243: Sword moves!

Outside the Questioning Dao Sect, between several majestic peaks above the sea of clouds, a vast area had been cleared to serve as a battlefield.

In the distance, on the various peaks and in front of the halls, the disciples and elders of the Questioning Dao Sect, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, craned their necks in anticipation. A cacophony of voices filled the air, their faces brimming with excitement and expectation as they whispered, curiously guessing the outcome of this sparring match.

Even though Li Shengyuan was incredibly powerful, having slain a Second Grade Demon Lord, all the members of the Questioning Dao Sect believed that their Sect Leader Luo would surely win!

However, regardless of the outcome, a confrontation between two Second Grade powerhouses was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most, enough to allow them to benefit greatly.

Luo Yuzhu stood before the white jade railing outside the grand hall where Luo Qingwan previously resided, her delicate hands unconsciously clenching, her gaze fixed on the two figures suspended in the distant void, her emotions complex and inexpressible.

Li Mu and Wenren Qingxuan appeared much calmer, standing on a nearby peak with dignified composure, seemingly very confident in their son.

Yue Xiyan and the other beauties also looked serene; having witnessed Li Shengyuan's strength, they felt this battle held no suspense!

If the people from both sides were to voice their thoughts, a dispute would likely be unavoidable…

In the arena, Li Shengyuan and Luo Qingwan stood suspended in the air, a hundred zhang apart.

The mountain winds whistled, fluttering their robes.

Luo Qingwan, in her plain white Daoist robe, exuded an ethereal and refined aura, like a celestial maiden from Gushe.

She pointed her fingers like a sword, and a long sword shimmering with watery light flew from her sleeve, circling around her, emitting a clear, resonant sword hum. It was her personal sword, the Cangming Sword.

“Lord Li, please.” Luo Qingwan's voice was clear and cold as she spoke first.

Although she had agreed to the sparring match, as a senior and the host, she maintained her status and would not make the first move.

Li Shengyuan smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and said, “Sect Leader Luo, forgive my offense.”

Before his words finished, he pointed a finger, and the seemingly simple and unadorned long sword from his storage artifact clanged out of its sheath. The sword body did not emit dazzling light, but a unique Dao charm, as solid as a mountain and as ethereal as stars, permeated the air. This sword was a gift from the Chancellor.

Li Shengyuan named it [Town Abyss]!

He did not use any other methods, truly intending to rely solely on swordsmanship!

Luo Qingwan's eyes flickered, a hint of doubt and subtle displeasure arising within her.

She had heard of Li Shengyuan's achievements in the Northern Territory, knowing that his methods were by no means limited to the sword, and that his primary killing art was not swordsmanship, but saber techniques. When he had slain the Second Grade Demon Lord of the Demonic Cult that day, he had even used an unheard-of divine ability!

Now, facing her, a Second Grade peak expert renowned for many years, he only drew one sword?

If it was a sparring match purely on swordsmanship, that would be one thing, but it wasn't!

Was this overconfidence, or… was he underestimating her?

She was, after all, a Second Grade expert who had survived eight heavenly tribulations, ranking high throughout history, far superior to those Second Grade cultivators who had only passed six or seven tribulations!

Li Shengyuan's attitude caused Luo Qingwan a touch of annoyance.

“Since that is the case, Lord Li, be careful.” Luo Qingwan said no more, her face cold as she subtly raised a slender finger.

“Clear Heart Questioning Dao Art · Cloud Water Bind!”

In an instant, the surrounding clouds and the water vapor from the mountain stream below converged frantically, transforming into countless crystalline chains. These chains carried a strange power that could bind true essence and erode will, coiling around Li Shengyuan from all directions with astonishing speed.

This was a sophisticated Daoist art for trapping enemies from the Clear Heart Questioning Dao Art; seemingly gentle, it was in fact soft on the outside but firm on the inside, extremely difficult to break free from.

However, Li Shengyuan remained still, circulating his ancient god power. The long sword in his hand simply made a seemingly casual circle and slash, and the space rippled like a water surface.

A perfectly rounded arc of sword light spread out. Those surging cloud and water chains, upon touching the sword light, silently melted and disintegrated like ice and snow meeting spring, transforming back into pure water vapor and mist, unable to approach him by even a hair's breadth.

Within the sword light, there was an indescribable “principle,” seemingly capable of severing all karmic entanglements, rendering all laws ineffective.

“Oh?”

A flicker of surprise crossed Luo Qingwan's beautiful eyes. Although her Cloud Water Bind was not a killing move, it contained her Dao realm cultivation, and even an ordinary Second Grade cultivator would find it difficult to resolve so effortlessly.

“Excellent swordsmanship.” She praised, her expression growing a few shades more serious.

Her finger incantation changed again, and the Cangming Sword let out a long cry, transforming into a magnificent rainbow that carried an overwhelming and irresistible power of water, thrusting directly at Li Shengyuan! Where the sword light passed, the void seemed to be torn apart, leaving a long trail of ripples.

A gasp of surprise erupted among the disciples of the Questioning Dao Sect, all of them shaken by their Sect Leader Luo's incredibly sharp sword strike.

Li Shengyuan's expression remained unchanged. He flipped his wrist, and the Chancellor's sword tilted upwards in a movement that was utterly simple yet reached the pinnacle of perfection.

“Clang—!”

The tips of the two swords collided precisely in the void, emitting a clear, resonant clang that reverberated through the mountains!

There was no energy explosion as imagined. The vast sword momentum of the Cangming Sword seemed to crash into an invisible vortex, its power deflected and dispersed layer by layer.

A subtle starlight glowed on Li Shengyuan's sword, and a resilient yet immense force surged back.

Luo Qingwan felt that the force coming from the sword was extremely strange; her own water-element sword intent felt like a mud ox entering the sea, and then she was pushed back by an even purer force. Her delicate body swayed slightly, and the Cangming Sword was also knocked back several feet.

A true shock finally arose in her heart.

Once was a coincidence, but twice was absolutely not accidental!

The opponent, relying solely on this seemingly unadorned swordsmanship, had successively resolved her Daoist art and sword move, and seemed to do so with ease!

His swordsmanship… was truly extraordinary! The Dao charm contained within it was both simple and profound, subtly restraining her Clear Heart Questioning Dao Art?

A barely perceptible hint of anger finally surfaced in Luo Qingwan's mind.

She stopped probing and decided to get serious.

“Lord Li is indeed deeply hidden, take this next move of mine, ‘Boundless Ocean’!”

Luo Qingwan's beautiful face was solemn, her hands forming seals, and the Dao charm around her surged, subtly aligning with the mountains and sea of clouds beneath her feet.

The Cangming Sword hung high above, instantly absorbing the surrounding water spiritual energy. The sword's light flared, transforming into a giant sword illusion several tens of zhang long. Its sword intent was vast and boundless, as if the entire ocean was inverted, carrying a terrifying might that seemed to crush everything as it slowly pressed down towards Li Shengyuan!

Although its speed appeared slow, it carried the momentum of overturning mountains and seas!

This strike was almost drawing upon the power of heaven and earth, its might far surpassing the previous ones. Many disciples watching from afar even felt their breathing constrict, struggling to stand.

Everyone held their breath, watching how Li Shengyuan would respond to this earth-shattering strike.

Li Mu and Wenren Qingxuan's eyes also grew slightly serious.

If a Third Grade cultivator were to face this sword, they would undoubtedly be shredded into nothingness by the seemingly gentle water-element sword qi!

Was Luo Qingwan planning to decide the outcome with a single move?

However, facing this “Boundless Ocean” that could destroy mountains, Li Shengyuan still showed no intention of using other methods.

He took a deep breath, his gaze becoming incredibly focused. The long sword in his hand slowly leveled, its tip pointing distantly at the descending giant sword illusion.

No intense light burst forth from him; he merely calmly circulated his ancient god power. Yet, an extreme sense of “sharpness” and “law-breaking” surged skyward, as if nothing in the world could not be cut, and all laws could be broken!

“Break.”

He softly uttered a single word, and the long sword in his hand transformed into a subtle yet extremely condensed stream of light, rising against the heavens, piercing directly towards the core of the boundless giant sword!

There was no loud bang, no explosion.

Under the gaze of countless astonished eyes, that subtle stream of light, like a red-hot blade cutting into butter, silently pierced into the incomparably vast giant sword illusion!

The next moment—

Crack!

As if glass shattered, the awe-inspiring Boundless Ocean giant sword illusion, starting from its core, suddenly became covered in cracks, and then shattered with a roar, dissipating into countless specks of light!

“Pfft!”

Under the influence of the qi connection, Luo Qingwan's throat sweetened, and a trickle of fresh blood spilled from the corner of her lips.

She staggered back half a step, her beautiful eyes filled with an expression of utter disbelief.

One of her strongest sword arts, shattered by the opponent with a single sword in such a manner?!

She finally understood the feeling of having all laws broken by sheer force!

The entire scene was dead silent.

All the people of the Questioning Dao Sect, including the elders, were dumbfounded, almost unable to believe their eyes.

Luo Yuzhu covered her red lips, her eyes full of shock and bewilderment.

Master… was actually at a disadvantage? And in her most proficient area, suppressed by the opponent purely with swordsmanship?

No, it couldn't even be called swordsmanship, because the opponent had simply swung his sword from beginning to end!

Li Mu and the others, however, smiled calmly. Having witnessed Li Shengyuan's terrifying strength, they had already anticipated this!

Moreover, when Li Shengyuan had slain the Second Grade Demon Lord, he was only a Third Grade cultivator. Everyone couldn't help but sigh, truly wondering how strong he would be now at full power!

Li Shengyuan stood with his sword sheathed, his aura stable, as if he had just done a trivial thing.

He looked at Luo Qingwan, his gaze still sincere and gentle:

“Sect Leader Luo's Dao methods are profound; this junior has benefited greatly.”

Luo Qingwan wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, looking at Li Shengyuan. The displeasure in her eyes had long dissipated, replaced by an extreme solemnity and scrutiny.

She finally understood that the opponent was neither arrogant nor underestimating her.

His seemingly ordinary swordsmanship contained a supreme principle that she found difficult to comprehend, yet was capable of breaking all laws!

This young Second Grade powerhouse, his true strength and understanding of the “Dao,” was probably far beyond her imagination.

To be able to slay the Six Demon Lords in the Northern Territory, he truly lived up to his great reputation!

Although if it were a life-and-death battle and she brought out all her abilities, Luo Qingwan didn't think the opponent would have an easy time, but since it was just a sparring match, there was no need to continue.

After a moment of silence, Luo Qingwan slowly exhaled, her voice returning to its clear coldness, but with an added touch of genuine admiration and solemnity:

“Lord Li's Sword Dao has reached a profound realm! It is I… who underestimated the heroes of the world.”

“This round… I lost.”

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