First place in the sect competition

Seeing this, Xiao Ming was slightly stunned.

What kind of situation was this?

Li Bairen had conjured a protective shield that looked like a turtle shell, ready to passively endure the attacks?

But after a moment's thought, Xiao Ming understood.

Li Bairen cultivated an Earth-element cultivation method, which excelled at defense and sustained combat power.

It was obvious.

Li Bairen intended to use his advantage to deplete Xiao Ming's true essence, then launch a desperate counterattack.

It had to be said.

Li Bairen's combat experience was also very rich; at least he knew how to use his strengths to defeat an enemy.

"Senior Apprentice Li, then I shall offend you!"

Xiao Ming uttered a sentence, then his figure flickered, turning into a swift gust of wind and shooting forth.

While still in mid-air, Xiao Ming continuously brandished his Nu Lei Sword, unleashing a colorful sword qi imbued with lightning!

This sword qi was crescent-shaped; it was one of Xiao Ming's sword techniques, Shattered Moon Slash!

And that wasn't all.

Xiao Ming flicked his sleeve again, releasing three streams of Shattered Yuan Sword Qi. The sword qi was originally very small, but it expanded rapidly upon appearing.

In an instant, it formed thick sword qi over a meter long, striking at Li Bairen from different directions in a 'pin' character formation (like the character Product).

With a "bang"!

The Shattered Moon Slash struck Li Bairen's protective shield, but it was like a wooden stick hitting a city wall, causing no effect.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

After the Shattered Moon Slash, three thick streams of Shattered Yuan Sword Qi simultaneously struck the yellow protective shield. The powerful sword qi caused the shield to tremble and shake violently, with spiritual light flashing wildly.

However.

The protective shield only trembled a few times before stabilizing completely.

Seeing this, Xiao Ming frowned slightly.

Li Bairen's protective shield was even sturdier than he had imagined.

Xiao Ming had originally thought that even if his attacks couldn't break through the shield, they could at least create some cracks. But he hadn't expected that even with three streams of sword qi unleashed simultaneously, he couldn't do anything to Li Bairen.

"Junior Apprentice Brother Xiao, keep coming, I can still hold on!" Li Bairen's low shout echoed from inside the protective shield.

Hearing this, Xiao Ming no longer hesitated and immediately unleashed the complete version of the Great River Sword Intent.

With a swing of the Nu Lei Sword in the void, an illusory great river composed of countless sword qi instantly formed out of thin air. The great river surged endlessly, seemingly real yet illusory, with sword light that stung the eyes.

"Slash!"

Xiao Ming roared.

The Great River Sword Intent was instantly drawn, like a flood, surging majestically towards Li Bairen.

In a short while, the surging great river, composed of countless sword qi, completely submerged Li Bairen.

Li Bairen's yellow protective shield was like a sturdy rock in a flood, standing firm while also being scoured by countless streams of sword qi.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A series of dull explosive sounds rang out one after another.

Under the scouring of the great river of sword qi, Li Bairen's protective shield began to tremble uncontrollably, spiritual light flashed wildly on its surface, and it began to dim at a visible speed.

After about a minute.

With a "boom"!

The yellow protective shield could no longer withstand the scouring of the great river of sword qi and violently burst open.

And just as the protective shield exploded, a yellowish-brown axe blade phantom cut through the waves, carving a wide path through the great river of sword qi with powerful momentum.

Its momentum undiminished, it carried a heavy axe aura and chopped fiercely towards Xiao Ming.

"Good timing!"

Xiao Ming let out a soft shout, his palm holding the Nu Lei Sword first raised high, then slashed down!

Whoosh!

At this moment, the five-element spiritual energy within several hundred meters all swarmed over, forming a hundred-meter sword shadow emitting colorful light in front of Xiao Ming.

The sword shadow was majestic, like a heavenly sword descending, fiercely striking Li Bairen's axe blade phantom.

"Boom!!"

Another earth-shattering explosion sounded.

Under the astonished gaze of countless disciples below the stage, Li Bairen's axe blade phantom only lasted for a short moment before being completely shattered by Xiao Ming's hundred-meter sword shadow!

After shattering the axe blade phantom, the hundred-meter sword shadow continued to slash forward with unstoppable force.

At this moment.

Xiao Ming saw Li Bairen's panicked expression.

Li Bairen seemed not to have expected his attack to be so weak. Caught off guard, he could only raise the large axe in his hand and hold it horizontally across his chest.

The hundred-meter sword shadow flashed by, and its immense sword might once again submerged Li Bairen.

When the sword shadow dissipated, the high platform was already a mess.

Li Bairen looked down at his large axe, only to see that under the impact of the sword shadow just now, his weapon, the large axe, had completely shattered, leaving only half an axe handle in his hand.

He then looked at his chest.

There was a hideous sword mark on his chest, deep enough to see bone. Thick fresh blood gushed out from the wound, turning him into a bloody mess in the blink of an eye.

"Junior Apprentice Brother Xiao has excellent methods, I lost..."

Li Bairen gave a bitter laugh, then his head tilted, and he fell straight down from the high platform.

Disciples quickly rushed forward to support the falling Li Bairen, but at this moment, Li Bairen had already fainted and was covered in blood.

After defeating Li Bairen with a single sword, Xiao Ming held his sword in one hand and coldly looked at the many disciples below the stage.

"Is there anyone else who wants to come up and compete? I, Xiao Ming, will accompany you to the end!"

Xiao Ming's voice echoed across the square like a strong wind.

Below the high platform.

The disciples fell into a silent stillness.

Even Senior Apprentice Li Bailie, who had been famous for a long time, had lost... Li Bairen was not weak!

As the first place winner of the previous Sect Competition, Li Bairen possessed sufficiently formidable strength to stand above all the Spirit Sword Sect disciples. Although he did not perform well during the Eight Sects Tournament, within the Spirit Sword Sect, Li Bairen was recognized as the strongest disciple!

This title of 'strongest disciple' was earned by Li Bairen through his strength, not an empty reputation!

However.

Even so, Li Bairen still lost to Xiao Ming, a newcomer. Not only was he knocked off the stage, but he also suffered severe injuries.

After realizing Xiao Ming's strength, the disciples who had originally been somewhat unconvinced by Xiao Ming all quieted down.

"The Spirit Sword Sect is about to change..." an old disciple sighed, speaking faintly.

"Senior Apprentice Li actually lost too..."

"Senior Brother Xiao Ming is so strong! As expected of the Sect Master's personal true disciple!"

"Now that even Li Bairen has lost, who else would dare to go up and humiliate themselves? In my opinion, the first place in this Sect Competition undoubtedly belongs to Senior Brother Xiao!"

The disciples below the stage started discussing again.

Their gazes towards Xiao Ming were filled with fervor and admiration.

At this moment, Xiao Ming had already awed the vast majority of disciples with his formidable strength. The remaining disciples, such as Lin Feng and others, although still unwilling, had to admit Xiao Ming's power.

In the distance.

Sect Master Li Changfeng was already excited.

With Xiao Ming making such a splash, he, as his master, also gained face.

"Are there any other disciples who wish to challenge Xiao Ming?" Li Changfeng stood up from his seat and called out loudly.

The square fell silent; no disciples spoke.

"If no one continues to challenge, then I, the Sect Master, now announce that in this Sect Competition, Xiao Ming has taken the top spot and is the first-place winner of the competition!"

In the square, the disciples remained silent.

A moment later.

An old disciple slowly said, "We are impressed, congratulations to Senior Brother Xiao for becoming the first place winner of the competition!"

This congratulatory remark was like a signal, and the other disciples also began to shout.

"We are impressed, congratulations to Senior Brother Xiao for becoming the first place winner of the competition!"

"Senior Brother Xiao is awesome!"

"Senior Brother Xiao is too amazing, the prosperity of our Spirit Sword Sect depends on Senior Brother Xiao!"

"Senior Brother Xiao, awesome..." In the crowd, Lin Feng, helpless yet genuinely impressed, offered his congratulations.

"Senior Brother Xiao... is indeed formidable, I am also impressed!" Wang Hao's voice was faint, and his gaze towards Xiao Ming was filled with fervor.