Chapter 352 175: Seriously Injured?

He took in every single change, every last movement.

The night gradually passed amidst the sounds of their discussion.

Early the next morning, just as the sky began to lighten, a voice boomed throughout the entire posthouse while the rain outside continued to fall:

"Jiang Ran, you whelp!!"

"Hurry and come out to acknowledge me as your master! Today, I shall accept a new disciple. After this old man passes on, the position of Blood Saber Hall Master will be yours. How great would that be?"

The doors to the posthouse swung open, and everyone turned toward the sound.

There, they saw Xuanyuan One Slash, seated on a grandmaster's chair and being carried toward them by several members of the Blood Saber Hall.

Scholar Jingtan was taken aback.

"This doesn't seem like you."

"I am a bit injured, after all."

Xuanyuan One Slash shot a cold glance at Li Tianyu, who stood off to the side.

"One must take care of one's body. I'm getting old, not like I used to be."

"You certainly have aged a lot these past few years."

Scholar Jingtan nodded, agreeing with Xuanyuan One Slash's statement, which only made Xuanyuan One Slash's expression turn even more black.

Then he turned his head.

"Where is Jiang Ran?"

"That kid's not going to back out, is he? I've arrived as promised. If he dares go back on his word, the Blood Saber Hall will hunt him to the ends of the earth."

"Senior Xuanyuan, what's the rush?"

Jiang Ran's voice came from the second floor of the posthouse.

Xuanyuan One Slash looked up to see a window on the second floor open. Jiang Ran was leaning against the frame, chuckling.

"Greetings, Senior. You truly are impatient."

"I was thinking you would at least wait for the rain to stop before coming."

"I'm already over fifty, with no children or grandchildren, and not a single disciple. How could I not be anxious?"

"If it were you, with no one to see you off at the end of your life, let's see how anxious you'd be."

Xuanyuan One Slash grinned, looking Jiang Ran up and down. The more he looked, the more satisfied he seemed.

But as soon as he said this, Tang Huayi became upset.

"Xuanyuan One Slash, what bullshit are you spouting? Who says he'll have no one to see him off?"

Xuanyuan One Slash seemed to be in a good mood today, as if he already had Jiang Ran in the palm of his hand. He didn't even mind Tang Huayi's disrespect.

Of course, it was also possible he'd been so thoroughly berated by Ning Jiuyuan the night before that his mindset had changed, and he could now tolerate a bit of insolence.

He just gave Tang Huayi a strange look.

"Whether he has someone to see him off at the end of his life, what does that have to do with you?"

Tang Huayi froze. She wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come.

She was left speechless, forced to suffer in silence.

Just then, Jiang Ran chuckled, placed one hand on the windowsill, and leaped down from the posthouse.

He landed on one foot, but his body wavered for a moment.

His brow furrowed slightly.

"The ground is really slippery."

Xuanyuan One Slash glanced at the muddy ground and nodded.

"Do you need to make any more preparations?"

"There's no need."

Jiang Ran walked slowly until he was in front of Xuanyuan One Slash.

"You may make your move, Senior."

"That's where you're wrong."

Xuanyuan One Slash waved his hand.

"I am the senior, and you are the junior. If I wish to take you as my disciple, I naturally have to show some skill myself."

"I heard from the men of Thunderbolt Hall that the Grand Master gave you a title: Shocking God Saber!"

"Today, I want to see for myself if this Shocking God Saber is as fierce as the legends say. Enough talk. Go ahead and make your move. If I can't take it, I'll acknowledge you as my master!"

"Alright."

Jiang Ran nodded. Without another word, he flicked his wrist, and his saber shot up. HUM. A whisper of wind from the blade was already at Xuanyuan One Slash's face.

Xuanyuan One Slash was startled.

'Such a fast saber!'

His feet tapped in quick succession as he executed three different Body Techniques in a single breath, finally managing to evade the strike completely.

But just as he steadied himself and looked up, Jiang Ran's blade was already upon him, sticking to him like a shadow.

He had no choice but to retreat again!

The onlookers were all stirred with excitement at the sight.

Xuanyuan One Slash was a master who had been famous for years. His saber style was fierce and aggressive; with that blade, he had single-handedly carved out the Blood Saber Hall's foundation.

Who would have thought that today, in a duel, he wouldn't even be able to draw his own saber.

The members of the Blood Saber Hall stared at each other in disbelief.

Xuanyuan One Slash, however, remained calm. His Body Technique was exquisite, its movements subtly embodying the principles of an Array. The Nine Shocking God Sabers Jiang Ran displayed was not the complete art; of the four techniques he had learned so far, he had yet to unleash a single one. By relying on his array-like footwork to entangle his opponent, Xuanyuan One Slash ensured that for the moment, neither could gain an advantage.

But if this dragged on, Xuanyuan One Slash's defeat was inevitable.

As the saying goes, one who only defends is bound to lose. As long as Jiang Ran kept up his relentless assault and gave him no opening to strike back, his defeat was only a matter of time.

But just then, Xuanyuan One Slash suddenly burst into wild laughter!

He stomped his foot. BOOM! Amidst his laughter, his figure seemed to suddenly grow taller, and for an instant, he projected an aura as imposing as a mountain.

Jiang Ran's blade seemed to be ensnared by some invisible force, pausing for a fraction of a second. Then, with a SHING...

Xuanyuan One Slash's Qianjun Saber was unsheathed.

He held the blade horizontally.

"My saber art is derived from the principles of the celestial stars, a manifestation of creation itself! Boy, watch closely!"

As he spoke, his saber swept down.

It was as heavy as a landslide, yet moved with incredible profundity.

Jiang Ran raised his saber to meet the blow, but suddenly let out a muffled grunt. He brought his Gold-Shattering Saber across his chest, and a sharp DING rang out.

Xuanyuan One Slash felt his blade descend as if striking a mountain. A powerful rebounding force shot back from Jiang Ran's saber, forcing him to stumble back three steps.

When he looked up again, he saw Jiang Ran flying backward, crashing hard against a nearby wall.

Xuanyuan One Slash glanced down at his palm, then at the saber in his hand, a look of confusion on his face.

Just then, a figure shot through the air like an eagle swooping from the heavens. It landed before Jiang Ran and reached out, aiming for the Jiaowei on his back.

At the same time, a cold voice rang out.

"Kill them all!"