Good Swordsmanship

Xie Yuan took the envelope, gave it a casual glance, and nodded.

"Reply to him. Tell him I'll be waiting here three days from now."

After the gatekeeper left, Xie Yuan went through his usual post-training stretches, loosening his muscles and limbering up as he silently pondered.

So the final battle was finally coming.

After this match, he should be considered firmly established within the Chen Commandery Xie Family.

The ceremony of Returning to the Clan was merely a formality, signifying only that he could live here. In a world where martial prowess reigned supreme, one's true standing within an aristocratic family had to be fought for.

Especially for someone like him, a half-outsider returning midway through life. Having just arrived, whether he would be allowed to sit at the table or be made to stand aside would be decided through this series of ranking matches.

And since Xie Yuan had already won twelve matches in a row, he naturally wanted a perfect ending.

Rarely did he have the chance to display his strength under his true identity without any lingering concerns. Xie Yuan also wanted to see exactly where he ranked.

As Xie Yuan mulled things over at an unhurried pace, Shi Jian leaned closer and said softly.

"Young Master, Young Master Xie Dun possesses extraordinary talent, profound cultivation, and formidable strength. He has always enjoyed a great reputation within the family."

Seeing the maid step forward to remind him, Xie Yuan smiled.

"Are you worried about me?"

"This servant... Shi Jian is only fulfilling her duty."

Shi Jian lowered her head. As Xie Yuan's martial maid, it was her duty to offer reminders on matters involving martial arts. She knew quite a bit about the relevant news within the Xie Family, at least enough to know who was formidable and whose realm was higher.

Xie Yuan looked at her expression and could tell that she did not seem very confident in him.

He asked.

"Do you think I'll lose?"

"Of course not, Young Master..."

"Don't lie."

Xie Yuan said with a genial smile.

"...Young Master Xie Dun is at least one, if not several, levels above every opponent you've faced before. You should be careful."

Shi Jian said tactfully.

Xie Yuan nodded with a smile.

"Alright. I'm not underestimating him."

Seeing that Xie Yuan still looked completely calm, Shi Jian seemed to want to say more, yet held herself back.

Why wasn't Young Master nervous at all...

News that Xie Dun had formally issued Xie Yuan a challenge spread without wings. In less than half a day, it had traveled throughout the Xie Family.

This time, it was not only those idle rich folk. Even many grandmaster elders holding high positions received the news at once and silently marked the date three days later.

Naturally, they knew Xie Dun's level. Now they would see whether this returned Xie Yuan was truly a dragon that swept all before him and crushed the younger generation beneath his feet, or whether he would break his halberd here and prove to be nothing more than this.

The elders each harbored different thoughts. Some eagerly hoped the family would produce a truly top-tier genius, while others secretly hoped he would stop here. Whatever their intentions, they had decided that three days later, they would set aside their own affairs and come watch in person.

As for the younger generation and everyone else below them, they were even more expectant.

Few people disliked watching a spectacle to begin with. Besides, whether Xie Yuan could ultimately match the treatment he now received concerned many people's own interests.

Above the Xie Family Treasure Repository.

The white-haired old man sat before a chessboard, looking at Xie Yi across from him.

"Tell me, can that nephew of yours win in the end or not?"

Xie Yi pondered for a moment, then placed the white stone in his hand.

"Hard to say."

The old man snorted and slapped down his black stone, capturing the white piece.

"A terrible move!"

Then he continued.

"Looks like you still have some confidence in him?"

"If he weren't capable, I wouldn't have given him such good resources. If good things cannot bear his weight, they will only harm him."

Xie Yi placed another stone.

"It's just that he's too young, and his cultivation is too shallow. If he had another three years—no, two years—or if he were about the same age as Xie Dun, I think there would be no suspense at all."

The old man frowned, studying the board as he hesitantly set down a black stone.

"Mm... perhaps you're right, but Xie Dun's strength is no trifling matter. After failing to be selected for Ten Thousand Demons Mountain, he reflected bitterly and strengthened his resolve. He rose another two floors in the Martial Treasury, and over the past few months, he has improved greatly. We must look at him with new eyes.

"If they were the same age, I too would think Xie Yuan should surpass him. But now..."

The old man shook his head.

"He has no chance of winning... eh?"

Xie Yi placed a white stone, suddenly sealing off the old man's entire great dragon. Victory and defeat were decided at once.

"You lost."

Xie Yi smiled.

"Looks like I still won."

The old man's face immediately darkened. With an inconspicuous flick of his finger, the two stones they had just placed flew back into their respective bowls.

He smiled pleasantly.

"We haven't finished fighting. There's still a chance."

With a slap, he placed another stone in a different position.

"Xie Dun's strength is plain for all to see. How could he lose?"

Elsewhere in the clan land, an excited old man spoke inside a room.

"All in! Put it all on Xie Dun!

"The clan elders have always thought highly of Xie Dun. They say his breakthrough to grandmaster is as sure as a nail driven into a board, and that he is on a completely different level from those previous brats. With him making a move at the end, Xie Yuan will at least lose with some dignity."

Seeing the old man's eyes redden as he brought over another pile of jewelry, the middle-aged man began to sweat on his forehead.

"Thirteenth Uncle, we're only playing around. Why are you taking it so seriously? Didn't you say you'd already taken out all your private savings?"

"This is the last of what I had hidden beneath my mattress. Now I'm truly out!"

Old Thirteenth Uncle said viciously.

"I went back and thought it over and over. Without adding this, I won't win back what I lost. I asked Xie Fenglei, and he said his grandson definitely won't lose! This wager is guaranteed profit with no loss. If it's like picking up money, why wouldn't I bet?"

The middle-aged man muttered to himself. Who would ever say their own grandson was no good?

But seeing how frightened Thirteenth Uncle looked, he worried that the man had become too serious. Once gambling fever took hold, it was truly frightening. He could not help but decline tactfully.

"Thirteenth Uncle, let's just stick with the previous stakes. Take these back..."

"What? You're afraid of losing money, so you won't let me bet?"

Thirteenth Uncle shouted, then unleashed a torrent of abuse at the middle-aged man running the wager, leaving him speechless. He could only accept it and take the jewelry.

"That's more like it! Bet on Xie Dun, all of you. Don't blame me for not giving you guidance!"

Thirteenth Uncle said smugly to the people around him.

An old man gave a strange laugh.

"Old Thirteen, if you truly think Xie Dun is guaranteed to win, why don't you let us bet on Xie Yuan?

"Could it be that deep down, you still think he'll lose?"

Old Thirteenth Uncle choked at once, then shook his head fiercely.

"Impossible! I've voted with my money. Why would I think he'd lose? Do whatever you like. Hmph, if you truly think Xie Yuan will win, then bet on him! When the time comes, don't blame this old man for being merciless and winning your money!"

He kept shouting, and those around him frowned as they watched the old gambler's addiction flare up.

Back when he was young, Thirteenth Uncle had possessed some talent in martial arts. He had even had a slight chance of breaking through to grandmaster.

But he had become addicted to gambling in his youth, spending his days immersed in it, haunting every gambling house, throwing around fortunes, losing more the more he gambled and gambling more the more he lost, until he neglected martial arts.

Had his elders not confined him and found him a strong-willed wife to keep him in line, he might have been completely ruined.

Even now, Old Thirteenth Uncle had only barely broken through to the Qi and Blood Transformation Realm, and that was with the resources of the mighty Xie Family behind him. Given his originally decent martial talent, it was truly lamentable.

Only because his family had a thick foundation could he lose freely and still have the family provide him with food. Had he belonged to an ordinary household, or even a modestly wealthy one, his family would long since have been destroyed and its people scattered.

Even so, there remained a gulf between a Chen Commandery Xie Family grandmaster and an old wastrel whom no one cared about. They were two entirely different lives.

Still, the people around him were not much better. They all had a bit of a gambling itch.

Though Old Thirteenth Uncle kept yelling, they had their own ideas and did not recklessly place bets just because he provoked them.

One after another, people placed wagers with the middle-aged man. More than half put down silver to vote for Xie Dun.

Xie Dun's reputation was evident. Even though Xie Yuan had won twelve consecutive matches, everyone still felt Xie Dun was stronger.

After all, as one of the outstanding figures of the younger generation in the Third Transformation Realm, even these fringe members of the family had heard far too much about him.

As for those betting on Xie Yuan, there were more than at the beginning, but they still could not compare to the other side. Most were simply trying their luck.

Inside another room elsewhere in the Xie Family Clan Land.

Xie Dun's younger brother, Xie Chun, sat in the seat of honor. Many close clansmen had gathered beside him. Xie Yun, Xie Jing, Xie Wei, and others were all present, making the spacious hall seem somewhat crowded.

"Brother Chun, your elder brother has this in the bag, right?"

Someone beside him asked.

Xie Chun nodded.

"Definitely. Big Brother isn't afraid of someone who only broke through to the Third Transformation Realm a few months ago."

Er...

Quite a few people wore strange expressions. He made it sound as if Xie Yuan were utterly insignificant, but hadn't he just achieved twelve straight victories? And Xie Chun himself had lost to him.

Including Xie Yun and several other experts who had been defeated, many fell silent, watching their noses and contemplating their hearts without uttering a word.

Xie Chun seemed to sense the odd atmosphere and gave a light cough.

"Xie Yuan is naturally formidable. His methods are strange, and I had no way to deal with him. But tricks of ghosts and goblins will never grace the grand hall. In our Chen Commandery Xie Family, it is still the resplendent orthodox arts that carry weight!

"Devious side paths may win through cleverness, but when they meet a true expert like my elder brother, they will reveal their true form! Rest assured, Xie Yuan will definitely lose. When that happens, our cultivation resources will return to what they were before."

"But even that Enchantress from the Demon Sect..."

Xie Chun cut him off directly.

"I already asked. The clan head arrived and drove the Enchantress away. Otherwise, Xie Yuan would have been captured long ago!"

The crowd exchanged glances, finally putting their minds at ease.

So that was how it was. Otherwise, if Xie Yuan were on the same level as the Four Envoys, there would be no need to fight at all.

Someone muttered.

"But with Xie Yuan already above us after defeating us, it definitely won't be as good as before."

Many people fell silent. Xie Chun also paused before saying.

"It is still better than letting him take such a large share. As for the rest, everyone should cultivate diligently. Once we surpass him, we can naturally take it back. After some time, when my cultivation advances further and I decipher his ghostly techniques, I will fight him again! Then, I will certainly win back what belongs to me!"

The crowd was stirred, their blood boiling as though once Xie Dun won, they too would win one after another.

Xie Chun looked at them. Though he had fired up his companions, his own expression was not particularly excited.

Big Brother probably wouldn't lose... right?

Mm, at most there would be a few twists and turns...

Three days later.

At the great Martial Arts Arena within the Xie Family Clan Land.

Xie Yuan stood ready at the center of the open ground, which resembled a Martial Arts Field. Looking at the sea of people around him, he could not understand how things had turned out like this.

Yesterday, he had received notice at the last minute that the clan had arranged for their sparring match to take place in the great Martial Arts Arena.

Because this sparring match had drawn such widespread attention, those above had simply changed the venue to this place so that every interested clansman could watch.

As a result, the open ground, platforms, and steps around them were all packed with people. The family had clearly made preparations in advance, arranging things in a rather proper fashion.

What had originally been a private sparring match had been brought into the open and turned into something like a grand event.

With a single glance, Xie Yuan saw not only many members of the younger generation, but also quite a few old men and women seated on the raised platforms nearby. Even Xie Yi appeared extremely respectful toward several of them, making it clear that they were elders of very high seniority within the clan.

Not only was Xie Yi personally presiding as referee for this match, Cui Pingjun had also come and was silently observing from beside the platform.

Beside her stood Xie Lingyun, who kept waving and cheering at Xie Yuan. Only after Xie Yuan noticed and waved back did she bounce about in satisfaction, waving even harder until the motion stirred the wind. Cui Pingjun glanced sideways at her and frowned slightly.

Xie Yuan could not help but laugh, shaking his head.

Looking around at the crowd again, this scene rivaled the Little Hidden Dragon Meet, except that it was being held by only one family.

Across from him, Xie Dun had already taken his position, his expression slightly solemn.

Clearly, he had not expected matters to become so grand. Watched by so many clan elders, senior experts, peers, relatives, and friends, he felt an invisible pressure settle upon him.

But Xie Dun had cultivated to the point of nearing grandmaster. He was naturally no novice fresh from the mountains. Though solemn, his face remained calm, his aura steady. The grand setting and noisy crowd did not affect him.

In such a grand scene, what about this Xie Yuan...

He looked across and discovered Xie Yuan casually waving at Xie Lingyun with a smile on his face, as if he did not take any of this seriously.

Xie Dun paused, then recalled Xie Yuan's experiences. He knew this man had weathered countless storms, perhaps even more and fiercer ones than he himself had seen, and was no longer surprised.

For Xie Yuan, experiences between life and death had occurred too many times to count. His will had long since become incomparably steadfast. In battle, he would not be affected by something as simple as his surroundings, no matter how grand they appeared.

Seeing that both men were ready, Xie Yi asked.

"Are you both prepared?"

"Yes."

The two answered at the same time. Xie Yi nodded, then floated into the air and retreated some distance. Without any intention of offering a few preliminary words, he said directly.

"Begin!"

With that command, the contest between the Xie Family's younger generation, watched by countless eyes, officially began.

Xie Yuan held his mystic weapon longsword. Seeing that Xie Dun across from him likewise held a treasured sword, he watched as the other man's figure suddenly flashed and charged straight at him without the slightest courtesy!

Xie Yuan watched the great sword that seemed to be slashing toward him at an incomparably slow speed. Feeling the crushing pressure contained within it, he knew it was heavy and powerful and should not be met head-on. He shifted slightly aside to evade it, coming to a judgment at the same time.

This man's swordsmanship seemed to follow a path of fierce, unstoppable force.

He nodded faintly. Just as a countermeasure formed in his mind, he suddenly saw the heavy great sword cut along an unexpected trajectory, abruptly accelerating as it followed his evasive footwork and slashed straight toward him!

So fast? It was actually another fast sword!

Xie Yuan's gaze sharpened. At the very instant when there was no room between them, he lightly lifted the sword in his hand and blocked before him.

Boom! Boundless force crashed into him. Xie Yuan's feet flashed repeatedly, and with a turn of his body, he shed the force before retreating far away.

The spectators saw such exquisite exchanges the moment the match began, and the atmosphere immediately surged into a fever pitch.

"Xie Dun really is formidable! He sent Xie Yuan flying with a single move!"

"Formidable, yes, but it didn't actually do much..."

"At least he has the upper hand. It looks like the outcome of this battle will be more or less what we expected."

On the raised platform to one side, several clan elders nodded slightly.

"Xie Dun has improved again."

"He is already very close to Grandmaster. It seems he has worked hard these past few months."

"Xie Yuan's reactions are good. His cultivation is simply a bit lacking."

"It seems the scales of victory have already begun to tip."

The people around the arena had formed their judgments, while the fierce battle in the field was only just beginning.

Having succeeded with one move, Xie Dun pushed lightly off the ground, unfolded his footwork, and flashed after Xie Yuan. His massive sword launched a swift offensive, every strike heavy and powerful.

It was Xie Yuan's first time encountering an opponent who wielded such a greatsword with the speed of a swift sword. It was truly deceptive.

That heavy sword, clearly not meant for nimble movements, danced up and down in Xie Dun's hands. It possessed the crushing force and peerless ferocity of a heavy blade, yet its agility did not lose out to a small dagger. Each thrust and withdrawal was like thunder and lightning, so fast that the eye could scarcely follow.

An ingenious approach, brought to the pinnacle of perfection.

Xie Yuan appraised him.

Yet even as he made that appraisal, the gleam of his sword never paused. With a clanging chorus, he and Xie Dun began exchanging blows at rapid speed.

A dazzling expanse of sword light rose where the two fought. Sword Qi crisscrossed, sword radiance flickered, and Sword Qi would at times thrust out several yards before retracting again, extending and withdrawing at will.

The spectators could barely take it all in, crying out in praise again and again. A worthy reputation was never empty; Xie Dun truly deserved to be one of the most renowned figures among the younger generation. One exchange was enough to reveal his extraordinary skill.

As the greatsword wheeled about, it was at times like wind and thunder colliding, its might awe-inspiring; at others, it resembled a spring breeze brushing slender willows, drifting as though weightless. Amid the changing moves, it shrouded Xie Yuan from head to toe. Before long, they had exchanged dozens of moves!

The crowd watched with immense satisfaction, praising Xie Dun's brilliance. But those with higher cultivation gradually began to frown.

Very soon, even the weaker clan members noticed something strange. Xie Yuan had seemed to fall into a passive position from the start, able only to let Xie Dun attack him fiercely. Yet beneath that storm-and-tempest swordplay, his sword light was never suppressed. It glowed steadily before him, never once allowing Xie Dun's sword light to pierce through.

At first, Xie Dun's greatsword still circled around Xie Yuan, but the arcs traced by his blade grew larger and longer. Every blow seemed to endure an enormous rebounding force. In the end, it was as if he had turned into someone raising his sword overhead with both hands and chopping down again and again. His moves opened wide and closed wide, already losing all structure.

Boom—

Another crushing chop came down. Xie Yuan merely sidestepped and evaded it, then struck back with a straight thrust at Xie Dun's tiger's mouth, forcing him to withdraw his sword once more. Otherwise, he might not even have been able to keep hold of his weapon.

This time, Xie Dun could not help retreating several steps. The momentum of his sword condensed as he stared gravely at Xie Yuan.

"What sword technique is that?"

Seeing that he wished to exchange words, Xie Yuan did not attack and replied, "It can hardly be called a sword technique. A few days ago, I had a sudden insight and tried adapting to circumstances, defeating the enemy according to the enemy."

Xie Dun suddenly frowned, and a flash of anger passed through his eyes.

"You are using me to test your moves?"

"Isn't that what sparring is for?"

Xie Yuan answered as though it were only natural.

If one did not temper oneself and hone one's skills, then what was the point of sparring with them?

Xie Dun fell silent for a moment. Then the aura around his entire body suddenly surged forth. Dense Blood Qi almost took visible form, tinting the air around him faintly red.

To Xie Yuan, sparring was simply sparring.

But to Xie Dun, this concerned his future standing in the clan, his resources, the attention and investment of his elders—in truth, it was his future.

Everyone who came to spar with Xie Yuan took it extremely seriously. They were utterly earnest, thinking only of how to win.

But Xie Yuan did not seem to see it that way. To him, sparring was merely sparring. If he lost, then his skill was inferior; he could simply work harder and try again.

Perhaps that difference had something to do with their experiences.

The Xie Family's people could only grow up within the clan grounds, but Xie Yuan had never felt deeply bound to this place. He regarded it only as another stop on his path of cultivation.

He had not relied on the Xie Family to grow to where he was today. Even without the Xie Family, there was still a vast sky beyond. Naturally, his mind was broad.

Sparring was simply sparring, meant to improve one's strength, without so many practical considerations or struggles for advantage.

Xie Dun was taking this so seriously, only to discover that his opponent seemed to be treating it like a game. For some reason, anger rose in his heart.

The things he cherished so deeply were not even taken seriously by his opponent?

If he would not be serious, then he would have to pay the price!

Xie Dun snorted.

"So arrogant. Don't be upset when you lose later!"

Greatsword in hand, he flashed forward and appeared directly three yards before Xie Yuan. His speed had actually increased by several degrees!

Cries of alarm and praise rang out around them, but only after Xie Dun's greatsword had already come down.

So this was Xie Dun's true strength. He was getting serious!

Xie Yuan did not understand where his opponent's anger had come from.

But seeing that Xie Dun had indeed unleashed his strength, he did not dare be careless. With a shift of his footwork, he retreated in rapid succession.

However, there was truly something remarkable about Xie Dun's sword moves. His greatsword clung like a maggot to the bone. Xie Yuan alternated between the Cloud Dragon Step and Shadowless Step, yet he still could not evade this strike. He could only raise his sword and receive it with skillful force.

Clang—

Xie Yuan blocked the blow, and his tiger's mouth shook violently, aching faintly. He acknowledged this opponent's strength in his heart. Xie Dun was not to be underestimated.

Yet Xie Dun's expression darkened even further. He did not know why, but every time his opponent used his sword, he could pinpoint the weakest point in his force. If Xie Yuan's cultivation had not truly been somewhat below his own, Xie Dun would have suspected that his sword would already have flown from his grip!

An absurd thought surfaced in his mind. In terms of swordsmanship, he was actually far, far inferior to his opponent...

Impossible!

Xie Dun's gaze hardened. Casting aside those wavering thoughts, he slashed repeatedly with his greatsword!

Xie Yuan saw through the trajectory of his opponent's sword moves and evaded one killing strike after another. The ground rumbled as several shallow pits were directly carved into it—this was the Xie Family's grand Martial Arts Arena, built to withstand Grandmasters, furnished with specialized formations and laid with special sand and stone, yet it still suffered such effects.

If this had been ordinary ground, every strike would likely have left behind a deep crater. Its power was truly terrifying.

Another wave of cries rose from the surroundings. Xie Dun's strength was indeed just as they had imagined. How many people could carve pits into this arena with their sword strikes?

But after fighting to this point, they had also noticed something. Though Xie Yuan seemed never to have launched an effective counterattack, Xie Dun's sword moves appeared never to have truly done anything to him. It was as though... every move had been seen through?

But if he had seen through Xie Dun's moves, why did Xie Yuan not counterattack? What was he doing?

Xie Yuan's Sword Heart was clear and bright. Against swordsmen beneath the Grandmaster realm, he possessed absolute initiative. Even if it was not triggered every time, he could still see many flaws.

He had been circling and fighting precisely because he wanted to practice the insights he had gained after his fierce battle with the Fire Transmission Envoy. After reflecting on it during this time, he had gained a great deal and developed many insights into swordsmanship. He had been worrying over finding an opponent to test them on.

Xie Dun was a good target. Though he could not compare with a top expert like the Fire Transmission Envoy, he was far better than a lousy player, making him perfect for practicing moves.

It was simply that by now, Xie Dun seemed to be going a little mad and was being very uncooperative...

As Xie Dun's moves and footwork grew faster and faster, Xie Yuan gradually began to feel immense pressure as well.

If not for his swordsmanship restraining the other man, then with the gap in their cultivation, Xie Yuan might already have been in constant peril.

If Xie Dun had used the same great spear as his younger brother, Xie Yuan might have had to get serious much earlier. But now that his opponent had brought out his full strength, Xie Yuan had to show some real skill as well.

His longsword suddenly shifted, and his entire aura changed at once.

Sword light gleamed like Cloud Mist. The surroundings were instantly filled with white radiance, reflected into a hazy blur like the clouds and mist that never ceased atop high mountains.

A sword shadow that made one tremble passed through it. Though the spectators watched from afar and could not see it clearly, they could not help growing tense, as if that shadow would bare its fangs and claws and pounce out the next moment.

What sword technique was this, to possess such astonishing might? Even from so far away, it felt extraordinary.

Many faces were filled with shock. On the platform, several venerable elders leaned forward slightly in astonishment.

"Cloud Dragon Nine Forms! And his mastery is not low at all!"

"He is only in the Third Transformation Realm. How could he have cultivated the Cloud Dragon Nine Forms to such a level?"

"It would be normal for a genius swordsman from Yunshan Mountain to grasp such a supreme art before reaching Grandmaster..."

"Most only enter the threshold, with none even achieving minor mastery. But look at his attainment—how could it merely be minor mastery?"

Outsiders watched the spectacle; insiders saw the craft.

The Grandmaster elders recognized the sword technique and immediately began discussing it in surprise.

Xie Yi and the few elders who had watched before had already known about it, but only now did they realize that Xie Yuan had not been using his full strength earlier. They could not help looking upon him differently as well.

This kid seemed to have hidden quite a lot...

Xie Yi's gaze flickered. Meanwhile, atop a distant high building, the white-haired elder watched while muttering under his breath.

But he shook his head. If that was all, Xie Dun should still be able to win.

Over the past few months, Xie Dun had diligently studied and trained in the Xie Family Martial Repository. No one knew his progress more clearly than he did.

Xie Dun, standing in the arena and feeling the heaviest pressure of all, immediately became cautious. His greatsword moved, guarding his body so tightly that not even water could seep through.

A sword shadow made his heart tremble slightly as it continuously prowled around him.

So this was his real skill?

Xie Dun's heart grew solemn, but his fighting intent blazed. There was no fear on his face.

Then let them collide!

Suddenly, Xie Dun's vision blurred. He seemed to see a shadow that blotted out sky and sun burst from the clouds and mist, lunging down to devour him!

A dragon!

His vision had blurred for only an instant before he recognized it as a majestic sword light, grand and upright, peerlessly powerful as it stabbed straight toward his face.

"Hah!"

Xie Dun roared. His greatsword suddenly swept upward, carrying a blazing Sword Qi that scattered all the cloud-like vapor around them as it collided head-on with Xie Yuan's strike!

Boom—

A tremendous blast shook the Martial Arts Arena. Many spectators could not help covering their ears, then felt fierce winds rushing toward them even from the edge of the field.

The two longswords struck together, and the dazzling sword light nearly eclipsed the sun for an instant.

This move ended in a draw.

Xie Yuan raised an eyebrow. That strike represented the highest attainment of his swordsmanship. The Cloud Dragon Nine Forms combined with the Great Golden River Skill possessed immense power, directly approaching the Grandmaster realm.

But Xie Dun was no ordinary opponent either. He was already a top Third Transformation Realm expert close to Grandmaster. His ultimate sword strike swept upward into the sky and met Xie Yuan's Cloud-Summoning Dragon head-on. This exchange ended evenly between them.

Xie Dun took a breath and said in a low voice, "You are very strong. Truly impressive. If our cultivation were equal, perhaps I would already have lost."

Xie Yuan said nothing, merely signaling for him to continue.

"But this ends here. I originally prepared this sword for Xie Wei. I will give it to you now. If you cannot endure it..."

He shook his head and said no more. Xie Yi was watching from nearby; surely he would not allow Xie Yuan to die.

Still, there was no way Xie Yuan could block this sword strike.

Xie Dun slowly raised his sword. An oppressive pressure emanated from it.

The venerable elders on the platform all grew somewhat solemn and nodded slowly.

"It seems this child has known shame and striven forward. His improvement is indeed not small."

"Not bad, not bad. This battle is exceptionally splendid. This old man's trip here was not wasted."

"Xie Yuan is excellent as well. I do not think there is anything wrong with the clan head's decision."

"That is not so. A loss is a loss. Those resources, my grandson still—"

The elders whispered among themselves, while the other spectators had yet to fully recover from their shock.

Xie Yuan could actually fight Xie Dun to a draw?

So he had been this strong all along...

But Xie Dun still seemed to have strength in reserve. The power of this sword strike far surpassed everything the two had shown before, making all the spectators rise to their feet.

Quite a few even began to feel regret on Xie Yuan's behalf.

Unfortunately, defeating the strong while weak was ultimately the privilege of only a select few. Xie Dun was a genius too, and Xie Yuan still fell short by a thread.

Cui Pingjun's expression remained calm, but light flickered deep in her eyes as she watched Xie Yuan, as though she had seen some shadow of another person in him.

Beside her, Xie Lingyun clenched her hands tightly. Feeling Xie Dun's peerlessly powerful strike from afar, her heart was in turmoil.

Can he take it? He should be able to, right?

It seems a little difficult. Should he admit defeat?

Ugh, is Father even watching? Why is he looking around everywhere? What if he is too slow later?!

Xie Yuan stood where he was, sensing the trump-card killing move before him. His expression was extremely grave.

His body shook, and several Xie Yuans fled in different directions at once. Each was indistinguishable from the real one, causing many spectators to cry out.

There was even such a secret technique? One Qi Transforms into Three Purities?

The corner of Xie Dun's mouth lifted as he shouted, "Xie Yuan, I knew you had this move!"

His greatsword had already been raised to its highest point. Then it suddenly cleaved down. A massive, dazzling Sword Qi like the giant sword of a heavenly god swept directly across the half of the arena before him, cutting apart every shadow at once!

Since he could not distinguish them, then he would treat them all equally!

He used the same method as the Fire Transmission Envoy. The moment his ultimate move emerged, it swept away every Xie Yuan in the arena!

Sword light flashed. Many people even narrowed their eyes. Only when the rumbling sound faded did they hurriedly open them again.

Everyone looked toward the field, wanting to see the result.

Beneath that heaven-shaking strike, even if Xie Yuan truly possessed One Qi Transforms into Three Purities, he could not have blocked it—much less when those were merely several illusions.

Everyone sighed inwardly. Xie Yuan's performance had completely surpassed their expectations. Sword techniques and secret arts had appeared one after another, and the sparring match had risen and fallen like a winding road, leaving them crying out in admiration.

Only, the final result was still just as they had expected. But the course of the battle had truly been worth savoring...

As they thought this, they looked everywhere. Yet their expressions gradually became strange.

Where was Xie Yuan?

He obviously could not have blocked that immense sword light, and there was no trace of him left on the ground.

Had the clan head already rescued him?

They looked toward the sky, but Xie Yi stood with his hands behind his back, quietly watching Xie Dun. There was no sign of Xie Yuan in his hands.

Even the clan elders found this strange. Surely the clan head had not forgotten to intervene and allowed Xie Yuan to be directly reduced to dust by that peerless sword light? This...

Xie Dun frowned, seemingly unable to understand it. Yet he felt that this scene was somehow familiar.

Clap clap clap—

A burst of applause rang out across the silent Martial Arts Arena. Xie Yuan's sincerely admiring voice came from behind Xie Dun, making his scalp tingle.

"Fine swordsmanship! That Fire Transmission Envoy's swordsmanship was about this good too."