Chapter 102: Wei Zhuang Withdraws

Confronted by Wei Zhuang’s sudden “Crossing the Four Directions” strike, Sikong Xu was caught completely off guard. “Crossing the Four Directions” was one of the most renowned moves within the Ghost Valley’s Horizontal Swordsmanship style.

Although it was but a single sword stroke, the instant it was unleashed, it manifested in four distinct variations, each as swift as lightning and vanishing in the blink of an eye. Such an unpredictable and unfathomable technique, even without employing sword qi, held immense power. Sikong Xu knew that a single misstep could cost him his head.

A technique like “Crossing the Four Directions” was beyond the reach of Sikong Xu’s “Infinite Martial Refinement” alone. That practice had only brought him perfect harmony of mind, skill, and body, but the level of craftsmanship behind “Crossing the Four Directions” was altogether different—even if it still fell within the realm of mind, skill, and body.

With no other choice and unwilling to bid farewell to his own head and life, Sikong Xu gritted his teeth and braced himself to defend. The strike was as swift as lightning and so sudden that evasion was impossible.

Thus, Sikong Xu followed his instincts and unleashed his most powerful sword technique at that moment.

“Rainbow Piercing the Sun!”

This move was created by Gai Nie in his youth. It originated from the Ghost Valley’s Vertical Swordsmanship and was developed from the “Hundred Steps Flying Sword” technique, evolving into a unique form.

Originally, “Rainbow Piercing the Sun” required the use of sword qi to reach its full potential, but now Sikong Xu could only treat it as a last desperate attempt, hoping it could at least hold off the “Crossing the Four Directions” strike.

Whoosh—

The heavy shark-tooth blade swept forward at great speed. Sikong Xu’s sword, the Interpreter, struck back without hesitation. But just as the shark-tooth blade was about to make contact with the Interpreter, its trajectory abruptly changed. The sharp blade spun through the air, lightly brushing against the Interpreter’s blade, deflecting it, then swung again toward Sikong Xu!

“What!”

Feeling the Interpreter gradually veering off course, Sikong Xu was shocked. He had not expected “Crossing the Four Directions” to be so cunning! At the moment it nearly touched his blade, the strike not only deflected his sword’s path, but immediately followed up with another blow!

How was he supposed to break this predicament?

Regardless, Sikong Xu had been careless. Despite holding the opponent in high regard, the situation was full of surprises. The elusive and unfathomable “Crossing the Four Directions” tore through every barrier before him, its chilling strike aimed straight at his chest.

Behind Sikong Xu, Gai Nie’s hand was already resting on the hilt of the Abyssal Rainbow Sword. With his keen eyesight, he could tell that Sikong Xu’s fate was perilous, and perhaps in the next moment, he would burst forth to snatch Sikong Xu back from Wei Zhuang’s grasp.

Yet, in the blink of an eye, Gai Nie withdrew his calloused hand from the sword hilt...

Clang—

A clash rang out, and Wei Zhuang’s expression twisted wildly as if he had seen a ghost. This kid had actually… blocked his “Crossing the Four Directions” strike!

When Wei Zhuang had unleashed that move, he had already sentenced Sikong Xu to death. The boy’s inexperience was clear. Even Gai Nie dared not face off directly with a sword against “Crossing the Four Directions.” Instead, he relied on counterattacks, striking only when the opponent changed form.

But this reckless youth had boldly met the attack head-on without waiting for the transformation. “Crossing the Four Directions” was designed to catch the opponent off guard—when the adversary attacks, the sudden change in form leaves them struggling to defend effectively.

What Wei Zhuang saw next stunned him: the young man had drawn the scabbard of his own sword, gripping it in his other hand to block the transformed “Crossing the Eight Directions” strike!

He was using the scabbard as a sword!

Wei Zhuang was secretly astonished. He had encountered swordsmen wielding two-handed swords before, but their techniques were always harmonized—both blades used either for offense or defense. Sikong Xu’s style, attacking with one hand while defending with the other, was unprecedented.

To master such a dual-wielding style required a rare talent for multitasking.

However, for Sikong Xu, who had perfectly fused mind, skill, and body through “Infinite Martial Refinement,” this was a mere trifle. Were he not limited to two hands, he might even demonstrate terrifying triple or quadruple simultaneous techniques!

Back with Sikong Xu, the force from the shark-tooth blade pushed him back several steps.

The bones in his right forearm, freshly healed, cracked anew. If not for being forced into a desperate corner, Sikong Xu would never have risked using his right hand again.

“Seems a cup of tea’s time has passed. So I guess I’ve passed this second move?” Sikong Xu frowned slightly as pain began creeping back into his right arm.

Wei Zhuang did not respond immediately. He seemed deep in thought, causing Sikong Xu to wisely hold his tongue.

After a while, Wei Zhuang finally regained his composure and looked at Sikong Xu with complex, reflective eyes. His sword qi and swordsmanship had been continuously matched by this boy, and now only the strongest Horizontal Swordsmanship technique remained—the “Crossing the Eight Directions” strike...

Yet Wei Zhuang seemed unwilling to continue the duel. He glanced briefly at Gai Nie, then calmly instructed his subordinates, “Let’s go...”

The third strike would not be fought. Wei Zhuang withdrew his men. Had the battle continued, Sikong Xu’s life may truly have been at risk. It seemed Wei Zhuang still felt some faint sense of kinship toward his junior nephew.

Suddenly, Sikong Xu collapsed to the ground. Lying amidst the dust, he gazed up at the azure sky, his chest rising and falling. Though he had shown no weakness facing Wei Zhuang, the pressure he bore was immense. Now that Wei Zhuang had left, Sikong Xu immediately felt drained.

“Congratulations, trainee Sikong Xu, on completing the side quest [Nightmare of the Quicksand].”

“Quest difficulty: Four and a half stars.”

“Quest details: Assemble the dispersing quicksand; life and death vanish without trace… Defeat the Four Kings of Quicksand and their leader, Wei Zhuang, by any means.”

“Quest rewards: Ghost Valley Vertical Swordsmanship—Hundred Steps Flying Sword; Ghost Valley Horizontal Swordsmanship—Crossing the Eight Directions.”

Suddenly, Sikong Xu sensed something subtly added within his mind—visions of a certain sword technique endlessly replayed in his consciousness. When the images finally stilled, a wave of joy completely replaced the gloom on Sikong Xu’s face.

He had now mastered the strongest sword techniques of both the Ghost Valley’s Vertical and Horizontal Swordsmanship styles!