Chapter 262: Extraordinarily Mediocre Exile Yun
"A hundred Sword Puppets?"
Ling Chen's casual remark stirred up a storm in the Sword Puppet Forest. Many disciples from the Sword Ruins gazed fervently at the once-disgraced scion of the Ling family. They inhaled a sharp breath, their eyes laced with a hint of awe.
"Sword Puppets are made of spiritual weapon material, supplemented by formation symbols and immortal jade. Wielding a Galaxy grade magic treasure, they possess the combat strength of the Early Awakened Emperor Realm. A hundred of them attacking together could overwhelm even someone in the Late Awakened Emperor Realm!"
"But Exile Ling has just awakened his talent, he's only in the late stages of the Saint Realm..."
To face a hundred alone, Ling Chen had to overcome a difference of an entire realm!
Among the crowd was a girl in a green dress, as slender as a willow, her skin as white as snow. She was strikingly beautiful. Even in this Sword Puppet Forest, crowded with talents and beauties, she stood out like a crane amongst chickens.
She gazed at Ling Chen with dewy eyes, excitedly saying, "In our Nine Hells, such an accomplishment is unprecedented, and there will be no one to follow."
"Junior Sister Feng, you're in the Late Awakened Emperor Realm. If you were to face a hundred Sword Puppets, would you stand a chance?" a disciple asked with a smile.
The green-dressed girl named Feng Ruolin, clutching her skirt, shook her head slightly. "I wouldn't stand a chance at all."
Hearing this, the crowd felt the weight of Ling Chen's challenge even more.
"Junior Sister Feng and Exile Ling, truly a match made in heaven, a perfect pair."
"A talented man and a beautiful woman. It's truly like the tale of the golden boy and jade girl."
Hearing these praises, Feng Ruolin's face flushed red, and she hurriedly said, "Don't talk nonsense, he is an Exiled Sword Immortal. I'm just a common girl."
Seeing her bashful and charming demeanor, the crowd couldn't help but reflect. Once Feng Ruolin and Ling Chen were like a phoenix in the sky and a wild chicken on the ground. One was the direct granddaughter of Overseer Feng, and the other a mere sword slave expelled by the Ling Family. Now, the wild chicken had soared to the heavens, and even the phoenix was beside him, begging for attention.
"Everyone, let's watch Exile Ling create a miracle."
Feng Ruolin smiled softly, cleverly shifting everyone's attention to the defiant young hero.
"The Sword Puppets are here!"
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE! Beyond that vast bamboo forest lay a giant stone gate! At this moment, the gate thunderously opened, and a hundred humanoid shadows appeared. As they moved, a grating sound of steel friction echoed, their bodies clad in heavy armor. Underneath the armor, formation symbols could be seen working, and each shadow wielded a magical treasure sword!
"It's truly a higher level world. Even a single Sword Puppet in the Heavenly Realm could battle the Violet Emperor," Yun Xiao mused to himself. He knew that the Divine Continent was but an isolated island, a minuscule dot in the vast cosmos!
The Creator Immortal had laid out a hierarchy of cultivation systems, also differentiating layers of worlds to preserve the dignity of those at the lower levels. Without this separation, human lives would be no more than ants. It was a form of protection!
At that moment, the Sword Puppet Forest erupted in commotion again. It was because Ling Chen had already summoned his nine-colored Sword Soul! Seeing the mythical and dazzling Sword Soul again stirred excitement in the crowd.
"The power of space?" Yun Xiao recalled hearing from Blue Star that this sword was called the Divine Cosmic Sword, with a significant history. It exceeded the level of Ling Chen's past life. Similarly, Zhao Xuanran's Cosmic Pagoda and Cosmic Stars wielded the power of time.
Under the watchful eyes of thousands, Ling Chen's face remained calm as he held the nine-colored Sword Soul in one hand. He felt the power of the sword, a slight smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
"The ultimate power of space, nine great worlds hidden within the sword. With this Divine Cosmic Sword as my Sword Soul, how can this life's limit compare to my past?" With this thought, his brows slightly furrowed as he faced the hundred Sword Puppets charging towards him, a storm of sword energy brewing in his eyes.
"In this way, the Divine Sky Sword Dao I've immersed in for 100,000 years may find new horizons in this life." At this moment, Ling Chen forgot the noise around him! He lost himself in the world of his fingertips and the Flying Sword, racing through the endless void for a million years. Many things were forgotten, but his hatred and the Divine Sky Sword Dao remained eternal!
The disciples of the Sword Ruins watched in trepidation as the Sword Puppets drew their swords, seemingly about to engulf him. Feng Ruolin, the stunningly beautiful disciple, clasped her hands together, her heart pounding like a little deer.
Yet, at this moment, Ling Chen closed his eyes! Calm as a mountain, he seemed unfazed by the hundred Sword Puppets approaching him, as if they were mere snowflakes.
Suddenly, with ease, Ling Chen flung out the nine-colored Flying Sword!
"Flying Sword, Vast Sky!" Ling Chen murmured with his eyes closed, a smile on his face. The familiar feeling returned. Space, heaven, and earth lay before him, both close and far. His soul resided in the sword!
This sensation of his soul traversing the vast void with the Divine Cosmic Sword returned, signifying a new evolution in his past life's Divine Sky Sword Dao.
One sword, soaring through the sky!
The nine-colored Sword Soul appeared calm like a gentle breeze over still waters, yet it struck like a stone tossed into a lake! The space where the Sword Puppets were became the surface of the lake. And those Sword Puppets were like leaves floating on this tranquil surface.
SPLASH! The stone hits the water, the lake ripples, and spatial waves radiate outward!
As the sword swept through, the sky trembled! The whole world seemed to ripple in the water
With just one stroke, a hundred Sword Puppets were decapitated!
THUD THUD THUD! They fell to the ground like scrap metal, motionless.
The young man held the Flying Sword, lightly blew on its tip, his smile pure and natural.
Numerous disciples of the Sword Ruins witnessed this scene, their eyes wide, recalling the shock of the moment when the Eternal Sword hummed nine times. This single sword stroke, too, pierced their hearts, a memory to last a lifetime!
"Exile Ling!"
A booming cheer of admiration echoed through the Sword Puppet Forest.
"With Exile Ling in our Eternal Sword Prison, how can we not dominate in the Nine Hells competition?"
"The heavens aid the Sword Ruins, a true Immortal reincarnated!"
Their excited, fervent eyes told Yun Xiao, even if Ling Chen's cultivation was lower than many present, his potential and depth had conquered all.
"This power to overcome cultivation stages, he's almost like me?" Yun Xiao was slightly surprised at the scene.
"That's normal! Compared to you, he has memories from a past life, and practicing swordsmanship from his previous life, his foundation is better." Blue Star paused, "But that's his limit, while your Creator Immortal journey is just beginning."
"Soar the sky, huh?" Yun Xiao closed his eyes, smiling slightly, "By showing off there, he ended up revealing a bit of his hand."
"And?" Blue Star asked curiously.
Yun Xiao didn't answer, as someone else brought up his presence.
For a moment, all eyes were fixed on him, including Ling Chen's. Two tigers couldn't share the same mountain.
After Ling Chen's miraculous feat, everyone subconsciously wondered how Yun Xiao would fare next.
"Yun Xiao, are you going to challenge a million Sword Puppets?" Feng Ruolin asked, trying to play innocent with a smile on her face.
Ling Chen stood beside her, appearing quite intimate. He was in a good mood with Feng Ruolin by his side until he saw the two striking figures beside Yun Xiao. "What the hell"
The Divine Sky Sword Emperor from his past life had no other hobbies, except for the occasional love affair. During those million years of solitude, he often had to resort to dull, solo swordplay to combat his loneliness.
So, after being reborn, Ling Chen himself didn't even anticipate his reignited penchant for beauties.
Even heroes could falter at the charms of beautiful women. A common dream among those who defied fate was to roam skies and seas with the company of beauties at their beck and call. Then, when they accomplished all that they wanted, they would look to retire in paradise to enjoy the harem life. This dream tended to become awkward when the so-called hero saw another man with more beautiful companions.
Yun Xiao was unaware of the strange thoughts fleeting through Ling Chen's mind at that moment.
"A million Sword Puppets?"
Feng Ruolin suggested this number, obviously relating it to Ling Cheng's nine resonances to Yun Xiao's 100,000. Her implication was clear. Yun Xiao was supposedly more than 10,000 times better than Ling Chen. So, he should challenge 10,000 times more Sword Puppets? She was effectively cornering Yun Xiao.
Yun Xiao's performance at the Sword Baptism Ceremony was a testament to the Creator Immortal's superiority over the Divine Sky Sword Emperor, not him being 10,000 times stronger than Ling Chen!
How could he possibly challenge a million Sword Puppets?
"The young miss must be joking," Mu Daxiong said, stepping forward. "We only have about a hundred Sword Puppets to begin with. Where would a million come from? They've all been destroyed by Exile Ling's single strike. Now, we have to wait for these Sword Puppets to self-repair, which will take about fifteen minutes."
Sword Puppets could repair themselves automatically! A hundred were prepared in total. If one was destroyed, it would fix itself a moment later. So, they were plenty enough.
Hearing this, the crowd looked oddly at Feng Ruolin. Anyone with a brain could tell she was mocking Yun Xiao.
"What's her angle in doing this?" Everyone shared the same question in their hearts.
In any case, it would be a fifteen minute wait to witness the performance of the second Exiled Sword Immortal. This sense of competition excited the disciples of the Sword Ruins, as if watching two Immortals duel.
Who was the true immortal? Who was the pretender? It would all become clear as day.
As people eagerly anticipated Yun Xiao's performance in fifteen minutes, Yun Xiao surprisingly asked Mu Daxiong, Aren't there any spare Sword Puppets around?
There's one, but only one, Mu Daxiong replied, somewhat puzzled.
Ling Chen had already set a high bar. Wasn't Yun Xiao eager to showcase his prowess? He knew Yun Xiao's reputation was a bit shaky, propped up by the Sword Warden. If he showed any hesitation here, his image would plummet.
A single Sword Puppet will do for a prelim, Yun Xiao declared. His words cast a hush over the Sword Puppet Forest, leaving everyone bewildered, exchanging glances in a silent tumult.
Are you sure? Mu Daxiong asked, wide-eyed.
Let's proceed, Yun Xiao replied. In the unpredictable world of the Jianghu, who could avoid inevitable clashes? Already entangled in this Sword Baptism Ceremony, some confrontations couldn't be avoided, nor should they be.
Tell the truth, you saved him because you wanted a friend on your path of cultivation. That fat sheep bit was just for us, right? Blue Star suddenly interjected.
Why would I hide my true feelings from you two? Yun Xiao replied softly, stepping towards the clearing.
Because the Creator Immortal we know was an indifferent being. But you, youre full of emotions and desires. This human touch will shape your approach to redefining the Creator Immortal, Blue Star paused, But be prepared for disappointment, brother! A person might want you to do well, but not better than them. The moment you surpass them, gratitude turns to resentment.
Disappointment or not, it doesnt matter. Its all a game. I wont be sentimental, nor will I show mercy, Yun Xiao said. Offering an opportunity wasn't being overly sentimental. And if it didn't lead to a good outcome, he wouldn't hesitate to act decisively! He was doing as he always did, and that was to act from the heart!
"Some things may seem like just added trouble, but it's through these trials we find our gains," Yun Xiao mused, now standing at the center of everyone's attention. Opposite him, a solitary, grim metal Sword Puppet stood, a stark contrast in the bustling crowd.
"The test begins!" Mu Daxiong announced, and a wave of disappointment rippled through the onlookers. They yearned for a clash of titans, not a simple display.
Amidst the sighs and murmurs, the Sword Puppet drew its magic treasure sword, its foot striking the ground, fracturing it with immense force. Its sword, like a tempest, lunged at Yun Xiao!
But Yun Xiao simply lifted his hand, sending forth a Flying Sword. His Heaven Burial Sword Soul lacked the dazzling colors of Ling Chen's nine-colored Sword Soul, and its trajectory seemed unremarkable at first glance.
BUZZ! As the Flying Sword neared the Sword Puppet, the blade vibrated abruptly, like a stone breaking the serenity of a lake's surface.
SPLASH! The space around the Sword Puppet twisted subtly, rippling like water disturbed. Even the sky seemed to undulate! A shrill, piercing scream echoed as the Heaven Burial Sword Soul penetrated the Sword Puppet.
BOOM! The Sword Puppet exploded spectacularly, disintegrating into countless fragments, scattering in all directions.
"To demonstrate some truths, you don't need a hundred Sword Puppets. Those who are willing, will understand," Yun Xiao declared. He caught the Heaven Burial Sword Soul and turned to look at Ling Chen in the crowd.
Sure enough, Ling Chen's eyes widened in disbelief, his facial muscles trembling intensely.
"Brother Ling, thank you for your grace," Yun Xiao said with a bow.
"Brother Yun" Ling Chen struggled to speak, managing only two words, seemingly at a loss for more.
"Scared, is he?" Blue Star scoffed.
Yun Xiao inhaled sharply. "His skin fears, but you're right, his bones don't accept it."
Ling Chen was the Divine Sky Sword Emperor. Even though a million years had passed, his essence merged and muddled, his true nature remained unchangeable.
"Missed an opportunity. You should have just shown off!" Blue Star rolled his eyes.
"Bluey, I thought you were the smart one! They only have a hundred Sword Puppets here. What's the point of showing off, only to do the same thing that guy already did?" Red Moon said disdainfully.
Yun Xiao ignored the banter of the little black creature in his robe and approached the burly man, "Daxiong, am I registered for the Immortal Sword Rankings now?"
"Yep! Yep!" Mu Daxiong bit his lip, signaling his sister Mu Dalong with a look, whispering, "Quick, take Yun Xiao away. Don't let him hear too much gossip."
Sadly, it was too late. Feng Ruolin's sarcastic voice echoed behind Yun Xiao. With a smirk, she commented, "Exile Yun is impressive too. Slicing a single Sword Puppet into countless pieces. It's just as shocking as Exile Ling piercing the void and annihilating a hundred Sword Puppets in one strike."
A few disciples in the crowd couldn't help but burst into laughter. The disparity between the two feats was seemingly clear to all. Her so-called praise only highlighted the gap between Yun Xiao and Ling Chen.
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