Ling Tian Sword God

"Sword Technique: Snow Slash!"

With a flash, Xue Wu Ya closed the distance to Ling Chen to just ten meters. His sword was unsheathed. A shocking cold light, wrapped in overwhelming Sword Intent, burst forth. The air was still as water, tranquil as an ancient well. In the entire world, there seemed to be only one man and one sword, nothing else.

From the spectator stands, Huo Yu, the young master, narrowed his eyes. Ling Chen is indeed formidable. Against him, Xue Wu Ya's Swordsmanship Realm has advanced even further. His Vital Energy and spirit are condensing without scattering, showing signs of a breakthrough.

Ling Chen's expression remained unchanged. His right hand, seemingly slow yet deceptively fast, gripped the hilt of the Cloud-hidden Sword and drew it lightly. The sword light, like a venomous snake striking from its den, accurately targeted the tip of Xue Wu Ya's sword. The tranquil Sword Intent of an ancient well seemed to have no effect on him; he remained unconstrained.

CLANG!

Sword tips, brimming with True Qi, collided, sending sparks flying in a dazzling display.

"HISS... My spine is tingling!" one young Swordsman in the audience exclaimed, goosebumps rising all over his body, his voice trembling.

"Mine too."

"I've heard that a duel between powerful Swordsmen can make onlookers shiver involuntarily. Witnessing it today, it's truly so."

"Swordsmen and knife wielders are very different. Knife wielders require grand, sweeping movements and flamboyant blade techniques that stir the blood. Swordsmen, on the other hand, are the complete opposite. They strive to defeat their opponents at the smallest cost, excelling in a single, decisive strike to kill. It's a sublimation of skill, leaving spectators with a breathtaking suspense."

The speaker was a Sword Dao Master.

Meanwhile, as the audience chattered, the contest on the Dueling platform had entered a white-hot stage.

DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING!

Sword light crisscrossed in sharp collisions!

"Sword Technique: Sky Piercing Strike!"

After Ling Chen blocked more than a dozen of his Sword techniques, Xue Wu Ya retreated three steps. During his retreat, his wrist trembled, and his Long Sword emitted a Sword Light sharp enough to cleave metal. The ethereal Sword Light seemed insubstantial, as if ignoring the distance between them, aiming directly at Ling Chen who was not far away.

POP!

The Sword Light shattered—destroyed by an invisible sword light.

Breaking the Sword Light, Ling Chen's figure moved, his white robes fluttering. He counterattacked with his sword. The astonishing speed of his sword left no time for the sword light to flicker, accompanied by the bewildering Sword Intent of his Swordsmanship!

Perfection Sword Intent, Winding Mountain Path!

"I can't block it!"

Xue Wu Ya was startled. He closed his eyes, pushed his Light Skill to its limit, and shot backward. No one knew why he retreated so quickly; they couldn't perceive this hidden Sword Momentum!

HISS!

A splatter of blood flew from the sword tip. Ling Chen stopped.

Ling Chen looked at Xue Wu Ya, now thirty feet away, and thought, As expected, this move might be useful against others, but against a Swordsman of Xue Wu Ya's caliber, it's hard for it to be decisively effective. His opponent, having broken free from his Sword Momentum, had stopped instantly, a shallow sword cut now adorning his cheek.

"What a fantastic strike," Xue Wu Ya said, wiping the blood from his cheek with his thumb. The fighting spirit in his eyes, however, grew even more intense.

Ling Chen watched Xue Wu Ya intently. "Xue Wu Ya, use all your killing moves. Otherwise, this battle will be meaningless."

Ling Chen wasn't worried that his Sword technique had been dodged. The power of a move lies not in the move itself, but in the person wielding it. The same technique will manifest differently in different hands. That last strike was merely a probe, testing Xue Wu Ya's limits. Next time, I won't be so reckless. The 'Winding Mountain Path' will be unleashed at the most opportune moment to exert its greatest power.

"As you wish!"

Words were unnecessary; Xue Wu Ya naturally knew what to do. He shot forward. His Northern Snow Sword danced, creating a sharp Sword Flower. The sword light was restrained, yet it covered all directions. He himself, employing nimble footwork, seemed to transform into a Sharp Sword, lunging fiercely at Ling Chen.

"Break!"

Ling Chen's Vital Energy and spirit were extremely focused. The Cloud-hidden Sword in his hand swung at an unimaginable speed. In an instant, he had unleashed at least a hundred strikes. Illusory sword light formed a phantasmal sword net before him. His exceptional presence made the eyes of some female Disciples from various Sects in the audience shine.

SWISH! SWISH!

Xue Wu Ya's sword speed increased relentlessly. His overt Sword techniques seemed like feints, yet they couldn't be ignored. The hidden Sword techniques, aimed for a one-hit kill, represented Xue Wu Ya's true, lethal assault. Both complemented each other, capable of felling warriors of the same Realm.

However, Ling Chen suddenly stopped. His Mind's Eye opened, ready to meet myriad changes with constancy, and he launched a seemingly simple thrust.

CLANG!

The sound of metal striking metal rang out as Xue Wu Ya's sword was parried.

The sword that blocked him was also wreathed in flowing Sword Light. It pierced the air and counter-attacked, tracing along Xue Wu Ya's blade towards his hand.

Xue Wu Ya's brows furrowed. Ling Chen's tenacity made him feel, for the first time, that his skill was insufficient for the challenge. When his opponent's Sword techniques were initially disrupted, he hadn't felt overly concerned. But when his move was only half-countered, a sudden Sword Momentum erupted from Ling Chen, slowing Xue Wu Ya's reaction by half a beat and causing his own sword speed to decrease involuntarily. This half-beat delay was enough for Ling Chen to parry and launch a counter-attack.

His feet were like swords, his body like a phantom. Xue Wu Ya's form flickered continuously, evading Ling Chen's counter.

"Slay the Dragon in the Field!"

Holding his sword in one hand, Ling Chen's Swordsmanship style changed. Each move surged with power, containing boundless explosive force. At the extremity of the sword qi, a dragon's silhouette emerged, only to be slain by the sword qi, its entire power then merging into the Sword Light.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Sword qi gouged cracks into the ground. Xue Wu Ya hadn't anticipated Ling Chen changing his combat style, adopting such an Overbearing Style. Caught off guard, he could only dodge repeatedly, evading Ling Chen's sword qi!

"Xue Wu Ya is actually being suppressed!" a talented young man exclaimed in shock.

"So strong! This is Ling Chen, possessing almost limitless potential and explosive power!"

"I never imagined Swordsmanship could reach such a level of sophistication. To witness this match, I have no regrets in this life."

Many young warriors who practiced Swordsmanship breathed heavily, their eyes bloodshot, completely captivated by the fight, their blood boiling with excitement.

WHOOSH!

Having finally gained the upper hand, Ling Chen wasn't about to let this opportunity slip. He executed Wind Shadow Step, his figure becoming a blur of motion as he swiftly arrived before Xue Wu Ya and slashed out.

Xue Wu Ya blocked with his sword from a very awkward position. His left fingers spread wide, and a suction force materialized out of thin air, reaching to grab Ling Chen's body.

"Split!"

He only grasped Ling Chen's True Qi afterimage, which distorted and shattered under the suction force.

BOOM!

Having repeatedly lost the initiative, Xue Wu Ya could no longer block Ling Chen's Sword techniques. Struck by a Dragon-shaped sword qi, he was sent flying.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Xue Wu Ya's expression was as grim as still water. While in mid-air, he forcefully circulated his True Qi to alter his trajectory, dodging Ling Chen's follow-up strike. Dozens of meters away, Xue Wu Ya tapped the ground with his foot and, Long Sword in hand, shot back towards Ling Chen.

"This is my ultimate killing strike. If you can block this, you win."

As the sword moved, the air fell silent. CRACKLE! CRACKLE! These sounds echoed in the Void. Frigid air and sword qi combined, coalescing into a gigantic Ice Crystal Phoenix.

As the Ice Crystal Phoenix continuously absorbed the frigid air and sword qi, its body rapidly expanded. It had more than doubled in size compared to when he fought Baili Xuance.

"The true power of this sword strike is actually this strong?" Baili Xuance's face showed his shock. He hadn't expected Xue Wu Ya to have hidden his strength so well.

"Sword Technique: Snowfall!"

As the shout echoed, the colossal Ice Crystal Phoenix let out a skyward cry and swept ferociously towards Ling Chen.

CRACKLE! CRACKLE!

Wherever the Ice Crystal Phoenix passed, the entire Dueling platform surface shattered, and large cracks rapidly spread towards Ling Chen. An oppressive chill washed over him, leaving a layer of frost on his face and hair.