Chapter 161 - 160: Defeating the Human List’s Number One

Zheng Wei’s overall strength surpassed even the top rank on the Qiu Yue Kingdom’s Human List, and he excelled at close-quarters combat.

Xia Bingyue’s very first sword strike fell right into his trap.

With the first claw of his Counterattack,

Zheng Wei instantly closed the distance to Xia Bingyue, putting her at a disadvantage and forcing an opening.

CLANG!

His second claw pressed the advantage, striking the opening to knock Xia Bingyue’s sword aside. Her body was sent flying back, her qi and blood in turmoil.

Close-Combat Kill!

His advantage grew!

He gave Xia Bingyue no chance to draw her sword and build momentum.

"Hahaha..."

Zheng Wei let out a loud laugh, his burly frame moving like a Flood Dragon as he stuck close to Xia Bingyue’s retreating, fairy-like form.

At that moment, Xia Bingyue’s beautiful face was pale. Her qi and blood roiled, and she had yet to regain her footing.

SWOOSH!

Zheng Wei’s third claw—an expanding, golden dragon’s talon—slashed toward Xia Bingyue’s chest, leaving five sharp, golden streaks in its wake.

"Not good..."

Xia Bingyue had just steadied herself, but her True Qi and Treasure Sword were only half-activated. She wouldn’t be able to block in time.

With her back to the wall, there was nowhere left to retreat.

It wasn’t that Xia Bingyue was that much weaker than Zheng Wei.

In a duel between masters, a single misstep could decide life and death.

Fall behind once, and you’ll keep falling further behind.

At this critical moment, Xia Bingyue did not panic. Her stunningly beautiful face was a mask of cold resolve.

WHOOSH!

Her snow-white robes fluttered, her spirit indomitable. Within her star-bright eyes, the hazy silhouette of a sword began to form.

In that instant, an aura of the Sword Dao that pierced straight to the soul erupted from Xia Bingyue, and the surroundings felt as if they had been plunged into a frozen glacier.

"True Martial Arts Intent..."

Zheng Wei’s spirit trembled as if pierced by a blade of ice, and the speed of his attack slowed.

ZVMMM!

The Treasure Sword in Xia Bingyue’s hand shimmered with the magnificent color of ice crystals. The surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi resonated with it, giving rise to a Sword Momentum like that of a solitary, snow-capped peak.

This strike aimed straight for Zheng Wei’s head.

At the same time, Zheng Wei’s golden claws had already reached Xia Bingyue’s snow-white robes.

Another inch, and he could have finished her.

However, if he did, Xia Bingyue’s sword—infused with True Intent—would take his life as well.

"This bitch..."

Zheng Wei’s expression changed drastically. He had no desire to die with Xia Bingyue.

RIP!

The golden dragon claw only managed to tear a piece of white gossamer from Xia Bingyue’s chest, almost close enough to feel the warmth of her smooth, snow-like skin.

WHOOSH!

Zheng Wei retreated explosively, dodging Xia Bingyue’s devastating sword strike.

Still, a wisp of Formless Sword Qi left a bloody gash on his cheek.

"Tsk, tsk. So fragrant."

Ignoring the wound on his face, Zheng Wei held the piece of gossamer torn from her chest to his nose and took a long, intoxicated sniff.

"I like ice beauties like you," Zheng Wei said.

His greedy gaze swept over the tear in Xia Bingyue’s robes, lingering on the glimpse of her snow-white skin beneath.

Zheng Wei’s actions were a clear attempt to disrupt her state of mind.

Xia Bingyue remained unmoved, and the hazy sword shadow in her eyes only grew brighter and clearer.

SHIIING—

Another magnificent, ice-cold Sword Light, like lightning streaking down from a snowy peak, instantly slashed toward Zheng Wei.

"Such a powerful Sword Dao Attack!"

Zheng Wei’s expression changed. He had to face this with his full strength.

Flying Dragon Claw!

Zheng Wei’s entire arm swelled by a size, golden patterns emerging on its surface. Like the claw of a Flood Dragon, it slashed out, leaving a trail of fierce, tyrannical golden light.

BOOM! RIP!

The two supremely powerful Attacks collided.

The massive trail of golden light blocked the Sword Light, but was itself annihilated in the process.

HISS!

Zheng Wei let out a muffled grunt and retreated abruptly. A sharp pain shot through his arm as several wisps of cold, sharp Sword Qi invaded his flesh.

Both of their Attacks were incredibly powerful.

However, Xia Bingyue’s Sword Dao Attack was infused with True Intent Fur, making it more resilient and much sharper.

"Hmph!"

Zheng Wei activated his Martial Vein, and a layer of fine, brownish-black lines appeared on his skin, swallowing the invading wisps of Sword Qi.

Xia Bingyue’s elegant brows knitted together, her expression turning grave.

Zheng Wei’s Martial Vein was geared toward defense and also amplified his strength.

Otherwise, that last strike would have at least lightly injured his arm.

"Little wench! At your level, how long can you possibly sustain Attacks infused with Sword Intent?"

The corner of Zheng Wei’s mouth curled into a smirk, his expression one of confident victory.

The level of True Sword Dao Intent was simply too high.

For someone of Xia Bingyue’s Cultivation to wield it would consume an immense amount of mental energy; she couldn’t possibly keep it up for long.

"We’ll see if you can block me first."

Xia Bingyue cried out sharply. Her magnificent Sword Light, empowered by True Sword Dao Intent, seemed unstoppable as she sent strike after strike slashing toward Zheng Wei.

Even someone as powerful as Zheng Wei was forced onto the defensive, fighting as he retreated.

...

「Outside the Cultivation Room.」

The battle between Luo Tian and Dongmen Lin had reached a fever pitch.

The two were incredibly fast, one’s movements strange and unpredictable, the other’s elegant and flowing. They wove around each other, trading blows.

SHING! SHING! SHING!

Dongmen Lin sent out streaks of silver light along unpredictable trajectories, yet Luo Tian always managed to sense them, either dodging or blocking with his Sword Guard.

Likewise, every one of Luo Tian’s mighty Star River Level Sword Light attacks was swallowed up by Dongmen Lin’s silver vortex.

In Attack, speed, and Defense, both had reached the pinnacle for geniuses of a single kingdom.

This was a battle on the level of the number one on the Human List!

"Arise!"

A silver light flashed in Dongmen Lin’s eyes, and the phantom image of a deep silver void appeared above his head.

Then, with him at the center, countless silver-threaded strands of light, glinting with a dangerous coldness, shot continuously toward Luo Tian.

A Star River Level Sword Light was sent slashing toward them, only to be shattered to pieces in an instant.

Such powerful Martial Vein Power!

Luo Tian’s expression tightened; he sensed a great threat from these silver-threaded strands of light.

The threat they posed was comparable to Xia Bingyue’s True Sword Dao Intent Attack.

WHOOSH!

Luo Tian held back no longer. His Divine Vein erupted, and a ten-meter-wide vortex of dark Cold Mist spread out around him.

Instantly, the two different Martial Vein Powers clashed.

The silver-threaded strands of light shooting from the silver-haired youth immediately frosted over and began to slow.

Oof!

Within the vortex of dark Cold Mist, there seemed to be a bottomless abyss that exerted a pulling force, constantly weakening the silver strands of light.

"What kind of Martial Vein is this?"

The silver-haired youth was stunned.

His own Martial Vein contained an incredibly rare spatial power.

Among Earth Level Martial Veins, it had never been at a disadvantage; most of the time, it held an overwhelming edge.

But now, facing Luo Tian’s bizarre Martial Vein Power, it was actually being suppressed.

The silver-threaded strands of light couldn’t get near Luo Tian.

But Luo Tian’s Divine Vein Cold Mist was able to penetrate, inching ever closer to Dongmen Lin.

"Celestial Star Eighth Technique, Fallen-stars!"

Luo Tian shouted, leaping into the air. Dazzling Sword Qi Light Waves, like stars falling from the Star River, rained down on Dongmen Lin relentlessly.

Dongmen Lin’s expression changed. The silver-threaded strands around him contracted as he clapped his palms together, forming a silver, vortex-like shield of qi.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

The vortex-like silver shield in front of Dongmen Lin trembled continuously, but it successfully absorbed Luo Tian’s assault.

After that exchange, both of them were breathing heavily. They had both expended a great deal of energy.

’Young Master Zheng, why isn’t he here yet?’

Dongmen Lin wondered.

Luo Tian was far more difficult to handle than he had anticipated; he couldn’t seem to finish him on his own.

’If Zheng Wei were here, this wouldn’t be so troublesome.’

’It’s a shame I haven’t mastered the Ninth Technique yet. I wonder how Xia Bingyue is doing.’

Luo Tian thought to himself.

The Celestial Star Sword Technique’s Ninth Technique, "Star River Radiance," was its most powerful strike.

But he had only just broken through to the Star River Level and wasn’t yet familiar with the technique.

Now, Luo Tian was growing worried about Xia Bingyue. The fact that Zheng Wei hadn’t arrived must mean she was keeping him occupied.

’In that case...’

Deep within Luo Tian’s eyes, a hazy Sword Mark appeared, carrying with it a timeless, boundless quality.

The [Wind and Snow Sword] in his hand trembled, suddenly suffused with an ethereal aura.

"This is... True Sword Dao Intent?"

Dongmen Lin’s expression changed drastically as he felt an formless pressure bearing down on him.

"Strike!"

Luo Tian swung his sword. Empowered by the formless True Sword Dao Intent, he slashed out, unleashing a deep, brilliant sword-glow as radiant as the Star River.

The strike resonated with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, creating a vast, boundless momentum.

Facing this strike, Dongmen Lin was suddenly overcome by a sense of his own insignificance.

This was suppression from a higher Martial Arts Realm!

BOOM! RIP! CRACK!

The sword strike landed on Dongmen Lin’s silver vortex shield. The shield shook violently before the Sword Light, driven by its vast momentum, sliced a crack into it.

"Not good!"

Dongmen Lin retreated explosively, a bloody gash left on his chest.

"Senior Dongmen... was actually defeated!"

Not far away, the burly man who had lost both his arms stared in shock.

The two gatekeeping geniuses from the Qiu Yue Kingdom whom he had called over from outside the Profound Spirit Hall were dumbfounded and utterly horrified.

Dongmen Lin was number one on the Qiu Yue Kingdom’s Human List.

Ever since he had claimed the top spot, he had been an undefeated legend. No one in his generation could challenge him.

’With the power of True Sword Dao Intent, my Swordsmanship’s might increased so much that I could barely manage to execute the Ninth Technique, "Star River Radiance," even though I haven’t mastered it.’

Luo Tian was quite stunned himself after unleashing that strike.

He had only been trying it out, never expecting to defeat Dongmen Lin—the top rank on the Qiu Yue Kingdom’s Human List—in a single blow.