Song of Adolescence

Chapter 391 Duel of Swords

"Cloudshuttle, Gentlefrost, Windsorrow, Maple Leaf, Butterfly." Wushuang waved his fingers, and five flying swords lined up in front of him. He tapped the blade of each sword lightly, creating a tingling sound. Then, he smiled and pointed his fingers in command, go. The five flying swords flew towards Luo Mingxuan immediately.

"Last time you saw me, you started with five swords. Now, you’re still using the same trick? Aren’t you looking down on people too much?" Luo Mingxuan inserted the heavy sword into the ground, and drew the extraordinarily long sword, Phoenix, to easily deflect the five flying swords.

"Then I will give you another one. Vanished Shadow." Wushuang swept his long sleeves and another flying sword joined the previous five to attack. However, the configuration and speed of the swords were very different this time.

Each of the twelve flying swords had its unique characteristics and advantages, and each combination was a different sword array. Other sword arrays required multiple people to form, but Wushuang could form a sword array by himself. In fact, Wushuang had on his hands countless variations of sword arrays.

If he dispatched five flying swords, there were 120 sword array permutations.

If he dispatched six flying swords, that number would increase exponentially to 720 permutations!

However, Luo Mingxuan's seven swords also moved in turns, blocking Wushuang's sword power by force. Both of them were using multiple swords but Luo Mingxuan was using a completely different swordsmanship. Each of his sword moves used a different sword, and the seven swords took turns to change formation, yet they matched every flying sword perfectly.

Among all the people who were there, only Wushuang managed to see through some of it. He frowned slightly. "Is he… playing chess?"

Even though his sword arrays had constantly changing permutations, could they cope with the ever-changing variations on a chessboard?

This swordsmanship with endless variations was exactly what the shadow guard of the emperor of the Great Xuan Dynasty practised. Unlike the flying swords, each of his swords was a proper sword. Even the shortest pair, One Glance and Prajña, were three feet long. Later, he hid this ultimate swordsmanship within the Liubo chess game, using the countless strategies of Liubo chess to hide every variation of this swordsmanship. Then, he simplified the Liubo chess that was difficult to learn and spread it all over the world. All he left behind were the clay sculptures of the Immortal Six Gambles so that the world would never again catch a glimpse of its mystery, yet it was not truly lost. There would always be someone who could rediscover this immortal swordsmanship.

"Good, very good." Wushuang had met his match, but his eyes were filled with excitement. Although the last time he fought Luo Mingxuan, he only won by a small margin but at the time, he had kept himself from using most of his skills. Now, it was different. "Broken Trial! Go!"

Another flying sword swept out of the sword casket.

Wushuang’s flying swords array had increased to 5,040 permutations.

"Jade Sceptre, go!"

Another sword, as flawless as jade with an almost transparent blade, flew out.

The sword array increased to 40,320 permutations.

Most of the people there could no longer understand the duel they were watching.

They could only see those flying swords attacking repeatedly like a swarm of insects, sometimes the same yet sometimes appeared to vary. The swords were fast and nimble yet biting cold. As for Luo Mingxuan, he seemed to have drawn a circle around him. Where he stood was the centre of the circle while the sword in his hand seemed to change constantly, forming an almost perfect circle.

None of the flying swords could penetrate this perfect circle.

No matter how many times it changed, Luo Mingxuan was able to find the perfect countermeasure using the seven swords on hand.

"Interesting, so interesting." Wushuang had encountered opponents who were indeed strong enough to fight against his flying swords, but they had all relied on the principle of using strength to overpower skill. But, this was the first time he saw a fight like this, where each sword was matched against the other, one by one, in an extremely orderly manner.

Luo Mingxuan waved his heavy sword, Hopeless, and in the next moment, the eight flying swords flew back and lined up in front of Wushuang. The flying swords did not take off again. Wushuang laughed a little, slapped his sword casket, and another two flying swords swept up.

"Life Snatcher. Entwined Finger."

Wushuang brushed his fingers across the ten flying swords as if he were plucking the strings of a qin. A light and graceful echo sounded wherever his fingers passed.

"There must be such a rival in one’s life. This is my fortune." Wushuang closed his eyes.

Pavilion Master Huangfu Jue of Blood Mantle Pavilion was standing behind watching the duel and he remarked with some emotion, "What a hero among youths. I’d always heard about the peerless young citymaster of Unrivaled City but always thought that was something Unrivaled City made up to promote themselves. What I had faith in was still the five elders. But, after what I saw today, the future of all under Heaven must still belong to such youths."

Lu Yuzhai held his spear and shrugged. "Perhaps."

"Who do you think will win?" Huangfu Jue asked tentatively.

"My shidi, probably. He’s rarely serious about things, but this time, he’s really serious." Lu Yuzhai raised his eyebrows. "He’s really scary when he’s serious."

Wushuang swept aside his long sleeves, as if sweeping away his mischievous expression from before. He turned solemn and his tone became very harsh as he shouted angrily, "Go."

All ten flying swords shot forward.

At this point, the number of permutations had increased to 3,628,800.

Back then, the citymaster of Unrivaled City used ten flying swords to annihilate a prestigious and famous sect in the martial world. Why wouldn’t it be enough to deal with the young Luo Mingxuan?

Luo Mingxuan's sword power suddenly changed.

The Liubo technique was based on the premise that only one of the six pieces could become Xiao, and the Xiao was the true ultimate killing move.

But in the previous dynasty’s Liubo technique, all six pieces could become Xiao.

Luo Mingxuan had been on guard for a long time, waiting for an opportunity.

The moment when Wushuang used ten flying swords.

He had fought Wushuang before, and he knew that Wushuang’s limit was ten flying swords. Once his opponent became powerless to continue, that was the time he would bring out his Xiao.

"Become Xiao." Luo Mingxuan suddenly leaped out, the sword in his hand constantly changing.

In the eyes of the onlookers, it was as if his circle suddenly moved.

He knocked away the flying swords at an extremely fast speed, and then swept towards Wushuang.

But he also had to pay the price.

First were his two three-foot swords, Prajña and One Glance. Then, his twin swords, Goumang and Catastrophe. Then, his light sword, Farewell, and long sword, Phoenix. Six swords were knocked to the ground in succession. By then, Luo Mingxuan had already landed in front of Wushuang and he raised his heavy sword, Hopeless, furiously.

In the Liubo chess game, whether it was the Daxuan Dynasty or the Beili Dynasty, there were only six pieces.

But Luo Mingxuan had seven swords.

This seventh sword was above even the Xiao.

"Dragon!" Luo Mingxuan shouted angrily and swung his sword down with all his strength.

Wushuang didn't raise his head. He neither retreated nor advanced, but only slightly raised a finger.

Suddenly, two more flying swords floated up.

One was like clouds floating in the sky, lightweight and white, exuding a misty immortal aura.

The other was like the withered bark of an ancient tree, like the endless vicissitudes of decay.

The last two of the twelve flying swords were finally awakened.

Lu Yuzhai grasped his spear. Even for him, this was the first time he knew about this. He exclaimed in surprise, "Twelve… flying swords?"

Huangfu Jue’s eyes narrowed, however. This time, he made it clear that he was following Unrivaled City but actually, he wanted to take the opportunity to expand his influence. After all, Snow Moon City had become increasingly dominant in recent years. But, looking at the present situation, if Unrivaled City could really score a victory, then this young citymaster was probably going to be difficult to deal with.

"These youths are really an eye-opener." He sighed faintly.

Wushuang simply called out the names of the last two flying swords in a faint whisper.

"Vast."

"Boundless."

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