181: Chapter 181 One Sword Cuts It Down

"Setting Sun Soul-Breaking."

Baili Yunche's figure moved, disappearing from his spot like a ghost.

The next instant, he appeared three zhang in front of Liu Yulang, the blazing fire sword held high above his head as the flames on the blade surged by several feet, transforming into a crimson streak more than ten zhang long.

This sword strike was even more condensed and more terrifying than the previous one.

Within the sword glare carried a resolute and tyrannical intent that could sever the vitality of all things.

"Slash!"

The sword light descended like divine retribution!

Liu Yulang's expression changed drastically, and he frantically drove his entire body's spiritual power, condensing dozens of layers of flame sword shields before him.

At the same time, the Chixiao Sword was held horizontally across his chest, attempting to block this fatal blow.

However, everything was in vain.

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

In front of the Setting Sun Soul-Breaking sword glare, those dozens of layers of flame sword shields shattered layer by layer as if made of paper!

The sword glare slashed onto the Chixiao Sword without any hindrance, and with a single loud "clang," the Chixiao Sword snapped in response!

The remaining momentum of the sword glare did not decrease, directly piercing through Liu Yulang's chest!

"Pfft!"

A fist-sized blood hole appeared on Liu Yulang's chest, transparent from front to back.

Blood surged out frantically like a fountain, dyeing his moon-white brocade robe red.

He lowered his head to look at the blood hole in his chest, the light in his eyes rapidly dimming, and he opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but only gushed out a mouthful of fresh blood.

"Bang!"

Liu Yulang looked at his chest unwillingly, his body collapsing to the ground with a loud thud, completely devoid of breath.

The air seemed to freeze at this moment.

Throughout the entire plaza, tens of thousands of Cultivators were completely silent.

The next moment, a deafening uproar surged into the sky!

"What?! A sword... another sword! Liu Yulang of the Nascent Soul Stage level 1 was actually pierced through with a single sword?"

"A Golden Core killing a Nascent Soul! He actually did it!"

"What kind of sword technique is that? Earth Rank? Heaven Rank? How is this possible!"

"A Prodigy! This person is definitely a Prodigy!"

At this moment, many people had to take Baili Yunche seriously.

The gaze looking at him changed from contempt and disdain to awe, fear, and even deep apprehension.

Many people asked themselves, if they were to encounter Baili Yunche, they would probably end up like Liu Yulang, being pierced through by a single sword without even the room to resist!

Above the spectator stands, Sect Master Shen Miaoyi and Sect Master Zhao Wuyang simultaneously gasped a breath of cold air.

Sect Master Shen Miaoyi's beautiful eyes widened wide, and she blankly looked at that figure on the arena, murmuring:

"Sect Master Xuanyangzi, I did not expect your Sect to actually have such a Genius!"

"This sword strike... actually has already reached the fourth-order Sword Intent. Given time, he will definitely become a Sword Dao Grandmaster."

"This time, he should have a place in the top ten!"

There was a trace of undisguised exclamation in her voice.

Fourth-order Sword Intent—that was a threshold that countless Nascent Soul Stage Sword Cultivators exhausted their lives to touch, yet it actually appeared on a Golden Core Stage Cultivator.

Sect Master Zhao Wuyang slammed his palm heavily against the armrest instead, laughing loudly:

"Good! Good sword technique! Sect Master Xuanyangzi, you old fox, just where did you dig up this kind of monster?"

"The might of this sword strike—even this old man's Gale Saber Intent from my youth would pale in comparison!"

Sect Master Xuanyangzi was radiant with joy at this moment, stroking his beard as he laughed heartily, and even the nine rounds of suns on his Daoist robe seemed to brighten by a few shades.

The feeling of exultation in his heart simply made him feel light as air.

For decades, the Xuanyang Sect had always been suppressed by the Beast Taming Sect at the Cangxuan Assembly, mocked by Sect Master Lin Batian year after year; today, they finally vented their pent-up anger!

When he saw Sect Master Lin Batian's gloomy expression that was almost able to drip water, he could not express how satisfying it was!

That barbarian's face was ashen, anger burning within his tiger eyes, yet he had nowhere to vent it and could only clench his teeth tightly.

"Hmph!" Sect Master Lin Batian squeezed out a cold hump from his nasal cavity, his voice as bone-chilling as ice,

"He is merely a bit talented! Later on, if he encounters my disciple Liang Hong, the outcome remains yet unknown!"

"Liang Hong is at the Nascent Soul Stage level 3, riding a Nascent Soul Stage level 2 Spirit Beast, and coupled with my Beast Taming Sect's secret arts blessing, his battle prowess is comparable to the Nascent Soul Stage level 4."

"This Baili Yunche is merely relying on exquisite sword art and a successful sneak attack. If he truly encounters Liang Hong, he will undoubtedly die!"

His tone was resentful and cold, but anyone could hear the weakness masked by his fierce appearance.

On the other side of the spectator stands, upon the imperial family's seating area.

Crown Prince Zhou Changqing was dressed in a bright yellow python robe, with a refined appearance and a steady temperament, currently gently rotating the jade thumb ring on his thumb.

His gaze fell upon Baili Yunche, a flash of scrutiny and solemnity passing through his eyes.

"He truly has some skills," he pondered inwardly while remaining expressionless on the surface,

"It's just that if this bit of strength wants to compete with Old Seven... I am afraid it is somewhat not enough."

Not far from his side, Seventh Prince Zhou Changyu wore a golden cloud-patterned long robe, standing with his hands behind his back, staring intently at Baili Yunche with burning eyes.

Unlike the Crown Prince's composure, Seventh Prince Zhou Changyu's eyes burned with intense Battle Intent and greed.

"Hmph, Baili Yunche, the stronger your strength, the more excited I am!"

Seventh Prince Zhou Changyu's mouth slightly raised, revealing a cruel arc,

"I hope you will not disappoint me in the end; it is best if you can hold on until your duel with me."

"At that time, I will personally trample you beneath my feet and let you know what a true Genius is!"

"I will personally snatch back the jiuyou ice flame! I will make your life worse than death!"

Ji Kun's expression was ashen, his eyes staring fixedly at Baili Yunche on the arena, killing intent surging.

"Detestable Baili Yunche!" Ji Kun roared in his heart,

"I, Ji Kun, am irreconcilable with you! You seized my fiancée and stole my limelight; if I do not report this grudge, I swear I am not human!"

...

On the spectator stand where the Liu Family was located, the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive.

Liu Family Clan Chief Patriarch Liu Qingcang was dressed in a purple-golden long robe, his facial features seven parts similar to Liu Yulang's, appearing around fifty years of age, yet he was already a powerhouse of the Nascent Soul Stage level 9.

At this moment, he stared fixedly at his son's corpse on the arena, his eyes bloodred, veins bulging on his forehead, and his body's spiritual power uncontrollably overflowing, cracking the jade chair beneath him.

"Detestable little bastard!"

Patriarch Liu Qingcang squeezed these words out from between his teeth, his voice hoarse and shrill.

Liu Yulang was his legitimate eldest son, the future pillar of the Liu Family, and a Nascent Soul Prodigy nurtured with countless resources.

Now, he was actually slain in public by Baili Yunche with a single sword, becoming a stepping stone for the other party to establish his prestige!

"Baili Yunche... Baili Yunche!"

Patriarch Liu Qingcang roared frantically in his heart, his killing intent surging like a tidal wave.

He wished he could immediately rush onto the stage to hack Baili Yunche into ten thousand pieces, extracting his soul and refining his soul to console his beloved son's spirit in heaven.

However, he did not dare.

This was the grand competition site of the Cangxuan Empire, with the imperial family's Soul Transformation Stage Old Ancestor presiding and the Four Great Sects' Sect Masters all present.

If he rashly made a move, it would definitely be regarded as an open provocation against the imperial family and the Four Great Sects, and by then, the entire Liu Family would be removed from the Cangxuan Empire.

"Liu Yuze!"

Patriarch Liu Qingcang abruptly turned his head, looking at Liu Yuze beside him.

"Father." Liu Yuze lowered his head, his voice low.

"This person actually killed my Liu Family clansman in public..."

"If you encounter this person during the grand competition, I want you to cripple him!"

"Hack him into ten thousand pieces to avenge your elder brother's blood feud!"

Liu Yuze slowly raised his head, looking at the dark cyan figure on the arena, a vicious cold light flashing through his eyes.

Although his elder brother Liu Yulang often competed with him on ordinary days, they were after all blood-related brothers.

Baili Yunche slaying Liu Yulang in public was no different from heavily slapping the Liu Family across the face.

"Rest assured, Dad,"

Liu Yuze's voice was as cold as the jiuyou cold wind, carrying a hair-raising killing intent,

"If I get to encounter Baili Yunche, I will definitely make him pay blood for blood."

"I will personally break his limbs, cripple his Dantian, and then slowly cut off his head to memorialize my elder brother!"

"Good! With you doing things, I am relieved!"

Hearing this, Patriarch Liu Qingcang's ferocious expression slightly subsided, replaced by a trace of gratification.

He patted Liu Yuze's shoulder and said in a deep voice: "Liu Yuze, you are more composed than your elder brother and more ruthless than him. For this grand competition, the Liu Family relies on you!"

"This child will definitely not fail the mission!"

Liu Yuze bowed in salute.