Liu Xiaochen was indeed feeling the strain. He could clearly feel that his internal forces were not as strong as they used to be, and that he couldn't execute the Song of the Phoenix to its full potential. But he gritted his teeth and blocked every attack. He needed to get justice for his sect. He needed to beat the chiefs in order to solidify his position, and Xuanyan Sect's position, in the martial arts sector.
Abbess Huiyuan's sword came stabbing toward his heart. Liu Xiaochen held his sword diagonally in front of him and blocked the stab with the flat of the blade. The power from the collision was immense; usually, he had enough internal forces to take it blow. This time, he didn't.
Liu Xiaochen felt blood surging into his mouth; it took everything in him to not cough it out. Even so, a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his lips. Abbess Huiyuan spotted it immediately.
