Xiao Bai had once looked up to the legendary Sword Dao Great Demon King, who had suddenly called him Martial Uncle with such respect.
It had to be said, the feeling was wonderful.
But if this guy had come to fight, he would instantly become Xiao Bai's nightmare.
Lan Daozi, Snow Flame Sect's strongest sword dao prodigy!
Both were at the Golden Core Peak. If the Onmyoji was Snow Flame Sect's strongest all-rounder, then Lan Daozi was the strongest sword dao prodigy in the entire Cambrian Kingdom.
It was said that, in terms of sword dao talent alone, he was even stronger than the previous sword dao prodigy, One Sword Fox...
Even though One Sword Fox had beaten him more than once.
Unlike One Sword Fox, who neglected his proper duties, ran wild all year round, and squandered his talent, Lan Daozi was a Sword Fanatic.
As Snow Flame Sect's Core Disciple with the strongest practical combat ability, Lan Daozi could fight above his realm through swordsmanship alone.
Now at the Golden Core Peak, it was said that he was stronger than some Nascent Soul bigshots!
Even the Dao Alliance Headquarters had fought hard to recruit him!
Unfortunately, he repeatedly declined Heavenly Dao Palace's invitations on the grounds that he disliked holding any position or bearing any responsibility, and only wished to find a quiet place to practice his swordsmanship in peace. He insisted on remaining in Snow Flame Sect as a Core Disciple untouched by worldly strife.
Facing Lan Daozi, Xiao Bai still felt intimidated, even with his max-level Butcher's Sword Technique and max-level Xiahou Body Technique.
After all, the Butcher's Sword Technique and Xiahou Body Technique were not top-tier techniques, and Xiao Bai only had Qi Refining cultivation.
To put it bluntly, Wei Shanjun had obviously come to test the upper limit of his swordsmanship.
Facing the short Lan Daozi, with his harmless boyish face, Xiao Bai straightened his back and put on airs, nearly scolding him:
"Have some shame. Your Martial Uncle is only at Qi Refining!"
Lan Daozi maintained his respectful cupped-hand salute, his smile warm and innocent from beginning to end.
"This disciple will seal my cultivation to the Early Qi Refining Realm, the same level as Martial Uncle, and shut off all divine sense."
Xiao Bai was not that naive and still waved him off.
"As an elder, how could I bully a junior like you? No, no."
The moment he finished speaking, Wei Shanjun slowly rose, like a towering building rising from flat ground.
"Then this old man will do it."
Xiao Bai gave this Sword-Wielding Elder, whose build was absurdly outrageous, a serious look.
In his view, if their cultivation were the same, Lan Daozi's strength would very likely surpass Wei Shanjun's.
But Wei Shanjun clearly intended to defeat him, make his wife Yu Hu lose face, and forcibly drag him up the mountain.
Lan Daozi, on the other hand, lacked the desire to compete and did not care much for face. He often forgot to defend himself and got badly beaten because he was too busy closely observing and pondering his opponent's sword moves.
If he had to choose one of the two as his opponent, Xiao Bai would choose the lesser of two evils: Lan Daozi.
He only hated that Lan Daozi was a good man rather than a Bad Woman, a Sword Dao Great Demon King rather than a great demoness.
If Lan Daozi were a Bad Woman, then after sparring with him, Xiao Bai might become a Sword Saint.
At sword's peak, proud above the world—where Lan Dao is, there heaven is!
What a pity...
Seeing Xiao Bai hesitate for so long, True Person Zhe Hui, whom Wei Shanjun had previously egged on, instead became the one fanning the flames.
"Didn't Junior Brother Xiao say he wanted to subdue demons and vanquish devils? The one standing before you is a Sword Dao Great Demon King."
"Martial Uncle Zhe Hui flatters me."
Lan Daozi responded politely.
Yet his seemingly gentle, jade-like gaze never left Xiao Bai for even a breath. His short figure was like a sharp sword planted upside down in the earth.
Helpless, Xiao Bai glanced at his wife Yu Hu and Senior Sister Mu Yun. The two Bad Women had no intention of speaking up for him, so he could only draw his sword again.
"Fine, fine, fine. Let your Martial Uncle inspect your swordsmanship."
Though he said that, anyone with eyes could see that Lan Daozi was the one inspecting Xiao Bai's swordsmanship this time.
But at this point, whether the onlooking disciples, the elders, or the Sect Overseer, no one was watching to laugh at Xiao Bai anymore.
Everyone present wanted to use Lan Daozi as a measuring stick to gauge Xiao Bai's true talent at close range!
Only after Xiao Bai agreed to the sword duel did Wei Shanjun sit down with satisfaction. He did not forget to add:
"Lan Daozi, if we are to persuade your Martial Uncle Xiao to visit our Sword Wielding Peak more often, then this time don't focus so much on his swordsmanship that you forget to fight... You may only win, not lose. Once you win, there will be plenty of time to spar."
"This disciple understands."
Lan Daozi agreed aloud, but his posture and aura remained utterly motionless, as though he had frozen into a statue.
The Sect Tour Ceremony had already run longer than expected...
As the Sect Leader, Master Chun Xiao did not even have a seat. Since he had nothing else to do, he volunteered to serve as referee.
In the northern plaza, he used a hand seal to mark out a simple arena ten zhang square.
"Since this is a formal match, I shall serve as your referee. Falling, leaving the boundary, or letting your spiritual pressure exceed the Early Qi Refining Realm will count as defeat... Also, so long as no lives are endangered, there are no restrictions on the specific methods of battle."
Xiao Bai listened carefully.
No restrictions on battle methods meant that, with his max-level Xiahou Body Technique, his odds of winning had risen by the tiniest bit.
It had to be said, this Sect Leader was a keeper.
The match began quickly.
The magma on the Flame Platform erupted once more, shooting into the sky and mixing with the post-snow chill to form a biting Astral Wind that ravaged the Mountain Gate Plaza.
Xiao Bai and Lan Daozi stood at opposite corners of the square arena.
The instant the match began, Xiao Bai moved to seize the center of the arena.
Lan Daozi did not move, but his sword did.
With a wave of his hand, he summoned countless strands of Sword Qi and sent them straight at Xiao Bai.
Myriad Swords Unleashed!
Sword Qi was originally high-end stuff, something that normally only Foundation Establishment cultivators could condense.
But it could not be said that Lan Daozi was cheating. He truly had condensed Sword Qi while still in the Qi Refining Realm.
There were too many strands of Sword Qi. Every one looked identical, and their speed and power exceeded the limits of Xiao Bai's movement technique.
He could not evade them. He could only withstand them head-on with the Butcher's Sword Technique.
Swish, swish—
Xiao Bai shattered each strand of Sword Qi that came close, creating a vortex beside his ears.
Suddenly!
A tangible Azure Sword from nowhere stabbed beneath Xiao Bai's armpit.
It sliced open a gash in his dark azure Elder's Robe...
The bluestone beneath Xiao Bai's feet was stamped into a deep pit by his instantaneous evasive movement...
Xiao Bai had not seen where that sword came from at all. Had it not been for his instinct in that instant, the sword would already have pierced his chest!
Of course, the heart was not the first priority. As long as there were enough pills, any injury could heal in minutes.
The problem was that Xiao Bai had not seen the sword's path.
Beads of sweat as large as beans fell into the pit beneath his feet.
Xiao Bai raised his head to look at the sword.
Not just the sword, but the person holding it...
Lan Daozi had already closed in. His body moved like the wind, radiating ripples of spiritual energy stirred up by his sudden dash.
This kid isn't tall, but his reach is pretty long!
Lan Daozi raised his harmless boyish face and grinned.
"Martial Uncle, be careful."
Before you continue