Black and white qi surged across the sky, and that unfathomably shifting sword intent manifested once more, blurring the boundary between life and death.
The Sword Lock talisman above Liu Qi rapidly burned away, turning to drifting ash. Yet his expression remained resolute, and the pure white magical light in his hand continued crashing down.
Cinnabar Thunder rang incessantly, the Heavenly Peng wind-and-thunder patterns upon it shining brightly. Xu Xuan felt his mind become clear and penetrating, as though he had gained a fresh insight into the Sword Dao.
In his eyes, Liu Qi's dharma body became transparent, transforming into a mass of cloudy qi mingled with white feathers, water, and fire. Xu Xuan drew his sword, seemingly able to see his opponent's weaknesses, and slashed into a fissure in that pure white mysterious radiance, reducing it to a cloud of luminous dust.
Xu Xuan's gaze was calm. He seemed to have forgotten that he was fighting at all. Thunderclouds gathered around him, and dazzling silver-white lightning continued accumulating, layer upon layer.
He could now see the "tribulations" upon his opponent, and even felt that he could cut down with his sword and trigger those calamities. His previous strike had landed precisely upon the tribulation of that Great Simplicity light, dispelling it in an instant.
Liu Qi's gaze darkened, but he did not retreat. He said quietly:
"You've been chosen."
Xu Xuan's expression remained unchanged. He merely drew his sword slowly and smiled.
"Without that talisman, why don't you try again and see whether you can kill me?"
Liu Qi still did not retreat, saying only in a low voice:
"I have no way back. Retreat means death, and advancing means death. Naturally, I have to stake everything on one fight."
The immortal foundation within him began circulating. His feathered