"Big Brother Ye, forgive me."
As one of the Twin Prides, Qin Tian naturally possessed the strength and skill to back it up.
He wielded a sword in his left hand and a saber in his right. What ordinary people could never accomplish, he handled with consummate ease.
The saber and sword crisscrossed, unleashing an unrivaled might that swept straight toward Ye Yang.
At that moment, the entire world trembled, as though it could not withstand the power of his move.
"Roar..."
He leaped high into the air, and the Sword Dragon behind him coordinated perfectly. It opened its enormous maw and swallowed everything whole, truly achieving unity between man and sword.
With a hum—
The instant man and sword became one, a dazzling radiance erupted. At that moment, even the moon in the sky seemed dim and lightless, as if a sun had appeared from thin air, especially conspicuous in the darkness.
"Die..."
The Seven Forms of Heaven's Rupture emphasized building momentum in one breath—each move stronger and faster than the last, with every preceding move laying the groundwork for the next. Only when all seven forms became one could their true might be unleashed.
With a deafening clang—
The two men's strongest moves collided, unleashing a world-shaking boom.
"Good lad, you really have something! I never thought you two would be this powerful!"
The Abbot of White Cloud was astonished and overwhelmed with emotion. He had already made ample mental preparations, but the devastation caused by the two men's battle still exceeded his imagination.
At that moment, when the two streaks of light collided and their killing moves annihilated one another, even the barrier he had personally established nearly failed to withstand it.
Explosions rang out without end, as if two balls of light were constantly battering one another, each trying to erase the other completely. In the end, neither could do anything to the other.
A quarter of an hour later...
The smoke and dust had long since dispersed, but Sword Qi from the two men's clash still lingered across the ground!
With the Abbot of White Cloud's formation reinforcing the area, the outside world had avoided greater destruction. Within the barrier, however, the land had already been battered beyond recognition.
The two men stood with their backs to each other, completely motionless like statues. Behind them yawned a bottomless pit, radiating an aura of destruction.
"Big Brother Ye, what sword technique was that?"
During the clash just now, Qin Tian had felt as though he were facing a god. But with an arrow nocked on the bowstring, he had no choice but to release it; there was no turning back.
It was already too late to withdraw. The Sword Dragon had roared forward with unstoppable force. He had thought he could utterly defeat the young man before him, but now it seemed that he was the one who had been defeated. The sharp reversal left him disappointed, yet immensely relieved.
He was relieved that, at the final moment, his opponent had withdrawn most of his power, leaving him with only a minor injury. If the other party had not deliberately held back at the end, he might already have been the one lying dead.
A domineering Sword Qi coursed through his body. Though there was only a trace of it, it still tormented him unbearably. His entire body suffered, his blood and Qi churned, and he nearly exploded on the spot.
"Old Ancestor, save me!"
With a splurt, the moment he finished speaking, his eyes suddenly grew heavy, and he nearly passed out.
"Boy, you won. This is my reward to you—take it. When you accept that brat Qin Hao's challenge at the Heaven's Pride Arena in White Cloud City, it will have an unexpected effect."
The Abbot of White Cloud kept his word. He had neither attacked nor interfered; he had merely allowed the two of them to fight here, stopping once the point had been made.
Besides, he had seen it clearly just now. If Ye Yang had not withdrawn his hand in time at the instant their ultimate moves collided, Qin Tian might well have ended up dead or crippled.
Without the slightest hesitation, Ye Yang took it, knowing that White Cloud Temple on White Cloud Mountain was the only route he could take to reach the Heaven's Pride Arena.
"Abbot, what do you mean by this? Is that it?"
Ye Yang did not want to waste words with him. He had just been about to ask for clarification when the Abbot of White Cloud scooped up the injured Qin Tian and vanished in a flash. The entire process was astonishingly smooth!
"What a strange person. What is this? Could it be a token?"
He had just turned around to ask how to get to the Heaven's Pride Arena in White Cloud City, but the other man's figure had already disappeared without a trace.
"Fine. If this place won't keep me, some place will. I'd better get moving first."
Ye Yang did not dwell on the matter. Passing five checkpoints and cutting down six generals was merely routine for him. The most important task still awaited him, and only one day remained before the appointed time.
With a splurt—
After being rescued by the Abbot of White Cloud, Qin Tian was brought straight to a cliffside cavern atop the mountain, where clouds and mist swirled.
"Boy, don't move around. I'll treat your injuries, or your future cultivation will be in trouble."
He had nearly died when he could not catch his breath, but at the crucial moment, a powerful force opened up his Seven Meridians and Eight Vessels, rescuing him.
With a single palm thrust through the air, a powerful force entered his body and began forcing out that incomparably domineering Sword Qi.
"Boy, don't move. Follow my instructions, or your meridians may reverse and you could be crippled for life."
The Abbot of White Cloud did not hesitate. He struck through the air once more, his fist slamming into Qin Tian's body and clearing all the major acupoints throughout him.
"Now. Sink your Qi into your dantian; let all techniques return to one."
With a thunderous shout, he exerted his strength at the same time. Qin Tian spat out a mouthful of black blood and passed out completely.
"Boy, get a good night's sleep. Then we'll see how your big brother responds."
The Abbot of White Cloud gazed at the unconscious Qin Tian, a complicated look flashing through his eyes.
He had thought he could overpower his old friend's descendant, but in the end, he had thoroughly made a fool of himself.
It seems the Seven Forms of Heaven's Rupture and the Supreme Nine Swords really are among the world's finest cultivation arts. They're both heaven's prides, so how can the difference between people be this enormous?
"Boy, this is all I can do. I hope you can advance further within the Great Dream of Spring and Autumn."
The Abbot of White Cloud waved his hand lightly. A gentle radiance wrapped around Qin Tian, as though sending him into a tranquil dreamland.
Outside the cavern, winds swept the clouds onward. Inside, time seemed to stand still. In the state of the Great Dream of Spring and Autumn, a peculiar charm flowed through the air.
At that moment, Qin Tian's breathing gradually steadied, and his communion with the Great Dao in his dream became exceptionally smooth.
"Big Brother, wait for me! Let me lend you a hand!"
In his dream, Qin Tian seemed to see himself fighting shoulder to shoulder with his big brother. His big brother's resolute gaze accompanied the sweeping of his long sword; wherever its tip pointed, nothing remained unbroken. That strength and determination filled Qin Tian's heart with an inexplicable sense of security.
"Boy, blessings and misfortunes are intertwined; misfortune cannot be avoided. What happens next is up to you."
After the Abbot of White Cloud employed that supreme method, his complexion turned slightly pale as well!
"Forget it. For my disciple's sake, I'll protect your cultivation a little longer."
"Big Brother, don't go!"
Qin Tian had already entered the state of the Great Dream of Spring and Autumn. In his dream, the sky glittered with starlight, and everything foretold that an even more intense battle awaited them after they awoke.
"Boy, stop right there. See this? Without this thing, you can't enter."
"That's right. Behave yourself. One hand over the money, the other gets you through!"
Ye Yang had just arrived for the appointment when the City Lord's guards stopped him. If he wanted to enter, he had to follow the rules and leave behind the toll for the road!
Before you continue