677: Chapter 677 Lu Xueqi and Biyao (56)

Yun Qingzi fell silent for a moment, then looked at Su Han. "Su Han, are you willing to spar with Martial Nephew Luo?"

This was not a question, but an order.

Su Han understood that this battle was unavoidable. If he refused, it would be equivalent to having a guilty conscience; if he accepted the challenge but lost, not only would he lose face, but it would also confirm the suspicion of the Qingyun Sect's sword techniques being leaked—if even the rightful practitioner was so easily defeated, where would a thief's sword techniques have come from?

"This Disciple is willing," Su Han replied calmly.

A flash of excitement crossed Luo Tianyu's eyes as he stood up and cupped his fists. "Please advise me, Senior Brother Su."

Everyone moved to the square outside the hall.

The news spread like wildfire, and before long, hundreds of Disciples had gathered around the square. Ye Wuhen and Mu Qingxue also rushed over upon hearing the news, their brows furrowing as they saw the two people facing off in the center.

"The Ziyang Sect clearly has ill intentions," Ye Wuhen said in a low voice.

Mu Qingxue nodded. "Luo Tianyu is one of the most outstanding Disciples of this generation in the Ziyang Sect. It is said that he has Cultivated the Ziyang True Manual to the fifth level. His Star Power is blazing and overbearing; ordinary Middle Stage Star Palace Realm cultivators are no match for him. Junior Brother Su has only recently had his Breakthrough, so this battle..."

Everyone understood what she left unsaid.

In the center, Luo Tianyu had already drawn his sword—a three-foot-long sword that was crimson all over, with faint flame patterns flowing on the blade. It was clearly a fire-attribute spiritual sword.

"This sword is named 'Blazing Sun,' a Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact. Please be careful, Senior Brother Su." Luo Tianyu spoke politely, but his eyes were full of provocation.

Su Han drew the tianya sword. The simple blade reflected the sunlight; it lacked brilliance, but possessed a natural aura of profound stability.

"Please."

As soon as he spoke, Luo Tianyu moved.

His figure was like lightning as he thrust his sword forward. The tip of the blade ignited with crimson flames, and a heatwave rushed toward Su Han. This strike seemed simple, but it actually blocked all of Su Han's paths of retreat, and the flame Sword Qi contained an explosive power that would trigger upon contact.

Instead of retreating, Su Han advanced, his tianya sword slashing upward at an angle.

"Clang!"

The two swords clashed, sending sparks flying. Su Han felt a surge of scorching Star Power travel down the blade, making his arm feel slightly numb. Luo Tianyu's Star Power was indeed overbearing, much more robust than that of an ordinary Middle Stage Star Palace Realm cultivator.

A look of surprise flashed in Luo Tianyu's eyes. He had used seventy percent of his strength in that strike, thinking it would be enough to suppress the newly-ascended Su Han. He hadn't expected his opponent to block it so easily, and the counter-force coming from the blade was as steady as a mountain.

"Interesting." He sneered, and his sword technique suddenly changed.

The crimson sword light transformed into a sky full of fire rain, each streak incredibly hot, sealing off the entire square. This was the Ziyang Sect's signature sword technique, the Blazing Sun Sword Manual. When Cultivated to a high level, the Sword Qi could turn into true fire, capable of melting gold and iron.

Some of the watching Disciples with lower cultivation already felt it difficult to breathe and retreated repeatedly.

Su Han's expression remained unchanged as he drew a circular arc with the tianya sword.

"Earth-Splitting."

An invisible mountain reappeared, but instead of suppressing the enemy, it protected him. The sky full of fire rain fell upon the mountain phantom, making hissing sounds, but it was unable to advance an inch.

"Defensive Sword Intent?" Venerable Yang Yan's eyes narrowed.

Sword Intent is divided into offense and defense. Offensive Sword Intent is easy to obtain, but defensive Sword Intent is hard to come by. Su Han was so young, yet he had already comprehended such a solid defensive Sword Intent; his talent was truly astonishing.

Seeing this, Luo Tianyu's face darkened. He attacked more than ten times in succession, but all were blocked by that mountain phantom; his opponent hadn't even moved a step.

"Can you only defend?" he mocked.

Su Han did not answer, but his mind was quickly analyzing. Luo Tianyu's sword technique was fierce and overbearing, but it lacked variation. Every strike aimed for maximum power, leading to a slight lag during transitions.

Now!

The mountain phantom suddenly dissipated. Su Han took a step forward and the tianya sword thrust straight out.

This strike was simple and unadorned, but it was incredibly fast. The blade pierced through the air with a sharp whistle, targeting the exact point where Luo Tianyu's sword stance transitioned.

Luo Tianyu was shocked and hurriedly pulled back his sword to block.

"Clang!"

The two swords clashed again. This time, Luo Tianyu retreated three steps, his sword-hand trembling slightly. Su Han's sword seemed light and agile, but its power was surprisingly immense, with a piercing force that made his blood and Qi churn.

"Good sword technique," Venerable Yang Yan said softly, a strange look flashing in his eyes.

Yun Qingzi's face showed nothing, but he nodded inwardly. Su Han's timing with that strike was extremely precise; he already showed the early signs of a master.

Luo Tianyu steadied himself, his face ashen. To be pushed back by someone who had just achieved a Breakthrough into the Star Palace Realm in front of everyone was a sheer humiliation.

"It seems that if I don't show my true skills, you won't know the heights of the heavens and the depths of the earth." He took a deep breath, and his aura surged. Crimson Star Power rose like flames, faintly condensing into the phantom of a red sun behind him.

"The sixth level of the Ziyang True Manual, Scorching Sun in the Sky!" an observant Disciple cried out in surprise.

The Ziyang True Manual had nine levels in total, and with each level, the power of the Star Power would double. For Luo Tianyu to reach the sixth level while only in the Middle Stage of the Star Palace Realm was indeed a sign of natural talent.

Venerable Yang Yan nodded slightly, clearly satisfied with his Disciple's performance.

With the support of the Scorching Sun phantom, Luo Tianyu's sword momentum increased by another thirty percent. Every strike carried a heat that could incinerate all things. As the Sword Qi swept over the stone slabs of the square, they actually began to melt.

Su Han's pressure increased sharply. Although his Earth-Splitting Sword Intent was strong, it consumed a huge amount of energy; he would eventually lose if he only defended.

He had to counterattack.

He closed his eyes, his mind sinking into the sword. His Senior Sister's voice seemed to ring in his ears: "There are three thousand paths of the sword; slaughter is but one of them..."

Compassionate Sword Intent encompasses all.

He thought of the life force of the green jade lotus root in the Secret Realm, of his Senior Sister's weakness after exhausting her Soul Power for him, and of Elder Lin's earnest expectations...

Why must the sword be used for slaughter?

The tianya sword trembled slightly, letting out a clear, melodious chime. Su Han opened his eyes, a hint of enlightenment within them.

He struck out once more.

This strike was no longer as heavy as a mountain, but like a spring breeze turning into rain. The sword light was gentle and moist, without a hint of Killing Intent. However, wherever the blade passed, Luo Tianyu's scorching Sword Qi actually melted away like snow and ice, dissipating one after another.

"What kind of Sword Intent is this?" Luo Tianyu was horrified to find that his Star Power spontaneously collapsed upon contact with that gentle sword light, as if it were being neutralized by some more fundamental power.

Venerable Yang Yan stood up abruptly, his eyes flashing with intense light. "Is this... the Sword Intent of Life?!"

Sword Intent is divided into life and death. The Sword Intent of Death focuses on slaughter and destruction, while the Sword Intent of Life focuses on nourishment and inclusion. The latter is a hundred times rarer than the former because the sword is inherently a lethal weapon; to realize a sense of life from it is as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

Su Han's strike was exactly the other side of the Earth-Splitting Sword Intent—the earth carries all things; it can have the weight of suppression, but it can also have the virtue of nourishment.

He had not comprehended the complete Compassionate Sword Intent, but he had already touched the threshold.

When the sword light reached his body, Luo Tianyu felt his entire body's Star Power stagnate, unable to muster even a bit of strength. He was terrified beyond measure as he watched the tianya sword tap against his chest, powerless to resist.

The tip of the sword touched him lightly and was immediately withdrawn.

Su Han sheathed his sword and stood still. "Thank you for the match."

The whole place was silent.

Luo Tianyu stood there in a daze, his face turning from green to white. He had lost, and he had lost so completely that he didn't even understand how his opponent had broken his sword momentum.

Venerable Yang Yan took a deep look at Su Han, then turned to Yun Qingzi. "Your noble sect indeed produces many talents. I will report today's events truthfully to our Sect Master. As for the theft of the Crimson Essence Fire Lotus... it seems it truly has nothing to do with your noble sect."