Within the pavilion, Sword Radiance gathered without fading, like a mighty mountain bearing down overhead, like a great river surging east.
Gongsun Xi's aura reached its peak. She drew her sword and danced, making the pavilion tremble. Darkness swallowed everything but Sword Radiance.
The Dharma Sword condensed from Kan Water in her hand twisted like a roaming dragon, like the nine luminaries crossing the heavens. It encompassed the universe, leaving nowhere to hide.
When her sword moved, it carried the crushing force of thunder; when it withdrew, it was like the waves of rivers and seas frozen still. Movement and stillness rose and turned, purity and turbidity shifting with them.
Xu Xuan had only ever seen Xiao Xueya display such changes in sword momentum at the Law-Observing Hall, moving and stopping at will. Compared with Gongsun Xi now, however, that man from the Liao Kingdom's saber technique seemed riddled with flaws, hardly worthy of comparison.
Every spectator was shaken. One moment their spirits sank, the next their resolve soared, changing with her graceful dance.
Had they not been dueling, Xu Xuan would certainly have beaten time and sighed in admiration at this sword dance. But that sword intent was far too overwhelming for him to entertain any other thoughts now.
A strand of sword intent circled above the blade, gradually rising. Xu Xuan held his ground within the thunder marsh, pressing down layer upon layer of lightning to shield himself. The Heavenly Drum shook, its roars surging.
Xu Xuan steadied his mind, yet noticed something amiss. Gongsun Xi was letting the intent lead her, rather than mastering it herself. Exquisite though her sword dance was, it was merely a means of bringing forth this sword intent.
Gongsun Xi pointed her Dharma Sword upward. Lightning surged in Xu Xuan's hands, and