683: Chapter 683 Lu Xueqi and Biyao (62)

Su Han did not answer, drawing his sword to strike again. This time, there was a hint of decisiveness in the sword light—it was the "Heaven-Splitting" Sword Intent.

Ghost Shadow hurriedly raised his sword to block, but in his haste, how could he withstand Su Han's full-strength strike?

Clang!

The black sword flew out of his hand, and Ghost Shadow spat out blood as he was sent flying, crashing heavily onto the edge of the arena.

Su Han stepped forward with his sword, the tip pointing at Ghost Shadow's throat: "Surrender, or die?"

Ghost Shadow's face was contorted, a look of madness flashing in his eyes: "You want me to surrender? In your dreams!"

He suddenly bit the tip of his tongue and spat out a mouthful of Essence Blood. The blood transformed into a red mist, enveloping his entire body. In the next moment, his aura surged violently, actually breaking through to the Star Realm!

"Blood-Burning Secret Method!" someone in the crowd exclaimed.

The Blood-Burning Secret Method was a self-mutilating evil technique that increased one's cultivation for a short time at the cost of burning Essence Blood. However, the price was immense; at best, one's cultivation would regress, and at worst, one would perish on the spot.

Ghost Shadow was putting his life on the line!

The pressure of the Star Realm spread out, and even with the isolation of the Formation, the audience below felt their hearts tremble.

Su Han's expression was solemn as he gripped the tianya sword tightly. Facing the Star Realm, he had no chance of victory. But it was also impossible for him to surrender.

"Su Han, crush the teleportation talisman!" Elder Li's anxious voice came from below the stage.

But Su Han seemed not to hear. He took a deep breath and slowly raised the tianya sword.

A faint ripple came from the sword's body, and Yu Heng's voice echoed in his mind: "Su Han, let me do it."

"Senior Sister, you..."

"Though I am weak, dealing with a Star Realm who forcibly boosted himself with a secret method is not a problem," Yu Heng's voice carried a hint of fatigue. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Su Han hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

In the next instant, a vast Sword Intent awakened from within the tianya sword. This Sword Intent was majestic and upright, sharing the same source as yesterday's Compassionate Sword Intent, yet it was more boundless and profound.

Su Han's aura also surged violently; although it did not reach the Star Realm, it was no longer inferior to it.

"This is..." Ghost Shadow's pupils constricted abruptly.

"Slash."

Su Han softly uttered a single word, and the tianya sword slowly slashed down.

There was no world-shaking momentum, nor any dazzling sword light. This strike was plain and ordinary, yet it seemed to contain the ultimate truths of heaven and earth.

Ghost Shadow wanted to dodge, but he found that the surrounding space seemed to have frozen, leaving him unable to Move. He wanted to block, but found the sword in his hand as heavy as a thousand tons, impossible to lift.

He could only watch helplessly as that sword strike fell.

The sword fell, and the man was split.

Ghost Shadow's body split down the middle, yet no blood flowed out. Countless wisps of black Qi dissipated from the rift, emitting shrill shrieks before finally vanishing into the world.

The Blood-Burning Secret Method was forcibly interrupted, and Ghost Shadow's cultivation receded like a tide, instantly dropping to the Early Stage of the Star Palace Realm. Furthermore, his Foundation was completely destroyed, leaving no possibility of further progress in this life.

He collapsed on the ground, his eyes filled with despair.

Su Han sheathed his sword and, without sparing him a glance, turned and walked off the stage.

The entire venue was silent.

Everyone was shocked by that sword strike. That strike had already transcended the scope of Moves and touched the edge of the "Dao."

"This boy... is extraordinary," Venerable Ziyang murmured from the high platform.

The other Elders also looked solemn, their gazes toward Su Han filled with deeper meaning.

Ye Wuhen and Mu Qingxue came forward, asking with concern, "Junior Brother Su, are you alright?"

Su Han shook his head, his face somewhat pale. That sword strike just now seemed easy, but it actually consumed a massive amount of energy. It was not just Star Power, but also mental strength. Moreover, to help him, Senior Sister Yu Heng had consumed her already meager Divine Soul power and had now fallen into a deep sleep.

"I just need to regulate my breathing for a bit." Su Han sat cross-legged and took a Medicinal Pill.

Ye Wuhen and Mu Qingxue stood as Protectors on his left and right, warily watching the surroundings.

After this battle, no one dared to challenge Su Han again. On the number seven arena, the other eight people looked at each other and eventually chose to challenge one another by tacit agreement, excluding Su Han.

Su Han was happy for the peace and focused on regulating his breathing.

The subsequent matches were uneventful.

Although Ye Wuhen's injuries hadn't fully healed, he was, after all, a Core Disciple of the Qingyun Sect with impressive strength, and he easily held his arena. Mu Qingxue also successfully advanced by relying on her exquisite Formations.

On other arenas, various strong individuals emerged. A few of them caught Su Han's attention.

On arena number one, a youth in green robes with a long spear on his back moved his spear like a Dragon, defeating his opponent within ten Moves. His strength was unfathomable. According to the chatter of others, this person was named "Zhao Wuji," from the number one Sect of the Eastern Region, the "Tianshu Sect," and was a favorite to win this convention.

On arena number three, a White-Clothed Woman wearing a veil had an ethereal sword technique, like a banished immortal descending to the world. Her opponents often lost before they could even see her sword Moves clearly. Her background was mysterious, and no one knew her details.

On arena number five, a bald man with bulging muscles practiced a Buddhist Body Refining Cultivation Technique. His Physical Body was incredibly powerful, allowing him to withstand his opponent's attacks without a scratch, and he knocked his opponent off the arena with a single punch. This person was from the "Jingang Sect," with the dharma name "Xuan Kong."

"The Eastern Region truly is full of talented people," Ye Wuhen lamented.

Mu Qingxue nodded: "That Zhao Wuji is likely already in the Star Realm. The Tianshu Sect is indeed the number one Sect in the Eastern Region, with a profound Foundation."

Su Han's gaze fell on the White-Clothed Woman. For some reason, this woman gave him a sense of familiarity, yet he couldn't remember where he had seen her before.

"Perhaps I'm just overthinking it." He shook his head and thought no more of it.

The ten rounds of matches soon ended. The top ten were born, with the Qingyun Sect taking three spots, becoming the biggest winner. The Tianshu Sect had two, the Jingang Sect one, the Feiyu Sect one, and the remaining three came from small and medium Sects.

Venerable Ziyang took the stage again and announced: "The top ten are decided. Tomorrow, the battle for the top five will take place. That is all for today; everyone, go back and rest well."

The crowd dispersed, but the discussions about today's battles were only just beginning.

Su Han's sword strike had become the focus of everyone's conversation. There were many geniuses who could fight above their level, but to heavily injure a Star Realm expert who had used the Blood-Burning Secret Method while only being at the Star Palace Realm was somewhat unheard of.

Many people began to inquire about Su Han's background. When they learned he was from the Qingyun Sect and had only joined for three years, they were even more shocked.

"If this boy does not die young, he will surely become a titan in the future." This was everyone's consensus.

However, there were also some people whose gazes toward Su Han carried a different meaning.

Night fell upon the Qingyun Courtyard.

Su Han was regulating his breathing in his room when his heart suddenly stirred, and he opened his eyes.

Outside the window, a dark shadow flashed by.

"Who is it?" Su Han barked, the tianya sword already in his hand.

There was no response. But Su Han could feel a cold aura locking onto him.

He took a deep breath and pushed open the door. The courtyard was silent, and the moonlight was like water, spilling onto the ground.

"Since you've come, why hide?" Su Han said calmly.

"Your perception is quite sharp," a raspy voice came from the shadows.

In the next moment, three dark shadows appeared from three directions, surrounding Su Han. All three were dressed in black robes with a cold aura, sharing the same source as the Ghost Shadow from earlier today.

"The Heart-Corroding Sword Sect really is persistent," Su Han sneered.