Supreme of the Heavenly Realm
Chapter 425 - 422 Xue Qianling

Chapter 425: Chapter 422 Xue Qianling

Just as everyone thought Zhao Xin was about to lose the competition, a reckless and furious aura suddenly burst from him. A will of defiance erupted, enveloping the entire Battle Platform and the nearby venue, converging all boundless momentum into this last spear thrust, a final desperate counterattack.

"Daluo Divine Spear Skill, Wounded Strike!"

As Zhao Xin’s shout fell, at the moment he was spitting blood and thrown out, his long spear thrust forward, perfectly coating the spearhead in the fresh blood, merging with the rune that suddenly erupted, trailing a bloody light tail in the air, fiercely counterattacking Dugu Hao.

"Zhao Xin has not yet lost!"

Seeing this scene, there were immediate cries of surprise from below the platform, clearly unexpected that Zhao Xin could pull off a desperate counterattack in such a dire situation, and it seemed even stronger than his opponent’s full force a moment ago, not to be underestimated.

"Just a last-ditch struggle, Holy King Fist!"

Dugu Hao’s expression did not change much. He leaped forward, launching a palm strike, and at that moment, a statuesque dharma form seemed to appear behind Dugu Hao, emanating from the extraordinary immensity of a superior being’s pressure.

Bang!

The Palm Force shattered the spear light, and Zhao Xin was also hit by the fist’s force, completely blasted off the Battle Platform.

The result of the battle was finally determined.

"Half-Saint Inheritor, truly lives up to his reputation."

Ye Xuan looked at Dugu Hao on the Battle Platform with a hint of surprise in his eyes, not actually knowing Dugu Hao’s true identity, but in the last moment, discerning hints from the revealed dharma form.

The pressure from that dharma form hadn’t reached Martial Saint level, it seemed to still be at the Half-Saint level.

Not only Ye Xuan, Jue Wuchen and Liu Qinghe among others also looked towards the Battle Platform with solemn expressions, clearly, Dugu Hao’s demonstrated strength posed a significant threat and challenge to even them.

"I’ve lost, thoroughly convinced."

Zhao Xin completely restrained his previously arrogant expression, having thoroughly lost this battle. Dugu Hao was indeed stronger than him, leaving him no grounds for objection.

"This tournament, you must have been the most concealed one, it seems likely that you will take first place." Zhao Xin took a deep breath, he had also come aiming for first place, not expecting an Inheritor of a Half-Saint family to emerge, his loss was not unjust.

Even deploying his last technique, thinking it might turn the tide, not expecting Dugu Hao’s strength was utterly unfathomable, simply shattering his counterattack with a single punch.

"Zhao Xin was already quite strong. If it hadn’t been for encountering Dugu Hao, swapping for any other competitor, he might not necessarily have lost."

At Xuanbing Mansion, Li Ziting said solemnly after the battle.

Ye Xuan nodded, acknowledging Zhao Xin’s capability to elevate his spear technique to such a level, his strength was sufficient to contend with Jue Wuchen and Liu Qinghe. Regrettably, it now appeared Dugu Hao was the most formidable among the eight competitors.

Although the battle ended, the uproar and discussions below the platform lasted for a long time, the crowd not yet fully recovered from the intense fight.

The situation persisted until the start of the third competition, which was exactly the duel between Ye Xuan and Xue Qianling.

Compared to the previous bout between Dugu Hao and Zhao Xin, this third match generated less response, obviously because the spectators felt the skill level might not match the previous one. With only one Half-Saint Inheritor, Dugu Hao had already become the first choice in many Martial Artists’ minds.

Still, it was a top competition among the top eight, attention was inevitably substantial.

"Please enlighten me."

Xue Qianling’s eyes flickered with a glint of light then quickly settled back to calm, she respectfully bowed to Ye Xuan, saying.

"Ladies first, please."

Ye Xuan did not make the first move, merely offering a faint smile, not intending to strike first.

"Then I won’t hold back."

No longer demurring, Xue Qianling leaped, swift like a flying mystical bird, soaring into the air, her sword in hand and body gliding mid-air, sword light drawing a meteor-like tail, shooting towards Ye Xuan.

The sword, quick as a meteor, extraordinarily fast!

This move gathered Xue Qianling’s explosive power, at such high speed, rendering the notion of intercepting sword techniques meaningless.

"Such a swift sword."

Many Martial Artists’ eyes brightened, this sword technique was at least at the Great Grandmaster level, comparable even to the renowned Liu Qinghe of the Sword Sect.

Clang!

Just then, Ye Xuan also drew his sword, his sword speed surpassing Xue Qianling’s, heart and hand as one, his sword technique bursting forth, tearing through the sky.

Sword Heart Clarity, Human Sword Unity.

Two grand Sword Dao Realms, at this very moment, were fully activated by Ye Xuan, allowing him to instantly burst forth with the elegance of a peerless swordsman.

"Sword Heart Clarity, Human Sword Unity, what a sword dao genius."

Seeing this scene, Liu Qinghe from the Sword Sect also lit up with a sparkle in his aged eyes. His insight was incredibly sharp—not for nothing was he called a member of the Sword Sect. In that instant, he developed a deep interest in Ye Xuan, amazed that among the younger generation, there could be such an outstanding swordsman.

Clang!

The sword light from the Dragon Abyss Ancient Sword collided with the blue meteor-like sword light, creating a spherical shockwave that rapidly expanded, emitting a creaking groan from the air around it. The fierce wind swept all the way beyond the Battle Platform.

Xue Qianling’s sword light was thwarted, and the subsequent moves connected to her first strike were killed in the womb. She had to change her move swiftly, stabbing out with her sword once again.

But at that moment, she had already shown a slight flaw, which Ye Xuan, who seemed to have been waiting like a hunter, quickly noticed. All of a sudden, the Dragon Abyss Ancient Sword emitted a crisp sword chant, ringing out sharply like a small knife used for cutting cloth, accurately slicing into Xue Qianling’s body.

Pfft!

The Sword Qi shattered, and the Protective True Qi at Xue Qianling’s abdomen was sliced open, her clothes torn, but this Sword Qi had only caused a small cut and did not inflict more serious damage.

"It seems Ye Xuan is a cut above," stated Qin Qi and Zhuo Yanyun, among others, who had been closely watching the battle. They heaved a sigh of relief as friends of Ye Xuan, naturally hoping that he would go further and win this competition.

"That woman is not simple, either; such a small setback might not be enough to secure a victory." Nangong Yao, who had crossed swords with the opponent, had a general understanding of Xue Qianling’s strength. The battle had just begun, and such a minor setback was no reason to rejoice so early.

"You truly have changed a lot from before, but winning against me won’t be so simple."

Xue Qianling retreated a distance. She looked down at the cut on her skirt at her abdomen, then looked up at Ye Xuan and spoke.

"What do you mean, have we met before? Who exactly are you?"

Ye Xuan was momentarily stunned, his pupils subtly narrowing, but the opponent did not answer him. Instead, she responded with a terrifying Sword Qi, overwhelming and formidable like a blizzard.

"Snowstorm Sword Array!"

This Sword Qi was densely packed yet not chaotic, interconnections among them capable of causing chain damage. The first wave of Sword Qi aimed to freeze, the second wave was for striking, and the third was for tearing. Altogether, a continuous and dense Sword Array enveloped Ye Xuan, appearing as if it intended to slice him into a thousand pieces.

"Answer me, who are you?"

Enveloped within the Sword Array, Ye Xuan was not panicked; he remained very calm, still dwelling on his previous question as if he had entirely missed the seriousness of the situation.

"Who I am, I’ll tell you after you defeat me."

Under her veil, Xue Qianling’s expression was unreadable, her voice sounding very unfamiliar to Ye Xuan, which, however, did not surprise him. For a martial artist, changing or disguising one’s voice was as simple as eating and drinking.

"This is your own promise."

A sharp light flashed through Ye Xuan’s eyes; at this moment, he was also assaulted by eight streams of Sword Qi, in grave danger.

Hisss...

Directly tearing through the Sword Qi before him, Ye Xuan swiftly moved, avoiding the lethal Sword Qi, not in a rush to break out of this Sword Array, seeming more like he was observing and studying the principles and structure of the Sword Array.

During this time, numerous sword marks appeared on his body, all of which he scarcely noticed.

"Break for me!"

Ye Xuan finally found a weak link in the Sword Array, continuously pouring True Qi into the Dragon Abyss Ancient Sword, striking at that weak area.

Hissss!

The sound of tearing fabric echoed loudly as Ye Xuan’s strike split the Sword Array in two. In the very instant he split the Sword Array, he struck out like a cheetah, executing a move called "Golden Thunder Division," generating a dazzling sword light aimed at Xue Qianling.

Bang!

As the golden thunder-like Sword Qi slashed towards her, Xue Qianling turned her sword in a counter strike, managing to cleave the formidable Sword Qi apart. However, in that moment of cleaving, parts of the Sword Qi explosively burst forth, those fragments striking Xue Qianling and leaving trails of blood.

"It’s over!"

Ye Xuan flashed in front of Xue Qianling, his right hand holding the Dragon Abyss Ancient Sword, his left gripping the Spiritual Edge Sword, both swords crossing and striking together. At that moment, the sword momentum on Ye Xuan also reached its zenith, the surrounding air seemed to boil, bubbling loudly.

In the astonished gazes of the spectators, the overlaid sword lights harshly fell on Xue Qianling’s body. Even though she had managed to parry with her sword, she was still sent flying backward, unable to suppress a spurt of fresh blood that trickled from the corner of her mouth, staining her veil a deep red.