Zhang Yu unleashed a sword strike, and Golden-Red Sword Qi, condensed to its extreme, burst forth from his fingertip like lightning tearing through the sky.
This Sword Qi was so fast that it far Jian Wuwei.
They started later, but arrived first!
"Laugh--!"
A soft yet incredibly sharp tearing sound rang out.
Amidst everyone's horrified gazes, the Golden-Red Sword Gang that Zhang Yu unleashed from his fingertips struck the weak point of Jian Wuwei's powerful Sword Qi with Jian Wuwei precision.
There was no earth-shattering explosion, nor a stalemate where the forces were evenly matched.
The Golden-Red Sword Gang sliced through the butter like a red-hot knife, severing and annihilating the seemingly terrifying Autumn Water Sword Qi without any resistance.
The residual Sword Qi even rippled back, forcing Jian Wuwei to take a half-step back and parry with his sword.
Quiet!
A deathly silence!
Everyone was stunned, as if struck by an invisible thunderbolt, their souls and bodies frozen in place.
Xiao Xuan forgot to breathe, Huichen forgot to chant Buddhist scriptures, and Li Danggang and the others forgot the joy of surviving the calamity.
Zhang Heng's smug smile froze completely, Zhang Wanning's excitement turned into bewilderment, and Du Jun and Hu Qingxuan's mouths gaped open, wide enough to fit an egg.
Jian Wuwei was struck dumb, completely stunned.
His hand gripping the Autumn Water Sword trembled violently, and his eyes widened like copper bells.
What... what did he just see?
Zhang Yu... used the Sword Breaks Mountains and Rivers?
No!
That wasn't his Sword Breaks Mountains and Rivers!
The moves and their essence are similar yet different, but the way the core power is condensed and released, and the Sword Intent that cuts through everything, are strikingly similar to the Supreme Lore he has painstakingly cultivated for decades.
Moreover, its power... seems to be even greater?
How is that possible?
He learned it after watching it only once?
No, it's not just about learning; it's about analyzing, reconstructing, and improving upon it.
This isn't a monster... this is... a demon!
It's a demon!
Zhang Yu slowly withdrew his finger, the golden-red sharpness at the fingertip gradually receding.
He looked at the trench he had carved in the ground, then at his own clasped sword fingers, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but more so a sense of understanding and excitement.
So that's how it is...
The Soul Power can not only see through illusions, but also learn and even create.
Although it only superficially imitated the way its power works, it was far from capturing its essence.
But it truly allowed him to touch the threshold of effectively projecting and concentrating power, and imbuing it with "intention"!
This is no longer a clumsy, Turtle Fist, but a true Grandmaster's technique— the Sword Intent.
He raised his head, looked at Jian Wuwei, and a cold smile slowly curved his lips.
"You old bastard, your 'Sword Breaks Mountains and Rivers' technique... seems like I can barely use a little bit of it too."
"I just wonder, how does my sword strike compare to yours...?"
As Grandmaster, Jian Wuwei has experienced many vicissitudes, witnessed countless storms, and faced numerous life-or-death crises.
But the shock and fear that Zhang Yu brought him today have exceeded the sum of all he has experienced in his entire life.
That incredible insight, that indestructible Physical Body, that fiery and domineering power, and finally, that method of mimicking his Swordsmanship...
This can no longer be described as mere genius or prodigy.
This is simply inhuman.
It is a monster that has broken the norms of Martial Dao.
We must leave, we must leave immediately.
Years of life-or-death battles had honed my instincts, which were now frantically warning me of a chilling sensation that shot from the soles of my feet to the top of my head.
If I stay any longer, I'm afraid I'll lose my life here.
What is the dignity of Grandmaster? In the face of life and death, it is all worthless.
"Huichen, this boy is unpredictable; we cannot fight him head-on. We must retreat!"
Jian Wuwei to his reputation as a veteran Grandmaster, acting with extreme decisiveness. Once he made a decision, he did not hesitate at all.
He no longer even looked at Zhang Yu, and disregarded any semblance of Grandmaster demeanor. While shouting a warning to Huichen, his figure transformed into a blurry sword light, retreating at an even faster speed than when he came, back towards the passage he had come from.
But in the instant he fled, his gaze swept across the room and caught sight of Zhang Heng and Zhang Wanning, who lay lifeless in the corner.
His figure twisted strangely as he retreated, flashing past Zhang Heng and Zhang Wanning like a ghost, grabbing them by the waist, and shooting out of the Heavenly Prison without looking back.
Master Huichen reacted just as quickly, following closely behind.
Zhang Yu truly hadn't expected the two to escape so decisively, showing none of the demeanor of Grandmaster.
He had just grasped a new method of applying power and was about to test it on these two old bastards to verify his thoughts, but unexpectedly, they ran faster than rabbits.
Seeing that even the Great Grandmasters, Jian Wuwei and Huichen, were so frightened by Zhang Yu that they fled in panic.
The Imperial Family members, led by Xiao Zhengfeng, along with Li Danggang, Mo Zhai, and others who had narrowly escaped death, were initially stunned, but then erupted in ecstatic joy and uncontrollable excitement at surviving such a calamity.
Having just caught his breath, Xiao Xuan was now in high spirits.
He witnessed Zhang Yu's miraculous one-finger counterattack and his terrifying Sword Intent that he had just learned and applied. He no longer doubted Zhang Yu's identity Great Being Reincarnation, and his confidence swelled to the extreme.
"Strike while the iron is hot; if not now, when?"
Xiao Xuan's mind raced; he was ready to give the dog a good beating when it was down.
Despite his advanced age, his adrenaline surged, and he unleashed a surprising speed, chasing after Jian Wuwei fled, shouting as he did so:
"Thieves, please leave!"
He pursued the matter with righteous indignation and unstoppable momentum.
Jian Wuwei, carrying Zhang Heng and Zhang Wanning, was indeed slower than usual, and was quickly caught up by Xiao Xuan at the corner of the passage.
Huichen was indeed weighing the options in his mind; he originally didn't want to care about Jian Wuwei or death.
But Zhang Heng and Zhang Wanning are direct descendants of the Zhang Family, and are also the younger brother and sister of that Eldest Miss Zhang.
If he were to stand by and watch them be intercepted or even killed by Xiao Xuan, and then escape back alone, he would have no way to explain himself to Zhang Yuanfeng and Zhang Lingyun.
"Amitabha!"
Huichen made a decision in an instant. In a flash, he and Jian Wuwei formed a pincer movement, subtly surrounding Xiao Xuan who was chasing after them.
Seeing this, Xiao Xuan showed no fear, even forcing a smug, arrogant smile, and shouted:
"Young friend Zhang, please lend me a hand."
"Let's join forces and take down these two scoundrels."
He shouted with great force, as if Zhang Yu were right behind him, providing support.
In his opinion, Zhang Yu's ability to frighten the two of them was a testament to his strength.
If the two of them were to join forces at this moment, they could definitely defeat Jian Wuwei and his companion.
This is a perfect opportunity to solidify the bond between "comrades" and demonstrate the value of the Imperial Family!
However...
His expectant and confident voice echoed in the sky, but only elicited an awkward response.
The area in front of the Heavenly Prison was quiet.
There wasn't even a sound, let alone a glimpse of Zhang Yu.
Xiao Xuan's smile froze, and his heart began to pound wildly.
Where are they?
Why didn't you catch up?
He glanced behind him furtively out of the corner of his eye, but there was no one there.
Jian Wuwei and Huichen, who were on the opposite side, also felt a chill when they first heard Xiao Xuan's shout.
But after waiting for a while, Zhang Yu still hadn't appeared.
Both were seasoned veterans, and after some investigation, they discovered that apart from Xiao Xuan, the panting old man, no other powerful aura was approaching.
Jian Wuwei and Huichen exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of understanding in each other's eyes.
Although they didn't know why, they were certain that Zhang Yu hadn't chased after them.
Then the two men's expressions changed, and they gave Xiao Xuan, who was shouting, a strange smile.
You're in trouble.
Xiao Xuan: "..."
Holy crap, Zhang Xiaoyou, what are you up to?
What happened to fighting side-by-side?
What happened to pressing the attack after the victory?
How could you stand me up?
Seeing the undisguised sneers on Jian Wuwei and Huichen's faces, Xiao Xuan felt his scalp tingle and his back instantly soaked with cold sweat.
He chuckled twice and said:
"Well... Master Huichen is absolutely right. When will this cycle of revenge end? Fighting and killing are against the harmony of heaven and earth... Perhaps..."
Before he could finish speaking, a sharp Sword Qi slashed down mercilessly.
At the same time, Huichen also chanted a Buddhist prayer and struck out with his palm.
"Don't hit me in the face, I still have to see people... Ouch!"
Xiao Xuan screamed repeatedly and fled in a sorry state.