Chapter 118 - Whoever Blocks, Dies!
"These Sword Rings are formidable!" At first glance, Yun Xiao was captivated. They were far mightier than the five-thousand-year-old Sword Rings on his Sword Soul.
The wind-attribute Heavenly Tempest was like the storm of a Sword Heart, a swirling tempest of azure and black. It coiled around the Sword Lord, both him and his sword, like an angry storm dragon. Wherever the sword light touched, rocks and stone were torn apart by the storm!
Similar to an enhanced Thousand Waters Lure, the Earthly Ocean Surge coated the surface of the Sword Lord's Holy Radiance Sword Soul, like a sea dragon coiled around the sword.
The Sword Lord's sword, which should have been wary of Yun Xiao's hundred-layer Sword Aura, was now suppressing him with the weighty aura of the vast sea, combined with his deep magical power from the Late Sovereign Dragon Realm.
On the other side, the Tower Lord's Violet Lightning Seal and White Abyssal Flame were even more ferocious. Thunder and flame enveloped his body, with the Sword Soul and Dantian serving as dual catalysts, emitting booming explosions of thunder and flame!
Both men, each with their sword, obscured half of the Forbidden Arena, leaving the onlookers terrified.
"These two Sea of Swords overlords may have questionable characters, but their combat prowess is undeniably formidable!" an onlooker murmured, giving voice to the shared sentiment of the crowd.
The pair's eyes were piercingly cold and stern. When they struck, they didn't utter a word. Any taunts would just break their concentration! These two weren't underestimating their opponent, nor would they challenge Yun Xiao one by one, giving him a chance to defeat them individually.
WHOOSH! Just as the Sword Lord's sword lunged toward Yun Xiao's head, the Tower Lord's Thunder Flame Sword Soul had already targeted his waist. The two swords united, embodying elements of water, fire, wind, and thunder.
Yun Xiao was all too familiar with the Sword Lord's Palm Sword technique. It was Sun Moon Divine Light, Gentle Breeze Bright Moon!
Meanwhile, the Tower Lord's sword transformed into a fire blossom, emitting popping ripples of sword energy! This was the Forbidden Tower's Star grade sword technique—Forbidden Sword, Extreme Inferno!
Whether it was Gentle Breeze Bright Moon or Extreme Inferno, in Yun Xiao's eyes, they weren't overly complex. However, with the enhancement of those four mighty Sword Rings, the combination of sword techniques and demon magics introduced a slew of unpredictabilities.
The two swords, harmonized with the elements of water, fire, wind, and thunder, saw their killing power skyrocket!
"Not bad!" Yun Xiao remarked, his eyes lighting up in excitement. It finally felt life-threatening!
In that brief instant, the sword techniques of these two overlords played out in slow motion before Yun Xiao's eyes. This was a facet of his unparalleled sword talent!
Under siege, Yun Xiao reacted in an instant. Sun Moon Divine Light? He knew it better than the Sword Lord himself!
Yun Xiao abruptly shifted to the side. While his feet stuck to the ground, his body bent like a snake, nimbly avoiding the Sword Lord's Gentle Breeze Bright Moon, The crescent-shaped sword beam slashed forward, hitting the black wall behind. The wall suddenly exploded, resonating with a deafening roar!
Yet, the most deadly was the Tower Lord's strike! Yun Xiao's eyes turned icy. He swiftly retaliated with a slash. Employing the same Gentle Breeze Bright Moon technique, it might not have been as showy in his hands as the Sword Lord's. Yet, because of the ferocious Sword Aura and the directness of his sword intent, it seemed faster and fiercer!
KLANG! The Gentle Breeze Bright Moon clashed with the Extreme Inferno! HUM! Their Sword Auras, magic power, and Sword Rings collided!
In a flash, the Tower Lord unleashed a torrent of overwhelming power onto Yun Xiao. The White Abyssal Flame Sword Ring from his Thunder Flame Sword Soul came crashing down, scorching Yun Xiao in its wake.
Yun Xiao had no choice but to hastily retreat. "That demon magic is something else," he muttered, a hint of admiration in his voice. With a single strike, the skin of his hand cracked, and his clothes were in disarray, a testament to the strength of the demon magic.
However, the Tower Lord, as unyielding as a mountain, now bore a deep frown. He glanced at his hand, the Thunder Flame Sword Soul gently vibrating, revealing some tiny yet ominous cracks. Though minor, they foretold impending peril.
"Brother Tian, you don't have water-attribute demon magic. Don't compete in swordplay!" the Sword Lord warned coldly. Almost in the next breath, he was once again in front of Yun Xiao. His Holy Radiance Sword Soul bore the vastness of the sea, capable of withstanding Yun Xiao's myriad layers of Sword Aura.
"Mhmm!" The Tower Lord's eyes blazed fiercely, an intense, fiery rage burning within. His face twisted with fury, and in a blink, his Palm Sword transformed into a Flying Sword. He launched it, aiming directly for Yun Xiao's eyes, perfectly complementing the Sword Lord's assault.
Flying Sword Technique, Thunderbolt Flash!
This Flying Sword was the embodiment of lightning, incredibly swift in its assault. As it soared, thunder raged all around. The air exploded where it passed, and countless electric serpents coiled around the sword, a sight that left many in awe.
"Yun Xiao, watch out!" A chorus of gasps erupted from the crowd, leaving one to wonder if they truly stood by Yun Xiao.
"To think two seniors would gang up on a young lad! Don't you feel ashamed? If you have any honor, face him one-on-one!" Ancestor Ning shouted, his voice filled with concern.
"Indeed!" came the echoing agreement.
"Shameless!"
Many voices echoed that sentiment, but it was clear their cries fell on deaf ears. The Sword Lord and Tower Lord, having tasted Yun Xiao's prowess, were even more determined to launch an unrelenting joint attack.
Death loomed yet again.
The Sword Lord's sword, which once summoned the tempestuous seas, now drew upon the might of the heavens, radiating an almost blinding brilliance.
BUZZ! That dazzling light transformed, producing illusions so convincing that one sword seemed to multiply into ten—each one lethal. This move was nothing short of exquisite, a display of unrivaled skill.
It was the mightiest Palm Sword Technique of Sun Moon Divine Light—Mirage of the Moon's Reflection!
Among the Sun Moon Divine Light techniques, be it the Flying Sword or the Twin Palm swords, this second technique, Mirage of the Moon's Reflection, was surely more intricate than Gentle Breeze Bright Moon, a technique specifically designed for deadly one-on-one combat.
A sword became an illusion, one sword became ten!
Coupled with the Thunderbolt Flash, they were hurtling toward Yun Xiao!
Two sword techniques, both spelling doom.
"I know this move too!" In the face of such peril, Yun Xiao chuckled, his voice resonating in every direction. With a swift move, he drew his sword, and his technique was eerily similar to the Sword Lord's.
However, while their swordplay might be identical, the intent behind them was worlds apart! The Sword Lord's sword, which split into ten, was artistic and unpredictable, akin to the fleeting reflection of the moon on water.
Yun Xiao, on the other hand, gave his sword a flick, and as it lunged forward, it astonishingly split into twenty! His version of Mirage of the Moon's Reflection felt more like a chaotic sword storm.
Stripping away the pretense, he added ten more lethal intentions!
"This Mirage... it's not like mine!" The Sword Lord's eyes widened in disbelief, a storm of shock raging within his heart. The sword seemed the same, yet Yun Xiao had subtly altered its essence. Terrifyingly, once changed, its lethality became even more chilling!
In the flash of an eye, those twenty swords, like a furious dragon made of sword energy, bit down on the Sword Lord's ten derivative strikes from his Holy Radiance Sword Soul. With an unstoppable force, they drove the Sword Lord back!
THUD THUD THUD! The Sword Lord's body bore several bone-deep gashes, his clothing stained even more with blood. Meanwhile, his Heavenly Tempest and Earthly Ocean Surge inflicted numerous wounds on Yun Xiao, albeit much shallower ones.
"Brother Tian!" With another powerful sword thrust suppressing him, a trembling Sword Lord could only retreat, sword in tow.
Just then, a bolt of lightning in the form of a Flying Sword whizzed past the Sword Lord's ear, aiming straight for Yun Xiao's eyes! It looked like a sure headshot!
Flying Sword Technique, Thunderbolt Flash!
A collective gasp echoed through the crowd!
Yun Xiao's vision was engulfed in lightning! Without hesitation, following the rhythm of Mirage of the Moon's Reflection swordplay, he gripped his sword with both hands and slashed!
KLANG! His sword moved as fast as light, striking the Thunder Flame Sword Soul and deflecting it ever so slightly!
PUFF! In the world of sword cultivation, killing happened in a blink. Every sword thrust, potentially lethal in a heartbeat. It wasn't some epic saga that spanned three hundred rounds!
Although Yun Xiao had managed to deflect the violet-crimson Flying Sword at the last moment, it still grazed his shoulder, tearing a chunk of flesh.
A humming sound rang out! The eerie force of the White Abyssal Flame and the Violet Lightning Seal instantly enveloped Yun Xiao, scorching half his body to a charred hue. Especially on his shoulder, where dark blood oozed.
Yun Xiao was hurt! This was perhaps the first time he'd been wounded since his ascent to the heavens. The combined might of the Sword Lord and the Tower Lord was evident!
"Yun Xiao!" The onlookers were beside themselves with fear, their hearts lodged in their throats.
Zhao Xuanran and Ning Yan, mother and daughter, held hands in their shared anxiety, their palms slick with sweat.
That heart-stopping moment, when the sword neared its mark, felt as though time itself had halted. The formidable prowess of these three made everyone's skin crawl.
"We got him!" The Sword Lord's eyes gleamed with triumph. But just then, a pained cry from the Tower Lord made him whirl around in alarm.
"Brother Tian?" The Sword Lord snapped his gaze back, only to see the Tower Lord gripping his Sword Soul, which quivered and showed even more cracks than before, emitting a peculiar blue smoke.
Simultaneously, there seemed to be cracks forming in the Tower Lord's very eyes.
It was clear that when the Flying Sword had been struck, the Tower Lord had suffered the grave injury!
"Almost had me there!" A voice, cool as winter, rang out in front of the Sword Lord.
The Sword Lord, burning with anger, looked up to see Yun Xiao barely glancing at the wound on his shoulder. "My turn to take the lead," he declared.
In a flash, the air grew thick with menace. Until now, the adversary had been the aggressor, with Yun Xiao on the defensive. But now, wounded, the roles were reversed.
"No worries! I've got a Sword Tempering Pill," the Tower Lord said with a heavy frown. But he clenched his teeth, turned his Flying Sword back into a Palm Sword, and stood shoulder to shoulder with the Sword Lord. "Hey, remember the days of old, when we cast life and death aside?"
The Sword Lord, tears glistening with blood, replied, "To die by your side would be my honor. I'd have no regrets"
At this point, all their past cares seemed insignificant.
"All the same," the Tower Lord said, then continued with a fierce growl, "But it's not our time to die. That privilege belongs to this scoundrel."
With that, he stepped in front of the Sword Lord.
Forbidden Sword, Nine Heavens Thunderblade!
A deafening roar of thunder accompanied his move. Seeing this, the Sword Lord swiftly followed up with Mirage of the Moon's Reflection. The two acted swiftly, unleashing their most potent moves.
But Yun Xiao had already made his move. The young man in white, charging forward, mustered all his strength. He brandished his sword, the hundred-layer Sword Aura shining brilliantly..
Sun Moon Divine Light, Rainbow Through the Sun!
It wasn't just a Flying Sword strike. It was a declaration of his unstoppable momentum at that very moment.
Swift! Accurate! Ruthless! With a single stroke, his sword pierced the sun, its energy shooting towards the heavens!
In my rebirth, I stepped onto the path of immortality with the qualifications of the Creator Immortal. I vowed to grasp the heavens in a thought and slay any who dared block my way! Yun Xiao silently declared.
Who else possessed such vast and boundless spirit? His intentions, his courage, that surge of righteous indignation in his chest, growing ever more potent! A man's life but a single breath!
This breath of rage held resentment, injustice, and a determination not to seek cause and effect but to shatter everything with a single sword stroke, fearless even of gods and spirits!
Under such determination, the Rainbow Through the Sun derived from an incomplete sword manual, had ascended to a level even the Sword Lord couldn't fathom.
"So fast..." The faces of the Sword Lord and the Tower Lord paled!
Xiao Changtian drew his sword once more, intertwining with lightning and fire. Its swift momentum, in that flash of lightning and flicker of fire, still landed on Yun Xiao's Flying Sword!
"He hit it again!" A shiver ran through the crowd.
However, on the very next instant, there was a crisp crack from Xiao Changtian's dual-element Sword Soul, and it shattered abruptly!
"What?" Amidst the stunned gazes of the masses, a flash of azure shot forth, unstoppable as a bamboo spear, and lodged directly into Xiao Changtian's left eye!
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