One of the inspection officers in the command center said, “We have a situation, Special Officer Liang.”
Liang Guanghai looked over. “What is it?”
“We found Gongying Changxiu of Windforest School. He’s traveling with a team of five Third Limit martial artists, and they’ve intercepted Captain Chen’s unit,” the inspection officer said nervously.
Liang Guanghai froze.
Gongying Changxiu of Windforest School?
His expression turned grave.
Things had become troublesome.
Gongying Changxiu was the most famous Third Limit martial artist of the younger generation in the island nations. Now that Chen Chuan’s unit had run into him, they would already be doing a good job if they could protect themselves. After all, they lost in terms of numbers. It would be practically impossible for them to reach the gap.
“Send three of the nearest emergency response units to the gap. Even if they can’t kill Chang Kuanghai, they must retrieve the propagated parts!” he ordered decisively.
“Understood!”
***
Right above the space in front of the manor was a gap. Red clouds commonly seen during dusk were around it, which made it look majestic and beautiful, despite it being torn at the edges.
Chen Chuan’s unit stood across from Gongying Changxiu’s team.
Gongying Changxiu cast a glance at the gap above him before sighing. “If I fight against you right here and have someone write it down, it would become a tale worth remembering.”
He then cast a glance to the side and saw that Yuan Qiuyuan was shifting away. He swung his sheathed saber in Yuan Qiuyuan’s direction.
Before the saber touched the ground, a loud hum tore through the air. A saber-type refined force shot out, and the ground shattered. The crack stretched forward twenty meters until it reached Yuan Qiuyuan and intercepted his path.
Gongying Changxiu then pulled his saber back and turned to Chen Chuan. “We need witnesses for our duel. Don’t you think so, Mr. Chen?”
The people behind Gongying Changxiu had surrounded them, so it was clear that Gongying Changxiu didn’t want Chen Chuan’s unit to leave.
Chen Chuan rolled his wrists. “Let’s start, then. I’m in a hurry.”
The Windforest School martial artists observed Yuan Qiuyuan, Qin Qingque, and Su Wei. By the looks of it, they had no intention of just watching like statues. They were going to fight as well.
Since this was a five against four, they had the advantage in numbers.
Chen Chuan cast them a glance.
Gongying Changxiu smiled. “Mr. Chen, while we have a bit of an advantage over you in terms of numbers, if you can’t get past this obstacle, I’m going to underestimate you.”
“What if I join?!”
The two teams whipped their heads to the side and saw someone walking over with a saber at his waist. His hair was done in a topknot, and he was wearing the martial arts uniform of the islanders.
The newcomer was Sancheng Huang of Fierce Wave School.
One of the Windforest School disciples turned to face him and shouted, “Sancheng Huang, did you kill Junior Brother Hui Shilang?!”
“Yes, I did,” Sancheng Huang replied sternly.
“Then, I, Anzhong Kan, will bear witness to your skills in Senior Brother Gongying’s place,” Anzhong Kan growled.
“I accept your challenge,” Sancheng Huang replied gravely and walked over to Chen Chuan’s side to face the Windforest School group.
An interested smile appeared on Gongying Changxiu’s lips. The battle had become even more interesting. Because of this change, it became filled with uncertainties and suspense.
The Windforest School martial artists stopped advancing. The numbers on both sides were equal now, so they couldn’t be sure just who would win once they started fighting. It would be better for them to wait for a victor to emerge between the two leaders.
Chen Chuan motioned for his team to stand back, and they shimmied away to give them space. Then, Yuan Qiuyuan whispered, “Who do you think will win?”
Su Wei watched Gongying Changxiu and Chen Chuan for a moment before answering. “The captain.”
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s definitely the captain,” Yuan Qiuyuan agreed and chased away some insects with a wave of his arm. “These insects are seriously so annoying.”
Su Wei gave them a cursory glance before saying, “These things lay eggs under your skin. Don’t get bitten.”
Chen Chuan watched Gongying Changxiu. His biofield was erratic and unreadable. Even though he was standing right in front of him, it felt like he wasn’t there.
Just then, they heard a loud explosion nearby, and light shone. Another unstable gap had appeared.
It wasn’t the only one. There were multiple gaps on the street and empty plots of land. They flickered about, and powerful gusts of wind stirred around them, causing everyone’s hair and clothes to dance. More insects showed up and started flying frantically in the sky.
Chen Chuan raised his saber and pulled off the sheath with his left hand before throwing it away. Yuan Qiuyuan caught the sheath with a loud snap, just as Chen Chuan flipped his saber to the front and pointed at Gongying Changxiu with the tip.
Gongying Changxiu stared at the snow-white blade and praised it, “That’s a good saber. Does it have a name?”
“The Frost King Saber,” Chen Chuan answered.
“The Frost King Saber. Mine is Flowing Cuts Saber. I’ll show you its brilliance later,” Gongying Changxiu said as he brought his saber up.
His expression turned stern. He lunged forward, spread his fingers wide open, and grabbed the hilt, but didn’t unsheathe the saber. The wind made his sleeves dance and revealed a sliver of his forearm.
As he stared at Chen Chuan, wind from the back blew his hair forward, and he mumbled, “First Stance, Steam Stance.”
Shing!
Gongying Changxiu drew his saber, and it flashed. Suddenly, he crossed more than twenty meters. In the blink of an eye, he arrived in front of Chen Chuan. With both hands around the hilt, he swung the saber down.
Chen Chuan’s gaze remained calm as he brought his saber up to block.
Clang!
The two forces rammed into each other.