Clear Wind Sword

The two of them simply stared blankly at each other, and the scene fell silent for a moment.

After a long while, Li Qing let out a soft breath, temporarily setting aside the doubts in his heart. He then asked with interest, "By the way, why did you fall from the sky just now?"

Zhao Xuan's face reddened. After hesitating for a moment, he said awkwardly, "I was accidentally sent flying by a slap from the Titan Giant Ape."

Li Qing was speechless, but he felt even more puzzled. To withstand an attack from the Titan Giant Ape without a scratch, this youth truly was interesting.

After observing him closely earlier, he had noticed that Zhao Xuan's body seemed rather strange. It faintly gave off a natural feeling, as though it had been formed by heaven itself.

"Young man, are you interested in competing with me in strength?" Li Qing suddenly asked on a whim.

Zhao Xuan was somewhat tempted. This Title Douluo seemed quite approachable, and he happened to want to see how strong he had become. Having someone to compare himself against could not have been better. Besides, this man's Martial Soul was a sword, so Zhao Xuan might not necessarily lose to him in terms of strength.

"Please go easy on me, Senior." Zhao Xuan bowed respectfully.

"Of course, of course." Li Qing smiled warmly.

The two took their positions, standing more than twenty meters apart as they faced one another from afar.

"Senior, here I come." Zhao Xuan's eyes suddenly erupted with vigorous fighting spirit. He felt the blood throughout his body begin to boil. His opponent was a Title Douluo!

"Come."

Li Qing wore a smile, but his heart tightened. Faintly, he actually felt a trace of pressure.

If someone had told him in the past that a Soul Elder brat could make him feel pressured, he would have scoffed at the idea. Yet now, a living example stood right before him!

Bang!

Zhao Xuan stomped down, and the ground instantly shattered into a web-like pattern. At the same time, his body shot forward like a cannonball.

"Not good!" The smile on Li Qing's face instantly froze. Before his body could react, Zhao Xuan's kick had already struck him.

It felt as though a mountain had violently crashed into his chest, as if the blow had knocked his very soul from his body. Li Qing's scalp went numb, and his body instantly bent into a bow as he flew backward, plunging headfirst into the lake.

Splash!

The lake's surface was disturbed once again, and ripples spread in every direction.

Zhao Xuan stood there in a daze. Was he really this strong now? He had actually kicked a Title Douluo away with one kick.

Looking down, he saw faintly mysterious runes flickering across the surface of his skin, which shone with a jade-like luster.

Splash!

Li Qing leaped out of the lake and flashed over to land in front of Zhao Xuan.

He was drenched from head to toe. If he had not formed a protective barrier of Soul Power over his chest at the last possible moment, he would probably be lying on the ground right now.

Li Qing stared blankly at Zhao Xuan. "Tell me, are all the little brats outside as freakish as you are now?"

"N-No, I was born with great strength."

Seeing that Li Qing did not look too pleased, Zhao Xuan hurriedly answered. Although he had just kicked this Title Douluo away, Li Qing had not even used his Martial Soul yet. Zhao Xuan had no idea what to expect and feared that Li Qing might fly into a rage out of humiliation.

Hearing Zhao Xuan's answer, Li Qing let out a sigh of relief. However, his gaze toward Zhao Xuan became somewhat complicated, and there was even a trace of embarrassment on his face.

As a level ninety-two power-attack Title Douluo, he had once been a renowned figure across the Douluo Continent. Yet after living in seclusion in the Star Dou Great Forest for so many years, he had actually been kicked away by a Soul Elder.

My reputation in old age is ruined. Li Qing felt rather miserable.

"Senior, shall we continue?" Zhao Xuan raised his head to gauge Li Qing's expression, then carefully asked.

Li Qing took a deep breath. "Continue!"

If he did not regain some dignity, how could he continue making his way through the Douluo Continent in the future?

Zhao Xuan's eyes lit up. "Excuse me, then."

Bang!

Zhao Xuan charged at Li Qing again. There were no flashy movements; he simply threw a straight punch at Li Qing.

The punch was fierce enough to make ripples form in the surrounding air, accompanied by a sharp sonic boom.

Li Qing's gaze sharpened. Even though he had been extremely vigilant this time, he had almost failed to see Zhao Xuan's movements clearly.

Wind seemed to rise beneath his feet out of nowhere. Just as Zhao Xuan's fist approached, he barely dodged it, then struck Zhao Xuan's chest with a backhanded palm.

Bang!

The somewhat slender palm struck Zhao Xuan's chest, yet it sounded as though it had hit a bronze bell, producing a dull boom. Zhao Xuan did not feel a thing, but Li Qing's hand went numb.

"What kind of monster is this? This physical body is no weaker than that of a strength-type Beast Soul master who has just entered the Title Douluo realm, is it?"

Li Qing was both shocked and uncertain. Afraid of hurting Zhao Xuan, he had used only half his strength just now, yet this was the result. He was secretly relieved. If he had attacked with full force, Zhao Xuan's physical strength might have made him embarrass himself again.

"Kid, you really are a freak." As Zhao Xuan attacked again, Li Qing could not help saying this as he dodged.

Zhao Xuan put on a shy smile. "Everyone says so."

Li Qing's mouth twitched. He flashed aside from Zhao Xuan's flank, but Zhao Xuan's eyes sharpened. He spun around and drove an elbow into Li Qing's rear shoulder.

Li Qing staggered, feeling his entire rear shoulder go numb. He was becoming annoyed and suddenly felt rather foolish! Why was he, a Weapon Soul master, competing in strength against a brat whose physical body rivaled a Title Douluo's?

"Kid, I'm going to use my Martial Soul. Can you still handle it?" Li Qing's face flushed slightly. Being pushed into using his Martial Soul by a twelve-year-old boy was truly embarrassing.

Zhao Xuan considered it briefly. "I can!"

Li Qing steadied himself. The blue-gray longsword on his back suddenly let out a crisp sword cry. A flash of cold light appeared, and before anyone knew it, the sword was already in his hand.

Li Qing held the nameless longsword, his eyelids lowered slightly as his gaze fell upon the polished blade, smooth as a mirror.

The aura he gave off suddenly became sharp, as though countless blades were cutting across one's face.

"Clear Wind, Clear Wind... I never thought that I would have to take you out just to face a child." Li Qing's face was solemn as he spoke with a hint of melancholy.

Zhao Xuan coughed dryly. "Senior, I'm special."

Li Qing shot Zhao Xuan a glance. "Of course I know you're special. But no matter how special you are, you're still only twelve. If the outside world is full of little monsters like you now, I might as well buy a block of tofu and smash my head into it!"

The next moment, Li Qing's aura sank, and his First Soul Ring lit up.

"Sword Leaf!" With a soft chant, countless falling leaves around them rose and hovered in midair, their sharp tips pointed directly at Zhao Xuan.

Zhao Xuan swallowed hard. This scene was rather terrifying.

"Go!"

With a sweep of his longsword, a cold flash streaked past, and countless leaves shot toward Zhao Xuan with sharp whistles.

Zhao Xuan was about to use his phone's Third Soul Skill to evade when his expression suddenly changed. Countless tiny lightning snakes burst forth around his body.

The lightning snakes flashed with purple-gold light, forming a ring of purple Lightning Net within a one-meter radius around Zhao Xuan.

Crack! Crack!

The Sword Leaves flew in, but the instant they touched the Lightning Net, they suddenly exploded into sparks that fell to the ground. The countless Sword Leaves could not touch Zhao Xuan's body at all.

"Is this his Martial Soul?"

Li Qing stared suspiciously at the Lightning Net beside Zhao Xuan. Even he felt his heart tremble at the flickering purple divine lightning.

What he did not know was that Zhao Xuan was also astonished. He could actually use the purple divine lightning from his memories now? And he was using it smoothly, as naturally as moving his own arm.

"Again." Li Qing gave a warning as his Second Soul Ring lit up.

Suddenly, gusts of directionless breeze arose around them, making Zhao Xuan wary.

"This is my Second Soul Skill, Hidden Edge! Sword energy is concealed within the wind. Be careful."

Li Qing warned him again, then casually swung the Clear Wind Sword in his hand.

Within the range of his divine sense, a strand of sword energy merged into the wind and silently appeared behind Zhao Xuan.

Zhao Xuan's gaze narrowed. He whirled around and threw a punch, divine lightning appearing from nowhere and shredding the sword energy completely.

A look of surprise appeared on Li Qing's face as he slashed out two more strands of sword energy.

With the help of his divine sense, these seemingly traceless strands of sword energy stood out as clearly to Zhao Xuan as the moon in the night sky. After a few turns, each strand of sword energy shattered on impact.

After waiting a moment, Zhao Xuan did not see Li Qing attack again. He was stunned and turned to look at him.

Li Qing had already withdrawn his Martial Soul. The Clear Wind Sword was once again on his back, and his nine Soul Rings had faded away.

He slowly walked toward Zhao Xuan, his face full of dejection. "Zhao Xuan, am I really old?"

"Huh?" Zhao Xuan was baffled.

"I can't even handle a twelve-year-old boy anymore."

He had used two Soul Skills without causing Zhao Xuan the slightest harm, while getting hit twice himself. Li Qing felt rather forlorn and gave up on continuing the spar. If they kept going, he would truly have no shame left.

Zhao Xuan gave two awkward laughs but did not answer. However, he did not feel the slightest bit proud.

Leaving aside the fact that Li Qing had been holding back the entire time, using only two hundred-year Soul Skills and not even using those two Soul Skills at full strength, the damaged surroundings alone were enough to fill Zhao Xuan with admiration for him.

Li Qing's First Soul Skill, Sword Leaf, controlled countless leaves. Zhao Xuan had blocked only a small portion of them, while most had landed around them.

In Li Qing's hands, fragile leaves possessed immense power. Within a radius of more than ten meters, the trees and ground were covered in leaves. Some had sunk into ancient trees, while others had pierced into bluestone. Finger-length leaves had buried themselves completely, leaving only a short section exposed.

The shattered sword energy had scattered in every direction, pulverizing small stones, ravaging shrubs, and gouging out ancient trees. The area within more than ten meters was a complete mess, covered in broken branches and fallen leaves, without a blade of grass left standing.

And this was still the result of Li Qing not using his full strength!

"Looks like it's time for me to go outside and take a look. Otherwise, if more little monsters like you appear, I won't even know." Staring at Zhao Xuan with a sigh, Li Qing spoke softly.

"Little monsters?" Zhao Xuan's eyes lit up.

"I know where there are lots of little monsters, Senior!"