A Formidable Foe: Sword Intent vs. Sword Intent

P. S.: The shop's internet cable went down, so I can only update when I get home tonight. I called the telecom technician today, but he hasn't come yet. Sigh. I'll spend a little more time rushing to finish one chapter and try to update before 9 PM.

"Let's leave first..." Zhuge Xiang and Niu Geng, carrying the unconscious guard and the crazed Li Family's Sixth Young Master respectively, joined Mo Wuyan and the others. Before they could speak, they hurriedly whispered.

"Alright," knowing that it was not advisable to stay at the Li Family for long, Mo Wuyan and the others nodded emphatically and followed Zhuge Xiang, quietly slipping out of the Li Family.

"Who dares to challenge me? Stay here!" However, just as Zhuge Xiang and the others leaped over the Li Family's wall, a sudden shout rang out. Along with the shout, an extremely sharp sound of wind breaking came from behind, and sharp Sword Qi attacked from behind, making Zhuge Xiang and the others feel their hair stand on end.

"Stop being so arrogant!" Zhuge Xiang was carrying a unconscious guard on his back, Zhang Kuang difficult for him to move. Zhang Kuang immediately stood in front of Zhuge Xiang, brandishing his Blood Python Spear. The Spear Intent emerged, and he launched a Horse-Turning Spear, thrusting straight at the Sword Qi.

The Sword Qi collided with the Blood Python Spear, exploding outwards. However, the immense force sent Zhang Kuang flying. His feet landed firmly on the ground, the Blood Python Spear even embedded in the earth. Even so, Zhang Kuang's body flew back more than ten meters, leaving a long trail on the ground. His face turned pale, and a few drops of bright red blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.

"What!? Zhang Kuang wasn't even a match for this opponent in a single move!?" Upon seeing this, Mo Wuyan and the others' expressions changed drastically. They had a deep understanding of Zhang Kuang's strength. Even Zhang Kuang was forced back by a single Sword Qi aura from the opponent, which showed just how powerful the expert who had chased after them from the Li Family was.

"Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers..." Niu Geng reacted quickly. Seeing Zhang Kuang being blasted away, his hands, as black as ink, trembled violently. His hand speed was so fast that only afterimages could be barely seen. Willow Leaf Flying Knife throwing knives, darts, hidden arrows, and Heart-Piercing Nail —all sorts of Hidden Weapons shot out from Niu Geng's hands.

Some of these Hidden Weapons traveled in straight lines, some in arcs, and some even changed direction on their own after colliding in Hidden Weapons -air. However, their target was obvious. Like a large net, they enveloped Zhang Kuang and Zhuge Xiang from behind, like a dark, oppressive cloud.

"A mere trick! Spiral Sword Qi!" Facing the net formed by Niu Geng's Poison Tempering Hidden Weapons, the Mysterious Expert behind him merely sneered. Immediately, another Sword Qi shot out. Unlike the sharpness of the previous Sword Qi, this Sword Qi actually carried a rotating force. The dark net of hidden Hidden Weapons in the air seemed to be under some inexplicable pull, spinning and then, accompanied by a spiraling Sword Qi, flying backwards towards Zhuge Xiang and the others.

The sheer number of hidden Hidden Weapons was enough to make one's scalp tingle. This kind of all-encompassing area attack was not so easy to block. Moreover, with the added effect of the opponent's Spiral Sword Qi, the power of these Hidden Weapons was even greater than that of the weapons that Niu Geng had launched.

Ding-dong...

Qin Qing was no mere decoration. She activated her complete Treasure Artifact, the Weeping Blood Demonic Zither, unleashing powerful sound waves. Although the fierce Spiral Sword Qi was difficult to withstand and was only weakened, this area-of-effect sound wave technique was still very effective in blocking the rain of Hidden Weapons.

"Asura Strike!" The Blood Python Spear was activated, and with a Zhang Kuang thrust, the Spiral Sword Qi, weakened by the sonic waves of the Weeping Blood Demonic Zither, was finally shattered.

At the same time, a figure transformed into Sword Light, blocking the path of Zhuge Xiang and his companions, causing them to immediately stop and cautiously observe the other party.

A man dressed in a long blue robe, holding Four-Foot Green Edge sword, stood tall and straight like a drawn sword, blocking Zhuge Xiang and the others. Judging from his appearance, he was only about thirty years old, but no aura could be felt from him. Even when he launched his attack, no one could sense it. This man was clearly Cultivator in the Reversal of the Return to Simplicity Realm, and a very high level of it at that.

"You petty scoundrels, behead them!" Blocking Zhuge Xiang and his group's path, the Green-Robed Man didn't waste any words. With a slight step, he moved like Sword Light, his figure seemingly able to cleave the air itself.

"You guys go! I'll hold him off for a bit!" Blocked outside the Li Family compound, Zhuge Xiang knew that if a fight broke out, more and more of the Li Family's experts would inevitably join the battle, so he dared not linger. He tossed his stunned guard onto Mo Wuyan beside him and said.

"Okay..." Understanding Zhuge Xiang's meaning, Niu Geng, Su Huayu, Zi Xiang, and Mo Wuyan nodded in unison and quickly left.

"You two should leave too!" Zhuge Xiang said urgently, seeing that Zhang Kuang and Qin Qing had stayed behind. He sensed a strong sense of danger from the Green-Robed Man. As he spoke, Zhuge Xiang Blade of Blockade, blocking the Green-Robed Man's Sword Slash.

"No! I can help you," Qin Qing shook her head firmly and began to play the Weeping Blood Demonic Zither. She poured her Qi Energy into it, unleashing the power of the Weeping Blood Demonic Zither, and used sound waves to entwine around the Green-Robed Man.

"Hehe, running away from the enemy isn't my style. Besides, you've stayed, and I'm running away? Wouldn't that mean I've lost to you again?" Zhang Kuang chuckled, brandishing his Blood Python Spear as he attacked the Green-Robed Man. He maintained his frantic, desperate stance, abandoning defense and launching a relentless offensive.

"A firefly's flame," the Green-Robed Man sneered, flicking his Azure Edge Sword and unleashing three more incomparably sharp Sword Qi that struck Zhuge Xiang, Zhang Kuang, and Qin Qing respectively.

Faced with the powerful Sword Qi, none of the three dared to meet it head-on. They fought and retreated, heading towards the Shuzhong City. If Zhuge Xiang and Zhang Kuang were considered geniuses in the Void Splitting Realm, then this Green-Robed Man was a genius in the Return to Simplicity Realm. In Zhuge Xiang's eyes, this strength was much stronger than that of the Old Man Dragonwood, who was at the Tenth Layer of Return to Simplicity Realm.

Long swords, Spear, and the Qi Energy zithers clashed as they fought and fled. At the edge of Shuzhong City, Heaven-Shaking Sword Qi aura erupted, sending three figures flying. They landed on the ground, Zhuge Xiang, Zhang Kuang, and Qin Qing all looking disheveled. Zhuge Xiang, Zhang Kuang, and the others stared intently at the man. His strength was truly beyond imagination; even a casual Sword Qi possessed terrifying power.

Zhang Kuang and Zhuge Xiang already possessed the strength to threaten Cultivator in the Return to Simplicity Realm a year ago. A year later, both of their strengths have improved. Qin Qing, although only at the Innate Realm, possesses the complete version of the Weeping Blood Demonic Zither, making her abilities no less than Zhang Kuang's. However, the three of them working together were completely no match for this Green-Robed Man.

"What's wrong? You've fled here, are you choosing to make this your graveyard?" Looking at the disheveled Zhuge Xiang and his two companions, the Green-Robed Man remained calm, clearly confident of victory, as he surveyed the desolate outskirts of Shuzhong City.

"Are you so confident? Who lives and who dies is still uncertain," Zhuge Xiang said in a low voice, staring intently at the Green-Robed Man.

"I know you all seem to have some untapped potential. Show us what you've got," the Green-Robed Man robe said calmly, showing no surprise.

"Alright! Since you want to see, I'll show you!" Now that things have come to this, if he doesn't go all out, he'll die at the hands of this Green-Robed Man. Zhang Kuang's expression hardened. In this suburb Shuzhong City, he could finally fight with peace of mind. Without holding back, Zhang Kuang released his Spear Intent, Blood Python Spear in his hand cheered. As the Spear Intent was released, the aura on Zhang Kuang's body suddenly increased.

"Oh? Spear Intent? To actually comprehend Spear Intent, that's quite a rare talent," the Green-Robed Man raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat surprised, as he sensed the aura of Spear Intent emanating from Zhang Kuang.

"It's not over yet! Asura True Body! Activate!" Zhang Kuang roared, gripping the Blood Python Spear tightly with both hands. Immediately afterward, a thick, evil aura erupted from Zhang Kuang's body, mixing with the Spear Intent and seemingly undergoing some strange transformation. This evil aura, carrying surging battle intent, activated the unfinished version of the Asura True Body. At this moment, Zhang Kuang had unleashed all his strength.

"Beyond the Spear Intent! There's actually Asura True Body!?" The Green-Robed Man looked slightly surprised, clearly astonished by Zhang Kuang's abilities. In addition to comprehending the Spear Intent, he actually possessed the bloodline of the Asura True Body? Although the transformation was not yet complete, it was indeed the Asura True Body.

Buzz...

It's too early to be surprised now. At that moment, the Azure Edge Sword in the Green-Robed Man's hand suddenly trembled and then hummed softly. At this moment, Zhuge Xiang also activated his Sword Intent State. Perfection Level Sword Intent was at its best level, which made Zhuge Xiang's aura carry a sharp aura that could cut through the sky and the earth.

"Sword Intent!? And! It's at a higher level than Sword Intent!?" As Zhuge Xiang unleashed his Sword Intent, the Green-Robed Man's expression immediately changed. Both were Sword Cultivator, and both had comprehended Sword Intent. The Green-Robed Man could clearly sense that although Zhuge Xiang's cultivation was far inferior to his own, his Sword Intent was actually much stronger. He himself had comprehended Sword Intent at the Void Splitting Realm, and now that his strength had reached the Tenth Layer of Return to Simplicity Realm, his Sword Intent had also increased to forty percent, making him a rare genius. Yet today, he never expected that a guy at the Void Splitting Realm Tenth Layer would have Sword Intent far stronger than his own.

"Hmph! Don't think you're the only one who possesses Sword Intent!" Although shocked by the power of Zhuge Xiang's Sword Intent, the Green-Robed Man's expression darkened, and an incomparably sharp Sword Intent also erupted from his body, standing shoulder to shoulder with Zhuge Xiang.

Although the Sword Intent of this Green-Robed Man was far inferior to that of Zhuge Xiang, his cultivation level was far superior to that of Zhuge Xiang.

As the Green-Robed Man unleashed his Sword Intent, the Azure Edge Sword in his hand finally stopped its clamor. However, only the Green-Robed Man knew that the longsword in his hand was still trembling slightly. In terms of Sword Intent, his opponent still had a certain degree of restraint over him... (To be continued...)