Chapter 169: The Unstoppable Force of Shangguan Jinhong and Li Xunhuan's Elusive Nothingness
Chapter 169: The Unstoppable Force of Shangguan Jinhong and Li Xunhuan's Elusive Nothingness
Yulong Sheng's words seemed superfluous, but they were actually a veiled attack, designed to test Shangguan Jinhong's mental fortitude. Although Shangguan Jinhong must have thoroughly examined the dragon and phoenix twin rings that Yulong Sheng had sent, there was still a possibility...
After all, Yulong Sheng was the craftsman who forged the twin rings. If he had instructed his craftsmen to leave some subtle flaws in the rings...
Yulong Sheng smiled and reassured Li Xunhuan, "Li, rest assured. If anything happens to you, I'll take care of Lin Shi Yin and her mother. As long as Miss Sun doesn't mind, of course."
Li Xunhuan could only offer a bitter smile in response.
Sun Xiaohong glared at Yulong Sheng, but after a moment's hesitation, she couldn't help but feel grateful to him. She wasn't foolish; she knew that her grandfather's survival and the current state of the duel had something to do with Yulong Sheng.
Shangguan Jinhong was as good as dead. The only question now was whether he could take Li Xunhuan down with him in his defeat.
On this matter, Sun Xiaohong had absolute confidence in Li Xunhuan.
Her eyes sparkled with renewed hope.
Although Li Xunhuan could be melodramatic, he wasn't ungrateful. Moreover, Shangguan Jinhong had manipulated him with clever schemes, forcing him to travel thousands of miles back and forth. If not for Yulong Sheng's swift horses, Tie Chuanjia might have perished.
...
(Aside: In the original story, Li Xunhuan's speed was a bit lacking. By the time he arrived in Baoding, Sun Tuozi had already passed away, and he arrived just in time to see Tie Chuanjia fatally wounded, unable to save him. He also didn't get a chance to meet Lin Shi Yin.)
This time, with Yulong Sheng and Ding Baiyun's swift horses, Li Xunhuan's journey was much faster. He not only saved Sun Tuozi but also rescued Tie Chuanjia. He even took the time to visit Lin Shi Yin, leaving no regrets.
However, due to the need to care for the injured Tie Chuanjia and catch up with Lin Shi Yin, he was running late for the duel.
Lin Shi Yin, upon learning of the duel between Li Xunhuan and Shangguan Jinhong, had rushed over as well.
...
At this moment, everything seemed to be in Li Xunhuan's favor. Shangguan Jinhong had been pushed to his limit, but did that mean Li Xunhuan had already won?
The rain began to let up, and the winter drizzle created a misty atmosphere, providing the perfect cover for a flying dagger attack.
If it had been an ordinary warrior, they would have seized this opportunity to strike while the rain was still falling.
But Li Xunhuan didn't make a move.
This was because he suddenly realized that Shangguan Jinhong's aura, far from weakening due to the presence of several masters, had actually become stronger.
Under this extreme pressure, Shangguan Jinhong not only showed no signs of cracking but also exuded an aura that seemed to suppress everyone present, as if he were looking down on them from a lofty height.
Even his eyes shone brighter!
Tianji Elder's expression changed as he witnessed Shangguan Jinhong's mental fortitude and unwavering confidence. "Shangguan Jinhong truly deserves his reputation."
Guo Songyang's face also reflected his surprise. During their previous encounter at Fei Quan, when he had seen Shangguan Jinhong and Jing Wuming approaching together, he had given up all hope and prepared for death.
But now, Shangguan Jinhong displayed a stance of turning the tables, showing signs of breaking through his limits while surrounded by several masters.
"Well done, Shangguan Jinhong!"
Bai Tianyu couldn't help but admire his opponent. "If it weren't for the fact that we are enemies, we might have become friends!"
Bai Tianyu's gaze toward Shangguan Jinhong was filled with complexity, admiration, anticipation, and a hint of regret.
He truly desired a fair and square battle with Shangguan Jinhong, the kind where even death would be acceptable. However, as the saying goes, ten out of ten things in life don't go as one wishes, and he might never get this opportunity again.
Afeng, on the other hand, didn't even spare Shangguan Jinhong a glance. His eyes were fixed solely on Jing Wuming.
As for Ding Chengfeng, who was witnessing the clash of qi between these top masters for the first time, he was completely awestruck.
Just moments ago, Ding Chengfeng, feeling proud of his progress after a year of diligent training, had intended to challenge Yulong Sheng again. But now, faced with the formidable auras of Afeng and Jing Wuming, he felt overwhelmed.
One seemed to carry a deathly aura, while the other made him feel as if he were facing an erupting volcano or a forest of swords. Ding Chengfeng felt almost as pressured as he had when facing the Great Joyful Goddess that day.
As for Shangguan Jinhong, his overwhelming presence subdued the auras of all the masters present, including those of Yulong Sheng and Ding Baiyun.
This ever-growing momentum seemed to be preventing Li Xunhuan from making a move!
Ding Chengfeng muttered to himself, "Is this what a battle between the peak masters of the world looks like? It's terrifying!"
In contrast to Shangguan Jinhong's mounting pressure, like dark clouds looming over a city, Li Xunhuan seemed like a gust of wind, a breath of air. Instead of confronting Shangguan Jinhong head-on, he seemed to have emptied his mind.
He stood there, directly facing Shangguan Jinhong.
Yet, at the same time, it felt as if he weren't there at all, leaving Shangguan Jinhong's momentum with nowhere to land.
This aspect was something that those with weaker martial arts skills couldn't comprehend, but the other masters present all revealed looks of shock.
Even Tianji Elder's eyes showed a hint of envy. "Elusive as the wind, without technique or self. Li Xunhuan has truly reached an extraordinary realm!"
Under Shangguan Jinhong's immense pressure, it would be impossible for ordinary people to ignore him.
Take Ximen Yu, for example, who had shown impatience during the oath-taking assembly at the Ruyunkeju Inn. Under Shangguan Jinhong's pressure, he had almost lost his composure.
Even someone as strong as Lu Fengxian, ranked fifth on the 'Weapon Chart', couldn't withstand Shangguan Jinhong's pressure. He was the first to show a weakness, which led to Lin Xian'er's betrayal, the breaking of his spirit, and ultimately, his downfall.
Although Guo Songyang and Bai Tianyu wouldn't suffer the same fate as Lu Fengxian, their approach to dealing with Shangguan Jinhong was to confront him head-on. While they were slightly inferior, they didn't back down, each displaying their unique prowess.
But Li Xunhuan was different. He wasn't advancing, nor was he retreating.
He was nothingness!
...
Even Yulong Sheng was stunned.
He never expected that after his scheming, the duel between Shangguan Jinhong and Li Xunhuan would turn out like this.
While Li Xunhuan was undoubtedly in a different state than he had been in the original story, who would have thought that Shangguan Jinhong would be capable of a breakthrough in the midst of battle?
What was going on?!
At this moment, both Shangguan Jinhong and Li Xunhuan had reached a realm that was a step beyond everyone else present.
If Bai Tianyu were to duel with Shangguan Jinhong again, he would undoubtedly perish.
Guo Songyang sighed. He knew that he would probably never attain such a realm in his lifetime.
On the other hand, Tianji Elder showed a hint of pleasure, as the saying goes, "He who hears the Tao in the morning can die content at night."
Jing Wuming and Afeng, these two peerless swordsmen, had now become mere accompaniments to the main event.
The others were nothing more than backdrop, waiting quietly for the outcome of this extraordinary duel.
...
Shangguan Jinhong's momentum continued to grow stronger.
Li Xunhuan's aura became increasingly elusive.
Suddenly, the rain stopped.
Shangguan Jinhong's momentum peaked.
The Dragon and Phoenix Twin Rings appeared in his hands.
At the same time, a flash of blade light!
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(End of Chapter)
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