Immortality begins with the Swordsman.

Chapter 54 Strength and Softness

I watched for a while.

When everyone saw Gu Changfeng's swordsmanship, they saw that it consisted of sinister and unpredictable moves. Each move was like a ghostly phantom, with a chilling sword aura and gusts of cold wind, making people's hair stand on end.

Su Qingxue couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Senior Brother Yue, where did Changfeng learn this swordsmanship? How could it be so... insidious?"

Master Zixiao knew the reason, but it was not appropriate to say it outright at this time, so he said, "He figured it out himself. That brat has always liked to tinker with crooked and unorthodox things..."

Chu Qingkuang frowned slightly and said, "Then Senior Brother Yue must be careful, lest he go astray."

Master Zixiao smiled and said, "It's alright! With his temperament, it's hard for him to always be well-behaved. As long as his internal strength doesn't decline, let him be."

Chu Qingkuang nodded and said, "That's true! Cultivating the 'Purple Cloud Divine Art' requires a peaceful mind. The fact that he was able to master it shows that he has an excellent temperament, so there's no need to worry too much."

As they were talking—

In the arena, Gu Changfeng was extremely frustrated. His moves were swift and ruthless, fast as lightning and powerful as thunder. He thought he could hit the target with one blow, but it felt as if his punches were hitting thick cotton, all the force was dissipated, and he felt no impact at all.

"Can we go all out?"

He roared, and the "Purple Cloud Sword" in his hand suddenly changed. Instead of aiming directly at Ouyang Qingzhao's vitals, he suddenly slashed horizontally at the sword's edge, his move carrying momentum, intending to use force to overcome skill.

"A good idea, but unfortunately useless."

Ouyang Qingzhao raised the corner of her lips, her smile indifferent. With a gentle flick of her sword, she deflected Gu Changfeng's fierce attack as if water were flowing around a stone.

Over the years, he has lived in Chang'an for a long time, and often practiced swordsmanship by the Wei River in his spare time.

He observed the Wei River, which flows from west to east. During the dry season, the water is calm and gentle as silk; but during the rainy season, it surges and roars like an angry dragon.

Taoist internal energy cultivation is like the water of a river, with a long history, gentle yet strong, slow as silk threads, and fast as thunder.

Thus, he came to understand the swordsmanship principle of "combining strength and gentleness," and has never been defeated to this day.

By this time, the two had exchanged more than ten moves, and Gu Changfeng's momentum was gradually weakening.

Ouyang Qingzhao's eyes flickered slightly, a smile playing on her lips. Suddenly, she said softly, "I was just teasing you, and I've teased you enough... I'm about to get serious, so be careful."

After speaking, his swordplay suddenly changed—from soft to hard, and he was like a sleeping beast suddenly awakened, his swordsmanship sharp and fierce.

Clang!

Gu Changfeng was forced to retreat repeatedly, and could only barely maneuver among the sword shadows by relying on his agility.

In fact, after he achieved a minor mastery of the "Purple Cloud Divine Skill," his internal strength had already surpassed that of Ouyang Qingzhao.

If it's a head-on confrontation, he might not be without a chance of winning.

just.

Do it all at once, second time tired, third time exhausted.

"Despicable! You're so despicable!" Gu Changfeng exclaimed in exasperation.

Ouyang Qingzhao remained calm and smiled smugly: "Your swordsmanship is fast and powerful, but it is still somewhat immature and lacks refinement. If you practice for a few more years, I may not be your match, but for now—let's stop here."

Suddenly.

Ouyang Qingzhao's eyes sharpened, and he raised his longsword, unleashing a move from the "Nourishing My Sword" technique called "Righteous Qi".

—I cultivate my noble spirit.

Gu Changfeng's expression changed slightly, and he retreated swiftly like lightning, barely avoiding the dazzling sword strike.

"Oh, that's it, that's it! You win!" he shouted, turning around and leaving without hesitation.

"What do you mean by 'I win'?"

Ouyang Qingzhao frowned, her tone quite dissatisfied, but secretly she breathed a sigh of relief.

In the first few sword strikes, Gu Changfeng's sharpness was fully revealed, and his sword momentum was like a rainbow, which indeed made him break out in a cold sweat.

If Gu Changfeng's swordsmanship were a few degrees more skillful, or his internal strength were a notch stronger, the outcome of this match would likely have been very different.

……

"Hehe, isn't it my turn now?"

A voice, tinged with excitement, rang out.

The speaker was Chu Qingkuang—he was known as the "Martial Arts Maniac," and at this moment, his eyes were shining brightly as he rubbed his hands together, eager to try his skills.

"I've been itching to get started for ages!"

Just as he was about to step forward, a gentle voice came from behind him:

"Senior Brother Chu, don't be anxious."

The speaker was a master of Qi, named Zhou Zheng, who was always calm and gentle.

"Changfeng has made a good start today. Why don't we eighteen old guys go first? Why is Senior Brother Chu in such a hurry? If you want to fight, there will be plenty of opportunities another day. Don't ruin the overall situation."

At this time, the Sword Sect only had Ouyang Qingzhao and Cai Qingyan left, and they were already showing signs of decline; on the other hand, the Qi Sect had hardly lost a single soldier and was still at full strength.

Using superior numbers to defeat a smaller force, employing a strategy of attrition warfare, ensures victory.

Chu Qingkuang pondered for a moment, then finally stepped aside.

Zhou Zheng slowly entered the stage, cupped his hands, and said, "Senior Brother Ouyang, please."

"Junior Brother Zhou, please!"

Ouyang Qingzhao returned the greeting.

A new competition begins.

Knowing he was no match for Ouyang Qingzhao, Zhou Zheng used delaying tactics as soon as he entered the arena, intending to deplete Ouyang Qingzhao's internal energy.

Ouyang Qingzhao smiled slightly, seeing through the other party's intentions at a glance, but remained calm and only used a few feints to deal with him.

After more than ten moves, the sword technique suddenly changed, catching Zhou Zheng off guard. Before he could react, he was forced back several steps and defeated.

"good!"

The Sword Sect disciples immediately cheered, instantly dispelling the shadow cast by Gu Changfeng.

The second match, the third match... the seventeenth match...

Ouyang Qingzhao drew his sword as if strolling in a garden, his demeanor calm and composed.

Each sword strike was neither too fast nor too slow, but gentle yet powerful. The concept of "overcoming strength with softness" gradually revealed its sharpness, and under the guidance of this sword intent, he won one victory after another.

"You're focusing too much on my swordplay. Who told you that a 'soft knife' can't hurt people?"

Before he finished speaking, a sword in his hand moved gently and silently, like a breeze rustling a willow branch, yet it had already quietly broken through Wu Shouyi's defenses, forcing him to stagger back several steps, with blood slowly seeping from his left shoulder.

Thus, all eighteen top-tier experts of the Qi Sect were defeated.

"Uncle-Master Ouyang is indeed incredibly brave and invincible!"

The Sword Sect disciples were in high spirits, cheering incessantly; in contrast, the Qi Sect disciples appeared much quieter, their morale low.

Ouyang Qingzhao stood quietly on the platform, his robes fluttering slightly, his sword tip lowered. He didn't utter a word, only closed his eyes for a moment, slowly suppressing the turbulent energy within him.

After a long silence, he took a deep breath, opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as a sword, and looked at Lin Qingxuan, Chu Qingkuang, and Li Qingping in front of him, saying:

"Who wants to go first?"

The three exchanged glances, and finally Li Qingping, stroking his beard, stood up.

"It's been many years since I've fought. Let this old man experience the skills of Junior Brother Ouyang first."

Li Qingping walked onto the stage slowly, his expression calm and his steps steady. Although he was over fifty years old, his aura was as solid as a mountain.

"please."

He bowed respectfully, flicked his long sleeves, and with a clang, his longsword was drawn from its sheath.

In an instant.

It was as if the world had suddenly changed; a biting wind blew and snow filled the sky.

The longsword thrust straight in, its powerful energy chilling, like a sliver of snow in a thousand miles of frozen land, penetrating to the bone.

This sword strike was not a test, but a killing move!