Since his reincarnation, Su Yi had killed countless land immortals.
But the only person who truly impressed him enough to be called "formidable" was Qiuheng Kong alone.
This person was indeed extraordinary.
His entire being exuded a solid and perfect state of spirit and energy, as if all impurities had been washed away, leaving only purity.
What was rare was that the aura of sword intent emanating from him far surpassed the ordinary, clearly indicating that he had found a path of sword cultivation that suited him perfectly.
Moreover, the sword intent he possessed merged seamlessly with his mind and spirit, making him a true swordsman!
"No wonder Chu Yukou is so confident and fearless. With a swordsman like this presiding, he can truly overlook the secular world," Su Yi thought to himself, then turned to Tea Jin and said, "When the battle begins, retreat to a distance of three hundred zhang, or you will be affected."
Tea Jin's heart trembled, and she quickly nodded in agreement. "Young Master, please be careful as well. This person is Qiuheng Kong, the Grand Elder of the Moon Wheel Sect..."
Before she could recount Qiuheng Kong's glorious past, Su Yi interrupted her. "No need to say more. I know his capabilities."
Fifty years ago, Qiuheng Kong had reached the Foundation Establishment stage of cultivation.
Fifty years later, he was still at the Foundation Establishment stage, without any progress in his cultivation.
However, in Su Yi's eyes, the aura and power emanating from Qiuheng Kong were much stronger than Elder Zhou Changyi, the Hidden Dragon Mountain Grand Elder at the Yuanfu stage!
The reason could be easily inferred: Qiuheng Kong's understanding of the Great Dao must have reached an unimaginable level during these fifty years.
Furthermore, when this person was at the Martial Dao's Four Realms, he had undoubtedly forged an extraordinary foundation in martial arts. Otherwise, he wouldn't possess such a fascinating demeanor.
From another perspective, Qiuheng Kong was also an unparalleled genius, possessing the foundation to kill enemies across realms!
The evening glow burned, radiating a dazzling and magnificent light.
In the void, Qiuheng Kong glanced at Su Yi from a distance and then slightly bowed, his expression calm. "Qiuheng Kong greets Daoist Su."
With his hands behind his back, Su Yi took a step in mid-air, standing a hundred feet above the void, gazing at Qiuheng Kong with a faint smile. He said, "Your proficiency in the sword path is commendable and catches the eye. I won't waste words with you. If you can remain undefeated within ten moves, I, Su Yi, will spare the Moon Wheel Sect."
The Moon Wheel Sect was in shock, buzzing with astonishment.
"This guy is so arrogant!"
"This is the renowned Imperial Teacher of the Great Zhou Empire? Clearly, he's just an arrogant madman!"
"Please, Grand Elder, kill this brat!"
Many angry voices resounded, chaotic and infuriated by Su Yi's words.
Even Chu Yukou, the Sect Master of the Moon Wheel Sect, couldn't help but snort in disdain. This Su Yi... he truly was outrageously arrogant!
Only Qiuheng Kong remained calm and mild-mannered, saying, "To have caught Daoist Su's attention is an honor for Qiuheng. However, blades and swords have no eyes, so please be cautious, Daoist friend."
The evening glow blazed like fire, casting an even more extraordinary radiance on Qiuheng Kong.
Clang!
The sword hummed with clarity as Su Yi casually held the Xuanwu Sword. Instantly, his aura underwent a transformation. His black eyes became profound, his azure robe fluttered, and a fierce and domineering momentum surged from his body, reaching the heavens.
Boom!
The colorful haze within a hundred zhang of the sky shattered, and the heavenly light poured down, casting an eerie illusion on the pitch-black Xuanwu Sword, creating a chilling and ethereal glow.
"Draw your sword," Su Yi calmly spoke, his youthful face exuding a sense of disdainful arrogance.
"Very well," Qiuheng Kong's pupils slightly contracted in the distance. His expression became solemn as his gray robe billowed, and a profound and obscure sword intent swirled around him.
With a swoosh, the golden-green flying sword, slanted between his temples, leaped up, spun in the air, and appeared before his chest.
Then, the golden-green sword suddenly expanded, reaching a length of three feet and three inches.
Qiuheng Kong reached out and grasped the sword, speaking softly, "This sword is named Qinghe. Before the age of twenty-four, I traveled the world relying on this sword, forging an unwavering resolve in life and death. For fifty years, it has remained unused. Please enlighten me, Daoist friend."
Boom!
A timeless and resolute aura surged from him, shattering his previously plain and gentle demeanor.
The sword hummed like a tidal wave, and the person emanated a sharpness that permeated his entire being.
"This is the Senior Brother I know!" Chu Yukou's heart surged, his eyes shining.
The entire Moon Wheel Sect was in an uproar, their gazes toward Qiuheng Kong as if he were a deity of the sword.
Three hundred zhang away, Tea Jin quietly clenched her jade-like hands, her eyebrows filled with tension.
Although she had full confidence in Su Yi, Qiuheng Kong's strength had long been deeply ingrained in her mind and soul.
At this moment, witnessing Qiuheng Kong's breathtaking killing intent, how could she not feel nervous?
"Good!"
A gleam shimmered in Su Yi's eyes as he stepped through the void, and the Xuanwu Sword suddenly swept across the sky.
Whoosh!
A sword energy as clear as an illusion slashed out, simple and casual, spanning only three feet.
But in Qiuheng Kong's eyes, this sword energy displayed extraordinary artistry, containing a profound sense of Dao, as elusive as the antlers of a gazelle, untraceable.
He took a deep breath, and the Qinghe Sword rang out, instantly conjuring a burst of sword flowers. The sword energy transformed into threads, misty like rain and vibrant as fireworks.
In the blink of an eye, the fireworks blossomed and faded!
Just a single sword strike, filled with poetic imagery, yet concealing an unparalleled sharpness. It was beautiful enough to make one's heart tremble, but also terrifying to the extreme.
Chu Yukou in the distance trembled both physically and mentally, overwhelmed by a sense of fear.
It was as if facing this sword, all vitality would wither and perish in that moment of brilliance, leaving one with an overwhelming sense of despair.
In the eyes of everyone in the Moon Wheel Sect, beneath the firmament, it was as if a fireworks display had erupted, with unmatched sword energy pouring forth, resembling the techniques of immortals!
Bang!
Two sword energies intertwined.
What astonished everyone was that Su Yi's seemingly simple sword strike shattered the sky filled with fireworks-like sword rain, with an unstoppable force, and fiercely slashed towards Qiuheng Kong with unparalleled sword intent.
Clang!!
Qiuheng Kong bent his elbow and horizontally blocked the sword energy. The collision between the two generated a destructive power fluctuation, causing Qiuheng Kong's figure to sway, forcing him to take a step back.
"This..."
Chu Yukou's pupils contracted.
The faces of everyone in the Moon Wheel Sect also changed slightly.
The duel had just begun, yet even the Grand Elder, a giant in the realm of swordsmanship, was shaken!?
Could Su Yi be truly so terrifying?
"Friend Su deserves to be called a legendary figure in the world. With a single sword strike, your sword intent is in harmony with your mind and body, your sword momentum merges with your qi, and even your cultivation strength has reached an unprecedented level. It is truly admirable," Qiuheng Kong sincerely remarked.
In the void, Qiuheng Kong couldn't help but feel amazed by this sword strike.
In the distance, a hint of seriousness appeared between Su Yi's eyebrows as he calmly said, "Your attainments in swordsmanship have also surprised me. If I'm not mistaken, your sword intent should be at the level of 'Xuan Tier Lower Grade.' Using rain as an entry point into the path of the sword, turning sword energy into threads. These are the characteristics of a perfected sword intent."
"And your cultivation in the Void Opening Realm can be considered top-notch, far surpassing ordinary people. You must have obtained some ancient Taoist inheritance, otherwise, it would be difficult to cultivate a 'vital energy like tides' foundation in the Void Opening Realm."
After listening, Qiuheng Kong narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Friend, your insight is sharp."
Su Yi chuckled and said, "To be frank, if it's just that, within five moves, you will undoubtedly be defeated."
Whoosh!
While his voice still echoed, Su Yi struck again.
This sword was ancient and unadorned, devoid of any trace of fireworks, free and unrestrained.
This was the state of refining the essence of the Great Joy Sword Technique to the point of being able to freely control it. When the sword was unleashed, it was accompanied by Su Yi's current state of mind.
When my heart is furious, the sword's momentum becomes violent like boiling water.
When my heart is carefree, the sword's momentum becomes as free as the wind.
This is the state of being at will, breaking through conventions, where a single thought gives birth to sword movement!
Faced with this sword, Qiuheng Kong felt stimulated both physically and mentally. His proficiency in swordsmanship was itching to move, and he couldn't help but shout out:
"Good!"
He laughed loudly, his sleeves billowed, and the Qinghe Sword burst into a thunderous roar, unleashing a hundred feet of sharpness. With the sword leading the way, he charged up into the air.
"Rain and mist create illusions, and all things are empty!"
Amidst the clear chant, Qiuheng Kong's sword seemed to give rise to endless misty rain, with wisps of sword energy that were crystal clear and ethereal.
But when the rain and mist descended, they emitted a terrifying aura of slaughter that shook the heavens and earth!
Boom!
The sky was shrouded in rain and mist, and Su Yi's sword seemed to be trapped in a quagmire. Although it remained unstoppable, its speed suddenly slowed down. The fine strands of sword energy, like threads of rain, struck against his sword energy, causing explosive clashes reminiscent of clashing weapons.
Soon, Su Yi's sword energy became riddled with holes, cracking and bursting.
From this, one could see the profound nature of Qiuheng Kong's sword.
However, Su Yi seemed indifferent. With elegant sleeves fluttering, he approached while holding his sword, and his momentum continued to rise. There was a disdainful aura emanating from his eyebrows and corners of his eyes.
As a swordsman, it was rare for him to encounter a "peer" who caught his eye, arousing an itching desire for battle.
"The third move."
With a leisurely voice, Su Yi swung his sword.
A vast and majestic sword energy surged like a river in the sky, clear as the color of the firmament, and boundless in its grandeur.
If there was only one word to describe it, this sword was "unstoppable"!
Qiuheng Kong's eyes momentarily flickered with a hint of confusion. What a powerful strike!
He didn't dare to hesitate, firmly gripping the hilt of his sword with both hands, as if a godly figure swinging an axe to split a divine mountain. The originally misty and ethereal sword intent suddenly transformed into an overwhelmingly dominant torrent. The dazzling sword radiance resembled the radiant sun, causing the mountains and rivers to pale in comparison.
Boom!!!
The collision of the two sword intents beneath the firmament stirred up a destructive deluge akin to a hurricane, spreading and causing the turbulent airflow in the thousand-zhang void to violently churn.
"If it were me, facing either of these swords, I would have no chance of survival..."
In the distance, Chu Yukou was shocked, his body covered in cold sweat. As the Moon Wheel Sect's Sect Master in the later stages of the Void Opening Realm, he was astonished by this attack, feeling a bone-chilling sensation.
Within the Moon Wheel Sect, a chorus of astonished exclamations resounded. Countless individuals turned pale, including some venerable figures, their eyes wide open and trembling.
Three hundred zhang away, Tea Jin's heart couldn't help but churn. She had not personally witnessed Su Yi's scenes of killing a group of terrestrial immortals in the Jade Capital City. It was only now, witnessing such an extraordinary duel, that she deeply understood the immense strength of Su Yi today!
And what made everyone incredulous was--
Within the billowing dust and mist, it could be seen that under this earth-shattering strike, Qiuheng Kong's upright figure, resembling a long spear, retreated three steps in the void!