Right now, under the strategic design of Aoto and his group, the arena has been divided into two battle zones—
Toshisuke, Kondo, Hijikata, and Inoue vs Chiba Daisaburo.
The Shiwei Hall group led by Aoto vs the Xuanwu Hall group led by Chiba Domon Shiro.
At this moment, Chiba Domon Shiro also saw through what the Shiwei Hall side was planning.
Just as Chiba Domon Shiro lowered his eyelids, contemplating how to deliver a powerful counterattack, his usually composed and quiet older brother rarely shouted at him:
“Shiro, you don’t need to worry about me.”
Chiba Daisaburo calmly surveyed the four surrounding him.
“I can handle this group on my own, no need to help me.”
The Xuanwu Hall swordsmen, who initially wanted to rush forward to assist their Hall Master, stopped in their tracks with astonishment after hearing Chiba Daisaburo’s shout.
“Although Shiwei Hall is in great momentum, the ones who actually pose a significant threat to us are just a few individuals.”
Saying this, Chiba Daisaburo changed his tone to one of heavy implication.
“Shiro, make good use of the advantages of our Xuanwu Hall.”
“Brother...”
Though Chiba Daisaburo’s words seemed cryptic, Chiba Domon Shiro immediately understood his brother’s intention.
His anxious expression faded significantly, and with a calm demeanor, he nodded earnestly towards Chiba Daisaburo from afar, then raised his head with resolve, shouting loudly:
“Did you all hear that? Do not disturb the Hall Master! Let him handle those few by himself!”
“Kikuchi! Senda! Rikugawa! Anfu! You four, come with me!”
“Everyone else, follow Kawashima’s lead!”
“Kawashima! Within two incense sticks’ time, I want to see fewer than seven Shiwei Hall participants remaining on the field!”
Though young, Chiba Domon Shiro already had the bearing of a leader.
Whether it was his quickness to compose himself and restore calm, or the commanding presence he exuded when issuing orders, it was clear that the Chiba family’s upbringing was excellent, with every member being exceptional.
Trusted and respected for his exceptional talent and strength by the Xuanwu Hall disciples, the young swordsman’s eyes shone with a fierce light. He charged toward Aoto with an air of intimidating authority!
Simultaneously, those named by Chiba Domon Shiro, like Kikuchi and Senda, also began to move.
They closely followed Chiba Domon Shiro, approaching Aoto from different directions!
In the blink of an eye, Aoto sensed a dangerous aura at his side.
“Waaahhhhhhh!”
A fierce shout shook the surrounding air.
The first to reach Aoto was Kikuchi, the booming-voiced School Principal of Xuanwu Hall.
His towering figure slammed forward, as Aoto prepared his sword to meet his advance.
Bamboo swords clashed in mid-air.
The two entangled in a breath-taking offensive and defensive showdown.
Aoto’s bamboo sword threatened Kikuchi’s lower body, forcing Kikuchi to evade.
Kikuchi’s bamboo sword stabbed at Aoto’s wrist, which Aoto blocked.
Their sword strikes were fierce, the repeated clashes of bamboo swords echoing sharply.
Before Aoto and Kikuchi could conclude their battle, two more suddenly intervened.
Before the match began, back during pre-match warm-ups at the “Main Array,” Inoue had briefed him about the famous figures from Xuanwu Hall.
Thus, Aoto recognized the two approaching faces—Senda Sennosuke and Rikugawa Fumisuke, both renowned as “powerhouses” among the Xuanwu Hall disciples.
The timing of their ambush was calculated perfectly, striking when Aoto’s attack was blocked by Kikuchi, and he had yet to retract his sword, in that moment between old force diminishing and new force yet to be exerted.
The sound of their sword swings slicing through the air suddenly grew.
Next, dark afterimages streaked across the air, two sword shadows simultaneously targeted Aoto from the left and right.
Fortunately, Aoto’s reactions were swift enough.
Just before the bamboo swords of Senda and Rikugawa landed on him, Aoto jumped up with great force, landing in an open space five steps away.
However, as soon as his feet touched the ground, Aoto felt something brushing towards him from behind.
An ominous, heavy aura... as if the air behind had become a viscous liquid, sending chills down his spine.
Without the time to look back, Aoto rolled forward in place, rolling until he was seven steps away before standing up.
In the first moment of standing upright again, Aoto concentrated to look at what ominous presence he had sensed—turns out it was Chiba Domon Shiro and one of the four people he had just named, Anfu.
These two wanted to attack Aoto from behind, but thanks to Aoto’s foresight, they missed their target.
Soon after, one scream after another and the sound of shattered porcelain bowls reached Aoto’s ears.
Crack—
“Ah! My porcelain bowl!”
Crack—
“Whoa!”
Crack—
“Damn it...”
Aoto’s eyes glanced sideways, catching sight of the source with his peripheral vision.
Kawashima Yasuzō—nicknamed “Ghost Hachizou,” a famous figure of Xuanwu Hall, slashed back and forth through the Shiwei Hall “army array” as if in an uninhabited land.

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