Chapter 82 – The Resounding Crack of a Whip
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
As a member of the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws, as the fourth-ranked young expert on the Proclamation of Azure Sky, Guan Feibai was worthy enough and confident enough to be proud. Tonight's competition of swords was, in his view, unfair—an emotion only intensified by his unexpected loss to Luoluo—so he felt that he could still be proud and self-confident.
However, losing was losing, and his proud self had originally planned to keep his silence, but that changed upon seeing Chen Changsheng's smiling face and hearing Luoluo's laughter. He found Chen Changsheng's smile repulsive, Princess Luoluo's laughter grating. Thus, he found he could not restrain himself from speaking those words that he had originally been prepared to keep at the bottom of his heart.
Yes, he could not accept this result. His final sword technique was named Flying White and its parched strokes were like threads of iron. If he could use true essence, then when the sword energy rose up, a curtain of iron would stand in front of him. No matter how simple and piercingly cold Luoluo's final stab was, it would have been simply impossible for it to break through his sword energy and wound his body.
Luoluo turned around to him and, seeing his expression, knew what he was thinking. Raising her brows, she said, "If…true essence could be used, then I would have broken through your defense on the seventy-sixth move."
She spoke very indifferently, but also with an unquestionable certainty.
Guan Feibai's expression subtly shifted as he recalled the situation at the time. The spectators in front of the palace also began to recollect. After a period of solid contemplation, everyone unexpectedly came to the same conclusion: yes, if true essence could be used, then the sword technique of the Wind and Rain Sword of Mount Zhong that Chen Changsheng had Luoluo use at that time could have directly struck the zhongfu point and obtained victory.
"The problem is, even if you could use true essence, you wouldn't be able to use that technique."
Guan Feibai felt like he had understood everything and coldly declared, "Let alone that particular sword technique, even those sword techniques of the Wind and Rain Sword of Mount Zhong that you used at the very beginning wouldn't be usable with Your Highness's current level of cultivation. All Your Highness has is the form!"
The noise of discussion gradually began to rise from the crowd. Everyone, including the senior experts such as Principal Mao Qiuyu, had to admit that Guan Feibai's words were reasonable.
The greatest problem with demi-humans cultivating in human techniques was that the meridian networks of the two were vastly different, resulting in problems arising when circulating true essence. At present, the demi-human experts of the continent, including Jin Yulu who had earlier taken action, perhaps had some interaction with human cultivation methods in their youth, but upon reaching adulthood, they all still learned the secret cultivation methods of the demi-humans.
In tonight's competition of swords, Princess Luoluo had used human sword techniques and so must have cultivated with human methods. Logically speaking, if she could not reach the upper level of Meditation, it would naturally be impossible for her to use some of the mightiest techniques of the Wind and Rain Sword of Mount Zhong.
No one had brought up this matter earlier because it had already been decided that neither side would use true essence, testing more the skills of Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi. Of course, the abilities of Luoluo and Guan Feibai were also tested, but since those sword techniques she used only had the form and were also in accordance with the rules of the match, no one could criticize her.
Only when Guan Feibai broached the matter did the crowd feel that this match was even more unfair to the Mount Li Sword Sect than they had earlier thought.
The wind blew across the dark palace. On the roof of the palace, the White Crane had buried its head in its feathers, seemingly already asleep.
Nobody spoke, only gazed at Luoluo.
Although no one criticized or denounced her, nor dared to rejudge the battle, the meaning behind those gazes was exceptionally clear.
Gou Hanshi shook his head, indicating that Guan Feibai should return.
Luoluo saw the look in the eyes of those humans and slightly raised her brow, a sense of discomfort in her mind. However, she said nothing more, turning and making her way towards the edge of the plaza.
Guan Feibai looked at her back and gave a noiseless sneer before also turning around.
The two walked away, backs to each other, gradually distancing themselves all the way until they had almost returned to their respective groups, separated by several dozen zhang.
Just then, Luoluo suddenly stopped.
Then, she did one thing.
She gripped the Falling Rain Whip and casually lashed it against the ground.
The whip rose like the wind and fell like the rain, precisely the most powerful technique of the Wind and Rain Sword of Mount Zhong.
A crisp crack!
The Falling Rain Whip, brimming with true essence, struck like a sword against the incredibly thick ground!
For just an instant, the ground in front of the palace hall seemed to tremble!
Instantly, a massive crevice opened in the ground.
Dust and bits of stone shot out of the crevice, seeming like thousands of moths under the starlight!
Who said that there was a problem with demi-humans cultivating in the techniques of humans?
Just where did the might the Falling Rain Whip had displayed just now come from!
Who said that it was impossible for her to use the mightiest technique of the Wind and Rain Sword of Mount Zhong?
Just what was that whip strike then!
At the crisp crack, Guan Feibai suddenly turned.
He had not seen the movement of Luoluo's whip, but he saw the traces of true Qi in the night sky and heard the cracking of the ground.
He looked to the ground and saw a crevice spreading towards him, ultimately terminating around a foot from his position.
The dust and stone burst from the crevice and clattered to the ground.
His pupils contracted and his face instantly turned pale.
He could guess which technique of the Wind and Rain Sword Luoluo had used: precisely the sword technique he had said she would not be able to use.
When they were competing in swords, they had been separated by ten-odd zhang, while now, they were separated by several dozen.
Right now, her sword intent could reach to right in front of him, so what about back then?
He finally understood that, through some inexplicable method, his opponent had long since broken through that threshold between demi-humans and humans, and completely grasped the Wind and Rain Sword of Mount Zhong!
This being the case, if their match had not forbidden the usage of true essence and was a true battle, would he not still have lost?
In this extremely brief moment, he thought of many things, calculated countless possibilities, and came to the stunning conclusion that there was not the slightest chance of him winning!
Could he truly be inferior to her?
The crack of Luoluo's whip was still ringing through the night, echoing deep into the Great Zhou Imperial Palace.
It was a very crisp sound.
Just like a slap.
When Guan Feibai thought of his cold and arrogant words, he felt his cheeks burn.
His pale cheeks turned slightly red.
The spectators on the stone steps were similarly shocked. They stared at the crevice in the ground and Princess Luoluo quietly standing next to Chen Changsheng with the whip in her hand, too stunned to speak for a very long time.
They also felt that Princess Luoluo's Falling Rain Whip had fallen upon their bodies!
The immature demi-human who was seldom heard of had actually cultivated in human techniques to nearly break through into the Ethereal Opening Realm!
Just how had she managed to do it?
Mo Yu gazed at Luoluo, her delicate brows slightly knit, with heavier matters on her mind—the blood of the White Emperor clan was actually this powerful?
"I did not expect that Your Highness had managed to overcome that barrier."
Gou Hanshi looked at Luoluo and continued, "Congratulation, Your Highness, but I do not know…"
"Yes."
Luoluo knew what he meant. Turning to Chen Changsheng, she bowed in deference, declaring, "Many thanks to Teacher for your instruction."
Gou Hanshi turned to Chen Changsheng. After a long period of silence, he uttered, "Admirable."
This admiration was true admiration.