"Boom...!"
Amid a crash like shattering metal and stone, the sword light carried by Rusty Lion cleaved through the sword qi and sword intent surging from the sword pool almost as soon as the sound rang out.
"Bang!!!"
Yet even so, the character "Ember," formed from the broken sword's sword intent within the pool, remained entirely unscathed.
Thus, although the Rusty Lion Sword plunged heavily into the sword pool, it was knocked back out in an instant by the sword qi and sword intent stirred by that Ember character.
"Clang...!"
Driven out of the sword pool once again, the Rusty Lion Sword let out a sharp, defiant sword cry and circled Xu Taiping incessantly.
It seemed to want Xu Taiping to draw his sword with all his strength.
At the sight, Old Daoist Huang immediately said helplessly:
"I fear that even if he draws his sword with his full fighting strength, unless Xu Taiping can break this Ember sword intent, he still won't be able to make Rusty Lion the master of the sword pool."
Ping'an, who had already received the aid of divine intent, slammed the enormous stone staff in his hands against the ground, then shouted to Xu Taiping:
"Eldest Brother, focus on your sword enlightenment. Leave this place to me!"
Xu Taiping, who was frowning in thought, turned at Ping'an's words, then nodded earnestly.
"Ping'an, it won't take long. Your eldest brother will break this battle intent very soon."
These words were neither a boast nor an attempt to comfort Ping'an.
Rather, they were the conclusion Xu Taiping had reached after several attempts.
"Clang!"
At that moment, Xu Taiping raised his sword fingers again, summoning Rusty Lion back above his fingertips.
Then, staring unblinkingly at the sword pool below, he murmured with an extremely solemn expression:
"Ever