Oliver's entire body radiated a powerful aura of true essence. He didn't even wait for Sam to finish entering the stage before yelling, and the three-foot-long saber in his hand began to glow with bright runes.
The total number of runes was ten; nine green runes were congealed from Oliver's true essence, and the tenth was from the inscription symbol left behind by the inscription master.
"The 'Nine Paths of Truth' swordsmanship was a family skill given to the head of the Oliver Family, having performed a tremendous military deed.
The first emperor of Starlight Haven Kingdom had bestowed this skill to Yuelu City's Family so that future generations could pass it down and study it.
This Oliver relied on only his early Third Stage of Body Transformation cultivation to reach the boundary of forming nine runes.
Although this is almost the most basic level of green runes, it is still impressive!"
The onlooking elders commented as they watched the fight. They had vast experience and could quickly determine Oliver's martial skill, as well as its level and origin.
"The 'Nine Paths of Truth' can display its true power if used in conjunction with a rare weapon.The aristocratic family juniors are truly on a different playing field than others.They have martial arts handed down through their family line and also treasures that easily cost several thousand gold. Compared to commoner martial artists, they are much better off."
"Sam is in danger. He's just a regular boy. What kind of martial skill could he possibly have to fend off the 'Nine Paths of Truth'?"
Sam's eyes shined brilliantly on stage as he looked at the green runes on Oliver's saber.
Before studying inscription techniques, he had to learn the soul law formula and develop the ability to control his soul force.
Sam had studied the apex-level soul law formula, 'Overbearing Soul Tactic.'
With this, Sam was extremely sensitive to the flow of true essence within rare treasures or objects.
He could clearly understand everything as long as he extended his soul force.
"I can feel Oliver is using some sort of martial skill, but even if I can sense it, I'm not too familiar with martial skills; there is simply no way for me to find out where the flaw is. But when looking at inscription techniques and equipment, there might be no one in the entire Starlight Haven Kingdom who can understand them better than I do. I can clearly identify vulnerability within the flow of true essence…"
As Sam thought deeply about this, Oliver grasped his sword and rushed forward. He would close the distance and use his family martial skill, the 'Nine Paths of Truth,' and finally solve this problem called Sam in the next several moves while increasing his reputation.
True essence gathered in the longsword, whistling with a sharp, keening sound.
This was an advantage of using treasures; once true essence was focused, it would enhance one's imposing image and strength, increasing momentum.
Facing this, along with the aura of power, a martial artist with no treasures would discover that they felt incapable of any resistance because even if they tried to compete with weapons, their own would likely break off at first contact!
"Sam, prepare to die! You fu**king bastard!!"
Oliver shouted as the nine symbols on his saber bloomed with an incandescent green light.
As soon as the long sword cut down, an immense sword pressure struck Sam's shoulder.
Sam's pupils widened, and his feet suddenly slammed to the ground as his body moved like a lightning bolt.
Bang!
As Oliver's saber cut into the ground, explosions scattered broken stone into the air.
A magic array supported this blue stone stage and was as hard as iron, but still, Oliver's blade had cut a hole half a foot deep! The power of this single strike was just too much!
Even though his saber did not hit, Oliver did not feel any sadness but instead laughed.
"Sam! You want to compare speed with me!? Not only do you have some small, inborn divine strength, but it seems your speed isn't too shabby either, but what a pity! You cannot use any movement martial skills!
"Speed!? How pitiful can you even think of comparing me, Oliver!?"
As soon as he said this, Oliver's footsteps changed. His body had changed to an indistinct, blurry afterimage.
"Seven Despairing Steps! The Oliver Family's movement martial skill!"
"This is one of the Oliver Family's secret martial skills. In seven steps one can appear and disappear at will, and its speed surpasses the ghosts and gods. The old aristocratic families really make one jealous!"
"The weapon is weaker, the martial skill is weaker, the movement is weaker, how can one even fight like this?"
Oliver moved seven steps as they talked and instantly appeared at Sam's side.
The radiant green line reappeared as the nine runes shimmered with true essence.
The saber cut down at Sam's arm!
It was against the law to kill others during a competition at the Seven Profound Martial House; otherwise, they would receive a severe punishment from the school.
As a result, Oliver cut Sam's arm. Although this attack would not be fatal, it could break his bone and rip his arm's tendons apart. Even if superior medicines were used to restore the bone and muscles, the arm would be primarily unusable and severely limit future cultivation.
This was an insidious blade filled with malice!
Oliver's mouth traced a sneering grin. 'Are you not some kind of talent? Then I'll cut off the road of talent and see how you dare to ever struggle against me again!'
This was the reason for his blade, and he could not think of the slightest sense that he would lose.
However, at this time, Sam shouted, fiercely swiveled on the ball of his foot, and thrust out his fist!
This was a non-flashy, even fist that would bring at least 3000 jins of overbearing might!
Bang!
The center of the first hit the blade edge of Oliver's saber.
This was the only vulnerability Sam had discovered in the weapon where the true essence was weak and turbulent!
With the speed at which Oliver wielded his saber, the difficulty of striking this precise spot was inconceivable. If not for the years that Sam had spent deboning and honing the accuracy of his moves until every action became a memory ingrained within his muscles, then even If he could grasp the flaw within the inscription symbol, it would only have been useless.
In the space of that brief moment, Oliver only felt a sudden chaotic surge in true essence transmit through his body as the energy flow in the saber was interrupted.
If the concentration of true essence in the saber was like a deadly emerald snake, then Sam's first was a hatchet that cut off the snake around the middle, seven inches up its body!
How!?
As soon as the flow of true essence stagnated, Oliver felt pain wrack his body as his blood dangerously upwelled.
Before he could unravel the meaning of what had happened, Sam had let loose a leg and kicked towards Oliver's head.
Every day for several years, Sam had been training his leg on tree stumps.
The simplistic strength of this strike had been tempered by deeply constant pain that had only been quenched by iron thread grass.
This was the terrifying strength cultivated by practicing the 'Infinite Chaos Battle Forms'; it was no different from an explosion of pure force!
Sam's leg was like a dragon's tail as it kicked out, but Oliver also had some capability. Even as his mind reeled, he stiffened an arm to block Sam's leg.
However, when Sam's kick struck Oliver's arm, he could only feel like a thick iron rod had hit him. His arm immediately lost feeling, and he almost passed out from the pressure.
Oliver's heart was shocked. What was this abnormal power!?
With a jolt of surprise at the change in the battle's tempo, the hearts of the elders present were equally shocked. That simple fist was not so simple! The candidates watching could not notice anything strange, but these were Houtian masters; they had quickly captured the mystery behind the meaning of that simple fist!
This Sam, how could he possibly do this?
The kick sent Oliver flying backward into the air. Before he had exhausted a single breath, he could see Sam instantly approaching in his vision.
Not good!
"Seven Despairing Steps!"
Oliver pedaled his feet with the 'Seven Despairing Steps,' his body completely violated the rules of physics as he suddenly swerved sideways and escaped Sam's fist.
But with this sudden change in direction and the damage he had taken earlier, Oliver could no longer control the rampaging true essence that ravaged his body and spat a mouthful of blood.
This time, Oliver felt panic seep into his heart.
Initially, he had thought that his strength had been weakened in the Exquisite Sagol with the decrease in the power of the 'Nine Paths of Truth' and thus could only reach the fourth floor and die together with the two vicious beasts.
He had thought that if only he had his rare saber with him, he would be confident in quickly reaching the fifth floor and even slaughtering many vicious beasts there.
Instead, he was now being suppressed so heavily by Sam. At this time, could Sam also kill the vicious beasts of the fifth floor?
The 'Nine Paths of Truth' that he was so proud of and arrogantly bragged about had been ultimately defeated; this made Oliver feel a deep and foreboding sense of humiliation.
Sam had already rushed forward again before he could even think about how to retaliate against the loathsome maggot. This time, Sam used his knife!
"I'll cut your knife!"
He could only use about half of his true essence because he had just exhausted a great deal of true essence earlier.
Oliver had no time to utilize the 'Nine Paths of Truth.' He could only focus all of the true essence he could muster in the saber and rely on its strength, sharpness, and superior quality to block Sam.
He had already concluded that Sam would have to withdraw his knife if he blocked with his saber. Otherwise, his knife would be cut apart.
However, he did not imagine Sam would not retract his knife but even meet the saber head-on with a deboning knife!
Boom!
With a fierce explosion, in the crazy collision of true essence, the deboning knife was cut apart!
"Ha!"
Oliver did not even have time to be surprised, as Sam had already given a loud shot, and the deboning knife exploded into several sharp fragments.
Puff!
These fragments were like a concealed weapon that blew up like a bomb that shot out in all directions!
With such a short distance and the immediate surprise of a weapon like this, Oliver could not even dodge, even though he possessed the 'Seven Despairing Steps'!
"Ah ah ah ah ah ah!!"
Oliver cried out pitifully as his shoulder, belly, and thighs were stabbed by the fragments of the deboning knife, and blood flew in all directions.
A fragment had even directly pierced through his shoulder!
Sam sent a flying kick towards Oliver's chest. Oliver spat a mouthful of blood as he reeled backward; that instant kick had broken his ribs and sent him flying upside down like a broken kite!
"Stop!"
As Sam's kick sent Oliver flying, Elder Xu flew out like a cheetah, and a burst of true essence smashed apart the chair he sat in.
Elder Xu stormed onto the stage like the wind and caught the heavily injured Oliver.
He immediately removed a medicine bottle from his sleeves and applied it. He was old friends with Oliver's father, so he naturally had to look after him. With Oliver injured to this extent, how could he explain this to his friend?
After applying for the precious medicine, Elder Xu looked gloomy as he stared at Sam, "You little boy, so young, and yet already your actions are so ruthless!"
As Elder Xu said, each word was enhanced with true essence and was like a steel ball striking, full of momentum.
Facing the pressure from a Houtian master, Sam's eyes narrowed as he secretly revolved the 'True Primal Chaos Formula' within himself and resisted the pressure.
His expression was neutral as he said, "If you say I am vicious, then what is not vicious? Oliver tried to cut apart my arm a moment ago, should I just extend it and let him do as he pleases? If I did not retaliate with a fist and my arm was cut off, would you then say Oliver is vicious?"
"How dare you talk back!?"
Elder Xu suddenly stepped forward as he flared with murderous intent. It felt like Elder Xu was like a tiger that had chosen its victim and was ready to leap out.