Half an hour later, at the Cloud Knights' training ground…
"You two ladies, are you sure you want to fight me? Let me make this clear: as a swordsman, I won't go easy on you just because you're women."
Yanqing said this as he drew a cyan-blue longsword from his waist, its sharp edge pointed unhesitatingly at Stelle and March 7th, who stood on the other side of the training platform.
As for the fact that they were women, this Cloud Knight Lieutenant couldn't care less. A great figure in Xianzhou history once said: "With no women in your heart, your sword strikes true!" And on the battlefield, there was no distinction between genders.
"This guy probably doesn't have any girls liking him," March 7th whispered into Stelle's ear before pulling out her composite bow from a pocket dimension.
Stelle nodded in agreement, summoning her signature weapon as the Galactic Baseballer—the ancestral baseball bat from Herta's collection of curiosities.
Together, the two assumed a fighting stance, ready to face the young swordsman hailed as the pride of the Luofu.
"A baseball bat?" Seeing Stelle's weapon, Yanqing paused momentarily. In his years as a Cloud Knight, he had encountered many strange and unusual weapons, but someone using a baseball bat as a weapon? This was a first.
"In that case, ladies, no offense!"
Yanqing said no more. With a flourish of his longsword, he executed a few elegant sword maneuvers before charging straight at March 7th and Stelle, aiming to break through head-on.
"I'll cover!"
March 7th drew her bow, firing several arrows in quick succession, targeting Yanqing's blind spots.
"Child's play!" With a few deft movements, Yanqing easily dodged March 7th's ice arrows. With a flick of his wrist, he used skillful force to deflect the remaining arrows back toward her.
"What? That's possible?"
March 7th was slightly stunned. It was her first time seeing someone use sword techniques to redirect bow-and-arrow attacks.
"Nothing is impossible, Miss March. You still need more practice," Yanqing replied. He then placed two fingers in front of him, forming a mystical seal.
"Sword Control Technique!"
With Yanqing's proud voice, five flying swords burst forth from a pocket dimension, circling around him and emitting vibrant, resonant sword hums.
It was rumored in the Luofu that Yanqing's mind was as clear as a three-foot autumn stream, untainted by dust. He could control six swords with divided focus. At this moment, aside from the five immortal swords behind him, plus the one in his hand, it was exactly the "six" he was known for.
"Go!"
At Yanqing's command, the five flying swords shot forward as if they had eyes, homing in on Stelle and March 7th on the ground.
"Power of Preservation!"
March 7th unleashed the power of Preservation within her, forming a shield that enveloped both her and Stelle. As the swords clashed against the shield, the impact sparked fiercely, with faint glimmers of fire.
"Impressive defense. Now, try this!" Yanqing nodded in approval before pulling back his sword. With a swift motion, he thrust forward.
"Sword Like a Crescent Moon!"
Technique: Distant Strike of Three-Foot Water!
Under the influence of the Path of The Hunt and the Sword Control Technique, the six immortal swords stabbed forward, all striking the shield March 7th had created.
Bang! Bang! Bang! …
A series of collisions rang in the girls' ears, causing their expressions to grow serious.
With their keen perception, it wasn't hard to notice that Yanqing's attacks all targeted the same point on the shield. Cracks were already forming on what had seemed an indestructible barrier.
"In the name of Preservation!"
Stelle channeled the power of Preservation into her baseball bat. In an instant, the milky-white energy of the Path transformed the bat into a spiked mace.
The best defense is a good offense!
The moment the shield shattered, Stelle stomped the ground, using the recoil to leap into the air. She swung her spiked mace directly at Yanqing's head.
"What in the world? Can the power of Preservation be used like that?!" Yanqing was clueless but utterly shocked. It was his first time seeing someone wield the power of Preservation in such a way.
With no time to think, Yanqing, who had initially underestimated his opponents, immediately recalled his immortal swords. Using the Sword Control Technique, he formed a rotating sword array to block in front of him.
To his surprise, the spiked mace, infused with the power of Preservation, smashed through his protective sword array, completely dispersing the energy of The Hunt.
"So strong!"
Seeing this, Yanqing grew serious. The boy shifted his weight back, retreating swiftly to barely dodge the massive spiked mace swinging toward his face.
After steadying himself, the proud Cloud Knight Lieutenant had to reassess the two Trailblazers before him with newfound respect.
A moment later, he clasped his fists and bowed to them. "I was blind to your strength and underestimated you both. Yanqing apologizes to you ladies."
"From now on, I'll go all out. Be careful!"
With that, Yanqing's aura shifted. If he had been holding back before, now his blade was unsheathed.
"Ten Thousand Swords—Heaven's Descent!"
Activating the power of the Path of The Hunt, the boy's figure darted through the air like a phantom, accompanied by the immortal swords, now moving so fast they left afterimages.
Ultimate: Swift Rain and Swallows in Pursuit!
"So fast, Stelle!"
March 7th and Stelle exchanged a glance. In the next moment, their palms clasped together, pooling their powers of Preservation.
"Hah!" ×2
As the power of Preservation surged from the two girls like it cost nothing, Stelle's baseball bat transformed once more, ultimately taking the shape of a massive hammer, like the one wielded by the Amber Lord.
"Let's do this!"
March 7th and Stelle swung the giant hammer together, aiming at Yanqing as he unleashed his ultimate. Facing this earth-shaking blow, Yanqing didn't choose to dodge but instead opted to meet it head-on.
BOOM!!!
With a deafening crash, the entire Cloud Knights' training platform shattered.