Chen Xin frowned slightly, his pride rising, and said in a deep voice, "Oh? You have quite the nerve."
"As for my swordsmanship, words are no proof; let my skills speak for themselves."
"Haha, just what I wanted!"
Ling Jue clapped his hands and laughed, "I was just looking to test your mettle."
With your innate swordsmanship, even though you started cultivating late, your sword intent can compensate for many things.
Come, exchange a few blows with this old man, and let me see just how powerful your 'beginner' sword intent truly is!
"I couldn't ask for more!"
Chen Xin's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his fighting spirit soared to the sky.
He wanted to take this opportunity to personally assess the strength of the powerful figures in this Shrouding the Heavens World "!
Upon seeing this, the crowd in the square stepped back, making way for a large open space, their faces filled with excitement and anticipation.
It's quite a rare and lively scene to see an elder of the Sword Pavilion personally pointing out the flaws of an arrogant "old rascal."
All forces in the Douluo Continent held their breath, their eyes fixed on the Heavenly Screen.
Although they mocked Chen Xin for being looked down upon, deep down they also desperately wanted to know where the pinnacle of combat power in the Douluo Continent stood in this mysterious Shrouding the Heavens World.
"Please!"
Chen Xin said no more, took a deep breath, and adjusted himself to his peak condition.
The immense Soul Power of a level 96 Titled Douluo surged within his body, Perfect World merging with the Seven Kill Sword Intent he had painstakingly cultivated for decades.
He slowly drew the Seven Kill Sword. The moment the sword was unsheathed, a clear and melodious sword cry resounded throughout the square. The sharp sword energy spread out from him, leaving fine sword marks on the ground.
"Huh? This way of using energy is quite peculiar; though crude, it's unique."
A hint of surprise flashed in Ling Jue's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure, still standing there with his hands behind his back, as if he were facing not a master swordsman, but a child wielding a wooden sword.
Upon seeing this, Chen Xin felt a surge of anger. The other party's arrogance was an insult to all his life's learning!
Without further hesitation, he moved and unleashed his most prized " Unity of Man and Sword " technique, transforming himself into a dazzling sword light that pierced straight at Elder Ling Jue's face!
This sword strike was fast, accurate, and ruthless, embodying his lifelong swordsmanship. Even before the sword arrived, the terrifying sword intent that was unstoppable and capable of annihilating everything had already pressed down upon it!
The audience of the Douluo Continent was thrilled. "Great! Sword Douluo has made his move!"
Who can withstand this sword strike?
However, faced with Chen Xin's earth-shattering sword strike, Elder Ling Jue merely smiled slightly and did not even raise his hand to block.
He stood there quietly, as if shrouded in an invisible barrier.
Chen Xin's sharp sword energy, capable of tearing apart the defenses of Titled Douluo, vanished without a trace the instant it touched the invisible barrier!
When he was still about ten feet away from Ling Jue, his body, Unity of Man and Sword, felt an indescribable and terrifying pressure, as if he had crashed into an unshakable mountain and could not move forward even an inch!
"This... how is this possible?!"
Chen Xin was horrified. He felt that his most prized sword intent was utterly fragile in front of his opponent, completely crushed, contained, and assimilated by a higher-level, more perfect, and more vast sword will!
The opponent didn't even use any moves; just standing there, the aura of swordsmanship emanating from him made him feel as insignificant as an ant facing the heavens!
He channeled his Soul Power with all his might, trying to change his move, but found it extremely difficult to even move a finger. The space around him seemed to be frozen by the opponent's sword intent!
"How?"
Elder Ling Jue's voice rang out calmly, tinged with a hint of amusement, "Now do you realize the difference between us?"
Chen Xin's face turned deathly pale, cold sweat poured down his forehead, and his heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of frustration and powerlessness.
He had devoted his life to rigorous training, believing his swordsmanship to be at its pinnacle, yet before this person, he didn't even have the right to let the other make a move!
Everything he was so proud of seemed utterly laughable in the face of such an absolute difference in power and realm.
"I... lost."
Chen Xin uttered these three words with great difficulty, his voice extremely dry. He slowly sheathed the Seven Kill Sword and bowed deeply to Elder Ling Jue.
This bow is a heartfelt admission of defeat, and a sign of reverence for a higher Dao Realm.
The Douluo Continent was deathly silent.
The various forces that had previously mocked Chen Xin for being underestimated were now speechless, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.
"Lost... lost? Your Majesty Sword Douluo... lost just like that?"
"He didn't even make a single move? No, he couldn't even get close?"
"This... how is this possible?! The other party didn't even make a move!"
"Is this the power of the Shrouding the Heavens World? It's terrifying..."
Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi, Gu Rong, and the others had ashen faces, their hearts filled with turbulent waves.
They knew Chen Xin's strength better than anyone; he was a top-tier existence who could roam freely in the Douluo Continent!
Now... they've lost so easily, so completely, so without any suspense!
This is a heavy blow to the pride of the entire Douluo Continent.
At this moment, a thick shadow fell over the hearts of the high-ranking officials of the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empire Great Emperor, as well as Bibi Dong of the Spirit Hall.
Chen Xin's crushing defeat brought their awe of the Shrouding the Heavens World to its peak.
Ling Jue nodded in satisfaction upon seeing Chen Xin admit defeat, and then slowly withdrew the invisible yet terrifying sword intent pressure.
He looked at Chen Xin, his eyes showing no mockery, but rather a hint of appreciation for his talent. "Being able to recognize the gap between you and others does make you a true swordsman."
As I've said before, although your foundation is weak, your sword intent is a genuine talent.
"I Ling Juezi, an elder of the Sword Pavilion."
Chen Xin took a deep breath to calm himself, then cupped his hands in greeting again, this time with much greater respect. " Chen Xin... greets Elder Ling Jue."
Ling Jue stroked his beard, a smug look on his face, then said in a deliberately profound tone:
"Young man, do you know where my swordsmanship originates?"
Chen Xin's heart stirred, recalling the " Taihuang " inheritance he had heard about before, and he respectfully asked, "Could it be... that it originates from His Majesty the Taihuang?"
" The Taihuang?"
Ling Jue shook his head, his face showing boundless admiration and fervor, as if he were talking about a supreme deity. " His Taihuang Supreme Emperor's swordsmanship is indeed heaven-reaching, but my lineage's ancestor was fortunate enough to witness firsthand the ' Sword Qi Heavenly River ' left behind by that supreme being in White Emperor City!"
I can barely be considered to have received a trace of the patriarch's true teachings; rounding up, I could be considered... a grand-disciple of that supreme being!
"That supreme being?"
Chen Xin trembled violently, and an unbelievable thought surfaced in his mind, "Could it be... the Heavenly Emperor?!"
Ling Jue nodded proudly. "It is indeed His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor, who rules over all heavens and is supreme!"
Chen Xin gasped. Although he knew of the Heavenly Emperor's terror from the light screen, hearing firsthand that a powerful figure who could easily crush him was proud to be the Heavenly Emperor's "disciple-grandson" was a thousand times more shocking than what he had experienced through the light screen!
The Sword Qi Heavenly River that stretched across the starry sky flashed through his mind, and his awe of the Heavenly Emperor reached an unparalleled level.
However, at this moment, another elder on the high platform next to him couldn't stand it any longer and laughed and scolded, "Old man Ling Jue, you're just trying to make yourself look good again!"
Everyone knows that back then, you only caught a glimpse of the Sword Qi Heavenly River from afar in White Emperor City, and by sheer luck, you gained some insight. Yet you keep spouting off about being a "disciple of the Heavenly Emperor" all day long. Aren't you afraid of biting off more than you can chew?