The wind had not even had time to blow or the crowd to blink, much less gasp.
The blade was already in front of Xuanyuan Po, about to sever his neck and bring his head down.
The official from the Demi-human Court had already prepared himself but realized to his consternation that Nie Chi's blade was still faster than he had expected, that he was still too late to stop him. The minor official at the registration table had also prepared himself, but he still could not suppress the joy in his heart, though there was not enough time to form a smile.
It was such a short span of time that sound did not even have time to spread. All around the fighting platform was an eerie stillness fraught with an atmosphere of terror.
Ultimately, an extremely clear sound broke the silence and returned time to its normal speed.
It was not the _shlink_ of a blade, not the rolling of a head off the neck, but a meaty _thud_.
