Chapter 173: The Center Stage (Bonus Chapter 3)
The pain in Ji Jie’s spine didn’t disrupt his stance; he stepped forward in harmony with the direction of the pain, creating distance from the swordsman behind him.
His head spun around, compressing an air mass that flew toward the Master Swordsman, unleashing a cyclone mid-air.
The windstorm swept over the swordsman’s armor, but the tip of his blade cut through it, dispersing the storm. Ji Jie could almost see the cyclone swirling at the edge of his blade.
Two consecutive slashes were swung out, yet the master dodged them effortlessly by sliding through a gap while lowering his body. A simple step-cut aimed for the powerless sword tail after its sheathing.
Unexpectedly, the sword tail, which should have been in a state of regenerating force, was violently spun and thrown again.
What began as a chase turned into a clash. Despite their massive size difference, the Master Swordsman was merely pushed back by the strike.
It was just like a Hardened Air Blade Slash despite being a mere step-cut.
The long sword tail swiftly retracted. Seizing the opportunity during the master’s momentary stiffness, Ji Jie transitioned instantly from the Sulfur Slaying Dragon stance to a grand leaping slash meant for slaying dragons.
With overwhelming momentum, the colossal blade split the sky, only to be narrowly avoided by a side-flip. The landing caused a powerful kick-off reaction.
The second vertical slash precisely split the shoe prints on the ground, leaving a deep crack in the earth.
After resolving the double slash, the Master Swordsman didn’t relax as he usually would against ordinary slaying dragons. He remained guarded.
Ji Jie drew his blade like any other slaying dragon and lunged forward towards the Master Swordsman, biting with his iron face made of Yanque Stone raised high.
After missing, the upraised sword tail swung forward together with his steps, initiating a wide-range slashing attack.
Since his opponent was a hunter rather than a monster, every horizontal slash was kept low to avoid cutting into empty air due to height issues.
Facing an unavoidable wide-range horizontal slash, should they engage?
The Master Swordsman didn’t want to waste too much energy.
Let’s jump rope then!
Recalling the heavy steel cables used during training sessions with his brothers, he leaped from the ground and upon landing, executed two continuous spinning slashes targeting the slaying dragon’s head.
Sakura Air Blade Slash!
Each slash concentrated all his spirit—nothing less than a hundred percent critical hit!
Symmetrical scars appeared on the smooth surface of the slaying dragon’s iron mask, even reflecting residual light into his eyes.
Then, blood flowed into the wounds.
“Roar!!!”
A direct blow made the slaying dragon roar, and amidst the roar, the hunter rolled backward, barely avoiding the sweeping sound waves.
“Hm?”
The Master Swordsman paused, raising his head while crouching, surprised.
Because he saw the dragon’s blood filling the wounds crystallizing.
No, he had seen this before—but it was on the Flame King Dragon’s wounds!
He didn’t have time to determine if it was an illusion because the more ferocious sword tail followed the slaying dragon’s stance and slashed down.
Dodged, but it was a feint!
Ji Jie’s eyes weren’t filled with madness but with rationality. The sword tail still airborne suddenly halted mid-air and then exploded with even greater power after a brief pause.
The Master Swordsman had already shaken off his distraction the moment the blade glimmered, completing the dodge. However, being distracted is still distracting.
When the hundred percent critical chance fell as the giant blade hovered in the air, the Master Swordsman couldn’t do better than raise his own blade.
Rolling away would not be faster than instantly swinging his own blade.
The ground was torn apart, and a figure was cleaved and hurled into a tree with a heavy crash.
“Cough.”
Breaking free from the shattered tree, the Master Swordsman coughed, swallowing the fishy taste in his throat as memories of past battles against this slaying dragon gradually became clearer.
Looking into the slaying dragon’s eyes, he realized this was a continuation of their previous battle.
But scanning the stronger sword tail in his mouth, the Master Swordsman understood he couldn’t simply rely on past experiences.
Because both strength and intensity far surpassed anything before.
“So, warm-up’s over.”
Rehabilitated, the muscles of the Master Swordsman bulged as he gripped his great katana tightly, facing the slaying dragon ahead.
The peculiarity of the dragon’s blood can be explored after the fight ends.
Full concentration is the respect owed to a formidable enemy!
Ji Jie pulled the scorching hot sword tail from his mouth, staring intently at the advancing Master Swordsman.
A familiar sense of déjà vu.
Is the porcelain truly broken or not? Let’s test it!
The red blade of the sword tail swung out, once again transitioning from a stable stance to an aggressive leap, smashing down.
And what met the sword tail was a precise parry!
That was a Hardened Air Blade Slash!
He could feel his supposed successful sword tail being deflected sideways after colliding with the Master Swordsman’s blade, missing by a hair.
The katana, under the influence of his powerful downward strike, followed the same trajectory, turning towards the side and rear, rotating along with his body.
The Master Swordsman, following this force, used his own strength to redirect the beast dragon’s immense power, guiding his katana away from his own slash path, then striking his armored scales with the same momentum.
Using the opponent’s strength against them.
After the Hardened Air Blade Slash, instead of intricate combinations, came another grand Air Blade Spin.
Sparks ignited from the splinters of the shell, the rotating blade weaving through flesh and blood, painting the edges crimson.
Without sheathing the blade, the Master Swordsman paused in a horizontal swing stance.
Dragon blood dripped onto the ground. His arms no longer tingled, and he lowered the blade.
His gaze focused forward, seeing the linear wound on the slaying dragon’s tail base had healed.
Surprised, but not distracted.
Ji Jie also retracted his blade, scanning the stopped bleeding cuts, taking a deep breath.
He was reminiscing about his last battle with the Master Swordsman.
Feints become predictable after one use and will be uncovered even faster next time.
If the essence of feints is to expose the opponent’s vulnerabilities, what happens when you turn those fleeting moments into storms of attacks?
Will you be too exhausted to respond?
Even an aged hunter can withstand a strike capable of piercing through a flying dragon’s skull from the Ice Curse Dragon and counterattack. A younger version of himself would only be stronger.
But each of these strikes is enough to sever a flying dragon’s head.
As anger surged, Ji Jie abandoned the pursuit of perfection in every strike. The flexible sulfuric sword tail inherited from the Sulfur Slaying Dragon began to dance wildly with his steps.
Large Spin! Horizontal Sweep! Horizontal Sweep! Vertical Chop! Horizontal Sweep!
Double Cut Horizontal Sweep! Ground-Cleaving Horizontal Sweep!
At this point, the Master Swordsman seemed like a leaf fluttering in the chaotic winds.
But the green leaf remained intact, unshredded by the storm unleashed by the peculiar slaying dragon.
Perhaps someday, when older hunters can withstand the penetrating strike from the Steel Dragon’s skeleton and easily retire, letting the young take the stage.
But in this era where no one else has stepped forward, regardless of which land he stands on, the center stage belongs to him.
Facing the earth-shattering horizontal sweep that plowed like a bulldozer, the tired and aching muscles of the Master Swordsman bulged once more.
“It’s not time to leave the stage yet!”
The combined grip of the flying leaf-like blade rose again, forming the stance known as Illusory Flowers and Moonlight.
He was ready to dance.
To Be Continued…
