On the sword stage, the atmosphere crackled with tension as the elders reacted to the fierce competition below.
"This youngster can!" boomed Elder Yu Xuanzhou from the seventh Jianfeng, his voice powerful and commanding. He leaned forward in his sword-shaped stone chair, his dark eyes sparkling with approval. "Truly impressive! That flying sword technique is full of vigor and strength."
His praise was echoed by several other elders, who noted how Yun Xiao's performance had overshadowed Jiang Yue's recent victory over the snake monster. "To kill that snake monster like that—it's a greater feat than what Jiang Yue achieved," one elder remarked, nodding in agreement.
"But what a pity," Yu Xuanzhou added, a hint of regret in his voice. "Sword Soul can only be maintained for so long."
The other elders fell silent for a moment, taken aback. **Blind!** How could he call such a powerful display "not wonderful"?
"Who was the first to dispatch the snake monster?" one elder asked, unable to contain their curiosity.
"Let's just hit one and find out," Yao Qingqian replied, her expression icy, as if she were about to unleash a storm.
"Fair enough!" the other elders agreed, their interest piqued.
"Yao Elder, is there no issue with Jiang Yue?" Wu Elder inquired quietly, glancing sideways at her.
"What issue could there be? Among these hundred disciples, aside from Ye Guao, the rest are merely cats, dogs, insects, and snakes compared to her qualifications," Yao Qingqian scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"After all, she is the female talent that Sword King Ye has personally groomed. Perhaps I'm the one who speaks too much!" Wu Elder replied with a forced smile, hoping to diffuse the tension.
Meanwhile, on the stone-paved road, the air was thick with a palpable intensity. The rivalry between Jiang Yue and Yun Xiao simmered just beneath the surface, and the stakes were rising with every moment. It was clear that this contest was far from over, and both sides were preparing for the next round of conflict.
Jiang Yue's frustration and humiliation were palpable as she scrambled to her feet, the blood seeping from her wound staining her elegant attire. "You! Your name is unlucky, and your temper is loathsome, pale-faced!" she spat, her willow-like eyebrows knitted tightly in anger.
With a flick of her wrist, the ice-blue Sword Soul in her hand extended, morphing from a short blade into a formidable three chi long sword. The Ice Moon Sword Soul radiated a chilling aura, it's cold light shimmering ominously. It was clear she had made up her mind to unleash her full power.
"Do you know who I am?" Jiang Yue thought, sneering inwardly. She was touted as a prodigious talent, the second Ye Guying, destined to dominate the realm of spiritual cultivation. The inflated confidence of these past months had fueled her belief that she could easily dispatch anyone who dared challenge her.
As Yun Xiao stood poised against her, the azure glow of his Sword Soul mirrored the tempestuous energy between them. He transformed his weapon into a three chi long azure sword, embodying the essence of the Heaven-Burying Sword Soul, although it paled in comparison to the Sword Gang layer of Jiang Yue's weapon.
Yet, there was something in his demeanor that spoke of life-and-death struggle, an intensity that dwarfed Jiang Yue's previous encounters. "I've killed in battle since I was twelve, while you've merely played house in your prime minister's mansion. You think you can stand against me?" he thought, dismissing her as an opponent.
Rips of wind followed as Yun Xiao lunged forward, his speed and precision startling. The azure sword cut through the air, aimed directly at Jiang Yue's throat.
"Quite quick!" Jiang Yue gasped, her eyes widening in realization. In that moment, she recognized the danger she was truly in—a desperate mortal wielding a sword with the ferocity of someone who had faced death before.
Overcome by instinctive fear, she hesitated, abandoning her earlier lofty demeanor. As Yun Xiao's azure sword bore down on her, she desperately attempted to parry the strike with her Ice Moon Sword Soul. The two swords clashed with a sharp, grating sound, sending sparks flying. The impact forced her back, pain radiating from her injured face as she barely managed to deflect the attack.
"Ding!" The collision echoed, but the satisfaction of Yun Xiao's precision was quickly overshadowed by Jiang Yue's fury. "You court death!" she shouted, her voice laced with rage and disbelief.
But before she could regain her composure, Yun Xiao lunged again. He leapt up the giant stone stairs with ease, his azure Sword Soul ready to strike once more, embodying the very essence of a relentless warrior.
Jiang Yue, still reeling from the pain and shock, staggered back, struggling to recover. Her previous confidence shattered, the blood from her wound trickled down her face, marring her once-pristine appearance. Desperation clawed at her as she scrambled to avoid his next assault.
"Not a sword cultivator simply because you have a Sword Soul!" Yun Xiao taunted, his voice ringing with scorn. With each step forward, he pressed his advantage, embodying the fierce spirit of a true swordsman, undeterred and ready to finish what he had started.
Jiang Yue's eyes blazed with fury, but her words faltered as she locked eyes with Yun Xiao. His gaze was as icy as the winter wind, cutting through her bluster and forcing her to confront the truth of her situation.
Bang!
As she crawled backward, her head collided heavily against the stone, sending stars dancing before her eyes. Pain shot through her body, a sharp reminder of her vulnerability. Blood matted her hair, and tears of humiliation threatened to spill.
"What a so-called talent, this pustule type?" Yun Xiao's voice was low and menacing, approaching with an air of finality. He was relentless, embodying the grim reaper, and Jiang Yue felt her pride and arrogance crumble under the weight of his presence.
With a sense of dread filling her chest, she could barely choke out a sound, her throat constricted. "Rescue… someone, please…" she thought, her gaze shifting desperately toward the distant sword stage where the elders stood.
The atmosphere among the spectators grew tense. Yu Elder's voice rang out, "This boy is a born ruthless person!" His tone was a mixture of shock and admiration. Wu Elder's expression turned grave as he whispered to Yao Qingqian, "His murderous aura is intense; he might truly be a threat to Jiang Yue."
Yao Qingqian felt her temper rising. "She's supposed to be our pride, favored by Sword King Ye! How can I face him if Jiang Yue fails to win?" Her frustration boiled over as she slammed her hand against the stone chair, causing the entire sword stage to shake.
The elders exchanged bewildered glances, unsure how to react to her fury.
Meanwhile, Yun Xiao's attention snapped back to the battlefield as he felt an ominous energy gather behind him. Turning swiftly, he encountered a grotesque sight—a blood monster materializing from the fog, its many arms and bat-like head radiating menace.
"Blood monster?!" he gasped, recognizing it as one of folklore's most feared evildoers, a creature born from the bloodshed of countless battles. It was a manifestation of death, and its very presence sent a chill through him.
"This place has become a living hell!" he thought, recalling the memories of slaughter he had witnessed, where innocent lives had been consumed.
But Jiang Yue, realizing the danger, managed to crawl away, her thoughts racing for help. "Yao Elder! Help me!" she pleaded silently.
"Does she really think she can escape?" Yun Xiao muttered, charging forward as the blood monster lunged at him.
The sword stage erupted with cries of disbelief. "What is this creature?" they wondered.
"Get back!" Yao Qingqian yelled, her voice filled with urgency.
But it was too late; Yun Xiao's determination was unwavering. With his azure Sword Soul in hand, he readied himself. The blood monster screeched, its sharp claws poised to strike, but Yun Xiao was faster.
"Count down your life!" he declared, his voice cutting through the chaos.
"One!" The tension in the air thickened as the first number echoed ominously.
"Two!" The monster reeled back, sensing its imminent demise.
"Three!" Yun Xiao's blade glinted with deadly intent as he charged, slicing through the air with incredible speed.
The azure light flashed as he cleaved the blood monster in two. The monster's shriek faded into silence, and blood splattered like rain around him.
Turning back, Yun Xiao's piercing gaze fell on Jiang Yue, who was now trembling, her confidence shattered.
"What… how can you be so strong?" she stammered, fear gripping her heart as she backed away, her earlier bravado extinguished.
Yun Xiao advanced, not even glancing at her crumpled form on the ground. "You're nothing but a stepping stone on my path," he said coldly, stepping over her with disdain as he ascended to the sword stage.
Jiang Yue, filled with a mix of humiliation and terror, felt her world collapsing around her. As she lay there bloodied and broken, tears streamed down her face.
"Yun Xiao, you're too bold!" a voice called from the sword stage, the elders' fierce gazes boring into him.
But Yun Xiao paid them no mind. His thoughts were focused, driven by the memories of lost lives and the promise he made to protect the innocent. He had no time for weakness or hesitation.
He was determined to carve a path for himself, one that would ensure that those who sought to oppress and harm the people would be met with an unyielding force. As he stood at the edge of the sword stage, he resolved to become a defender of the helpless, leaving behind the broken remnants of Jiang Yue's arrogance and pride.
"Courage?" Chiyue pondered, shocked by the display of strength. "What does she mean by that?"
"The courage to face what others fear," Lanxing responded quietly, her eyes narrowing as she observed the chaos unfold. "And the courage to stand up for what is right, regardless of the cost."