NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: Pursuer
"The winner has been decided!"
"The Young Master of the One Strike Sect... has lost!"
Exclamations echoed as many cultivators stood up, so shocked by the scene that they couldn't find words.
The Lifebound Cave Heaven of a Yang God Realm cultivator was an extraordinarily stunning sight. Countless sword auras flowed like a river, reversing before the Lotus Peak. The entire Canglang Cave Heaven, spanning a hundred yards, was pierced by the golden Sword Qi!
The Young Master of the One Strike Sect indeed proved himself to the world... The "Great Dao" he condenses is far from being ordinary.
It's just a pity.
There are always people beyond people, mountains beyond mountains.
The figure in a raincoat was flung backwards, Luo Hai grunted, thrusting his long blade into the ground to steady himself, and retreated several dozen yards to the edge of the field.
His expression was somewhat grim.
Before the battle began.
He claimed he would use only one strike.
But in the course of the fight... he ended up using three strikes.
The Canglang Sword Domain's Taoist Intent surged like tides, layer upon layer.
Even so, he still fell into a disadvantage.
"Young Master Luo, you wield your blade well."
Xie Xuanyi flicked his sleeve with a light smile, saying, "More than a decade ago, I passed by the One Strike Sect... How is that prodigy from your sect who dueled with me back then?"
"...That person later lost to me."
Luo Hai wiped the blood off the corner of his lips, slowly straightening his back, calmly saying, "Of course, that's just a small matter."
In the grand contests of the world, those who attract the world's attention are often the few standing at the very top.
Standing atop the waves, in endless glory.
As for the internal struggles of the One Strike Sect, naturally no one pays attention...
Luo Hai's tone was very calm, but Xie Xuanyi discerned a different meaning.
Over the years, the reason this Young Master of the One Strike Sect has been so controversial.
Is because his achievements were really too mediocre, even somewhat dismal.
What cultivator who reaches the mountain peak is a mediocre person?
Back then, Luo Hai battled peers endlessly in the Li Kingdom, experiencing one defeat after another, yet never giving up... Many young prodigies mocked this Young Master of the One Strike Sect.
But now.
Where are those people?
"Once one attains enlightenment, one may reach the mountain top."
Luo Hai smiled faintly, speaking softly, "Though I have lost many battles, I've never stopped moving forward. As long as the Dao Heart is steadfast, even in defeat, it means little..."
The aura the Young Master of the One Strike Sect exudes is unlike what Xie Xuanyi imagined.
He had thought.
Luo Hai relied on the abundant fortune accumulated by the One Strike Sect to forcibly advance.
But now it seems... this isn't the case.
The Sword Intent within Luo Hai is entirely different from that of Luo Lie.
This guy's temperament is not what he initially envisioned either.
Like the tides, endlessly flowing and extremely resilient.
"Impressive."
Xie Xuanyi listened attentively.
He nodded, agreeing, "For those cultivating the Dao, the most important thing is the Dao Heart."
"Today in this battle, I am defeated."
Luo Hai laughed freely, candidly saying, "Mountain Master Xie indeed possesses the appearance of a heavenly being. I now know there truly are people in this world who can challenge and hold their own against a Yang God, at the Yin God Realm... I concede my defeat wholeheartedly in spirit and words."
Before Xie Xuanyi could respond.
Luo Hai shifted the tone.
He said in a deep voice, "But this duel was unsatisfying. I still wish to continue with blade in hand and learn..."
As he spoke, he looked into the distance.
The direction Luo Hai's gaze fell was where the Sword Palace's Law Enforcement stood.
He knew well that this was the Da Sui Sword Palace, and he, as a Yang God from the Li Kingdom, was a guest here, and the Sword Palace had no reason not to welcome him.
However, if one was to provoke on arrival, it would break propriety.
"..."
Zhao Tongtian stood with hands behind his back, not responding, merely placing his gaze on Xie Xuanyi.
This action clearly showed...
For the next battle.
To fight, or not to fight, his opinion as Law Enforcement doesn't matter; it mainly depends on Xie Xuanyi's attitude.
"It truly was unsatisfying..."
Xie Xuanyi looked beneath him.
In just a short exchange, this Lotus Peak arena was already shattered in many places, nearly becoming a wasteland.
If the fight continues.
Never mind the arena, likely the entire Lotus Peak would be affected.
Xie Xuanyi pointed outside the mountain gate with a smile, saying, "Shall we continue elsewhere?"
Before the words finished leaving his mouth.
The Young Master of the One Strike Sect had already leaped into the air like a long arc, crossing the void, swiftly departing outside the Sword Palace.
Xie Xuanyi followed closely behind.
...
...
The upcoming battle.
The mountain wanderers who came to Da Sui Sword Palace to discuss Dao would not have the opportunity to watch.
Later, Fangyuan Square sold intelligence at a high price. The report stated that after the Dao discussion that day, the two newly promoted Ten Heroes selected a desolate ridge outside the Sword Palace, clashing with Sword Intent against Sword Aura, engaging in a tough battle for hours, ultimately flattening the entire ridge, the residual Sword Qi and Sword Aura lingering for dozens of days, rendering it inaccessible to any cultivators below the Cave Heaven Realm.
As for who won, it no longer mattered.
Who was stronger, Xiao Yaozi or Zhao Chunyang, has been a deeply contested question for two hundred years.
No one knows the answer.
Mutually respecting strong opponents do not use their deadly moves.
Thus, no clear winner can be decided.
...
...
As clouds dispersed at the heavenly peak, and the great sun set.
The desolate ridge was broken.
The figure of the young man in a raincoat lay spread out in a hollow, Luo Hai took off his hat, placing it on his chest, looking tiredly up at the sky.
The faint starlight scattered down like a quilt.
The Young Master of the One Strike Sect, after battling for several hours, found his Primordial Qi Acupoints nearly depleted.
The blade "Snow" was planted in the center of the hollow, swaying gently.
The Sword Aura swirled like a flowing breeze and snow around the figure in the raincoat.
At this moment, Luo Hai lacked even the strength to stand.
This was a battle fought to the utmost.
If one had to put an end to this battle...
Then undoubtedly.
He "once again" lost.
"That Xie, you really are something else..."
Luo Hai sighed helplessly up at the sky.
After so many years of cultivation, despite his numerous defeats, he finally succeeded in condensing Dao.
He thought that post-condensation, his first battle would bring him a resounding victory, overturning the world's view of him.
Unexpectedly, it ended in a familiar outcome.
Even as a Yin God, he couldn't beat Xie Xuanyi.
Upon becoming a Yang God, he still couldn't best the Yin God Xie Xuanyi.
Where's the justice in that?
"Are you praising me or scolding me?"
Xie Xuanyi hovered in the air, showing a look of helplessness upon hearing that.
This fight had indeed been his most exhilarating one in half a year.
The Young Master of the One Strike Sect had considerable strength.
The Sword Domain combined with the Canglang Dao Intent, the offensive was relentless, like great rivers surging.
By the end, it nearly forced him to use the Undying Spring...
In any case.
Luo Hai deserved his place among the Ten Heroes beyond a doubt!
In one-on-one battles, this guy could even tie with Zhou Ceng.
After a fierce battle.
Xie Xuanyi had come to see this Young Master of the One Strike Sect in a different light.
He truly is a rare talent.
In the course of history's great contests, it is often those young prodigies who ascend to power, leading with invincible grace.
Those like Luo Hai who challenge their way to the top are far too few.
"I really don't know if fighting with you today was right or wrong..."
Luo Hai chuckled wearily, "Before condensing Dao, I always told myself, how many people in this world win every battle along their path of cultivation? If I've lost a few, so what?"
"I think you have a point."
Xie Xuanyi said earnestly, "How many people have remained undefeated?"
"Point... point to hell!"
The Young Master of the One Strike Sect looked at the figure in black garments hovering in the air, laughing and cursing, "Don't think you can fool me! Aren't you the very bastard who's never lost?!"