Chapter 412: Chapter 230 Open and Honest Lin Tianhao Gu Sheng couldn’t help but inwardly curse Lin Tianhao for being so stubborn. Gu Sheng had two reasons for not wanting to compete with Lin Tianhao. First, he lacked confidence in his ability to defeat Lin Tianhao. Second, the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell was already inside his body, and the thing wouldn’t obey his commands. Even if he wanted to take it out, there was no way to do so. But this was not something he could reveal now; otherwise, it could jeopardize their future collaboration, which would be a significant loss. Gu Sheng’s face immediately revealed a troubled expression. "Is it really necessary to compete?" Lin Tianhao nodded. "Junior Brother Gu, you don’t need to worry too much. This is just a friendly bout, not a life-and-death struggle. You managed to kill Lu Shu—what do you have to fear from me? You should know that I battled Lu Shu for years without ever reaching a conclusion, yet you were capable of defeating her. This shows that you likely have the strength to defeat me too. I consider my own skills to be at the peak of the Golden Bone Realm, and never expected you to be even more formidable. I genuinely want to broaden my horizons." Gu Sheng felt bitter inside. He wanted to say that his victory over Lu Shu was purely due to too many innate advantages. Lin Tianhao and Lu Shu might be evenly matched in strength, but Lin Tianhao wasn’t a Sword Cultivator, nor did he have the suppression of Sword Intent. Gu Sheng certainly couldn’t just use the Demon Suppression Golden Scroll—it would be cheating. Looking at Lin Tianhao’s earnest expression, Gu Sheng could only sigh and nod. "Fine, since you’re so insistent, let’s compete. But let’s agree in advance: just one move!" Lin Tianhao nodded. "Yes, just one move!" Gu Sheng took a deep breath and unsheathed the Water Cold Sword at his waist. His aura shifted abruptly, transforming him into a shining, razor-sharp blade. Sensing the distinct aura emanating from Gu Sheng, Lin Tianhao’s expression also turned serious. His eyes burned with fighting spirit as he retrieved his spear from his storage bag. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮 As soon as the spear was in his grip, Lin Tianhao’s aura became equally fierce. The momentum of both fighters clashed in the air, stirring up swirling currents of air. Though neither had yet made a move, the duel had already begun! Since each only had one chance with no room for probing, Gu Sheng dared not hold back. To avoid prematurely exposing the fact that the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell was already inside his body, he resolved to use his full strength for this strike! He promptly activated the Blood Activation Skill. The previously locked energy and blood surged forth, significantly boosting his power. In his mind, Gu Sheng recalled the majestic Gale Nine Swords executed with a wooden sword by Wen Mingyan long ago. As his momentum reached its peak, he fully activated the Mixed Element Body Refining Skill, pushing his strength to its absolute limit! Wielding the Water Cold Sword, Gu Sheng delivered a fierce slash, and Sword Intent instantly materialized, forming a massive whirlwind. The whirlwind took shape and unleashed immense power. Stones and wood nearby shattered and were sucked into it, the gusts howling relentlessly. Though the whirlwind hadn’t yet reached him, Lin Tianhao’s clothing clung tightly to his body, and his frame swayed slightly. "Brother Lin, be careful!" Gu Sheng swung his longsword, and the whirlwind surged forward with unstoppable might. "Gale Nine Swords!" Lin Tianhao identified the martial art Gu Sheng was using, his gaze becoming even more serious. The Gale Nine Swords was merely a top-grade Yellow Level martial art, yet at this moment, it felt to Lin Tianhao like it rivaled the power of a Dark Level technique. Lin Tianhao himself had practiced several top-grade Yellow Level martial arts, but he admitted that the might he could summon with them was nowhere near the level displayed by Gu Sheng now. As the Haoyang Sect’s prodigy and candidate for the position of Sect Master, Lin Tianhao was naturally proud and ambitious. He wouldn’t allow himself to be overshadowed by Gu Sheng’s presence. Despite his admiration for the excellence of the Gale Nine Swords, his fighting spirit burned brighter, spurring him to challenge Gu Sheng head-on! With a twirl of his spear, Lin Tianhao conjured countless spear shadows around him, and a fierce gust of wind erupted in his vicinity. Suddenly, Lin Tianhao’s spear trembled, emitting an overwhelming energy that surged from its tip, forming a faint Yellow Dragon that flew straight towards the whirlwind. "Yellow Dragon Breaking Formation Spear!" Lin Tianhao’s Yellow Dragon Breaking Formation Spear was a low-grade Mystical Level martial art, currently the strongest technique he possessed! Though the forceful Sword Intent exerted significant suppression on Lin Tianhao’s spear technique, it didn’t possess the overwhelming advantage it had against regular sword attacks. At least it wasn’t enough to thoroughly crush his technique. The whirlwind formed by the Gale Nine Swords collided with the faint Yellow Dragon summoned by the Yellow Dragon Breaking Formation Spear, instantly throwing up sand and stones as a massive shockwave exploded outward. Both Gu Sheng and Lin Tianhao changed their expressions and hastily unleashed defensive techniques. Nonetheless, they were both pushed back repeatedly by the impact of the shockwave. After regaining their balance, they both felt their energy churning within, their faces flushed red. A metallic taste welled up in their throats. Exchanging a glance, they both forced the blood in their mouths back down, pretending to be calm and composed. The power of Sword Intent remained formidable, especially when amplified by the Blood Activation Skill. This exchange resulted in a draw. "Ah... it seems there’s still a gap between him and me. The Gale Nine Swords still requires more refinement!" One had to admit, Lin Tianhao truly lived up to Haoyang Sect’s cultivation of him as the next Sect Master. His strength was indeed astonishing! Although this move ended in a draw between them, in a true life-and-death struggle, Gu Sheng would undoubtedly lose! In this exchange, Gu Sheng had deliberately concealed the effects of the Blood Activation Skill while benefiting from the advantage of Sword Intent. Without transforming his Sword Intent into actual Sword Energy, he wouldn’t even have qualified to duel Lin Tianhao face-to-face.