88: Third Life: How Am I the Villain? (52)

The arena battle ended, and the light barrier dissipated.

Xu Yuan and Xu Xingchen walked off the arena one after another.

Xu Yuan was about to return to the Overlord Blade Sect's area to adjust his breathing when he saw that Xu Xingchen did not head toward the Burning Sun Upper Sect's side. Instead, with a warm smile on his face, he walked straight toward him.

"Brother Chen, please wait a moment."

Xu Xingchen said with cupped hands, his tone sincere and without a hint of frustration from his recent defeat.

Xu Yuan stopped and turned to look at him: "Daoist Xu, is there something?"

Xu Xingchen smiled: "Brother Chen's saber techniques are overbearingly peerless and truly breathtaking. Although I lost today's battle, it is a great fortune to be able to know someone like you. I wonder if we could be friends?"

Xu Xingchen's attitude was open, his gaze clear, carrying a sense of pure admiration.

Seeing that his words and actions did not seem fake, Xu Yuan also nodded and returned the gesture with cupped hands: "Overlord Blade Sect, Chen Yuan. Daoist Xu's Fen Yang Art has also been an eye-opener for me. To be able to spar with you is also a matter of fate."

Seeing Xu Yuan's calm attitude, Xu Xingchen's smile grew even wider: "Brother Chen is too modest. With the strength you've shown, you will surely shine brilliantly in this Elite Battle."

"In my view, there is great hope for you to break into the top twenty!"

"Top twenty?"

Xu Yuan's brow twitched slightly, his tone calm but carrying a trace of imperceptible sharpness, "Daoist Xu thinks that I can only stop at the top twenty?"

Xu Yuan had a clear understanding of his current strength: Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, Ten Thousand Blades Returning to the Origin Foundation, mastery of the Heavenly Tribulation Blade as a finishing move, and ten years of experience in life-and-death combat in the Desolate Realm.

Although he sensed several extremely powerful auras, he believed he was not without the strength to fight.

Hearing this, Xu Xingchen was stunned for a moment, then laughed and shook his head: "It seems I have misspoken. Brother Chen has lofty ambitions beyond what we can fathom."

"However, Brother Chen, do not be careless." Xu Xingchen pulled back his smile, his expression becoming serious. "This Elite Battle can be called the strongest in a hundred years, with prodigies appearing one after another. I will briefly tell you about a few individuals who need extra attention, and then you will know why the top twenty is already exceptionally difficult."

"First are the contemporary 'Chief' level figures of several Upper Sects. Mystical Heaven Sword Sect's 'Sword Seed' Luo Chen is said to be born with 'Sword Heart Clarity' and has reached the mysterious Realm of Man and Sword as One. With Late Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation and fierce Sword Qi, there are rumors that when he was at the Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage, he once severely injured a veteran Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator with a single sword strike. His strength is terrifying."

"Chang Qing Upper Sect's Mu Ling'er. This woman seems weak, but she has cultivated the Chang Qing Sect's 'Everlasting Dao Method' to an extremely high level. Her spiritual power is long-lasting and vast, her recovery ability is shocking, and her binding techniques are superb. She also has a record of trapping and killing Late Foundation Establishment Stage True Cultivators."

"Yu Long Upper Sect's Long Xuan. Rumor has it that he possesses a thin trace of True Dragon Bloodline. His Physical Body is matchlessly powerful, comparable to a Body Cultivator of the same level, and he can perform some Dragon Clan Divine Abilities. He is overbearingly peerless..."

"..."

Xu Xingchen introduced several Upper Sect prodigies participating in this South Domain Elite Battle to Xu Yuan as if counting his own treasures. Then, he lowered his voice, and a deeper sense of dread entered his tone:

"However, as far as I know, the biggest favorite to win this Elite Battle is not these three, but... Su Mucha of the Heavenly Deduction Sect!"

"Su Mucha?"

Xu Yuan's gaze narrowed slightly.

"Exactly!" Xu Xingchen nodded heavily. "This woman is extremely mysterious and rarely acts in public, but there are rumors that she... has condensed a Perfect Dao Foundation!"

Perfect Dao Foundation!

These three words exploded in Xu Yuan's ears like a clap of thunder!

"Perfect Dao Foundation. Even within an Upper Sect with a long Legacy like my Burning Sun Upper Sect, there are very few records on how to condense a Perfect Dao Foundation, and the conditions are so harsh they're almost impossible to fulfill."

"Those who can truly succeed are all monsters who possess Heaven-Defying Aptitude, world-shaking Opportunity, and supreme perseverance. They are rarely seen even in a hundred years!"

Xu Xingchen sighed: "I didn't expect that such a person would appear in this Elite Battle... It seems there won't be much suspense in the battle for the top spot."

Xu Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly. The Ten Thousand Blades Returning to the Origin Foundation within his body seemed to sense its master's surging emotions, spontaneously trembling slightly and emitting a sharp Saber Intent.

His Ten Thousand Blades Returning to the Origin Foundation was already a High Grade Flawless Dao Foundation, a top-tier Foundation that countless Cultivators dreamed of. However, it was below a Perfect Dao Foundation. Now, hearing that someone had actually condensed a Perfect Dao Foundation, instead of feeling discouraged, a strong, uncontrollable Battle Intent surged in Xu Yuan's heart!

"Perfect Dao Foundation... just how strong is it?" Xu Yuan thought to himself, his eyes sharp as a saber. "What is the gap between my Ten Thousand Blades Facing the Origin and perfection?"

He longed to fight such an opponent!

Not for fame, but to personally experience that legendary Realm and measure his own limits!

This boiling Battle Intent burned deep in his eyes. Although he remained calm on the surface, Xu Xingchen, standing beside him, faintly felt that the aura around Xu Yuan seemed to have become more condensed and dangerous.

"Thank you, Daoist Xu, for being so candid. This information is vital to me." Xu Yuan composed himself and thanked Xu Xingchen.

Xu Xingchen waved his hand with a sincere smile: "Brother Chen, there's no need to be polite. It's strange to say, but even though this is our first meeting, I feel as if we've known each other for a long time. Being able to befriend Brother Chen and share some information is nothing."

These words were not entirely polite talk. Facing Xu Yuan, he indeed felt an inexplicable sense of closeness and trust.

Hearing this, Xu Yuan's heart stirred slightly, but he remained calm on the surface, only nodding: "Daoist Xu is sincere, and so am I."

The two exchanged a few more words, agreeing that if they met in subsequent matches, they would definitely have another hearty battle. Only then did they return to their respective Sect areas.

Half an hour later, Xu Yuan took the stage again, and his opponent was surprisingly a white-clothed swordsman.

Seeing this person, Xu Yuan's pupils couldn't help but shrink slightly.

"Luo Chen..." He whispered the name, and Xu Xingchen's description surfaced in his mind—Sword Heart Clarity, Man and Sword as One.

"Mystical Heaven Sword Sect, Luo Chen."

Luo Chen spoke indifferently. Just by standing there quietly, a mellow, transparent, and sharp, restrained Sword Intent naturally flowed around him, faintly resonating with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

"Overlord Blade Sect, Chen Yuan." Xu Yuan cupped his hands, his gaze equally sharp.

Their gazes met in mid-air, as if invisible flashes of sabers and shadows of swords were colliding. The atmosphere on the arena instantly became incredibly heavy.

No words were needed; the Battle Intent had already reached its peak!

"The match begins!"

The moment the words of the Celestial Mechanism Pavilion Deacon fell—

"Clang!"

Luo Chen pointed his fingers like a sword and made a casual swipe!

A streak of pure white Sword Qi, condensed to the extreme and seemingly able to slice through the Void Realm, arrived without warning, its speed surpassing the capture of Divine Sense!

Fast! Accurate! Ruthless!

"Slash!"

Xu Yuan let out a low shout, and Ink Sever instantly left its sheath. Its pitch-black blade did not dodge or avoid, boldly meeting that pure white Sword Qi!

Boom!

The energy of the saber and sword collided, erupting with a deafening roar!