Martial Cultivator

The Sword Sect’s Sect Master remained standing atop the mountain peak the entire time, but his expression inevitably grew grave. As the one who had unleashed the sword strike, he naturally understood better than anyone the nature of that strike.

The first sword failed, and the second sword also failed. It might look like it was just the beginning, but only the Sword Sect’s Sect Master himself knew that his second sword had already been him going all-out.

Just as the Sword Sect’s Sect Master was momentarily absentminded, an oppressive force suddenly surged in the sky above and came crashing down.

Countless torrents of immense qi descended upon the mortal realm!

The Sword Sect’s Sect Master furrowed his brows tightly and was about to unleash his sword to carve a way out when the overwhelming torrents of qi landed on his body like a torrential downpour.

Under his feet, the towering mountain instantly split with a fissure. The towering mountain had began to tremble and teeter on the brink of collapse under the crushing weight of the pressure.

Then, a boot appeared in the heavens above.

The Sword Sect’s Sect Master used a secret sword technique of the Sword Sect to counter. In a brief moment, he unleashed a flurry of sword strikes, weaving a dense web of sword light.

As the only sect in the world entirely composed of sword cultivators, the Sword Sect possessed countless secret sword techniques passed down through generations. The Sword Sect’s Sect Master’s sword art at this moment could be called the pinnacle of defensive swordsmanship in the world.

It is widely said that sword cultivators have unparalleled offensive power in the world, but how many understand that the true essence lies in both attack and defense, executed in the blink of an eye? A true grandmaster of the sword would always master both.

Unfortunately, even the brilliant secret sword techniques of the Sword Sect could only hold for a moment under this immense pressure before shattering with a deafening crash. As the pressure descended further, the towering peak beneath his feet began to crumble instantly.

Countless rocks broke loose, tumbling to the ground below. The mountain was overwhelmed by the oppressive force, and it quickly emitted violent, cracking sounds. Amidst the earth-shaking tremors, this mountain which had stood for countless years was leveled to the ground.

The Great Liang Emperor’s figure appeared amidst the level ground, looking at the rubble around him in silence. This great battle had seen the Sword Sect’s Sect Master unleash two successive strikes, both of which reached heights unattainable for most sword cultivators of the current era. Though the results fell short of gravely wounding the Great Liang Emperor, the Great Liang Emperor was never one to remain on the defensive. Since the Sword Sect’s Sect Master had already drawn his sword, the Great Liang Emperor’s response was only natural.

Yet, while the mountain was shattered, the man himself was not dead.

The Sword Sect’s Sect Master burst forth from the pile of rubble, forming a sword seal with his fingers. In an instant, he closed the distance to the Great Liang Emperor and thrust a sword strike forward.

The Great Liang Emperor raised his elbow to deflect the Sword Sect’s Sect Master’s qi-formed sword before bringing his palm down toward the Sword Sect’s Sect Master’s chest.

The Sword Sect’s Sect Master did not evade but instead released an aura of sword intent from his entire body. It rippled outward like waves in midair, but in reality, it was countless fine threads of sword qi flying toward the Great Liang Emperor to kill him.

After years of cultivating the sword, the Sword Sect’s Sect Master had refined himself into the sharpest sword in the world.

The Great Liang Emperor swept his sleeve, gathering the incoming sword qi within his sleeve. The endless sword qi erupted within his sleeve, tearing it to shreds.

Even so, the Great Liang Emperor still managed to unleash a powerful punch.

The breadth of spirit of a peerless martial artist was displayed to the fullest expression of its beauty and form.

The Sword Sect’s Sect Master raised his hand, using his fingers as a sword to meet the punch.

When fist met sword, the Sword Sect’s Sect Master’s robes billowed violently without wind, and his interwoven black-and-white hair was whipped into a wild dance.

On the Great Liang Emperor’s emperor robes, a few more tears instantly appeared.

Compared to the Temple Master of the Infatuation Daoist Temple, the Sword Sect’s Sect Master was indeed a level stronger. It was worth noting that during the prior battle, the Temple Master of the Infatuation Daoist Temple had employed countless techniques but failed to inflict any injuries on the Great Liang Emperor.

At the very least, the Sword Sect’s Sect Master had managed to tear open the Great Liang Emperor’s robes.

The Sword Sect’s Sect Master had no intention of stopping here. A moment later, a void abruptly appeared behind him, slowly taking form into nine grottos.

Brilliant radiance flowed ceaselessly, akin to multicolored clouds.

Within each grotto, a flying sword of a different color could be seen suspending.

Unlike Xie Nandu who truly possessed nine lifeblood flying swords, the Sword Sect’s Sect Master’s swords were not physical entities. Instead, they were manifestations of the years he had spent nurturing his apertures, gradually forming this phenomenon within the nine major apertures. These were not truly flying swords, they were better described as what he had gained enlightenment of across those realms in the past. As for why there were as many as nine grottos, it likely stemmed from his pursuit of the ultimate.

The nine grottos began to rotate slowly. Suddenly, a cyan flying sword shot forth, carrying an endless sword qi as it charged forward to kill.

The Great Liang Emperor was expressionless, reaching his hand out in an instant and grabbing the cyan sword aimed directly at his glabella. The sword was razor-sharp, and though stopped by the Great Liang Emperor’s hand, unable to advance forward anymore, it still cut through the Great Liang Emperor’s skin.

At this moment, the Great Liang Emperor’s palm was already covered in fresh blood.

The Sword Sect’s Sect Master seemed indifferent. In the blink of an eye, two more flying swords shot forth. Only then did the Great Liang Emperor notice that the Sword Sect’s Sect Master’s swords were not simply flying out, each flying sword was connected by a faint, colorful thread.

The two flying swords aimed for two of the Great Liang Emperor’s apertures.

The Great Liang Emperor’s free hand struck one of the flying swords, deflecting it. The other flying sword took advantage of the moment to arrive in front of the Great Liang Emperor’s chest, its tip pressing against the Great Liang Emperor’s heart. :

The Great Liang Emperor swatted the flying sword’s body aside, disrupting the flying sword’s original trajectory.

The remaining six flying swords all shot forward at this moment, colliding with the Great Liang Emperor.

These nine flying swords were the manifestation of the Sword Sect’s Sect Master’s lifetime comprehension of Sword Dao. Their killing power was far beyond what ordinary sword cultivators could hope to match.

The Sword Sect’s Sect Master saw that the Great Liang Emperor was now tied down by his flying swords, exhaling lightly in relief. Since the battle began, his two initial sword strikes had left him at a disadvantage. But at last, he had managed to turn the tide.

Though these nine flying swords fell short of matching the prowess of nine great sword immortals, each possessed sword immortal means that were only a step away from a great sword immortal. With all nine unleashed simultaneously, it was as if nine sword immortals were attacking together, their killing power boundless.

The Great Liang Emperor continued throwing punches, his qi surging as he fended off the onslaught of the nine flying swords. Though he held his ground for now, it was evident that he was barely holding on. It seemed only a matter of time before he would exhaust his strength.

At this moment, the Sword Sect’s Sect Master refrained from employing any further techniques. Instead, he focused intently on watching the Great Liang Emperor. He was not fighting to kill but to use this battle to comprehend the final missing piece of that sword. Thus, he dedicated himself to perceiving the flow of this unparalleled martial artist’s qi, hoping to incorporate it into his sword art.

However, in the next instant, the situation shifted dramatically. The cyan flying sword in the Great Liang Emperor’s grasp was forcefully crushed by him. The Sword Sect’s Sect Master’s body could not help but sway.

To the Sword Sect’s Sect Master, the destruction of a single flying sword was no great matter. Yet, in mere moments, a second flying sword was smashed flying by one of the Great Liang Emperor’s punches. It let out a mournful wail before plunging into the rubble.

The Great Liang Emperor fought with increasing ferocity, his punches accompanied by thunderous booms that resounded through heaven and earth.

The two flying swords before him were shattered by the Great Liang Emperor with a single punch. Following this, the grottos behind the Sword Sect’s Sect Master began to fade in and out, some on the verge of collapse.

Realizing that he could no longer delay, the Sword Sect’s Sect Master gathered the sword qi within his body, preparing to unleash another strike.

Unfortunately, just as this thought took form, the Great Liang Emperor kicked a massive boulder toward the Sword Sect’s Sect Master with immense force.

The Sword Sect’s Sect Master glanced at the incoming boulder and, in an instant, a dazzling sword light cleaved it apart. But immediately after splitting it, countless more boulders followed in its wake.

The Sword Sect’s Sect Master unleashed his sword repeatedly, slicing through the oncoming boulders with his sword.

The air was filled with continuous booming sounds.

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