178: That's the only trick I can use! (Fifth update!)

The moment Liu Lian stepped on his Flying Sword, his white robes fluttering as he ascended into the air, the entire Dragon Country, all the viewers glued to their screens, collectively fell silent for a moment.

Immediately following was a volcanic eruption of fanaticism.

"Holy crap! Sword flight! It's really Sword Flight!"

"My DNA is stirring! My DNA is intensely stirring! This is true Cultivation! This is our Sword Immortal!"

"Cool! So cool! I don't care, from today on, I'm a fan of Liu Lian!"

"While the Spell Cultivators and Body Refining Cultivators before were strong, only this! Only Sword Flight is the Cultivation of my dreams!"

The density of bullet comments in the live stream instantly reached an unprecedented peak, the dense text almost completely obscuring the screen.

In the class group chat for Suzhou No. 1 Middle School's 2023 graduates, the messages directly piled up to ninety-nine plus.

"I take back what I said earlier, Liu Lian isn't showing off, he's genuinely awesome!"

"Wuwuwu, I regret it now. Why did I mock him at the class reunion? Is it still not too late for me to go to Kunlun Mountain and kowtow to him?"

On the arena, Liu Lian felt the countless fervent gazes converging on him, and his vanity was greatly satisfied.

But he knew very well that being cool alone wouldn't win the match.

Chen Pingan, the seemingly honest and simple guy opposite him, was the real monster.

He had to use his strongest sword technique to have even a sliver of a chance at winning.

Liu Lian took a deep breath, his sword fingers crossed in front of him, and his spiritual power poured unreservedly into the Flying Sword beneath him.

"Light-Splitting Shadow-Transforming Sword Technique!"

A soft shout.

The Flying Sword hovering beneath his feet let out a clear sword cry, its blade trembling violently.

The next second.

One sword light split into two, two turned into four, four then became eight... In just one breath, the entire sky above the arena was filled with hundreds of identical Flying Sword phantoms.

Each Flying Sword emitted a sharp Sword Qi, their tips all pointed at the mountain-like steady figure on the ground.

"Go!"

Liu Lian's sword fingers sharply swung downwards.

Hundreds of Flying Sword phantoms, overwhelming and omnipresent, shot towards Chen Pingan from all directions, at different angles, with a piercing shriek that tore through the air.

This scene made the live stream once again erupt.

"Myriad Swords Return to the Origin (Sword Technique)! This is Myriad Swords Return to the Origin (Sword Technique)!"

"Don't talk nonsense upstairs, this is clearly Sword Twenty-Three!"

"No matter what it is! As long as it's cool, that's all that matters! This is exactly like the Sword Immortals described in the novels and TV shows we watch!"

On the host stand, Cai Xukun and Liu Tianxian were also passionately commentating.

"Oh my! Viewers! Did you see that! This is the power of the Sword Cultivation Department of Kunlun Cultivation Academy!"

"Cultivator Liu Lian launched a fatal attack right from the start! Hundreds of Flying Swords have sealed off all of Cultivator Chen Pingan's retreat paths! This is a true visual feast!"

However, in the VIP section, Fang Yuan's expression was very calm.

"Liu Lian's 'Light-Splitting Shadow-Transforming Sword Technique' is almost at Major Achievement. In terms of the splendor of the sword technique and area-of-effect attacks, it is indeed top-tier among the new students."

Zhang Qiqi, next to him, also nodded: "It is indeed very strong. Each sword shadow contains a considerable amount of Sword Qi. An ordinary Cultivator facing this move would probably be shredded to pieces instantly."

"But," Fang Yuan changed the subject, "he met Chen Pingan."

Xie Wangsheng pushed up his glasses, adding in his emotionless tone.

"With Chen Pingan's Body Refining cultivation and martial arts skills, he perfectly counters this kind of flashy but impractical attack."

"This move is completely ineffective against Chen Pingan."

Indeed.

The moment Xie Wangsheng's words fell.

Chen Pingan on the arena moved.

Facing the dense sword rain descending from the sky, there was no trace of panic on his face; he didn't even move his feet an inch.

He simply slowly raised his hands and assumed an ancient boxing stance in front of him.

Chen Family Fist, Two Horses Parting Ways!

His movements were not fast, one could even say they were a bit slow.

But every punch, every palm strike, carried a peculiar rhythm, tracing mysterious trajectories in front of him.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The crisp sound of metal colliding formed a continuous stream.

Those extremely fast and sharp Flying Sword phantoms, the moment they approached within three feet of Chen Pingan's body, were precisely blocked, deflected, and struck away by his seemingly slow punches and palms.

Not a single one of the hundreds of Flying Swords was able to break through his defensive circle.

The entire process flowed like water, filled with a unique aesthetic beauty combining violence and skill.

In America's live stream, the commentator roared in an exaggerated tone.

"Oh My God! Incredible! Is this the mysterious Dragon Country Kung Fu?"

"He blocked all the Flying Swords with his fists! He's like a superhero who activated invincible defense!"

"This isn't special effects! This isn't a movie! This is art! The most perfect combination of strength and skill!"

Above the arena, Liu Lian looked at this scene, completely stunned.

His strongest sword technique, his proudest ultimate move, was blocked so effortlessly?

He couldn't even touch the corner of his opponent's clothes?

A huge sense of loss and frustration welled up in his heart.

On the ground, after Chen Pingan resolved all the Flying Swords, he looked up, still maintaining his honest and simple demeanor.

"Your sword is not fast enough, nor sharp enough."

These words became the last straw that broke Liu Lian's psychological defense.

"Ah ah ah ah!"

Liu Lian shrieked in a frenzy in mid-air.

"You monster! You sneaky bastard!"

He knew that conventional methods could no longer defeat Chen Pingan.

In that case... there was only one move left!

Although he hadn't fully mastered it yet, and although there would be severe after-effects after using it, at this moment, he couldn't care less.

Losing was acceptable.

But he absolutely couldn't lose so humiliatingly!

Liu Lian's expression instantly shifted from frantic to solemn.

He slowly clasped his hands in front of his chest, then his left hand spread open into a palm, and his right hand clenched into a fist.

An Aura completely different from before emanated from him.

He slowly, inch by inch, raised his clenched right fist above his head.

The entire Aura of him, at this moment, suddenly changed!