Chapter 494 - 238: Fighting Zhang Junyi

Chapter 494: Chapter 238: Fighting Zhang Junyi

Of course, the Xuanzhen Sect didn’t make its name with swordsmanship. Although the swordsmanship of the number one Daoist sect in the world was by no means weak, they relied more on their wide array of other cultivation techniques and methods.

Unfortunately, Zhang Junyi had only been studying the Dao for a short time. His main skill lay in hacking and slashing, and he had yet to master the more profound techniques. A True Disciple of the Xuanzhen Sect had essentially trained himself into a martial arts fanatic.

However, given his talent for Daoist arts, his hacking and slashing was nearly unrivaled among his peers. The path of the Dao values singular focus; if he truly kept practicing the Daoist sword, he could still attain mastery. But with his current cultivation technique, he just had to run into Xie Yuan.

Zhang Junyi brandished his Peach Wood Sword with peerless power. His pure and orthodox Daoist cultivation whipped up gust after gust of wind. However, he simply couldn’t break through Xie Yuan’s Cloud Dragon Nine Forms, which was both offensive and defensive.

The Cloud Dragon Nine Forms was a Grandmaster Level swordsmanship technique to begin with, and Xie Yuan had already reached a considerable level of mastery. Facing Zhang Junyi, his offense and defense were perfectly balanced, his movements measured. Now, by simply taking a defensive stance, he left Zhang Junyi completely helpless.

A torrential downpour can’t last all morning. Zhang Junyi could feel that even with the seemingly endless power from his Xuanzhen Sect technique, he was gradually finding it hard to continue. At this rate, he feared Xie Yuan would simply wear him down to death.

’Logically, Brother Xie’s cultivation level is on par with mine at best, and his cultivation technique doesn’t seem that much more profound. He should be on his last legs by now too...’

Just as he was thinking this, a glow suddenly emanated from the face of Xie Yuan opposite him. His movements, which had begun to slow, instantly regained their swiftness. It looked as if he had just taken a stimulant.

’What’s happening?’

Zhang Junyi was completely baffled. He watched as Xie Yuan seemed to find a second wind. Though his strikes no longer burst with Sword Qi, they were now refined and sustained, with a profound lasting power. The initial force was weaker, but the follow-through was stronger, somewhat resembling a Daoist technique. He couldn’t help but feel a surge of shock and suspicion.

’How can Brother Xie’s internal energy change its nature like that?’

’Look at him, all flushed and vigorous! He clearly looks like he could go another three hundred rounds. That’s just cheating!’

Huie Jue also saw that Xie Yuan seemed to be on a new high, as if he’d been injected with chicken blood. Two prodigies had been fighting for so long, and their stamina should have been at its absolute limit. Yet one of them had instantly recovered his peak condition. What was the point in continuing this fight?

The monk was shocked and uncertain, his expression shifting as he thought to himself:

’What is this incomprehensible technique now? How many times is this guy going to shock me today?’

It seemed dragging the fight out was no longer an option. As for whether he could defeat Xie Yuan using purely the Martial Dao, Huie Jue’s own confidence was beginning to waver.

Zhang Junyi, of course, felt it most keenly. The pressure from Xie Yuan’s attacks had suddenly intensified. He knew that if he delayed for even a moment longer, he would lose any chance of victory. He couldn’t help but shout:

"Brother Xie, what a satisfying fight! How about we settle it with one final move?"

Xie Yuan laughed heartily and replied:

"It has been exhilarating! Daoist, you name it. How do you want to do this?"

Zhang Junyi retracted his sword and stepped back. He held the Peach Wood Sword horizontally in both hands. Green flames flickered unsteadily along the sword edge, making it look like a Divine Weapon and brightly illuminating his face.

"Brother Xie, I have a sword strike of unparalleled power. I’m confident I could use it even against an enemy whose realm is higher than mine. It’s just that your attacks are like a relentless tide, and I haven’t been able to find an opening to use my ultimate move..."

Hearing this, Huie Jue sneered from the sidelines, mocking:

"Daoist, you can’t be asking your opponent to just stand still and let you hit him, can you? Have you gone crazy from practicing on training dummies?"

Zhang Junyi’s face flushed red, and he said sheepishly:

"A killing move like this isn’t easy to execute. I know you’d never get an opportunity like this in a real battle. That’s why I envy Brother Xie’s Secret Technique... But I still want to satisfy this urge, to add one final stroke to this magnificent duel."

Xie Yuan held his sword in one hand, pointing it diagonally toward the ground, and smiled with a relaxed and composed air:

"Of course. That Azure Dragon strike just now was magnificent. You have an even greater move, Daoist? I can’t wait to see it."

Zhang Junyi shook his head.

"That strike was powerful, but it relied on the weapon’s strength. This next one relies only on me. Brother Xie, be careful."

His expression turned solemn. He held his sword in both hands, pointing it straight up at the sky as if petitioning the heavens.

A wild wind suddenly swept over the forest, and a heavy pressure descended upon the entire bamboo grove.

"Let the violet heavens stir, and the jade cosmos fill with wind! Radiant might of the sky, heed my command! Divine thunder of the nine heavens, be drawn by this sword!"

Zhang Junyi jerked his Peach Wood Sword downwards, and a sudden clap of thunder exploded in the sky.

A bolt of purple lightning streaked through the air and struck Zhang Junyi’s Peach Wood Sword, coiling around his body.

"Duke Lei, aid me!"

With a sudden roar, Zhang Junyi swung forward. The purple lightning transformed into a razor-sharp Long Sword, streaking across the sky to pierce Xie Yuan!

Xie Yuan felt every hair on his body stand on end. It was as if the moment he saw Zhang Junyi swing his sword, the lightning was already upon him.

He let out a furious roar and unleashed the axe blow he had long been holding in reserve.

As it was the final blow, he held nothing back. All of his Blood Qi, internal energy, Sword Intent Scripture, and Body-Nourishing Art—he poured everything into this single axe strike.

A brilliant golden light erupted from his body. He had pushed his Golden Bell Shield to its absolute limit, making him shine like a golden, blazing sun!

This axe strike was the strongest attack Xie Yuan could currently muster!

The great axe unleashed a deep, heavy, black aura as it collided with Zhang Junyi’s unstoppable lightning, erupting in a flash of white so blinding it was impossible to look at.

For a moment, the field seemed to fall silent, only to be shattered by a sudden, deafening explosion.

An unprecedentedly violent gale blasted outwards in all directions, even uprooting nearby bamboo stalks and flinging them through the air like javelins!

Fortunately, there was no one else in the bamboo grove; otherwise, there would have been collateral damage. Anyone below the Qi and Blood Metamorphosis Realm wouldn’t have been able to withstand even the slightest bit of the aftershock.

Both Zhang Junyi and Huie Jue instinctively squinted and shielded their heads.

When the commotion died down, they looked over and saw Xie Yuan, standing proudly with his axe. He had actually cleaved the storm in two. Amidst the surrounding wreckage, he stood unmoving at the epicenter.

’Even that couldn’t stop him?’

Zhang Junyi let out a long breath. His energy was depleted, but his face was flushed and radiant with satisfaction. He clasped his hands in a salute and said: