Chapter 959: Chapter 958: Battle Against Qingyuan Sword Emperor (Happy National Day!)_1
Mysterious Heart Blade Empress shook her head and smiled again, "To be defeated by such a person, I see it as no injustice."
She had always felt that Wudao Xuan’s victory over her without making a move was somewhat an intentional display of might, but looking at it now, it seemed to be just a normal performance for him.
If he truly used mid-stage natural martial arts at full strength, she feared she would have lost even more miserably.
"If we draw the line at sixty years old, tell me, do you think Wudao Xuan could be the number one master in the world today?"
The Thunderbolt Martial Emperor suddenly put forth an idea, catching everyone around him by surprise.
Some had an instinctive desire to refute. At any time, in any place, the phrase ’number one in the world’ was taboo. There was no one who could bear that burden.
But upon further thought, beside Wudao Xuan, who else could understand half of the Supreme Martial Arts to the mid-point of its full state before the age of sixty?
Who else could possess the fighting strength of a top Human Realm Martial Emperor before sixty?
Even viewed across the whole world, such individuals were as rare as phoenix feathers and kirin horns, hard to find even a few, not to mention that Wudao Xuan had yet to employ the Power of Selfless Sacred Bone.
So no one spoke. The reason was absurd—they actually felt that perhaps, this view could really be the truth!
"You are wrong, to my knowledge, there are at least three people who can match Wudao Xuan."
The Thunderbolt Martial Emperor and the others did not bother to conceal their voices, and Helian Duba, who was at a distance, heard everything loud and clear, immediately feeling somewhat unreconciled as he recounted his previous encounter.
After listening, there was a moment of silence from the crowd.
Purple Wood Sword Emperor said, "Actually, forget those three people, I think even Kirin is not inferior to Wudao Xuan."
"Oh?"
Lotus Sword Emperor’s eyes flashed.
"You all seem to have forgotten one thing—the Kirin is not even forty years old. His current strength is indeed not as good as Wudao Xuan’s, but when he reaches fifty-three, what level do you think he will achieve?"
One comment set off a thousand waves. As the Purple Wood Sword Emperor mentioned, many present had overlooked Shi Xiaole’s age. Upon hearing the reminder, they felt their pores contract.
Indeed, with Kirin’s talent, twenty years is equivalent to two hundred years for others. No one can predict his future. In truth, at least from the current perspective, even Wudao Xuan seems a notch below him!
"Not yet forty is just what they say in the Martial World, maybe it’s just an exaggeration to build his momentum, I don’t find it credible."
Wind Wave Martial Emperor, who had lost to the Eight Arms Emperor, curled his lip in disdain.
Wudao Xuan was exaggerated enough, and Shi Xiaole was even more so. He did not believe it.
No one else spoke.
Age, such a matter, is not difficult to investigate in detail. After they left, they could easily find someone to get a thorough understanding. However, it was certain that Shi Xiaole was younger than Wudao Xuan, which could be discerned from their aura.
Purple Wood Sword Emperor said with a chuckle, "In this grand era, any prodigy could emerge. What we need to do is to go with the flow, either to take part in the fight ourselves or simply be a good audience, enjoying this unparalleled drama of a hundred generational shifts."
"Well said."
"That makes sense."
While they were talking, the last battle of the second round had already begun, successfully drawing everyone’s attention back.
The combatants were two of the top five Human Realm Martial Emperors: the Earth Destroyer Knife Emperor and the Tianying Martial Emperor.
Perhaps because of the martial arts they practiced, the Tianying Martial Emperor’s appearance was quite blurred, resembling a pool of black mud that could change into various shapes. One moment it could be sliced into dozens of pieces by Sword Qi, and the next it would be restored to its original state.
And when it contracted, the force expelled could crush diamond, and faint black cracks appeared one after another in the void.
Clang!
Another powerful collision occurred.
Under the impact of the force, the black mud was ground into countless parts by the blade energy. Just then, the shattered countless black dots, like a bullet shower, were shot forward at a speed invisible to the naked eye, precisely when the Earth Destroyer Knife Emperor released his blade energy.
"Chaotic Tianying, this is the killing move I’ve prepared for you, let’s see how you block it!"
Tianying Martial Emperor was inwardly pleased. Under his divided consciousness, any flaw or change from the Earth Destroyer Knife Emperor would not escape him.
Layers of Sword Qi appeared out of nowhere, still unable to stop the flaw-hunting black dot particles, at most delaying their speed.
But it was this momentary delay that significantly changed the situation in the field.
"Annihilate Earth!"
All Sword Qi was retracted inwardly, and the Earth Destroyer Knife Emperor seemed like a statue half-crouching on the ground. The black dots struck it, the splattered patterns resembling ink splatters in the void.
Before the Tianying Martial Emperor could react, the ink merged into a jet-black long knife that burst forth from the Earth Destroyer Knife Emperor’s midsection.
"Disperse Tianying!"
The black mud once again split into countless light dots, these dots insubstantial and spreading outwards. The Tianying Martial Emperor was fully confident that nothing less than an Earthly Realm Martial Emperor’s killing move could cause him serious harm.
Hiss, hiss, hiss...
To the Tianying Martial Emperor’s horror, the energy from the ink knife was relentless and infinite, back and forth abrasion caused massive fragmentation of the light dots, impacting his very being before long.
Splash!
A blood-drenched blurred figure crashed against the barrier.
"Is this a new killing move you’ve created?"
"Indeed."
"You are ruthless indeed!"
Under the twisted shadows, the Tianying Martial Emperor’s face looked unsightly. Earth Destroyer Knife Emperor’s recent move did not reach the level of the Earthly Realm in terms of destructive power, but its profoundness had restrained his own movement technique. His defeat was not undeserved.
"Worthy of the Earth Destroyer Knife Emperor, who could compete with the Qingyuan Sword Emperor."
"Qingyuan Sword Emperor, Yinyang Martial Emperor, Earth Destroyer Knife Emperor, along with Wudao Xuan, let’s see who among these four can emerge as the ultimate victor."
As the second round came to an end, seven figures were expelled from the tower. To everyone’s surprise, among those who had fought to a standstill in the first round, the Fierce Wind Martial Emperor and Yan San were both included.
"A draw is the same as a loss."
A cold and merciless voice explained specifically.
Fierce Wind Martial Emperor and Yan San showed no resentment. Among the remaining five, even the weakest, the Kirin, they could not defeat; advancing to the third round would be pointless. It was better to watch the battles with peace of mind.
There would definitely be one person among the five remaining who would receive a bye, but it was uncertain who the lucky one would be.
The interval between the second round and the first had been two 2-hour periods, while the gap between the third and second rounds was extended to a full two days.
The upcoming battles could almost all be called clashes between equally matched opponents, and even individuals like Qingyuan Sword Emperor could not afford to be careless. Each of them was seizing the time to adjust and wanted to face the battle in their best state.
The two days passed in a flash.
Whoosh whoosh.
A bridge of light, ten thousand meters long and one thousand meters wide, abruptly appeared, connecting two pavilions. On the bridge stood two figures in green robes.
A buzz of astonishment rose.
The face of the Purple Wood Sword Emperor changed drastically, his mouth opened and closed, then he shook his head and let out a sigh.
Helian Duba, on the other hand, was so excited he almost jumped up, his face flushed red as he forced himself to remain calm, "A tough battle is the best test of one’s mettle, revealing whether one is truly worthy or just overrated. This fight will tell."
The Lotus Sword Emperor spoke softly, "How could he possibly win."
"Young Master Shi’s luck is too bad; conceding would be wise."
Yan Si appeared somewhat dejected, with his right arm missing, his strength had at least decreased by twenty percent. But as his skills were not as good, he could only suppress this rage and hatred in his heart. Seeing Shi Xiaole in a similar plight, he couldn’t help but feel some pity.
Yan Yuchai stood still, her head slightly raised, not saying a word.
If she were Shi Xiaole, she would undoubtedly choose to concede. A wise man does not suffer losses ahead of him, and if the opponent harmed him with malice, it would be too late for regrets.
But seeing Shi Xiaole’s expression, Yan Yuchai felt a lurch in her heart.
"It seems you don’t plan to admit defeat."
The Qingyuan Sword Emperor’s eyes lifted slightly, and in the void, it seemed as though two chilling swords sliced through, making one’s heart and gall tremble.
Shi Xiaole did not speak, which was tantamount to acquiescence.
"Are all young people so arrogant these days?"
Inside the Yin Yang Tower, the Yinyang Martial Emperor tilted his head. A hotheaded zealot, no matter how talented, was doomed not to go far. But from every angle, Shi Xiaole did not seem to be that kind of person.
Could it be that he is of the same ilk as Wudao Xuan?
The Yinyang Martial Emperor laughed at the thought.
"He overestimates himself."
The Tianying Martial Emperor was still immersed in the frustration of his defeat. Seeing the situation, he did not hide his own scorn.
The Seven Slaughter Martial Emperor, with his arms crossed over his chest, considered that Wudao Xuan was annoying enough, but Shi Xiaole, pretending to be profound and even younger, was ten times more irksome than Wudao Xuan.
If he were the Qingyuan Sword Emperor, he would certainly have cleaved his opponent in two with one strike, not giving him a chance for regrets.
"The day I injured you, I didn’t even use half of my strength. It seems this gave you an illusion that you might stand a chance if you fought hard."
Compared to the demonic Yinyang Martial Emperor and the restrained Earth Destroyer Knife Emperor, the impression the Qingyuan Sword Emperor gave was that of sharpness, the kind that pierces everything.
Only those who truly knew him understood how terrifying he was. He could erupt at any moment, and even the Yinyang Martial Emperor had to be extremely cautious.
In silence.
A sword was thrust towards Shi Xiaole.
When the sword tip was only a hundred meters away from Shi Xiaole, the Sword Qi had already pierced through his protective Vigorous Air, while most of the people outside the tower had only managed to catch a glimpse of the Qingyuan Sword Emperor drawing his sword.
So fast!
Even the Seven Slaughter Martial Emperor and Tianying Martial Emperor were shouting in their hearts.
Clang...
A sword appeared in front of Shi Xiaole, blocking that of the Qingyuan Sword Emperor. The scattered Sword Qi split at both sides, slightly blowing two tufts of Shi Xiaole’s hair.
The Qingyuan Sword Emperor’s expression was unchanged as he slightly withdrew his long sword and then launched an even faster, more dense barrage of strikes, which eventually formed a crisscrossing net. Each line, each light spot seemed to be a lethal sword technique, chilling observers to their cores.
Yet, what was even more astonishing, and unbelievable to the crowd, was that the attack they felt helpless against, not even able to defend half as well, could not damage Shi Xiaole’s a single sleeve or hair.
The Qingyuan Sword Emperor was fast, but Shi Xiaole was equally swift. After each attack from his opponent, he often managed to counter-strike. It was tit for tat.
In just a few breaths’ time, the figures of the two swordsmen had covered tens of thousands of meters all around. Eventually, their figures disappeared and there were only swords—swords that covered the heavens and the earth.
If someone could capture this moment with a Retaining Image Stone, even just a fleeting glimpse, it would provide countless schools and swordsmen with profound insights beyond words.
