When Xuanyi emerged from the ruins on the front mountain, he wore an ocher-red monk's robe embroidered with gold thread. His steps were unhurried, and prayer beads turned slowly in his left hand.
But the aura radiating from him made Xu Yuhu's eyelids twitch.
True Astral Realm completion, just like himself. A formidable enemy!
Seeing that his greatest enemy had appeared, Xu Yuhu held his sword horizontally before him, a layer of silvery-white astral energy coiling around the blade, and shouted:
"Xuanyi, give me a reason."
Xuanyi stopped thirty zhang away, turned his prayer beads once, and pressed his palms together as he replied:
"Amitabha. Sect Master Xu, this humble monk has no wish to be your enemy, but some matters leave us no choice."
Since his opponent had said that, Xu Yuhu knew only one of their two sects could survive.
He struck.
The Profound Sword Pavilion's swordsmanship emphasized speed, and Xu Yuhu's sword was faster still.
His figure vanished from the steps. The next instant, he was before Xuanyi, his sword tip thrusting toward the monk's throat.
Xuanyi flung out his prayer beads, wrapping them around the blade. He brought his palms together, golden astral energy surging from them as he struck at Xu Yuhu's chest.
The two began fighting before the hall on the rear mountain.
Shock waves from the collisions of sword qi and palm force ripped up a broad swath of bluestone paving in the square before the hall. The stone lamp pillars on either side were sheared apart by the aftershocks, sending rubble flying.
Xu Yuhu's swordsmanship was exquisite. Every move sought a gap in his opponent's astral energy defenses and struck to kill.
His sword moved too quickly to follow. Only silvery-white streaks of light could be seen weaving through the air.
Xuanyi's