Absolute Choice 6

by Pear Lands In The Autumn Spring

  Shi Xiaobai suddenly thought of something as his eyes lit up!

  He came to a possible realization!

  Shi Xiaobai pondered over it quickly, and with his great imagination and ability to fill in the blanks, he took a few seconds to go from a simple discovery and hypothesis to an amazing possibility!

  Shi Xiaobai raised his sword with his left hand. His eyes were like brilliant stars as a smile suffused across his lips.

  Upon seeing this, Heartless felt a sense of foreboding. However, he did not speak any further and instead ran towards Shi Xiaobai with sword raised!

  "Watch it!"

  Heartless slashed out!

  Vaporized water, gushing sword intent, freezing, shattering, falling. Snowflakes filled with sword beams began falling from above!

  Shi Xiaobai looked calm. He did not show any intention of dodging. Instead, with sword in his left hand, he slashed out at the sword snowflakes that filled the sky!

  This slash looked extremely casual, as though he had gently raised his sword to streak across the sky.

  However, after slashing out, the snowflakes that filled the sky instantly melted and evaporated, turning into boiling bubbles that rose towards the sky!

  Heartless immediately stared with widened eyes that were filled with incredulity!

  The snowflakes were no ordinary snowflakes but sword energies that were biting cold. How could they be melted and evaporated into water vapor?

  Shi Xiaobai's grin broadened.

  Heartless was alarmed as he immediately slashed out again!

  This time, it was not the falling of snowflakes but azure water waves!

  The Kun Sword had three forms—water wave, ice front, and snowflakes. This strike was the water wave!

  But rather than calling it water wave, it might as well be called a tsunami in mid-air. The sword energies swept forward like a tsunami towards Shi Xiaobai, as though being inundated by the sword energies would cause one to be swallowed by the sword energies in the water wave!

  The sword waves churned at an astonishing speed towards Shi Xiaobai, who remained calm. Once again, he casually struck.

  With the slash, a transparent sword beam collided with the sword wave. The sound of water boiling immediately was heard as the azure sword tsunami immediately evaporated, turning into rising plumes of white mist.

  Heartless drew a gasp and said in surprise, "What sword attack is this?"

  What sword technique could instantly obliterate the Kun Peng Sword Technique's sword intent, and evaporate all the sword beams?

  Shi Xiaobai did not answer. This attack was of course, Kun-Stewing Wok. In the past, he would have said Kun Peng Sword Technique, but at this moment, he no longer thought so!

  Be it the name 'Kun-Stewing Wok’ or from its effects, it was clearly designed to counter the lower form sword of Kun Peng!

  Water waves?

  Ice front?

  Snowflakes?

  Who cares what waters you stir with a flick of your tail. They would all be evaporated as a result of high temperatures!

  Of course, this so-called evaporation was not evaporation as described in Physics. The power of high temperatures was also not simply high temperatures, but they referred to the sword energy produced by Kun-Stewing Wok being able to 'evaporate' Kun Sword's sword energies!

  This was a very simple and crude counter. It was completely unreasonable!

  Shi Xiaobai did not respond, but neither did Heartless ask any further. Heartless slashed out Kun Sword in silence once again, but this strike was easily dissipated by Shi Xiaobai.

  However, Heartless did not stop. He continuously slashed Kun Sword!

  He was carefully watching Shi Xiaobai's sword techniques and sensing the sword intent in every strike so as to discover the secret of the attack!

  Shi Xiaobai seemed to read Heartless's mind. He matched his wishes by using Stewing Sword to extinguish Heartless's sword energy.

  After a long while, Heartless suddenly stared with widened eyes and said aghast, "This is… the Kun Peng Sword Technique!?"

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  Chapter280 Heavens, quickly take this bastard back

  When Shi Xiaobai heard this, he was slightly astonished. Back at Ogre Forest, Sunless could tell that the sword move he was using was the Kun Peng Sword Technique after a few observations. Her sword talent was clearly much better than Heartless, who had to observe for such a long period of time. However, why were Heartless and Sunless able to tell that the Stewing Sword, which Shi Xiaobai theorized to be a mysterious sword technique that countered the Kun Peng Sword Technique, be part of the Kun Peng Sword Technique?

  Before Shi Xiaobai could even ask, Heartless had already loudly said, "Why does your sword technique possess the unique sword intent of the Kun Peng Sword Technique?"

  Shi Xiaobai's eyes lit up when he heard this.

  The sword intent of Kun Peng Sword Technique?

  If that was the case, the Stewing Sword may be a sword technique that countered the Kun Sword, but it was also part of the Kun Peng Sword Technique!

  Could it be that the entire Kun Peng Sword Technique was a sword technique that reinforced and countered each other?

  The lower form was a Sword of Water, the middle form was the Sword of Wind, and the upper form was the Sword of High Temperatures and the Sword of Fire!

  High temperatures countered water!

  Wind countered high temperatures!

  Fire countered wind!

  Water countered fire!

  The four sword techniques restrained each other, turning into a cyclic system!

  This was the true nature of the Kun Peng Sword Technique?

  That's not right. High temperatures might not be the true essence of the Stewing Sword!

  Shi Xiaobai was slightly astonished. He thought of another possibility. Since the Kun Sword Sunless used could only manifest the power of low temperatures, it was very likely that he had yet to grasp the quintessence of the Stewing Sword. Hence, all he could do was manifest the power of high temperatures!

  Wind, water, fire were natural elements in Chinese culture. Then, to combine them into one, the Stewing Sword would slash out a sword beam that was the manifestation of a natural element!

  What natural element could counter water waves, ice fronts, snowflakes, and even the Kun?

  "Earth!"

  Earth countered water, and also countered fish!

  But it was not ordinary Earth, but burning grounds!

  Burning grounds were what countered water and fish the most!

  If that was the case, the true Kun Peng Sword Technique was—Earth, Wind, Water, Fire!

  Earth countered Water.

  Water countered Fire.

  Fire countered Wind.

  Wind countered Earth.

  Four sword moves, reinforcing or countering each other!

  No, it might not only be reinforcing or countering, there was perhaps a way for the four sword moves to combine!

  Earth, Wind, Water, Fire were regarded in Buddhism as the four elements that made matter, and were also called 'Cycle'!

  "This is the true mystery of the Kun Peng Sword Technique! Combining—Earth, Wind, Water, Fire—four as one!"

  Shi Xiaobai's eyes turned bright and hot as he could not help but feel a tinge of excitement in his heart.

  Heartless frowned. He had been asking incessantly, but Tu Dahei remained silent. He appeared deadpan before suddenly looking excited.

  Heartless could not help but wonder what Tu Dahei was getting high on.

  If Heartless knew Shi Xiaobai had figured out the hidden ancient secret of the Kun Peng Sword Technique through the use of these two sword moves, he would probably be astounded.

  What sort of different line of thought and ability to come up with such fanciful and reasonable thoughts did he have?

  Shi Xiaobai naturally would not waste time explaining to Heartless his complex reasoning. He
only had one thought on his mind!

  This King has created a sword that combined 'Earth, Wind, Fire, Water'!

  Because of this, he needed to first grasp the quintessence of each of the four sword moves!

  Sword of Fire, he had grasped its quintessence for no good reason.

  Sword of Earth, he had yet to grasp its quintessence.

  Sword of Wind, he had observed it from Sunless for a period of time, but had never used it before.

  Sword of Water, he had only truly seen it a couple of times up to now.

  "Let's start by practicing the least familiar one!"

  With this thought in mind, Shi Xiaobai looked at Heartless and loudly said, "Try taking on This King's strike!"

  Heartless felt Shi Xiaobai was filled with oddness. He was in a completely passive state after using Kun Peng Sword Technique that he prided himself with. After hearing Shi Xiaobai's declaration of attack, Heartless immediately perked his focus.

  "Come on!"

  Heartless was waiting alert.

  Shi Xiaobai prepared slightly before slashing forward!

  This strike contained a tiny hint of sword intent he obtained from observing Sunless's swordplay.

  It changes into Peng, winds arise at a flap of its wings!

  "Pu!"

  A fart-like sound resounded as Shi Xiaobai slashed out a sword beam that fell apart immediately, turning into a gentle breeze.

  This breeze blew for a meter or two and was extremely weak. There was no need to talk about giving Heartless any trouble, it probably could not blow up the hair strands of a girl.

  Shi Xiaobai had ended up in failure with his first use of the Peng Sword.

  Shi Xiaobai's face turned slightly red as he coughed and said, "An accident, purely an accident!"

  Heartless stared confounded as he cried out, "Middle form of the Kun Peng? Why do you know the middle form of the Kun Peng?"

  Although this strike had failed, Heartless was able to tell that this strike was the middle form of the Kun Peng. This was because Sunless had failed countless times in her practice of the middle form of the Kun Peng when she was young. Every failure produced such a weak breeze.

  Heartless had seen it countless times, so he could tell that Shi Xiaobai was currently producing the middle form of the Kun Peng!

  Heartless was feeling extremely perplexed. Why was Tu Dahei able to execute a Kun Peng Sword Technique, which countered his Kun Sword, that he had never seen before? Also, why was he able to use the middle form of the Kun Peng?

  Suddenly, Heartless thought of a possibility as he shouted, "My sister taught you!?"

  When Shi Xiaobai heard this, he was taken aback. Sunless was not good with words, so she did not know how to express her thoughts. She could only let him observe using her swordplay. It was not considered teaching. But in all seriousness, this was probably a method of imparting swordsmanship?

  Shi Xiaobai hesitated for a moment before he nodded.

  Heartless immediately gave a wry smile and said with a sigh, "I never believed the saying that girls have their thoughts outside the family, but I have finally understood it. This Kun Peng Sword Technique is a secret technique of the Kun Peng Sword Sect that is not to be imparted. Yet, Little Sun has imparted it to you..."

  If Heartless knew that Sunless had handed the Kun Peng Sword Manual directly to Shi Xiaobai, he would probably vomit blood on the spot.

  Shi Xiaobai did not plan on explaining. All he had on his mind was the Kun Peng Sword Technique. Seeing Heartless looking depressed, he took a few steps back and began brandishing his sword around in the corner.

  "Pu... Pu... Pu... Pu..."

  Shi Xiaobai constantly slashed out Peng Sword, but suffered repeated failures. It was apparently not that simple to grasp its quintessence.

  Seeing Shi Xiaobai ignore him while practicing his swordplay in the corner, Heartless immediately felt bitter.

  Hey, aren't we supposed to be battling now?

  Heartless recalled the entire process of this duel and immediately found it absurd.

  In the first half of the duel, he had been tortured by the black sword, resulting in constant defeat. Tu Dahei's proficiency of his left hand also gradually increased.

  In the middle of the duel, he had held back to fight with Tu Dahei for three hundred rounds in order to return the favor. As such, Tu Dahei completely grasped the use of his left hand.

  In the second half of the duel, he used the lower form of the Kun Peng, but was countered by Tu Dahei's mysterious sword technique. He was immediately at a disadvantage. Then Tu Dahei began ignoring him and practiced the middle form of the Kun Peng himself.

  What did this mean?

  This duel was him clearly being a sparring partner. Tu Dahei was not satisfied just training his left hand in the way of the sword, this was the precursor of him continuing to practice the middle form of the Kun Peng!

  Holy shit, I'm a super rookie, a sword prodigy that defended the title of champion at the National Secondary School Swordplay Tournament for three consecutive years. And now, I'm a free sparring partner?

  Heartless even felt like dying!

  Seeing Shi Xiaobai's back facing him as he slashed out the middle form of the Kun Peng again and again at a corner, but failing time and time again. He did not feel it was right to sneak up on him, nor did he bear to interrupt him. However, he finally could not help but taunt, "Stop trying. The middle form of the Kun Peng is not a sword technique that can be mastered by brandishing the sword a hundred or two hundred times. Even my sis took three years to barely succeed!"

  Just as Heartless finished saying his sentence, Shi Xiaobai slashed out another time. This time, the sword wind did not instantly dissipate like before. It howled towards a wall!

  When the sword wind crashed into the wall, it issued a harsh sound. Densely packed sword streaks were left instantly on the wall!

  "Su...ceeded!?"

  Heartless gaped. He did not dare to believe the scene in front of him.

  Tu Dahei had managed to use the middle form of the Kun Peng!

  Although the strike was extremely immature, it was the middle form of the Kun Peng that had properly manifested. Heartless remembered that his sister had failed for three years. During those three years, she had practiced slashing thousands, if not millions of times before finally being able to slash out a strike Tu Dahei had managed.

  His sister was labeled as a rare sword fanatic, but now, what sort of monster was Tu Dahei?

  After Shi Xiaobai managed to produce the strike, he was pleasantly surprised. He had yet to comprehend the Sword of Earth, but he never expected to grasp the quintessence of the Sword of Wind so quickly.

  From the looks of it, he had an affinity with Wind and Fire?

  What was his affinity with Water?

  How long would he take to learn the Sword of Water?

  Shi Xiaobai's eyes glowed as he turned towards Heartless. With a strong desire in his tone, he said, "Come on, quickly use your Kun Peng Sword Technique. This King is unable to endure the thirst!"

  Heartless fell silent. He could clearly tell from Shi Xiaobai's expression three words—"want to learn!"

  In the short span of an hour, Tu Dahei had used him as a sparring partner, grasping the ability to use his left hand and learned the middle form of the Kun Peng. Now, he even fucking wanted to steal from him the learnings of the lower form of the Kun Peng?

  Heavens, how can you be this shameless!?

  Heartless could not tolerate it further as he said angrily, "Tu Dahei, I want to battle you!"

  Shi Xiaobai was slightly surprised as he said out of curiosity, "Aren't we battling?"

  Heartless went silent for a moment before he involuntarily cried towards the heavens!

  So you fucking know we are battling!

  Heavens, quickly take this bastard back!

  ...

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  Chapter281 Failure is the
mother of success

  This was a duel, a duel that determined who could go further in the mass selection. It proved who was stronger. It was even an important duel that determined the honor of an organization!

  This duel was supposed to be abnormally fiery, with both sides pushing hard at it, fighting a desperate battle, constantly exceeding their limits and surpassing each other. A battle of the century in which no one would be willing to lag behind. Finally it would end with a narrow margin that would be regretful.

  But, why did this scene imperceptibly change?

  Why did the duel transform into the present state?

  Why?

  Heartless sighed as his eyes gradually turned icy-cold.

  "Tu Dahei, I will no longer hesitate or show any mercy. This is a duel. Sword is our only form of exchange. Using your full strength is the best form of respect."

  Heartless raised his psionic sword and his face was without expression. His gaze was keen, as surging sword intent churned around him. He had a dominating aura as he said coldly, "Sword techniques are split into five levels. Sword Technique, Sword Intent, Sword Truth, Sword Soul, and Sword Domain. Typical swordsmen would only be able to use sword techniques that are empty in nature. After practicing swords for several years, they would acquire Sword Intent through a honing process. But extremely few swordsmen are able to create their own Sword Truth. As for Sword Soul and Sword Domain, those are things only the top swordsmen in the world are able to comprehend."

  "Tu Dahei, your sword already possesses sword intent, but that is all to it. Compared to an expert with Sword Truth, you are still a great distance away. I have practiced swords for more than ten years. At the age of fourteen, I gained insight into the Sword Truth, and this Sword Truth of mine is known as [Heartless]".

  "So I regret to tell you that you will be defeated by Sword Truth, [Heartless]!"

  After Heartless said this, his eyes turned cold, as though he had abandoned all his emotions.

  Shi Xiaobai slowly wiped away the overwhelming excitement filled him when fully immersing himself in the study of the Kun Peng Sword Technique. He could sense the cold aura exuded by Heartless. It was as though he was an ice sculpture which had frozen all his emotions, thoughts, and 'burdens'.