Chapter 171 - Arc 11: The Sect's Grand Competition | Chapter 171: Match 18
Translator: Lynn
An incredibly sharp and invisible force shot out like a streak, crossing the entire stone platform in an instant!
Numerous Golden Core Stage Daoists competing immediately sensed the peril and scrambled to escape. Over a dozen of them couldn’t evade in time and tumbled off the stage!
So swift!
The surviving Golden Core Stage Daoists, who managed to evade this sword intent, were both frightened and astonished.
They turned swiftly, catching sight of a sword cultivator in unassuming attire, his visage cold, piercing the sky with a formidable sword aura.
A hushed voice spread: “That’s Yun Lie of the Ruthless Killing Sword!”
The remaining Daoists gasped upon hearing this.
Before the contest, all the Daoists knew they would face dozens of opponents, but they hadn’t anticipated such a formidable enemy. Some might not have recognized Yun Lie initially, but they still retreated due to the aura. Their strategy was to eliminate the weaker contestants from the stage first and then deal with this individual. However, the competition had just begun, and they were already facing this daunting situation.
Unconsciously, the remaining thirty or so individuals gradually regrouped and stood together.
A Golden Core Stage Daoist commented, “I’ve heard about the infamous Ruthless Killing Sword for a long time, and witnessing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation.”
Another Daoist added, “However, rumors suggest that this individual recently attained alchemy. Could this level of power truly be achieved so soon after alchemy? Initially, I thought the rumors were exaggerated, but evidently…”
All the Daoists exchanged glances and made their decisions.
“The fifth-ranked on the Tianlong list won’t be easy to defeat. Why don’t we join forces, defeat this person first, and then face off among ourselves!”
“Don’t hold back, use your best skills!”
“In that case, count me in. Let’s unite and battle together!”
In the blink of an eye, the spiritual thoughts of all the Daoists were intermingling and synchronizing.
In the next moment, an array of supernatural powers burst forth, aglow with brilliance. These powers held within them countless insights and concepts, coalescing into a torrent surging forward!
Various potent spells were executed swiftly.
For instance, a fiery claw of energy, seeming capable of rending sky and earth, swiftly descended from high altitude; Thunderous light crackled on a seal, unleashing hundreds of thunder pillars advancing layer by layer;
And then there was a bead, from which a hundred-foot gust of wind erupted, resembling a continuous tornado!
In the hands of the Golden Core Stage Daoists, such maneuvers exhibited boundless power, overwhelming the entire stone platform with life-threatening assaults.
With this level of power, any formidable opponent could find themselves in dire straits. If accidentally struck by any of these attacks, a cascade of additional magical powers would follow, shattering them to pieces!
All the Daoists believed that if the opponent was a true swordsman, they should surrender immediately. Otherwise, under such a ferocious assault, even if they perished, it would be in vain.
However, they never anticipated that when these techniques assailed, an even more ominous sensation would surge from the depths of their hearts.
Yet Yun Lie, underfoot, remained immobile.
He stood like an ancient, unchanging solitary peak, proudly positioned between heaven and earth. Despite the passage of time and the ever-changing world, he did not shift an inch.
Subsequently, a faint golden line emerged between his brows.
Within this golden pattern lay an exceedingly terrifying power.
Yun Lie’s eyes suddenly flickered open and shut.
“A swoosh—”
The golden sword light soared into the sky, and a massive golden sword slashed out from between his brows!
This colossal sword resembled a mountain, and upon its release, it immediately cleaved—”Boom!”
In an instant, the sword’s power raged, obliterating everything in its path. The place it traversed bore destruction, smashing all the powers, tricks, magical abilities, and even leaving deep sword marks on the stone platform!
Following the strike of the massive sword, it didn’t simply vanish. It obliterated many of the powers wielded by the remaining thirty or so Daoists before swiftly returning, taking its position behind Yun Lie and soaring into the sky!
Those Golden Core Stage real individuals were in disbelief, causing a momentary stillness in the atmosphere.
It wasn’t until someone exclaimed, “…my magic weapon!”
—that the air began to flow once more.
What had transpired was that after the colossal sword swept through, not only were all the forces neutralized, but all the magic weapons that had emitted brilliance were also cast to the ground. Their spiritual radiance was extinguished by the sword energy, resulting in severe injuries to their core, causing them to dim.
All the real individuals acted swiftly, retracting their magic weapons, but the significant damage they had sustained left them feeling distressed.
To restore them to their original state would necessitate several years of painstaking effort… On the stone platform, a sword mark pierced through, nearly cleaving the platform in half.
As the Golden Core Stage Daoists gathered their magic weapons, they found themselves astounded. Moments ago, they had sought to defeat this opponent in a single stroke, but unfortunately, it hadn’t worked.
The power of that sword was truly formidable and unyielding!
At that point, over a dozen Daoists conceded.
Attacking one person simultaneously was very unfair and not appropriate. Moreover, such an assault had been thwarted by others, leaving them with no dignity.
After acknowledging their defeat, they each withdrew under the wind.
Consequently, on this stone platform, fewer than twenty individuals remained.
They still possessed ample true energy, and if they surrendered now, it would undoubtedly leave them feeling dissatisfied.
Moreover, Yun Lie, a Golden Core early-stage Daoist, even with such a potent maneuver, likely expended over half of his true energy with just one strike, making him seemingly incapable of continuing.
“Perhaps attacking again at this moment might be effective,” various spiritual consciousness communicated, pondering on the scenario.
However, Yun Lie didn’t await their consensus. He simply extended his hand and commanded, “Proceed.”
The colossal sword displayed its might once more, adorned with a cascade of golden brilliance, leaping into the air and sweeping out!
All the Golden Core Stage Daoists hastily invoked their protective robes and true essence to shield against the force of this colossal sword.
However, before long, the sword intent pierced through their protective essence and struck their robes forcefully!
A tremendously potent force nearly penetrated into their bodies, leaving them no room for hesitation. They deployed various means to forcefully disperse the sword intent.
Yet, the chilling intent of murder encapsulated within the sword intent remained etched in their bone marrow, leaving them with a sensation akin to being immersed in ice-cold, pitch-black water, the coldness seeping into their very bones… Thus, in just these few breaths, only the plain-clothed man remained on the vast stone platform.
Below the stage, Xu Ziqing sat next to Master Qiu He, astonished. “Master, our Shixiong is truly astonishing!”
Initially, when dozens of Daoists assaulted Yun Lie collectively, he had been worried about Yun Lie. Unexpectedly, Yun Lie only employed two strikes, sweeping across the stone platform and toppling all Daoists.
Master Qiu He withdrew his hand. He had previously summoned a defensive shield and had struggled to withstand the impact of such an immense force. Now that he was free, he could speak. “Yun’er progressed into this realm so swiftly. Even the teacher is greatly impressed. Ziqing, you can perceive that the golden colossal sword is a sword intent gathered by your Shixiong.”
Xu Ziqing took a deep breath and nodded to convey his comprehension.
Yun Lie’s previous attack was incredibly straightforward. First, a sword intent shot out, shaking the souls of more than a dozen real individuals, rendering them unstable and eliminating them first. Then, he utilized the sword intent to counter their abilities, easily defeating the remaining opponents.
However, it’s easy to describe, but he wondered, was his senior brother genuinely able to handle that?
Yun Lie’s initial battle concluded, and the sword intent retracted, bringing him back. His clothes and hair remained unmoved, but he stood still in front of everyone.
Xu Ziqing quickly stood up to greet him, expressing concern: “Yun Shixiong, how are you feeling now?”
Regardless of how well he understood his senior’s capabilities, considering dozens of people had surrounded him and he had employed such potent supernatural powers, how much energy had he depleted? As a junior, it was hard for him to discern, especially since his senior brother always maintained a stoic expression, making it rather perplexing.
Yun Lie noticed his worry, and a hint of reassurance flickered in his eyes. “I’m fine.”
Xu Ziqing was still concerned and asked, “Really? Shixiong, you can’t fool me.”
Yun Lie shook his head and asserted, “I’ve never deceived you.”
Xu Ziqing furrowed his brows slightly, then grabbed Yun Lie’s sleeve and led him to sit aside. Although he had never doubted his senior brother before, recently, after engaging in numerous fights, he realized there were many formidable experts in the Wuling Immortal Sect. Now he couldn’t help but feel a bit impulsive. After thoughtful consideration, he expressed, “Ziqing has a somewhat unfeeling request, and I hope Shixiong will agree.”
Yun Lie responded, “Tell me.”
With a serious tone, Xu Ziqing conveyed, “I’d like to infuse a bit of true energy into Shixiong for a quick inspection…” He paused but continued resolutely, “It’s not that I don’t trust you, but out of worry. I hope my brother’s efforts are successful.”
Yun Lie glanced at him, his expression unchanged, yet extended his hand. “Let’s see.”
Xu Ziqing was momentarily surprised but soon felt joy. When he broached this matter, he was prepared to face a scolding from his senior brother, and he had even prepared various persuasive words in his mind—he needed to see his senior brother “with his own eyes” for his peace of mind. Unexpectedly, his senior brother agreed directly, surprising him.
Suppressing his joy, Xu Ziqing smiled as he held Yun Lie’s wrist.
Under his five fingers, Yun Lie’s arm felt warm, not as cold as his breath, but smooth to the touch, even in texture, and seemed to contain an immensely potent power beneath the flesh.
It was the first time he was so close to Yun Lie, and Xu Ziqing was momentarily lost in thought, then quickly regained awareness. He mobilized a trace of true energy from his dantian, followed the meridian, and sent it from his fingertips into Yun Lie’s body.
Xu Ziqing’s true essence carried the attributes of wood—peaceful, tolerant, and teeming with vitality. Nevertheless, even though true essence had these qualities, it was still true essence and carried potent power that should not be underestimated. However, as this trace of true essence entered Yun Lie’s body through the Vein Gate, it vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye…
“Huh?” He couldn’t help but whisper.
Yun Lie instructed, “You can infuse more real energy.”
Xu Ziqing’s expression grew solemn. “Yes, Yun Shixiong.” This time, he didn’t hesitate and directly channeled 10% of his true essence, pouring it into Yun Lie’s body.
He had pondered it before—even if senior brother might currently be weakened, being a Golden Core Stage Daoist, he was far from the senior brother’s cultivation level. Even if he used all the true energy in his body, he wouldn’t harm the senior brother in the slightest. There was really no need to be overly cautious. As expected, the true energy he sent in this time was relatively clear. After entering through the meridian gate, it seamlessly blended into Yun Lie’s meridian and began circulating smoothly along the path.
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