The clash between Sword Qi and the true body of Gods and Devils was vast enough to overturn heaven and earth, returning the Four Symbols and Five Elements to chaos.
But this was not a true battle, after all. Compared to the interweaving and probing of the two Sword Masters' wills, the termination of the sword techniques themselves came far more swiftly.
In the instant An Jing and Liu Xuanji exchanged words, their sword techniques—capable of shattering all things and warping the flow of time—shook space-time itself, causing the surrounding Taixu to collapse into great swathes of fragments resembling a diamond lattice.
Above Liucui Island in the South Sea of Dahuang, the vortex of azure Sword Qi swirling around An Jing lost the continuing power supplied from that distant other end. Like duckweed without roots, it gradually dimmed, went out, and finally scattered into the long wind.
At the Heavenly Pass in the Northwest, that resplendent white sword light condensed from the power of the Heavenly Venerable likewise shattered beneath the impact of Heavenly Punishment Radiant Qilin's enormous horn, dissolving into a sky full of motes of light.
Only the last few lingering strands of sword light streaked through the air like stars, striking the Qilin's scales of reverse-grown inverted scales and leaving several white marks.
"Mm. I was actually slightly inferior?"
Heavenly Punishment Radiant Qilin lowered its eight crimson-gold eyes, a trace of solemnity appearing on its face.
Judging from the outcome, the two sides' final strike had been almost evenly matched. Yet Liu Xuanji knew as clearly as a mirror that he had lost a move.
At the very last moment, even that final remnant of sword light still contained an unyielding intent to attack. Yet after blocking every attack that posed a real threat, his mind had