Dugu Jian, Draw Sword to Sever Heaven

"Using killing to stop war?"

Li Chunfeng found Ren Xiaoyao's words unconvincing and said,

"Xiao Ren, I think you're still being far too idealistic. The martial geniuses of this world are as countless as crucian carp crossing a river. Trying to kill the courage out of them is impossible! In fact, it's very likely that after you kill one, a whole pack will come!"

"Then we'll see when the time comes."

Ren Xiaoyao offered no explanation, merely speaking indifferently.

Seeing Ren Xiaoyao's calm, cloud-light manner, Li Chunfeng was utterly speechless. Yet he did not dare vent his anger on Ren Xiaoyao and could only swallow this grievance.

Who told him the other man was in the Heavenly Human Realm?

He could not afford to provoke him!

One day later.

Ying Huai and Fang Yuan came to the Imperial Observatory once more, bringing intelligence about the challenger. Facing Heaven Pavilion had countless spies throughout the martial world, so the great winds and waves of Jianghu naturally could not be hidden from Ying Huai.

In truth, the reason Princess Taiping had learned that someone was coming to challenge Li Chunfeng was also because she oversaw Facing Heaven Pavilion and had received the news from there.

"This man is no ordinary figure!"

Upon seeing Li Chunfeng, Ying Huai spoke with a grave expression.

"This man is named Dugu Jian. He was once the foremost swordsman in Jianghu. It is said that his swordsmanship had reached Peak Mastery. He roamed Jianghu all his life and had never suffered a defeat!"

"Dugu Jian?"

When Li Chunfeng heard Dugu Jian's name, his eyelids naturally twitched.

Dugu Jian had been a figure from Yuan Tiangang's era. In the age that belonged to Dugu Jian, he had been invincible among True Person Realm cultivators, suppressing the entire generation until they could not lift their heads.

It was precisely because he had become invincible in Jianghu that Dugu Jian withdrew from the martial world. It was said that he had attempted to break into the Heavenly Human Realm, but there had been no news afterward. Jianghu had even believed that Dugu Jian might have died of old age.

Yet unexpectedly, Dugu Jian was still alive, and he was even coming to challenge Li Chunfeng.

This was a huge problem!

"According to Facing Heaven Pavilion's intelligence, even if Dugu Jian has not reached the Heavenly Human Realm, he is not far from it. And since he has come for you, he likely intends this to be his final battle. You are in grave danger!"

Ying Huai said quietly, "Chunfeng, give me the truth. Are you truly in the Heavenly Human Realm? If not, your troubles are enormous!"

"I didn't lie to you. I really am not a Heavenly Human!"

Li Chunfeng said helplessly, "Now I'm in trouble! If Dugu Jian fights me to the death, I can't withstand him!"

"This..."

Ying Huai stared at Li Chunfeng. Seeing that his anxious appearance did not seem false, he said,

"Didn't you say before that you possessed a secret technique capable of temporarily raising your combat strength? If you use that secret technique again, you may not be unable to contend against Dugu Jian."

"How could a secret technique be that simple?"

Li Chunfeng rolled his eyes at Ying Huai and said irritably, "If I could casually use a secret technique whenever I wanted, wouldn't that make me a Heavenly Human?"

When facing Ying Huai, Li Chunfeng naturally had no choice but to find a way to cover up his lie.

Although Li Chunfeng believed Ren Xiaoyao could contend with Dugu Jian, he still worried whether Ren Xiaoyao could protect him in time when facing Dugu Jian.

If Dugu Jian struck too quickly and Ren Xiaoyao failed to protect him in time, Li Chunfeng's head might already have fallen to the ground. Then he would have nowhere to argue his case.

Thinking of this, Li Chunfeng naturally became deeply worried.

Other than intelligence, Ying Huai could offer Li Chunfeng no help. After all, the highest-level martial artists the Imperial Court could mobilize were merely Grandmasters.

Ying Huai did not linger too long at the Imperial Observatory. With Dugu Jian's arrival imminent, he needed to join forces with the True Martial Sect to set up defenses around the Capital City.

For although Dugu Jian claimed he was coming to challenge Li Chunfeng, another possibility remained: Dugu Jian's true aim might not be the wine, but the Imperial Palace in the Capital City. The destructive power of such a top-tier True Person Realm expert was unimaginably terrifying, so Ying Huai had to prepare in advance.

The news that Dugu Jian was going to challenge Li Chunfeng spread throughout Jianghu and the Capital City in a very short time.

"Dugu Jian is a Jianghu Myth from fifty years ago! And Li Chunfeng is a Jianghu Myth from Twenty Years Ago, and even a suspected Heavenly Human today! A battle between these two legends is truly fascinating!"

"This battle may well be the limit of Jianghu!"

"If I can witness this battle with my own eyes, I can die without regrets!"

Jianghu naturally buzzed with discussion.

For a time, many martial artists quietly headed toward the Imperial Observatory, all in hopes of witnessing this earth-shattering battle.

It was not only Jianghu. The same was true within the Capital City.

Within the True Martial Sect.

Sect Master Ren Xuanji stood in his study, looking over the intelligence before him. Narrowing his eyes, he said quietly,

"Li Chunfeng, Li Chunfeng. I have never believed you are in the Heavenly Human Realm. Back then, Luo Mengshen clearly declared that your future path had been severed. How could you possibly advance further?"

At the Princess's Residence.

Princess Taiping looked at the intelligence in her hand and chuckled. "Dugu Jian moves quickly enough. He will reach Fulong Mountain by dawn tomorrow!"

Beside Princess Taiping, a middle-aged woman dressed as a palace maid shook her head and said,

"Taiping, I have always believed that Li Chunfeng is not in the Heavenly Human Realm. I saw him last time as well. He has always lacked the overbearing aura that a Heavenly Human should possess!"

"Phoenix Hall Master, whether he is or not, we will know tomorrow."

Princess Taiping chuckled, but when she looked at the middle-aged palace maid, a trace of Hard to Detect gloom swept through her eyes.

Within the Imperial Palace.

Empress Tianyuan wore a black Dragon Robe as she looked at the memorial Ying Huai had handed her. "What an outlaw who violates the law through martial force. He has treated My decree as wind passing his ears!"

In truth, the Empress had issued an edict years ago: Martial World Martial Artists could arrange duels, regardless of life or death, and the Imperial Court would not interfere. However, such duels must not involve Imperial Court officials. Those who violated this rule would certainly be executed by the Imperial Court.

Li Chunfeng was an official of the Imperial Observatory. By rights, no one was allowed to challenge him to a duel. Otherwise, it would be slapping the Empress in the face. Yet now Dugu Jian was determined to slap the Empress in the face.

Ying Huai stood nearby, rather helpless. Even for the Imperial Court, dealing with a True Person Realm expert would require grievous losses. He could only advise, "Your Majesty, Dugu Jian is nearing the end of his lifespan, which is why he is so arrogant. You need not lower yourself to argue with a dying man!"

"Mm."

The Empress nodded. "Still, I am curious. What realm has Li Chunfeng truly reached now? The outside world says he is in the Heavenly Human Realm. What do you think, Ying Huai?"

"Your subject does not cultivate the Martial Dao and naturally does not know. But regardless of Li Chunfeng's realm, he is Your Majesty's subject. There is no doubt of that!"

Ying Huai flattered her.

The Empress found these words quite pleasing. A commanding gaze appeared in her eyes, and a smile also surfaced on her face.

The next morning.

At the foot of Fulong Mountain, many martial artists who had come drawn by Dugu Jian's reputation were already waiting. Today's battle was likely the most spectacular one Jianghu had seen in nearly twenty years. If they could witness it, they would naturally be able to die without regrets.

At this moment, a withered and thin figure approached from the distance.

He was an old man in a gray robe. His hair and beard were already Snow White, and the wrinkles across his face resembled tree bark. An ancient sword was strapped across his back. He walked slowly from afar, looking as if half his body had already entered the grave.

Yet the aura he revealed was far too terrifying, cowing every martial artist present.

That was sword intent—invincible sword intent!

This was Dugu Jian, a man born for the sword. Back then, with the sword upon his back, he had slaughtered his way through countless masters of both righteous and demonic paths. Now, he appeared even more unfathomable.

Dugu Jian slowly ascended Fulong Mountain.

At this time, Li Chunfeng had already sensed the approaching danger within the Imperial Observatory. The other members of the Imperial Observatory—Director, Song Duanyang, Bai Su, Lin Ping, Dongfang Ye, and the rest—had also gathered together.

After all, today's battle was an unprecedented crisis for the entire Imperial Observatory.

Not long afterward, Dugu Jian arrived atop Imperial Observatory Peak. Everyone present, including Li Chunfeng, felt their hearts tremble from the terrifying killing intent emanating from Dugu Jian.

Dugu Jian's gaze swept past everyone before freezing on Li Chunfeng. He said,

"Li Chunfeng, my lifespan is nearing its end. I came here today already resolved to die. Before death, I merely wish to see the power of your Heavenly Human Realm!"

Li Chunfeng said,

"Senior Dugu, I am not in the Heavenly Human Realm either. It is all merely rumors from Jianghu. You still have some time left in your life. You may not be unable to achieve the Heavenly Human Realm!"

Li Chunfeng naturally wished to avoid battle if he could. After all, he was not completely certain that Ren Xiaoyao could protect him without fail.

"Whether you are or not, this battle shall be my final battle."

Dugu Jian's gaze remained firm. "Li Chunfeng, I will use the strongest Sword Dao of my life. Do not hold back, or even if you are a Heavenly Human, I fear you will not have an easy time!"

"You!"

Li Chunfeng felt helpless. He could only turn his gaze toward Ren Xiaoyao. Ren Xiaoyao merely nodded calmly, his emotions showing no fluctuation, and only then did Li Chunfeng barely gain some confidence.

"Since that is the case, then let us fight!"

Li Chunfeng drew a deep breath.

At that moment, the long sword behind Dugu Jian trembled lightly. It sensed the sword intent radiating from Dugu Jian. Then Dugu Jian gripped his sword in one hand and said,

"My divine sword is named Canhong. It was forged from meteorite iron beyond the heavens. It has slain twelve Grandmasters and two True Persons. Today, let my strongest Sword Dao see whether it can drink Heavenly Human blood!"

Sword intent erupted from Dugu Jian, and the Canhong Divine Sword pointed at Li Chunfeng.

In an instant, every sound between heaven and earth seemed to fall silent. Only the sound of the Canhong Divine Sword tearing through the air echoed in the ears of everyone in the Imperial Observatory. Li Chunfeng had been suppressed until he could not move, and he could only place all his hopes on Ren Xiaoyao.

Ren Xiaoyao stood in the corner. In truth, Ren Xiaoyao admitted that Dugu Jian was powerful, even far stronger than Yuan Tiangang. Especially when wielding the Canhong Divine Sword, he was like gods and devils.

"Since you use a sword, I shall accompany you with a sword as well!"

A smile appeared on Ren Xiaoyao's face. Then he used the Imperial Sword Art. In the next moment, the long sword at Li Chunfeng's waist flew from its sheath and rose into the air.

The Imperial Sword Art could control swords from afar, and that sword could naturally be someone else's weapon as well.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Seeing this, Dugu Jian threw back his head and laughed. "Controlling a sword from afar! Li Chunfeng, you truly have surpassed me. You are in the Heavenly Human Realm! Since that is so, let me see what the might of a Heavenly Human truly is!"

As his words fell, True Essence from Dugu Jian's entire body poured into the Canhong Divine Sword. Around the divine sword, vortex after vortex of True Essence had already formed, as if they would tear everything in the world apart!

"This sword is named Azure Vault!"

Dugu Jian let out a roar. Sharp light erupted from his clouded eyes as the Canhong Divine Sword, joined with a supreme sword technique, charged toward Li Chunfeng!

But at that moment, golden light followed, appearing upon the ordinary long sword before Li Chunfeng.

The light was so dazzling that no one could open their eyes.

In the next instant, endless killing power burst forth from that long sword, aimed directly at Dugu Jian, who was charging in from ahead.

Clang!

A crisp sound rang out.

Under Dugu Jian's disbelieving gaze, his True Essence was instantly shattered by that sword strike from afar. Then Li Chunfeng's sword met the Canhong Divine Sword edge to edge!

Crack!

Li Chunfeng's sword was merely ordinary iron, while Canhong was forged from meteorite iron beyond the heavens.

By all reason, Li Chunfeng's sword should have shattered upon impact. Yet at this moment, Li Chunfeng's ordinary iron sword directly pierced the Canhong Divine Sword and split it into two!

Then the sword radiance did not cease and continued slashing toward Dugu Jian.

"What! What sword technique is this?!"

Dugu Jian's eyes widened as he cried out in shock.

He knew he was certain to die, yet his eyes brimmed with boundless excitement. Before death, he had witnessed a sword technique beyond his imagination!

Boom!

The sound was like thunder.

Then that sword struck Dugu Jian. Only then did the power contained within it erupt completely. That violent force directly blasted Dugu Jian into a mist of blood!

Dugu Jian's figure no longer remained where he had stood, as if he had never appeared at all.

Only then did Ren Xiaoyao say quietly, "My Master once said that this sword is named Draw Sword to Sever Heaven!"