Dawnless Sovereign-Chapter 20: Friends Regardless of Outcome

"I'm glad to see we're on the same page, Brother Ding," Fang Che said with a nod. "I don't want to talk about who's right and who's wrong in the incident regarding Ximen Xuri. What's done has already been done, and I don't want to defend myself. I just hope that something like that won't happen again."

He turned to the referees with a solemn expression, then declared, "I have a last resort saber technique that allows me to burn through my spirit qi to enhance my combat prowess by severalfold. However, I'm still unable to control it, so if I'm forced to use it, then the outcome will be out of my control."

The two referees exchanged a glance with each other, then reassured, "Don't worry, we'll intervene if we deem Ding Jieran unfit to defend himself."

"Thank you," Fang Che said with a grateful salute.

He then turned back to Ding Jieran with an apologetic expression and said, "Please forgive me, Brother Ding. I'm not looking down on you, it's just that this saber technique of mine really is extremely powerful, and I'm worried that something bad will happen."

Ding Jieran could sense his sincerity, and he nodded in response. "It's fine."

He then seemed to feel like he was being too cold and unapproachable, so he added, "If your saber technique is too powerful for me to handle, then I'll surrender, but be warned that I'll do my best to withstand it!"

That was probably the longest sentence that had come out of Ding Jieran's mouth this entire year.

"Remember, Brother Ding, regardless of the outcome..."

"We'll still be friends!" Ding Jieran finished with that same stiff and unnatural smile.

Fang Che burst into laughter as he spread his arms wide, sending his cloak flying back behind him like a dark cloud before drawing his saber, while Ding Jieran drew his sword.

According to the information provided by Su Yuan, Ding Jieran was an exceptional swordsman for his age, and he also had a very cold and unapproachable personality, often able to go an entire day without uttering a single word.

Fang Che had watched a few of Ding Jieran's battles, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.

With his vast battle experience from his past life, he could immediately tell that Ding Jieran was hiding something.

Ding Jieran was indeed an outstanding swordsman, but what he had displayed thus far wasn't worthy of such high praise from Sun Yuan.

His proclaimed aptitude suggests that he should be better than this, but it's also very difficult for someone with mediocre aptitude to reach this level. Hence, something must be off here.

To start off the battle, Fang Che unleashed Sun Yuan's Ground Sweeping Saber Techniques.

All of the spectators were rather bemused to see this as these were the exact same saber techniques that he had used in his battle against Ximen Xuri.

Sure enough, just like in that battle, Fang Che was quickly forced onto the back foot, only able to passively defend against Ding Jieran's attacks.

Many of the students of the higher year levels were already Great Grandmasters or even Generals or Lords, and they couldn't help but wonder if Fang Che were about to put on the same show again.

In the blink of an eye, several hundred clashes had already taken place.

All of a sudden, a particularly loud clang rang out, and bright sparks were sent flying in all directions as Fang Che forced back Ding Jieran through brute strength to open up some distance between the two.

Immediately thereafter, he sprang up into the air, and the light of his saber came cascading down like liquid mercury.

He was unleashing the Soaring Saber Techniques that had propelled Sun Yuan to his current heights.

These saber techniques are quite exquisite, but they don't have much potential. However, he's clearly trained them to an exceptional level of proficiency.

The two referees were evaluating the combatants as the battle continued.

A string of loud clangs rang out as flurries of sparks erupted incessantly, and the tables were instantly turned.

It was Fang Che's turn to adopt a dominant position, while Ding Jieran was forced to passively defend.

Following yet another resounding clash, Fang Che sprang up into the air once again, then swooped down from the heavens like a descending dragon.

Ding Jieran let loose a loud roar as a look of fervent battle intent appeared on his normally stiff and unexpressive face, and he slashed his sword through the air to unleash a flurry of fist projections to ward off Fang Che's attack.

Fang Che flew up into the air again before repeating the process, repeatedly springing up and down like an agile bird.

For several minutes, his feet didn't touch the ground even once!

The power of the clashes between sword and saber were enough to propel him up into the air, following which he would then use gravity to enhance the power of his attacks.

Ding Jieran was being completely subjugated, only able to arduously resist and defend.

Fang Che continued to pile on the pressure, determined to force Ding Jieran into revealing his trump card.

After yet another clash, Ding Jieran stumbled back in retreat, and the edge of his sword had already been chipped in multiple places.

Swords were not designed for direct clashes, so Fang Che held a natural advantage as he was using a far heavier and sturdier saber.

Ding Jieran retreated all the way to the edge of the platform around 150 feet behind him, then tossed his sword into his left hand.

After that, he sprang forward before slashing his sword through the air, and all of his sword qi and sword intent had become far more formidable than before!

Fang Che's eyes instantly lit up.

I was right! He had a trump card all along! His left hand is his dominant hand!

Seeing as Ding Jieran had already revealed his trump card, Fang Che didn't hold back any longer.

"Buddhist Pagoda Blade!"

With a thunderous roar, Fang Che rose all the way up to an altitude of seventy feet on the back of a mighty saber projection.

He then swiveled around, and the saber projection drew a large circle around him, forming what appeared to have been a round pagoda.

The pagoda was formed by layers upon layers of saber projections, and it tapered down to a sharp point, which was aimed directly down at Ding Jieran, releasing violent killing intent.

This attack was already on par with an all-out attack from a Lesser Grandmaster, and this technique had come from the Three Buddhist Sabers, a set of saber techniques that Fang Che had learned in his past life.

He had rarely ever used this technique as he had always used a sword in his past life, but it was still more than enough as a finishing blow on the likes of Ding Jieran.

At this moment, Ding Jieran's entire body was enveloped by almighty killing intent, and his sword snapped into two as soon as it came into contact with the tip of the descending pagoda.

Ding Jieran stumbled back in retreat as he continued to swing his snapped sword in a spirited resistance, but it was clear that he was about to be overwhelmed.

Shallow gashes had already appeared over his skin from Fang Che's saber intent, and right before he was about to be torn to shreds, a referee appeared behind him, then grabbed him by the back of the collar and tossed him off the platform while extending his other hand forward.

He reached straight into the pagoda of saber projections, then gently pinched the tip of the saber between his index finger and thumb as if he were catching a butterfly by the wings.

The saber was instantly stopped in its tracks, while the pagoda of saber projections vanished.

Fang Che was brought to a juddering halt, and he was sweating profusely as he landed on the ground before expressing his gratitude to the referee.

The referee released the tip of his saber with a smile as he asked, "That's the technique that you were talking about, right?"

Fang Che nodded in confirmation, then praised, "That was incredible! You caught my saber so easily! I'm really embarrassed now, thinking back to what I said earlier."

"Don't be embarrassed. I've been a warrior far longer than you have, and the fact that you're capable of unleashing such a powerful attack at your cultivation base is testament to your hard work. When I was your age, I wasn't anywhere near as impressive as you are now," the referee said with a smile.

"You're far too modest, Teacher. I still have a lot of room for improvement."

Fang Che turned his gaze to Ding Jieran, then strode over to his side before asking, "Are you alright, Brother Ding?"

Ding Jieran was clearly still a little unsettled, and he conceded, "That attack was too much for me."

"I'm just glad you're safe," Fang Che said. "Don't forget our agreement. Regardless of the outcome..."

A slightly conflicted look appeared in Ding Jieran's eyes, but he then smiled as he replied, "I haven't forgotten. Regardless of the outcome, we will still be friends who will defend each other in times of peril!"

Ding Jieran was speaking with a sense of solemn gravity and sincerity, as if he were swearing a vow. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

It was as if a flame had been lit in his normally lifeless eyes, and he was looking much more passionate and expressive than he normally did.

Fang Che burst into laughter as he raised a hand, and Ding Jieran firmly clasped his palm against Fang Che's.

A faint smile had appeared on his stiff and wooden face, presenting a strangely warm and touching sight.

"Count me into your agreement as well!" Mo Ganyun yelled from beneath the platform.