Ling Tian Sword God

Chapter 106: Chapter 105: One Up_1

In the VIP seating area, the sword of a Purple-robed Elder began to vibrate without warning, seemingly beyond his control.

”Could this be... Sword Intent?” The Purple-robed Elder’s eyes widened, his face etched with disbelief.

”What? Sword Intent? That’s impossible!” Another Purple-robed Elder was also startled. Sword Intent was a supreme attainment that many Swordsman Grand Masters never achieved. For Ling Chen, who was only at the second realm of Martial Artist, to comprehend it was truly unexpected.

”It’s not true Sword Intent yet, only a Sword Intent Embryo. There’s still some way to go before it fully matures into real Sword Intent,” the first Elder remarked, looking at Ling Chen as the surprise in his eyes gradually faded. Even if it was just a Sword Intent Embryo, it was quite a significant achievement. Every Sword Intent begins as an embryo.

As the two conversed, the martial arts platform had already erupted into a whirlwind of action.

The sword qi, infused with the Sword Intent Embryo, stretched three to four meters long, slicing through Li Liuxing’s crimson sword light as easily as if it were tofu. Though diminished by two-thirds, the remaining sword qi still possessed formidable power. It carved a vicious gash into the ground as it flashed past Li Liuxing.

SPLAT!

A stone pillar at the edge of the martial arts platform crumbled, sending a shower of stone dust cascading down.

Li Liuxing stood rooted to the spot, motionless. Just a moment ago, he had felt death looming. If his opponent hadn’t intentionally held back, deviating the attack’s trajectory, that sword qi would have undoubtedly sliced him in half, reducing him to a bloody mist, leaving no trace.

Suddenly, Li Liuxing spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Although the sword qi hadn’t physically wounded him, Ling Chen’s Sword Intent Embryo had inflicted unseen damage. He couldn’t stop himself from vomiting this mouthful of stagnant blood, and surprisingly, his chest felt much lighter afterward.

”I guess I was still one step too slow,” Li Liuxing said with a bitter smile. He had previously declared that among the Inner Disciples, none could surpass him in swordsmanship unless they comprehended Sword Intent. And it happened just as he had predicted. Ling Chen hadn’t fully grasped Sword Intent, but he had mastered the Sword Intent Embryo, which wasn’t far off.

Just the Sword Intent Embryo alone was enough to defeat me.

”You needn’t be so self-deprecating. You just experienced my Sword Intent Embryo firsthand. I believe you’re also close to this step,” Ling Chen said as he sheathed the Heavenly Mansion Sword. Li Liuxing was undoubtedly a genius in the Sword Way. Having been defeated by his Sword Intent Embryo, Li Liuxing had surely gained some insight.

”Mm. I owe you for that. I lost this battle, but when I comprehend Sword Intent, I will challenge you again.” Li Liuxing nodded. There wasn’t a trace of dejection in his eyes; instead, there was a hint of joy. He could sense that, thanks to Ling Chen, he was now very close to grasping the Sword Intent Embryo himself.

”I’ll be ready anytime.” Ling Chen didn’t take this to heart. For those he had defeated, catching up to him was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

”This Ling Chen really takes after his father,” a Jianghu guest in his forties remarked with a sigh.

”As the saying goes, ’Like father, like son.’ True gold will always shine.”

”Don’t rush to conclusions. It’s only a Sword Intent Embryo for now. Whether it can develop into true Sword Intent remains to be seen.”

Some were less optimistic about Ling Chen. It’s just a Sword Intent Embryo; the first step hasn’t even been taken. It’s too early to draw conclusions based on that alone.

After Ling Chen and Li Liuxing’s battle concluded, the second match pitted the defeated Li Liuxing against Xiahou Lin.

If Li Liuxing won, the competition would conclude, and the top position would undoubtedly belong to Ling Chen. However, if Xiahou Lin emerged victorious, the final battle would be between Ling Chen and Xiahou Lin for the title of ’Huiyuan’.

On the martial arts platform, the two faced each other, thirty meters apart.

”Nine Swords Flying Together!” The moment the battle began, Li Liuxing unleashed his ultimate move. His full strength had already been revealed; there was no point in holding back now. As his Long Sword was drawn, nine rays of sword light shot out, enveloping Xiahou Lin layer upon layer.

”Break!” Xiahou Lin wielded a Long Halberd. Its blood-red halberd gleam was indomitable, effortlessly shattering the impact of the sword lights. Under the assault of the nine sword lights, he swung his Long Halberd left and right, shattering them one after another.

”Three Deadly Swords!” Li Liuxing immediately unleashed three massive, blood-red sword lights with his strongest momentum. These three sword lights were truly colossal, nearly covering half the martial arts platform as they slashed towards Xiahou Lin in a triangular formation, swift as lightning.

Xiahou Lin dared not be careless. A blood-red light surged from his arms into the Long Halberd, and he executed an incomparably overbearing sweep, clashing head-on with the three streams of sword qi.

CRACKLE!

The violent collision of power sent sparks flying across the martial arts platform. The stage was gouged with fissures, and debris flew everywhere.

”Ghost God Halberd!” Xiahou Lin leaped high into the air, his black Long Halberd descending from above. Instantly, a black wind surged, whipping up sand and stones. The momentum of this halberd strike gathered, aiming a devastating Absolute Kill at Li Liuxing.

CLANG!

It was as if blood-red lightning flashed in the Void. The Long Sword in Li Liuxing’s hand was jolted from his grasp.

Xiahou Lin’s left palm struck out like lightning, landing squarely on Li Liuxing’s chest.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as Li Liuxing was blasted off the martial arts platform.

”He is indeed the recognized top Inner Disciple, truly unrivaled. He already possesses the strength of a True Disciple,” a Purple-robed Elder nodded, his face full of approval.

”Yes, among this batch of Inner Disciples, I’m afraid no one is his match. Only Ling Chen, with his Sword Intent Embryo, might be able to contend with him.”

”It’s hard to say. Xiahou Lin’s foundation is much deeper than Ling Chen’s. It seems almost inevitable that he will seize the ’Huiyuan’ position this time.”

The Elders voiced their opinions, but most still favored Xiahou Lin.

What a domineering guy. Watching Li Liuxing get knocked away, Ling Chen narrowed his eyes. Xiahou Lin’s strength was indeed astonishing. Although Li Liuxing’s defeat in the previous match had been a blow to him and might have affected his performance, there was no doubt he had given his all, yet still lost. This clearly showed that Xiahou Lin’s strength was a cut above Li Liuxing’s.

It looks like it’s going to be a tough battle soon. Xiao Muyu felt a little worried for Ling Chen. Everyone had just witnessed Xiahou Lin’s strength. Even Li Liuxing, the dark horse of this competition, had been defeated so easily by Xiahou Lin. Ling Chen’s displayed strength didn’t seem much different from Li Liuxing’s; facing Xiahou Lin, the outcome looked uncertain.

「After a rest of half an hour」

The cheers for the final battle grew increasingly louder.

”Murong Ye, who do you think will win between these two?” Below the VIP seats, Bai Ruhui asked the impassive Murong Ye beside him.

”It should be Xiahou Lin,” Murong Ye replied without hesitation. ”Although Ling Chen is also very strong, he seemed to have used his full strength in the previous battles. We still don’t know the extent of Xiahou Lin’s power. By comparison, Ling Chen is likely not his match.”

”That may not be so,” Li Liuxing interjected, shaking his head. ”Ling Chen hasn’t used his full strength either. You don’t know his true capabilities. In my opinion, this will be an evenly matched battle. The outcome is highly uncertain.”

Is that so? Both Murong Ye and Bai Ruhui looked quite surprised. Then, a flicker of anticipation appeared in their eyes. If Li Liuxing was right, this upcoming battle could be an unprecedentedly spectacular duel.