45: Chapter 45 If you defeat me today, please accept the Peerless Sword Box!

"I hope both of you know when to stop!"

Leaving behind these words, Baili Dongjun's figure flickered, landing at the edge of the arena.

Zhao Guyan suddenly raised his hand, and the thirteen Flying Swords that were originally hovering above his head instantly began to move.

The Great Ming Vermilion Bird at the center turned into an afterimage, diving down from the sky.

From stillness to motion, it was as swift as lightning.

Then it came to a sudden halt, hovering in front of Zhao Guyan.

Zhao Guyan stared intently at the Great Ming Vermilion Bird.

This was the symbol of Wushuang City's peak era,

and the mark that Wushuang City once used to awe the Jianghu.

Ranked second on the hundred weapons ranking, it remained firmly in its position even though it hadn't been unsheathed for many years.

And the first-ranked Heaven's Son Sword had long since disappeared from the Jianghu.

The Great Ming Vermilion Bird could be called the number one Sharp Weapon in the Jianghu.

Now unsheathed once more, it seemed to show him the hope of Wushuang City regaining its former glory.

He gripped with his right hand, and the hilt landed in his palm.

Upon the blade, a surge of scorching Qi flowed naturally.

Boom!

The martial arts stage, which was already riddled with scars from Li Hanyi's Ten Thousand Swords Art, instantly shattered.

Zhao Guyan's figure vanished in a flash.

Only a massive crater remained where he had stood.

The twelve Flying Swords that were originally hovering in the sky turned into streaks of silver light, heading straight for Su Rui.

Yet Su Rui remained motionless.

"Slash!"

A furious shout!

Amidst everyone's shock, Zhao Guyan's figure suddenly appeared beside Su Rui, the Great Ming Vermilion Bird in his hand carrying the momentum of thunder as it slashed down from the air.

Simultaneously, the twelve Flying Swords seemed to form a sword formation, surrounding Su Rui completely.

Clang, clang, clang!

The Flying Swords were the first to strike.

Su Rui gripped with his right hand, and the Cheng Ying Sword was unsheathed instantly, seemingly vanishing in a split second.

All twelve sword lights were repelled.

Then, with a turn of the blade, it collided head-on with the Great Ming Vermilion Bird.

Heaven and earth seemed to fall into silence at this moment.

A sharp Sword Intent flashed and then instantly dissipated.

Zhao Guyan was sent flying backward by the shock.

The Great Ming Vermilion Bird plunged deep into the ground, sliding for dozens of yards before coming to a stop.

Zhao Guyan stared in astonishment at Su Rui, who hadn't even moved a step.

The entire audience instantly erupted!

What happened?

Everyone had seen Zhao Guyan's fierce offensive clearly just now.

With that kind of sword momentum coming from all directions, it was no wonder the Sword Control Technique was once so popular.

In this duel, the advantage was immense.

It was practically like thirteen people attacking you at the same time.

But at this moment, Zhao Guyan's swift strike seemed like a stone sinking into the sea, causing no ripples at all.

It even gave many people a sense of déjà vu.

"Teacher is so majestic! Teacher is so domineering! Long live Teacher!"

Sikong Qianluo couldn't help but cheer softly, and Yin Luoxia immediately reached out to cover her mouth.

The words "Long live" cannot be shouted casually.

It's fine to say it among ourselves normally.

But shouting it in this kind of setting, isn't that just causing trouble for Teacher?

With her mouth covered, Sikong Qianluo blinked, her face full of confusion, not understanding what she had done wrong.

"Watch closely!"

Li Hanyi said indifferently.

Sikong Qianluo's shout just now had drawn many gazes.

Although the words were somewhat inappropriate, most people present were not confidants of the imperial court, and since it was just the mindless words of a young girl, no one paid it much mind.

Instead, when their gazes fell upon Li Hanyi, everyone finally understood where that strange feeling from before had come from.

Su Rui still stood in place, neutralizing Zhao Guyan's killing move with a few clean and decisive swings of his sword.

This scene was practically identical to when Li Hanyi faced Song Yanhui earlier.

Should it be said that they truly are master and disciple?

Even their way of responding is exactly the same.

"Zhao Guyan likely won't be a match for this Su Rui!"

In just one move, everyone saw the gap between the two.

"Indeed, it seems Zhao Guyan still can't force him to use his full strength."

The Head of the Wen Family sighed softly.

He hadn't expected Su Rui to possess such unfathomable strength.

It is truly a blessing for Snow Moon City to have such an expert presiding over it.

The Head of the Wen Family couldn't help but feel gratified by the foresight of his ancestors who joined forces with various powers to build Snow Moon City...

A waterfront pavilion gets the moonlight first!

Now that they could have contact with Su Rui, they naturally held the initiative.

The knowledgeable experts also saw that Zhao Guyan and Su Rui were not on the same level.

Song Yanhui's eyes were full of worry.

Master seems to be at a disadvantage!

Can't even the Sword Control Technique work?

"Good!"

A light suddenly flashed in Zhao Guyan's eyes, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

He pulled up the Great Ming Vermilion Bird stuck in the ground, and the twelve Flying Swords that had been knocked down returned to circle in front of him once more.

Zhao Guyan stared at the row of Flying Swords before him; his expression showed no sign of dejection, but instead gained a bit more fervor.

"To be able to meet an expert like Your Excellency today is my, Zhao Guyan's, good fortune!"

He turned his gaze toward Su Rui once more.

"There are countless experts in the world. I, Zhao Guyan, have been working behind closed doors for too long; it's time for Wushuang City to change!"

"Is it worth it?"

Su Rui suddenly spoke.

"Is it worth it?" Zhao Guyan was slightly taken aback, and looking at Su Rui's calm eyes, he couldn't help but laugh.

He cupped his hands and gave a deep bow.

"Your Excellency can likely see that this broken body of mine doesn't have much time left.

Wushuang City has been closed off for too long, and the pressure I carry is too great.

If I can use this life of mine to exchange for a glimmer of hope for Wushuang City, then this life will not have been in vain."

Zhao Guyan's voice wasn't loud, yet it carried a sense of composure, an indifference toward life and death.

On the stands directly in front, the people who were still discussing that sword strike from earlier in low voices all turned their heads.

They were all Jianghu experts, so they naturally heard Zhao Guyan's words clearly.

For a moment, the arena fell into silence.

Song Yanhui's eyes were bloodshot as he knelt on the ground, tears nearly bursting from his eyes.

After finishing his bow, Zhao Guyan straightened his back.

"Please grant me your guidance, Your Excellency, and let me witness your true strength."

As soon as he finished speaking, the True Qi within Zhao Guyan surged, and an exquisitely decorated longsword seemed to manifest out of thin air behind him.

His figure seemed to merge with the Great Ming Vermilion Bird, turning into one of the thirteen Flying Swords.

In an instant, thirteen sword lights whistled upward, turning into thousands of flowing lights that lunged straight at Su Rui.

Su Rui's expression remained calm as he slowly drew his sword.

He performed the Yue Maiden Sword Technique, each move and stance calm and unhurried.

Though the sword speed wasn't fast, every strike perfectly intercepted the Flying Swords' offensive.

The sound of clashing metal rang out continuously.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Su Rui was not going all out.

Whereas Zhao Guyan was fighting with his life on the line.

Yet even so, the attacks still failed to take effect.

This time, no one commented further.

Once the Yue Maiden Sword Technique was finished, the Cheng Ying Sword suddenly turned into a streak of light, piercing toward a specific spot.

Zhao Guyan's figure appeared, the Great Ming Vermilion Bird held horizontally across his chest, barely blocking this fatal strike.

Zhao Guyan was sent flying and slammed heavily onto the ground.

Su Rui slowly sheathed his sword, quietly watching the fallen Zhao Guyan.

The entire venue fell into silence.

The expressions of Baili Dongjun and Sikong Changfeng also became solemn.

Sikong Qianluo also sensed the heavy atmosphere and didn't dare to speak casually again.

Song Yanhui knelt on both knees, his gaze tightly locked on the fallen Zhao Guyan.

Li Hanyi's eyes remained calm, as if the scene before her didn't cause even a ripple in her emotions.

In the distance, the experts preparing to show their skills in the next round were also silently watching the arena.

After Zhao Guyan fell, the Great Ming Vermilion Bird slipped from his hand and dropped to the side; amidst the sword's hum, a crack running right through the center of the blade was clearly visible.

"Cough, cough... What a pity. The final sword dance of my life, yet I couldn't witness Your Excellency's true strength with my own eyes!"

Zhao Guyan slowly stood up, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.

When he picked up the Great Ming Vermilion Bird, his gaze fell on that crack, and a flash of heartache appeared in his eyes.

"Is there more?"

Su Rui spoke indifferently.

"Naturally, there is more, though I haven't mastered this sword strike either. Just like Yanhui, my talent in the Sword Control Technique is mediocre, but the hope of Wushuang City rests on our shoulders, so we must learn!"

Zhao Guyan said as he raised his gaze.

"The Sword Control Technique is both a glory and a shackle.

Therefore, if Your Excellency defeats me today, please accept the peerless sword casket!"

Zhao Guyan suddenly bowed with cupped hands.

As soon as these words were spoken, low-voiced discussions immediately broke out among the crowd.

The peerless sword casket!

That is the ultimate treasure of Wushuang City; Zhao Guyan is actually willing to hand it over?

And even in the event of a victory?

Everyone present knew in their hearts that the gap between Zhao Guyan and Su Rui was too obvious; Zhao Guyan had almost no chance of winning.

Looking at the other twelve Flying Swords floating in front of Zhao Guyan again, Su Rui's gaze shifted slightly, and he nodded gently.

Seeing this, a flash of joy appeared in Zhao Guyan's eyes.

"Thank you, Your Excellency!"

He bowed deeply again.

"No need for such formalities; the sword casket has no meaning to me.

If Wushuang City can find a true genius who truly fits the Dao of sword control in the future, just let him come to Snow Moon City to retrieve it himself."

Hearing this, Zhao Guyan's expression froze.

The peerless sword casket is a supreme treasure that countless people in the Jianghu dream of.

Thirteen divine weapons, including the second-ranked Great Ming Vermilion Bird.

There are countless people who covet it.

But when he looked at the Cheng Ying Sword in Su Rui's hand, he immediately gave a bitter smile.

He doesn't care for it at all!

The Cheng Ying Sword is a legendary ancient divine weapon.

Although it has never appeared on the hundred weapons ranking, its brilliance has long been revealed.

Although the thirteen swords in the peerless sword casket are extraordinary, compared to Chengying, they are like ordinary iron versus refined steel; the difference is clear at a glance.

It was only reasonable for Su Rui not to accept the sword casket.

But these words also made Zhao Guyan feel grateful in his heart.

Although the peerless sword casket is a supreme treasure, Su Rui's willingness to accept it meant that he might face criticism from within Wushuang City in the future.

However, Su Rui's cultivation was plain to see.

If those Elders really dared to come looking for trouble, they would only be inviting humiliation.

Zhao Guyan looked around, his gaze finally landing on the kneeling and tearful Song Yanhui.

With True Qi infused into his body, his voice resounded throughout the venue:

"Wushuang City still has one sword move that hasn't reached its full potential. Unfortunately, I am of limited ability and find it difficult to perform it perfectly. I ask for Your Excellency's guidance!"

Before his voice had even faded, Zhao Guyan's figure seemed to turn into a phantom, merging with the Great Ming Vermilion Bird in his hand.

The remaining twelve Flying Swords also quickly flew back, circling around him.

Then, the thirteen swords lined up neatly and soared straight into the clouds.

In mid-air, the sword formation condensed, as if merging into a single sword.

A massive sword phantom condensed in the sky, its Sword Qi chilling and its pressure spreading in all directions.