Ling Tian Sword God

WHOOSH!

The lake water vibrated incessantly, Sword Intent stirring up waves that continually swept towards Yun Qinghong.

However, these waves couldn’t get near Yun Qinghong. Upon reaching his vicinity, they rapidly dispersed. A careful observer would notice strands of Qi threads hovering around Yun Qinghong, like sharp swords, easily slicing through the surrounding waves.

Both of their auras occupied a vast area, each claiming territory on the lake’s surface.

The younger generation all held their breath, not daring to exhale loudly.

Ling Chen versus Yun Qinghong.

One was the foremost figure of the younger generation, having previously defeated Yue Ruhai of the Invincible Blade Sect, his strength unfathomable. The other was Dustless, the mysterious and formidable Master of the Cyan Robe Association, young yet terrifyingly powerful, who had once defeated Yin Tianxi of the Iron Finger Divine Sect on this very Nine Dragons Lake.

Without a battle between them, no one could tell who was truly stronger.

WOOSH!

Stepping onto a large wave, Yun Qinghong’s momentum surged to its peak. With a sudden wave of his palm, the Qi threads rapidly condensed, transforming into a Soft Sword that slashed towards Ling Chen with utmost power.

Yue Ruhai bitterly realized that Yun Qinghong’s attack was even stronger than when they had fought. Clearly, his opponent hadn’t used his full strength back then.

CLANG!

Dazzling sparks erupted, illuminating the sky.

In the blink of an eye, Ling Chen’s sword struck the weak point of the Soft Sword, deflecting Yun Qinghong’s Sword Light and cutting off his follow-up attack.

Being deflected, Yun Qinghong instantly knew something was amiss. He hadn’t expected Ling Chen’s insight and precision to have reached such an impeccable level. Despite the incredible speed of his own attack, Ling Chen had still found the Soft Sword’s weak point and struck it, almost as if Yun Qinghong had guided the blow himself.

The Soft Sword danced, forming an impenetrable barrier. For the first time, Yun Qinghong switched from offense to defense.

The next moment, thousands of sparks erupted around Yun Qinghong. Ling Chen’s sword was like a terrifying venomous snake, launching a lethal attack the instant an opportunity arose, giving his opponent no chance whatsoever. The spectators were stunned to see Yun Qinghong suppressed right from the start.

If you don’t fight Ling Chen, you simply cannot comprehend his might.

Yun Qinghong had initially believed his attack speed and strength were superior to Ling Chen’s, enough to contend with him, perhaps even suppress him. But now, he knew he was mistaken. Ling Chen’s speed and power were no less than his own. The most terrifying part was that, despite their apparent parity in speed and power, he was the one being forced back, constantly feeling a frustrating inability to unleash his full strength.

The shift from offense to defense, and back again, happened as quick as a flash. The spectators could only discern proof of their clash through the dazzling sparks; otherwise, they might have thought the two hadn’t even engaged.

DING DING DING DING DING DING...

Qi threads densely surrounded Yun Qinghong, forming a Heavenly Net. No attack could penetrate its seamless defense. Even Ling Chen couldn’t break through, though he could weaken it. Each sword strike targeted the defense’s weak points, severing several threads. While the rapid succession of clashes made precise aiming difficult, at least five or six out of ten attacks found their mark.

Like layers of an onion being peeled away, the Qi threads around him grew increasingly sparse. He knew that under Ling Chen’s ferocious assault, his defense wouldn’t last much longer. If this continued, once most of the Qi threads were severed, his defenses would collapse.

Yun Qinghong naturally wouldn’t just stand by and watch this happen. He retracted all the defensive threads. The Qi threads quickly merged with the Soft Sword in his hand, transforming it into a Long Spear. Its sharp aura flared, its power visibly surging as it steadily blocked Ling Chen’s slash. Moreover, once the spear’s power ascended to a new realm, Yun Qinghong flicked his wrist, and a dazzling spear light suddenly swept towards Ling Chen.

A flurry of thoughts flashed through Ling Chen’s mind as his eyes narrowed. A veteran of countless battles, Ling Chen’s tactical skill had never failed him, and this time was no exception. Though Yun Qinghong attacked, Ling Chen reacted with superior speed, his countermeasure striking true. Gripping his sword with both hands, he chopped down upon the spear’s radiance, and tendrils of thunder light scattered outwards.

With a CLANG, Ling Chen retreated only a few steps, his center of gravity unchanged. This alone showed he was several times stronger than Yue Ruhai.

Yun Qinghong frowned, clearly dissatisfied with this outcome. He blocked it? This move is one of my trump cards! Yue Ruhai wasn’t even worthy of forcing me to use it. I can’t believe Ling Chen neutralized it so easily.

A young expert exclaimed in amazement, ”His reaction speed is just too fast! After all, that last exchange was so sudden, so terrifying. Who could have imagined Yun Qinghong had such a technique? Yet, even then, Ling Chen managed to block it.”

This man... he truly is unfathomable.

Having seized the initiative with one move, Yun Qinghong relentlessly pressed his attack, unleashing dozens, even hundreds, of spear strikes towards Ling Chen. Each sweep of the spear was full of destructive power, swirling like a piercing white rainbow. Blocking a single spear thrust wasn’t terrifying, but to block dozens or hundreds was akin to scaling the heavens.

Such formidable strength! Ling Chen could feel Yun Qinghong’s spear speed and power ascend to a new realm, its destructive power massively increased. Each thrust was equivalent to an ordinary ultimate attack. To defend against it, I’ll have to use a killing move to counter an ultimate move; that’s the only way.

Of course, Ling Chen felt no fear. The stronger Yun Qinghong became, the more excited Ling Chen grew.

”Triple Slash!”

With a flourish of his Long Sword, three exceptionally sharp Sword Lights shot out from Ling Chen, parrying one rainbow-hued spear gleam after another.

What? Yun Qinghong was greatly surprised, his spear’s momentum faltering involuntarily. My techniques usually rely on an advantage in power, but Ling Chen always finds a way to break through, and his solutions are always so unexpected! To think he could unleash three killer-level sword techniques in less than two breaths to counter my ultimate move... It’s completely unorthodox, a Divine Stroke! To call this person a battle genius is no exaggeration.

During Yun Qinghong’s moment of surprise, Ling Chen had already sheathed his Thunder Shadow Sword and drawn his Red Sky Sword. Instantly, a scorching aura spread out, sending waves of heat rippling across the surface of Nine Dragons Lake.

”Heavenly Fire Burning Plains!”

His Sword Momentum shifting, Ling Chen charged forward, wielding the Red Sky Sword with the Red Sky Sword Technique, doubling its power. He swung his Treasure Sword, instantly creating a vast sea of fire composed of burning sword qi. The sea of fire rolled down from mid-air, appearing before Yun Qinghong in an instant.

”Break for me!”

In Yun Qinghong’s eyes, a flame of fighting spirit seemed to burn. With a single sweep of his spear, he split the sea of fire in two.

The sea of fire was torn apart by Yun Qinghong the moment before it could fully detonate, unleashing only two-tenths of its potential power. It didn’t even breach Yun Qinghong’s Protective True Qi before being swept clean away. Had he been a fraction of a second slower, the sea of fire would have fully erupted, its power sufficient to instantly obliterate four or five Ninth Layer Great Masters.