“Eagle Strikes the Sky!”
“That’s one of Feng Moting’s signature blade techniques, the most powerful. Looks like he plans to defeat Po Qianjun in one move.”
“Exactly. With that special narrow blade, not only is the power undiminished, but he’s enhanced it. This move transforms into twelve lightning birds, incredibly fast, attacking from all directions. The opponent can’t dodge.
Once hit, they face relentless pursuit. Without a counter, they’ll just keep taking hits.”
Hearing the warriors’ discussions, Ling Xiao had a different view.
Feng Moting was strong, using sword techniques as blade techniques without losing power, even boosting it.
But sword techniques are sword techniques.
Blade techniques are blade techniques.
There’s always a difference.
Ling Xiao thought Feng Moting was doing something foolish. With a sword, this technique could reach far greater heights.
Still, Tianwang Sect disciples were different, casually mastering jade-grade rare martial skills.
And he’d even grasped a bit of lightning will.
Just a bit, though, not complete, likely tied to Feng Moting’s martial soul.
“Lose!”
With the move unleashed, Feng Moting stood proudly.
He was absolutely confident in this strike. Po Qianjun couldn’t possibly dodge.
He’d prepared follow-up moves, a combo to ensure Po Qianjun’s defeat.
Seeing this, Po Qianjun just grinned.
He used a sword.
A true sword!
Not Feng Moting’s narrow blade.
“You? I’ll show you the true essence of this sword technique!”
Po Qianjun sneered, wielding a treasured sword crackling with lightning. It unleashed over a dozen lightning bird sword energies.
His were sharper, more fluid.
Eagle Strikes the Sky!
Boom!
The same technique clashed mid-air, the impact’s energy forcing both back.
But Feng Moting looked far more disheveled.
“You know it too!”
Feng Moting couldn’t believe it. This sword technique was Tianwang Sect’s guarded secret, only for its disciples.
Even harder to accept, Po Qianjun’s “Eagle Strikes the Sky” was more powerful.
He couldn’t take it.
The crowd and warriors below were puzzled.
But Ling Xiao understood.
Tianlong Academy was rooted in Tianwang Sect, so Po Qianjun was essentially a Tianwang disciple.
Him learning it was normal.
As for his move’s greater power, it was simply because Po Qianjun used a true sword.
Just as Ling Xiao had judged.
“Impressive! Po Qianjun actually broke Feng Moting’s move!”
“Such a surprise. His prelims performance was mediocre. How’s he so strong now?”
“Maybe he hid his strength in the prelims. This festival’s finals are getting interesting, with geniuses and monsters everywhere. Wonder what surprises come next.”
Many didn’t understand how Po Qianjun learned it or broke Feng Moting’s move.
But they had eyes. They could see Po Qianjun’s strength matched, even surpassed, Feng Moting’s.
“Concede, you’re no match for me!”
Po Qianjun didn’t answer Feng Moting, just declared boldly.
“Hmph, you think that’s enough to beat me?”
Feng Moting snorted, eyes narrowing to slits.
“Lightning Bird to Snake!”
As last festival’s nineteenth-ranked finalist and Tianwang Sect’s sixth core disciple, even if blocked once, he wouldn’t collapse instantly.
After brief panic, he calmed, his narrow blade circling his body. The lightning birds morphed into slender snake-birds, twisting swiftly toward Po Qianjun.
At the same time, a bird formed entirely of lightning appeared behind Feng Moting.
That must be his martial soul, “Thunder Eagle.”
“Stubborn fool!”
Po Qianjun sneered, a martial soul shadow appearing behind him, also a Thunder Eagle, but larger and more dazzling than Feng Moting’s.
Though the opponent’s move was impressive, the blade energy’s angle tricky, hard for power-type fighters to block.
Dodging was nearly impossible, leaving desperate defense.
Po Qianjun was a power-type fighter.
Yet he was different.
With a Thunder Eagle soul, he’d grasped a trace of lightning will, making his moves lightning-fast in an instant.
Same technique, same clash.
Po Qianjun’s sword struck at an even trickier angle, shattering the snake-bird and advancing, piercing Feng Moting’s leg.
“It’s over.”
Ling Xiao shook his head lightly.
To him, Po Qianjun’s edge over Feng Moting was in martial soul and lightning will mastery.
Their strengths were close; victory hinged on performance in combat.
Clearly, Po Qianjun performed better.
As Ling Xiao said, the fight ended. Po Qianjun kicked Feng Moting off the arena.
From start to finish, Feng Moting was led by Po Qianjun, the biggest issue being his weapon choice.
He shouldn’t have used a blade for sword techniques, even if they were close.
If he liked blades, he should’ve trained blade techniques.
Defeating Feng Moting, Po Qianjun became the tenth group’s hottest figure, unrivaled for the moment.
Other groups’ experts took notice of him.
“Sigh, he couldn’t hold back.”
Feng Yaorao sighed, “Selected for Tianlong Academy, Qianjun’s potential and strength are astonishing. His soul isn’t an ancient one but rivals them.”
“Qianjun will likely stand out in the tenth group. Besides Feng Moting and Zhai Jun, there’s no one else strong.”
“Yeah, he beat Feng Moting, so it’s smooth sailing.”
“The first five groups are the worst off; the top ten are all there.”
“Good thing each group promotes ten, or they’d be crying.”
“Right, didn’t you see in those groups, anyone facing Shengzi or Mo Wushang just forfeits? Losing a match or two doesn’t matter; they can still advance.”
