Fierce Battle

"Clang!"

A sword chime, clearer and more resonant than that of Tianya, rang out.

The Autumn Water Sword emerged in response.

The sword light was clear, like a pool of autumn water, devoid of any worldly aura.

Unlike the domineering, icy chill of the divine sword Tianya, the Autumn Water Sword radiated a pure, restrained sharpness.

Li Xiaoyu did not employ any flashy sword techniques.

He simply thrust his blade forward, and ripples of cyan light spread outward from the tip of his sword.

This was the most fundamental defensive sword stance of the Green Cloud Sect, emphasizing overcoming hardness with softness and neutralizing force.

Yet, in Li Xiaoyu's hands, this simplest of moves displayed an entirely different realm of mastery.

Those cyan ripples did not seem to be formed from spiritual energy, but rather like actual water waves.

They appeared fragile, yet they contained a strength as resilient as the vast ocean.

The moment the sky-filling ice crystals and snowflakes touched these cyan ripples, they vanished as if falling into spring water; their sharp sword qi was neutralized, and their biting chill was dissolved.

"Cling, clang..."

After a dense series of light sounds, all the ice crystals and snowflakes had completely melted away.

Li Xiaoyu's figure remained standing quietly in place, not even the hem of his robes fluttering.

This display, while appearing unremarkable, actually showcased his control over spiritual energy and his understanding of the Dao to the fullest extent.

The disciples below might not have grasped the profound mystery, but the masters of the various peaks on the viewing platform all saw their pupils constrict.

"Such pure spiritual energy! Such a clever method of neutralizing force!"

Zeng Shuchang, Master of Wind Return Peak, stroked his beard in admiration.

"To break a Small Bamboo Peak killing move with the most basic sword stance—this boy has a solid foundation!"

Shang Zhengliang's face was already beaming with joy, his pride nearly overflowing.

Meanwhile, Master Shuiyue's brows furrowed even tighter.

She knew her disciple had encountered a true opponent.

On the arena, a flash of surprise crossed Lu Xueqi's eyes.

She had not expected her sure-fire move to be neutralized so nonchalantly by her opponent.

But Lu Xueqi was not discouraged; instead, her fighting spirit grew even more intense.

"Again!"

With a sharp cry, she moved, her body following her sword as she transformed into a streak of white light, taking the initiative to attack Li Xiaoyu.

The divine sword Tianya seemed to come alive in her hands.

At times it was like a serpent emerging from its den, striking from tricky angles; at others, it was like a fierce tiger descending a mountain, possessing majestic momentum;

At times, it was like a crane spreading its wings, light and elegant.

Every move and stance was a superior sword technique of Small Bamboo Peak, exquisite and peerless.

Facing Lu Xueqi's storm-like assault, Li Xiaoyu remained calm and unhurried.

His footsteps seemed to contain a peculiar rhythm, always allowing him to dodge the most ferocious attacks within a square inch, using the smallest possible movements.

The Autumn Water Sword in his hand was like an extension of his arm; every block and every counterattack was perfectly timed.

The two figures crossed paths rapidly on the arena.

Sword lights flickered, and sword qi crisscrossed.

Two beams of light, one blue and one cyan, collided repeatedly, emitting a series of crisp clangs of metal striking metal.

The disciples below were already watching, completely mesmerized.

This was no longer a simple duel of magic; it was a feast for the eyes in the art of swordsmanship.

Lu Xueqi's swordsmanship was beauty, was coldness, was a fairy scattering ice and snow from the nine heavens.

Li Xiaoyu's swordsmanship was rhythm, was nature, was the Great Dao integrated into heaven and earth; every gesture was a return to simplicity.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged over a hundred moves.

The longer they fought, the more alarmed Lu Xueqi became.

She discovered that no matter how she increased her offensive or changed her sword moves, her opponent was like a deep sea, easily absorbing and neutralizing all her power.

Yet, she remained unable to fathom his true depth.

This feeling left her feeling powerless.

No, I cannot let this continue!

Lu Xueqi steeled her heart. After clashing with Li Xiaoyu once more, she used the force to retreat and create distance.

A grave expression appeared on her pretty face as she held the divine sword Tianya vertically before her chest, her hands forming profound incantations.

"Tianya, rise!"

Following her command, the divine sword Tianya let out a high-pitched cry, shot into the sky, and hovered above her head.

A cold aura, several times more powerful than before, erupted from the blade.

A thin layer of frost began to condense on the surface of the arena.

"This is... controlling the sword with the spirit!"

A discerning disciple below the stage exclaimed in shock.

This had already surpassed the scope of the Object-Driving Realm of the Jade Purity Realm; it was an advanced Daoist technique that could only be performed when one's primordial spirit was powerful enough and their control over a magic treasure had reached an extremely high level!

Li Xiaoyu's eyes finally turned grave.

He knew that Lu Xueqi was about to get serious.

"Go!"

Lu Xueqi pressed her fingers together like a sword and pointed them toward Li Xiaoyu from afar.

The divine sword Tianya, suspended in the air, instantly transformed into a brilliant blue rainbow, tearing through the air with a shrill whistle as it lunged toward Li Xiaoyu.

The speed of this strike was extreme!

The power of this strike was enough to pierce through mountains!

Facing this earth-shattering blow, Li Xiaoyu knew that ordinary moves would be unable to withstand it.

He poured the spiritual energy within his body into the Autumn Water Sword without reservation.

At the same time, Li Xiaoyu sank his consciousness into his dantian, communicating with that dusty Wine Gourd.

"Lend me your edge!"

Hum!

Inside the space of the gourd, that strand of Innate Geng Metal Sword Qi trembled slightly.

A thread of incomparably slender golden aura flowed along Li Xiaoyu's meridians and merged into the Autumn Water Sword in his hand.

In an instant, a golden stream of light suddenly ignited along the blade of the Autumn Water Sword, which had previously kept its luster restrained.

An indestructible sharpness flashed across the blade.

At this moment, Li Xiaoyu's gaze also became sharp.

He did not retreat, nor did he dodge.

He met it head-on!

Li Xiaoyu gripped the Autumn Water Sword with both hands and slashed down at the blue rainbow lunging toward him!

"Clang!"

A piercing sound of metal clashing rang out across the entire Heaven-Reaching Peak!

The cyan sword light and the blue rainbow collided violently in the center of the arena!

Everyone assumed that the next scene would be the Autumn Water Sword shattering and Li Xiaoyu vomiting blood as he was sent flying backward.

After all, that was the full-force strike of the divine weapon Tianya!

However, what happened next subverted everyone's understanding.

At the point where the two swords met, a brilliant light erupted.

A shockwave of energy spread outward like a tsunami.

The entire floor of the arena collapsed under the impact, with spiderweb cracks spreading in all directions.

And right at the center of that light.

The Autumn Water Sword had not shattered!

Not only did it not break, but it held firmly against the tip of the divine sword Tianya, preventing it from advancing even an inch!

"How is this possible!"

On the viewing platform, Master Shuiyue stood up abruptly, her face full of astonishment.

She knew the sharpness of the divine sword Tianya better than anyone.

Let alone a high-grade magic sword, even an ordinary divine weapon would only be cut in two under a full-force strike from Tianya!

Yet now, it had been blocked head-on by an Autumn Water Sword?

Shang Zhengliang was also stunned; although he knew the Autumn Water Sword was a fine piece he had crafted himself, it certainly did not possess such power!

What on earth was going on?

On the arena, no one felt it more deeply than Lu Xueqi.

The moment the two swords made contact, she felt an aura that made her soul tremble emanating from the tip of the opponent's sword.

That aura was pure and overbearing!

It was as if it were born for the sole purpose of severing everything in the world!

How could this be?

Tianya was forged from exotic iron of the nine heavens and imbued with the righteous energy of heaven and earth; how could it be?

Lu Xueqi raised her head, peering through the brilliant radiance to stare fixedly at Li Xiaoyu opposite her.

She saw that Li Xiaoyu's face was also strained.

Clearly, meeting this blow head-on was by no means easy for him either.

Yet his eyes were startlingly bright, filled with confidence and a fighting spirit.

Their gazes met once more in the air.

In each other's eyes, they saw the excitement of meeting a worthy opponent!

"Again!"

They shouted almost in unison.

They simultaneously channeled their spiritual energy, and both swords erupted with an even more dazzling light, neither willing to yield!