Sword Qi Topples the City

Sword Qi Topples the City

Beneath the city walls, the Twelve Martial Slaves relied on their exquisite formation and Wang Xianzhi's meticulous guidance. Their combined strength was enough to give any Heavenly Phenomenon Realm expert a serious challenge. Yet Wang Ritain's appearance was like a bombshell, shattering everyone's understanding of what was possible. With a single punch, he injured all twelve Martial Slaves. The astonishing feat left everyone present stunned.

"How... how is this possible?" A seasoned figure from the martial world stared wide-eyed, his face full of disbelief. His voice trembled as he said, "Even a Heavenly Phenomenon Realm expert would have to be cautious against the Twelve Martial Slaves fighting together. Yet Wang Ritain injured them with a single punch. Just how terrifying is his strength?"

Everyone nodded, their eyes filled with shock. Wang Ritain had gained the upper hand against the Twelve Martial Slaves with nothing but his bare fists, far exceeding their expectations. Even the young geniuses who had once looked down on him now set aside their arrogance, overcome by a deep sense of awe.

Though Wang Ritain's punch had dealt the Twelve Martial Slaves a significant blow, they were seasoned experts who had fought countless battles. They quickly regained their composure. After a brief pause to steady their breathing, fighting spirit rekindled in their eyes, and they charged at Wang Ritain once more.

Watching the Twelve Martial Slaves rush toward him again, Wang Ritain's lips curled into a confident smile. He calmly took a step forward as the true qi within him surged into motion. In an instant, a wall of qi, condensed from true qi, appeared before him. It glimmered faintly gold and was several times harder than diamond.

"Hmph. Let's see how you'll break through my wall of qi!" Wang Ritain snorted, determination shining in his eyes.

The Twelve Martial Slaves exchanged glances, then attacked together. They unleashed their signature techniques, pushing their strength to its limits. This volley was astonishingly powerful, fully matching the terrifying might of the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm. In an instant, blades flashed, fists howled through the air, and all kinds of formidable forces converged, crashing toward Wang Ritain's wall of qi.

Boom! The deafening blast rang across the sky above Wudi City like a thunderclap. The Twelve Martial Slaves' attack collided with Wang Ritain's wall of qi, unleashing a powerful wave of energy. To everyone's astonishment, however, the wall did not budge. The mighty attacks vanished against it like mud sinking into the sea.

Worse still, the qi scattered by the collision surged toward the surrounding crowd like countless blades. The Profound Finger experts near the battlefield had no time to dodge. The force struck them in an instant, and they fell to the ground, gravely wounded and spitting blood. The onlookers stared in horror. Those who were weaker turned and fled, afraid of being caught in the terrifying blast.

"Wang Ritain's strength is practically heaven-defying! His wall of qi actually withstood an attack from the Twelve Martial Slaves that rivaled the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm!" a young martial artist said, his voice trembling with awe.

"Indeed. At this level, he may have no equal among the younger generation," another martial artist agreed, filled with emotion.

The battle raged on, and an incense stick's worth of time slipped by. By then, the battlefield outside the city had been reduced to ruins. The earth was torn open, houses had collapsed, and devastation stretched in every direction. Yet Wang Ritain stood calmly among the Twelve Martial Slaves, not a single wound on him, as if the fierce battle had been no more than a leisurely game.

Wang Ritain slowly drew his long sword. Its blade gleamed coldly, as if proclaiming its master's extraordinary nature. A trace of disdain showed in his eyes as he looked at the Twelve Martial Slaves, who were panting heavily, their true qi almost spent. "You're not much to speak of," he said mildly.

The Twelve Martial Slaves looked at the long sword in Wang Ritain's hand, deep fear rising in their hearts. They knew his next attack would surely be deadly. Even so, none of them showed the slightest intention of retreating. They gritted their teeth and held their ground.

From a pavilion in the distance, Wang Xianzhi watched the battle in silence. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He had thought Wang Ritain would not last long against the Twelve Martial Slaves' combined assault. The truth, however, had astonished him. Wang Ritain's strength far surpassed his expectations.

"Wang Ritain has certainly made me see him in a new light," Wang Xianzhi said softly, the corners of his mouth lifting in an appreciative smile.

Yu Xinlang stood beside Wang Xianzhi, watching Wang Ritain below. He couldn't help feeling inferior. "Master, if I had taken Wang Ritain's place and faced an attack from the Twelve Martial Slaves that rivaled the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm, I'm afraid I'd have given out long ago," Yu Xinlang said in embarrassment, his eyes full of admiration for Wang Ritain.

Wang Xianzhi nodded slightly. "Wang Ritain's talent and strength are indeed rare. To reach such a level in so short a time—he's destined for greatness."

Looking at the Twelve Martial Slaves before him, Wang Ritain thought to himself that it was time to end the battle. He took a deep breath, and the true qi within him surged like a rising tide. Then he unleashed Sword Twenty-Two.

In an instant, sword qi gathered. A brilliant galaxy seemed to appear in the sky, pouring down upon the Twelve Martial Slaves. The sword qi covered a wider area, and its power had multiplied several times since his previous display. The Twelve Martial Slaves felt its terrifying force and were overcome with fear. They knew that unless they resisted with everything they had, they would meet a gruesome end.

"Give it everything we've got!" one of the Martial Slaves shouted, gritting his teeth as he summoned the last of his true qi. The others followed suit. Working together through their formation, they drew on the power of heaven and earth and counterattacked Wang Ritain's sword qi.

Boom! The two forces collided once more, releasing a deafening roar. The sound seemed capable of tearing heaven and earth apart. The ground within a thousand meters instantly sank, and countless rocks shot in every direction like cannonballs. The Profound Finger Peak martial artists couldn't dodge in time; the flying stones pierced them in an instant, and they fell into pools of blood.

In the end, the Twelve Martial Slaves' counterattack was futile. Against Wang Ritain's mighty sword qi, their resistance seemed pitifully weak. In the space of a few breaths, the sword qi completely overwhelmed them. Their bodies were slashed until they were riddled with wounds, and they collapsed to the ground, their fates uncertain. If Wang Ritain had not held back, not one of them would have been left in one piece.

As the sword qi faded, Wang Ritain stood tall at the center of the battlefield. Sunlight made his figure seem especially imposing. No one dared look down on him anymore. Even the young martial artists who had once mocked him were now utterly convinced, their eyes filled with awe.

Wang Ritain slowly sheathed his sword and turned his gaze toward Yu Xinlang on the pavilion above. He announced loudly, "I've finished challenging the Twelve Martial Slaves. Next, Yu Xinlang, I challenge you!"

His words stunned the entire crowd. Everyone turned to look at Yu Xinlang, their eyes full of surprise and curiosity. Yu Xinlang was Wang Xianzhi's most prized disciple and one of the foremost figures among the younger generation. He had once fought a Heavenly Phenomenon Realm expert and walked away unscathed; the extent of his strength was clear. Wang Ritain's challenge was undoubtedly a clash between two peak fighters, and everyone began to speculate about how their strengths compared.

"Has Wang Ritain gone mad? He's actually challenging Yu Xinlang!" a figure from the martial world exclaimed, unable to believe it.

"Exactly. Yu Xinlang is practically invincible among the younger generation. Wang Ritain may be formidable, but does he really have a chance against Yu Xinlang?" another martial artist asked doubtfully.

The crowd buzzed with debate, opinions divided over the outcome of Wang Ritain's challenge. Some thought that Wang Ritain had just defeated the Twelve Martial Slaves and was riding high; perhaps he really could beat Yu Xinlang. Others felt that Yu Xinlang's strength was unfathomable, and he had Wang Xianzhi's guidance behind him. For Wang Ritain to win would be no easy feat.