When Chiba Eijiro took the initiative to put down the sword in his hand, the "momentum" that was constantly squeezing Aomori from all directions like a huge wave suddenly dissipated.
Although he really wanted to have a few more rounds with Chiba Eijiro, Qingto still had to admit: Chiba Eijiro was right, he really didn't have the strength to swing the sword anymore.
There is no part of the body that is not sweating. The body hidden under the protective gear is dripping with sweat, and the whole person looks like it has just been fished out of the water.
Both arms and legs were so sore that it was extremely difficult just to lift the bamboo sword. The sore muscles made it difficult for Qingden to hold the bamboo sword steady in his hand, and the sword trembled slightly... I don't know. People, I thought that the swordsmanship practiced by Qingden was Beichen Yidao style.
Qingdeng has the talent of "strengthening muscles" that "muscles are not easily fatigued".
Even though he has such a talent, he still can't even hold the sword steady... One can imagine how intense the fight between Ayoto and Chiba Eijiro just now was, and how much physical energy was consumed.
After Eijiro Chiba said "Let's stop here" and put down the bamboo sword in his hand first, the tight strings in Aoto's mind suddenly relaxed.
Losing the support of his willpower, his steps suddenly became a little unsteady. Qingdeng staggered a few times, and then sat down on the ground in a very imageless manner.
Okita and others on the edge of the dojo rushed up in time with the water and sweat towels prepared early in the morning.
Okita came to Aoto and helped Aoto take off his armor, while Kondo went to help Chiba Eijiro take off his armor.
As soon as the mask on his head was taken off, streams of hot air immediately steamed out along the top of Qingdeng's head, as if the seal had been released.
Qingden's face was covered with sweat, and his cheeks were dark red due to the heat and fatigue. He looked like a freshly cooked crayfish.
On the other hand, Chiba Eijiro... From his current state, we can also see in disguise the huge strength gap between Qingto and him.
There was only a little sweat on Chiba Eijiro's face, his cheeks were only slightly red, and although his breathing was a little rapid, it was not messy.
"Drink some water quickly." Chiba Eijiro took the water handed to him by Kondo and half-jokingly smiled at Qingto, "The weather is getting hotter and hotter now. If you don't drink water in time, you will get sick. It’s so hot.”
Getting hot means heatstroke.
Summer seems to have come extremely early this year. It has just passed May, and Qingdeng is already missing the electric fans and air conditioners in his previous life.
Aomori took the bamboo water bottle from Okita and relaxed his body muscles while gulping down the water like a whale.
Although his body was very tired... the system sound that just flashed through his mind made Qingden's fatigue halved due to his emotional excitement.
Before the contest with Chiba Eijiro began, Aoto had greedily fantasized about whether he could copy the "eternal talent" from Chiba Eijiro?
A genius among geniuses like Eijiro Chiba...it is not impossible to have an "eternal talent".
However, it's a pity that Qingdeng's fantasy came to nothing from the system sound that just sounded in his mind.
But Qingdeng didn't feel too sorry.
After all, the "eternal talent" cannot be repeated and only a very few people may possess it. Its rarity is destined to determine whether you can meet the holder of the "eternal talent". It is a rare thing that can only be met by chance. things.
Qingdeng had been mentally prepared in advance.
Moreover, from the perspective of effectiveness, the "Gathering God" copied from Chiba Eijiro... might be more powerful than some of the "eternal talents" in this world. This point greatly diluted Qingdeng's little regret because his fantasy of "hoping to get a second 'eternal talent'" failed.
It is far easier to hit the spirit and concentration than ordinary people, and can maintain a state of "extremely high concentration" for a long time... Qingnobu finally understands why Chiba Eijiro can achieve so many dazzling achievements at such a young age. .
Regardless of Chiba Eijiro's talent in swordsmanship, it would be difficult to think of him as a talented person just with such a talent!
Anyone with a sane mind knows what it means to be able to concentrate more easily and be able to maintain high concentration for a long time.
Therefore, in his previous life, Qingdeng had seen countless unscrupulous businesses selling all kinds of messy so-called training courses and practice methods under the guise of "helping children improve their concentration."
Qingdeng was complacent about having acquired a new powerful talent, with a faint look of joy on his brows.
Now that he has obtained the "Gathering of Gods", there is no doubt that Qingdeng will be able to learn more quickly whether he is studying essays or practicing martial arts in the future, and he will also be able to develop stronger combat effectiveness when fighting with others!
And, it’s a coincidence.
A few days ago, Qingto obtained the eternal talent that has activation conditions linked to his mental concentration: "Wuwang Hachiman". Today, he obtained the "Gathering God" that can improve his mental concentration.
It was such a coincidence and good luck that Qingdeng couldn't help but want to pinch his cheeks to see if he was dreaming.
In the introduction of the system, it is clearly mentioned that one of the conditions for activating the "Wuwang Hachiman" is to unite the mind and body.
Unity of mind and heart...isn't this another synonym for "concentration"?
Talents and talents can cooperate with each other and play a complementary role.
For example, "strengthening muscles" can complement "leading the way", giving Qingden the ability to run at high speeds for a long time.
Therefore, Qingden believes that "Gathering Gods" can also cooperate with his "Wuwang Hachiman"!
The more Qingden thought about it, the more he realized what an incredible new talent he had received. The smile at the corner of his mouth and the smile on his eyebrows became stronger.
At this moment, Chiba Eijiro suddenly came over:
"Tachibana-kun, the sword you hit me at the last moment... was very good." Chiba Eijiro, who wiped the sweat off his face with the sweat towel handed by Kondo, cast his soft gaze back to Qing. On Den's body, "Both the angle and timing of drawing the sword are perfect."
Chiba Eijiro raised his finger and pointed at his ears.
"If I'm not wrong...you just relied on the sound to determine the direction of my attack, right?"
"...Yeah." Qingdeng didn't hide anything, he nodded almost without thinking.
Seeing Qingden nodding, Okita and the others around him all showed expressions of "It's true."
"How could you think of giving up your eyes and relying only on your ears to deal with my slashes?" Chiba Eijiro put the bamboo sword in his hand on the ground and cast a curious look at Aoden.
Okita and others, along with Chiba Eijiro, focused their attention on Qingto.
Facing the attention of everyone focused on him, Qingdeng took a deep breath, and then explained in a leisurely manner:
"Chiba-kun, your speed is too fast."
"My eyes can barely keep up with your speed, but my body can't keep up."
"At the beginning, I kept thinking about seeing your movements more clearly and letting my body keep up with my eyes."
"It wasn't until just now that I suddenly realized: The reason why my body has never been able to keep up with your speed is partly due to my insistence on seeing and capturing your movements clearly with my eyes."
"The eyes are the most important organ for people to perceive the outside world."
"While helping people see the world clearly...the eyes also tend to bring too many 'distracting thoughts' to people because they see too many things, slowing down the thinking speed of the brain and the reaction speed of the body."
"So I thought: my eyes are useless anyway, so I might as well stop using them."
"Close your eyes, actively close the vision in the five senses, abandon all kinds of 'distractions' brought by the eyes, put your whole body and mind on your ears, and only use your hearing to feel the wind blowing by your bamboo knife. "
"In this way, my body's reaction speed may be able to keep up with your movement speed."
Qingden paused, then smiled bitterly:
"But it turns out - this is easier said than done."
"After being stabbed by you more than a dozen times, I only successfully defended and counterattacked your attack once."
One of the reasons why Aoto dared to deal with Eijiro Chiba's slashes by relying only on his hearing was that he had recently received the gift of enhanced hearing: the "Perceiver of Wind".
Without the support of this talent, Qingdeng might not have dared to use such a bold strategy in the battle just now.
After listening to Qingdeng's explanation, everyone around them showed completely different expressions.
Kondo, Nagakura, Saito, and Harada looked surprised and thoughtful.
Only Chiba Eijiro, Shusuke, and Okita looked as usual...the three of them seemed to have expected the reason why Aoto made such a bold move like closing his eyes in the previous contest.
Chiba Eijiro nodded slightly, with a smile on his lips: "Although I only succeeded in blocking and counterattacking one of my moves, I succeeded at least."
Chiba Eijiro lowered his gaze and glanced at the area where he was struck by the sword just now.
"Are you willing to give up your eyes? Although it is a bit too bold, depending on the situation, in certain situations, it may actually be a way to defeat the enemy by surprise."
"Tachibana-kun, you are much better than I expected."
"Be able to boldly formulate and change tactics according to different situations during battle."
"This is a very rare talent."
Chiba Eijiro's sudden and very direct compliment made Qingto couldn't help but be stunned.
Qingdeng, who was not very used to hearing others praise him so directly, felt flattered and humbly replied, "Thank you for the compliment" and "I don't dare to accept it."
"It's a pity." Chiba Eijiro turned his right wrist, raised the bamboo sword that was leaning on the floor, put the bamboo sword on his shoulder, grabbed his hair with his left hand, and a flash of shock flashed in his eyes. , "Until the end, I didn't see your 'power'."
"But... that's okay."
Chiba Eijiro paused for a moment, then lowered his gaze, looked at Aoto opposite with a smile, moved his lips, and murmured in a voice that only he could hear clearly:
"Although I didn't see the 'potential', I still gained a lot..."
"Mr. Chiba!"
Suddenly, a loud shout echoed in the air of the dojo.
It was Nagakura's voice.
Nagakura's strong body like an iron tower shook, and in a blink of an eye he quickly stood in front of Chiba Eijiro.
Before Chiba Eijiro could ask why, Nagakura said in a respectful voice:
"Mr. Chiba, I...ah, no, can I kindly ask you to teach me?"
"Oh?" Chiba Eijiro raised his eyebrows, "You want to compete with me?"
Nagakura's pupils were burning with fiery light - just like Qingto's just now.
"I have heard of your name before I left my hometown, and I have been fascinated by your power for a long time!"
"I really want to experience for myself how far I am from a real strong person!"
"It's enough to compete with me!"
"I hope you can make it happen!"
After saying that, Nagakura bent his waist and bowed respectfully to Eijiro Chiba at a 90-degree angle.
Nagakura's sudden invitation to compete made Qingto and others stunned.
He is outspoken, speaks out when he has something to say, and acts vigorously and resolutely... very much like Nagakura's stupid personality.
Perhaps the warrior soul in his heart was ignited after seeing the fierce battle between Aoto and Eijiro Chiba just now. "I really want to compete with Eijiro Chiba" written all over Nagakura's face.
Chiba Eijiro raised his gaze, looked at Nagakura Shinpachi, who was a head taller than him, and smiled slightly:
"Nice look."
Chiba Eijiro put down the bamboo sword on his shoulder.
"Okay, let's have a test with you."
Nagakura's cheeks were filled with visible ecstasy: "I can't thank you enough!"
At this time, a baritone voice that seemed to have no emotional content suddenly sounded.
This baritone voice seemed to have some magical power, causing Qingdeng and others' expressions to change slightly.
"...Mr. Chiba, can you please compete with me?"
The owner of this baritone voice... Saito, looked at Chiba Eijiro with blazing eyes.
"I also want to experience for myself how much I am lacking compared to the strongest swordsman in Edo."
"Mr. Chiba, please make it happen."
Saito remained expressionless as always.
But in his pupils, there was a vague fighting spirit like flames.
Qingto and others... were now looking at Saito in astonishment.
The reason why they are like this is not because Saito also begged Chiba Eijiro for advice after Nagakura, nor is it because Saito's eyes are flashing with fighting intent.
"Saito." Harada opened his eyes wide and opened his mouth. He looked at Saito blankly. His expression seemed to be seeing some incredible sight. "How can you say so many words in one breath?" ?"
Qingto was the one who had the longest relationship with Saito among everyone present - he was also shocked that Saito said so many words in one breath.
Saito, when was the last time he said so many words in one breath?
Rather...Has Saito ever said so many words in one breath before?
Facing Harada's doubts, Saito glanced at him lightly: "I have a tongue. Of course I can say so many words in one breath."
What a short but convincing reply... Harada, who was having trouble with his brain, showed an expression of "Ah, it's true."
Saito said seriously, "I have a tongue"... For some reason, it gave Aonto and the others a strange sense of absurdity.
Chiba Eijiro, who didn't understand Saito's taciturn character and didn't quite understand why Aoto and others reacted so much to Saito's opening speech, generously shared his soft smile with Saito.
"You also want to compete with me...that's okay."
"Then line up and take your time one by one."
After saying that, Chiba Eijiro put the mask back on his head that he had just taken off.
…
…
The position has been reversed.
Aoto, who had just stood on the stage to compete with Eijiro Chiba, was now sitting on the edge of the dojo watching the battle.
Nagakura and others, who had just been sitting on the edge of the dojo to watch the fight, stood on the dojo to compete with Chiba Eijiro.
Nagakura, who was the first to play, took the initiative at the beginning of the game and launched a fierce attack on Eijiro Chiba.
Nagakura has a strong body and uses the Shinto Muken-ryu style that focuses on overpowering the opponent's momentum and strength. At the same time, due to his personal personality, he particularly likes frontal attacks. Nagakura is currently the person with the highest attack power in the entire trial defense hall. .
Qingto has always felt that weapons such as axes and mallets may be more suitable for "power swordsmen" like Nagakura, who have full attack power and a very violent fighting style.
However, no matter how high the power is, it is useless if it cannot hit the opponent.
No matter how hard Nagakura swung his sword, until he voluntarily surrendered due to exhaustion, his bamboo sword did not touch Chiba Eijiro at all.
Saito comes up second. He is the opposite of Nagakura, but the same type of "speed and skill swordsman" as Eijiro Chiba.
Because he practices Mudai, a school that focuses on how to kill people efficiently, Saito's fighting style is to "slaughter the enemy's vital points in the fastest and least labor-intensive way."
Therefore, the contest between Saito and Eijiro Chiba presented a battle of speed to Ayoto and others.
The bodies of the two people left a series of afterimages in the dojo. They came and went, and the shadows of their swords flashed rapidly.
However... even though it seemed like he was fighting fiercely with Eijiro Chiba, the result of the battle was almost the same as that of Ayoto and Nagakura - he was suppressed severely, and until the end of the contest, his sword did not touch it. Chiba Eijiro.
After Saito, Harada, who was itching to watch the battle, raised his wooden gun and expressed that he also wanted to ask Chiba Eijiro for advice. Chiba Eijiro, not knowing whether it was in a good mood or for some other reason, generously agreed.
Against the King of Hundred Weapons, whose attack range is several times wider than that of a sword, Eijiro Chiba still displayed his king-like strength.
Harada's attack and defense range were nothing to Eijiro Chiba.
Chiba Eijiro could rush in front of Harada casually, and Harada's spear could not stop Chiba Eijiro.
Ever since - Harada also followed in the footsteps of Nagakura and the others, without even touching Chiba Eijiro.
After Harada was defeated, everyone except Shusuke, Kondo and Okita had stepped forward to compete with Chiba Eijiro. Judging from the final result... it was Aoto who had the best result - at least Aoto Noboru relied on "identifying the position by listening to the sound" and successfully hit Chiba Eijiro, but Nagakura and others could not even touch Chiba Eijiro...
After continuous fierce battles with the four of them, Aonto, Nagakura, Saito, and Harada, Chiba Eijiro finally showed obvious fatigue.
He took off his mask, a lot of sweat dripped from his face, and it was difficult to keep his breathing steady.
"Okay, I don't have the energy to fight anymore, so let's end the competition here."
Chiba Eijiro turned his head and said half-jokingly to Shusuke, Kondo, and Okita who had not competed with him just now:
"Don't tell me that you want to compete with me."
Kondo shrugged and chuckled with a hint of helplessness: "We won't fight you."
"After all, we have known how big the gap is between us and you a long time ago..."
Nagakura and the others, who had just been defeated at the hands of Chiba Eijiro in turn, now looked at Chiba Eijiro with a kind of awe.
He took turns fighting them and suppressed them throughout the whole process until they were unable to fight back... Such strength is incredible!
At this time, Qingto could not help but look at Chiba Eijiro with admiration.
With different perspectives, the world you see will be different.
Sitting on the edge of the dojo, watching the battle between Chiba Eijiro and Nagakura and others, after changing the perspective from "presenter" to "spectator", Aoden saw many things he had just competed with Chiba Eijiro. Various phenomena that were not noticed.
For example: after switching the perspective to the perspective of a "bystander", Aoto clearly discovered how perfect Chiba Eijiro's grasp of distance was.
Whether it's offense or defense, Chiba Eijiro's distance control is just right.
When attacking, you can step into the position where your bamboo sword can effectively hit your opponent.
When dodging, he can perfectly dodge the opponent's attack with no more or less displacement distance.
Just knowing the distance between them and their opponents is enough for Qingdeng and the others to figure out and study for a long time...
Qingdeng said silently in his heart:
——The strongest swordsman in Edo...this title is really not unearned...
"Hiss... What a complete defeat."
At this time, Harada's voice sounded.
Harada, who had just been defeated and was still standing opposite Eijiro Chiba, sighed with admiration and raised his hand to take off the mask on his head.
As soon as he took off the mask, Harada showed his iconic silly smile to Eijiro Chiba.
"Although before the fight started, I expected that I would definitely lose."
"But I didn't expect that I would be defeated so completely. My gun couldn't even touch you."
Having said this, Harada laughed freely and freely.
"He is indeed the strongest swordsman in Edo, hahaha. I don't know if I can reach your current state in my lifetime."
Looking at Harada who suddenly lamented his strength, Chiba Eijiro raised his eyebrows and a wry smile slowly appeared on his cheeks:
"Thank you for your compliment."
Chiba Eijiro paused for a moment, then sighed with helplessness on his face.
"Let me... let me correct you - I can't bear the title 'The Strongest in Edo'."
"The so-called 'Edo's Strongest Swordsman' is just the product of rumors spread by evildoers."
"I never thought that my current strength has reached a level where I can be called 'The Strongest in Edo'."
The look of helplessness on Chiba Eijiro's face became even stronger at this time.
"'There are people outside the world, and there is heaven outside the sky' is an unchanging truth in the world."
"As the largest city in the country, Edo has crouching tigers, hidden dragons, and there have always been countless masters living in seclusion here."
"Don't mention anything else."
"If the legendary 'Ship-Slaying Swordsman' Kuro Mamiya is living in seclusion in Edo as the rumors say...then the title of 'The Strongest in Edo' will never be mine."
"...Ship-killing Swordsman?" Suddenly hearing a strange title and a strange name, Aoto couldn't help but be startled and asked Chiba Eijiro.
Chiba Eijiro said calmly:
"That's literally what it means."
"According to legend, this swordsman once rowed a small boat alone at night, sneaked under the hull of a certain Western ironclad, and then cut off the outer shell armor of the Western ironclad with a sword."
*******
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While writing this chapter, I suddenly thought - when was the last time I wrote about Saito speaking...?
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
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