After the Cloud-Leveling Hall disciples finished drawing lots, the first round of the martial tournament continued, with battles raging across White Frost Ancient City's square.
The Carefree Sect disciples were renowned for their light, nimble movement techniques. From the outset, they displayed footwork like roaming dragons, pressing their opponents until they could not fight back and winning easily.
A disciple of the Cloud-Soaring Sect unleashed the Thunder Sword Art. Its roar shook the entire arena, and one descending sword stroke decided the outcome.
The Heavenly Secrets Sect disciples used profound calculations to deduce the course of battle, scheming at every step and forcibly dragging slightly stronger opponents into defeat.
The Qianyuan Sect disciples fought with their powerful bodies, meeting their enemies' spiritual techniques head-on and ultimately winning bloody battles.
The Mystic Origin Sect disciples remained steady and composed, releasing layer upon layer of Spiritual Qi shields and gradually counterattacking to win grueling battles.
The Spirit Origin Sect disciples brought down their opponents with swift attacks amid surges of spiritual light, giving the spectators a refreshing sight.
In just a few dozen battles, the spectacle reached one climax after another. Tens of thousands of spectators felt their blood boil, their cheers shaking the clouds.
As these sects' matches gradually concluded, the presence at the center of the arena settled into calm once more.
Yet everyone understood that the most eagerly anticipated battles still lay ahead.
Especially-the appearance of Cloud-Leveling Hall outer disciple Qin Yu!
Above the arena, formation patterns shimmered with flowing light, and Spiritual Qi spread like a river of stars.
Zhao Xinyu stepped out lightly, her blue robes fluttering. Her clear eyes held a measure of composure, and the longsword in her hand trembled faintly, glimmering with spiritual light.
Opposite her, Tang Lie of Gale Hall strode forward, his back broad as a mountain and his eyes like fire. Waves of air surged with every step, as though even the earth trembled beneath him.
Tang Lie sneered, his voice like thunder. "Junior Sister Zhao, Gale Hall doesn't like holding back. If you're scared, admit defeat now."
Zhao Xinyu pressed her lips together slightly, neither flinching nor averting her gaze. "In the arena, strength does the talking. Arrogant words won't save you."
Boom-
As their words fell, the arena's formation patterns suddenly blazed. With a thunderous roar, the battle officially began!
Tang Lie struck first, slamming both palms against empty air. Fierce winds instantly howled, and Spiritual Qi transformed into dozens of wind blades that swept toward her. Their shrill whistles tore through the air like hundreds upon thousands of swords and sabers leaving their sheaths at once, bearing down on Zhao Xinyu with destructive force.
Zhao Xinyu shifted lightly, her sleeves dancing as her longsword abruptly left its sheath.
"Ornate Words Sword Light!"
Sword light flowed like water, instantly weaving a curtain of light. Silvery-white sword shadows overlapped into countless fine sword threads, like a woven curtain of spiritual light. The wind blades struck it, bursting into dazzling sparks. Repeated thunderous explosions shook the spectators' Qi and blood into turmoil.
Tang Lie grinned savagely and thrust both hands downward. The wind blades suddenly converged into an azure dragon, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws as it lunged straight at Zhao Xinyu!
Zhao Xinyu's brows drew together. Gripping her sword with both hands, she abruptly poured Spiritual Qi into the blade, and its light burst forth like the rising sun.
"Splendid Radiance Flowing Light Slash!"
Boom-!
Her sword slashed out, and ten thousand rays of sword light condensed into a silvery-white river, colliding head-on with the azure wind dragon at the center of the arena.
In an instant, light and wind exploded like a falling river of stars. The deafening roar hurled spiritual light skyward, and violent waves of air blasted the formation barrier open, forcing cries of alarm from many watching disciples!
Before the dust and mist dispersed, spiritual light flowed through the center of the arena. Both combatants still stood firmly.
Tang Lie shouted coldly, "Not bad! But you won't be able to withstand what comes next!"
Zhao Xinyu's expression remained resolute. Her longsword hummed softly, and an even sharper sword intent slowly rose, as though ready at any moment to meet the next, fiercer assault.
Thunderous cheers already rang from the square's spectator stands, the atmosphere thoroughly ignited.
Killing intent suddenly flashed in Tang Lie's eyes. Spiritual Qi surged wildly inside him as he brought his hands together before his chest, then flung them apart.
"Gale Wild Howl!"
Boom-!
A violent storm instantly formed around him. Densely packed wind blades spun like tens of thousands of sharp swords, gathering into an enormous storm prison that rushed straight at Zhao Xinyu. The arena's formation patterns buzzed under the impact, and the Spiritual Qi fluctuations were so fierce that the disciples outside felt their hearts tremble.
Zhao Xinyu's gaze turned cold. She raised her longsword high, pointing its tip at the heavens. Spiritual Qi abruptly gathered around her, and a brilliant silver beam shot from the sword tip like a newborn star, tearing through the storm's gloom.
"Spirit Shadow Flying Radiance-break!"
Swish-!
The silvery-white sword shadows suddenly split, countless rays becoming a drifting rain of light. Dreamlike and illusory, they nonetheless carried irresistible piercing power. The instant sword light intertwined with the storm, a river of stars seemed to explode across the entire arena, its dazzling brilliance blinding countless spectators.
Boom!!!
The storm collapsed. Shattered currents of Spiritual Qi became countless remnants of wind in midair, only to be instantly crushed by the sword light. Zhao Xinyu's sword light streaked like a rainbow, cutting across the sky and driving straight toward Tang Lie's chest.
In his haste, Tang Lie could only raise his arms and turn his Spiritual Qi into a shield. Even so, the sword light struck him hard and drove him back. Several cracks shattered through the stone tiles beneath his feet as he staggered back several zhang, his face turning ashen.
The watching disciples cried out in unison, and the square erupted!
"Senior Sister Zhao's sword strike... was beautiful!"
"To think Tang Lie of Gale Hall would actually be forced back again and again!"
Veins bulged on Tang Lie's forehead. He stared fixedly at Zhao Xinyu and roared through gritted teeth, "Damn little girl... I haven't lost yet!"
Yet Zhao Xinyu's gaze remained cool, her sword momentum undiminished. Her breathing was even, and her sword light still flowed like water. Her presence had not weakened in the slightest; instead, that single strike had made it even more concentrated.
She still has strength to spare...
That thought surfaced almost simultaneously in the minds of the more highly cultivated elders watching the match.
Tang Lie roared and stamped his foot, shaking the entire arena. He flung his arms wide, and the Spiritual Qi inside him erupted completely. Howling winds gathered behind him into a gigantic wind eagle, its wings spanning ten zhang. Its shriek tore through the sky, its might utterly terrifying.
"Gale Tyrant Strike-Heaven-Severing Claw!"
The giant eagle beat its wings, transforming into countless wind blades and claw shadows that dove from the heavens. Like a world-destroying torrent, they enveloped Zhao Xinyu completely, leaving her no room to dodge!
Many disciples in the stands drew sharp breaths. "It's over. That attack... there's no way to block it!"
Yet Zhao Xinyu remained composed, as though she had anticipated it. She drew a deep breath, and starlike brilliance suddenly lit her eyes. Her blade trembled, and all her Spiritual Qi gathered at its tip, becoming a blazing, dazzling streak of silvery-white light.
"Splendid Radiance Sword Art-Falling Star Radiance!"
Swish-!!!
As that sword stroke swept out, its light fell like a river of stars, illuminating the entire arena. Silver radiance flowed across the sky like the Milky Way pouring down. Countless sword shadows overlapped like falling meteors, piercing straight through Tang Lie's wind eagle!
Boom-!!!
A towering blast of spiritual light erupted at the arena's center. Fierce winds and sword shadows tore at one another, shaking heaven and earth. The watching disciples felt their eardrums ring, as though thunder had exploded overhead.
When the light dispersed, Tang Lie was hurled sideways and slammed heavily into the formation barrier at the arena's edge. He spat out blood, the Spiritual Qi shields around his arms shattered completely, leaving him utterly bedraggled.
Zhao Xinyu still stood firmly where she had been, her longsword lowered and her robes fluttering, her gaze as composed as before.
Silence-
The entire crowd fell quiet for a moment, then erupted into cheers like collapsing mountains and roaring seas!
"Zhao Xinyu wins!!!"
Venerable White Frost's resonant, commanding voice rang through heaven and earth.
At that moment, the name of Zhao Xinyu, outer disciple of Cloud-Leveling Hall, resounded throughout the martial tournament's square.
Zhao Xinyu sheathed her sword, bowed lightly, and slowly walked down from the arena. Her expression remained calm, but a barely perceptible trace of joy passed through her eyes.
"Junior Sister Zhao, well done!"
"That's the bearing of our Cloud-Leveling Hall!"
The Cloud-Leveling Hall disciples in the stands applauded and cheered, their eyes filled with admiration.
Qin Yu was the first to greet her, smiling as he cupped his hands. "Junior Sister Zhao, that sword strike of yours was truly stunning."
Yang Zheng rubbed his hands together excitedly. "Junior Sister Zhao, that was incredible! Your sword light nearly scared even me, a spectator, into taking half a step back!"
Nangong Heyao nodded slightly, admiration and approval in his eyes. "Sword intent like a river of stars, sword momentum like a sweeping rainbow. Junior Sister Zhao, you won that battle beautifully."
Hearing their praise, Zhao Xinyu merely smiled faintly and said softly, "I only won because of the sect's nurturing." Her tone was gentle and her expression serene, yet she gave the impression that her state of mind was steadier than her sword's edge.
The grand elder also nodded in satisfaction and told them, "Good. This is how Cloud-Leveling Hall disciples should be!"
Spiritual light surged over the arena once more.
"Next match: Cloud-Leveling Hall outer disciple Yang Zheng against Cloud Waves Gate outer disciple Zhou Yuan!"
Whoosh-!
A wave of fervent clamor immediately rose from the square. The Cloud Waves Gate disciples cheered loudly, "Senior Brother Zhou! Beat them!" The Cloud-Leveling Hall disciples also shouted in unison, "Senior Brother Yang, you can do it!"
Yang Zheng drew a deep breath and slowly stepped onto the arena, his longsword gleaming coldly in his hand. Although his cultivation was only at initial entry into the Spirit Awakening Realm and his presence was slightly weaker than his opponent Zhou Yuan's, his gaze was firm as iron.
Opposite him, Zhou Yuan stood tall, his cultivation at initial entry into the Qi Condensation Realm. Spiritual Qi billowed around him as his imposing presence pressed forward.
Zhou Yuan snorted coldly. "You dare enter the arena at the Spirit Awakening Realm? One strike of my sword will send you tumbling off!"
Yang Zheng's expression remained unchanged. Gripping his longsword with both hands, he said gravely:
"I've cultivated the Heng Mountain Sword Art to perfection. Today, you'll get a taste of my sword!"
Boom-
As his blade trembled, Spiritual Qi abruptly surged from within Yang Zheng. Layers of mountainlike phantoms lit up along the blade. His sword momentum was mountainous, heavy and steady, as though the arena had instantly become an endless Heng Mountain sword domain!
In the stands, Qin Yu's gaze sharpened, and he secretly clenched his fist:
Yang Zheng, you can definitely do this!
At the center of the arena, Spiritual Qi erupted with a roar.
Zhou Yuan grinned savagely and swung his longsword. Spiritual Qi condensed into a gigantic phantom sword that seemed to descend from the heavens, smashing toward Yang Zheng with a roar that tore through the air.
"Let's see how many strikes you can block!"
The mountainous sword light pressed down, making the arena's spiritual patterns flash repeatedly. Thunderous explosions echoed throughout the square.
Yang Zheng's gaze focused. Gripping his longsword with both hands, he stepped forcefully forward and slashed down, his blade like a mountain splitting apart.
"Heng Mountain Sword Art-Mountain Suppression!"
Boom!!!
The two swords collided. Spiritual Qi raised towering waves that became shock waves sweeping in every direction. The light was so intense that many outer disciples had to raise their hands to shield their eyes, their ears filled with rumbling explosions.
Zhou Yuan's footing merely shook, his body not retreating; Yang Zheng, however, was forcibly driven back three steps. His arms went numb, and the webbing between his thumbs and forefingers split, seeping blood.
"Senior Brother Yang Zheng..."
"It's over. The gap between their realms is too great..."
Many Cloud-Leveling Hall disciples below felt their hearts sink, their eyes full of worry.
Zhou Yuan flicked his sword with a sneer. "A mere Spirit Awakening Realm cultivator dares dream of competing with me? I didn't even use half my strength in that strike!"
Yang Zheng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. His breathing was rapid, yet he still gritted his teeth and straightened his back, an unyielding light burning in his eyes.
"My cultivation may fall short of yours, but my sword intent might not!"
With that, he raised his longsword again. Spiritual Qi surged within him like rumbling mountains, and sword shadows overlapped like a thousand peaks rising together. Although his body trembled slightly, that tenacious sword momentum forced the entire crowd into silence.
Below the arena, Qin Yu's heart tightened. Clenching both fists, he murmured inwardly:
Yang Zheng, you have to hold on...
A ruthless glint flashed through Zhou Yuan's eyes. He stepped forward, swinging his longsword as sword light surged like waves, fully unleashing the might of initial entry into the Qi Condensation Realm. Sword radiance poured down like a rainstorm. In an instant, blazing brilliance covered the entire arena, like a torrential sword rain threatening to swallow Yang Zheng completely.
"Get on your knees!" Zhou Yuan roared, his sword momentum like thunder amid furiously howling winds.
Yang Zheng's heart tightened, but his gaze did not waver in the slightest. He held his longsword across his body, and Spiritual Qi suddenly gathered. The blade's light drew inward, yet remained heavy as a mountain.
"Heng Mountain Sword Art-Steady as a Mountain!"
Boom-
His sword momentum suddenly condensed into a thick wall of light, as though countless great mountains had been stacked together. Zhou Yuan's sword rain crashed against it, scattering sparks and shaking the arena with continuous roars. Yet Yang Zheng's footing remained firm as rock. Despite the raging winds and towering waves, he did not retreat even half a step!
Zhou Yuan's expression darkened. With a furious roar, he drove his Spiritual Qi once more and abruptly unleashed a stroke of sword radiance. Sharp as a heaven-piercing spear, it aimed straight for Yang Zheng's chest.
Veins bulged along Yang Zheng's arms. Gritting his teeth, he shouted in a low voice:
"Heng Mountain Sword Art-Balanced Force Break!"
His longsword suddenly slashed diagonally downward. As though all his strength had gathered at its edge in that instant, its momentum weighed like an immense hammer. With a roar, he forcibly cleaved Zhou Yuan's sword radiance apart. Spiritual Qi exploded, sending wild brilliance dancing above the arena!
Yet Zhou Yuan's cultivation was ultimately superior. The aftershock of the shattered sword light still struck Yang Zheng's chest, leaving it tight and heavy. Blood surged into his throat, but he forcibly swallowed it.
"Hmph, futile!" Zhou Yuan snorted coldly and closed in again, his sword momentum like sudden thunder, intent on crushing down.
Yang Zheng's eyes suddenly brightened, and a soul-shaking pressure abruptly erupted from his blade.
"Heng Mountain Sword Art-Mountain Crushing the Summit!"
Boom-!!!
As that sword stroke swept out, its momentum resembled collapsing mountains. Layer upon layer of oppressive presence bore down, and empty space seemed to grow several times heavier in an instant. Zhou Yuan felt his heart jolt. As his sword momentum descended, it unexpectedly faltered for a moment, his movements slowing slightly.
In the stands, many elders' eyes lit up.
"Interesting!"
"This lad's realm isn't high, but his sword intent has already taken shape. He can actually weaken his opponent's momentum through his sword heart!"
Seeing this from below the arena, Qin Yu felt greatly reassured, and a look of gratification flashed through his eyes:
Yang Zheng... you really haven't disappointed me!
Above the arena, Zhou Yuan's gaze grew increasingly cold.
"Hmph, petty tricks! Since you insist on showing off, I'll plunge you into utter despair!"
He roared, and the Qi Condensation spiritual power within him suddenly erupted. His longsword rose like blazing flames, its light abruptly condensing into a sharp blade of sword force several zhang long, as though it would split the entire arena in two. The Spiritual Qi fluctuations pressed down on the watching disciples, making their hearts tremble and even their breathing grow labored.
"Slash-!"
The blade of sword force cleaved down with a thunderous roar, bearing the might of lightning!
Qi and blood surged throughout Yang Zheng's body. His Steady as a Mountain defense teetered on the brink of collapse, his Balanced Force Break counterattack was instantly suppressed, and the might of Mountain Crushing the Summit was shattered by the sword force. The dull pain in his chest surged like a mountain flood bursting its banks, and blood nearly sprayed from his throat.
But his eyes remained fixed on Zhou Yuan, and his feet did not retreat.
I can't lose... I can't disgrace Brother Yu! And I absolutely can't bring shame on Cloud-Leveling Hall!
Boom!!!
Just as the sword force closed in, the Spiritual Qi Yang Zheng had accumulated over many days boiled wildly under the extreme pressure. Spiritual light suddenly bloomed in his dantian, erupting like a volcano!
Hum-
Ring after ring of spiritual light spread from his body, overlapping in brilliant layers. The arena's formation patterns shook until they shone throughout, as though unable to withstand this sudden surge of spiritual power!
"Is... is he about to break through?!"
"He's breaking through a realm right in the middle of a match?!"
The spectators' square instantly boiled over with cries of astonishment.
Spiritual light enveloped Yang Zheng's entire body, his long hair flying and his robes snapping and billowing. He raised his longsword, and the blade hummed under the infusion of Spiritual Qi from his breakthrough, resounding like a mountain!
"Heng Mountain Sword Art-Balancing Heaven and Mountain Suppression!!!"
With that furious shout and the complete eruption of his Spiritual Qi, his realm, under the entire crowd's astonished gaze, leaped straight from initial entry into the Spirit Awakening Realm, past the middle stage and lesser accomplishment, and firmly settled at-
Spirit Awakening Realm greater accomplishment!
Boom-!!!
Above the arena, his sword momentum surged like collapsing mountains. Countless mountain shadows instantly crushed the descending sword force. Spiritual Qi became an earth-shattering torrent, completely swallowing Zhou Yuan's offensive.
Zhou Yuan was horrified. He retreated repeatedly, the longsword in his hand nearly shaken from his grip, his face pale as paper!
The entire crowd fell silent for several breaths, then erupted in cries like mountains collapsing and seas roaring!
"He broke through!!"
"Senior Brother Yang Zheng broke through!!!"
"This is simply heaven-defying-!"
On the platform, Yang Zheng's presence surged fiercely. He pointed his longsword straight at Zhou Yuan, his gaze firm as iron:
"Zhou Yuan, this battle-isn't over yet!"
Boom-!
Spiritual Qi poured out of Yang Zheng like a mountain torrent, and the force of his sword abruptly multiplied severalfold. Above the platform, the phantom of a towering, undying Heng Mountain seemed to appear, vast and majestic, looking down upon all living beings.
Zhou Yuan's face was deathly pale. Barely managing to hold his sword, he roared, "There's no way I could lose to a Spirit Awakening Realm piece of trash!!!"
He gritted his teeth and frantically drove the Spiritual Qi within him. His longsword's radiance swelled, its sword force gathering once more as he attempted to clash head-on with Yang Zheng.
Yet Yang Zheng's imposing presence already bore down like mountains and seas, utterly impossible to shake.
"Heng Mountain Sword Art-Balanced Force Break!"
Yang Zheng slashed down. His blade was as heavy as a colossal mountain of immense weight, crashing down with the might of collapsing mountains and splitting earth!
Boom!!!
The sword force shattered instantly. Zhou Yuan's Spiritual Qi defenses collapsed layer by layer, and the light protecting his body was torn apart like flimsy paper. His chest jolted, blood sprayed from his mouth, and he was blasted straight off his feet, slamming into the platform's protective barrier with a thunderous crash.
"Aah-!"
Zhou Yuan screamed and crumpled to the ground, his longsword broken and his Qi scattered, completely stripped of the strength to fight again.
The entire crowd fell silent for an instant.
Then cries erupted like mountains roaring and seas thundering!
"Yang Zheng wins!!!"
"Cloud-Leveling Hall-wins!!!"
The Cloud-Leveling Hall disciples threw up their arms and cheered wildly, "Senior Brother Yang! Senior Brother Yang!" Their voices made the formation patterns across the square hum.
A glimmer of gratification flashed through Qin Yu's eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he silently thought:
Your Brother Yu didn't misjudge you... Yang Zheng, you've finally forged your own path.
Zhao Xinyu's gaze softened as well, and she said quietly, "He... really did it."
Nangong Heyao burst out laughing. "Good! That's what a Cloud-Leveling Hall disciple should be! Hahaha!"
On the platform, Yang Zheng panted like an ox, his chest heaving violently, but his gaze remained firm as iron. He planted his longsword in the ground, cupped his hands in salute, and declared in a ringing voice:
"Cloud-Leveling Hall-Yang Zheng, victorious!"
At that moment, he had truly won the acclaim of the entire crowd.
Yang Zheng walked down from the platform step by step, his longsword on his back. Though the fierce battle had left him looking somewhat disheveled, his gaze was resolute and his steps steady, each one seeming to carve his own mark into the earth.
"Senior Brother Yang!"
"Senior Brother Yang is mighty!!!"
The Cloud-Leveling Hall disciples called out in unison, their voices shaking heaven and earth, their eyes filled with reverence and hot-blooded fervor. The disciples to whom he had once been an unknown figure were now cheering loudly, as though greeting a true hero.
In the stands, several Cloud-Leveling Hall elders nodded, a trace of approval flashing through their eyes. The first elder's hair and beard stirred slightly as he chuckled softly. "This lad... has a tenacious spirit and never gives in. His talent may not be exceptional, but with that backbone, he'll surely amount to something great."
Qin Yu strode forward to meet him and patted his shoulder, his smile filled with immense gratification. "I knew I hadn't misjudged you-well done, my brother!"
Nangong Heyao likewise laughed heartily, reaching out to give Yang Zheng a heavy slap on the back. "Hahaha! Junior Brother Yang, that was a beautiful victory! You showed everyone through your strength what it means to remain unbowed in adversity!"
Yang Zheng gave a guileless smile, his face full of satisfaction, though an unextinguished flame still burned in his eyes.
Just then, Zhao Xinyu slowly approached, her gaze settling on Yang Zheng. Unlike the others, whose eyes held only excitement and acclaim, hers carried an added softness and thoughtfulness. She clearly remembered how, at his most perilous moment, his hands had trembled and his body had nearly collapsed, yet he had remained standing, refusing to retreat even half a step.
Such tenacity... was the most precious quality a cultivator could possess.
Zhao Xinyu said softly, "Senior Brother Yang, today you... truly earned my admiration."
Her words were gentle, her voice quiet, yet they reached Yang Zheng's ears clearly. He froze briefly, the tips of his ears reddening slightly, then instinctively scratched his head and smiled a little awkwardly.
Watching this, Qin Yu smiled inwardly but did not tease them. He knew that some seeds were destined to sprout slowly, unnoticed.
Light surged across the platform once more, and Venerable White Frost's voice rolled out:
"Next match, Cloud-Leveling Hall's eldest outer sect senior brother-Nangong Heyao, take the platform!"
Nangong Heyao answered in a ringing voice, his figure upright as a spear, his presence vast. He stepped forward, spiritual light surging, and his imposing presence immediately stirred the entire crowd.
The platform blazed with light. Formation patterns unfurled like mountains and rivers, Spiritual Qi surging, its presence as heavy as the sea.
With a longsword on his back, Nangong Heyao stood straight as a spear, his presence restrained yet unshakable as a mountain. He stepped onto the platform, spiritual light rippling beneath his feet, as though the entire platform resonated with his breathing. The might of major accomplishment of the Qi Condensation Realm pressed down like clouds across a clear sky, making countless disciples' hearts tremble.
Opposite him, Gale Hall disciple Zhou Lie leaped up and landed firmly at the other end of the platform. He was not tall, but his arms were thick and strong, his presence as violent as a raging fire. The spiritual pressure of the middle stage of the Qi Condensation Realm swept out, bearing down like fierce winds and blazing flames.
The entire crowd fell silent for several breaths before erupting in a tidal wave of cheers.
"Eldest Senior Brother Nangong!"
"Gale Hall's Zhou Lie! Gale Hall will win!"
The shouts intermingled, and the atmosphere abruptly grew tense.
Zhou Lie's gaze was icy. He held his iron-bladed saber horizontally, his voice booming like thunder. "Nangong Heyao! You're the eldest senior brother of Cloud-Leveling Hall's outer sect disciples? Your cultivation at major accomplishment of Qi Condensation is extraordinary indeed. But today, I, of Gale Hall, will cut you down and advance by stepping on your reputation!"
Nangong Heyao remained composed, a faint smile curling his lips, his voice steady and ringing:
"Zhou Lie, you have fighting spirit. That's good. But you've forgotten-the outer sect competition isn't won with bold words. It comes down to who can remain standing on the platform until the end."
He slowly drew his longsword. Its ringing cry sounded like a dragon's roar and a tiger's howl, its light dazzling, its presence instantly forcing the air to tremble.
"In that case, come! Let me see-whether a Gale Hall disciple's saber can truly shake my sword!"
Boom-
As his longsword left its sheath completely, Spiritual Qi surged around Nangong Heyao like a tsunami, sweeping across the entire platform.
Boom!!!
As the platform's formation patterns lit up completely, Zhou Lie roared, the muscles in his arms bulging as Spiritual Qi erupted from his body like raging fire. His saber swung fiercely, instantly transforming into more than a dozen crimson saber shadows, each wrapped in howling gales, like flaming whirlwinds sweeping across heaven and earth.
"Gale Raging Saber!"
The saber shadows interwove, gathering into a storm of saber force. Saber light crisscrossed, sweeping across the entire platform in an instant, as though it would engulf Nangong Heyao completely. Many disciples in the spectator stands paled in fright, their hearts pounding as though they too were about to be torn apart by those fierce winds and raging blades.
Yet Nangong Heyao's expression remained unchanged, his eyes sharp as lightning. He raised his longsword high, and as its edge trembled, an incomparably keen sword intent abruptly erupted!
"Sword Qi like mountains, suppressing all directions!"
Boom-!
Sword light erupted, incomparably brilliant, like a silver river piercing straight into the heavens. Sword force several yards long instantly cleaved through the void, colliding head-on with Zhou Lie's storm of saber force.
Crack, crack, crack-!!!
Explosions rang out through the air. Saber light and sword force tore furiously at one another, the light at their point of collision too dazzling to look at directly, as though a sun had suddenly bloomed in the center of the platform! The powerful Spiritual Qi impact forced the watching disciples to retreat several steps, and many disciples with lower cultivation even felt their blood and Qi churn from the shock.
"Heavens... this is a true major accomplishment-level battle!"
"Senior Brother Nangong actually cleaved Zhou Lie's Gale Saber Art apart by brute force!"
Boom!!!
The storm of saber force was finally torn apart by the sword force. An enormous shock wave whipped up a raging tide of Spiritual Qi across the platform, forming a ring of light that spread outward and struck the protective barrier with a deafening boom.
As the wave of light dispersed, Nangong Heyao pointed his longsword straight at Zhou Lie. His robes snapped in the wind, his figure standing unmoving and majestic, like an undefeated god of war.
Meanwhile, several deep cracks split the stone tiles beneath Zhou Lie's feet. Though his saber's force had been fierce, he had been driven back several steps, and for the first time, his face took on a grave expression.
Nangong Heyao spoke calmly, his voice low yet echoing clearly throughout the venue:
"If that's all the strength your saber has... then today, you will lose."
The entire crowd instantly erupted in cries like mountains roaring and seas thundering. The Cloud-Leveling Hall disciples raised their arms and shouted, "Eldest Senior Brother Nangong!!!"
Driven back several steps, Zhou Lie looked livid, his jaw clenched as the Spiritual Qi within him surged wildly once more. He roared, veins bulging along his arms, and raised his saber high. Fierce winds gathered into a tornado around him, and his blade glowed crimson like blazing fire, his presence even more violent than before!
"Nangong Heyao!! If you really want to win, then take-my strongest saber strike!!"
Before his words faded, Zhou Lie's presence abruptly soared. His saber's force grew sharp enough to tear the air, and the platform's formation patterns flickered erratically, seemingly unable to withstand the power.
Yet Nangong Heyao's gaze turned cold. Before Zhou Lie could swing, heaven-shaking sword force had already erupted from his blade.
"-Too late."
Boom!!!
His longsword slashed, its light like a heavenly river plunging down, brilliant to the utmost. In an instant, heaven and earth seemed to have been divided in two by that single strike.
"Mountain-Suppressing Single Sword!"
The sword force descended like an overturning mountain, crushing down. Before Zhou Lie could unleash his saber strike, the force of the sword engulfed him completely. With a tremendous crash, his saber force instantly shattered and the fierce winds scattered. Zhou Lie was sent flying by the sword force, slamming heavily into the platform's protective barrier, blood spraying from his mouth. His saber flew from his hand and broke into several pieces.
At the center of the platform, the lingering waves of sword intent still reverberated, their radiance illuminating every direction.
Nangong Heyao stood with his sword withdrawn, his robes fluttering and snapping. His feet had not moved an inch, and his gaze was like lightning as he looked out over the entire crowd.
The entire crowd fell silent briefly, then erupted in cries like mountains collapsing and earth splitting!
"Eldest Senior Brother Nangong!!! Invincible!!!"
"Cloud-Leveling Hall-wins!!!"
Venerable White Frost raised his hand, his voice ringing like thunder across heaven and earth:
"Cloud-Leveling Hall outer sect disciple, Nangong Heyao-wins!"
Deathly pale, Zhou Lie was hurriedly helped off the platform by Gale Hall disciples, his eyes filled with unwillingness and fear. He knew full well that he had had absolutely no room to fight back just now. That single sword strike had directly crushed all his strength.
Nangong Heyao merely smiled faintly and said softly:
"The sword's might is like a mountain. It brooks no provocation."