35: Chapter 35 Ultimate Showdown: A Battle of Arrows and Swords

Early the next morning, the rising sun pierced through the clouds, and golden light spilled over the Beijing Martial Arts Arena.

At this moment, the arena was already packed with people, not a single seat empty. Even several bigwigs from the Martial Arts Alliance had arrived in person to watch the battle. Everyone's gaze was locked tightly on the central competition stage, waiting for that Peak duel destined to go down in history.

"Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the finals of the 32nd National Martial Arts Tournament!" The host's passionate voice resonated throughout the entire arena through the amplification formation. "Today, we will witness the birth of a new legend! The two contestants are this tournament's biggest dark horse—Jiangcheng Martial Arts University's Lin Zhou! And the three-time consecutive champion from Donghai Martial Arts University, the 'Sword Immortal'—Sword Immortal Li Qingyun!"

As the words fell, the entire arena erupted into deafening cheers. Countless people waved the flags in their hands, shouting the names of the two, the sound waves nearly flipping the roof of the arena.

In the contestant tunnel, Lin Zhou took a deep breath and walked out slowly.

He was still wearing his black athletic gear, the blazing sun sniper bow slung across his shoulder, his posture as straight as a pine. After a night of regulating his breathing, his condition had recovered to its Peak. The Peak-stage spiritual power flowed within him, and his arrow Concept shrouded his body like a thin veil, carrying a restrained sharpness.

In the spectator stands, Qin Yue and Su Ye clenched their fists nervously, their eyes following Lin Zhou's figure closely.

And in the other contestant tunnel, a figure in white slowly walked out.

Sword Immortal Li Qingyun!

He was dressed in white as pristine as snow, his long hair draped over his shoulders, holding a white jade longsword in his hand. The sword's body was as translucent as jade, emitting a faint, clear radiance. His footsteps were light, as if he were taking a leisurely stroll, and the Sword Intent around him was ethereal, as if he had merged with heaven and earth, truly like an immortal descending to the mortal world.

The Aura of a Peak-stage Legend burst forth without reservation, crushing the entire arena like a mountain. Many spectators felt their chests tighten, finding it difficult to breathe, their eyes filled with awe.

"As expected of the Sword Immortal Li Qingyun! This Aura is too strong!"

"Three years! Sword Immortal Li Qingyun has dominated the National Martial Arts Tournament for three years! Lin Zhou is in for a rough time this time!"

"Hard to say! Lin Zhou defeated Zhao Shanhe by jumping two levels; perhaps he can create a miracle!"

Discussions rose and fell, everyone holding their breath, waiting for the match to begin.

Lin Zhou and Sword Immortal Li Qingyun stood facing each other, ten meters apart. Their gazes met in the air, and invisible Battle Intent collided, stirring up ripples.

Sword Immortal Li Qingyun's gaze fell on the blazing sun sniper bow in Lin Zhou's hand, and the corners of his mouth curled into a faint smile: "Your arrows are very strong. Being able to win against Zhao Shanhe is enough to prove your strength."

"Your sword is also very strong." Lin Zhou's voice was calm. "Being able to dominate the National Martial Arts Tournament for three years is definitely no empty reputation."

"Very well." Sword Immortal Li Qingyun slowly raised the white jade longsword, the tip pointing obliquely at the ground. "It has been a long time since I encountered an opponent who could make me take things seriously. Today, I will use my full strength to let you witness what true Dao of the Sword is!"

"Sword Dao Concept · Azure Cloud!"

As the words fell, the Sword Intent around Sword Immortal Li Qingyun surged, transforming into clouds filling the sky, enveloping the entire competition stage. Within the Azure Clouds, sword light flickered, each ray containing a fierce sharpness, as if it could sever heaven and earth.

This was Sword Immortal Li Qingyun's Sword Dao Concept—Azure Cloud! Ethereal and untraceable, yet omnipresent!

The audience in the stands was already dumbfounded.

"Is this the Azure Cloud Sword Intent? Too terrifying!"

"Lin Zhou is in danger! Under the suppression of this Sword Intent, he probably doesn't even have a chance to attack, right?"

Qin Yue's heart was in her throat.

However, facing this terrifying Azure Cloud Sword Intent, there was not a trace of panic on Lin Zhou's face.

He slowly raised the blazing sun sniper bow, supporting the bow with his left hand and nocking an arrow with his right, his eyes becoming incredibly focused.

"Celestial Fox Physique, Awakening!"

A silver-white light erupted from within his body. The 50% Awakening level of the Celestial Fox Physique was fully activated, and his speed and perception were instantly boosted to the extreme. His figure became increasingly agile, like a spirit fox weaving through the Azure Clouds, easily dodging the suppression of the Sword Intent.

"Oh? Interesting." Sword Immortal Li Qingyun's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, and then his wrist flicked slightly, the white jade longsword humming and vibrating.

"Azure Cloud Sword Technique · One Sword Piercing the Dust!"

A brilliant sword light, like a meteor streaking across the sky, shot out from the white jade longsword, aiming straight for Lin Zhou's face. The speed of the sword light was extreme; wherever it passed, the air was cut in two, emitting a piercing whistle.

This sword strike, seemingly simple, contained Sword Immortal Li Qingyun's lifelong insights into the Dao of the Sword, worthy of being called a finishing move!

Lin Zhou's pupils shrank. The perception of the Celestial Fox Physique allowed him to capture the trajectory of the sword light. He abruptly turned sideways, and the sword light grazed his cheek, bringing up a fierce gust of wind that messed up his hair.

"Now!"

Lin Zhou seized this opportunity, and the spiritual power within him surged madly into the blazing sun sniper bow. The crimson patterns on the bow body shone brightly, and the scorching power of the sun-shooting bow fragments fused perfectly with his arrow Concept.

"Cloud-Piercing Arrow Technique!"

The golden-red intertwined arrow pierced through the air, carrying an indomitable Aura, and shot toward Sword Immortal Li Qingyun.

"Small tricks." Sword Immortal Li Qingyun snorted coldly, his white jade longsword waving lightly. With a flash of sword light, he slashed the arrow in two.

But his expression changed slightly.

Because the moment that arrow was severed, it turned into flames filling the sky, sweeping toward him. Within the flames, scorching power was contained, burning his Sword Intent.

"Space Jump Arrow!"

Lin Zhou's voice rang out again.

An arrow appeared silently behind Sword Immortal Li Qingyun, pointing directly at his back!

"Hmm?" Sword Immortal Li Qingyun's expression changed slightly, and his figure drifted away like a clear breeze, barely dodging this fatal strike.

The figures of the two moved at high speed on the competition stage, sword light and arrow radiance intertwining, erupting in bursts of roaring sounds.

Sword Immortal Li Qingyun's sword technique was ethereal, untraceable, and unpredictable, every sword strike aiming directly at vital points. Lin Zhou's archery was precise, fatal, and devious, every arrow containing a strategy to defeat the enemy.

The Dao of the Sword and the Dao of the Arrow, at this moment, launched the most intense collision!

The audience was already fired up, cheers and shouts rising one after another, resounding through the clouds.

"Too spectacular! This is the true Peak duel!"

"Lin Zhou can actually fight Sword Immortal Li Qingyun to a draw! It's unbelievable!"

"Go! Lin Zhou! Defeat Sword Immortal Li Qingyun! Create a miracle!"

Qin Yue and Su Ye also started shouting along, their voices hoarse but full of strength.

On the competition stage, the battle between the two became increasingly intense.

Sword Immortal Li Qingyun's sword technique became faster and faster, the Azure Cloud Sword Intent grew denser, almost completely suppressing Lin Zhou. Lin Zhou's spiritual power was being consumed massively, and the evasion boost and critical hit boost talents had long since been exhausted, leaving him only able to rely on the speed of the Celestial Fox Physique to struggle and hold on.

"It ends here!" Sword Immortal Li Qingyun's voice was cold, and the white jade longsword was raised high.

"Azure Cloud Sword Technique · Ten Thousand Swords Returning to the Sect!"

Within the clouds filling the sky, countless sword lights condensed, transforming into a huge sword shadow that crushed down toward Lin Zhou like a mountain. This sword strike was Sword Immortal Li Qingyun's strongest finishing move, enough to kill a pseudo-King level exotic beast!

Lin Zhou's expression was grave to the extreme. He could feel that the power of this sword strike had already exceeded his imagination.

Retreat?

There was nowhere to retreat!

Dodge?

There was nowhere to dodge!

Lin Zhou took a deep breath, a flash of determination in his eyes. He abruptly pulled the blazing sun sniper bow to its full extent, and the spiritual power within his body, even every last bit of potential, was squeezed out.

His arrow Concept reached an unprecedented height at this moment!

In his mind, the moment of his class Awakening flashed by, the life-and-death battles in the roguelike dungeon, the bloody slaughter in the Secret Realm...

"Arrow Concept · Sun-Shooting!"

Lin Zhou's voice carried a determination that tore through the sky.

An arrow, condensing all his strength, all his insights, and all his will, pierced through the air!

This arrow did not have earth-shattering light, but it carried a sharpness that could pierce through the sun and moon!

It went straight to meet that huge sword shadow, shooting toward it without hesitation!

"Boom!"

With a deafening roar, the entire competition stage shook violently, and the rune shield was instantly covered in cracks, nearly shattering.

Dazzling light swallowed the entire arena.

Everyone closed their eyes, not daring to look directly at this terrifying scene.

I don't know how much time passed, but the light slowly dissipated.

On the competition stage, two figures stood on opposite sides.

Lin Zhou leaned on the blazing sun sniper bow, panting heavily, his face as pale as paper, blood overflowing from the corners of his mouth; he was clearly exhausted to the limit.

As for Sword Immortal Li Qingyun, the white jade longsword in his hand had already broken into two pieces. His white clothes were stained with blood, and a golden-red arrow was pierced into his shoulder, with blood flowing out continuously.

He looked at Lin Zhou, a hint of disbelief flashing in his eyes, then he gave a wry smile and slowly fell backward.

The entire arena was deathly silent.

A few seconds later, deafening cheers erupted!

"Won! Lin Zhou won!"

"The new champion! Lin Zhou! He defeated Sword Immortal Li Qingyun! He created a miracle!"

"The Arrow Dao defeated the Sword Dao! Lin Zhou! Lin Zhou! Lin Zhou!"

The host's excited voice, carrying a trace of trembling, resonated throughout the arena: "I announce! The champion of the 32nd National Martial Arts Tournament—Jiangcheng Martial Arts University, Lin Zhou!"

Lin Zhou slowly raised his head, facing countless fanatical gazes, a glint of tears flashing in his eyes.

He had done it!

He had defeated Sword Immortal Li Qingyun and won the national championship!

Qin Yue and Su Ye rushed onto the stage and hugged Lin Zhou tightly, tears streaming down their faces.

In the spectator stands, applause thundered, lasting for a long time.

Sunlight spilled onto Lin Zhou, and at this moment, his figure transformed into a new legend.