Xiao Chen Gives His All

*Boom! Boom! Boom!* *Clang!* Both men moved at astonishing speed, trading dozens of blows in nearly every breath. The longsword hacked down against the spear without shifting it in the slightest; the natural advantages of the spear were demonstrated to perfection at this moment. Thrust, stab, flick, entwine... At this moment, Xiao Chen entered a completely selfless state, the spear moving at his whim. For a time, he actually forced Lu Tao into continuous retreat. Sword against spear: whether in reach or raw power, the sword was far inferior. A spear could also be wielded like a staff, its sweeping and smashing momentum just as difficult to parry. Whenever Lu Tao closed the distance, Xiao Chen smoothly shifted his form, choking up on his grip to strike with both ends! The longsword breached the spearhead's range and lunged straight for his face! *Screeech!* A piercing sword chime rang out, yet Xiao Chen's expression did not waver. Gripping the spear shaft, he used an entwining technique to deflect the blade. This move shared the same essence as the entwining techniques of swordcraft, yet it was heavy and devastatingly forceful—once stuck, it was nearly impossible to break free. The web between Lu Tao's right thumb and forefinger tore open, leaving his guard wide open! Xiao Chen twisted his body, and before he had even fully turned, the spear in his hands thrust toward Lu Tao's face with lightning speed! A turnaround spear strike—the spear arrived before the body had turned! This thrust was vicious in the extreme, yet masked deliberately by Xiao Chen. It made not the slightest sound, not even disturbing the surrounding space with ripples. By the time Lu Tao reacted, the freezing spear blade was already upon him! *Pfft!* "Aargh!" The thrust pierced straight through Lu Tao's abdomen. The moment the spear hooked upward, Xiao Chen whirled around, both hands wrenching the shaft across! If Xiao Chen were allowed to twist the spear, he would tear Lu Tao's abdomen to shreds. Without a second thought, Lu Tao grabbed the spear's red tassel with one hand and slashed his sword toward Xiao Chen's hands! The fierce sword light was exceptionally swift. Xiao Chen did not dare take it head-on and had to leap back. *Squelch!* The spear was ripped free, and blood instantly soaked Lu Tao's waist... Lu Tao's expression turned grim, and the Lu clan members furrowed their brows as well. They could all tell that this Great Xia Sword Sect fellow before them was formidable, and there was no trace of demonic qi inside him. With a flick of Xiao Chen's wrist, the blood on the spear blade flung off in a flying arc of droplets. "You harmed my Third Brother. We'll settle that debt right now, bit by bit." It was clear that regarding Cao Yan's grave injuries, Xiao Chen had no intention of letting his opponent off! Yet Lu Tao had never intended to let him off either. *Boom!* The auras of both men surged to their peaks in an instant. Disregarding their injuries, they charged straight at each other. The violent shockwaves of their battle crashed against the formation barrier time and time again. Smoke and dust billowed across the Dao platform, deep trenches gouging into the ground one after another. *Boom! Boom!* "Seven Star Sword: Army Breaker!" The moment Xiao Chen sensed the ferocity of his opponent's sword momentum, he abandoned all defense and poured every drop of his primal energy into his spear. Instantly, a horrifying malice erupted from the She Shen Spear, soaring toward the heavens! Spear intent flooded the air. Xiao Chen stepped with profound astral footwork, his body like lightning as the spear struck out like an unleashed dragon! "Raging Flame: Surging Waves and Raging Billows!" *Rumble!* A sky full of spear shadows blotted out the sun. Sword light shattered, and spear shadows dispersed. Blow for blow, back and forth, they fought tooth and nail. Lu Tao's sword cast countless afterimages, while Xiao Chen's spear thrusts were lightning-fast and unpredictable. Watching the sparks burst wherever their weapons collided, the onlookers clenched their fists, hardly daring to breathe. Lu Tao's sword momentum was swift and ferocious, and the primal energy within his dantian and origin spirit was remarkably vast. Yet Xiao Chen seemed not to care about any of that, desperately pressing his assault to keep Lu Tao suppressed. Gradually, the injuries on both combatants grew heavier, and the battle turned ever more gruesome. Lu Tao's cheeks were now slightly sunken, his gaze unfocused. His entire body was covered in hideous wounds, coated in a crust of gore. Lu Tao panted heavily. He had never imagined anyone could push him to such an extremity. Across from him, Xiao Chen was in no better shape. His entire right arm had been severed by the sword. Gripping the spear with his unaccustomed left hand, he leaned on it against the ground. A large patch of his scalp had been sheared away, and blood streamed down his forehead, blurring his vision. Blood surged up Xiao Chen's throat, rattling like a broken bellows with each hacking cough. Yet at that moment, Lu Tao suddenly bit down and shattered a jade pendant on his wrist! *Snap!* From the pendant, a drop of golden spiritual liquid flowed into his mouth. Xiao Chen saw this and tried to stop him, but it was already too late. Li Guanqi's eyes trembled. In that single drop of liquid, he detected an indescribably dense spiritual qi. Xiao Chen did not hold back either, pulling out a large chunk of radish and stuffing it into his mouth, but he still needed time to refine it. Yet Lu Tao clearly had no intention of granting him that chance. Lu Tao glared fixedly at Xiao Chen and spoke in a chilling voice: "You are worthy to be my opponent. But... it is time to end this!" "Mad Sky Blade Dance Sword!" In an instant, Lu Tao unleashed all the power in his body, channeling it into this single sword art. A violent surge of sword qi erupted, forming a tempest of sword qi a full hundred zhang across! In the distance, the one-armed figure stood rooted like an ancient tree, without the slightest fear. Xiao Chen knew this would be their final clash... Whether himself or Lu Tao, both had reached their absolute limits... "Ha... *cough, cough*..." A faint, indefinable smile curled at the corner of Xiao Chen's mouth. Raising his head, his blurred vision could only make out the ferocious tempest of sword qi sweeping toward him. Before the storm even reached him, countless cuts were already opening across his entire body. Xiao Chen paid them no heed at all, funneling every shred of his strength into the She Shen Spear! The spear shaft trembled slightly. Within him, primal energy of both wind and fire erupted with a roar, the violent power of heavenly flame sweeping across heaven and earth to faintly rival the tempest! "She Shen: Mad Dragon in the Sky!" *Roaaar!* A resounding dragon roar thundered through the arena as the spear surged forward in a dark blur. Fire incinerated the sky as spiritual light took the shape of a hundred-zhang dragon, roaring as it plunged into the storm! Yet within the dragon's head was Xiao Chen himself, gripping his spear with one hand, his face contorted in a ferocious snarl. "Die!" *Boom!* A terrifying detonation tore through the air. Amid crisscrossing sword qi, endless fire swept through the Dao platform's entire barrier. Vigorous ripples coursed across the heavy barrier screen, obscuring everything within. There was only the chaotic crisscross of countless golden sword qi, and that horrifying power of flame enshrouding the entire Dao platform! At this moment, everyone's heart was in their throat. Spectators craned their necks, straining to see the situation inside the Dao platform. After who knew how long, Nangong Xuandu spoke softly. "The second match: victory to the Ancient Clan." *Hiss!* As the smoke and dust began to clear, Lu Tao—his entire left half of his body gone—stood swaying on the spot, propping himself up with a single hand on his sword. His consciousness had long been on the verge of collapse, yet his hollow eyes remained unclosed. *Swish!* Li Guanqi flickered onto the Dao platform. Looking at Xiao Chen, who was half-kneeling on the ground and propping up his battered body with his spear shaft, Li Guanqi's eyes were filled with unbearable heartache. Xiao Chen's robes were shredded to pieces. Aside from his severed right arm, the flesh across his torso and limbs hung from his bones like strips of ragged cloth. How could there have been only a thousand blades within that storm? Suppressing the killing intent raging in his chest, Li Guanqi raised his head—only to see a figure standing on the viewing platform: Zhou Shiyu!