The Eleventh Sword

"I'm afraid I couldn't withstand even one move of Liu Xiao's spear art." Among the Qin, Qin Xiongfeng spoke gravely.

"The Yellow Tier intermediate spear art, Wave-Breaking True Spear Art, has nine waves. Each is stronger than the last, and they come without end."

Qin Hao watched the arena. "The third, fifth, seventh, and ninth waves each reach a peak of power. Even the third wave would be difficult for you to withstand."

In their unbroken succession, Wave-Breaking True Spear Art closely resembled the first form of Qin Hao's Firmament Phantom Sword Laws. Shadowless, too, produced overlapping sword shadows that seemed to go on without end.

But there were differences. Shadowless created far more sword shadows, and its force was immense.

Wave-Breaking True Spear Art, even at its ninth wave, contained only nine.

As for their power...

Even the same sword art could differ as much as heaven and earth in different hands. It depended entirely on how deeply each person understood the sword art or martial technique.

Without crossing blades, Qin Hao could not judge. But with Shadowless alone, he was confident he could crush Liu Xiao's third wave.

"Chen Yuntian could already use the Two-Yi Sword Art several years ago. After all this time Past, he must have improved greatly. And there's the gap in their cultivation..."

Qin Hao considered it. "It'll be very hard for Liu Xiao to win this fight."

Qin Hao did not know exactly how strong Liu Xiao was, but he could make a rough guess at Chen Yuntian's strength.

"Young Master Qin Hao is right. I'm afraid Liu Xiao will lose," Qin Xiongfeng agreed.

On the platform, Chen Yuntian swept his sword through the air, and a Sword Blossoms appeared.

"A mere third wave won't be enough against me."

The Sword Blossoms held Yin and Yang, intertwining as they spun. It struck Liu Xiao's third wave with a crash.

A fissure opened through the middle of the three waves. It widened until, with a roar, the waves shattered!

The spectators' eyes widened.

"What a formidable strike!"

"This old man has practiced sword arts for over twenty years, but today has truly opened my eyes. First Qin Hao used Shadowless and formed a full sixty sword shadows! Now Chen Yuntian has shown himself to be a master of the sword as well. Even I would need to put some thought into blocking that strike."

"Liu Xiao's Wave-Breaking True Spear Art is strong, but I'm afraid the fifth wave would barely suffice. Only the seventh wave might block that strike. The Two-Yi Sword Art truly deserves to be the Chen's ancestral sword art!"

Beside the presiding stand, an old man in a pine-green robe held a treasured sword in his arms. His stern face betrayed a flicker of surprise.

Several other martial artists stood beside him, men and women alike. Each had white hair and a powerful aura.

They were martial artists who had long been renowned throughout Tianshui City!

Even the three great Lineages had gone to great lengths to win them over. The old man who had spoken was Huang Sanjian, known as the Sword Fanatic. Since making his name, he had defeated every opponent in three strikes.

"Quite impressive. I wonder how far Chen Yuntian has cultivated the Two-Yi Sword Art."

"That was likely its first form, Yin-Yang. The power of that strike already rivaled an all-out attack from someone at the eighth level of the Body Tempering Realm."

The others voiced their admiration.

Since the Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament began, only Qin Hao's Shadowless, used in his fight against Liu Kuang, had caught their attention and drawn a few comments from Huang Sanjian. Now a single strike from Chen Yuntian had impressed them just as deeply.

The Two-Yi Sword Art really is powerful. I wonder how it compares to my Firmament Phantom Sword Laws, Qin Hao thought, nodding to himself.

On the platform.

Disbelief covered Liu Xiao's face. He had known the third wave could not defeat Chen Yuntian, but he had never expected Chen Yuntian to break it in an instant.

"That was the first move!"

Chen Yuntian spoke evenly. "Liu Xiao, show me everything you have. Otherwise, I can defeat you in three strikes!"

Liu Xiao snorted. "That was only an appetizer. Now you'll see my true strength!"

"Second thrust, fifth wave!"

Liu Xiao's spear moved like a dragon. Five waves surged into view like breakers pounding the shore, a breathtaking sight. His spear trembled without pause as he drove the waves toward Chen Yuntian.

"Still not enough."

With a low shout, Chen Yuntian thrust his sword toward Liu Xiao. Sword Blossoms bearing both Yin and Yang swept toward him.

Clang, clang, clang...

Spear and sword clashed furiously across the platform. Metal rang against metal as neither man held back!

And both had mastered their movement techniques. They darted and wheeled so swiftly that the eye could scarcely follow them.

The first form of the Two-Yi Sword Art, Yin-Yang, is this powerful?

The longer they fought, the more alarmed Liu Xiao became. At first, his fifth wave had met Chen Yuntian head-on without losing ground. But after several exchanges, Chen Yuntian's Sword Force had not weakened, while the fifth wave showed signs of breaking apart.

Worse still, Chen Yuntian's cultivation far surpassed Liu Xiao's.

Not good!

Chen Yuntian suddenly stepped forward, driving his Sword Laws straight toward Liu Xiao's heart. Liu Xiao's expression changed, and he retreated sharply.

"Seventh wave!"

Seven waves appeared and rushed together toward the Sword Laws.

Below the platform, the spectators stared openmouthed. Their eyes could no longer keep up with the fight.

"Good heavens, is this how geniuses fight?"

"This is terrifying! I doubt I'd last a single move!"

"Chen Yuntian truly deserves to be a favorite for first place in this year's Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament."

The crowd murmured, their excitement rising.

A fight this spectacular could only be seen when the top three places in the Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament were at stake.

"Ten strikes are nearly up. Time to end this."

As though he had expected Liu Xiao's seventh wave, Chen Yuntian abruptly changed the course of his Sword Laws.

"Sudden Shift!"

At his shout, the Sword Laws sweeping toward Liu Xiao accelerated severalfold. Its scattered Sword Blossoms merged into one.

The force of this Sword Laws was even more terrifying!

Bang, bang, bang, bang...

Seven heavy impacts sounded in succession. The seven waves Liu Xiao had just unleashed shattered one after another. Chen Yuntian's attack drove on toward him without losing force.

Liu Xiao's eyes narrowed in disbelief. Without a moment's hesitation, he snapped his spear forward!

Nine waves burst into view!

His spear carried a terrifying force as it bore down on Chen Yuntian.

What was the ninth wave?

It gathered the power of every preceding move into one. The might of that thrust was plain to imagine.

Chen Yuntian was briefly surprised. Then his face darkened. Including his last strike, he had used exactly ten Sword Laws, but he had not expected Liu Xiao to truly unleash the ninth wave.

"Fall!"

With a low shout, Chen Yuntian drove his Sword Laws against Liu Xiao's spear. A vast force surged through it. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he knocked the spear into the air. He stepped forward, and his Sword Laws came to rest against Liu Xiao's chest.

Another centimeter, and it would have wounded him.

"You lost."

Chen Yuntian said gravely, "You may have mastered Wave-Breaking True Spear Art, but you're still far from its pinnacle."

"You did well to make me use an eleventh Sword Laws."