Martial Immortality: Starting with the Spirit Beast Scroll

Chapter 320: Chapter 308: Sharp Contest (Middle)

Although they were both struck at the same time, Zhao Lin had been prepared. He resisted with his Turtle Shell Force and was almost completely unharmed.

Wei Shi, on the other hand, took the blow head-on with his physical body. He was struck on the shoulder and staggered back.

Zhao Lin gave Wei Shi no chance to catch his breath. He pressed forward, surging with Qi and Blood as he unleashed a flurry of attacks. In less than ten exchanges, he landed a punch squarely on Wei Shi’s chest.

Wei Shi stumbled back seven or eight steps before he managed to steady himself. Gritting his teeth, he once again charged forward.

’What a formidable body!’

Zhao Lin was secretly astounded. He had used eighty percent of his strength in that last punch. Even he would have been in considerable pain after a blow like that, yet Wei Shi was somehow still standing firm.

If that punch had landed on a Magic Cultivator, it would have been fatal. The Array would have teleported them out long ago.

He immediately launched an all-out assault. Relying on his years of combat experience, he quickly turned his advantage into a winning position. A moment later, he landed another punch on Wei Shi.

THUD!

This time, Wei Shi was finally unable to endure and slumped to the ground.

Even so, the Array had not been triggered.

"Zhao Lin wins!"

The arbitrating elder called out promptly, adding, "Wei Shi is declared defeated by knockdown."

"Brilliant!"

"A rare sight to see!"

The crowd erupted in thunderous applause. For many, it was their first time witnessing such an intense close-quarters battle, and they couldn’t help but see Martial Cultivators and Body Cultivators in a new light, their previous disdain vanishing.

"Brother Zhao, your martial skill is profound. I am truly impressed," Wei Shi said, getting to his feet and brushing the dust off his clothes as if nothing had happened.

"To have such strength at your age, Younger Brother Wei, I should be the one envying you."

Zhao Lin spoke from the heart. Although he was slightly stronger, he was also nearly twice Wei Shi’s age. He truly had no reason to be smug.

The winner of the first match was to remain on the field, so the second match would be between Zhao Lin and Fang Qinglu.

"That last battle was very draining. Use this Spirit Stone to help you recover," the arbitrating elder said, handing a Spirit Stone to Zhao Lin.

"Thank you, Elder!"

Zhao Lin offered his thanks, sat down cross-legged, and held the Spirit Stone in both hands. He pressed it against his abdomen, replenishing his Spiritual Power while also recovering his physical stamina.

Just then, the Spirit Cultivation Map in his mind flashed, sending out countless tendrils that tried to snatch the Spiritual Qi from the Spirit Stone.

’This Spirit Stone is mine.’

With a mere thought, Zhao Lin repelled the tendrils.

About half an hour later, he slowly opened his eyes.

Fang Qinglu was already on the stage. He gave a light chuckle and said, "There’s no rush. We can begin once you’re fully recovered."

"That’s only fair."

Zhao Lin didn’t stand on ceremony. The outcome of this match would determine whether he could take first place, and his opponent was incredibly strong. Taking a little more time to rest certainly wouldn’t hurt.

He took advantage of the break to mentally simulate how he would deal with Fang Qinglu.

A battle could change in an instant, so his simulation couldn’t predict every single move. Instead, his goal was to establish a basic strategy and a path to victory.

Fighting a Sword Cultivator was completely different from fighting a Body Cultivator, and different again from fighting a Magic Cultivator.

In truth, anyone would get a headache from fighting a Sword Cultivator.

This was because the initiative always lay with the Sword Cultivator, much like the martial arts principle that pure speed is unbeatable.

After a while longer, Zhao Lin stood up and casually placed the partially used Spirit Stone into his storage bag.

"You’ve cultivated a magic spell to the Minor Achievement Level and possess a body on par with a Body Cultivator’s. You are a worthy opponent," Fang Qinglu said, his eyes blazing with intensity.

Zhao Lin understood his meaning. Sword Cultivators needed to constantly temper themselves in battle in order to grow. They were therefore extremely eager for combat, and finding a worthy opponent was like a hunter spotting choice prey.

’He’s treating me like a whetstone.’

"To have cultivated Sword Qi in just three years... you are also a worthy opponent."

The two men spoke as they walked to their respective positions and stopped.

Just as everyone expected, the moment the arbitrating elder gave the signal to begin, Fang Qinglu didn’t hesitate for an instant. He raised his hand and unleashed his flying sword.

A pinpoint of white light appeared, rapidly enlarging as it shot forward like a bolt of lightning.

Zhao Lin took a step forward. Just as the flying sword came within thirty feet of him, he suddenly took a diagonal step, his body blurring into an afterimage.

The flying sword missed!

Huh?

Fang Qinglu was taken aback. Zhao Lin’s step had seemed ordinary, but it concealed a profound subtlety. His timing and footwork were executed with extreme precision; he had not only dodged but also closed the distance by one step.

Zhao Lin’s Body Technique was the Cloud Flipping Skill, but this particular step followed a diagram he had studied in his martial arts training, moving from the "Lin" position to the "Wu Wang" position.

In truth, Zhao Lin was also being extremely careful. The flying sword was simply too fast; what he was doing was like dancing on a knife’s edge. One careless move and the sword would run him through.

But it was a risk he had to take. Otherwise, he would be a sitting duck, able only to defend.

This was the disadvantage of a Low-Tier cultivator. Limited by his Divine Sense Spiritual Power, his attack range was barely half of Fang Qinglu’s. He had to get closer to even begin his attack.

Fang Qinglu snorted. He retreated, putting distance between himself and Zhao Lin, while simultaneously directing his flying sword to whip around and stab at the back of Zhao Lin’s head.

Zhao Lin’s feet never stopped. He advanced by stepping on positions like "Feng," "Bi," "Ji Ji," and "Qian." He wasn’t fast, but his movements were as smooth as flowing water. Each time the flying sword was about to strike, a subtle shift of his feet would allow him to dodge just in time.

"That was close! It just missed!"

"It looked like a sure hit, but somehow he dodged."

"What’s going on? Is that the legendary Lightweight Skill...?"

The spectating cultivators didn’t understand what was happening and clicked their tongues in amazement. Only a few who had practiced martial arts in the mortal world had a vague understanding of the principles at play.

Fang Qinglu’s brow furrowed deeply. If this continued, his advantage would vanish the moment Zhao Lin got into close range.

"Spinning Light Sword!"

Fang Qinglu’s lips moved slightly. The flying sword immediately began to spin rapidly on its axis, like a shuriken.

At the same time, a blade of Sword Qi several feet long erupted from its tip.

The flying sword’s speed slowed a little, but between the length of the blade and the extremely long beam of Sword Qi, its attack covered an area over ten feet wide. A low hum emanated from it.

With this, it was no longer possible for Zhao Lin to dodge using his Body Technique alone.

Zhao Lin had already anticipated a scenario where he couldn’t dodge the flying sword and had a countermeasure ready. He immediately dodged sideways, his hands forming the seal for a spell.

In an instant, Earth Spiritual Qi began to gather frantically around him.

Rock Armor Skill!

The casting time for defensive magic was far shorter than for offensive magic. Just as the flying sword was about to strike, a yellow light flared up in front of Zhao Lin, instantly forming a rock wall over an inch thick.

Zhao Lin intentionally used only half his Mana, halving the rock wall’s thickness. This made it appear to be at the Proficient level, not the Minor Achievement Level.

To master one magic spell to the Minor Achievement Level after only a year of cultivation would make one a genius; mastering two would be unheard of.

Besides, Zhao Lin had other plans.

Seeing this, a wave of sighs swept through the audience, and many people began to shake their heads.

Before the Rock Armor Skill reached the Great Achievement level, the armor it created was immobile.

In other words, once a cultivator used this spell, they were rooted to the spot.

Using such a spell against a Sword Cultivator was tantamount to tying one’s own hands, making the possibility of victory extremely slim.

Fang Qinglu raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips.

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