On the circular sword platform, other than the Main Hall Elder who acted as the judge, there were four people standing upright like swords.
Li Yi, Wang Tinghao, Xiao Qianfeng, and Chu Mu!
Many disciples' gazes were focused on Xiao Qianfeng. Some were amazed, some were in awe, and some were in admiration …
At this moment, the disciples' hearts were filled with complicated feelings.
Yuwen Wenhua was one of the top three disciples in the Azure Edge Sword Sect. Now, he was defeated like a stepping stone, allowing a new star to rise.
Xiao Qianfeng had jumped into the eyes of the Sword Sect's higher-ups and received great attention. Many elders were already thinking of taking Xiao Qianfeng as their disciple.
Although Yuwen Wenhua was defeated, he was not discouraged. He also did not leave. He sat on the Sword Observation Platform with a calm expression. His eyes shone brightly, and the wound on his neck had already stopped bleeding.
"I won't say anything unnecessary. Xiao Qianfeng's appearance has pushed this year's Sword Battle Festival to a new climax. I believe that you can't wait to see the next battle between the strong, "the Main Hall Elder said loudly. He waved his hands in a provocative manner. "In the end, who among the four will be eliminated? Who will be able to fight for the top three? Who will be able to take first place? Let's wait and see. "
After these words, many disciples' breathing became hurried.
"This round, we won't use the previous drawing method. I have four small branches of different lengths in my hand." The judge stretched out his hands from his sleeves, holding four straight branches that were as thick as chopsticks. "You four, each pick one branch. The longest and the shortest will be your opponents, and the remaining two will also be your opponents. You will have a sword duel."
"I'll go first," Xiao Qianfeng said. He reached for the branches and randomly picked one.
"Me too." Wang Tinghao said as his bright eyes swept across the remaining three branches. With lightning speed, he pulled out one of them.
"Alright, two of them have been extracted, so there are still two left. So, who will be the opponent for this round?" The referee elder said loudly in a provocative tone. Once again, he drew everyone's attention and made them even more focused.
"Junior Brother, you go first. You can leave the last one for me." Li Yi smiled, calm and at ease.
Chu Mu nodded. He casually reached out and took one out. He glanced at it and didn't say anything.
"Li Yi, the last one is yours." The elder said with a smile as he slowly opened his palm.
Everyone's eyes couldn't help but widen. Their pupils constricted slightly as they wanted to see the length of the last branch in the elder's hand.
Li Yi, Wang Tinghao, Xiao Qianfeng and Chu Mu all stared at the elder's slowly opening palm as if they were pranking him, waiting for the final result.
Finally, the elder's palm was completely opened. On his palm was a branch that was about ten centimeters long. Instantly, everyone's gaze swept across the branches in Chu Mu, Xiao Qianfeng and Wang Tinghao's hands.
"Third Senior Brother's branch is the longest."
"Senior Brother Xiao's branch is the shortest."
"The result is already out. Third Senior Brother will be facing Senior Brother Xiao. That means Eldest Senior Brother will be facing Chu Mu from the Soaring Wind Courtyard."
"Eldest Senior Brother will be facing Chu Mu. We don't even need to look to know the result."
"That's right, Chu Mu's strength is indeed unexpected. He can even defeat Senior Brother Xie Chunlei. However, Eldest Senior Brother's strength far surpasses Senior Brother Xie Chunlei. He's not someone Chu Mu can compare to."
"In my opinion, Eldest Senior Brother will be able to defeat Chu Mu in less than ten moves." Up until now, Chu Mu had repeatedly created miracles. First, he defeated Wenren Yun, who was in the middle stage of ninth phase. Then, he defeated Xie Chunlei, who was in the late stage of ninth phase. However, Li Yi was not an ordinary peak of ninth phase. He was a genius disciple who had mastered an incomplete high level sword art and was able to fight against an ordinary early stage of tenth phase.
"Yes, now I'm looking forward to the battle between Third Senior Brother and Xiao Qianfeng. Xiao Qianfeng is so strong. Even Second Senior Brother was defeated. I wonder if Third Senior Brother will be able to defeat Xiao Qianfeng. "
The inner disciples and elite disciples of the Main Palace discussed in low voices. They did not think highly of Chu Mu, but they thought highly of Xiao Qianfeng. After all, Xiao Qianfeng was in the middle stage of ninth phase. His sword art was also very outstanding. He also had the dazzling battle record of defeating Yuwen Wenhua.
"Great, it's not Senior Brother Xiao and Senior Brother Chu's battle." The inner disciples of the three courtyards, especially the disciples of the Towering Wind Courtyard, heaved a sigh of relief. Their expressions were relieved. Their hearts that had been hanging high up in the air also relaxed.
The tense nerves of the Towering Wind Courtyard Master and the others also relaxed.
Perhaps, Chu Mu might be defeated, but they did not wish for Chu Mu and Xiao Qianfeng to fight each other here.
Of course, if both of them could win, then they would have to fight for the championship. It was inevitable, but it was a good thing. It meant that one of them would be the champion and the other would be the runner-up.
However, this was just a fantasy. It could not be taken seriously.
"Wang Tinghao against Xiao Qianfeng, Li Yi against Chu Mu." The referee elder took back the branch and said with a smile, "Li Yi and Chu Mu, please return to your respective Sword Observation Platforms. For this battle, Wang Tinghao against Xiao Qianfeng. Get ready."
Li Yi nodded towards Chu Mu and smiled slightly. He lightly tapped the Sword Discourse Platform with the tip of his foot and floated up. He was like a cloud floating towards the Sword Observation Platform in the main hall. He was calm and at ease, causing people's eyes to light up and their faces to be filled with admiration.
"Chu Mu, I'll wait for you at the Championship Battle." Xiao Qianfeng suddenly took a step to Chu Mu's side and said softly. His face was serious, causing a trace of astonishment and disapproval to flash across the referee elder and Wang Tinghao's faces. They took another look at Chu Mu before withdrawing their gazes.
"What did he say? He said he'll wait for Chu Mu at the Championship Battle? "
"That's right, I didn't hear wrongly. That's what Xiao Qianfeng said."
"It seems that Xiao Qianfeng is not only confident in defeating Third Senior Brother, he is also confident that Chu Mu will defeat First Senior Brother."
"It's just laughable confidence."
Everyone felt that this was a joke. After ridiculing him for a while, they didn't take it to heart because they felt that it was impossible.
Chu Mu smiled slightly and nodded. He leaped down from the Sword Discourse Platform and lightly tapped the ground. He leaped up like a dragonfly skimming the water and landed on the Sword Observation Platform of the Towering Wind Courtyard.
In terms of beauty, it was not as good as Li Yi's, so not many people paid attention to it.
If he used his full strength, Chu Mu could indeed be as elegant and natural as Li Yi, but that would definitely expose his Wind Concept.
Unless he had no other choice, Chu Mu was unwilling to expose his Wind Concept.
"Please." Wang Tinghao cupped his sword with both hands.
"Please." Xiao Qianfeng returned the sword salute.
The two of them were ten meters apart, facing each other from afar. Traces of aura pervaded the air and collided with each other.
"The fourth round of the Qingfeng Sword Battle, Wang Tinghao against Xiao Qianfeng. Now … begin …" The referee elder dragged his voice out loudly. His hand was like a treasured sword as he retreated like water and landed below the Sword Discourse Platform.
"Your strength has completely exceeded my expectations, but I will defeat you." Wang Tinghao said in a low voice. There seemed to be traces of lightning dancing in his eyes that radiated a bright light. His entire body was suffused with sword aura that crackled as if fine arcs of lightning were revolving around him. His aura was shocking to the extreme and became more and more intense.
"My sword has boundless sharpness and boundless sharpness." Xiao Qianfeng muttered in a low voice. Sword aura suffused the air with boundless sharpness. In an instant, the air around him seemed to have transformed into sharp swords.
An exciting battle was about to begin.
After that, both sides let out low shouts as they drew their swords. Sword Light and sharp sword aura swept out in all directions.
…
"Exciting, truly too exciting!"
Everyone's eyes were wide open as they stared unblinkingly at the two figures that were like lightning on the Sword Discourse Platform. They crisscrossed as countless sword images and Sword Light collided. The air exploded as countless ripples that could be seen with the naked eye exploded.
Quick, quick, quick!
Wang Tinghao mainly cultivated the lightning element sword aura technique and lightning element sword technique. His speed was originally fast, his explosive force was strong, and his destructive force was great. On the other hand, Xiao Qianfeng cultivated the metal element sword technique, which was extremely sharp and extraordinarily fast.
Fighting speed with speed already made it difficult for others to see their figures clearly, and even their swords couldn't be seen clearly.
In the blur, one could only see layer upon layer of figures colliding and crisscrossing with each other. Countless sword images and Sword Light crisscrossed and filled the entire circular Sword Discourse Platform. The ear-piercing sounds of collision caused the air to explode like firecrackers, and countless sparks flew out like fireworks, dazzling everyone.
"Who do you think will win?" The disciples guessed one after another and were uncertain.
At this moment, an extremely ear-piercing sound of shattering resounded out. Under the enormous force of the collision, the two figures brought out a stream of sparks as they separated to the left and right.
Suddenly, countless arcs of lightning leaped around Wang Tinghao's body. Lightning was even brewing in his eyes as his aura surged like the rage of lightning. A muffled rumbling sound seemed to come from the sky.
"Let's decide the outcome in one move." Wang Tinghao's voice was even more like rolling thunder as it exploded out, "Take this move of mine, Furious Thunder Flash!"
A large amount of lightning attribute sword qi poured into the Hundred Refinements Sword. Countless arcs of lightning leaped about, emitting ear-piercing crackling sounds. Astonishingly dazzling lightning covered the entire sword, and even Wang Tinghao's entire body was about to be wrapped in it. The sword flickered like a furious thunder that tore through the sky, destroying everything in its path.
"Take this move of mine as well, Thousand Blades Kill!" Xiao Qianfeng's gaze became gloomy, as if it was absorbing all light. A gloomy golden luster flashed across the Hundred Refinements Sword. In an instant, a boundlessly sharp aura seeped into the air, causing the people in the distance to involuntarily feel a chill run down their spines.
Furious Thunder Flash against Thousand Blades Kill!
Everyone only saw a furious bolt of lightning and a dark golden light colliding on the Sword Discourse Arena. In an instant, an earth-shattering sound exploded out, as if a large bell had been broken, emitting an ear-piercing sound that caused one's scalp to go numb and their entire body to tremble. It was so earth-shattering that it paled in comparison.
The extremely intense light was incomparably dazzling, causing people to immediately close their eyes as tears involuntarily seeped out from the corners of their eyes.
The ear-piercing sound of metal shattering only dissipated after a long time. Someone secretly opened a crack to look, and could faintly see two figures standing there.
Wang Tinghao and Xiao Qianfeng stood back to back a few meters, holding swords in their hands. Their expressions were indifferent, and they were motionless like statues. Only the wind that blew past caused their hair and clothes to lightly flutter.
"Who won?"
"What's the result?"
The disciples all started to guess. Only a small number of people were able to see the changes in the instant of the collision, and also knew who won and who lost.
In the instant of the collision, Xiao Qianfeng's sword burst out with half an inch of sword light, destroying Wang Tinghao's furious lightning. Although the half inch of sword light was also shattered, his sword swept past Wang Tinghao's neck with endless force.
"You're very strong." After a long time, Wang Tinghao slowly turned around. His tone contained a trace of fanaticism, and there was even a shocking light in his eyes that leaped like electric arcs. "I look forward to the next time we fight."
After he finished speaking, lightning burst out from under Wang Tinghao's feet, and he shot straight up into the sky. With a turn in the air, he charged towards the Sword Observation Platform like a bolt of lightning.
"Third Senior Brother lost?" The Main Palace disciples were all dumbfounded, unable to react for a moment.
"Eldest Senior Brother, he's very strong. His sword is incomparably sharp." Wang Tinghao walked past Li Yi and said softly. Li Yi frowned slightly.
"In this sword battle, Xiao Qianfeng wins." The judge flew onto the platform and announced. His heart was still in shock, and he looked at Xiao Qianfeng with some emotion, only feeling that he was old.
"Yeah … Senior Brother Xiao won …"
The disciples of the three courtyards, especially the disciples of the Soaring Wind Courtyard, cheered endlessly. At this point, it was enough, it was already enough. All the humiliation in the past would be washed away in one go today.
In contrast to the three courtyards' cheers, the disciples of the Main Palace were extremely depressed, unable to raise their spirits, and their faces were dispirited and listless.
"Next match, Li Yi versus Chu Mu. Both sides, please come to the platform." The judge withdrew his emotions and announced.
Li Yi stood up and floated out of the Sword Observation Platform. Clouds surrounded his body, and he was like a flying cloud that was neither fast nor slow. He drew a beautiful arc and floated towards the circular platform, elegant and calm.
Immediately, the entire hall was filled with cheers. The eyes of the Main Palace disciples lit up, as if they had seen hope: We still have Eldest Senior Brother.
Chu Mu stood up, lightly tapped the ground with the tip of his foot, and flew up, bringing along a gust of wind as he blew towards the Sword Observation Platform. In the air, he took a step in the air, took a breath, and blew onto the Sword Observation Platform like a gust of wind.
"Good!" The eyes of the disciples of the three courtyards lit up as they shouted.
This was the first time Chu Mu had leaped onto the Sword Observation Platform so far, even though he had taken a breath in the middle.
"So he knows how to take a breath. What's the use of that? Could it be that he wants to rely on this to defeat Eldest Senior Brother?"
"That's impossible."
"Eldest Senior Brother, do your best. Defeat him, defeat the two of them, and let them know that Eldest Senior Brother is the number one disciple of our Sword Sect."
The disciples of the Main Palace all raised their hands and clenched their fists as they shouted.
Li Yi was already the last hope in their hearts.
Looking at Li Yi and then looking at Chu Mu, a thought appeared in the referee elder's mind. Then, he shook his head slightly and dispelled this absurd thought.
"Li Yi against Chu Mu, let the sword battle begin." With an announcement, the elder flew back.
"Junior Brother, feel free to show me your strength." Li Yi smiled slightly, and saluted Chu Mu with his sword, and said softly, appearing to be very magnanimous.
"Senior Brother, please." Chu Mu returned the salute with a calm attitude.
Both sides drew their swords, and the bright Sword Light was like autumn water, rippling in the air, attracting everyone's attention.
They drew their swords together, one sword like a cloud, one sword like a wind, the wind rose and the clouds moved, the wind blew and the clouds rolled.
Li Yi's sword carried wisps of clouds, sometimes fast and sometimes slow, sometimes left and sometimes right, extremely elegant. Coupled with his footwork, the changes of the clouds were displayed to the extreme.
Chu Mu's sword blew a cool breeze, which seemed slow but was actually fast and full of fierceness. Coupled with the Chaos Steps and Wind-Swaying Willow Body Technique, he advanced and retreated like the wind.
A sword thrust, a sword slash, a sword block, and a sword vibration. The sound of metal clashing continuously spread out. Everyone could see every sword move clearly and dazzled them.
As they fought, Li Yi suddenly discovered to his surprise that his rhythm had been disrupted. Then, he was pulled into Chu Mu's grasp.
Li Yi wanted to break Chu Mu's rhythm several times, but he found that he could not do it at all. Chu Mu's every sword seemed to be carefully calculated, and he felt that he had no choice but to block, and it was difficult for him to counterattack. Gradually, he fell into Chu Mu's control, and he felt powerless.
"How is this possible!" Li Yi was shocked, and so were Luo Tianxiong and the others.
"How can this inner disciple's swordsmanship be so profound? Could it be that he cultivated basic swordsmanship when he was in his mother's womb?" They all found it hard to believe.
"No, his basic swordsmanship attainments are much higher than mine. I have to break this situation, or else it will be disadvantageous for me if this continues." Li Yi roared in his heart, and he channeled his sword Qi into the Hundred Refined Sword, while shaking off Chu Mu's sword, a large amount of sword Qi slashed out, forcing Chu Mu to dodge.
"Junior Brother, your swordsmanship attainments are unfathomable, above Senior Brother's. Senior Brother has no choice but to use his true strength." Li Yi's figure drifted back, and he said with a smile, "Senior Brother's main swordsmanship is an incomplete high-level swordsmanship, Cloud Sea Swordsmanship. Although it lacks a high-level killing move, its power is not bad. Junior Brother, you have to be careful."
Some of the female disciples in the main hall had red hearts in their eyes, and they screamed loudly. Li Yi was too graceful, and they were mesmerized.
"I mainly cultivate the Breeze Swordsmanship, which is an intermediate level swordsmanship." Chu Mu also said, "Senior Brother, please."
Li Yi did not hold back this time, and he immediately used the basic move of the Cloud Sea Swordsmanship. When he attacked, Chu Mu seemed to see a white cloud surrounding him, and Li Yi's figure seemed to have disappeared.
Sword after sword, each sword was like a white cloud. In the blink of an eye, more than twenty sword strikes were launched, and Chu Mu found himself in a small sea of clouds, and he could not find Li Yi's figure.
"Although it lacks a high-level killing move, a high-level swordsmanship is still a high-level swordsmanship. Even the basic move's power is extraordinary, and it is far from being comparable to an intermediate level swordsmanship." Luo Tianxiong nodded.
Suddenly, a Sword Light was hidden in the sea of clouds, and it gently pierced towards Chu Mu.
Chu Mu turned around and blocked Li Yi's sword. Just as he was about to counterattack, Li Yi disappeared into the sea of clouds, and he could not find him anywhere.
"I didn't expect the basic move of a high-level swordsmanship to be so powerful." Chu Mu was secretly on guard.
Under normal circumstances, swordsmen in the Sword Qi Realm would cultivate entry-level swordsmanship, low-level swordsmanship, and intermediate-level swordsmanship. It was rare for them to cultivate high-level swordsmanship, because it required too much Sword Qi to perform high-level swordsmanship.
As for super-level swordsmanship, it could only be performed by experts in the Qi Transformation Realm.
Li Yi was able to cultivate an incomplete high-level swordsmanship, which showed that he had a fortuitous encounter.
"Chu Mu will be defeated within ten moves!" The disciples in the main hall were certain.
The Cloud Sea Swordsmanship was an incomplete high-level swordsmanship, and it was also the guarantee that Li Yi could maintain his position as the Eldest Senior Brother.
Hiding in the sea of clouds, Li Yi's body moved erratically, left, right, front, and back, so that Chu Mu could not catch him, and he would look for an opportunity to attack.
What shocked Li Yi was that Chu Mu was able to seal his sword time and time again, causing him to return without any success. He had no choice but to temporarily hide in the small cloud sea and search for a better opportunity to attack.