Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

A murderous aura spread through the air.

The first defeat had dampened the morale of the Six Territories’ cultivators. Across from them, the ancient clan cultivators sneered. “Tsk tsk, is this the Daxia Sword Sect everyone had such high hopes for? Hahaha, doesn’t look that strong.”

“How could a mere sword sect compare to Lu family cultivators?”

A few people looked at the young man on the platform and remarked, “Isn’t that Lu Tao? He’s the strongest of the younger generation among the Lu family’s eight branches.”

“Yes. He alone can suppress the geniuses of the other seven branches. I didn’t expect him in the second match.”

“It seems the Lu clan’s young master wants to keep the momentum going and take two in a row.”

An elder in the Illusory Refinement Realm smiled faintly as he looked at the arena. “If they lose two in a row, I wonder what faces those Six Territories cultivators will make.”

Before he could finish, someone else laughed. “In my opinion, the Daxia Sword Sect is just a bunch of trash. I don’t even know why they showed up.”

“Even Li Guanqi can’t beat the Lu clan’s young master.”

Li Guanqi’s expression didn’t change, not even a ripple in his gaze. To him, such words meant nothing. His eyes remained fixed on the platform. As Nangong Xuandu’s voice fell, the two figures on the platform vanished.

Lu Kangnian kept pounding the war drums. When he saw Li Guanqi, he knew Cao Yan had to be safe.

Lu Kangnian felt relieved, but he couldn’t afford to show the slightest hint of weakness. He shouted, “Everyone, pull yourselves together! It’s just one loss! What are you looking so defeated for? Beat the drums harder!”

Boom! Boom boom!

Lu Kangnian had a conflicted look. The pressure on him was immense, but he didn’t let it show. The ten-thousand-year foundation of the Daxia Sword Sect was at stake.

Boom boom!

Two explosions rang out, shattering the bluestone tiles beneath their feet for over ten zhang in every direction. No one could track their movements. Only the relentless clash of metal echoed across the arena.

Xiao Chen’s eyes were sharp as a blade. The Divine Slaying Spear in his hand moved like a coiling dragon, its tip flashing with cold, piercing light as he darted around the arena with a sprint technique.

For a moment, even Lu Tao felt an inexplicable pressure. His sword strikes came one after another, fierce and swift, his figure flickering like a ghost.

To outsiders, the two seemed evenly matched. Only they knew they were walking a razor’s edge.

Lu Tao couldn’t break through Xiao Chen’s defense at all. The spear in Xiao Chen’s hand formed an impenetrable barrier, and its reach kept Lu Tao from ever getting within three chi.

Boom boom!

Clang!

Swish swish! Thud!

The spear fell from the sky, like a giant battle-axe cleaving mountains.

Without hesitation, Lu Tao retreated.

Xiao Chen’s powerful physique lent crushing force to the strike. The entire platform shook violently under the blow, and a crack over a hundred zhang long split the ground ahead of the spear.

A sharp glint flashed through Xiao Chen’s eyes. He leveled his spear and thrust forward, hurtling straight toward Lu Tao.

The Brilliant Sunset Flame coiled around the spear. The weapon spun, its red tassel whirling rapidly. Searing fire energy surged with the wind, and the Divine Slaying Spear shimmered with eerie blood-red patterns, growing more sinister by the moment.

“Blazing Sun Flame!”

Boom!

Li Guanqi’s lips curled slightly. He hadn’t expected Xiao Chen to comprehend the Raging Flame Spear Sutra so quickly.

Lu Tao’s pupils dilated as he stared at the oncoming spear light. He hadn’t expected Xiao Chen to possess such a high-level spear technique.

But how could the proud Lu clan, one of the ancient clans, lack powerful techniques of their own?

“Secret Art, Hollow Profundity!”

Buzz!

A layer of golden light enveloped Lu Tao’s entire body, forming a complete suit of golden armor.

Lu Tao abruptly stopped retreating. He raised his hand, and ferocious sword intent soared skyward. Sword Heart Realm sword intent erupted from the ground. His blade poured out endless sword light as he carved profound arcs through the air and slashed at Xiao Chen.

“Phantom Destruction Sword Array!”

Boom!

Endless sword qi filled the void, slicing through heaven and earth. A hundred-zhang sword array formed in the blink of an eye, trapping Xiao Chen inside. Lu Tao’s figure then faded into the depths of the array.

Li Guanqi rose, a worried look on his face as he gazed towards the platform. He wasn’t the only one; the battle had captured nearly everyone’s attention.

“An ancient sword array?” Li Guanqi murmured gravely. “And he set it by himself. Just how much vital force does that take?”

Xiao Chen’s expression shifted. Facing the terrifying array closing in around him, he pushed his power to the limit.

“Ahhhh! BREAK!”

The spear light flashed, flames blazing upward. It tore through the air with a piercing sonic boom, ripping open the space along its path.

Boom!

An explosion erupted, shattering the ground for hundreds of zhang around them and flinging it skyward. Golden sword qi danced wildly across the heavens.

Rumble!

The spear light cleanly pierced through the sword array, creating a gap dozens of zhang wide.

Drenched in blood, Xiao Chen forced his way out. Without pausing, he turned and rushed toward the void behind him.

The massive golden sword array collapsed.

Lu Tao flew out as well, his face grim. His golden armor had shattered, leaving a fist-sized hole through his left shoulder, the surrounding flesh charred black. Had the armor not absorbed most of the impact, his whole left shoulder would have been blown apart.

The two hovered a hundred zhang apart, their expressions noticeably more cautious and grave.

Lu Tao licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze turning fierce. He had always believed his strength was second only to Li Guanqi’s. He’d never expected a nobody to wound him so badly.

The surrounding cultivators broke into an uproar. The Six Territories’ cultivators cheered, while the ancient clans’ side turned solemn.

Through it all, only Lu Kangnian kept striking the war drum, as if he’d never once doubted that Xiao Chen could fight the opponent to a draw.

Vital force circulated through Xiao Chen as he sealed his meridians to stop the bleeding. His gaze was calmer and more focused than ever.

Neither wasted words. Their eyes met, and the two charged at each other again.

Only this time, killing intent showed in Lu Tao’s eyes. He had already sensed the threat Xiao Chen posed. Someone like him… had to be eliminated as soon as possible.