91: Fighting Xiao Wuqing

On the dueling platform, Xiao Wuqing looked at Lu Yu, his gaze still icy, but deep within, a spark of battle fervor ignited.

"Junior Brother Lu, this time, you and I must have a proper contest on the path of the sword!"

Lu Yu smiled: "Since Brother Xiao has spoken, I, Lu, will naturally accompany you."

The two looked at each other, and simultaneously drew their swords.

Xiao Wuqing's sword was a longsword of pure silver-white, its blade slender and its edge so sharp it seemed capable of slicing through space.

The moment it left its scabbard, an icy Sword Intent that severed the seven emotions and six desires spread out, dropping the temperature of the entire platform by several degrees.

This was a High Grade Magic Treasure forged specifically for Xiao Wuqing by a swordsmith of the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect, perfectly tailored to his own sword path — the Heartless Sword!

Lu Yu's flowing cloud sword also left its scabbard once more, its pale golden blade flowing with a gentle luster, but on its edge, faint shadows of myriad phenomena swirled.

Discovering that his opponent's flowing cloud sword was only at the level of a Peak Grade Spiritual Artifact, Xiao Wuqing's brow furrowed slightly.

"Junior Brother Lu, my sword is a High Grade Magic Treasure, while yours is only a Peak Grade Spiritual Artifact. I hold an advantage in terms of weaponry."

Lu Yu shook his head with a smile.

"Senior Brother Xiao, rest assured. If I fall into a disadvantageous position, I will naturally bring out a higher quality spirit sword."

"Please."

Xiao Wuqing uttered only one word. Since the other had said so, he had nothing more to elaborate on.

The next second, he moved.

Without warning, without charging power, he simply thrust his sword forward.

Yet, it was this simple thrust that made the hearts of all spectators tighten!

The sword moved silently, its Sword Qi condensed to the extreme, but the space along the path of its tip showed slight distortions.

Ruthless Sword Intent, Severing Emotional Threads!

This sword did not slash the Physical Body; it severed emotions, bonds, the most subtle connections between a Cultivator and heaven and earth.

An ordinary Cultivator facing this sword would not even be able to resist; their Battle Intent would instantly crumble.

Lu Yu's eyes focused.

He sensed this sword strike — it was powerful.

But he did not retreat.

The flowing cloud sword drew a perfectly rounded arc. The third form of the Four Seasons Sword Art, Autumn Harvest Sword, was unleashed once more.

The sword light flowed, carrying the solemn, killing Aura of harvesting all things, meeting that silent Sword Qi.

Clang——!!!

The two swords clashed, emitting a clear yet deafening ring.

An invisible shockwave spread out from the two as the center. The reinforcement arrays on the platform instantly lit up to their maximum, emitting a strained hum.

Xiao Wuqing's expression remained unchanged. He flipped his wrist, and the silver-white longsword instantly transformed into a sky full of sword shadows.

"Heartless Sword, Thousand Frost Snow!"

Every sword shadow contained the icy Sword Intent of severing emotions, dense and overwhelming, like a blizzard capable of freezing the Soul.

Lu Yu's eyes lit up. The flowing cloud sword in his hand also vibrated.

"Myriad Phenomena Sword Intent, Myriad Phenomena Prison Suppression!"

This was a sword technique unique to the first blazing sun, created by him combining the Myriad Phenomena Sword Intent and the Divine Ability [Fierce Sun Nine Heavens] — Myriad Phenomena Prison Suppression!

Behind him, a blazing great sun erupted from the ground!

The sword light unfolded, no longer a single hue, but manifesting countless phenomena!

There was the vitality of spring, the blazing heat of summer, the solemn killing of autumn, the piercing cold of winter!

There was the heaviness of mountains, the flexibility of water, the swiftness of wind, the violence of thunder... Countless Sword Intent phantoms flowed and evolved within the sword light, ultimately forming a sword prison that suppressed heaven and earth!

This was the true power of Myriad Phenomena Prison Suppression!

Boom——!!!

The Thousand Frost Snow crashed into the Myriad Phenomena Prison Suppression sword. Two completely different Sword Intents collided, tore, and ground against each other.

Above the platform, one half was icy silver-white sword snow, the other half was a sword prison phantom of myriad phenomena. The two were deadlocked, erupting in dazzling light and deafening roars.

On the spectator stands, everyone held their breath.

"This... what kind of Sword Intent is this?!"

"Myriad Phenomena Sword Intent? I've never heard of it!"

"Sword Child Xiao's Ruthless Sword Intent is terrifying enough, but Lu Yu's Sword Intent... it can actually confront it head-on, even holding a slight advantage?!"

On the high platform, the white-bearded Grand Elder of the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect narrowed his eyes.

"Myriad Phenomena... evolving all things, encompassing all methods... This is the legendary Supreme-level Sword Intent recorded in texts!"

A Blazing Sun Domain Elder beside him gasped: "Supreme Sword Intent? But he's only at the Nascent Soul Stage!"

"That's precisely why it's fearsome."

The white-bearded Elder sighed: "If this youth does not perish, he will surely become a titan of the sword path in the future."

On the platform, the Battle Intent in Xiao Wuqing's eyes burned even brighter.

He retracted his longsword, and the myriad sword shadows in the sky instantly merged into one.

"Heartless Sword, Absolute Severance Slash!"

This sword strike no longer pursued quantity. Instead, it concentrated all power, all Sword Intent into a single point.

The sword light was but a single line, yet dazzlingly bright, as if it could sever all worldly Karma and bonds, as if it could cleave open a world of Chaos!

Lu Yu felt the pressure.

But instead of retreating, he advanced, pointing the flowing cloud sword forward.

"Fierce Sun Nine Heavens, First Blazing Sun, Rise!"

Behind him, nine blazing sun phantoms suddenly soared into the air. Among them, the first blazing sun erupted with blinding golden light, transforming into a golden sword rainbow that merged into the flowing cloud sword.

A flash of inspiration erupted in his mind!

The Blazing Sun Sword Intent, which had previously been separated by only a thin film from comprehension, now completely broke through!

Blazing Sun Sword Intent, achieved!

On the sword's body, beyond the myriad phenomena phantoms, an additional layer of scorching Blazing Sun Sword Intent appeared!

This was the Blazing Sun Sword Intent belonging to him, comprehended by breaking through a barrier in the midst of battle!

"Fuse!"

The Myriad Phenomena Sword Intent encompassed all things. At this moment, it perfectly merged with the Blazing Sun Sword Intent. The sword light instantly surged several times over, myriad phenomena now carrying the domineering Aura of incinerating everything!

Boom——!!!

Two sword lights collided in mid-air.

This time, there was no deadlock.

Xiao Wuqing's Absolute Severance Slash sword light began to crumble the moment it made contact!

It wasn't shattered; it was decomposed, devoured by the evolution of the Myriad Phenomena Sword Intent, and finally burned to nothingness by the Blazing Sun Sword Intent.

The sword light scattered. Xiao Wuqing grunted, retreating seven steps, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

But there was no defeat in his eyes; instead, they grew brighter.

"Excellent Sword Intent!"

He wiped the blood from his mouth: "Junior Brother Lu, the next sword strike was created by me based on my immortal sword bone. I have never used it against anyone before. Please advise!"

As his words fell, his entire Aura abruptly changed.

Within his body, a piece of crystal-clear, jade-like bone emitted resplendent Immortal light. A haughty, enormous Sword Immortal phantom descended from the Void Realm, appearing behind him. An unparalleled Sword Immortal light perfectly fused with his Ruthless Sword Intent.

"immortal sword bone, Immortal-Slaying Style!"

Xiao Wuqing slowly raised his sword. On the blade, a wisp of ethereal Immortal Qi now mingled with the silver-white sword light.

This sword had yet to be unleashed, but the space of the entire platform began to tremble, as if unable to withstand this power.

Lu Yu's expression turned grave.

He could sense that this sword strike had already touched the edge of the Law, enough to show the profound depth of Xiao Wuqing's comprehension of the sword path Concept.

He could not take it head-on.

But he did not want to retreat either.

He took a deep breath. Behind him, the nine blazing sun phantoms simultaneously lit up. Myriad Phenomena Sword Intent, Blazing Sun Sword Intent, Four Seasons Sword Intent... all the Sword Intents he had comprehended fused together at this moment, pouring into the flowing cloud sword.

On the sword's body, myriad phenomena flowed, the blazing sun scorched, the four seasons cycled, ultimately transforming into an indescribable Chaos sword light.

"Myriad Phenomena · Blazing Sun · Four Seasons — Unity Sword!"

No fancy name, just the simplest, most direct Fusion, and also a move born from a sudden flash of inspiration in this instant.

Two sword lights were unleashed almost simultaneously.

One, majestic with Immortal Qi, severed everything.

One, all-encompassing Chaos, evolved all things.

One person's comprehension of the sword path Concept was profound, peerless among his generation.

One person's current attainment in sword technique and Sword Qi was equally unparalleled under heaven!

Under the astonished gazes of all, the sword light containing the pinnacle comprehension of sword path Concept and the sword light containing Sword Intent and pinnacle sword technique comprehension, with Sword Qi as vast as an abyss, violently collided.

There was no sound.

Or rather, the sound had surpassed the range perceptible by ordinary people.

Only light so blinding it reached the extreme, and space distorted to the extreme.

The reinforcement arrays on the platform shattered layer by layer. The Presiding Elder's face changed drastically as he hurriedly intervened to reinforce them, barely managing to keep the platform from collapsing.

The light persisted for three breaths before gradually dissipating.

On the platform, two figures stood facing each other.

Xiao Wuqing's face was pale, the front of his robe stained red with blood, his Aura somewhat withered, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.

Lu Yu's flowing cloud sword was covered in fine cracks. Having suffered from the disadvantage of its quality being more than a notch lower than his opponent's Heartless Sword, the flowing cloud sword had clearly also reached its limit.

A faint trace of blood also marked the corner of his mouth, but his Aura remained relatively steady.

Who won?

Everyone held their breath.

After three breaths, Xiao Wuqing slowly spoke: "I lost."

His voice was calm, devoid of unwillingness, only acceptance.

Lu Yu sheathed his sword and cupped his fists: "Brother Xiao was gracious."

"It was not graciousness."

Xiao Wuqing shook his head: "The quality of your Sword Intent is a notch higher than mine. This one notch is an unbridgeable chasm. Although my current comprehension of the Concept surpasses yours, your attainment in sword technique and Sword Qi likewise far exceeds mine."

Having said that, he turned and walked off the platform, his back still straight.

The entire arena fell deathly silent, then erupted in earth-shaking cheers.

"Lu Yu won!"

"The Tianyan Divine Son defeated the Heavenly Sword Sword Child!"

"That final sword just now... too terrifying! I felt my Sword Heart trembling!"

On the high platform, the white-bearded Elder sighed deeply: "The younger generation is formidable."

On the platform, Lu Yu also prepared to step down.

But just then, he suddenly felt a sense of foreboding and looked up in a certain direction.

There, Tang Jia Third Young Master was staring coldly at him, the killing intent in his eyes undisguised. He simply could not bear to see Lu Yu doing well at all.

Having taken the woman he had coveted for over a decade, this person must be tortured to death!

Their gazes collided in the air.

Lu Yu smiled, mouthing three words:

"Next, you."

Tang Jia Third Young Master's face darkened as he turned and left.

Only then did Lu Yu jump off the platform. The moment he landed, Mu Lingxi joyfully rushed over, disregarding the surrounding gazes, and hugged him tightly.

"Are you alright? Are your injuries serious?"

"I'm fine, minor injuries."

Lu Yu patted her back.

Li Miaoer and Liu Yunshu also gathered around, their joy evident on their faces.

Yun Guying still stood in place, watching Lu Yu. An extremely faint trace of relief flashed deep in her eyes, but it quickly returned to icy coldness.

She turned to leave, but as she did, she whispered to herself:

"Still... passable."