"It is a divine sword?!"
"Our sect leader has actually given Senior Brother Lu a divine sword…"
"This is the first time I'm seeing a divine sword…"
"I have heard that a divine sword is able to aid a cultivator to cultivate better and it can even cultivate a sword spirit from it…"
"Am I seeing things? This is a divine sword…"
"This is not just a divine sword but a celestial-step divine sword..."
"What? It is even rarer than a heaven-step divine sword?"
"Not even a top cultivation sect may have a single celestial-step divine sword..."
"He can actually lift a divine sword with his profound strength? Isn't Lu Qingyun only a first realm cultivator?"
Tang Bufan's jaws almost dropped when he saw the divine sword that was in Lu Qingyun's hand.
This was just too exaggerating. Just a few days ago, he had a heaven-step precious sword and now he actually had a divine sword in his hands.
Even if the entire wealth of the Tang Clan was to add together, it could not even be added to one-tenth of a mortal-step divine sword, which was the cheapest class of the divine sword.
Lie Xingyuan, Ouyang Xue and Leng Qiuyue were all stunned as well.
Grand Elder Yun Xing was equally startled as she thought: No wonder he has given me the heaven-step precious sword to me. It is because his master has already given him a better sword. She is really good to him...
Supremacy Wen Hongguang was truly startled when he saw the divine sword. He had to take a second look with his divine sense to probe if it was really a divine sword.
If he could lay his hands on a divine sword then his cultivation journey would be a lot easier and he could command great prestige in New Empyrean City. In fact, he could even be the number one celestial in the entire New Empyrean City.
So he asked hoarsely, "Your celestial-step divine sword and my 100 high grade spirit stones as the stake?"
Qin Keqin nodded coolly, "That's right. No more or no less."
Supremacy Wen Hongguang laughed, "Deal then!"
Did she even know how much a celestial-step divine sword is actually worth? She is truly stupid!
This time round even Celestial Shi Guanyin and Grand Elder Yun Xing were both saying at the same time, "Sect Leader Qin, I think you ought to reconsider-"
Celestial Shi Guanyin took over from Yun Xing and said hastily, "The worth of your divine sword isn't something that can be measurable in monetary value. And it is also a celestial-step divine sword and it is priceless."
Qin Keqin casually said as she smiled faintly, "That's alright."
Then she looked at Supremacy Wen Hongguang, "However, I need proof that you have 100 high grade spirit stones or else our duel can't continue."
Supremacy Wen Hongguang bitterly smiled as he waved his hands; immediately 100 high grade spirit stones had appeared out of his spatial ring.
This was almost everything that he had got. His exact fortune was 101 high grade spirit stones. If she had made a bet that was higher than the 101 high grade spirit stones that he had, then it was not possible for him to raise the stake.
He did not know that Qin Keqin knew precisely how many spirit stones that he had got. She was in fact more resourceful than he was aware of.
Supremacy Wen Hongguang was now hell-bent of obtaining the celestial-step divine sword now.
Qin Keqin chuckled as she walked over to Lu Qingyun, "Mind if I borrow your sword for a while?"
Lu Qingyun respectfully handed over the divine sword to her as he whispered, "Keqin, you must be careful…"
Qin Keqin nodded with a gleeful smile before she said to Supremacy Wen Hongguang, "You have a much higher realm than me. Surely you don't mind that I use a divine sword as my weapon?"
Supremacy Wen Hongguang smiled coldly, "It is only fair or else the others will think that I am bullying you."
When he said that, many of the protégés of the Heavens Ridge Villa were clenching their fists. If this was not bullying then what was it?
Supremacy Wen Hongguang had now unsheathed his heaven-step precious sword and at the same time, he had caused a formidable aura to burst out from him.
The sword aura on his precious sword had suddenly turned azure and he was grinning, "You may not know this but I have recently obtained the spirit core of an eighth rank Blue Emperor Dragon."
Dozens of his high level protégés had perished in order to help him to kill the Blue Emperor Dragon.
The protégés of the Heavens Ridge Villa were all gasping with shock.
In the hands of a golden supremacy, the spirit core of an eighth rank Blue Emperor Dragon was enough for him to contest with a saint who had no spirit entity to aid him!
It was no wonder that Supremacy Wen Hongguang had dared to come alone with only a few lowly protégés.
Even Qin Keqin was startled. This was way out of her expectations.
Supremacy Wen Hongguang was laughing heartily, "Qin Keqin, be careful not to get your clothes burn off by my azure flames." He had totally dropped off any pretense of formalities by calling out her name directly.
Many of the protégés of the Heavens Ridge Villa was shaking their head in rage and anxiety. They had heard that their acting sect leader was only an upper fifth realm expert. Against an initial sixth realm expert who had an eight rank spirit entity to empower him, it was inconceivable that she would not be able to win against such an opponent.
Lu Qingyun was clenching his fists tightly now and he was prepared to jump in front of Qin Keqin to protect her with his very own life. "Keqin, I won't let him hurt you."
Supremacy Wen Hongguang smiled coldly, "I shall let my future consort Keqin to have the benefit of three moves first. After all, I am a superior celestial and this is only proper."
Qin Keqin rolled her eyes and chuckled, "Since you are so willing to be a gentleman, I really don't mind allowing you to be one."
She had suddenly raised the divine sword with both hands and in the next instant she had executed a dazzling display of the 'Heaven and Self as One', as the earthshaking divine power of the divine sword and her became one to form a rainbow hue of startling sword burst that swept in a straight line toward Supremacy Wen Hongguang.
The 'Heaven and Self as One' sword stance could only be used by super exponents that had reached the peak of their cultivation level, combining their state of divinity with the awakening of the heavens sense with the sword as one to unleash the full potential of the power of their swords.
Even a peaked seventh realm expert may not be able to awaken such a heavens sense. In reality, this was a lot more difficult and only a few geniuses were able to enlighten with the heavens sense with the sword.
"Wait-" that Supremacy Wen Hongguang suddenly called out when he realized what was coming as he took hurried steps back.
This happened so fast that Supremacy Wen Hongguang did not even have the time to react before the rainbow hue sword wave had passed through him his body like a demonic wind and he was sent flying into the air!
When he had landed on the ground, a line of blood could be seen across his body. He had immediately coughed out blood and his body was trembling with shock. In that single instant, his connection to his spirit entity had been severed and he had also suffered a severe backlash from losing the spirit entity!
With an agonizing cry, Supremacy Wen Hongguang had fainted from his injuries!
Barely had the duel started, it was over and Qin Keqin had merely used only one stroke!
Many of the protégés presented were not even able to discern what had happened.
"What is going on?"
"The golden aura of a golden supremacy can be bypassed in such a casual manner?"
"Manor Grandmaster Wen did not seem to have any strength to get up…"
"This…this is impossible right?"
Qin Keqin quietly tossed the divine sword back to Lu Qingyun and had grabbed the 100 high grade spirit stones, "I did warn you many times."
All these happened so fast that all the protégés of the Solitary Manor and Heavens Ridge Villa were all left with stunned expressions, not knowing how to react.
They could not even believe that Qin Keqin was just a fifth realm expert and that she had only used just a single stroke to defeat the Supremacy Wen Hongguang, who was also the Sect Leader of the Solitary Manor.
Celestial Shi Guanyin who was well versed in swordplay, after all she was the grand elder of the Red Heaven Sword Hall, started to mutter almost incoherently. "This…this is really the 'Heaven and Self as One'. In the most recent past, only the Great Saintess Yuqing was said to be able to execute it. How did she manage to attain such a high mastery in her sword art?"
Celestial Kong Guxin was looking at Celestial Shi Guanyin and Celestial Bai Laoxiong, "Did you all see what I have just seen?" He was still staring in disbelief at the scene.
Celestial Shi Guanyin managed to compose herself as she said to the protégés of the Solitary Manor, "Take your grandmaster away."
"Y-Yes…" the protégés of the Solitary Manor quickly said humbly. All of them had lost their haughty looks and were even kissing the ground as though they had just stepped into the holy consecrated ground of the celestial fraternity.
This Acting Sect Leader Qin Keqin of the Heavens Ridge Villa was really too terrifying!
All of a sudden, a powerful and oppressing aura began to swept through to everyone inside the Heavens Martial Hall!
A powerful 7th great saint was now outside!
He was echoing loudly from outside, "Who is the one that has made the Great Origin Golden Bell to sound 9 times?!!!"
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Author Note:
1. I forget to mention that this story was picked for Editor Choice for the Xmas week period.
2. Happy New Year 2024!
3. The Villainess is my Love Interest is nominated under New Arrivals for the New Year week period.