400: Chapter 40 Defeating Xiao Wangshu

The tip of the Ink Trace Spear suddenly erupted with a dazzling white-gold True Qi.

Qin Yan thrust his long spear, and the golden True Qi shot from the spear, surpassing the speed of sound as it aimed straight for Xiao Wangshu's chest!

This strike was swift as lightning, its edge fully revealed!

It brought out the sharpness and penetrating nature of Metal-Attribute True Qi to the fullest!

Facing the rapidly approaching golden True Qi, Xiao Wangshu did not panic.

The longsword in her hand swung continuously at a speed barely discernible to the naked eye.

One after another, condensed streams of silver Sword Qi emerged from her hand. They did not attack the enemy but instead rapidly swirled around her body.

"Moonlight - Sword Veil Celestial Net!"

Following her clear, cold voice, those streams of silver Sword Qi linked head to tail, weaving together layer by layer.

In an instant, they actually constructed an airtight silver cage made of countless Sword Qi around her!

The cage rotated slowly, each strand of Sword Qi flickering with a biting cold light and sharpness.

It was both an ultimate defense and, at any moment, capable of transforming into an attack that could shred everything.

Under the faint light reflecting off the sea, this Sword Qi cage was exquisitely beautiful, yet it also radiated a heart-palpitating aura of danger.

"Sssshhh—!"

The Taibai Sharp Gold True Qi slammed fiercely into the silver sword veil.

It was not immediately shredded by the layered Sword Qi; instead, it emitted a piercing sound like tearing cloth.

The Sharp Gold Qi and the Taiyin Sword Qi clashed violently, scattering countless fine specks of gold and silver light.

Xiao Wangshu's Sword Veil was indeed exquisitely masterful.

However, Qin Yan's 'Taibai Sharp Gold True Qi,' bolstered by pure offensive power and immense physical energy, was clearly superior!

"Boom!"

The stalemate lasted less than three breaths before the silver Sword Veil finally gave way, letting out a groan of unbearable strain.

Starting from the core point of the True Qi impact, the Sword Qi began to shatter inch by inch!

The entire magnificent "Sword Veil Celestial Net" collapsed with a roar, turning into a sky full of swirling silver light dust.

The remaining force of the True Qi did not diminish; still carrying its sharp golden radiance, it stabbed straight towards Xiao Wangshu's true body!

The pupils in Xiao Wangshu's clear, cold eyes contracted slightly. She clearly hadn't expected her defense to be breached so quickly.

Her reaction was extremely fast. Almost the instant the Sword Veil shattered,

the longsword in her hand, faintly patterned with moon motifs, was already held horizontally before her. The sword body shone brightly with moonlight, attempting to parry.

"Clang!"

A clear yet heart-stopping ring of metal on metal!

The golden True Qi struck precisely at the center of the longsword's blade.

The next instant—

"Crack!"

A crystal-clear shattering sound rang out!

It was seen that the longsword in Xiao Wangshu's hand, certainly no ordinary item, actually developed a spiderweb-like crack starting from the point of contact with the Spear Qi!

The crack spread rapidly, covering the entire sword body in an instant.

"Ping!"

[Wangshu] could not withstand that overwhelming, unstoppable force of sharp destruction and actually broke into several pieces on the spot!

Fragments mixed with not-yet-dispersed Moonlight True Qi scattered in all directions.

After shattering the longsword, the True Qi's power, though greatly weakened,

still landed solidly on Xiao Wangshu's body with its residual force!

At the moment the True Qi reached her body, the moon-white robe Xiao Wangshu wore suddenly lit up with a layer of soft yet incredibly resilient, clear, cold moonlight.

This moonlight rapidly formed a thin, cicada-wing-like screen of light before her.

"Thud!"

Amidst the dull impact, the light screen fluctuated violently, flickering unsteadily, but ultimately succeeded in neutralizing the residual True Qi.

However, that powerful impact force could not be completely dissipated.

Xiao Wangshu's delicate frame shook violently. Unable to control herself, she staggered backward, each step leaving a shallow imprint on the hard reef ground.

"Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!"

After retreating five steps in a row, she barely managed to steady herself. Her face instantly turned as pale as paper, and a trace of bright red blood uncontrollably seeped from the corner of her tightly pressed lips.

It dripped slowly down her smooth chin.

"Puh."

In the end, she couldn't hold back. A mouthful of crimson blood sprayed onto the sandy ground before her, a shocking sight.

However, she seemed utterly indifferent to her own injuries, not even bothering to wipe the blood from her lips.

Those clear, cold eyes were now fixed intently on Qin Yan, who stood spear in hand ahead of her.

Deep within their depths surged unprecedented shock, disbelief, and a trace of... shattered pride.

Defeated.

And defeated in a head-on confrontation, crushed by the opponent's nearly overwhelming single strike!

At the same cultivation level, her proud Great Yin Bright Moon true qi and exquisite sword skills,

faced with the opponent's overwhelmingly domineering Sharp Gold True Qi and simple, efficient Spear Technique, actually seemed so utterly fragile!

What made her heart tremble even more was that she could sense Qin Yan had clearly held back in that strike just now, not going all out.

This sense of all-around, nearly crushing disparity.

For Xiao Wangshu, who had always been proud and had never been defeated by a peer, the impact was immense.

On the other side.

"Damn it!"

The instant Qin Yan saw Xiao Wangshu's longsword shatter and her spit blood, his heart sank.

He immediately withdrew the aura around him, dispersing the residual True Qi at the spear tip.

With a movement, he arrived before Xiao Wangshu, a trace of apology on his face.

"Are you alright?"

He truly hadn't expected that merely employing the Taibai Sharp Gold True Qi would have such tremendous power.

He had even shattered Xiao Wangshu's weapon.

His original intention was just to spar and test, with absolutely no desire to injure anyone.

Xiao Wangshu did not answer immediately.

She slowly lowered her head, looking at the half-hilt remaining in her hand, then glanced at the pool of glaring blood on the ground.

After a moment of silence, she lifted her gaze and glanced at Qin Yan.

That look was complex and hard to decipher—shock, frustration, inquiry, and a trace of stubbornness.

"It's fine."

She uttered two words, her voice still clear and cold, yet slightly hoarser than usual.

After speaking, she no longer looked at Qin Yan.

Silently, she took out a small, jade-white bottle from her bosom, poured out a pill, and swallowed it.

Immediately, she directly sat cross-legged on the cold, hard reef ground.

Her eyes slightly closed, her hands formed a profound seal, and she began circulating the 《Taiyin Bright Moon Sword Canon》.

Seeing this, Qin Yan knew she needed quiet to heal her injuries and understood that anything more he said would be superfluous, even potentially counterproductive.

He retreated a few steps, standing to the side.

This was both to guard for Xiao Wangshu and to prevent any passing soldiers or sea tribes from disturbing her.

Simultaneously, his gaze warily swept over the surrounding sea and tidal flats, pulling his mind back to the vigilance mission.

At the same time, at an unknown distance from "Gray Stone Beach," atop a quiet pile of reefs,

Xiao Shan stood quietly, his aura completely withdrawn!

The entire process—from their initial True Qi probing, to the Sword Veil shattering, the longsword breaking, Xiao Wangshu spitting blood and retreating in defeat...

Not a single detail had escaped his eyes.

Xiao Shan's face, usually as still as an ancient well, was now filled with gravity, his brow tightly furrowed.