Battling Jia Sheng, the Shadow-Chasing Sword and the Power of Heaven and Earth Manifestation

Boom!

Amid a violent Qi Explosion, the fluctuations of Xu Taiping's aura suddenly spread outward from him.

Zhao Qian and the others, who were still puzzled by Jia Sheng's will to survive, abruptly turned their attention to Xu Taiping.

Zhao Qian said with a look of astonishment:

"The aura coming from Taiping is already no weaker than that of an ordinary cultivator who has just entered the Heaven Gazing Realm!"

Dugu Qingxiao, however, was not surprised in the slightest.

After all, he had sensed these powerful aura fluctuations from Xu Taiping many years ago.

Clang!

Just then, the third toll of the bell rang out above the Sword Platform.

"The Sword Inquiry has begun!"

Everyone in the Azure Profound Sect's stands, including Sect Master Zhao Qian and Second Senior Brother Dugu Qingxiao, felt their hearts tighten.

Almost simultaneously, the Sword Qi Barrier separating Xu Taiping and Jia Sheng on the Sword Platform abruptly dissipated.

Shing!

Without giving anyone time to react, the Bronze Flying Sword above Jia Sheng's head shot through the air with a whoosh the instant the Sword Qi Barrier dispersed, hurtling toward Xu Taiping at a speed scarcely visible to the naked eye.

From a distance, it looked like a thin silver thread connecting Jia Sheng and Xu Taiping.

Sching!

But just as the flying sword was about to pierce the Protective Gang Qi surrounding Xu Taiping, he abruptly drew his blade. At the same time, an enormous lotus throne, with Dragon-Crane Illusions circling it, suddenly expanded outward from him.

This was Xu Taiping's eight-zhang Unceasing Blade Domain.

The instant the eight-zhang Blade Domain opened, Xu Taiping suddenly appeared beside the flying sword as though using Instantaneous Movement, and slashed down at it.

Bam!

Amid a tremendous crash, Xu Taiping shattered the flying sword's Sword Intent with