169: Dingyu is the god, the sword of heaven and earth points to the universe, and people and the earth revere heaven; this is called the Heavenly Sword!

"Pfft!"

The sword was destroyed, and the man was injured!

Liu Qingyuan felt as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer; his face instantly turned as pale as paper.

He violently spat out a large mouthful of bright red blood, and his entire essence, energy, and spirit seemed to be instantly drained away.

His aura withered at a rate visible to the naked eye.

His strongest ultimate Move had been broken head-on, and the backlash caused him to suffer severe injuries instantly!

Zhang Yang felt the fragments of the Extreme Heart Sword filling the sky as various Profound Truths flowed through his mind.

He had gained quite a bit of insight into Liu Qingyuan's Extreme Heart Sword Technique!

He looked at Liu Qingyuan, whose aura was in disarray and whose face was pale, and a peaceful smile appeared on his face:

"I have received a sword from you! I shall also gift you a sword! Feel it carefully!"

As his voice fell, Zhang Yang held his fingers like a sword, pressing his right index and middle fingers together and suddenly raising them toward the sky!

"Defining the universe as spirit, Heaven and Earth Sword Finger; man and earth revere the heavens—this is the Heavenly Sword!"

The low chant of the mantra sounded like a decree from the Nine Heavens!

Boom!

An inexpressibly terrifying surge of magical power erupted from within Zhang Yang's body!

Endless sword light and Sword Intent condensed to the extreme instantly filled every inch of space on the arena!

Space seemed to be frozen and solidified by an invisible force!

Time at this moment seemed to fall into a standstill!

All things were still!

Zhang Yang's joined sword fingers pointed toward Liu Qingyuan's forehead without the slightest hint of worldly heat!

Liu Qingyuan only felt all things in heaven and earth instantly recede.

In his field of vision, only those two fingers getting closer and closer remained.

He wanted to Move, to dodge, to resist, but he discovered to his horror that—

He, along with the surrounding space, was completely sealed by a vast and unfathomable power!

He couldn't even Move a single finger!

He could only watch helplessly as the sword fingers stopped an inch in front of his forehead.

Those two fingers didn't actually touch his skin,

But the Sword Intent contained within the fingertips had already passed through the Void Realm and directly imprinted itself into his Sea of Consciousness!

Boom!

In an instant, Liu Qingyuan seemed to see the Six Paths of Reincarnation and the ebb and flow of all living beings;

He saw the rotation of heaven and earth and the alternation of the universe!

Infinite principles of heaven and earth and the Profound Truths of the Dao of the sword washed over his consciousness like a flood!

It was just a short moment, yet it felt as if ten thousand years had passed!

When Zhang Yang slowly withdrew his fingers, the solidified space instantly resumed its flow.

Liu Qingyuan remained in his previous posture, standing blankly in place with hollow eyes, as if his Divine Soul had not yet returned to its position.

After a full dozen breaths, his vacant eyes finally regained their luster.

An indescribable shock gradually surfaced on his dazed face.

He looked at the calm and composed Zhang Yang before him with an incredibly complex expression.

Ultimately, all his emotions turned into a heavy sigh.

Without any further hesitation, he bowed deeply to Zhang Yang, his voice carrying a hint of raspiness:

"Thank you for the guidance, Divine Son! I, Liu Qingyuan... admit defeat!"

As his voice fell, his figure dissipated and returned to the peak of the Nourishing Heart Lineage, among several other Divine Sons.

"He won! The Divine Son won again! Senior Brother Liu Qingyuan admitted defeat!"

The entire Small World spectating the battle completely boiled over at this moment!

Exclamations swept through every corner like a tsunami!

That was Liu Qingyuan, a Divine Son-level figure who had been famous for many years and whose name shook the Central Province!

He was actually defeated so directly by Zhang Yang, and even admitted defeat on the spot!

Even without that admission of defeat, everyone could see it clearly.

From the moment the Extreme Heart Sword was broken, Liu Qingyuan had completely lost any chance of winning!

Their outcries were no longer for Liu Qingyuan, but for Zhang Yang!

For this unbelievable and terrifying talent!

His cultivation years were so short, yet he had forcefully crossed the huge chasm of hundreds of years of cultivation accumulation,

Powerfully striking down an established Divine Son like Liu Qingyuan!

To what inconceivable level had Zhang Yang's talent reached?

Calling him the number one Genius of the Central Province would probably not be an exaggeration at all!

"This Zhang Yang is truly unfathomable; even Qingyuan was defeated so easily!"

Looking at the returned Liu Qingyuan, the several Divine Sons around him couldn't help but shake their heads in lament.

Liu Qingyuan's final Move was inherently powerful, yet it was easily shattered by this Zhang Yang!

And Zhang Yang's final Move was even more terrifying, making one's heart race in fear.

Although they hadn't experienced it personally, just looking at Liu Qingyuan's expression told them how terrifying that last Move was!

"The gap between me and the Divine Son is indeed vast! In terms of sword techniques, the Divine Son has likely already surpassed me!"

Liu Qingyuan looked around, a bitter yet relieved smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, his tone carrying complete submission.

He had always prided himself as a Genius and considered himself no inferior to any other Divine Son-level figure.

But facing Zhang Yang today, that pride was crushed to pieces!

Even the Extreme Heart Sword Technique he was most proud of was crushed head-on by Zhang Yang's absolute power!

In the end, Zhang Yang was even able to give him guidance!

That final manifestation of the Heavenly Sword Move, containing all sorts of profound and mysterious truths,

Was deeply engraved in Liu Qingyuan's mind like a brand,

Bringing him unprecedented insight.

At this moment, Liu Qingyuan was truly and completely convinced by Zhang Yang!

Heart and soul!

"Is there any other Disciple who wishes to challenge the Divine Son?"

The Vice Branch Master of the Nourishing Heart Lineage stepped forward again, his gaze sweeping across the field as he asked in a deep voice.

For a moment, the entire Nourishing Heart Lineage was silent; one could hear a pin drop.

Everyone knew that at the Divine Ruins Realm level, the top combat power of the Nourishing Heart Lineage belonged to no one other than Senior Brother Liu Qingyuan and Senior Brother Yi Chen.

Now that even Senior Brother Liu Qingyuan had been defeated without any suspense, for others to challenge Zhang Yang?

Was that not just seeking humiliation?

"It seems I still have to go after all!"

Yi Chen looked at the scene before him, smiled helplessly, and shook his head.

His strength and Liu Qingyuan's were originally neck and neck.

Liu Qingyuan had been defeated so cleanly; the outcome of his own battle

Was almost a foregone conclusion—a certain defeat.

However, even knowing the result, he had to experience it personally and go through it!

Without truly experiencing that gap, how could one completely see that despair-inducing height?

A flash of determination crossed Yi Chen's eyes.

He no longer hesitated and injected magical power into the token in his hand.

With a flash of light and shadow, in the next second, his figure appeared on the cloud platform where Zhang Yang was.

"I am Yi Chen. Greetings, Divine Son! I humbly request your guidance!"

Yi Chen solemnly cupped his fists in salute to Zhang Yang.

"Very well."

Zhang Yang looked at this new challenger, his face still maintaining that calm and indifferent look,

Only with the corners of his mouth slightly raised as he nodded gently.

The battle began again!

Whether it was the Disciples of the Nourishing Heart Lineage or the onlookers from other lineages,

Everyone held their breath at this moment, staring at the duel on the cloud platform without blinking.

At the same time, they were secretly shocked!

After defeating Liu Qingyuan, did Zhang Yang not expend much effort?

He actually accepted Yi Chen's challenge immediately!

Fighting two Divine Son-level figures in a row! This was something many Vice Pagoda Masters of the Martial Refining Tower could not achieve!

However, before the shock could subside, the battle had already concluded!

In just a few moments, Yi Chen's strongest Move shattered like paper before Zhang Yang!

His figure dissipated amidst the brilliant sword light,

Carried by the power of teleportation back to the peak of the Nourishing Heart Lineage.

"Defeated! Senior Brother Yi Chen was also defeated!"

"The Divine Son is invincible! The number one Genius of the Central Province! Well-deserved!"

After a brief moment of dead silence, there was a mountain-shaking roar of fanatical cheers!

The entire Nourishing Heart Lineage completely boiled over!

Although many Disciples might have had doubts and criticisms about this suddenly emerging Divine Son Zhang Yang before,

At this moment, the absolute strength and terrifying talent Zhang Yang displayed

Was like a glorious sun, completely dispelling all the dissatisfaction in their hearts!

Such a height, such a gap, had long surpassed the scope of what jealousy could produce!

It was simply like an ephemeral mayfly looking up at the clear sky!

"Is there... is there anyone else who wants to challenge the Divine Son?"

The Vice Branch Master of the Nourishing Heart Lineage stood out for the third time, his voice carrying a hint of complexity as he scanned the crowd.

This time.

Everyone in the Nourishing Heart Lineage shook their heads in unison, remaining silent.