It wasn't just that Tu Congwen was uncertain if he could defeat Tu Mian; in fact, he knew he was doomed to lose. But just a moment ago in the Ancestral Hall, Guest Elder Zhao had suddenly sent him a hushed message, telling him that he had to fight Tu Mian no matter what.
In truth, even if she had not spoken, he would have stepped onto this Martial Arts Platform today. The Left Tu Branch had come with such menacing force, how could he let the Family Head face them alone?
If his death could resolve today's matter, he was willing to spill his blood on the Martial Arts Platform to block another's path! How could Tu Mian not see his intentions? He sneered inwardly, you want to use your death to brand me with the crime of killing a kinsman?
You should first see if you have the capability. Dying is simple, but a fate worse than death is what will truly show you my power. Tu Congwen wielded a banner, and so did Tu Mian.
The Tu Family was famous for its Banner Technique. White banners were for support, and black banners were for combat. Both of them wielded black banners, but the one in Tu Mian's hand, with its crystalline, lustrous bone handle, shone with far more spiritual light than Tu Congwen's black jade banner handle.
Tu Mian intended to strike first. He raised his hand and sent out an Enemy Repelling Technique, striking Tu Congwen on his right ribs and knocking him back three steps. However, what followed was him pressing forward for close combat, using both hands and feet to beat Tu Congwen so badly he could not resist.
Fresh blood flowed from his ears, nose, and mouth. Tu Congwen knew there was a gap between them, but he never imagined it would be so vast. He couldn't even react before the next blow came at him.
Watching the battle, the members of the Main Family branch saw his wretched state and felt a pang of pity, but unless the combatant himself called a stop, no one could concede for Tu Congwen.
“This is going too far.”
Below the stage, Tu Cenzhen's eyes were bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth in anger. He possessed Banner Techniques but did not use them, fighting Tu Congwen with his physical body instead.
It was like a mortal willingly discarding his weapon to kill an enemy with bare fists, meant to display his own immense strength and also to humiliate his opponent. Even if Tu Congwen survived, this incident would damage his Dao Heart. Unless he could overcome it himself, it was almost certain he would never be able to advance again.
As Zhao Chun watched the two fight, she grew more and more certain of her thoughts. Just as one of Tu Mian's heavy fists was about to strike Tu Congwen's face, she took the Red-Edged Dagger in hand, pushed off with her foot, and shot toward the high platform!
With this strike, she directly used the Sword Swing Form, slashing down at Tu Mian! No one had expected Zhao Chun to suddenly attack. The entire arena instantly fell silent.
Tu Mian was also greatly shocked. He hastily turned to dodge, rapidly putting distance between them. But the speed of his retreat was far beyond what a Third-Layer Qi Refinement cultivator could achieve!
“Guest Elder Zhao! What do you think you're doing!” he roared angrily.
But Zhao Chun didn't pause in the slightest, employing the Swift Travel Sword Art to continuously attack him! The Left Tu Branch also reacted, one after another berating the Main Family's Guest Elder for not knowing the rules and disrupting the fairness of the martial combat.
But Tu Cenzhen's eyes flashed with a strange light as he muttered, “So that's how it is… so that's how it is!” Tu Mian dodged left and right in a sorry state. Seeing another of Zhao Chun's sword slashes coming at him, he actually swatted the sword light away with his bare hand!
“Have you had enough?”
He finally made Zhao Chun pause, his gaze sinister and fierce.
“To think you actually saw through it. I really underestimated you!”
“You thought it was seamless, but in reality, it was full of flaws.”
Zhao Chun was direct, slashing out with her sword again as she spoke, “You are Tu Cunzhi's grandson, yet when he looks at you, there isn't a shred of intimacy, only more fear and dread. You are a Tu Family disciple, yet you fight with your bare hands.
The deliberate humiliation was just a front; the truth is that you don't know any Banner Techniques at all, is it!”
“Why don't you use a Banner Technique to fight me now?”
“Why can a Third-Layer Qi Refinement cultivator like you block my swordsmanship?”
“Why are you trying by any means necessary to become the Family Head?”
“Do you dare to say?”
Zhao Chun closed in step by step, hissing in a low voice before him, “That Enemy Repelling Technique, how long have you been learning it? Why does it look like something from a child who has just started on the path, all form but no substance?”
“I'll kill you!”
Tu Mian could no longer bear it. He erupted suddenly, his hands shooting out like claws to snap Zhao Chun's neck! Zhao Chun was long prepared.
Empowered by the Snake Walk Step, she evaded him in the blink of an eye, putting five steps of distance between them. But Tu Mian refused to give up. He drew two red centipedes from his sleeve, which transformed to the size of leopard cats and charged at Zhao Chun!
“Male and Female Centipede Gu! You really are a disciple of the Yang Water Sect!”
Zhao Chun could not recognize them, but that did not mean Tu Cenzhen could not. His rage flared, and he roared, “Tu Cunzhi!
What audacity!
You dare betray the Main Sect and try to hand over the Tu Family's property to an outsider!” Having been exposed, Tu Cunzhi was utterly humiliated and enraged. He was about to charge at Tu Cenzhen to kill him, but before he could even move, an inch-long dagger flew from the distance and severed his head.
Blood instantly shot into the sky!
“The traitor has been killed!”
Zhao Chun shouted.
“As for the rest, I'll ask the Tu Family Head to clean his own house!”
She dared not be distracted any longer. That Tu Mian was actually a Fifth-Layer Qi Refinement cultivator, and along with the two centipede Gu-worms, he was making it quite difficult for her to defend herself (End of this chapter)