At the Zenith, New Replaces Old

Outside the Seven Xuan Tower, the Sword Sect Disciples discussed the matter with blazing enthusiasm.

"With such a domineering performance, could he possibly reach the fifth floor?"

"Jue Wushen once did it too. Perhaps he can recreate that feat."

"Anyone who reaches the fifth floor is a renowned figure in the Sword Sect's history. It seems we may witness a legend today."

"..."

Amid countless expectant gazes, the formation on the fifth floor lit up.

This time, the atmosphere became far quieter. This had already surpassed a realm they could evaluate.

It was like an examinee repeatedly stymied in the provincial exams suddenly seeing an essay by a top-ranked jinshi scholar—he could not even understand how good it was.

Murong Xue let out a long breath, and a strange expression appeared on her face, usually cold as frost.

"Perhaps I can reach the fourth floor, but I will never reach the fifth in this lifetime."

What Heavenly Pride lacked pride? Having stood out among three thousand Outer Sect Disciples, Murong Xue's excellence was beyond doubt.

Yet mountain after mountain rose higher still. Shen Yun had already become someone within sight but beyond her reach.

Those who walked a hundred steps found ninety to be halfway there. It seemed there was only a single floor between them, but in truth, it was a chasm.

On the path toward the ultimate, even taking one step required a hundredfold effort.

There was no step-by-step verification, only endless exploration.

Without such talent, what difference would a thousand years or ten thousand years make? They would merely be wasted away.

The Law Enforcement Elder's gaze flickered as he sank into thought. For Mister Fang to accept him as a disciple, such talent was foreseeable, but...

He vaguely felt that things were not so simple. Recalling the deeds of that Sword Sect legend, a thought surfaced in his mind.

Could it be... he intends to establish his foundation through the Heavenly Dao?

Upon entering the fifth floor, he saw a vast ancient battlefield.

Sun and moon had both dimmed, and the wind cried like cranes in alarm. A faint wash of Blood Red stained the low sky.

Broken walls and ruined ramparts lay everywhere, along with rusted weapons. The hard black-stone ground was pitted and scarred, revealing utter desolation.

There was only one person at the center of the battlefield, standing in the breeze, so easily overlooked.

That upright figure seemed to blend into the void. Though he was close, he gave the impression of being separated by thousands of mountains and rivers.

His features were flawless, as though he were the painstaking creation of a master sculptor. Calling his face peerlessly beautiful would not be an exaggeration.

"With this air of detachment from the mortal world, this man is certainly no ordinary person."

Shen Yun stood alone, quietly studying the man before him as an unprecedented seriousness rose within him.

Even though his opponent was also only at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer!

"Thirty years have passed. Has someone finally come?"

The young man's voice was distant and ethereal, as though it came from a faraway past. "Challenger, my name is Jian Wushuang."

Shen Yun's gaze flickered slightly as he recalled a rumor.

The Sword Sect had once produced a peerless genius who pushed across his era, unrivaled in talent. It was said that he later left Tianlan Prefecture, leaving behind countless legendary tales. His name was Jian Wushuang.

"A contest against a Sword Sect genius from the past? Interesting."

The sight of a worthy opponent stirred Shen Yun's fighting spirit. This opponent had truly put him on guard.

Compared to Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators with nothing but combat power, he wanted more to witness the pinnacle of the Qi Refining Realm. Jian Wushuang before him was exactly what he wanted.

A fierce wind suddenly rose, sweeping dust and ash across the desolate ancient battlefield.

The two men's auras climbed higher and higher, bursting into a fierce collision. Like the young of Primordial Era immortal beasts, they began to reveal their sharp edges.

Though tiger and leopard cubs had yet to show their stripes, they already possessed the force to devour oxen.

This difference in Life Level made Shen Yun feel unprecedented pressure.

"Good! This is the opponent I wanted."

At the request of our many readers, we now offer an ad-free VIP Member feature

Click to view

Shen Yun stepped forward. At first, he was not fast, but every step was quicker than the last. In the end, only his elongated afterimage could be seen.

At the same time, Jian Wushuang moved as well. He was no slower than Shen Yun, their speeds evenly matched. Forming sword fingers with both hands, he unleashed chilling sword qi in an instant, carrying the force of wind and thunder as it struck directly at Shen Yun's vital points.

"Come!"

Shen Yun gave a low shout and sent out heaven-shaking sword qi with one hand.

Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth—five different kinds of sword qi shifted without end. The Five Elements circulated, seamless and natural.

"Droplet Sword Art."

Jian Wushuang's expression remained calm throughout. His hands moved, and his sword qi changed in ten thousand ways.

Droplet Sword Flower, Droplet Sword Wave, Droplet Sword Rain...

Water had no form, and his Sword Moves contained water's true intent. They were like a surging river rushing on without end, and like a fine, lingering drizzle...

No matter how the Five Elements Sword Technique transformed, he could always find the best response, displaying formidable attainments in the sword path.

Had anyone been present in the scene, they would have been immediately stunned by the sword techniques the two displayed.

Was this even a duel in the Qi Refining Realm? If someone claimed they were Void Core experts, people would believe it.

"Highest Good is Like Water, bearing all things. His Droplet Sword Art has already grasped the true intent of water."

Shen Yun felt a tremor run through him. It was not fear, but the excitement of meeting a worthy rival.

His sword qi no longer pursued perfection. Instead, it complemented the Five Elements Primordial Chaos Body, the two reflecting one another as they became an entirely new Sword Body Technique.

Sword Moves and fists and kicks shone in tandem. His powerful comprehension began to exert itself, summarizing experience amid the breakneck rhythm of battle.

His offense was aggressive as fire, his defense immovable as a mountain. He suddenly suppressed Jian Wushuang's Droplet Sword Art, driving him back step by step.

"Excellent swordsmanship, excellent body technique. Truly exquisite beyond compare."

Though Jian Wushuang was suppressed, he remained calm and composed. A faint Purple Light began to radiate all over his body.

A bloody flower bloomed across Shen Yun's chest. Sword qi actually erupted from Jian Wushuang's shoulder, catching him off guard as it seeped through without form.

Had Shen Yun's spiritual senses not been extraordinary, that sword would likely have pierced through his chest!

"Purple Haze Sword Body!"

Shen Yun's eyes gleamed brilliantly as he saw through his opponent's true and false.

Sword qi could erupt from any part of the body, coupled with ultimate recovery and defense. This was the peerless secret tome of the Lone Swan Sword Sect—the Purple Haze Sword Body.

Jian Wushuang surged like a dragon and leaped like a tiger. His Sword Body and Sword Art worked together without a drop leaking through. Any Second-Order Tiger Whale or Foundation Establishment cultivator seemed like a child wielding a heavy hammer beside him—clumsy beyond belief.

Shen Yun's expression grew more and more calm as the Five Elements Primordial Chaos Body was pushed to an entirely new height.

Life endlessly begot life, cycling without cease, as Five-Colored Radiance flashed.

The Droplet Sword Art also belonged to the Five Elements. Upon encountering the Five-Colored Radiance, its power was instantly cut by thirty percent.

"So this is the profundity of the Five Elements Primordial Chaos Body."

In this ultimate clash, Shen Yun increasingly understood why Fang Tianyi had brought him here.

A hundred boats raced in the current; a thousand sails competed to set forth.

Only by contending with the strongest geniuses could he awaken his true potential and see clearly where the road ahead lay.

The two fought at the height of the battle, true equals meeting and worthy talents clashing.

Like a sponge, Shen Yun frantically absorbed the true essence of Dao techniques.

His mind grew ever more tranquil, and he entered a state of Enlightenment once more, continuously transforming amid battle.

This battle lasted a long time. Three quarters of an hour had passed, yet the Seven Xuan Tower remained silent.

No one knew what exactly was happening inside the tower, and they could only let their imaginations run wild.

The Law Enforcement Elder knew quite a few inside details, and waves surged in his heart.

Jue Wushen only lasted Two Quarters of an Hour on the fifth floor. This person's talent is truly terrifying.

He looked up at the sky. The sun was directly overhead.

"New generation replaces the old. Perhaps he will become Tianlan Prefecture's future leading figure."

At the request of our many readers, we now offer an ad-free VIP Member feature

Click to view