710: Chapter 710 Lu Xueqi and Biyao (89)

Lin Xuan looked at Su Han for a long time before sighing, "I knew I wouldn't be able to talk you out of it. Fine, this is your own choice. However, Junior Brother Su, no matter what, survival comes first. Where there's life, there's hope."

"I understand, thank you Senior Brother Lin."

After Lin Xuan left, Su Han closed his eyes again to adjust his breathing.

But his heart could not find peace.

Ye Lingxiao...

Just how strong was this legendary opponent?

In a battle against him, what were his chances of winning?

No, he shouldn't think about the odds.

Su Han shook his head, dispersing his stray thoughts.

This battle was not for victory or defeat, nor for honor; it was only to validate his sword Dao and seek that sliver of opportunity for a Breakthrough.

As for the Demon Seed... perhaps, under the extreme pressure between life and death, he could find a solution.

"Seeking survival in the jaws of death..." Su Han murmured to himself, a flash of determination in his eyes.

...

For the next two days, Su Han did not take a single step out of the quiet room.

He healed his injuries while replaying the battle with Lu Ming, pondering the gains and losses to perfect his sword techniques.

At the same time, he was trying various methods to stabilize the Star Seal of Demon Suppression.

But the results were not ideal.

The cracks in the Seal were still expanding, and the restlessness of the Demon Seed grew more violent by the day. Several times during late-night cultivation, Su Han nearly had his mind eroded by the Demon Seed and fell into the Demonic Path.

"Time is running out..."

On the morning of the third day, Su Han opened his eyes and looked at the flickering star mark on his chest, his heart heavy.

Seven days at most.

In seven days, the Seal would shatter, and the Demon Seed would erupt.

By then, he would either be completely eroded by the Demon Seed and turn into a demonic creature that knew only slaughter, or his life force would be exhausted in the struggle, leading to his death and the end of his Dao.

"I must find the opportunity for a Breakthrough in the battle against Ye Lingxiao!"

Su Han took a deep breath and pushed open the door of the quiet room.

Today was the second match of the Semi-finals, a duel between him and Ye Lingxiao.

Although his injuries were not yet healed and the Seal was unstable, his gaze was brighter and more resolute than ever before.

The Central Plaza.

When Su Han appeared, the gaze of the entire audience instantly focused on him.

After the battle with Lu Ming, no one dared to underestimate this youth from the Qingyun Sect. Everyone wanted to know how far this dark horse, who had continuously created miracles, could go when facing the top favorite, Ye Lingxiao.

"Su Han's condition... doesn't seem very good."

"His face is pale and his Aura is somewhat unstable; it seems the battle with Lu Ming took a massive toll."

"What a pity. If he were at his Peak, he might have been able to compete with Ye Lingxiao. Now..."

"Being able to reach the Semi-finals is already quite good."

Amidst the discussions, Su Han walked onto the arena stage.

Opposite him, Ye Lingxiao was already waiting.

This was a youth who looked quite ordinary, roughly in his early twenties, wearing a plain white robe. He had delicate features and a gentle temperament, looking more like a well-read scholar than a peerless Prodigy famous throughout the Eastern Region.

But Su Han's pupils contracted slightly.

From Ye Lingxiao, he could not sense any powerful Aura, as if the opponent were just an ordinary person.

Yet it was precisely this "ordinariness" that made Su Han wary.

Returning to simplicity.

This was a manifestation of sword Dao cultivation reaching an extremely high Realm.

"Qingyun Sect, Su Han." Ye Lingxiao smiled and nodded, his tone peaceful. "I watched your battle with Lu Ming. Your sword is very interesting."

"Ye Family, Ye Lingxiao." Su Han cupped his hands in return.

"Your condition doesn't seem very good." Ye Lingxiao's gaze swept over Su Han, seemingly seeing through the unstable Aura within his body and the faintly fluctuating Devilish Qi in his chest. "Do you need to rest for a moment?"

"No need." Su Han shook his head. "Please."

"Fine."

Ye Lingxiao spoke no more and gripped the air with his right hand.

An ancient-looking longsword appeared out of thin air in his hand.

The sword was three feet three inches long, entirely silver-white. The blade had no patterns and the edge had no glint; it looked utterly ordinary.

But the moment this sword appeared, the hair all over Su Han's body stood on end.

Danger!

Extreme danger!

The sense of threat this seemingly ordinary sword gave him was more than ten times stronger than Lu Ming's Burning Heaven True Fire!

"This sword is named 'Wuchen'. It has been with me for fifteen years and has never known defeat." Ye Lingxiao lightly stroked the blade, his tone flat. "Su Han, where is your sword?"

Su Han slowly drew his own longsword.

Compared to 'Wuchen', his sword appeared unremarkable, even somewhat shabby.

"The sword is named 'Qingfeng'. Forged from ordinary iron, it has been with me for three years. It has slain demons, executed devils, and defeated enemies." Su Han said calmly.

"A good sword." Ye Lingxiao praised. "A sword's value lies not in its name, but in the person using it."

The two spoke no more, merely staring at each other quietly.

The entire venue was silent.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the start of this Peak duel.

"Match, begin!"

The voice of the presiding Elder broke the silence.

However, on the stage, neither of the two moved.

Ye Lingxiao stood with his sword, his Aura steady, as if he were integrated with heaven and earth.

Su Han also stood still, but faint starlight began to emerge around him, flickering in and out of existence.

Ten breaths.

Twenty breaths.

Thirty breaths.

The two still had not made a move.

But the Cultivators with higher cultivation below the stage all grew solemn.

"They are competing in sword Aura!"

"Though they haven't moved, their Sword Intent has already clashed!"

"What terrifying Sword Intent..."

On the high platform, the Yunlan Sect Master's expression was grave. "Ye Lingxiao's Sword Intent has already reached the Transcendent state, perfectly harmonious and without flaw. While Su Han's Sword Intent is condensed, it is not yet at Perfection; he is half a step behind in terms of Realm."

"However," a glint flashed in Sect Master Yun Lan's eyes, "Su Han's Sword Intent seems to contain a certain special power... even I cannot see through it."

On the arena stage.

Fine beads of sweat broke out on Su Han's forehead.

Under the shroud of Ye Lingxiao's flawless Sword Intent, he felt as if he were in a quagmire; every breath became difficult. Even more terrifying was that Ye Lingxiao's Sword Intent contained a 'Dustless' Concept, as if it could purify all Impurities in the world.

His Starlight Sword Intent, under this 'Dustless' Concept, actually began to tremble slightly, showing signs of collapsing.

"I can't let this continue..."

Su Han knew in his heart that if they continued to compete in Sword Intent like this, he would surely lose.

He had to take the initiative and break the deadlock!

"Buzz—!"

The light in Su Han's eyes exploded as the Qingfeng sword in his hand emitted a clear sword cry and suddenly thrust out!

This strike was simple and unadorned.

But the moment the sword was unleashed, the starlight around Su Han flared up, as if he had turned into a falling star, carrying an indomitable Aura as he lunged straight for Ye Lingxiao!

"Well timed."

Ye Lingxiao chuckled softly, and the Wuchen sword gave a light sweep.

There was no earth-shaking collision.

The tips of the two swords stopped three inches away from each other.

It was as if an invisible barrier stood between the two blades.

No, it wasn't a barrier.

It was Ye Lingxiao's 'Dustless' Sword Intent forming an absolute 'Purification Domain', completely neutralizing and dissolving Su Han's Starlight Sword Intent.

"My Sword Intent can purify all 'Impurities' in the world," Ye Lingxiao said calmly. "Though your starlight is special, it is ultimately a thing of 'existence'. As long as it 'exists', it falls within the scope of my purification."