Chapter 223 - 126: A Head-on Clash, Sixth Sword Defeats Ye Ling

This time, driven by Divine Intent, the speed of the Wind and Thunder Sword Technique instantly surged.

Moreover, it also contained elements of the Nine Shadows Sword Technique and the Light and Shadow Killing Sword, making its speed even more unimaginable.

Zhang Su’s Swordsmanship was no longer a single, isolated technique.

He had fused the essence of multiple sword techniques, drawing on their strengths to cover their weaknesses, and formed his own unique style.

The fluttering sword images of the Nine Shadows Sword Technique, the lightning-fast gleam of the Light and Shadow Killing Sword, and the gale-like momentum of the Wind and Thunder Sword Technique—all three merged into one. The resulting power was far greater than the sum of its parts.

The sword gleamed, and the sound of wind and thunder echoed across the arena.

With the sword moving this fast, Ye Ling clearly couldn’t dodge.

Her Flowing Cloud Step was exquisite, but Zhang Su’s sword was simply too fast.

It was so fast that the blade was upon her the moment she began to evade.

’I still can’t avoid it...’

Ye Ling’s heart sank.

A grave look flickered in her eyes, but she didn’t panic.

’Since I can’t avoid it, I won’t.’

She wouldn’t have been confident enough to vie for first place in the Three Sects Gathering of Heroes if she didn’t have an ace up her sleeve.

SHIING.

Ye Ling finally drew her sword.

Her right hand shot to the hilt at her waist. A cold gleam of light burst from the moon-white scabbard.

The blade was long and slender, pure silver-white, and it glinted coldly in the sunlight.

She didn’t use a Palm Technique to counter Zhang Su’s sword.

Even though she was a Peak Gang Force Martial Artist who had achieved the Unity of Inner and Outer, with her palms coated in Gang Force, she wasn’t afraid of Zhang Su’s sharp blade.

But pitting flesh and blood against a Divine Weapon was ultimately a disadvantage.

Though her Gang Force could protect her hands, Zhang Su’s sword was no ordinary weapon. It was Ouyang Yin’s Shadow-Stealing Sword, a top-tier Treasure Sword from Hidden Sword Manor.

The blade’s sharpness, combined with the explosive burst of Zhang Su’s Hundredfold Pill Power, meant she could still get injured despite her Gang Force Protection.

Besides, Ye Ling’s greatest strength had never been her Palm Technique.

It was... Swordsmanship!

The reason she had been using Palm Techniques was that her previous opponents weren’t worthy of her drawing her sword.

Her Palm Techniques alone were more than enough to deal with opponents of their caliber.

But Zhang Su was different. She had to give it her all.

"This Swordsmanship... I was saving it for Zhou Dingshan, but it seems I’ll have to use it on you first!"

Ye Ling said coldly.

She flicked the longsword in her hand, and its light unfurled like a bolt of white silk.

The strike was like a divine horse soaring through the heavens—unpredictable and traceless.

The moment the blade thrust forward, Zhang Su felt a strange power lock onto him.

He had a sinking feeling.

He couldn’t dodge this strike!

No matter how fast his Body Technique was, he couldn’t escape it.

It wasn’t a matter of speed, but a characteristic of the Swordsmanship itself.

Once this technique was executed, it would lock onto an opponent, leaving them no room to flee.

’Fine. If I can’t dodge, I won’t.’

’So Ye Ling wants to clash head-on?’

’She wants to use her superior Gang Force to defeat me in a direct confrontation.’

’She won’t give me any chance to get away.’

Zhang Su’s gaze hardened, and he instantly pushed the Pure Yang Force in his body to its limit.

The Twelve Layers of Internal Strength within him also erupted in an instant.

His Hundredfold Pill Power burst forth as well.

For his Twelve Layers Killing Sword, each layer stacked upon the last in an instant. His Twelve Layers of Internal Strength surged like twelve rushing rivers, converging into a torrent that poured into the Shadow-Stealing Sword.

Then, he met Ye Ling’s sword directly with his Twelve Layers Killing Sword.

DING.

Their swords clashed violently.

The ringing of steel echoed over the Martial Arts Arena.

It was a clash between Pill Force and Gang Force.

Zhang Su’s Pill Force was at Hundredfold Power, and Ye Ling’s Gang Force was also tempered to perfection. The power of both erupted at the point where their blades met.

A terrifying power erupted from the two of them.

Zhang Su could even feel an invisible force spreading out in all directions.

The wooden planks of the arena floor groaned, as if unable to withstand the impact.

The banners at the edge of the arena snapped in the shockwave, their poles bending slightly.

In the stands, the spectators closest to the arena felt a blast of wind wash over them, pressing their robes tight against their bodies.

In this clash, both sides were evenly matched.

Zhang Su’s sword held firm against Ye Ling’s attack, and he didn’t retreat a single step.

Ye Ling’s sword was also blocked, gaining her no advantage.

But soon, she struck with her second sword.

Ye Ling twisted her blade, and the second strike followed instantly.

The power behind this second strike had somehow increased.

It wasn’t just a slight increase, but a significant leap in strength.

The sound of the blade cutting through the air was sharper than the first time, and the light from the sword was more dazzling.

DING.

Zhang Su swung his sword to block once more.

The two swords collided with another crisp ring.

Zhang Su’s arm trembled slightly, but he quickly steadied himself.

The Pure Yang Force in his body surged continuously, reinforcing his blade.

Then came the third strike.

Ye Ling’s third strike followed immediately after, with almost no pause.

Her Swordsmanship was relentless, each strike faster and stronger than the one before.

With this strike, her power surged once more.

It was even stronger than her second.

DING.

The third clash.

This time, Zhang Su’s arm shook violently, and the web of his thumb grew numb.

He was forced back half a step.

Zhang Su immediately noticed something.

’Her Swordsmanship seems similar to the Triple Wave technique.’

’But even Triple Wave’s stacking power isn’t this terrifying.’

Zhang Su didn’t recognize this Swordsmanship, but the eyes of the Medicine Valley Elders, the Five Elements Sect Elders, and the Guiyuan Sect Elders all narrowed at once.

Seated on the high platform, their gazes were all fixed on Ye Ling.

In that instant, the expressions of the Postnatal Realm Elders all changed.

Clearly, the Postnatal Realm Elders of the Three Sects recognized this Swordsmanship.