Chapter 168 Sword Soul
Already on the verge of exploding with rage, Wen Gao was further incited by Feng Liangbi's words and grew even angrier.
"Dammit, in the eyes of these Qiao Family people, am I just the difference between a chicken and an ox in front of this pest?" Wen Gao was furious, completely enraged.
Qiao Yuchan remained silent beside him, only her eyes, which looked toward Feng Liangbi, betrayed a few hints of surprise. Could it be that his strength had also made rapid progress?
Lei Yao also had a look of expectation in her eyes, coupled with some nervousness, feeling a bit of pressure. If Feng Liangbi could defeat Wen Gao and she could not, it would undoubtedly be somewhat depressing.
But thinking of her previous strength, being able to last seven moves against Wen Gao was already a miracle. Given time, defeating Wen Gao would not be a problem.
"Does Elder Feng also want to challenge Young Master Wen?" A look of anticipation appeared on the faces of the common Qiao Family disciples.
Feng Liangbi was the strongest expert in the Qiao Family apart from the Family Head, and it was said that he had received guidance from Protector Ling recently. Could it be that he had made a breakthrough?
Thinking of this, these disciples became even more curious about Ling Fan. If casually imparting a few tips was so effective, how powerful must he himself be?
They hadn't really seen Ling Fan make a move before and were very keen to witness it, so they actually hoped that Feng Liangbi would be defeated.
A trace of envy glinted in the hearts of the common Elders, who had long heard that Feng Liangbi had been instructed by Protector Ling and had been practicing day and night in the back mountains without rest.
Lei Yao had already become so extraordinary with Ling Fan's guidance; they wondered what kind of surprise Feng Liangbi would bring.
Hou Yueshan stood silently on the side. If Feng Liangbi had not stepped forward just now, she had planned to do so herself. In recent days, after practicing the modified Cultivation Technique from Ling Fan, she felt that her Cultivation had greatly improved, and she regarded Ling Fan almost like a celestial being.
Song Kun and Jing Jianming were nearly bursting with anger. They couldn't understand how the Qiao Family could be so brainless, each and every one of them so determined to protect that young man, especially Feng Liangbi, who even dared to spout off in front of Young Master Wen!
"Very well! Today, the Qiao Family has indeed broadened my horizons. Feng Liangbi, I've long heard of your reputation as a Sword Maniac. Today, I'm going to turn you into a Sword Fool!" Wen Gao was enraged, holding his sword in both hands, and his aura suddenly changed dramatically.
The onlookers, feeling the murderous intent in this aura, couldn't help but become nervous and cautious, forcing many common disciples with lower Cultivation to involuntarily take steps back.
"Is this what they call Sword Intent?" Lei Yao's beautiful eyes flashed with amazement as she murmured to herself.
Located at the center of Wen Gao's Sword Intent, Feng Liangbi felt it the most intensely and excitement surged in his eyes. He silently savored the Sword Intent released by Wen Gao.
"I hope you can help me make a breakthrough!" Feng Liangbi gripped the Seven-Star Ancient Bronze Sword tightly in his hand, not daring to be the slightest bit negligent.
"Hmm? This guy has actually grasped a hint of Sword Intent?" Ling Fan was slightly surprised, but it was just a fleeting moment of surprise.
With her right hand clasped behind her back, Qiao Yuchan had not expected that Wen Gao would use his strongest sword move right from the start, and even unleash Sword Intent, indicating he was truly irritated.
She feared Wen Gao might lose his reason and injure Feng Liangbi, preparing to intervene and rescue him at any moment.
"Young Master Wen is furious, he has even wielded his Sword Intent!" Jing Jianming exclaimed in disbelief.
"Hmph, if I were Young Master Wen, I would have done so immediately. These people have no idea what's good for them. I want to see who dares to protect that idiot later!" Song Kun looked at Ling Fan with great displeasure.
"With Young Master Wen's Thunder Sword, I'm afraid Feng Liangbi is going to be crippled!" Jing Jianming secretly shook his head.
At this moment, Wen Gao seemed to become one with the sword in his hand, his eyes perceiving nothing but the blade.
In an instant, Wen Gao moved, like a startling swan, unstoppable, charging towards Feng Liangbi.
The distance between the two was over ten meters, and no one dared to block the path. When Wen Gao passed by a stone pillar a meter away from him.
"Crack!"
The stone pillar, thick enough to be embraced by a person, bizarrely snapped in two, its broken surface as smooth as a mirror, a result of the Sword Qi released by Wen Gao's Sword Intent.
"This..." The common disciples of the Qiao Family had faces filled with shock, never having seen such a miraculous method before.
Yet the Elders shook their heads slightly, for compared to that day in the grand hall when Ling Fan's Sword Intent killed Yu Xinghai from thirty paces away, this really was a case of the novice encountering the master.
Jing Jianming and Song Kun felt intense excitement in their hearts. The might of the Sword Intent was truly frightening. However, why didn't any of the Qiao Family Elders show a look of horror?
"Hehe, I guess these people are scared silly!" The two sneered to themselves.
Qiao Yuchan felt a certain gravity in her heart, concentrating intensely.
Facing this earth-shattering sword, Feng Liangbi felt the hairs on his body stand up and his soul seemed to be leaving his body, as if he were under the scythe of the Grim Reaper.
"Is this Sword Intent?" He thought back to that day in the grand hall when Yu Xinghai faced Ling Fan's shocking strike, how desperate he must have felt.
Yet Ling Fan's Sword Intent was many times stronger than Wen Gao's Sword Intent before him; perhaps Elder Yu didn't even have time to feel despair!
In that instant, under the lock of Wen Gao's Sword Intent and the shadow of death looming over him, Feng Liangbi's demeanor while holding the Ancient Bronze Sword also changed; he suddenly felt as if he had disappeared!
"What... What's happening?" Jing Jianming stammered.
"Feng Liangbi's momentum seems to have changed!"
Song Kun was also slightly surprised, then disdainfully said, "Playing mysterious tricks, he does seem a bit different now, but does he think he can avoid Young Master Wen's strike like this?"
"Hmm?" Ling Fan uttered lightly, looking at Feng Liangbi with a hint of astonishment and delight in his eyes.
In an instant, Feng Liangbi moved.
With the Ancient Bronze Sword in hand, Feng Liangbi was like an indestructible blade, cutting through wind and waves, breaking free from Wen Gao's targeting.
The next second, the sword and sword suddenly collided.
There was no earth-shattering noise upon collision, but an extreme silence!
"Ding~Dang!"
Feng Liangbi's Ancient Bronze Sword stopped just an inch before Wen Gao's forehead, while half of Wen Gao's sword fell to the ground.
Wen Gao felt a tingling from the Sword Qi on his forehead and a trickle of blood from his nostrils, his mind went blank, and the sound of the Broken Sword hitting the ground was like a heavy hammer smashing into his heart, and into the hearts of the onlookers as well.
Feng Liangbi slowly sheathed his sword, looking at the stupefied Wen Gao and calmly said, "Thank you for your Sword Intent, it allowed me to have an epiphany amidst life-and-death crisis!"
He had been comprehending Sword Intent for many years already; now with Ling Fan's mentoring, it was within reason for him to break through his shackles and gain enlightenment amidst life-and-death.
However, Wen Gao didn't think so.
Especially Jing Jianming and Song Kun, they were dumbfounded. Could such a thing be possible? Suddenly, they felt as if they were dealt an unfair hand.
Even Qiao Yuchan, who was prepared to intervene, was astonished. A breakthrough?
The crowd of watching disciples was even more dumbstruck. Did Feng Liangbi really just have a breakthrough on the battlefield, defeating his opponent with one move?
The surrounding Elders, after their astonishment, showed faces full of envy, along with joy. From today onwards, besides Qiao Yuchan, the Qiao Family would have another true expert!
Only Feng Liangbi smiled bitterly to himself. That move just now was like a brief bloom that had disappeared without a trace, and now he struggled to grasp it again, while the Origin Force inside his body was almost completely depleted.
At the side, Ling Fan came back to his senses and smiled faintly, looking at the somewhat dejected Feng Liangbi and explained, "Just now, you seem to have grasped the essence of the Sword Soul for an instant, which will be a great boost to your future cultivation.
Although it has temporarily vanished, as your cultivation progresses, you will retrieve it completely, and at that point, you will truly have succeeded!"
Upon hearing this, Feng Liangbi's spirits were instantly lifted, and he knelt down vigorously, "Thank you, Young Master Ling, for your enlightening guidance!"