The Almighty Martial Arts System - Chapter 252

Whoosh!

The sharp whistle of a blade cutting through air rang out.

Not just Jiang Fei at the center of the courtyard—even the spectators at the edges tensed, many visibly excited.

Everyone present at the Central Martial Arts Association was a seasoned fighter in their own right, skilled in fists, blades, or staves. Though none matched Jiang Fei or Liu Yunduo, they could at least appreciate the nuances of this duel.

None was more thrilled than Su Mengnan.

He’d arrived early with Liu Yunduo. Ever since she soundly defeated him and claimed the Swordsmanship Alliance leadership, his resentment had melted into admiration. Then, watching her effortlessly humiliate Miyamoto Endo—the arrogant prodigy of Japan’s dual-blade style—cemented his awe.

Gods, she’s magnificent.

The way her sword moved like celestial grace, defeating foes with ethereal ease—it captivated him. Even as a notorious playboy, he couldn’t help but worship her.

And today, her opponent was Jiang Fei—the man who’d crushed his car, his pride, and outsmugged him at his own game.

This bastard deserves a thrashing.

Su Mengnan could accept losing to a woman (chivalry, after all). But another man? Unthinkable. He prayed Liu Yunduo would carve a scar on that pretty-boy face.

Swoosh!

In embroidered cloth shoes, Liu Yunduo moved like a crane taking flight—her lunge so swift it seemed gravity abandoned her.

Her posture was straight. Arm straight. Sword straighter.

No flourishes. Just lethal simplicity, mirroring her austere attire.

Sunlight, softened by lingering rain, refracted through dewdrops into prismatic sparks—ordinary yet mesmerizing when observed closely.

Her sword was like that light.

To untrained eyes, her thrust seemed rudimentary—just fast. Unnaturally fast.

But to a true master?

It felt inescapable.

Every angle of retreat sealed. Every counter doomed.

Move, and you die. Stay, and you die.

The pressure alone might make a lesser fighter drop their blade in surrender.

“An opening move this refined… Her skill is genuinely transcendent,” Jiang Fei realized, startled.

This was pressure he hadn’t felt in all his Central Association sparring. Liu Yunduo’s swordsmanship surpassed even their instructors’.

No wonder she crushed Miyamoto’s heir.

Yet—

She faced Jiang Fei.

And Jiang Fei knew Dugu Nine Swords.

The instant she attacked, he’d spotted a flaw in her stance. A single decisive strike now could disrupt her momentum, ensuring victory within five moves.

But he held back.

He wanted to see her full prowess—to help her grow.

…..

Tap. Tap. Tap.

With Threefold Cloud Step enhanced by Beiming internal energy, Jiang Fei sidestepped at the last possible moment.

Liu Yunduo’s blade whistled past—then transitioned seamlessly from thrust to slash.

Clang!

Jiang Fei’s sword intercepted horizontally, steel ringing sharply.

Then—

A twist.

Her rigid blade curved mid-motion like a whip, the tip hooking toward Jiang Fei’s temple!

Gasps erupted.

No soft sword—just perfect control. Liu Yunduo had channeled internal force to flex the steel.

None present could replicate this.

Jiang Fei?

Three flaws.

“Dugu Nine Swords truly shines against worthy opponents,” he marveled inwardly.

Against mediocrity, he’d never appreciate its brilliance.

As the bent tip lunged—

Flick.

His left hand moved like Shaolin’s Flower-Pinching Finger—graceful yet lightning-fast. Two fingers clamped the blade five centimeters from his skin.

Ting!

The sword trembled under her unrelenting force but couldn’t advance.

Liu Yunduo’s eyes flashed surprise, then—

Yank.

Crack!

The tip snapped off in Jiang Fei’s grip as she reclaimed her weapon, instantly pivoting to an overhead chop.

Jiang Fei retreated with Threefold Step.

…..

Three exchanges in, Liu Yunduo’s swordplay flowed—

Draw. Parry. Thrust. Flick. Break. Twist. Sweep. Press. Split.

Thirteen fundamental forms merged without hesitation, each slash hissing through air.

Jiang Fei deflected with fingers and blade, never attacking.

Danger loomed constantly—near-misses would’ve left a lesser fighter bleeding from a dozen wounds. Even his sleeves bore ragged cuts.

“Why isn’t Jiang Fei counterattacking? He’s just… surviving.”

“Liu Yunduo’s overwhelming him! Defense can’t last forever!”

“How’s a girl this young so masterful?”

Su Mengnan grinned. Yes! Humiliate him!

But the elder instructors frowned.

They’d sparred with Jiang Fei.

No one this skilled would be truly locked into pure defense.

Unless—

He’s feeding her openings deliberately.

Even Liu Yunduo sensed it.

“I appreciate the gesture,” she said mid-lunge, “but I won’t improve unless you defeat me. Or can you only dodge?”

…..

They all misunderstood.

Initially, Jiang Fei had held back to let her shine.

But gradually—

He’d fallen into the epiphany of Dugu Nine Swords.

Where he once spotted one or two flaws in her moves, now he saw eight.

This… changes everything.

In truth, she was now unwittingly teaching him.

Her shout snapped him back.

Having absorbed all he needed, Jiang Fei finally smiled.

“My apologies.”

Swoosh!

His sword struck.