262: Chapter 261 The Final Battle!!

The final battle of the Sword Discussion Assembly commenced as scheduled.

Before dawn, the viewing seats surrounding the Sword Discussion Platform were already packed. Elders, deacons, Inner Sect Disciples, and Outer Sect Disciples from the Seven Peaks and Twenty-Four Caves, and even envoys sent by major powers in Donghai Prefecture, were all gathered here now, waiting for this highest-specification duel among the Dragon Abyss Palace's inner Sect.

On the viewing seats of Red Fire Peak, Master Xue Mu sat right at the front. Today, he had changed into a crimson-gold Daoist robe, his long hair tied up with a fire jade hairpin, and that crimson longsword hung at his waist. His expression was as calm as water, but an inscrutable light would occasionally flash in his deep eyes.

Behind him, Zhou Lie, Liu Ningshuang, Su Waner, Zhao Yuanjing, and other Red Fire Peak Inner Sect Disciples were gathered together. Everyone's face was written with tension; some clenched their fists, some bit their lips, and some kept rubbing their palms.

“Can Junior Brother Jiang... win?” Su Waner whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Liu Ningshuang didn't speak; she just stared fixedly at the stage, her fingers unconsciously clutching the corner of her clothes.

Zhou Lie took a deep breath and said word by word, “He can. He definitely can.”

On the viewing seats of Heavenly Sword Peak, Cold Frost Master sat right at the front. Beside him were two Inner Sect Elders of Heavenly Sword Peak, both with cultivation at the Dragon-Elephant Intersection Realm. The expressions of the three were identical: cold, gloomy, and determined to win.

Behind them, the Inner Sect Disciples of Heavenly Sword Peak were gathered together, every face written with killing intent. Some discussed in low voices, some sneered repeatedly, and some had gazes like knives.

“Senior Brother Han will surely slay Jiang Hanzhou today,” a Heavenly Sword Peak Disciple whispered. “No matter how strong that Jiang Hanzhou is, he's just a newcomer who just achieved a Breakthrough to the Dragon Fetus Realm. Senior Brother Han has refined half a Sword Seed, Cultivated the Sword Gu Secret Technique, and has the enhancement of a blood gu pill; he is now at the Late Stage of the Dragon Fetus Realm. What does he have to fight Senior Brother Han with?”

“Exactly,” another Disciple chimed in. “The people of Red Fire Peak are just a bunch of fire-wielding boors. The orthodox Sword Dao is, in the end, the Domain of our Heavenly Sword Peak. After today, the glory of Heavenly Sword Peak will be personally defended by Senior Brother Han.”

Cold Frost Master didn't speak, just quietly watching the stage. But a nearly imperceptible smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

On the viewing seats of Bibo Pool, Master Qingxuan sat right at the front. Beside him were Teng Yuzhi and Bibo Pool's head Disciple, Senior Brother Su Jingyuan. The expressions of the three were different: Master Qingxuan was as calm as water, Teng Yuzhi was expressionless, and Senior Brother Su Jingyuan's face was pale.

“Junior Sister,” Senior Brother Su Jingyuan whispered, “who do you think will win?”

Teng Yuzhi was silent for a moment before slowly saying, “I don't know.”

She paused, her gaze falling on the figure slowly walking onto the stage. “But if there is anyone in this world who can beat Han Qing, that person must be Jiang Hanzhou.”

On the viewing seats of Tianji Peak, Grand Elder Great Elder Xuanjizi sat right at the front. Beside him were two Tianji Peak Elders, both at the Dragon-Elephant Intersection Realm. The expressions of the three were identical: calm, deep, and showing no emotion.

But a sharp glint would occasionally flash in Great Elder Xuanjizi's deep eyes.

He was watching. Watching everyone. Watching Cold Frost Master, watching Master Xue Mu, watching Han Qing, and watching Jiang Hanzhou. Watching the invisible undercurrents behind this Sword Discussion Assembly.

The hour of Chen, third quarter.

A melodious bell rang out from the center of the Sword Discussion Platform; the sound was thick and far-reaching, echoing nine times among the seven peaks.

After the nine rings, the entire field fell silent.

Everyone's gaze fell upon the center of the stage.

There, two figures were slowly walking up from the east and west sides.

On the east side, Jiang Hanzhou had the tiger soul saber hanging at his waist; his pace was steady, and his expression was normal. His entire body was surrounded by a faint four-colored light—red, gold, blue, and purple—four colors intertwining within a three-foot radius around him, forming a Small World independent of heaven and earth. That was the embryonic Domain unique to Dragon Fetus Realm Cultivators, a sign of the perfect Fusion of four types of True Intent.

His gaze was as calm as water, showing no emotion. No tension, no excitement, no fear—only a quiet, unshakable determination.

On the west side, Han Qing walked up slowly. Today he had changed into a pitch-black Daoist robe, his long hair disheveled, and his face as pale as paper. His body was surrounded by a layer of dark red mist; within the mist, countless fine black tentacles could be vaguely seen wriggling slowly. With every wriggle, a faint buzzing sound came from the mist, a sound like ten thousand insects gnawing on bone.

His gaze was hollow, like stagnant water. But within those hollow eyes, a bloodthirsty light would occasionally flash; that was the instinct of the Sword Gu, a killing desire he found increasingly difficult to suppress.

The two stood still in the center of the stage, ten zhang apart.

Their eyes met.

In that instant, the entire Sword Discussion Platform seemed to go quiet. Both gazes contained unspeakable killing intent.

Jiang Hanzhou looked at Han Qing, feeling that nauseating, sickly-sweet aura coming from him. His brow furrowed slightly, not out of fear, but because he clearly perceived that the Sword Gu inside Han Qing's body had completely spiraled out of control. Those Intent-Devouring Gu were no longer just dormant in the sword, but had crawled along his Meridians into his limbs, bones, and internal organs. They were nesting, breeding, and molting within his flesh, feeding on his essence and blood, using his True Intent as nourishment and his Divine Soul as a breeding ground.

Han Qing's body no longer belonged to himself. He was merely a vessel for the Sword Gu, a walking, fighting vessel carrying ten thousand Intent-Devouring Gu.

Han Qing looked at Jiang Hanzhou, feeling that unspeakable aura from him. His pupils contracted slightly, not from shock, but because he clearly perceived that the four types of True Intent within Jiang Hanzhou had perfectly fused. The length of the Tide, the intensity of the Pure Yang, the sharpness of the Metal Sharpness, and the volatility of the Heavenly Fire—the four powers intertwined within him to form a Small World independent of heaven and earth.

More importantly, Jiang Hanzhou's Divine Soul power was even stronger than he had anticipated. Deep in the Sea of Consciousness, that lake of divine soul was as vast as the sea, its surface condensed with a thick Divine Soul Armor. The Heart Blade hung above the Sea of Consciousness, the dark gold dragon patterns on the blade winding like a dragon, breathing out four-colored brilliance.

“Jiang Hanzhou,” Han Qing spoke, his voice raspy like sandpaper rubbing together, “today, you will die here.”

Jiang Hanzhou didn't speak; he just looked at him quietly and shook his head slightly.

A cold light flashed in Han Qing's eyes: “You don't believe me?”

Jiang Hanzhou said indifferently: “Make your move.”

Han Qing's face instantly darkened, and the dark red mist around him suddenly surged. Those fine black tentacles erupted frantically from the mist, spreading, diffusing, and intertwining in all directions.

In the viewing seats, Cold Frost Master slowly stood up.

His gaze swept across the field, finally landing on the center of the stage. No expression could be seen on his aged face, but his deep eyes contained an unspeakable chill.

“Today's duel,” his voice wasn't loud, yet with the enhancement of spiritual power, it clearly reached the ears of everyone present, “is a battle to the death. Not to determine victory or defeat, but to determine life and death.”

He paused, turning his gaze toward the Red Fire Peak viewing seats, landing on Master Xue Mu.

“Furthermore, the outcome of this battle concerns not only the honor of Red Fire Peak and Heavenly Sword Peak, but also one more thing.”

The atmosphere of the entire field instantly tightened.

“Jiang Hanzhou,” Cold Frost Master's voice was as calm as water, yet it contained unspeakable killing intent, “you colluded with the Ten Thousand Gu Sect, stole the forbidden Legacy from Dragon Slaying True Person's Immortal Cave, practiced evil arts, and harmed your fellow Disciples. Today, if you fall by Han Qing's hand, these crimes will be proven true.”

The crowd erupted in an uproar.

Colluding with the Ten Thousand Gu Sect. Stealing a forbidden Legacy. Practicing evil arts. Harming fellow Disciples.

Every label was pinned on perfectly, making it seem like Heavenly Sword Peak was upholding the Sect's Righteous Path while simultaneously splashing dirty water onto Jiang Hanzhou.

On the Red Fire Peak viewing seats, Master Xue Mu suddenly stood up, intense crimson-gold flames erupting around him: “Cold Frost Master, you are making false accusations!”

Cold Frost Master remained unmoved, simply saying indifferently: “Whether it's a false accusation or not will only be known after the fight. If Jiang Hanzhou wins against Han Qing fair and square, these charges will naturally be debunked. If he loses—”

He paused, his gaze like a knife: “Then it proves that he indeed colluded with the Ten Thousand Gu Sect. A traitor who colludes with an evil Sect deserves to die.”

Master Xue Mu's face was livid, and he was just about to speak—

“Master.”

A calm voice came from the stage.

Everyone's gaze fell on Jiang Hanzhou.

He stood in the center of the stage, the tiger soul saber at his waist, his expression normal. He looked at Cold Frost Master with no emotion in his eyes.

“There is no need to say more,” his voice was as calm as water. “This Disciple will win.”

Three words, spoken casually, yet containing unspeakable confidence.

Cold Frost Master's expression changed slightly; he gave a cold snort and sat back down.

Master Xue Mu looked at Jiang Hanzhou, was silent for a moment, and then slowly sat down. A faint smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

Great Elder Xuanjizi stood up, no expression on his aged face. His gaze swept the field, finally landing on the center of the stage.

“Since both sides are in position,” his voice was calm, “the duel begins.”

The moment the words fell—

Han Qing moved.

He didn't draw his sword, but instead raised his right hand and gave a light squeeze.

That squeeze seemed casual, but the Heaven And Earth Spiritual Essence of the entire stage rioted at that moment!

Sword Gu Secret Technique: Ten Thousand Swords Soul-Devouring.

Within that dark red mist, countless fine black tentacles surged frantically, transforming into ten thousand sword shadows as black as ink. Each sword shadow was only an inch long, yet contained an unspeakable sickly-sweet aura—that was Soul-Devouring Poison, specifically designed to devour the opponent's Divine Soul.

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Ten thousand sword shadows shot toward Jiang Hanzhou like a torrential rain, moving with extreme speed and leaving countless black afterimages in the air.

Each sword shadow contained an Intent-Devouring Gu.

They opened their mouthparts, revealing dense, sharp teeth, and let out shrill hisses. The sound converged, resembling millions of insects gnawing on bone, making one's scalp tingle.

In the viewing gallery, some turned pale, some covered their ears, and some could not help but retch.

But Jiang Hanzhou did not retreat.

He simply stood there, watching the sword shadows drawing closer, and then closed his eyes.

Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, the lake of divine soul suddenly boiled!

The thick layer of Divine Soul Armor on the lake's surface erupted with brilliant, pearlescent white light. That light pierced through his Sea of Consciousness and his Physical Body, condensing into a translucent light shield around him.

Divine Soul Armor, released externally.

Those pitch-black sword shadows struck the light shield, emitting a harsh, grating sound.

The Intent-Devouring Gu gnawed frantically at the shield, attempting to burrow into his Sea of Consciousness.

But the shield was as tough as steel, remaining completely motionless.

Meanwhile, Jiang Hanzhou drew his saber.

The moment the tiger soul was unsheathed, the temperature of the entire Sword Discussion Platform soared by a hundred degrees.

Four-colored radiance flowed across the blade—red, gold, blue, and purple—intertwining like four flood dragons circling the edge.

He swung his saber to block horizontally.

He slashed out; there was no immense radiance, no heaven-shaking momentum.

There was only a simple, unadorned saber gleam that carved a perfect arc in front of him.

Wherever the saber gleam passed, those pitch-black sword shadows shattered like paper.

The Intent-Devouring Gu let out shrill shrieks, slaughtered completely by the Dragon-Slaying True Intent within the saber gleam.

One saber strike broke ten thousand swords.

Han Qing's pupils constricted violently.

He had not expected Jiang Hanzhou's Divine Soul Armor to be so tough, nor had he expected his tiger soul saber to contain the Dragon-Slaying True Intent that suppressed the Sword Gu.

But he did not retreat.

He simply sneered, raised his right hand, and grabbed at the void.

Those broken sword shadow fragments erupted simultaneously at that moment!

They no longer transformed into sword shadows but instead turned into countless dense black threads, winding toward Jiang Hanzhou.

The threads moved with extreme speed, dense and layered, like millions of venomous snakes pouncing on Jiang Hanzhou from all directions.

Each thread contained Soul-Devouring Poison.

As long as one was touched by a single thread, the poison would invade the Sea of Consciousness and devour the Divine Soul.

Jiang Hanzhou frowned slightly, stepping with the Wave-Treading Step, his figure weaving through the gaps between the threads.

His speed was extreme, leaving afterimages across the Sword Discussion Platform.

But there were too many threads.

Dense and layered, they almost completely enveloped the entire Sword Discussion Platform.

He dodged the first wave, the second wave, the third wave. But the fourth, fifth, sixth... there was always a time when he could not dodge.

A black thread silently struck from behind him, wrapping around his right ankle.

Hiss.

A chilling power surged in from his ankle, rushing straight toward his Sea of Consciousness!

Jiang Hanzhou's brow furrowed violently; deep within his Sea of Consciousness, the lake of divine soul stirred up monstrous waves!

Those black toxins attempted to burrow into his Divine Soul, but the layer of Divine Soul Armor on the lake's surface erupted with brilliant light, blocking the toxins firmly outside.

The corners of Han Qing's mouth curled into a ferocious smile: "Can you feel it? How is the taste of the Soul-Devouring Poison?"

Jiang Hanzhou did not speak, merely shifting his thoughts slightly.

Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, the Heart Blade suddenly trembled!

The dark gold dragon patterns on the blade erupted with brilliant golden light. That light pierced through the Sea of Consciousness, surged along his Meridians into his ankle, and wrapped around, devoured, and purified those black toxins layer by layer.

After three breaths, the black thread on his ankle shattered inch by inch, turning into nothingness.

Han Qing's expression changed slightly.

He had not expected Jiang Hanzhou's Divine Soul power to be so strong that even the Soul-Devouring Poison could not erode it.

But he did not panic.

He simply sneered, raised both hands, and slammed them together toward the void.

Those black threads contracted simultaneously at that moment, squeezing toward Jiang Hanzhou!

Not an attack, but a containment.

They wanted to trap him in the center, rendering him unable to move, and then pierce his heart with a single sword strike.

Jiang Hanzhou watched the threads drawing closer, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

He took a deep breath, circulating four types of True Intent within his body simultaneously.

Tide as the foundation, Pure Yang as fire, Metal Sharpness as the edge, and Heavenly Fire as the transformation; the four were perfectly integrated, fluid and responsive as his own arm.

He gripped the saber with both hands, and the four-colored radiance on the blade suddenly retracted, transforming into a simple, unadorned saber gleam.

"Tidal Heaven-Burning Slash."

The saber gleam slashed out.

There was no loud noise, no explosion, no heaven-shaking momentum whatsoever.

There was only a soft sound, hiss, like a knife cutting tofu, like a hot knife entering snow, like a sharp blade slicing through silk.

Those black threads were silently split into two from the very center.

The cuts were as smooth as a mirror, not even a trace of Spiritual Essence splashing up.

The remaining momentum of the saber gleam did not diminish, slashing straight toward Han Qing.

Han Qing's expression changed drastically, his figure retreating violently.

But the saber gleam was too fast, too fast for him to dodge in time.

He gritted his teeth and raised his right hand; from his palm, a pitch-black longsword slowly crawled out from his flesh.

The blade was engraved with dense, blood-red patterns. Those patterns wound like insects, slowly wriggling on the sword, and with every wriggle, a wisp of fishy, sweet aura escaped from the sword.

He gripped the sword hilt and slashed out with all his might.

The sword light collided with the saber gleam.

Boom!

The entire Sword Discussion Platform trembled violently, and the defensive barrier erupted with blinding light.

In the center of the platform, a deep pit a zhang in diameter appeared, gravel splashing and dust filling the air.

Within the dust, two figures flew backward simultaneously.

Jiang Hanzhou steadied his figure ten zhang away, a wisp of fresh blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

His tiger soul saber trembled slightly, the four-colored radiance on the blade flickering unsteadily.

Han Qing steadied his figure fifteen zhang away, his face even paler, a wisp of black blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

A fine crack appeared on his pitch-black longsword.

The first round was a draw.

But everyone could see that Jiang Hanzhou had the upper hand.

Because Han Qing had used the full power of his Sword Gu, while Jiang Hanzhou had only struck one saber blow.

In the viewing gallery, Zhou Lie jumped up from his seat in excitement: "Good! Junior Brother Jiang is mighty!"

Liu Ningshuang did not speak, but a hint of indescribable light flashed in her cold, clear eyes.

It was gratification, pride, and a hint of shock.

Master Xue Mu sat upright at the very front, the corners of his mouth curling into a faint smile.

On the Heavenly Sword Peak viewing gallery, Cold Frost Master's face was as gloomy as water.

Beside him, the two Inner Sect Elders' expressions were also grim.

"His Dragon-Slaying True Intent suppresses Han Qing's Sword Gu," one Elder whispered.

"Not just that," another Elder said in a deep voice, "His Divine Soul Armor can even block the Soul-Devouring Poison. Han Qing's Ten Thousand Swords Soul-Devouring is ineffective against him."

Cold Frost Master did not speak, only staring fixedly at the Sword Discussion Platform, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

On the Sword Discussion Platform, Han Qing wiped the black blood from the corner of his mouth, looking at Jiang Hanzhou, a hint of madness flashing in his eyes.

"Not bad." His voice was hoarse, like a curse from the depths of Hell, "You are stronger than I imagined. But do you think this is enough?"

He raised his right hand and thrust the pitch-black longsword into the ground.

Then, he closed his eyes.

Within his body, those Intent-Devouring Gu sleeping in his flesh awakened simultaneously at that moment.

They surged frantically, drilling along his Meridians into his heart, his Dantian, and his Sea of Consciousness.

His body began to swell, and those black patterns beneath his skin became denser and deeper, eventually staining his entire face ink-black.

His eyes became scarlet, and a bloodthirsty light flickered in his pupils.

His aura surged again at that moment!

Dragon Fetus Realm Late Stage!

"Sword Gu True Form." His voice was no longer hoarse but had become shrill and grating, like millions of insects hissing simultaneously, "Jiang Hanzhou, to be able to force me to this step, you are enough to be proud."

As his voice fell, he opened his eyes violently.

In his eyes, a black light flashed and vanished.

He pulled the pitch-black longsword from the ground; the blood-red patterns on the blade flowed frantically, and the entire sword trembled.

Countless dense black tentacles emerged from the sword, like living creatures, winding around his arms, shoulders, and neck.

He gripped the sword hilt and charged toward Jiang Hanzhou.

His speed was extreme, leaving a black afterimage on the Sword Discussion Platform.

Jiang Hanzhou's pupils constricted slightly.

He did not retreat, only gripping the tiger soul saber and meeting him head-on.

Saber and sword collided.

Boom!

The entire Sword Discussion Platform trembled violently again, and the defensive barrier erupted with blinding light.

In the center of the platform, the deep pit a zhang in diameter expanded by another fold.

Two figures collided frantically within the dust, saber gleams and sword lights interweaving into a net of death.

Every collision erupted with astonishing energy fluctuations.

Gullies appeared on the Sword Discussion Platform, gravel splashing and dust filling the air.

In the viewing gallery, everyone held their breath.

They could not see the battle within the dust, but they could feel that a life-and-death struggle was taking place inside.

On the Red Fire Peak viewing gallery, Master Xue Mu's hand gripped the crimson longsword at his waist unconsciously.

On the Heavenly Sword Peak viewing gallery, Cold Frost Master's hand also gripped the armrest unconsciously.

Both their gazes were fixed rigidly on the mass of dust in the center of the Sword Discussion Platform.

There, it determined the direction of the Inner Sect landscape of the Dragon Abyss Palace.

It determined the outcome of the grudge between Red Fire Peak and Heavenly Sword Peak that had lasted for many years.

It determined the life and death of Jiang Hanzhou.