Xie Jinghan vs. Gong Feiyu

Xie Jinghan no longer pursued only the sharpness of the sword; he had gained a measure of rounded clarity.

His sword intent could be unleashed and withdrawn at will, seamless and whole.

After three months of refinement, improvement, accumulation, and tempering..., the Sword-Drawing Technique's power had already surged severalfold.

He raised a hand and gently stroked the Thunderclap Sword at his waist. Its blade was faintly cool, subtly resonating and trembling with his sword heart, its clear hum ringing out.

It seemed to conceal immense power within.

Over the next three days, Xie Jinghan sat quietly upon the bluestone platform in Parasol Tree Courtyard, slowly adjusting his body, mind, and sword intent to their peak.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the day of the decisive battle, Heaven-Bearing Prefecture's Wangjiang Terrace was more spectacular than ever, far more sensational than Chu Ning's sword challenge three months ago.

That past battle had been a contest between swordsmen, a clash of youthful spirit.

They had stopped at the proper point.

But today's duel was born of Jianghu grudges, a final verdict of life and death!

The outcome of this battle concerned the survival or destruction of the century-old Xie clan.

The news had long since spread throughout Central Province, drawing countless Jianghu factions and martial heroes to this place.

Before dawn had fully broken, Wangjiang Terrace was already a sea of people, with carriages and horses clogging the roads.

The riverbank levees, riverside pavilions, ancient trees, and elevated platforms were packed with spectators in every direction.

Descendants of great families, cultivators from sects, and Jianghu heroes had gathered here. Thousands of martial auras intertwined and surged, yet not one person dared speak loudly.

The Mystic Azure Sword Sect, Azure City Sword Sect, Central Province Wang Household, the great martial families, and independent cultivator factions had all arrived.

All watched with bated breath.

Wangjiang Terrace stood empty and desolate, with only the river wind churning and waves crashing against the shore.

Bearing the fate of his entire clan alone, Xie Jinghan arrived at Wangjiang Terrace once more.

He wore a plain-colored long robe and stood alone atop the platform.

His aura was even more restrained now, his edge hidden within the formless.

He closed his eyes and focused his mind, allowing the vast river wind to stir his robes. His heart was clear and empty, without joy or sorrow, without fear or cowardice.

The appointed hour slowly approached. The blazing sun hung high overhead, golden light spilling across the platform. The decisive battle was at hand.

Suddenly—!

The river wind between heaven and earth froze. A bone-chilling, sinister, tyrannical sword intent, carrying endless slaughter, spread in from afar.

Xie Jinghan abruptly opened his eyes. His dark pupils shone brilliantly as he murmured to himself, "He's here."

At that moment—!

High in the sky, a streak of demonic crimson Flowing Light suddenly tore through the air, swift beyond measure. Like a blood-colored sword radiance ripping apart the heavens, it landed steadily upon Wangjiang Terrace in an instant!

Bang—!

A soft tremor rang out, and a wave of air swept in all directions.

"It's the Blood Shadow Technique, the Blood Slaughter Sect's exclusive secret art!" a martial artist below cried out.

As the blood-colored radiance dispersed, an extraordinary young man stood proudly revealed.

His crimson brocade robes fluttered fiercely, his black hair flying wildly in the river wind, his features strikingly handsome.

A trace of killing intent lingered at the corner of his lips, while his bearing stood apart from the world.

He was none other than the Blood Slaughter Sect's Holy Son—Gong Feiyu.

He first swept his gaze around, saw the vast crowd below the platform, and slightly curled his lips, seeming quite pleased with himself.

Then he looked indifferently at Xie Jinghan opposite him and said calmly:

"I, Gong Feiyu, have always kept my word."

"If you win today, all past grievances will be wiped clean, and the Blood Slaughter Sect will never trouble the Xie Household in the slightest again."

"If you lose, the Xie Household will be destroyed, and all cause and effect will be settled."

"Humph!"

"Empty words cannot be trusted."

Xie Jinghan stood tall and straight, cold clarity gleaming in his eyes without the slightest trace of fear.

"I trust only the sword in my hand."

He looked at Gong Feiyu, his gaze bright, and said, "I have newly comprehended a sword strike, one that can test the heroes of the world!"

"Do you dare to try it!?"

Hearing this, Gong Feiyu raised a brow and burst into arrogant laughter.

"Use me to test your sword? Arrogant! Laughable!"

"A mere First Stage of the Innate Realm, and you think you can shake someone at the Fourth Stage of the Innate Realm?"

"You do not know the height of heaven or the depth of earth!?"

"Very well. Since you insist on seeking death, I shall grant your wish."

"I would like to see how you plan to cross three stages of cultivation."

As his words fell, Gong Feiyu's Innate True Qi surged explosively!

Hum—!

His True Qi was crimson, sweeping across the entire Wangjiang Terrace like a tide of blood.

"What? The Fourth Stage of the Innate Realm?!"

"Did I hear that right?!"

"As expected of the Blood Slaughter Sect's current fourth-ranked Holy Son. His cultivation has broken through another stage!"

"His talent is terrifying."

"Xie Jinghan is only at the First Stage of the Innate Realm. How is he supposed to fight this?!"

Many martial artists beneath Wangjiang Terrace cried out in shock, their exclamations unceasing.

Clang—!

The sword at Gong Feiyu's waist seemed to possess a spirit. Before its master could even urge it on, it rang as it flew from its sheath.

The crimson blade flowed like blood-colored light, hovering before him.

"A Divine Weapon!"

"It's a Divine Weapon..."

"The Divine Weapon Blood Rain!"

"It is said this sword was the killing blade carried by an ancient great general. In his campaigns of old, a million corpses lay fallen, blood flowed until it floated pestles, and its murderous aura reached the heavens!."

"Ancient records say that when it entered the world, blood rained from the skies and ghosts wailed while gods howled!"

The crowd below instantly erupted. Countless martial artists' pupils contracted as they cried out in disbelief.

"Xie Jinghan!"

"Let me see exactly how capable you are!?"

Gong Feiyu stood tall and stretched out his right hand, his five fingers clamping tightly around the sword hilt. In an instant, a violent and tyrannical sword intent erupted, and myriad killing auras swept through all directions.

Even a lion used its full strength to hunt a rabbit!

He did not dare be careless.

His sword intent spread out, blanketing heaven and earth, every strand of aura rising to its peak.

The firmament split apart as blood clouds churned.

Some of the martial artists standing nearby felt a chill run through their hearts, their bodies trembling.

Facing the sword intent that blanketed heaven and earth, as well as the oppressive force of a Fourth Stage Innate Realm cultivation, Xie Jinghan's expression remained unchanged, his gaze resolute.

His right hand slowly gripped the hilt of the Thunderclap Sword at his waist, his fingers tightening.

All his True Qi, all his focus, all his sword intent—everything was drawn in, condensed, and united as one!

All of it gathered within the Thunderclap Sword.

"Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"

The Thunderclap Sword shrieked and trembled madly within its sheath.

Xie Jinghan's right hand gripped the hilt with deadly force.

The next instant, a tiny silver-white spark appeared upon Xie Jinghan's body, followed by another, then spark after spark.

More and more...

Countless silver-white sparks darted and leaped across the surface of his body.

Upon the elevated platform, dense silver-white lightning crisscrossed in a dazzling blaze.

An uproar rose from below, and countless martial artists stood dumbfounded.

"What kind of move is this?!"

"Is that thunder?! Lightning?!"

"Xie Jinghan didn't use this move last time?!"

"Is this the new sword strike he comprehended?!"

Just as sparks burst forth across Xie Jinghan's body, scarlet blood rain suddenly began to fall in a rustling shower over the platform.

Gong Feiyu's sword intent stained itself in blood, his sword move transformed into rain.

The killing aura that filled the sky poured down.

The two ultimate powers collided violently, tearing apart heaven and earth.

The entire Wangjiang Terrace was divided into two opposing domains: one silver-white, the other blood-red.

They confronted one another across the air, each holding half the field.

Rumble—!

Crack—!

It was as though thunder had been drawn forth between heaven and earth.