29. Fishing
Zhao Yongli’s initial plan was sound.
Absolute power trumped any clever scheme.
And since this girl couldn’t keep up with his spear techniques, this single strike would surely defeat her.
However, as he retreated to gather his strength, he saw the woman take only a small step back, as if everything before was just an act.
She… still had strength left.
This thought stunned Zhao Yongli, almost making him retract his attack.
This… was no way to fight.
Although deception was a common tactic in the arena, this woman…
First hiding her strength, then feigning weakness. In other words—have you ever won a fair fight?
This fighting style was despised by true martial artists.
However, Miss Gong didn’t seize this opportunity to launch a decisive counterattack.
It wasn’t often she encountered a skilled spearman. It would be a waste not to play with him a bit.
So, Zhao Yongli didn’t know that her earlier actions weren’t a sign of weakness, but a way for her to comprehend his spear techniques.
And now…
As he launched his attack, Miss Gong, with her newfound understanding, began to grasp the profoundness of his art.
After a short while, as Zhao Yongli, puzzled, shouted, “Silver Spear: Thunderclap!”
The spear shot out, accompanied by thunder and lightning, a green, crackling energy surrounding it, its power astonishing.
But to everyone’s surprise…
Gong Yiling, at almost the same time, also shouted, “Silver Sword: Thunderclap!”
The core of the spear technique was its lightning-fast speed. This wasn’t limited to a spear; a sword could also achieve it.
But to execute a spear technique with a sword… this was no simple matter.
Every cultivator knew that martial arts required specialization, and the use and comprehension of different weapons were vastly different.
And Gong Yiling’s move wasn’t just a mimicry of its form; its power was no less than Zhao Yongli’s original technique.
In fact…
The sword version of the Thunderclap was even faster and more powerful.
And with a unique sword intent, her attack completely overwhelmed his, sending him flying.
The entire arena fell silent, so quiet you could hear your own breathing.
This all-out battle ended so strangely.
Zhao Yongli had the upper hand, then suddenly lost, and to his own technique.
This…
After a moment, a single clap echoed through the arena.
It came from a man in a bamboo hat, his expression hidden.
His applause broke the silence, and everyone else began to applaud the unknown woman.
Amidst the cheers, Gong Yiling walked up to Zhao Yongli and helped him up, bowing. “Thank you for the match, Master Zhao.”
“You…” Zhao Yongli, still bewildered, could only bow back.
By the time he came to his senses, the victorious woman was gone.
—
—
An expected victory.
Gong Yiling calmly left the arena, took out a note from her Universe Ring, and prepared to head to the next martial arts hall to try her luck.
But just then, a voice came from behind her.
“Young lady.”
—Is this… the fish taking the bait?
Gong Yiling didn’t turn around, simply asking, “What is it?”
“My name is Mo Yechong,” the man continued. “Your technique just now was truly astonishing.”
“You flatter me.”
“How is it flattery?” Mo Yechong said, “You could have won directly, yet you deliberately made it more difficult, using your opponent’s own technique to defeat him.”
“To deduce a martial art in just a few minutes, and to replicate it with a sword… such talent and sword intent are truly remarkable.”
“Oh?”
Gong Yiling, feigning surprise, turned and looked at him. “You saw through it.”
“But,” she turned back and walked away, “I’m not the Eight Desolations Sword Master. If you’re looking for someone to kill, you’ve got the wrong person.”
Mo Yechong’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly caught up and blocked her path. “You know I’m from the Eight Desolations Sword Alliance?”
“The Mo family of Langya, one of the Eight Desolations Sword Alliance, possessing the Heart Sword and Spring Return techniques, and wielding the Eight Desolations Sword Aofeng. Do I need to say more?”
With just a surname, this girl could perfectly recite so much about the Eight Desolations Sword Alliance. Her knowledge was far beyond an ordinary person’s.
Mo Yechong frowned. “You’ve investigated the Eight Desolations Sword Alliance?”
“Don’t misunderstand,” Gong Yiling said. “I have no interest in your alliance. I’m more interested in the Eight Desolations Sword Master. I’d like to meet him and see if he’s as talented as the legends say.”
Mo Yechong’s suspicion lessened. “No wonder you know so much about the Eight Desolations.”
Gong Yiling didn’t want to talk to him anymore and walked past him.
This lack of interest, rather than deliberate avoidance, further lowered his guard.
He could almost confirm that this girl had no connection to the Eight Desolations Sword Master and was just curious.
“Wait!”
“What is it?”
Mo Yechong could hear the impatience in her voice and quickly stated his purpose.
“Since you’re looking for the Eight Desolations Sword Master, why not come with us?” he said. “He’s not someone you can just find. Only the Eight Desolations Sword Alliance knows how. And you can find the opponents you seek within our alliance. It’s a win-win situation.”
This offer perfectly aligned with Miss Gong’s original goal.
From the beginning, her plan was to challenge various martial arts halls to lure out the Eight Desolations Sword Alliance.
After emerging from their seclusion, they would surely send people to gather information, and these people would inevitably investigate those with unique sword skills.
So, she deliberately attracted their attention, then expressed her interest in the Eight Desolations Sword Master.
This way, the alliance would think she could be a useful pawn, or even marry into their alliance and become one of them.
Now, her plan was almost complete.
