Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 470: Chapter 466: Challenging Ning Jiang

Chu Qingqing and Nan Lingshuang, the only two women present, were both renowned beauties in the Meteor Sea Region.

Their battle was one everyone eagerly awaited.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The moment they stepped onto the stage, they held nothing back, clashing in an instant. Nan Lingshuang had a stunning figure, but she was an utterly decisive fighter. She wielded a Red Silk that blazed with roaring flames. As it danced through the air, it resembled a Fire Phoenix spreading its wings, its power ferocious.

It was a Middle Grade Weapon, the Fire Phoenix Silk.

A single touch from its flames would heavily injure even an Immortal Realm powerhouse.

SHING.

Chu Qingqing brandished her Treasure Sword, her body radiating a piercing Sword Intent. Her Sword Technique prioritized agility and speed. With a flurry of impossibly fast movements, she aimed for Nan Lingshuang’s vital points—her throat, heart, and eyes.

”Insignificant tricks.”

Nan Lingshuang’s expression remained unchanged. With a flick, her Fire Phoenix Silk coiled and spun rapidly before her, repelling Chu Qingqing’s assault.

”Fire Phoenix Dance.”

She cried out, and the Fire Phoenix Silk erupted in a massive blaze. One after another, Fire Phoenixes flew out from within, flapping their wings as they swarmed toward Chu Qingqing.

The air on the peak immediately grew scorching hot.

”Ninefold Sword Tide.”

Chu Qingqing’s expression hardened. She slowly swung her Treasure Sword, unleashing layer after layer of Sword Qi that swept outward like the tide. The onlookers could even hear the sound of surging ocean waves.

This was Chu Qingqing’s ultimate technique. Each strike was a layered attack, like waves crashing upon the shore, with the Ninth Layer delivering the most powerful blow.

’A victor is about to be decided.’

Everyone grew tense, knowing the match would be decided in this very moment.

BOOM.

The endless stream of Fire Phoenixes crashed against the tide of Sword Aura. The collision of opposing forces instantly shrouded the area in a thick, white mist.

The first eight layers of the Sword Tide were shattered, but the power of the Ninth Layer surged by severalfold. After the two forces collided, the entire summit of Meteor Peak was enveloped in white mist.

”Who won?”

All eyes were fixed on the stage.

As the white mist slowly dissipated, Nan Lingshuang could be seen, her face slightly pale and her breathing heavy. Opposite her, a trickle of blood escaped the corner of Chu Qingqing’s mouth, and a patch of skin on her left shoulder was scorched by the Flame.

”So Nan Lingshuang won after all.”

”Nan Lingshuang has the strength to contend for the top five. Chu Qingqing is strong, but she’s still just a bit short.”

”In a way, it also comes down to their backgrounds. Nan Lingshuang is backed by a Supreme Celestial Powerhouse, while Chu Qingqing is just from a small family. The training they received from childhood wasn’t on the same Level. It’s already incredible that Chu Qingqing has reached her current strength.”

The crowd murmured amongst themselves.

In truth, among the dozen or so geniuses present, Chu Qingqing’s background was the most common. The others were all being cultivated by Heaven-Reaching Realm powerhouses.

Chu Qingqing owed her current achievements to a journey she’d taken alone through the Six Eastern Provinces a few years ago. That experience had led to a meteoric rise in her progress.

”Your Sword Intent is truly terrifying,” Nan Lingshuang said, her voice heavy. ”Perhaps in a few more years, even I will no longer be your match.”

Though she had defeated Chu Qingqing, she felt the looming pressure of one day being surpassed.

Following that, young geniuses challenged one another in succession, each displaying astonishing strength and drawing cheers from the crowd.

However, four people among them remained unchallenged: Meng Zihao, Hua Feiyu, Fan Hailong, and Ning Jiang. Their strength was clearly a cut above the rest, and the four of them appeared quite at ease.

’The fights so far are just an appetizer. The real showdown will begin when those four finally make their move.’

The crowd was filled with anticipation; only a battle between those four would be the true climax of the Meteor Festival.

CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!

On Meteor Peak, the fighting continued. After dozens of matches, the relative strengths of the participants had become clear.

Nan Lingshuang defeated several powerful challengers in a row, securing her rank as fifth.

Many remarked on Nan Lingshuang’s luck. If Hong Xiao hadn’t been utterly crushed by Ning Jiang, the fifth spot would have most likely been his.

Hong Xiao may have been arrogant, but no one could deny his strength.

Meanwhile, Chu Qingqing, with her formidable Sword Technique, managed to secure a spot in the top eight. The rankings for the other top experts were also settled one after another.

As for the four top masters, including Ning Jiang, they remained on a pedestal, unchallenged. For anyone not in the Earth Martial Realm, challenging them was utterly meaningless.

’The final showdown must be about to begin.’

At that moment, all eyes converged on Ning Jiang and the other three.

”Ning Jiang, I challenge you.”

A voice rang out. It was Hua Feiyu, his gaze ice-cold as he stared intently at Ning Jiang.

Among the top contenders, his strength was too similar to Fan Hailong’s for a fight to be meaningful. He was even closer with Meng Zihao, giving him no reason to issue a challenge.

Ning Jiang, however, was a different story. Because of Chu Qingqing, Hua Feiyu harbored a deep-seated animosity toward him, even believing that everything was Ning Jiang’s fault.

’Qingqing, just you watch. Watch me defeat him.’

Hua Feiyu glanced at Chu Qingqing, but saw that she wasn’t looking at him at all. Instead, her beautiful eyes were fixed on Ning Jiang with a complex expression, a hint of sorrow and regret within them.

The sight made the fires of jealousy in his heart burn even brighter.

”Take this! Wind Howl!”

Hua Feiyu’s Weapon was a fan, upon which were painted countless Wind Blades. As he channeled his power into the Treasure Fan, the painted blades manifested and slashed fiercely toward Ning Jiang.

Each Wind Blade was sharp enough to injure an Immortal Realm powerhouse. An assault of hundreds, even thousands, of them could instantly kill an Earth Martial Realm expert.

’A Wind Attribute Cultivator.’

Ning Jiang’s eyes narrowed slightly. ’Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Thunder, Light, and Dark—these nine were the fundamental powers of the world, and Hua Feiyu is a cultivator of the Wind Attribute.’

’The nine attributes each have their own strengths.’

’The Wind Attribute is known for speed, but its piercing power also ranks near the top. Anything that reaches extreme speed gains terrifying destructive power.’

”Break.”

Ning Jiang took a single step forward. A torrent of Thunderbolt energy erupted from him, colliding with the countless Wind Blades. A few blades managed to slice through his Thunderbolt and approach his body, but they disintegrated upon reaching his immediate vicinity, unable to get any closer.

Having witnessed Ning Jiang’s fight with Meng Zihao, Hua Feiyu was well aware of his strength. Unsurprised, he quickly unleashed an even more powerful technique.

”Wind Dragon Manifest!”

He pulled in the air from hundreds of yards around. It howled toward him, and in the blink of an eye, a massive Wind Dragon formed on the spot.

The Wind Dragon’s entire body was a high-speed rotating vortex, like a meat grinder. A single touch would be enough to shred a person’s flesh and blood to pulp.

ROAR.

With a furious roar, it bore down on Ning Jiang.