The look Jiang Fei gave Yagyu Munenori could even be described as tender and affectionate; at the very least, it carried a very strange expression. So much so that Yagyu Munenori himself felt that Jiang Fei didn’t want to kill him.
Many of the onlookers watching the battle thought so too.
Judging from the fight just now, Yagyu Munenori was clearly trying to kill Jiang Fei, with no intention of holding back. Every move was a killing blow, aimed at taking Jiang Fei’s life.
Under normal circumstances, Jiang Fei wouldn’t feel any admiration for such behavior. If someone wants to kill you, even if they find some high-sounding excuse about respecting you, would you just forget about it and spare their life?
If you did that, how low would your IQ have to be?
So, many people thought Jiang Fei had developed genuine feelings for Yagyu Munenori; why else would he act like this?
Of course, there was one person who didn’t think so. Ye Yuanyuan, who knew Jiang Fei’s shamelessness very well and deeply, certainly wouldn’t think he was some magnanimous gentleman. That guy was a thorough grudge-holder.
Yagyu Munenori had repeatedly tried to kill him; it would be a miracle if Jiang Fei let him go! Even if Yagyu Munenori were a beautiful woman, Ye Yuanyuan believed Jiang Fei wouldn’t hesitate to kill him.
As for why Jiang Fei had that look in his eyes, Ye Yuanyuan was familiar with it, because she had seen it once before.
The last time Jiang Fei had that look was also directed at a man.
That man’s name was Miyamoto Kazuma…
The wooden sword, now with its tip broken off, was thrust viciously into Yagyu Munenori’s body again. This time, it was under his ribs. Hearing Yagyu Munenori’s words, Jiang Fei was momentarily taken aback.
Then Jiang Fei asked, “If I had lost, would you have spared me?”
Yagyu Munenori remained silent.
“So, do you think I might spare you?” Jiang Fei said.
This guy seemed to value his pride quite a bit; he wouldn’t spout nonsense at a time like this. His silence was surely an admission that his answer was no, he wouldn’t have shown mercy if Jiang Fei had lost.
“Yeah. I was overthinking just now. You really have no reason, and no possibility, not to kill me.” Yagyu Munenori shook his head somewhat helplessly, then once again formed a sword with his fingers and neatly sliced through Jiang Fei’s wooden sword.
He didn’t blush with shame, nor did he show pain.
But his brow furrowed slightly, a reaction to the pain. After all, there was a large gash on his chest, and two wooden splinters embedded in his body. Any mortal flesh would find it unbearably painful. However, as a super-strong expert capable of projecting inner energy externally, and with profound swordsmanship, Yagyu Munenori could control his reaction to such pain, not letting it show on his face.
“Since that’s the case, then let’s fight!” Yagyu Munenori let out a wild laugh, his long hair flying, and charged at Jiang Fei again through the swirling snowflakes.
Even though his body was covered in wounds, sword energy still radiated everywhere. Yagyu Munenori in this state was not to be underestimated. If someone at the level of Bai Kedi or Little Drunkard faced him now, they likely wouldn’t be his match.
So, even for Jiang Fei, getting close to him wasn’t easy. After all, this guy was an expert who could project inner energy, capable of wounding with plucked flowers or leaves. Even with the Dugu Nine Swords elevated to the third level of Great Perfection, Jiang Fei could still stumble in a ditch if he wasn’t careful.
“I told you not to seek death like this because I want you to die in a different way,” Jiang Fei said, his tone full of goodwill.
Since you’re going to die anyway, old man, why not make a contribution before you go and let me absorb all that inner energy of yours? Waste not, want not!
As a Sword Dao master, can’t you have a little bit of a spirit of dedication?
Yagyu Munenori didn’t reply, just continued radiating sword energy while grabbing handfuls of snowflakes, shooting them out like sharp swords in all directions.
But Jiang Fei didn’t let him run rampant for long. After leaving who knows how many wounds on him, Jiang Fei finally managed to get close, grabbing one of Yagyu Munenori’s arms and pressing the wooden sword against his throat.
“Finally got you pinned!” Jiang Fei rejoiced inwardly.
If it weren’t for wanting to keep this guy alive—because once dead, he couldn’t absorb his inner energy—Jiang Fei would have long since delivered the killing blow, using the Dugu Nine Swords to finish him off completely.
Boom!
Without hesitation, Jiang Fei activated the Northern Dark Divine Art within him. The surging Northern Dark True Qi formed a strange, attractive force. Through their contact, it created a peculiar connection, drawing upon the powerful inner energy inside Yagyu Munenori, preparing to channel it into Jiang Fei’s body.
Yes.
From the moment Jiang Fei elevated the Dugu Nine Swords to the third level of Great Perfection, the outcome of his contest with Yagyu Munenori was sealed in his favor. But he hadn’t delivered the killing blow, waiting precisely for this moment.
Yagyu Munenori, the foremost contemporary swordsman of the island nation, hailed as a Sword Master, had reached the stage of projecting his inner energy externally.
How many years of inner energy did this guy have?
At least twenty years, surely far deeper than Miyamoto Kazuma!
For Jiang Fei, this was a rare ‘great tonic’. In the future, finding such a master whose inner energy he could justifiably absorb wouldn’t be easy. Absorbing it once would save him several years of arduous cultivation.
Especially now that he had used up his ultimate reward, making upgrading the Northern Dark Divine Art even harder, he certainly wouldn’t miss this opportunity.
Amidst everyone’s confusion, and Jiang Fei’s anticipation, the Northern Dark Divine Art finally activated. Jiang Fei could almost feel the energy sea in his Tanzhong acupoint, itching with impatience, eagerly waiting for the inner energy to be drawn in.
Chi chi~
“This is…” Yagyu Munenori couldn’t move. He was covered in wounds, his white robe stained with blood and slashed with countless rips. His flowing long hair was chopped off in many places, and even his sexy chest hair had been shaved clean by Jiang Fei.
But he didn’t care about any of that. Even knowing he had lost, he hadn’t shown any unusual emotion. But now, his expression changed. He stared at Jiang Fei in shock and disbelief.
It seemed even more incredible than seeing Jiang Fei achieve the realm of ‘no-sword surpassing the sword’.
“Finally, some movement!” Jiang Fei was overjoyed. He made a ‘don’t talk’ gesture to Yagyu Munenori and then sat back, waiting for the other’s inner energy to be drawn in.
But the next second, Jiang Fei’s expression also changed.
“What’s going on?” Jiang Fei quickly calmed his mind to sense what was happening inside him.
He saw that the Northern Dark Divine Art he had just activated, which had been eagerly starting its function, ready to go to work, suddenly stalled. The boiling Northern Dark True Qi inside him gradually subsided, becoming still.
“Can’t… can’t absorb it? Damn, is it malfunctioning?” Jiang Fei’s mouth twitched. This was his first time encountering such a situation, and he had no idea what was happening.
Just then, a prompt sound suddenly rang out in Jiang Fei’s mind.
Ding! The player’s martial art skill “Northern Dark Divine Art” is too low-level, has not yet reached the second layer. It can only absorb the inner energy of ordinary martial artists, and cannot absorb the inner energy of an expert at the “Dan Jin” level.
Jiang Fei’s eyes widened.
Ordinary inner energy level? Dan Jin level?
What the hell is this?
Had Yagyu Munenori already reached this so-called Dan Jin level, placing him on a completely different tier from ordinary martial arts masters?
Not giving up, Jiang Fei activated the Northern Dark Divine Art again, wanting to try once more if he could pull Yagyu Munenori’s inner energy over.
This islander’s inner energy was just too deep. Absorbing it would be a massive advantage for him. Letting it go to waste like this would be an utter squandering of heaven’s gifts, a disservice to the Party and the country!
Unfortunately, the final result was no different from the first time.
Jiang Fei’s Northern Dark True Qi surged and boiled for a while, then quickly calmed down again, failing to absorb Yagyu Munenori’s inner energy.
“Looks like I really need to upgrade the Northern Dark Divine Art to the second layer before I can absorb the inner energy of these so-called Dan Jin level experts!” Jiang Fei thought to himself with immense regret.
