190: Not Invincible! (Third Update!)

The Sword Aura dissipated.

The Thunder Dragon wailed, transforming into countless specks of light.

On the arena, Fang Yuan's figure emerged. The Thunder Shield on his chest was already shattered, and a clear sword mark was left on his clothes. Although it did not injure his flesh, the sharp Qi contained within it had caused his spiritual power to become chaotic.

He lost.

The entire Martial Arts Training Ground, and even the live broadcast rooms of billions of viewers worldwide, fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone was completely stunned by Lin Xiao's understated sword strike.

That was Azure Thunder Transformation!

The Thunder Dragon, which had caused the previous match with Lu Miaomiao to be earth-shattering and almost destroyed the arena, was... cut down with a single sword?

In the VIP section, Fang Yuan's parents' hearts were clenched.

"Jianguo..." Wang Li's hands were trembling.

Fang Jianguo's lips were tightly pursed. He said nothing, only gripping his wife's hand more tightly.

"Holy crap... it's over just like that?"

Han Li was the first to speak, breaking the silence.

"Fang Yuan lost just like that? Are you kidding me! Lin Xiao is too fierce, isn't he?"

"He's breathing heavily."

A calm judgment came from the side.

Han Li turned his head and saw Xie Wangsheng staring intently at Lin Xiao in the center of the arena.

"Huh? Old Xie, what did you say?"

"I said, he's breathing heavily."

Xie Wangsheng repeated, "Moreover, his breathing rhythm is much faster than before. He continuously used 'Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate' twice, consuming a huge amount of spiritual power. He's just enduring now."

As soon as he spoke, Liu Lian, Gu Qinghan, and others' attention all focused on Lin Xiao.

Sure enough, although Lin Xiao still stood ramrod straight and expressionless, a careful observation would reveal a minute pause in the hand holding his sword.

He was not as calm and composed as he appeared.

On the arena, Fang Yuan regulated the surging Qi within him and sincerely cupped his hands to Lin Xiao.

"I lost, and I'm completely convinced."

Lin Xiao's strength exceeded his expectations; it was a pure, unreasonable strength.

Lin Xiao merely nodded calmly, as a response.

Fang Yuan walked off the arena with composure and returned to the Magic Cultivation Department's waiting area.

"I did my best."

He gave Zhang Qiqi and Li Qingyuan a wry smile, "This guy is a monster. His sword is too fast, and his combat intuition is ridiculously strong. However..."

He changed the subject.

"He's not invincible. I can feel that his sword speed is a fraction slower than when he first started. He's also getting depleted."

Li Qingyuan looked at the sword mark on Fang Yuan's chest, her small face flushed with anger.

"I'll go! I'll go wear him down! I refuse to believe his spiritual power is limitless!"

As she spoke, she was about to rush forward.

"Wait."

A hand stopped her.

It was Zhang Qiqi.

"Qing Yuan, your Spells excel in flexibility and versatility, not suited for a war of attrition."

Zhang Qiqi calmly analyzed, "My Water Spell just happens to counter his sharpness. This round, let me do it."

Li Qingyuan was startled. Looking at Zhang Qiqi's determined expression, she finally nodded.

"Qiqi, then be careful!"

"Don't worry."

Zhang Qiqi gave her and Fang Yuan a reassuring smile, then turned and walked step by step towards the arena.

Zhang Tianwang, in the audience, was so nervous his palms were sweating, muttering non-stop: "Daughter, come on, daughter, if you can't win, just surrender, don't get hurt..."

Han Li's highly inflammatory voice once again resounded throughout the venue.

"Alright! Competitor Fang Yuan regrettably loses! Let's give him a round of applause!"

"Next up, it will be the Magic Cultivation Department's second competitor, Zhang Qiqi, against our Sword Cultivation Department's chief, Lin Xiao!"

"One is a Great Master of water control, the other an unparalleled Sword Immortal! What kind of duel will this be? Let's wait and see!"

The bullet comments in the live stream refreshed instantly.

"It's over, it's over, the Magic Cultivation Department is going to be swept three times."

"My heart aches for Fang Yuan, he fought so well and still lost."

"Isn't this Zhang Qiqi just going up to be served? It's a one-sword job for Lin Xiao, right?"

"Don't underestimate her, those in front. A Water Element Heavenly Spiritual Root, second best in the entire academy's bone structure, could she be weak?"

On the arena, Zhang Qiqi stood opposite Lin Xiao.

"The match begins!"

As soon as Han Li's voice fell, Zhang Qiqi's hands had already formed a seal.

She did not launch an immediate attack but chose to probe.

Dozens of water snakes condensed out of thin air, pouncing flexibly on Lin Xiao from all directions and at different angles.

Lin Xiao still maintained his unperturbed demeanor.

He moved.

His longsword spun out a sword flower in his hand, sword light flickering, precisely striking the vulnerable point of each water snake.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

The water snakes exploded one after another, turning into a sky full of water vapor.

The entire process was smooth and effortless.

The live stream audience and most of the students present exclaimed in admiration.

"Too easy! It's completely toying with him!"

"This is the gap in strength!"

However, a triumphant smile appeared on Zhang Qiqi's face.

She saw it.

Lin Xiao's sword speed was indeed slower than when he fought Fang Yuan just now.

Although it was only an infinitesimally small delay, for an opponent of her level, it was enough.

Enough to confirm that Xie Wangsheng and Fang Yuan's conjectures were correct!

Lin Xiao was indeed just enduring!

"It's over."

Zhang Qiqi murmured to herself.

She stopped her tentative harassment, clasped her hands in front of her chest, and began to form a complex and profound magical seal.

A massive amount of water vapor began to gather wildly around her, and the air throughout the Martial Arts Training Ground became humid.

Lin Xiao also noticed something was amiss.

He instinctively wanted to interrupt with a sword strike, but the sense of spiritual power stagnation from within his body slowed his movements by half a beat.

It was this half-beat of hesitation that allowed Zhang Qiqi's Spell to take form!

"Roar of the Vast Sea Dragon!"

She suddenly spread her arms.

Boom!

A monstrous wave appeared out of thin air on the arena, transforming into a water wall dozens of meters high, surging towards Lin Xiao with an unstoppable Aura!

At this moment, the entire venue fell silent!

Everyone was shaken by this scene, like a natural disaster descending!

"I... I can't believe it! Is that a Spell? That's a tsunami!" Tang Mengling stood up in shock.

"Is this the true power of a Water Element Heavenly Spiritual Root...?" Fang Yuan muttered to himself. It was his first time seeing Zhang Qiqi use such a terrifying Move.

Lin Xiao's expression, for the first time, underwent a drastic change.

It was shock!

He hadn't expected that this seemingly gentle girl actually harbored such terrifying power within her!

This Move was unavoidable!

He could only take it head-on!

"Slash!"

Lin Xiao roared, pouring all his remaining spiritual power into his longsword. A similarly brilliant sword light shot up into the sky, fiercely slashing towards the water wall!

Boom!

The sword light and the water wall collided with a thunderous crash!

The massive water wall was actually split in half by this sword strike!

The surging water rolled back to both sides, revealing Lin Xiao standing behind it.

He succeeded!

The live stream audience and those present were just about to cheer.

However, at this very moment!

An inconspicuous water arrow, only as thick as an arm, silently passed through the bottom of the split water wall, and at an extremely tricky angle, instantly struck Lin Xiao's chest!

Puff!

Lin Xiao felt a huge force, and his protective Sword Qi instantly shattered.

He was involuntarily sent flying backward, tracing a parabola in the air, and heavily crashing outside the arena.

The victor had been decided.

The entire venue was silent.

Everyone stared blankly at the girl with flowing robes on the arena, then looked at Lin Xiao, who was getting up awkwardly below the arena.

She won?

Zhang Qiqi... won?

Lin Xiao, who was invincible and hailed as the academy's top combatant, actually lost?

After a brief silence, Han Li's voice, slightly distorted by excessive excitement, echoed throughout the sky!

"The victor! Magic Cultivation Department! Zhang Qiqi!"

Boom!

The entire Martial Arts Training Ground instantly erupted!