Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Five Sword Control Art

Very well. Let everyone outside listen carefully. The first priority of this mission is to seize control of the ancient teleportation array. Once that key objective is complete, you will be free to begin your assault on those monstrosities. But remember one thing: do not stray too far from the ancient array. Keep within a radius of about ten miles. And one final point: stay safe! Understood?

Understood!

The ten of them answered in unison.

Good. Return to the top of the ship for now and begin preparations. Jett, execute Operation Plan One.

Beep! Operation Plan One commencing. Countdown: ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one—activate!

As Jett’s mechanical voice fell silent, a massive weapons array extended from the underside of the ship, armed with hundred-millimeter phase cannons, laser guns, photon guns, and more. Around the ship’s perimeter, numerous ray-electron guns, electron cannons, and a whole host of weapons emerged as well.

Fire!

With Tang Yi’s command, the ship’s weapons roared to life. Around the ancient teleportation array on the planet, flames burst and shrieks rose in a deafening tide. The monsters exploded one after another, scattering materials and items everywhere. Then, at that very moment, the winged ones suddenly rose into the air and charged straight at the ship.

The large screen in the ship’s control chamber was now split into six smaller panels. These six views were being transmitted back by six detectors launched from the ship.

Tang, look. Those flying monsters are almost upon us.

Flower Like Snow spotted the situation on one of the screens.

I never expected this. Everyone outside, listen up: now is your time to shine. A large number of flying monsters are rushing toward our ship at high speed. Move immediately and eliminate them!

Understood!

With a unified shout, the ten of them shot into the air and rushed to meet the oncoming horde. They had been itching for a fight for a very long time. During this period they had remained aboard the ship; though the light-based virtual chamber could simulate scenes and ease their frustration a little, it was not real after all. That only made their restlessness harder to bear.

With an orange energy shield around him, Hua Shaojie charged ahead, the very first to meet the monsters rising in waves. His flying sword hovered outside the shield as he formed a hand seal with his left hand.

Flying sword, swift!

His right hand rose like a blade and pointed forward. At once the sword shot out like a streak of lightning, stabbing into a monster a hundred meters away. Swoosh! The creature at the front was pierced clean through. With a boom, it dissolved into a heap of materials drifting along the planet’s orbit. The sword’s momentum did not slow; it continued slaying the monster behind it.

Seeing that Hua Shaojie had such skill, Bai Dongfang’s competitive spirit flared. With a cold snort, three flying swords appeared outside his white energy shield.

Threefold Return to Origin Sword, merge!

The three swords flew in unison, forming a conical sword formation. Together they struck a single point. Under the combined assault, the monsters exploded one after another, turning into piles of materials. In less than a minute, Bai Dongfang’s tally had drawn even with Hua Shaojie’s, and he gave him a distinctly provocative glance. Clearly, Hua Shaojie was infuriated.

Hmph. Don’t think you’re the only one who can send out three swords. I can send four.

Through the system, Hua Shaojie spoke privately to Bai Dongfang.

Four swords? Fine, then let’s see Hua Shao’s four-fold control technique. Just how impressive can it be?

Bai Dongfang spoke on the public channel. He simply did not believe Hua Shaojie could control four flying swords. His own three-sword control had taken him decades to bring to this modest level. Four-fold control, to be honest, was something very few people could manage anymore. Very few were willing to practice such a multitasking technique. It was time-consuming and mentally exhausting, and in general it did not produce much offensive power. Most people would not bother training in something so apparently underwhelming.

Heh-heh. Just watch. I’ll show you what real power looks like. Hahaha...

Hua Shaojie actually produced four more flying swords. Combined with his original one, he now had five in total.

Five-fold control? This brat Hua Shaojie has been hiding his abilities all along. Interesting.

Tang Yi watched as five flying swords now hovered and crossed around Hua Shaojie’s body.

Now let you see what true five-fold sword control looks like. This is not the trash five-control technique you imagine. Five linked rings, bind!

Hua Shaojie recited the incantation. The five swords joined tip to tail, forming a circle that whirled faster and faster. Strike, go!

The five flying swords under his control became a spinning wheel, rolling and slicing through the monsters without pause. Wherever it passed, the creatures burst apart in succession.

Bai Dongfang refused to be outdone. He separated his three swords and launched them independently.

Seeing the two of them locked in a contest, the others simply stopped attacking. Instead, they moved behind them to collect the spoils blasted apart by the pair.

Very quickly, all the flying monsters that had risen to attack the ship were reduced to nothing. Hua Shaojie and Bai Dongfang had also nearly exhausted their physical strength and spiritual energy. In the emptiness of space, the two of them stared at each other, both somewhat spent.

How about that? I destroyed slightly more of them than you did. Admit defeat now?

Hua Shaojie and Bai Dongfang were speaking privately, both a little breathless.

Tch. You just had the advantage by a tiny bit of time. Otherwise you would definitely have had less than me. I’m not convinced. Next time we’ll do this again! What do you say? Care to compete?

If we’re competing, then we’re competing. Who’s afraid of who? But this time, shouldn’t there be a little wager? Look, both our flying swords are basically ruined now. Why don’t we bet the swords?

Fine. Then it’s a deal!

Deal!

Wait...

Bai Dongfang suddenly shouted.

What now? Regretting it already?

Hua Shaojie said contemptuously.

No, look. We’ve taken a terrible loss this time. Didn’t you see those guys behind us taking the easy spoils? The two of us fought desperately up front and even ruined our flying swords, and what did they do? They just picked up the leftovers. It makes me furious. I’m going to settle accounts with them.

As he spoke, Bai Dongfang was about to charge toward Zhang Qiang and the others.

Hold on!

Hua Shaojie stopped him.

You don’t understand Tang-ge. He is absolutely fair, trust me. Just wait and see. If you rush over there now, you won’t get any advantage at all. We should just return directly to the ship and leave the cleanup to them. Tang-ge won’t shortchange us on what should be ours. Based on how we just performed, maybe Tang-ge will even reward the two of us extra.

Really?

Bai Dongfang was doubtful.

You can doubt me, but you must never doubt Tang-ge’s fairness. Just wait and listen. Heh-heh...

Indeed, as soon as Hua Shaojie finished speaking, Tang Yi’s voice rang out in the ears of the ten outside...