"You won't be able to hurt Jingyun." Jian Chen drew his sword, and his body shone brightly.
"You're all wrong," Jian Tan said in a deep voice. "What I want to create is a sword even greater than [Peerless]. The prerequisite is that Bu Jingyun becomes the master of [Peerless]."
"There will never be a sword greater than the Peerless Sword!" Zhong Mei roared, no longer able to maintain his composure from beginning to end.
He could accept Jian Tan absorbing the Peerless True Essence through Defeat, because the Peerless True Essence was the true essence, the culmination of three generations of the Zhong family's efforts.
Every sword in the Sword Pool is the shell of a peerless sword, and all of them have the potential to become peerless swords.
To him, the soulless sword [Defeat] was nothing more than another empty shell.
But what's truly greater is the destruction of the "Peerless"!
"You want to be my enemy?" Xiongba's eyes narrowed slightly, a cold glint flashing between them.
Jian Tan ignored Xiongba, "Go, Bu Jingyun, take down [Peerless], it's waiting for you."
"Yes, protect Chu Chu for me." Bu Jingyun did not hesitate at all, even if he might become a sacrifice to that greater sword.
Step calmly into the fire, letting it scorch your body.
He has lived most of his life in darkness and suffering!
He couldn't even muster five things in his life that would make him happy enough.
Darkness and pain were his destiny!
The Grim Reaper who doesn't cry is more like darkness than darkness itself!
He was willing to give anything to gain the power to defeat Xiongba and take revenge.
Moreover, the flames were not as painful as when Kong Ci died in front of him.
The "Kirin Arm" and the obstacle in this body— the Sanjiao Xuan Guan that had never been opened—seemed to become unobstructed amidst this pain.
Known as the Fire Demon, the blood of the Fire Kirin, the mount of Emperor Yan, began to circulate within this body, which was not mortal to begin with.
Conversely, the unpredictable force, which is the opposite of this, causes the pervasive cloud formations to increase dramatically!
A hundred miles away, standing atop a tall tree, Nie Feng, sword in hand, unsure of where to go, inexplicably looked in one direction and then instantly transformed into the wind.
In terms of Lightness Skill, Nie Feng's Lightness Skill was already faster and more superb than Xiongba's.
The first move of the [Wind God Leg], [Catching Wind and Shadow and Shadows], has already been innovated and improved to a level that even Xiongba could hardly imagine.
Moreover, as he moved toward that unknown direction, the [Divine Wind Force] within him became increasingly agile and ethereal.
Before the whoosh could reach the front, Nie Feng had already rushed forward faster than the sound of his movements.
"Where did this strong wind come from?"
On the roadside, a constable, renowned for his keen eyesight and observation skills, who had apprehended dozens of thieves within a ten-mile radius and was known for his Lightness Skill agility, frowned, but he saw nothing.
"Where did this madman come from!" Ao Tian exclaimed in shock. "He actually withstood the subterranean fire of my Baijian Villa with his own flesh and blood!"
"Only with a discerning eye can a thoroughbred horse Bu Jingyun is the discerning eye of the 'Peerless' one." Zhong Mei, who should have been full of opinions about Bu Jingyun because of Jian Tan, was now like a father-in-law who had seen a satisfactory son-in-law.
His judgment was not wrong.
Before Bu Jingyun even reached the giant sword, the orange-yellow, magma-like sword-shaped true essence couldn't wait to detach from the sword and shrink before flying into his hand.
The sword and the man now seemed to have become one.
Bu Jingyun also Winky brightly, like a human form formed from magma.
For the first time, he encountered a sword that understood him so well; his pain, his hatred, and the darkness in his heart all seemed to find a place to reside.
This was the first time the sword had encountered someone who understood it so well. That restrained, deeply hidden heat was the only thing in the world that could sharpen it.
A discussion on swordsmanship.
Bu Jingyun had only come into contact with three sects.
Only the Huo Family Swordplay and the Holy Spirit Sword Technique are complete, along with the move "Unspeakable Sorrow".
He is indeed very talented with the sword.
I just came across the [Holy Spirit Sword Technique] and got started, progressing from [Sword One] to [Sword Eight].
And now, it's as if he has grasped the very essence of the sword!
At this moment, he is the sword!
The endless cycle of three and six, and the infinite [Sword 18], were instantly and thoroughly understood by him.
But he did not continue with [Sword 19] and even [Sword 22]. As a sword, he had already sensed the disharmony, the disharmony between one to eighteen being sentimental and nineteen to twenty-two being ruthless.
All his inspiration was poured into that move, "Unspeakable Sorrow." The final move of the "Cloud Dispelling Palm," which he had stolen from Xiongba, "Gloomy Clouds," also inexplicably surged into his mind. The two created a strange chemical reaction.
The sorrowful clouds transformed into a sheath, containing the scorching sword.
The sword's sharpness was concealed, as if it had transformed into clouds.
"Sword - Flowing Clouds!"
Bu Jingyun drew his sword!
But apart from Amber and Die Wu, no one present saw his sword!
He and his sword were both engulfed in the rolling leaden clouds, every inch of which concealed the sword's sharpness and the scorching heat of the earth's fiery energy!
"You're courting death! Three Points Return to Origin Qi!" After realizing that Jian Tan was no longer pointing his sword at him, Xiongba immediately mobilized his vast true qi and blasted it towards Nong Yun!
He didn't need to search for the sword or the person; he had enough inexhaustible true energy to treat this entire thick cloud as an enemy.
This attack had no particular technique; it was simply a matter of condensing energy into a ball and launching it, yet it was still considered invincible!
Because this energy is his strongest point, the culmination of all his moves and divine intent!
Even this sword technique, which should have been created after Xiongba's departure, could only be avoided.
The "Peerless" Absorption Technique can only shed its surface layer when transforming Qi.
The resulting thick clouds dissipated the moment the three-part balloon burst, creating numerous and incredibly powerful fragmented impacts resembling stars, forcing Duan Lang Jian Chen were watching from the sidelines, to draw their swords to defend themselves.
The sword's true essence was blasted away, falling into the body it had chosen, and then it landed in front of its master.
Although Bu Jingyun was unharmed and even his power increased, he had lost the essence of the sword, leaving only the newly born and unsharpened [Peerless].
"Bu Jingyun, the peak of your [Peerless] brilliance has passed. You can no longer perfectly reproduce that move, while my Three Points Return to Origin Qi can still be reproduced dozens of times." Xiongba laughed loudly, "Without wind, your fate as a cloud is only defeat and death!"
"The Three Points Return to Origin Qi!"
The three-part balloon, gathering wind, frost, and clouds, reappeared in his palm. Bu Jingyun softly, drew his sword, and the billowing, dense energy enveloped it once more.
At the critical moment.
"The Arrogant Cold Six Forms!"
Nie Feng arrived, and his strike was domineering and chilling, making the sword pool, which was like the heat of summer, seem like the heat of winter.
Combined with his movement, this strike was as unpredictable as a gazelle leaping up its horns.
But its rival is Xiongba.
The immense true energy automatically condensed at the point of impact, at the cost of the three-eighths spherical balloon in his hand shrinking back into his body.
"What a Startling Cold Glance '!" Xiongba flashed and changed position. "What a masterful Nie Feng!"
Nie Feng appeared amidst the raging wind, and it was hard to believe that such a domineering and awe-inspiring strike came from such an elegant and refined man, as gentle as a spring breeze.
Even Xiongba, who was wary of him and whose mind was completely occupied by the evil Duan Lang, subconsciously showed him a kind face, because if it weren't for the Prophecy and the tricks of fate, they should still be harmonious master and disciple, the best of friends.
Not to mention Bu Jingyun, "Junior Brother Feng."
Duan Lang noticed Bu Jingyun's expression and gave a soft hum for no apparent reason. He only stopped caring when Nie Feng subconsciously called him "Lang" first.
"Senior Brother Yun. Xiongba." Nie Feng then looked at the other two people he cared about.
"Very good." Jian Tan suddenly laughed, "Finally, we have it all: Wind and Cloud, the combination of White Dew and Black Cold! Now, all that's missing is a sacrifice."
"Me?" Xiongba noticed Jian Tan's gaze. He looked like a tiger whose tail had been stepped on. "I am also a so-called sacrifice. Just Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun? Nie Renwang, who wielded the Snow Drinking Mad Saber, and the peerless warrior at the height of his power, were both defeated by me!"
"Are you kidding me?!"
Xiongba were clearly an attempt to cover up the truth, which greatly surprised everyone.
"Are you afraid?" Duan Lang raised an eyebrow. "You're actually afraid? You're afraid of someone as invincible as Wuming after the Sword Saint's death? Afraid of Bu Jingyun, who is not as good as me!"
At this point, he could no longer contain his anger.
[Fire Kirin] seemed to sense his anger as well.
Drawing in the heat from the earth, it formed the image of a four-legged Qilin treading on fire behind it!
"[Fire Kirin Devours Sun]!"
Duan Lang his Sword: One, unleashing a dense sword net that blotted out the sky, like dark clouds covering the ground, completely blocking out the light. The [Fire Kirin] behind him seemed to materialize, rushing forward along with the sword net.
The sword net continued to shrink, moving towards Xiongba.
Xiongba was now as if he were in darkness, feeling a burning, sharp sensation along with the incessant roars of beasts.
Faced with this move that not only sealed the enemy's body but also blocked their light and hope of survival, Xiongba remained unmoved, calmly unfolding his protective aura.
Both the Sword Net and the Fire Kirin were defeated before this thin protective aura.
"Not bad! No wonder you were once my stable boy." Xiongba commented calmly.
"You—!" Duan Lang said, then darted towards the cave entrance and disappeared into the cave, leaving behind a distant cry, "Nie Feng, you should run too!"
At the 'bar', judging from the sound, it had already left the range of [Baijian Villa], and it was only through Internal Energy that it could be transmitted so clearly.
"They escaped really fast." Xiongba raised an eyebrow.
"I suggest you escape too, but it's too late," Jian Tan said gloatingly.
"What?" With Xiongba's current level of power, his senses have transcended the limitations of the physical body. Even the slightest details, such as Bu Jingyun and Nie Feng blinking and their heartbeats accelerating, are clearly monitored by his senses.
But his intuition told him that the sense of crisis came from the two of them.
"The Three Points Return to Origin Qi!"
This time, he unleashed his full power.
Sure enough, without any warning, the Killing Intent.
Bu Jingyun and Nie Feng then unleashed a decisive blow at him.
"Sword - Flowing Clouds!"
"Ice three feet thick!"
Swords clashed, wind and clouds intertwined, ice and fire merged; the two were clearly in different locations, yet their auras flowed as if they were one.
For a moment, Xiongba's protective aura seemed to collapse, as if he were fighting against the entire world.
He could only rely on his almost inexhaustible internal energy to forcibly sustain himself.
The peerless body, refined over many years within the sword pool, shattered into fragments.
The dome of the entire cave shattered, letting in sunlight.
The Sword Demon, that sycophant, exerted all his strength, even vomiting blood, to finally send Madam Ao and Ao Tian out of the cave.
Zhong Mei and Wen Nu were saved only because they were behind Jian Tan.
Having snatched Chu Chu from Jian Tan's grasp, Jian Chen, who already possessed three-tenths of the prowess of the War God of the Broken Temple, was panting heavily.
At the center of the two tornadoes that caused all this, Xiongba remained calm and energetic, though a trace of blood oozed from the corner of his mouth.
"Disharmony".
"Nie Feng's sword did not utilize the [Divine Wind Force], and the sword energy and force were not unified, resulting in disharmony."
Amber and Die Wu finally appeared.
There is no distinction between internal and external martial arts in this world. Practicing swordsmanship is practicing qi. Skillful moves will generate unique internal qi, and superb moves can even draw upon the power of heaven and earth.
There are internal energy cultivation methods, but internal energy cultivation is used by those who lack natural talent to catch up with and surpass those who are geniuses in external martial arts.
Bu Jingyun has already integrated his martial arts into one, and the four elements within his body, namely [Void Cloud Force], [Holy Spirit Sword Qi], [Unexplained Sword Qi], and [Huo Family Sword Qi], have been combined into one, with cloud as the main element.
However, Nie Feng's [Divine Wind Force] remain clearly distinct.
Bu Jingyun has become version 2.0, possessing the [Cloud Eleventh Form].
Nie Feng was only at version 1.0. It was one thing that he didn't know how to use the "Creation Blade," but in the later stages, the prerequisite skills for the "Demon Heart Crossing" skill, "Demon Eye" and "Demon Blade," which allowed him to take off and catch up with the God of War Bu Jingyun, were not leveled up.
Only with a significant increase in mastery of the "Wind God Leg" technique, it has acquired a hint of the "Divine Wind Movement" technique.
As for the fact that there is no discord between the "Peerless" which was made with only a portion of "Black Cold" and the "Snow Drink" which was made with the complete "White Dew", it is because the "Darkness" that has been absorbing earth fire has become stronger than the "White Dew" that has been released over the years.
This cleverly achieves a balance between the two.
"Will this affect the birth of the Tribulation-Breaking Sword?" Jian Tan looked worried. Although he had no chance of obtaining the sword, he wanted to witness its birth with his own eyes.
Amber and Die Wu shook their heads.
"Won't."
"With the help of his own Wind Destiny and Bu Jingyun's Cloud Destiny, Nie Feng's swordsmanship is improving rapidly."
"That is no longer the [Arrogant Cold Six Forms]."
"It should be called [Knife Tears Through the Wind]."
As if they had heard the conversation between the two, Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun simultaneously changed their moves, matching and enhancing their opponent's attacks, and roared together, "Die!" "Xiongba!"
Ten miles away, standing on high Duan Lang overlooking the Broken Waves where the Sword Pool is located, one suddenly sees the intertwining of sword shadows and blade light that almost occupy the entire sky.
"Is that the power that even Xiongba feared?"
Duan Lang, who had always firmly believed that he was better than Bu Jingyun, began to have some doubts about himself for a time.
Inside the ruins of Sword Pool.
"You--"
Ba Jue's figure remained standing, even though his body had been pierced through by Sword: One.
Xiongba's gaze fell upon Jian Tan and the two beautiful figures behind him. In the last moment before he closed his eyes, he squeezed out a curse, "You will all die, die at the Sword Festival!"
As soon as he finished speaking, everything went black for a moment. In his mind, the images of his two children, Long Teng and You Ruo, flashed through his mind. He began to feel a little regretful for not asking Nie Feng, who might survive the Sword Festival, to take care of You Ruo.
"Right now."
"You are also one of the sacrifices."
As these two voices rang out, Xiongba realized that the last breath he had swallowed had been exhaled.