Supreme Unity Golden Sword

Li Junmo hurriedly controlled the Cloud Sword to defend himself as he retreated, once again using Flowing Cloud Moon-Stepping in an attempt to widen the distance.

But Lu Lingxiao was faster. He pursued like a shadow, and the three Cloud Swords clung to Li Junmo like maggots to bone, sealing off every escape route.

With nowhere to dodge, Li Junmo could only pour all his strength into Flowing Cloud Myriad Forms, laying down layer upon layer of cloud shields around himself.

But Lu Lingxiao's Cloud Swords were incomparably sharp, piercing through several layers of defense in an instant.

A tremendous force struck Li Junmo. His chest tightened, and he staggered, nearly falling.

He steadied himself, but before he could react, he saw the tip of one of Lu Lingxiao's Cloud Swords hovering just inches from his throat.

The victor had been decided.

Li Junmo looked at the Cloud Sword suspended before him, then at Lu Lingxiao's composed expression, and gave a helpless smile.

I lost again—and this time, it was a complete defeat. Lu Lingxiao hadn't even used his other top-tier Dao Technique.

The other Dao Technique Lu Lingxiao had mastered was a pure offensive art, its power far surpassing the utility-focused Flowing Cloud Myriad Forms.

Li Junmo had witnessed its power before. If Lu Lingxiao had used it, he would likely have lost long ago.

Li Junmo dispersed the clouds around himself and cupped his hands. "Junior Brother's Dao Technique is profound. Senior Brother accepts his defeat wholeheartedly."

Lu Lingxiao also dispersed his Cloud Swords and returned the salute. "Senior Brother Li, you let me win."

The referee immediately announced, "Number Two wins."

After making the announcement, he asked again, "Will you challenge Number One?"

Lu Lingxiao nodded slightly, his gaze already fixed on Chen Xuan below the stage.

Chen Xuan leaped lightly onto the challenge stage.

Li Junmo had already stepped down.

Next came the final match of the Outer Sect Grand Competition.

"Lu Lingxiao, please enlighten me."

Lu Lingxiao looked at Chen Xuan and cupped his hands.

"Gladly!" Chen Xuan replied with a smile.

The referee then announced the start of the match.

Chen Xuan attacked at once, holding nothing back.

With a thought, the Azure Heaven Dragon Transformation Art sprang into action.

The 120 Dragon Marks were no longer concealed. They appeared beneath the skin of his arms, taking the form of blue dragon patterns that shimmered with flowing light.

An overwhelming force of vital energy, far beyond that of an ordinary body cultivator at the first realm's peak, spread out from him, carrying the faint might of a dragon's roar.

"Is that... the Azure Heaven Dragon Transformation Art?"

Among the disciples watching, Li Junmo's eyes widened, surprise showing on his face.

The disciples around the square who had heard of the Azure Heaven Dragon Transformation Art's reputation erupted in commotion.

"Well, well. I knew his physique was extraordinary, but I never imagined he had this technique," one elder said with a smile.

The three elders had noticed during the first round that Chen Xuan had trained his body, but they hadn't probed him with their spiritual senses. So they hadn't known he practiced the Azure Heaven Dragon Transformation Art.

"Senior Brother Lu, watch out!"

As Chen Xuan spoke, his figure shot toward Lu Lingxiao like a streak of light. Then he threw a punch.

The punch tore through the air with a violent sonic boom.

At that moment, Chen Xuan's body was not only powerful; with Flowing Cloud Moon-Chasing, his speed was astonishing as well.

Lu Lingxiao had no time to dodge. He could only activate Flowing Cloud Myriad Forms, forming layer upon layer of cloud shields before him.

The powerful punch slammed into the layered shields.

Though the shields formed by Flowing Cloud Myriad Forms were incredibly tough, the outermost one shattered beneath Chen Xuan's punch. Then the second, the third...

Lu Lingxiao's expression shifted. Before all the shields could shatter, he used Flowing Cloud Moon-Stepping, his figure drifting backward like smoke. He narrowly dodged the aftershock of the punch.

Chen Xuan's physique was astonishing. Close-quarters combat put him at a disadvantage; he had to keep his distance.

Once he had steadied himself, Lu Lingxiao's expression turned grave.

He rapidly formed hand seals, and spiritual energy surged around him.

He gave a low shout. "Supreme Unity Golden Sword!"

In an instant, golden light blazed overhead on the fighting stage. One after another, gleaming, razor-sharp swords of spiritual energy took shape out of thin air.

Their tips pointed straight at Chen Xuan. Fierce Sword Qi spread through the air, which seemed to split apart with a faint, hissing sound.

This was the other top-tier offensive Dao Technique Lu Lingxiao had mastered. Its pure destructive power far surpassed that of the utility-focused Flowing Cloud Myriad Forms. It was also his true trump card.

"Go!"

Lu Lingxiao pointed with two fingers. Several Supreme Unity Golden Swords shot through the air, turning into streaks of golden light as they hurtled toward Chen Xuan at incredible speed. They left faint sword marks even on the hard ground in their wake.

Facing such a fearsome attack, Chen Xuan didn't dare be careless.

His thoughts raced, and he activated the Purple Imperial Dragon Flame within him.

"Roar—!"

A faint dragon's roar rang out. A purple flame rose from Chen Xuan's palm, instantly transforming into a majestic purple fire dragon that grew as it met the wind. Its searing heat made the light around it shimmer and warp.

"Purple Imperial Dragon Flame, go!"

Chen Xuan, too, raised a hand and waved.

The purple fire dragon gave a silent roar and darted toward the incoming Supreme Unity Golden Swords.

It didn't meet them head-on. Instead, it twisted its body, struck with its dragon claws, and swept with its tail, intercepting the golden sword beams with precision.

Every collision between purple flame and golden sword erupted in a dazzling flash and violent waves of energy, accompanied by the hissing sound of searing fire.

The purple flames contained tremendous burning power. Even the razor-sharp light of the Supreme Unity Golden Swords seemed to melt and dim.

"That flame... it must be the Spirit-Devouring Profound Fire. I can't believe it has such power and sentience!"

Watching from below, Li Junmo, a disciple of Cinnabar Firmament, recognized the flame.

He couldn't help but feel envious as he watched the Profound Fire.

As he'd said, he had placed fourth in the Floating Cloud Trial back then, which meant he could only exchange for high-grade Dao Techniques. So he had missed out on the Spirit-Devouring Profound Fire.

All these years, he'd been saving Contribution Points, but he was still a little short of the amount needed to exchange for a top-tier Dao Technique.

But he was close. Once this Outer Sect Grand Competition ended and he broke through to the Spirit Sea Realm, he would have enough Contribution Points to obtain the technique.

Seeing the Purple Imperial Dragon Flame's might, he found himself looking forward to his own Profound Fire.

Several elders on the elevated platform also looked astonished.

Elder Zhang exclaimed, "This flame takes an extraordinary form and is controlled with such precision that it seems alive. Its power even surpasses that of ordinary Spirit-Devouring Profound Fire. This young man is truly gifted."

Damn, I regret it more and more.

Can't I just snatch him up as a disciple?

On the stage, Lu Lingxiao was even more shaken to see the Supreme Unity Golden Swords blocked by the Purple Imperial Dragon Flame.

He poured all his strength into his spiritual energy, conjuring more and denser Supreme Unity Golden Swords until they formed a rain of golden blades. He meant to overwhelm the purple flames with sheer numbers and break through their blockade.

Chen Xuan also pushed the Purple Imperial Dragon Flame to its limits. The purple fire dragon swelled in size, flames raging as it shielded him completely, while continually splitting off smaller streams of dragon flame that lunged at the rain of golden swords.

For a time, golden and purple light interwove and clashed across the stage. Roars rang out, and waves of heat churned, leaving the watching disciples dazzled and enthralled.

After holding its ground for a moment, the purple fire dragon suddenly let out a high-pitched roar. The purple flames around it abruptly drew inward, condensing into a streak of purple fire refined to the utmost. Fast as lightning, it shot through a gap in the golden sword rain and straight toward Lu Lingxiao!