Chapter 57: Xiao Yu vs. Suzuki

Feeling the aura emanating from Xiao Yu at that moment, Suzuki’s expression instantly grew tense. After all, he had once been defeated by Xiao Yu, and deep within his heart, he harbored a measure of dread toward him.

Xiao Yu held his long sword, a majestic force radiating from his body. With a twist of his wrist, a sharp sword energy shot towards Suzuki like a bolt of lightning.

Suzuki’s eyes narrowed, his expression solemn. At the very instant Xiao Yu struck, he too unleashed a fierce slash.

A deafening explosion resounded as sword energy collided with blade energy, erupting between the two. The shockwave sent the weaker ninjas nearby hurtling away. Even Tai Sui and the others ceased their combat, darting aside to avoid the blast.

“Kill!” Suzuki roared, his figure flickering as he charged at Xiao Yu. Not to be outdone, Xiao Yu snorted coldly and advanced with equal vigor.

The clash of blade and sword filled the air with a shrill cacophony. The two separated upon contact, only to engage again moments later. One wielded a blade, the other a sword; their moves were fierce and relentless, and explosions echoed constantly around them. At this point, both Tai Sui and the members of the Two-Blade School had paused, their eyes fixed unwaveringly on the battle between Xiao Yu and Suzuki.

Within mere minutes, Xiao Yu and Suzuki exchanged more than a hundred blows. Their speed was so astonishing that even Tai Sui and his companions could not follow the details of their duel.

Their battle shifted from the ground to the rooftops, then from the rooftops to the mountain peak. Under their unreserved assaults, the raging currents of energy demolished every building in the manor, leaving it in ruins. Even the Two-Blade School’s council hall collapsed amid their ferocious combat.

Though Xiao Yu was currently wounded and unable to display his former peak prowess, Suzuki found that killing him was no simple task. The two fought fiercely, neither able to gain the upper hand; an impasse began to emerge.

Now, Xiao Yu was encircled by a dense web of sword energy, forming an impenetrable net. Each move he made seemed ordinary, yet it was these simple gestures that effortlessly neutralized Suzuki’s attacks, causing Suzuki considerable frustration.

Again, Suzuki unleashed a slash, but it was rebuffed by the sword net surrounding Xiao Yu. With his efforts yielding nothing, Suzuki withdrew a few meters, stopping at a distance from Xiao Yu.

“Xiao Yu! Do you intend to defend forever? Are you not afraid of tarnishing your reputation as the King of Battle?” Suzuki said, his face dark and grim.

“If you desire battle, I shall accompany you,” Xiao Yu replied.

As soon as Xiao Yu finished speaking, his figure shifted through several positions, instantly appearing before Suzuki, and he struck with his palm, aiming directly at Suzuki’s chest.

Seeing Xiao Yu materialize before him as if by sorcery, Suzuki hurriedly retreated several steps, steadying himself, his face stunned. “Shortening the ground to an inch!”

“No, this footwork is called the Phantom Step,” Xiao Yu responded with a calm smile. Then, his figure vanished again as he began to circle Suzuki, his long sword weaving through the air.

Xiao Yu’s speed increased rapidly, so much so that Suzuki could only glimpse fleeting afterimages. Soon, four shadowy figures of Xiao Yu encircled Suzuki, trapping him in the center.

Suzuki, startled, quickly brandished his long blade, a violent aura erupting from his surroundings.

“Ultimate Draw Technique! Demon God Slash!” Suzuki bellowed. He plunged his blade into the ground before him, a frenzied energy surging outward, sweeping across the area like a tidal wave.

Sensing the oncoming force, Xiao Yu halted, and as the wild energy closed in, he responded with a decisive slash from his sword.

At once, two formidable streams of destructive energy ravaged the space, sand and stones flying, killing intent swirling.

With a thunderous crash, the energies collided, sending both Xiao Yu and Suzuki hurtling backward. The violent currents did not dissipate with their retreat; instead, they fused, becoming even more turbulent, poised to annihilate the entire space.

Those watching—Tai Sui and the Two-Blade School members—felt the overwhelming force and scrambled toward safer ground.

A deafening explosion erupted as everyone took cover, filling the air with thick smoke. When the smoke cleared, a massive crater appeared before their eyes. Yet the merged energy did not fully vanish, continuing to sweep outward.

Xiao Yu and Suzuki, flung aside, were stunned by the scene before them. Neither had anticipated that their combined might would yield such terrifying destructive power.

Witnessing the relentless energy engulfing the area, Xiao Yu turned and shouted at Tai Sui and the others to flee, then swiftly darted several hundred meters away.

Tai Sui and his companions quickly retreated further.

As Xiao Yu withdrew, Suzuki shouted to the remaining Two-Blade School disciples to evacuate. But the disciples, still in shock, failed to hear his call. Thus, as the violent energy swept through, many were caught in its wake. Horrific screams echoed throughout the manor.

Explosions continued to roar, lasting more than twenty seconds before finally subsiding. When the smoke cleared, the surviving witnesses were left utterly speechless.

The Two-Blade School village, which half an hour ago was brilliantly lit and somewhat grand, had been reduced to a wasteland by the rampaging energy, with not a blade of grass left within several kilometers.

Xiao Yu gazed at the devastation, his heart filled with concern. He feared that Ye Shihan might be in the hands of the Two-Blade School. If so, given the destruction, her fate was likely grim.

“Shihan!” he shouted, rushing towards the heart of the Two-Blade School, intent on searching for Ye Shihan to see if she was still within.

Suzuki, seeing the headquarters leveled, burned with fury and immediately chased after Xiao Yu. The two resumed their battle.

Tai Sui and the others, witnessing this, each sought their targets, and the great conflict flared anew.