With the Blade-Chapter 62 - 57: The Strong Remain Strong

To be fair, Cui Yuan’s swordsmanship has indeed made great progress.

The broken sword lost its advantage in length, but at this moment, Cui Yuan’s figure had already become like a ghost—after receiving a heavy blow to the chest, not only did Cui Yuan show no sign of injury, but he instead used the momentum to fly away, then charged again at an incredible angle, clinging to the ground.

One inch short, one inch perilous.

Clearly, even though he hasn’t practiced the Red Needle Technique, Cui Yuan has already grasped the essence in another way.

"Is there really such a thing as genius in this world?"

Du Chengfeng couldn’t help but think of He Xiqing, that man like a War God was the same way. There are always some people in this world favored by fate, who with minimal effort far surpass others’ years of toil. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

But he too was no longer the old Du Chengfeng.

When he first met Cui Yuan, his martial arts skills could only be described as a tragedy. The Red Needle Technique and wrestling were not regarded as great martial arts, and the only thing he could boast was the pig-killing technique from the Heavy Great Saber—these were good enough for bullying ordinary people like Yang Sanlang, but not quite enough for a duel with a swordsman like Cui Yuan who had practiced for fifteen years.

And during the second fight with Cui Yuan, he had already honed Cui Yuan’s sword, although it was just for a brief moment, it felt like a lifetime to Du Chengfeng—with the identity of a sword, he fully comprehended everything Cui Yuan practiced, and it was precisely for this reason that he could use sword moves in saber style, and cut Cui Yuan’s sword in one stroke.

And now, in the third encounter, the moves Cui Yuan had comprehended were ones he had never seen before.

But this time, the difference between them is like an abyss.

Using the Two Forces of Dragon and Tiger as the foundation to operate all body muscles, supplemented with the Red Needle Technique for an offensive approach, each move aimed at the vital spots, with the Flying Dragon Sword variation at a distance and close-range grapples when near, the nimble Tiger Leap Body Technique can attack or defend, and most importantly, those vast battle experiences have eventually been integrated into the Butcher’s Skill, achieving mastery through hundreds of practices.

Strictly speaking, Du Chengfeng also doesn’t know what his current level truly is, since he hasn’t encountered anyone who allows him to exert his full power yet.

The Cui Yuan in front of him doesn’t count.

"An inch longer, an inch stronger."

The Broken Horse Long Saber hadn’t even been drawn out, Du Chengfeng directly used it as a staff, sweeping at Cui Yuan’s lower body.

He’s not the Fast Sword Liu Qingyun, he doesn’t have such an obsession with drawing the saber.

"Huh!"

Just as the sheath was about to hit the face, the originally ground-clinging Cui Yuan suddenly leapt into the air, his broken sword thrust fiercely towards Du Chengfeng’s face!

Even when honing this Broken Horse Long Saber, Du Chengfeng had never seen such a move.

Once, Du Chengfeng had believed that fighting meant knowing oneself and the opponent. When he knew all the opponent’s moves, he could win without a doubt—but at this moment, he suddenly realized, a rival is a rival, an enemy is an enemy, how could those who fight him follow his train of thought?

That somewhat underestimated the opponent.

Also somewhat underestimated himself.

"Come!"

As his spine stretched, Du Chengfeng fiercely raised the long saber in his hand!

Thud—

The hard wooden sheath shot off the saber, violently into Cui Yuan’s chest and abdomen, lifting him into the air!

"What..."

The blow to the diaphragm position of the chest and abdomen stopped Cui Yuan’s breath briefly, even after practicing swordsmanship for fifteen years.

And when Cui Yuan fell to the ground, the Broken Horse Long Saber was already laying across his neck.

"Remarkable."

Du Chengfeng gently wiped the wound on his face.

"No wonder you could slash Liu Qingyun’s throat with one sword, you’re really stealthy... the sword aura you just thrust out, it must be five feet right? Five feet two inches?"

"This..."

Cui Yuan wanted to raise the broken sword again, but was hit on the wrist by the sheath that Du Chengfeng flicked with his foot.

The broken sword fell to the ground, and Cui Yuan eventually lowered his head.

"I have lost."

"Yes, this time you indeed lost."

This time, Du Chengfeng did not evade or deny but decisively nodded.

Only because this time, it truly was his victory.

Not relying on the information about the enemy gained from sword honing, nor merely relying on close-quarter life-and-death struggle, this time, he purely used his own martial arts skills to completely suppress Cui Yuan who had practiced swordsmanship for fifteen years.

No matter that the opponent had hidden moves, no matter that the seemingly broken sword could thrust out an invisible five-foot sword aura, it was the same result.

"I have lost. Kill me if you wish."

Cui Yuan turned his neck sideways, completely giving up resistance.

"In the path of swordsmanship, with you as a mountain blocking the way, I can hardly make progress in this lifetime. Rather than remain stagnant eternally, it would be a tale worth telling to die by your hand."

"Hmm..."

Du Chengfeng furrowed his brow.

Killing Cui Yuan like this is actually somewhat regrettable, since even if Cui Yuan dies, it can only replenish a surge of Evil Qi from weapons. As for Cui Yuan’s broken sword... although the five-foot sword aura seems useful, his Broken Horse Long Saber has already mastered a similar technique to extend attack distance when slaying those wizards.

Moreover, the fierce flame blade of his Heavy Great Saber could actually cover a distance of three zhang when fully unleashed, which compared to this, the five feet two inches in length still falls quite short.