219: Semifinals

"Truly unreasonable, hmph."

Shen Lian ultimately did not strike at Shen Chuyun. After a cold snort, he turned to face the setting moon alone.

Shen Chuyun's jade fingers lightly touched her vermillion lips, and she smiled faintly. This was the first time she had ever seen such a contradictory Shen Lian.

Shen Lian: "After the Sword Prodigy Competition is over, you should temporarily reside at Buming Peak. I have important matters to attend to, and it's best not to disturb me."

Shen Chuyun: "So, you agree not to drive me away?"

Shen Lian lowered his gaze: "Shen Lian values trust above all else in his life. Since I promised you something, I will certainly fulfill it completely."

Having finished speaking, he transformed into a streak of light, leaped from the window sill, and vanished beneath the moonlight.

"You should rest first. I won't be back tonight. Come find me directly at Divine Sword Peak tomorrow morning."

Shen Chuyun stood quietly in front of the window, watching Shen Lian's receding figure. A hint of hope involuntarily surfaced on her cold face... The night passed uneventfully. The next day, as the sky just revealed a sliver of white dawn, Divine Sword Peak was once again surrounded by people.

"Revered Master."

A soft call woke Shen Lian, who was dozing against the stone wall of Divine Sword Peak.

Su Mengyao: "Revered Master, this is the letter Mistress left for you. She said she returned to Buming Peak first to wait for you."

"Mhm."

Shen Lian responded. With Shen Chuyun gone, he felt inexplicably relieved, at least he didn't have to listen to her nonsense about taking responsibility all day long.

"How prepared are you?"

"Revered Master, I am ready."

Seeing Su Mengyao full of confidence, Shen Lian finally put away his Folding Fan.

"Let's go."

"Okay."

Revered Master and disciple walked side-by-side into the venue.

At this time, the Chen Hour was approaching, and three transcendent figures reappeared on the Arbitration Platform.

Gu Xichao glanced at the entire venue and said coldly: "Today, we will officially determine the ownership of the Heavenly Sword. First, please draw the 'A' group Sword Prodigy to enter the arena!"

Su Mengyao looked at Shen Lian, and seeing him subtly lower his eyelids at her, she immediately stepped toward the Sword Platform.

Ling Chaoci, on the other side, also took a deep breath, cast aside all distracting thoughts, and slowly walked toward the Sword Platform.

The morning light scattered down, and the Battle Intent was intense.

The two women confronting each other on the Sword Platform stood motionless, their hearts calm, quietly waiting for the hour of the Sword Competition to arrive.

"Buzz—"

With the sound of a bell, a new battle began once more.

Su Mengyao and Ling Chaoci drew their swords almost simultaneously.

In the instant the two swords soared with dazzling flows, their Sword Intent already shone brightly on the high platform.

"Cloud Heaven Net."

The moment Ling Chaoci made her move, it was a decisive technique, held back in no way.

Sword Nets filled the sky, instantly enveloping Su Mengyao's figure, leaving no path for retreat.

Yue Jingfeng couldn't help but sigh: "I didn't expect Ling Chaoci's Cloud Mist Thirteen Swords to have Cultivated to such a level. Mr. Mo Wen's distinguished disciple truly lives up to her reputation."

Gu Xichao nodded: "To have this level of cultivation and such profound comprehension of the Dao of the Sword at this age is truly rare. It seems this year's Sword Dao Newcomer is more surprising than ever before."

Xie Xiaofeng: "Now we just have to see how Su Mengyao resolves this move."

In the battleground, Su Mengyao was also stunned. She didn't expect Ling Chaoci to start with an ultimate move, which threw her into disarray.

Facing the Sword Net woven from all directions, she could only try her best to swing her sword in defense, avoiding being affected or invaded by the Sword Net.

However, after Ling Chaoci's first strike, she immediately launched another famous technique.

"Heaven Transforming Cloud Flow."

While the Sword Net was being deployed, the Spirit Sword in her hand swept out, and immediately a Cloud Mist Momentum wrapped around the Sword Platform, causing Su Mengyao to lose her sense of direction.

Seeing this scene, Shen Lian couldn't help but inwardly complain: "Truly foolish. Losing the initiative immediately puts you on the defensive. At this moment, she shouldn't continue attacking forcefully, but should use the sword to channel her Qi, turning offense into defense to cut off the momentum of the attack."

"After all, you've encountered too few experts. At least mentally, you are far less decisive than Ling Chaoci, and you were caught completely off guard."

At this moment, Su Mengyao on the Sword Platform was in an extremely passive position. Having completely lost the initiative, she urgently wanted to regain control.

But Ling Chaoci gave her no chance to turn the situation around.

She knew very well that if Su Mengyao were allowed to catch her breath, it would turn into a difficult battle. Therefore, her plan from the start was to preemptively strike and win the fight as quickly as possible.

But... "Mistaken Sword: Profusion!"

A flash of sword light circulated, stirring up a burst of contrary gale, instantly sweeping away the Sword Mist.

After her five senses recovered, Su Mengyao quickly adjusted her mindset, stepping with the Limitless Pace, easily maneuvering through the interwoven Sword Net.

"Cloud Radiance Purple Light."

"Mistaken Sword: Residual Wind Sword Shadow!"

Having escaped the predicament, Su Mengyao immediately launched a fierce counterattack.

Her Sword Qi, combined with her Movement Technique, moved at the fastest speed, aiming to reclaim the initiative.

Seeing this scene, Gu Xichao and the other two felt greatly shocked.

"She can actually break free from the Sword Net's coverage? This Su Mengyao is truly a prodigy."

"Using the Sword Momentum to stir up a contrary gale and disperse the Sword Mist, and then utilizing the advantage of her Movement Technique to neutralize the Sword Net's threat—that is truly remarkable."

"Now, it's time for Su Mengyao's counterattack."

On the Sword Platform, Su Mengyao and Ling Chaoci had exchanged over a hundred moves in the blink of an eye.

The released Sword Qi had left numerous Sword Marks on the surrounding stone walls, bearing witness to this extraordinary decisive battle.

Xiao An, who was watching the battle, saw the scene on the Tianque Platform, and his expression grew solemn. He turned to Bai Mei and asked: "Revered Master, who do you think will win between those two women?"

Bai Mei: "No matter who it is, the one who ultimately receives the Heavenly Sword's recognition can only be you, Xiao An."

"But..."

Xiao An hesitated, stopping himself mid-sentence. He had been full of confidence originally, but seeing the fight between Su and Ling, he suddenly lacked sufficient faith.

Bai Mei frowned: "What's wrong? Do you lack confidence in yourself?"

Xiao An shook his head: "No, I just didn't expect the sword techniques of these two women to be so superb. Facing either of them..."

Bai Mei: "I told you, no matter who it is, the final ownership of the Heavenly Sword can only belong to you. I, your Revered Master, will ensure you receive the glory that is yours."

"Besides, your cultivation is in the Spirit Transformation Realm. No matter how powerful their sword techniques are, they are only at Core Building."

Hearing this, Xiao An finally realized: "That's right, my cultivation is far deeper than the two women's. Even if my sword technique isn't as good, just comparing Foundation alone, I surpass them both. Why should I worry?"

Thinking this, his mood immediately brightened, and he felt his breathing become much smoother.

On the other side, Shen Lian, who was watching the battle, slowly opened his Folding Fan.

"It seems the winner is about to be revealed. The next move will be the moment of truth."

As he spoke, the two women on the Heavenly Palace Sword Platform wielded their Sword Momentum, each dominating half of the battle opportunity, neither able to completely suppress the other.

After a collision of Sword Qi, the two women simultaneously retreated three steps.

The atmosphere fell silent again, with only the pleasant, clear sound of Sword Humming Sound echoing in the mountain breeze.

"Fellow Daoist Su, our Sword Intent has reached the Peak. With one more sword strike, let's decide the victor."

As Ling Chaoci's voice fell, she leaped into the Void Realm.

"Cloud Dragon Breaking the Azure Roar."

As the sword struck down, the sky filled with cloud mist transforming into a massive azure Dragon, penetrating straight toward Su Mengyao.

Su Mengyao, however, held her sword horizontally in both hands and slowly closed her eyes.

In that instant, heaven and earth were silent, and all was peaceful.

Only the sound of endless falling leaves echoed by her ears.

Suddenly, she opened her bright eyes. The famous blade in her hand rose and spun ceaselessly, emitting an invisible aura that pierced straight through the clouds.

Where the invisible Sword Qi passed, the Void Realm cloud Dragon instantly dissolved into smoke.

Ling Chaoci, suspended mid-air, was stunned and immediately turned sideways in a flash.

But she was still half a step too slow. The Sword Qi sliced a wound across her shoulder, accompanied by the sound of tearing cloth.

When Ling Chaoci fell back onto the Tianque Platform, she merely glanced at her shoulder and said helplessly.

"I lost."