northern Region. His "Cold Water Sword Technique" was superb. It was said that he had touched the threshold of sword intent and was one of the leading figures of the younger generation in the Northern Region.
"Has Xiao Chen gone mad? He actually dared to challenge Qin Shuang?"
"Qin Shuang is more than one level stronger than Li Xuan!"
"He got cocky after just beating Li Xuan? He's asking for death!"
Qin Shuang looked at Xiao Chen, a cold smile playing on her lips: "You're not worthy."
Xiao Chen's eyes narrowed, and his spear intent suddenly erupted, like an invisible giant wave, rushing straight towards Qin Shuang! This spear intent did not harm anyone, but it carried a tremendous sense of oppression, pressing down on Qin Shuang as if it were a tangible substance.
Qin Shuang's expression changed drastically, and his previously languid sitting posture instantly straightened—this spear intent... actually made him feel a strong threat! Xiao Chen's strength far exceeded his expectations!
"You're courting death!" Qin Shuang snorted coldly, and the long sword at her waist automatically unsheathed, hovering in front of her, exuding a chilling aura that blocked the oppressive force of the spear.
"Whether we're a good match or not, we'll only know after we fight." Xiao Chen moved.
The rusty iron spear transformed into a streak of black light, piercing straight for Qin Shuang's face. The spear's intent was fierce, carrying a do-or-die determination.
Qin Shuang's eyes were solemn, and she dared not be negligent. She drew her longsword in three sword flowers, like the surface of a frozen lake, layer upon layer, to block the tip of the spear.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The three exchanges were swift as lightning! The gun and sword clashed, unleashing blinding sparks, and the shockwaves shattered the surrounding tables and chairs!
After the third move, Xiao Chen seized the moment when Qin Shuang changed his sword moves, and suddenly changed the direction of his spear tip, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, and stabbed straight into his heart!
"careful!"
A clear voice rang out, and another figure in white appeared in front of Qin Shuang like a ghost. With a light flick of his longsword, he accurately struck the tip of the rusty iron spear.
"clang!"
A tremendous force struck, and Xiao Chen and the man in white both staggered back three steps.
Upon closer inspection, everyone realized that the newcomer was none other than Ling Chen, the eldest disciple of the Cold Water Pavilion! Ling Chen was even more famous in the Northern Region than Qin Shuang, and it was said that his strength was unfathomable.
Ling Chen ignored Xiao Chen and glared at Qin Shuang, his tone stern: "You didn't even realize you were being used as a pawn? Go back to the back mountain and face the wall for a month to reflect on your actions!"
Qin Shuang was taken aback, then his expression changed slightly, clearly understanding something—it was the Xuan Tian Sect who had instigated him to attack Xiao Chen, saying that Xiao Chen had injured a cultivator from the Northern Region, and if he wasn't taught a lesson, what would become of the Han Shui Pavilion's reputation?
Ling Chen then looked at Xiao Chen, cupped his hands and said, "Your marksmanship is superb, I admire you. My younger brother was misled and offended you, please forgive him."
Xiao Chen looked at Ling Chen, then at Qin Shuang with a complicated expression, and put away his gun, standing still: "It's alright."
He knew that Ling Chen's appearance had temporarily resolved the conflict and exposed the conspiracy instigated by someone behind it—most likely the work of the Xuan Tian Sect.
The surrounding cultivators looked at each other in dismay. They had originally thought it would be a fight to the death, but they hadn't expected this outcome.
Ling Chen nodded to Xiao Chen again, then pulled Qin Shuang, who still wanted to say something, and turned to leave.
Xiao Chen watched their retreating figures, then glanced in the direction of the private room—the atmosphere there was noticeably more disordered, clearly indicating that the Xuan Tian Sect members hadn't expected Ling Chen to expose them.
He walked to the table, sat down, picked up the spirit wine, and took a small sip.
The Hidden Dragon Society is indeed full of hidden talents.
There are clowns, pawns being used, and clear-headed people like Ling Chen.
And he, Xiao Chen, has already fired the first shot at this Hidden Dragon Gathering.
Next, the Xuan Tian Sect and Ying Ge will have a taste of his spear in this round of the martial arts tournament.
The moonlight outside the Moon Gazing Tower shone through the window onto Xiao Chen, reflecting the increasingly resolute sharpness in his eyes.
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