Chapter 1364: Chapter 1364: The Beginning Swordsmanship
Zen's “No Move” was like a small snake that hovered in the air, poised to strike.
After dodging Rocher's Soaring Snake, it lunged straight for his opponent's face.
Facing this move, Rocher remained as indifferent as before. The Soaring Snake in his hand circled once, as three silver sword lights, like torrents of mercury, shot out from the wake he cut through the air.
Ding, ding, ding!
With three crisp ringing sounds, the three sword lights struck the body of the Thunder Wind Divine Sword.
It was like crushing a snake's head, one grinding step at a time.
With every sword strike by the silver sword lights, the sword intent of the Thunder Wind Divine Sword would weaken a bit.
After three strikes, the sword intent that had originally been condensed on the blade's surface was forcibly dispersed by Rocher.
“Your sword moves do not offer you any advantage,” Rocher said with an indifferent shrug.
Zen's Gods-intimidating Strike was indeed powerful, but Rocher's swordsmanship had proven to be even stronger!
What he cultivated was the Beginning Swordsmanship created by the Lord of Weapons himself.
In the universe, there were countless forms of swordsmanship.
However, in the end, all these had evolved from the Beginning Swordsmanship, which was the source of all forms of swordsmanship.
Whether it was speed or sword moves, Zen had been completely undone by Rocher.
However, even though Rocher was clearly a superior swordsman, he did not let his guard down.
He was convinced that it was impossible for Zen to be so weak.
However, after suppressing Zen, Rocher gradually became emboldened, and his attacks increased in intensity, drawing power from his rising bravado.
Splash!
Accompanying the sound was a brilliant silver sword light.
The Soaring Snake was once again released. The mercury-like sword light began to flicker again as Rocher stepped on the light once more.
Clang!
As the swords clashed together, the sounds of steel grinding together rang out.
Chop, slash, stab, tap...
The Beginning Swordsmanship was very similar to the basic swordsmanship that Zen had mastered early on.
Indeed, it could be said that it was the complete version of the basic swordsmanship.
Combined with Rocher's innate speed, it appeared to be flawless.
With Rocher now taking the initiative to attack, it was difficult for Zen to avoid his opponent's sword moves. He could only passively defend and was forced to dodge and retreat. ȓάΝóＢËṢ
However, Rocher's speed was so fast that he seemed to be dancing with a glittering bolt of lightning. When he had stepped on the light, Zen had already been surrounded by danger. Even after the Eight Smoky Melodies was activated, it was still proving difficult for him to dodge Rocher's attack.
Strangely, Rocher didn't display any intention of ending this battle. Instead, he was extremely patient, and continued to wait.
“Ha-ha! I said so! Zen is no match for Rocher.”
“He simply doesn't have the strength or the skill to fight back.”
“He lacks the advantage in sword moves, speed, and power. How could he be able to fight against Rocher?”
“Fortunately, I bet on Rocher. I'm going to win a large fortune.”
“What kind of swordsmanship is Rocher using? It appears to be exactly the same as the basic swordsmanship!”
“Isn't Zen capable of the same?”
On the board, Zen only moved about within a space of ten feet.
However, Rocher was different. He was like a butterfly, rapidly flurrying back and forth. Occasionally, he would stab Zen with his sword. After pausing for a moment, he would then disappear.
In the past, whenever Zen had faced off against an opponent, his speed had always lent him the advantage.
But now, even though Zen had already activated his forceful energy and had used the Eight Smoky Melodies, he still wasn't able to follow his opponent's footsteps. He lagged behind, seeming almost lethargic when compared to Rocher.
Against Rocher, Zen was indeed at a very obvious disadvantage.
However, as Rocher's sword strikes came slashing down from overhead, Zen also entered into a state of enlightenment.
“Rocher's swordsmanship...”
The moves of the Beginning Swordsmanship were extremely simple and matched well with Zen's basic swordsmanship. However, there was something in this Beginning Swordsmanship that Zen couldn't fully understand.
The momentum contained in the movements was a force that exceeded the bounds of basic swordsmanship.
If Zen's basic swordsmanship was rated as “one,” then the Beginning Swordsmanship was a solid “zero.” It had come first and was a foundation that Zen lacked.
It contained an extremely marvelous and fantastical momentum.
It wasn't that Zen's perception had been lacking!
After all, the momentum of the Beginning Swordsmanship had been accumulated by the Lord of Weapons.
This swordsmanship was called the Beginning Swordsmanship, and it was the foundation of all forms of swordsmanship. In terms of moves, it was original and simply unbreakable.
Ding!
When Rocher's sword came slashing down again, Zen used the same sword move.
The actions of the two were practically the same, but Zen's sword attack was missing something vital.
Regardless of whether it was the form, speed, or momentum, Zen's sword move remained inferior to Rocher's.
'What exactly is missing?' Zen wondered.
He held his sword horizontally, poised in front of his chest, as he stared at Rocher flying overhead.
Rocher circled around in the distance before he returned to his original position. This time, the Soaring Snake circled around his side and savagely hacked straight at Zen.
“Again!”
Zen also slashed out vertically with this sword.
Clang!
The blades of the two swords slipped away from each other as their paths crossed. However, in the moment that they met during the savage blow, a long and narrow gash appeared on Zen's body, forming a zigzag line down his side.
As for Rocher, he quickly moved out of range.
“You are unable to break my sword moves. The difference between us is too big.” Rocher held an overwhelming advantage, but he still addressed Zen with full respect. In his eyes, however, there was a faint trace of disappointment.
He had always seen Zen as a true opponent! His strongest opponent!
A few years ago, even if he were to run after Zen at full speed, he would not have been able to catch up to him.
But in just six or seven years, as he stood in front of Zen again, he found that he had already surpassed this goal.
Rocher did not like this feeling, and he felt cheated—Zen could clearly be stronger!
“Again!”
As he thought of this, a hint of frustration appeared in his eyes. With a thrust of his sword, he charged straight at Zen.
Right at this moment, Zen once again mirrored the same sword move as Rocher's.
However, there was now something else in Zen's strike.
Ding!
After the two swords intersected, a look of surprise appeared on Rocher's face as he looked at Zen. He stood rooted to the board as the beam of light beneath his feet slowly expanded.
He had felt the momentum within Zen's sword strike—it was the momentum within the Beginning Swordsmanship.
Even though it was still very insignificant, it was already in its infancy.
“Things are getting interesting...”
At this moment, Rocher's eyes seemed to radiate with vigor and he smiled briefly.
Beginning Swordsmanship...
In order to acquire this sword technique, he had spent nearly three years in extensive practice.
It had been three years in the outside world.
In truth, while in the treasure trove of the Lord of Weapons, Rocher had been trapped there for three hundred years. The Time Law there had been altered, and the flow of time there was now at a ratio of 100 to 1.
As the three hundred years had passed, he had repeatedly practiced the Beginning Swordsmanship, which was so similar to the basic swordsmanship, yet so significantly different.
He had gained ten percent of the momentum after he had practiced for almost twenty years.
After another eighty years, he had gained twenty percent.
After a hundred and fifty years, thirty percent.
Another two hundred and twenty years, forty percent.
After a full three hundred years, he had finally obtained fifty percent of the momentum of the Beginning Swordsmanship.
Rocher had invested a total of three hundred years of his long life to master fifty percent of the Beginning Swordsmanship.
But Zen had already gained ten percent of its momentum, and it had happened in less than five minutes!
'Through watching and testing my swordsmanship, has Zen managed to comprehend the essence of the Beginning Swordsmanship? What a monster he is!' Rocher thought, with both awe and delight.