Chapter 370: Chapter 370: Fighting for Secret Realm Spots
Judging from the aura of her sword, Song Wanning wasn’t just for show; she likely had a few tricks up her sleeve.
In that case, he couldn’t afford to be careless.
"Please!"
Xu Mingyu made an inviting gesture, then drew a long, transparent Soft Sword from his waist.
Though the Soft Sword was transparent, it shimmered with a colorful light and was quite beautiful to behold.
But such a beautiful Soft Sword, paired with Xu Mingyu’s towering figure, looked quite awkward.
Song Wanning swept her Divine Sense over him and attacked without hesitation.
A sharp glint of sword light shot forward with astonishing momentum, heading straight for Xu Mingyu.
The sword light was as fast as lightning. The air itself seemed unaware of its passage, remaining perfectly still without the slightest ripple.
In that instant, Xu Mingyu felt himself locked onto by a terrifying power.
His heart sank. The Soft Sword in his hand flashed, sweeping toward the sword light like the shadow of a twisting snake.
"BOOM—"
The attacks collided with a heavy crash, and a suction force immediately latched onto the Soft Sword.
The Soft Sword faltered for a moment before it was nimbly withdrawn. Then, it snapped back like a viper’s tongue, coiling around the beam of sword light.
By then, Song Wanning had already closed the distance. With a swing of her sword, she unleashed her Sword Dao True Realm in its full glory, sending it crashing toward Xu Mingyu.
Now that she had successfully opened a channel to her inner world, the power of her Sword Dao True Realm was far beyond what it used to be.
The moment the Sword Dao True Realm appeared, Xu Mingyu immediately sensed the danger. He slapped down hard with his right hand, and countless cracks instantly appeared on the battle stage beneath them.
The cracks spread like massive hands, slapping toward Song Wanning.
At the same time, his Soft Sword whipped back in an attempt to shatter the Sword Dao True Realm.
"Go!"
Song Wanning formed a hand seal. A flash of light erupted, transforming into motes of starlight that pressed down on the massive hands.
Though they seemed to be nothing but light, ethereal specks, they struck the massive hands with unerring accuracy, shattering them into dissipating clouds of Spiritual Power.
Meanwhile, the Soft Sword was drawn into the Sword Dao True Realm. In that moment, Xu Mingyu, its master, felt the sword develop a will to submit, and his heart skipped a beat.
He let out a great shout and forcefully wrenched his Soft Sword free, then immediately whipped it toward Song Wanning again.
The Soft Sword transformed into a phantom flood dragon, roaring as it spewed a torrent of water at her.
In moments, a torrential downpour engulfed the entire battle stage, leaving nowhere to hide.
These were no ordinary raindrops. They were weapons carrying a corrosive power; a single drop on one’s skin would surely rip flesh from bone.
Song Wanning didn’t even try to dodge, simply swinging her sword with blinding speed.
In that hazy moment, she felt as if she were standing atop the highest mountain, looking down upon all of creation.
’This is my world. Everything is within my grasp!’
’I am the master of this world!’
"BOOM—"
With a single swing, an icy glint of sword light directly dispersed the flood dragon, leaving only a panicked, startled cry that echoed long after.
The raindrops on the battle stage also vanished in that instant.
In the short span of three breaths, the two had already exchanged several blows, causing the disciples below to stare wide-eyed in shock.
"This... Weren’t they saying Song Wanning was weak? What the hell? Am I seeing things?"
"I know, right? She’s only at the Early Stage of Void Refining, isn’t she? Xu Mingyu is at the Late-stage Void Refining!"
"I’m starting to wonder... could she actually win this match?"
"No way. It’s obvious Senior Brother Xu is going easy on her. After all, he always gets distracted by a pretty face. This wouldn’t be the first time!"
"Is that so?"
"..."
The disciples each had their own speculations, but most still believed it was impossible for Song Wanning to win.
However, a few of Xu Mingyu’s close friends exchanged glances, a hint of surprise flashing in their eyes.
They knew Xu Mingyu’s strength better than anyone. It didn’t look like he was holding back at all. It seemed this new disciple had some real skill.
In the time it took for the disciples below to exchange a few words, the two on stage had already traded several more blows.
Xu Mingyu’s expression grew increasingly grave. He was terrified by Song Wanning’s Sword Dao Realm, because every time he was dragged into it, he was overcome with an urge to submit.
Even if it was only for a second, he couldn’t bear it.
’And Song Wanning is only at the Early Stage of Void Refining. Sure, prodigies can fight above their level, but I’m a prodigy Cultivator too...’
’By all rights, I should have suppressed her completely from the very start... yet here we are, still locked in a stalemate.’
Xu Mingyu realized how tricky this was. Song Wanning wasn’t one of the top 100 Cultivators. If he actually lost to her, he’d lose his spot for the Secret Realm and would have to challenge someone else to get it back.
’He would never do something so humiliating.’
At this thought, a vicious glint flashed through Xu Mingyu’s eyes. He suddenly took out a stalk of Heavenly Thunder Bamboo.
Heavenly Thunder Bamboo. It was rumored to have the ability to summon lightning and was a favorite Magical Treasure among Thunder Attribute Cultivators.
He possessed a mutated Thunder Spirit Root, so wielding the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo was a simple matter for him.
He raised his hand, and a flicker of lightning flashed in his eyes.
"Heavenly Thunder, come to me!!!!"
With a furious roar, he pointed the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo straight at the heavens.
"Gods, that’s Senior Brother Xu’s signature move with the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo! He’s using it already?"
"Looks like he doesn’t want to waste any more time on Song Wanning!"
The disciples were astounded. This move of Xu Mingyu’s had been invincible in his previous challenges. It was the very technique that had allowed him to break into the top fifty.
Everyone was waiting for Song Wanning to be struck by lightning.
But Song Wanning simply let the corners of her lips curl into a smile. She looked up at the Heavenly Thunder roiling down through the broken clouds and swung her sword at it.
"Hahaha, is she a fool? Don’t tell me she actually thinks she can slice a bolt of lightning in half with one swing?"
"How ignorant!"
A disciple sneered, thinking Song Wanning must be insane. It was one thing not to dodge, but to actually think she could fight Heavenly Thunder...
Xu Mingyu also let out a cold sneer. ’This is Heavenly Thunder...’
But in the next instant, Song Wanning’s Longsword pierced through the Heavenly Thunder and, now wreathed in the Power of thunder and lightning, came slashing down at him.
"KABOOM—"
With a massive crash, sparks of lightning flew everywhere.
Using the Divine Thunder Seed within her body as a conduit, Song Wanning used its overwhelming might to force the Heavenly Thunder to change course and strike Xu Mingyu instead.
After all, this was merely Heavenly Thunder summoned by the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo; it couldn’t compare to the lightning of a true tribulation.
Xu Mingyu let out a shocked curse. He hurriedly swung his Soft Sword to meet the attack, but his body was already staggering backward.
But it was too late.
This one sword strike layered her inner world, the Heavenly Thunder, and her Sword Dao Realm all together—it was a brand-new technique Song Wanning was trying for the first time.
The overwhelming power sent the Soft Sword flying as if it were a dead branch. It then shattered the shield that flared to life over Xu Mingyu’s chest before plunging into his shoulder, sending him flying backward.
"BANG—"
"SPURT—"
Xu Mingyu tumbled to the ground, his head spinning and seeing stars as he vomited mouthfuls of blood.
A gaping hole had been torn through his shoulder, piercing straight through his shoulder blade. Blood gushed out, dyeing his robes red in moments.
His face twisted in pain. He looked up in a mix of shock and rage, only to see Song Wanning advancing on him again, sword in hand.
"Damn it!"
Xu Mingyu cursed, scrambling to his feet. A talisman appeared in his hand, and he thrust it toward Song Wanning.
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