I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

However, Chiba Eijiro did not immediately launch an attack.

Instead, they remained in a standoff, staring at each other.

Qingdeng took a step to the left.

Chiba Eijiro then took a step to the right.

Qingdeng took a step forward.

Chiba Eijiro took a step back.

A bizarre two-person comedy act...

Outsiders might find it hard to understand Chiba Eijiro's behavior, but as the person involved, he was acutely aware that Aoto was in great danger and that if he made any rash moves, he would suffer a severe counterattack.

"..."

"..."

In the blink of an eye—a snap—the sound of air being suddenly compressed erupted between the two.

The two attacked simultaneously.

Qingdeng raised the bamboo sword high above his head and chopped it down forcefully.

Chiba Eijiro's swaying bamboo sword also stopped in an instant, and then swept upwards with the force of a whirlwind.

The bamboo swords clashed, producing a series of resounding "crackling" sounds, and the "squeaking" sounds of bamboo swords splattering bamboo shavings as they could no longer bear the weight.

The two, locked in fierce combat, brushed past each other with their sleeves intertwined, then charged forward, before pulling back and turning around, sending snow swirling up as they fought once more.

While fiercely exchanging blows, the two also employed ingenious defensive techniques, protecting themselves while unleashing a tsunami of attacks on each other.

Aoto struck Chiba Eijiro in the chest.

Chiba Eijiro held his bamboo sword upright in front of his chest.

After scattering a lot more bamboo shavings and snowflakes, the two men's sword guards met, and they wrestled with each other, their strength concentrated at their waists.

Qingdeng unleashed a fierce burst of energy, activating all his talents such as "Nine Bulls and Two Tigers +3" and "Elephant Core +4," and combined with his own weight, he pressed down on the bamboo sword in his hand and on his opponent in one fell swoop.

To be fair, Chiba Eijiro's strength is not as great as Aoto's.

However, the gap between the two sides is only 40/60.

Such a small advantage is not enough to translate into a victory for Qingdeng.

Despite being known for her skillful techniques, Chiba's physical strength is in no way inferior to that of power-type swordsmen.

In response, Qing Deng couldn't help but think to himself:

—As expected, these renowned martial arts masters have virtually no weaknesses; they possess both exceptional skills and bodies that seem to have undergone mutation.

And so, with their feet firmly planted on the ground, each exerting a force in response to the other, neither giving an inch.

Through the bamboo swords that intersected and formed an "X" shape, Chiba Eijiro's face was clearly visible to Aoto, even the fine hairs on his cheeks were clearly visible.

He was a young, already famous and talented swordsman, his face beaming with joy and a happy smile.

Looking at Chiba Eijiro's smiling face, Aoto somehow understood his feelings.

Because... even without a mirror, Qing Deng could sense that the corners of his mouth were stretching high to both sides.

In terms of sheer mirth, I am in no way inferior to my opponent!

Compared to the "mutually assured destruction" battle against Ootani Seiichiro, this exhilarating and fast-paced battle where both sides rapidly exchange offense and defense is clearly more exciting and thrilling for Aoto!

I suppose Chiba Eijiro thought the same thing.

As the two swordsmen fought, they suddenly began to give each other creepy smiles—a scene that would normally be quite unsettling.

However, the onlookers were so captivated by the intense battle that they slowed their breathing and had no time to pay attention to the details.

Just as their bamboo swords were about to break under their immense force, as if by prior agreement, they both jumped back simultaneously as if scalded by boiling water.

Immediately following, accompanied by two shouts like the roars of wild beasts, Aoto and Chiba Eijiro swung their bamboo swords at each other with great force.

In an instant, countless bamboo shavings flew through the air—the two bamboo swords collided heavily and broke in the middle. The lower half was still held firmly by the two of them, while the upper half flew into the sky, drawing a beautiful parabola before falling into the distant snow.

On the sidelines, Kondo Shusuke, seeing this, turned to Souji beside him and shouted:

"Sōji, quickly bring me a new bamboo sword!"

At the same time, Chiba Sadakichi also turned his head and said to Chiba Jutaro, who was standing behind him:

"Jutaro! Bamboo sword!"

Just as the "logistics personnel" on both sides were hurriedly preparing to hand over the bamboo swords—

Qingdeng glanced at the broken sword in his hand and grinned.

As he casually tossed away the broken sword, he shouted loudly:

"General! Give me Vairocana!"

Hearing Qing Deng's shout, Chiba Eijiro paused for a moment, then smiled knowingly.

"Daisaburo! Throw Zhenyue Changguang over here!"

********

********

Before there was even a moment to mourn for the bamboo sword, Vairocana and Zhenyue Changguang rushed to the battlefield!

It's been so long since I've had a break, I'd like to ask for a day off tomorrow~~ (Leopard resting.jpg)

Chapter 543 [The Quasi-Selfless Realm]! [5500]

Noisy... no, it would be more accurate to describe it as "uproar".

In the blink of an eye, the entire audience erupted in an uproar.

During the conversation just now, neither Aoto nor Chiba Eijiro lowered their voices.

In this quiet, open space, their words were clearly audible to everyone.

Unsurprisingly, this caused a commotion.

"What do they want to do?"

"Is that even a question? They want to fight with real knives!"

"Real swords?! If both sides are using real swords, wouldn't that be a recipe for disaster and could result in death?"

"So Niou and Chiba of Techno have a past grudge?"

……

Chiba Eijiro's beloved sword, the Great Treasure Sword, Zhen Yue Nagamitsu, lay quietly in the arms of his younger brother, Chiba Michizaburo.

A real sword duel... Faced with Chiba Eijiro's firm demands, even Chiba Michizaburo, who respected his elder brother and always obeyed him, couldn't help but freeze in place.

Not knowing what to do, he could only subconsciously turn his head and look at the elders of his family.

Chiba Sadakichi pursed his lips, as if deep in thought—after a moment, he loosened his taut lips and said, slowly and deliberately:

"Daisaburo, give him the sword!"

"Father?"

Before Chiba Michisaburo could react to Chiba Sadakichi's words, Chiba Jutaro shouted in unison:

"Using a real sword... this... this... what if Brother Rong accidentally kills Tachibana-kun?"

Sanako, who was standing to the side, also cast a worried glance at her father.

Although his children's words and expressions were very sincere, Chiba Sadakichi remained unmoved and simply repeated his request.

Give him the knife!

Looking at his uncle's resolute face, Chiba Michizaburo gritted his teeth.

"Second brother, catch!"

The next instant, the white and blue sword flew out of his hand, tumbling and spinning in the air, drawing a beautiful parabola, and falling towards Chiba Eijiro's head.

At the same time, a similar scene was unfolding at the "Qingdeng Rest Area" across the street.

"Huh? Huh?"

Before going on stage, Qing Deng handed over his wakizashi, dingguishen, and piluchana to the chief for safekeeping.

At this moment, the bewildered Souji was making strange noises like "Eeeeeeee" while rapidly turning his head and looking around, his light ponytail swaying back and forth behind his head.

Just then, a large hand reached out from the side, grabbed Vairocana in the general's arms like an iron clamp, and pulled her away with a fierce force.

"Mr. Hijikata?"

As the commander raised his astonished gaze, Hijikata Toshizo, with a serious expression, threw away the Vairocana he had just seized.

"Ju, catch!"

The two knives flew out almost simultaneously, and were then firmly caught in the hands of their respective owners.

Chiba Eijiro gripped the front of the scabbard with his left hand, holding the sword horizontally in front of his chest, at shoulder height.

Qing Deng tucked the sword into his left waist, gripped the scabbard with his left hand, stroked the hilt with his right, and crouched slightly.

"Let's put this boring bamboo sword duel to an end for now!"

As he spoke, Chiba Eijiro smiled.

"A duel of this caliber would be too boring and a real shame if it weren't decided by using each other's beloved swords!"

Qingdeng grinned.

I feel your pain!

Click!

Click!

Both men simultaneously extended their left thumbs, pressed against the hilt of the sword, and pushed forward, revealing the tenon used to hold the scabbard in place.

Clang, clang, clang...!