Chapter 338 - 336: Counterattack! One-Move Defeat

’What a powerful strike!’

Luo Tian dared not be careless. He instantly unleashed his Sword Intent, his Nether Dragon Divine Vein erupting at full force. A bone-chilling coldness infused his Ice Trace Sword.

Sword Rolling Residual Clouds!

A wave of dark, chilling Sword Qi surged forth, forming a mighty Sword Qi Tornado that carried the grand momentum of a frozen firmament.

After his battle with Jiang Daoyun, Luo Tian’s Sword Intent, Sword Skills, and Celestial Sword Technique had all improved slightly.

Furthermore, his Cultivation was now just a single step away from the Peak of the Eighth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm.

The power of this strike far surpassed his previous efforts, reaching a new peak.

BOOM! RUMBLE!

The two supreme Sword Techniques, both imbued with Sword Intent, collided in an instant. The resulting explosion was deafening.

Icy, ferocious Sword Qi swept across the entire Martial Arts Arena.

Luo Tian’s figure drifted backward as strands of Sword Qi continuously struck his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body, leaving a trail of cuts.

The second exchange ended.

Yin Xiaofeng had attacked with his full strength, and the power of his Sword Technique was immense.

But the result was not what he had hoped for.

Luo Tian should have suffered more than just these minor wounds.

"This kid’s Sword Intent far surpasses Junior Yin’s!"

On the East Martial Arts Arena, Celestial Evil Sword remarked coolly.

"They have both only grasped the ’fur’ of Sword Intent, but there are still levels to it."

"Luo Tian’s current level of Sword Intent is far more condensed, approaching a Sword Intent Prototype. Yin Xiaofeng’s Sword Intent Fur naturally can’t compare."

"The one with the weaker Sword Intent will find their Sword Techniques invisibly suppressed."

"If not for that, Yin Xiaofeng’s last strike would have been more than enough to handle Luo Tian."

The other disciples of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect were shocked to hear this.

Yin Xiaofeng was obsessed with the sword and had comprehended Sword Intent while at the Half-step Earth Element Realm. Yet, Luo Tian’s Sword Intent actually had the upper hand.

The upper echelons of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect had all noticed this as well.

"A child with such prodigious talent in the Sword Dao... If only he were a disciple of our Ten Thousand Swords Sect."

Elder Bai Mei murmured.

If that were to happen, Luo Tian and Xia Bingyue could join forces in the next Celestial Pride Conference. They would be unstoppable, sweeping the entire event.

’A strong Sword Intent gives one a definite advantage against other Sword Cultivators.’

Luo Tian knew this perfectly well, which was why he dared to fight Yin Xiaofeng in the first place.

Before stepping into the arena, he had used the power of the Celestial Book to run an Inference and simulate the battle, formulating a strategy for victory.

The chances of success weren’t high, but if he pulled it off, the benefits for him would be enormous.

"Heh heh, I just love to ruthlessly humiliate and trample on geniuses like you!"

Yin Xiaofeng let out a savage laugh and charged like a wild beast, his Black Tooth Treasure Sword slashing out wildly.

Streaks of incomparably violent black Sword Light shot out, like a maddened Demon from Hell, relentlessly swinging its claws and trampling everything on the Martial Arts Arena.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Yin Xiaofeng’s Swordsmanship was too swift and ferocious, and his attack range was massive. There was little room for Luo Tian to evade with his Body Technique, making the situation look incredibly perilous.

But Luo Tian’s strategy wasn’t just to blindly dodge and defend.

"Sharp Sword and Wind!"

Luo Tian unleashed the Third Technique of the Nine Heavens Sword Technique. His own Swordsmanship was just as frenzied and swift, a continuous and relentless flurry, as chillingly sharp as a blizzard.

Terrifying Sword Qi enveloped the entire Martial Arts Arena. The intensity of the clash was so great it made the spectators stare with bated breath.

Luo Tian held an advantage in the speed of his Body Technique, allowing him to evade many of the more threatening attacks.

In addition, his Defense—far superior to even Celestial Evil Sword’s—allowed him to withstand some of the injuries.

Yin Xiaofeng, on the other hand, had an absolute advantage in Attack. His Swordsmanship was savage and ferocious, truly living up to the name "Sword Madman."

"Is Luo Tian an idiot? Going head-to-head with the Sword Madman?"

"If this continues, he’ll soon be seriously injured, affecting his future matches!"

The crowd began to murmur.

Until now, Luo Tian had never been truly injured. But in this battle with Yin Xiaofeng, he was already covered in more than a dozen cuts.

Although the wounds weren’t deep, if they continued to accumulate, they would surely result in a grave injury.

’Luo Tian can’t be an idiot, or he never would have made it this far.’

If Luo Tian didn’t still have the sense to use his Body Technique to evade, the crowd would have thought he had become a second Sword Madman.

Twenty exchanges... thirty exchanges... forty exchanges!

Luo Tian still hadn’t fallen. He continued to clash head-on with the Sword Madman, fighting with ever-increasing intensity.

"Hm?"

Yin Xiaofeng sensed something was wrong.

Luo Tian’s True Qi was growing more and more condensed. ’It seems he’s using me to advance his Cultivation!’

"Heh, even if you break through to the Peak of the Eighth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm, you can’t change the situation!"

Yin Xiaofeng sneered.

’I’m absolutely certain I can end this fight before he breaks through!’

"So that was Luo Tian’s plan. Too bad Yin Xiaofeng has seen through it."

The other geniuses in the crowd finally understood Luo Tian’s method.

He was actually trying to use Yin Xiaofeng’s power to advance his own Cultivation, willing to suffer injuries from their direct clashes to do so.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Yin Xiaofeng intensified his assault. His True Qi surged, and the Black Tooth Treasure Sword whipped up a violent, dark sword aura, like a savage demonic beast opening its massive jaws to devour everything with its sharp teeth.

Luo Tian fully activated his Wind Manipulation Technique. His figure leaped into the air, hovering in place to evade the peerless strike.

"Die!"

Looking at Luo Tian fifty or sixty meters high in the sky, Yin Xiaofeng once again launched a fierce attack.

SWISH! SWISH!

But Luo Tian’s speed didn’t falter. He vanished in a flash, instantly shifting several dozen meters through the air.

This scene greatly shocked Yin Xiaofeng and many of the onlookers.

Crossing the Void!

This was a skill that only those in the Earth Element Realm could master.

’How could Luo Tian, a mere cultivator at the Eighth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm, possibly do that?’

Yin Xiaofeng’s eyes darkened. Luo Tian’s Body Technique speed had always been troublesome for him.

’My only advantage in Body Technique was Crossing the Void, but Luo Tian can do it too.’

’It makes you wonder, what kind of Body Technique is he even cultivating?!’

’Hm? What is this feeling of unease?’

Yin Xiaofeng was suddenly struck by a strange feeling. The Treasure Sword in his hand trembled slightly.

He launched another attack, clashing fiercely with Luo Tian and leaving several more bloody gashes on his body!

’It won’t be long now. Luo Tian’s wounds will accumulate until they become a grievous injury. Victory is within my grasp!’

But suddenly, Yin Xiaofeng noticed something.

’His Sword Intent... it’s stronger than before. It’s almost like...’

’It’s almost like it contains a shadow of my own Sword Intent!’

BUZZ!

A phantasmal sword shadow flashed in Luo Tian’s eyes, carrying the essence of a boundless sky. Its extreme sharpness seemed to pierce straight into Yin Xiaofeng’s mind.

「In Luo Tian’s mind.」

A sword shadow shimmered with a silver-white luster, its brilliance flickering between light and dark. With each flicker, the sword shadow itself underwent subtle changes, becoming more condensed, more real—magnificent and dreamlike, hiding endless mysteries.

The Ice Trace Sword in Luo Tian’s hand began to glow with a crystalline, magnificent light.

Yin Xiaofeng’s sword began to tremble involuntarily. At the same moment, the swords of every Sword Cultivator outside the arena began to hum!

’Success!’

Luo Tian’s expression became cool and composed once more. An incomparably sharp, soul-piercing brilliance shone from his eyes.

At this moment, his Sword Intent had taken half a step into the realm of a True Intent Prototype.

There was a world of difference between True Intent Fur and a True Intent Prototype. By taking even half a step into the latter, Luo Tian’s Sword Intent underwent a heaven-and-earth-shaking transformation!

This was precisely the winning strategy he had formulated through the Celestial Book’s Inference.

It wasn’t just about using Yin Xiaofeng to advance his Cultivation. He was also using this crazed Sword Cultivator to comprehend and temper his Sword Intent!

This was also why Luo Tian had provoked Yin Xiaofeng into using his Sword Intent from the very beginning.

Furious Sword Torrential Rain!

Luo Tian brandished his sword, and an incomparably astonishing Sword Momentum soared into the heavens.

The next instant, dozens, then hundreds, then thousands of straight, ice-cold strands of Sword Qi appeared in the void. As if ten thousand swords were unleashed at once, the very color of the sky and earth changed.

The Sword Technique resonated with the world itself. The winds and clouds surged, reflecting Luo Tian’s attack and creating the majestic momentum of a torrential blizzard washing over the land.

"So powerful!"

The entire audience was shocked.

Most people couldn’t understand why Luo Tian’s Swordsmanship had suddenly exploded in power, reaching such a terrifying level!

Storm Demon Killing Sword!

Feeling immense pressure, Yin Xiaofeng executed his ultimate killing blow. The Black Tooth Treasure Sword whipped up a violent black cyclone, emanating a boundlessly tyrannical Demon Power!

"Kill!"

Yin Xiaofeng roared fiercely!

The two powerful Sword Cultivators engaged in a climactic clash!

BOOM! BANG! BANG!

The vast storm of Ice Swords crashed against the wild, thorny demon sword. The clash of blades was deafening.

Luo Tian’s Swordsmanship instantly seized the advantage, crushing forward and bearing down on his opponent.

"No! I absolutely cannot lose!"

Yin Xiaofeng roared, growing even more frantic. He squeezed out every last bit of his potential, his assault surging once more.

Just then, Luo Tian’s aura suddenly surged.

The Eighth-Layer Spirit Sea Vortex in his Qi Sea was completely formed. His Cultivation rose to the Peak of the Eighth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm!

Furious Sword Torrential Rain was an all-out, life-and-death Sword Technique.

The rise in his Cultivation—a transformation in both the quality and quantity of his True Qi—caused the Eighth-Layer Spirit Sea Vortex to pump out vigorous True Qi, allowing the power of his technique to erupt even further!

BOOM! CRACKLE!

The sky-filling rain of icy swords washed over everything, pulverizing all in its path with unstoppable force.

Over a dozen bloody gashes instantly appeared on Yin Xiaofeng’s body as he plummeted from the Martial Arts Arena. He hit the ground with a THUD, sending up a spray of blood.

He was merely the Sword Madman, an irrational fighter focused only on frenzied attacks. He possessed neither Luo Tian’s calm reason nor his powerful Defense and survivability.

A single counterattack from Luo Tian had decided the outcome.

"Luo Tian... wins!"

The referee announced the result, the shock still lingering in his eyes.

Luo Tian floated down, his robes fluttering. The True Qi on his body and the Sword Intent around him slowly receded.

Just as the Celestial Book’s Inference had predicted, he had succeeded!

He had taken half a step into a True Intent Prototype, broken through to the Peak of the Eighth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm, and defeated Yin Xiaofeng, all in one fell swoop!

BUZZ!

A large amount of Celestial Fate Qi surged into Luo Tian’s Genius Order.

"Yin Xiaofeng’s challenge against you has failed. He loses half of his Celestial Fate Qi!" the referee announced.

Originally, the brightness of Luo Tian’s Genius Order had been surpassed by several other geniuses.

Now, he had once again leaped to the very top!

Luo Tian walked off the Martial Arts Arena and sat down cross-legged.

This battle was somewhat perilous. His injuries were not light, but the gains he received in exchange were enormous.

Using an enemy as a whetstone to advance his Cultivation resulted in a much more stable foundation.

Furthermore, with his Sword Intent having taken half a step into its prototype form, he would soon be able to fully enter the realm of a True Intent Prototype with just a little more time and study!

The battle was over, but an uproar erupted from the crowd.

"What in the world just happened? How did Luo Tian suddenly get so strong and defeat Yin Xiaofeng in one move!"

"I think I might have watched a fake match. The turn of events was too sudden. Yin Xiaofeng lost just like that!"

The crowd below erupted in astonished discussion!

From their perspective, Luo Tian had been on the back foot the entire time. Then, he suddenly launched a counterattack—and with just one move, Yin Xiaofeng was defeated!

On the other Martial Arts Arenas, Yi Jingwen and Qiao Hai were both stunned.

Luo Tian defeated Yin Xiaofeng head-on. His combat power was now almost on the same level as theirs.

"He actually... won."

The Third Elder couldn’t hide his surprise.

He had previously deduced that Luo Tian was bound to lose.

"That Sword Intent... could it be... a Sword Intent Prototype?"

A sharp glint flashed in the eyes of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect’s Elder Bai Mei, and his expression became incredibly solemn.

"We must have seen it wrong. This is absolutely impossible."

Another high-ranking member beside him remarked.

Generally speaking, a True Intent Prototype is something only a High Tier Earth Element Realm cultivator can comprehend, and it’s a prerequisite for stepping into the Celestial Pool Realm.

Luo Tian hadn’t even broken through to the Earth Element Realm.