Chapter 83: Xu Yan vs. Xie Lingfeng

Chapter 83: Xu Yan vs. Xie Lingfeng (End)

Xu Yan commanded the eighteen giant dragons, flipping them up and down and attacking Xie Lingfeng from all sides. He unleashed the full force of the Dragon Subduing Palm's furious might.

Xie Lingfeng's eyes turned solemn, and the aura around him became increasingly sharp. The sword in his hand glowed, and at one moment, he thrust it forward. The sword qi rushed like a mighty river, its roaring sound filling the air.

Boom!

The sword qi swept through the dragons, its deafening roar reverberating as the dragons crumbled. Although half of the sword qi dissipated, what remained was still incredibly sharp.

Whoosh!

Xie Lingfeng's eyes turned icy, and a stream of sword qi surrounded him. His precious sword shone, and as the sword qi surged, it resembled countless rivers rushing forth.

Hu Shan watched from a distance, his heart shaken: "What kind of palm technique is that boy using? Young Master is actually using the Myriad Rivers Sword Technique!"

The Myriad Rivers Sword Technique—a single sword like ten thousand rivers—was one of the ultimate techniques of Sword Master Cliff.

Xie Lingfeng had once slain a Martial Master with this very sword technique! He was renowned throughout the Inner Domain.

"That's a sword technique!"

Xu Yan's heart skipped a beat as he felt a powerful pressure emanating from Xie Lingfeng's sword technique.

The sword qi crisscrossed in layers, vast and mighty like rivers, one after another.

There was no escape, no defense.

The sword qi was incredibly sharp, yet also as gentle as water, penetrating everything! The Dragon Subduing Palm's power exploded forth, but it felt as if it had sunk into a river, becoming heavy and labored! Dragons should rule over water, yet now they were trapped within it. This sword technique was extraordinary.

However, Xu Yan also knew that his Qi and Blood Realm's activation of the Dragon Subduing Palm had ultimately failed to unleash its full potential, which was why he was trapped within the endless rivers.

Far from being discouraged, Xu Yan was thrilled.

At this moment, his mind was clear and lucid, and Xie Lingfeng's sword technique appeared in his mind.

"This is its weak point!"

Boom!

One of the giant dragons broke through a stream of sword qi and charged at Xie Lingfeng.

"This is its sharp point; I must avoid it!"

Suddenly, one of the giant dragons dove upward, dodging a stream of sword qi before plunging downward and obliterating another stream.

Xie Lingfeng's eyes narrowed, and he continuously unleashed the Myriad Rivers Sword Technique, transforming the sword qi into countless rivers that sealed off all of Xu Yan's escape routes. The sword qi became increasingly dense and sharp.

Not far away, Li Xuan silently watched the battle between Xu Yan and Xie Lingfeng. With his Enlightened Sword Heart reaching perfection, he had seen through the Myriad Rivers Sword Technique.

Moreover, in his mind, he had created an even more powerful version of the Myriad Rivers Sword Technique, using it as a foundation.

This was the true power of an Enlightened Sword Heart.

The enemy's sword technique becomes my sword technique; the enemy's sword moves become my sword moves. By taking the best and discarding the rest, the sword technique reaches new heights.

His cultivation realm was higher, so he could understand the Myriad Rivers Sword Technique so quickly and improve upon it.

Xu Yan, on the other hand, had a lower realm and had just entered the Enlightened Sword Heart state. Although he could see the weaknesses and strengths of the sword technique, it would take him some time to fully comprehend it.

After all, this was his first time using the Enlightened Sword Heart, so it was normal to be a bit unfamiliar. He would become more proficient with practice.

The battle raged on, with the sword qi transforming into countless rivers that crisscrossed through the air. The eighteen giant dragons churned within this network of sword qi, their space for maneuvering becoming smaller and smaller.

If this continued, the outcome was inevitable.

However, Li Xuan knew that Xu Yan was merely learning the Myriad Rivers Sword Technique.

He hadn't even drawn his sword yet! Xie Lingfeng marveled at Xu Yan's strength. To find such a young warrior in the frontier lands was truly astonishing.

Moreover, what did he mean by a beginner in the martial way, and what was this about the Qi and Blood Realm?

He had many questions.

"He's just a beginner in the martial way? No! That's impossible!"

A beginner in the martial way shouldn't possess such formidable strength.

Hu Shan watched from afar, and as the Myriad Rivers Sword Technique unfolded, he saw the battlefield transform into a raging river. The mighty sword qi flowed like a torrent, and the powerful dragons found their range of attack shrinking.

It wouldn't be long before they were crushed by the Myriad Rivers Sword Qi.

"To be able to fight Young Master to this extent, he truly is a genius!"

Hu Shan couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

Xu Yan's qi and blood surged, and with a single palm thrust, the eighteen giant dragons suddenly merged into one, forming an even larger and more solid dragon!

Boom!

The giant dragon's attack was awe-inspiring, fierce and unstoppable. It smashed through the crisscrossing sword qi, creating a huge gap.

Xu Yan took a step forward, and with both palms striking out, his qi and blood surging. Each palm strike unleashed a giant dragon, without any fancy moves, only direct and powerful attacks.

The Dragon Subduing Palm, in its utmost yang and utmost hardness, reached its peak as Xu Yan drove it with the power of his Qi and Blood Realm. Above his head, a qi and blood vortex swirled.

With the utmost yang and utmost hardness of his palm technique, he directly clashed with the Myriad Rivers Sword Qi.

"The Dragon Subduing Palm, apart from being flexible, also has its core in its utmost hardness and utmost yang. Only then can it possess the might to subdue dragons!"

Xu Yan's heart suddenly understood.

Xie Lingfeng's heart tightened, and he was secretly shocked by the fierce and overbearing palm technique. As Xu Yan's utmost yang and utmost hardness collided with the Myriad Rivers Sword Qi, the compressed space began to expand.

The Myriad Rivers Sword Qi collapsed, layer by layer.

Xie Lingfeng took a deep breath, his eyes growing more solemn. As his body moved, he continuously unleashed the Myriad Rivers Sword Technique, enhancing the sword qi. Layer upon layer, the sword qi eventually sounded like flowing river water.

It was as if countless rivers were rushing by, turning the battlefield into a domain of water.

Xu Yan's eyes narrowed, and as he circulated his qi and blood, he slammed his palm forward.

With this palm strike, a howling sound echoed, like the roar of a dragon.

In an instant, the sound of rushing rivers filled the battlefield, growing louder and louder until it sounded like a cascading waterfall, deafening in its intensity.

Hu Shan's expression turned grave as a look of shock flashed in his eyes. Xu Yan had actually forced Young Master to unleash the Myriad Rivers Sword Technique to its fullest extent!

Even in the Inner Domain, only those renowned old Martial Masters could force Young Master to display the Myriad Rivers Sword Technique to such a degree.

Was this young man's strength comparable to those powerful old Martial Masters? Amidst the roaring waterfall, the howling sound still rang out, like angry roars.

Suddenly, the eighteen giant dragons swept out once more.

Boom!

Layer after layer of Myriad Rivers Sword Qi collapsed, and the eighteen giant dragons also continued to shatter.

Li Xuan couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. Every intense battle brought Xu Yan new insights and understandings. He was indeed the pioneer of his martial path.

"Your disciple Xu Yan has achieved the second level of the Dragon Subduing Palm. You have also achieved the second level of the Dragon Subduing Palm."

The feedback from the golden finger arrived.

Li Xuan continued to watch the battle, and the outcome was still undecided.

Xie Lingfeng's strength was undeniably far superior to Xue Wuxin's.

His sword technique was also incredibly powerful.

He was a genius of the martial way, and his talent in the sword path was exceptional.

However, he had not achieved the Enlightened Sword Heart and had not stepped through the gate of the sword path.

Just then, Xie Lingfeng's eyes turned icy, and a sword light shot out from his hand.

One of the three ultimate sword techniques of Sword Master Cliff.

Xu Yan's eyes narrowed, and his figure suddenly shifted, light as a feather yet incredibly fast.

Swish! His movements were swift, but Xie Lingfeng's sword was even faster as another flash of rainbow light stabbed towards him.

Shift and reposition!

Xu Yan instantly changed his position, but even so, his sleeve was sliced open, leaving a gaping hole.

Buzz!

The third sword light followed closely behind.

With his Enlightened Sword Heart, Xu Yan was able to discern the weakness in this sword technique, but that fleeting opportunity was impossible to grasp.

"This sword technique is definitely not low-level!" Xu Yan thought to himself.

He shifted his position again, narrowly avoiding the sword light.

Then, he pointed his finger at the sword at his waist.

Buzz!

The sword left its sheath!

Xie Lingfeng paused for a moment, not continuing his attack. Instead, he asked, "Are you also a Sword Path warrior? Then, let me witness the power of your Sword Path!"

"You won't be disappointed!" Xu Yan replied with a brilliant smile.

He was about to use the Myriad Rivers Sword Technique to face his opponent.

Xie Lingfeng made his move, and in an instant, the sword light was upon Xu Yan.

At that moment...

A sword qi rippled out, like a mighty river, with a booming sound. The sword light seemed to pierce through the turbulent river, vanishing without a trace.

Xie Lingfeng was stunned.

The sword technique Xu Yan displayed was somewhat familiar!

A ridiculous thought popped into his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.

"Impossible!" he thought to himself.

Without hesitation, he unleashed the Flying Rainbow Sword Technique, the sword light flashing like a rainbow streaking across the sky.

Xu Yan's sword moved, and the Myriad Rivers surged. The sword qi crisscrossed, clashing relentlessly with the Flying Rainbow sword light!

Hu Shan, watching from a distance, had his eyes wide open, his face filled with astonishment.

"The Myriad Rivers Sword Technique? How is that possible!"

This was one of the pinnacle sword techniques of Sword Master Cliff. How could Xu Yan know it?

"Something's not right. It seems a little different from the Myriad Rivers Sword Technique," Hu Shan muttered, his scalp tingling.

The sword technique Xu Yan displayed resembled the one from Sword Master Cliff, but some of the sword moves were different. Moreover, the Myriad Rivers sword qi was more relentless and powerful, resembling the endless rush of river waters, both fierce and gentle.

It was like an advanced version of the Myriad Rivers Sword Technique! Xie Lingfeng was not just surprised; his heart was trembling.

This was the true Myriad Rivers Sword Technique!

No one understood it better than him. Even though some of Xu Yan's sword moves were different from his own, it was precisely because of those differences that he felt shaken.

Those sword moves seemed to address the shortcomings of the Myriad Rivers Sword Technique, showcasing the mighty rush of rivers.

Now, Xu Yan had brought it to life, surpassing his own mastery. The endless river flow of sword qi was flawless, without any weaknesses or gaps.

Even his Flying Rainbow Sword Technique seemed constrained when faced with Xu Yan's sword.

"The Myriad Rivers Sword Technique! How did you learn Sword Master Cliff's Myriad Rivers Sword Technique?" Xie Lingfeng asked, astonished.

Xu Yan raised an eyebrow and replied, "Didn't you just teach it to me?"

Huh? Xie Lingfeng was dumbfounded, then utterly shocked.

"You... You learned it from our previous exchange?" he asked, incredulous.

How was that even possible!

He, Xie Lingfeng, was hailed as the greatest sword genius of Sword Master Cliff in a millennium, and even he couldn't achieve such a feat!

"Is there a problem?" Xu Yan asked, confusion evident on his face. "I've entered the Sword Path, and with my understanding of swords, I can freely adapt and make any sword technique my own. Don't tell me you haven't entered the Sword Path yet?"

Entering the Sword Path meant being able to assimilate and utilize any sword technique. Every Sword Path warrior from Sword Master Cliff had entered the Sword Path, but who among them could adapt and make sword techniques their own at will? Xie Lingfeng's mind was in turmoil.

"Are you sure that entering the Sword Path allows you to freely adapt and make any sword technique your own?" Xie Lingfeng asked, his face filled with disbelief.

He felt like Xu Yan was insulting his intelligence!

Not only was it impossible for someone who had just entered the Sword Path, but even a Grand Master of the Sword Path wouldn't be able to do it!

"Of course!" Xu Yan replied confidently, then looked at Xie Lingfeng with confusion. "You haven't entered the Sword Path yet, have you?"

This man's sword technique was powerful and fierce. Defeating him would not be easy.

"Nonsense!" Xie Lingfeng roared, his anger mounting. "I, Xie Lingfeng, entered the Sword Path when I was six years old!"

"Really?" Xu Yan asked.

"Absolutely!" Xie Lingfeng gritted his teeth.

Xu Yan raised his hand, and the sword light flashed like a rainbow, striking like lightning. In an instant, it reached Xie Lingfeng's chest.

Xie Lingfeng was taken aback and quickly dodged.

Swish!

His clothes were sliced open, but he had no time to worry about that as his face was filled with shock.

The Flying Rainbow Sword Technique!

It was a move he had used before! Xu Yan struck again, once more using the Flying Rainbow Sword Technique.

Xie Lingfeng parried with his sword, his mind in chaos. The Flying Rainbow Sword Technique was one of the ultimate sword techniques of Sword Master Cliff, and Xu Yan had learned it just by watching him once?

No! It was impossible!

"How did you cultivate the Flying Rainbow Sword Technique?!" Xie Lingfeng asked, his voice shaking.

Xu Yan struck again, using the same technique, and said, "Isn't this the technique you just used? I told you, once you've entered the Sword Path, sword techniques become transparent, and you can adapt and make them your own at will."

Then, he shook his head regretfully and said, "It seems you haven't entered the Sword Path yet. I thought I'd finally found someone to exchange insights about the Sword Path with."

Xie Lingfeng was furious. He was the greatest sword genius of Sword Master Cliff in a millennium, having entered the Sword Path at the age of six, and yet Xu Yan dared to humiliate him so!

"You're talking nonsense!" Xie Lingfeng exclaimed, his face twisting with anger.

Xu Yan raised an eyebrow and said, "Then, let me demonstrate a few sword techniques, and you can see if you can adapt and make them your own."

As he spoke, he thrust his sword forward, and with a piercing sound, a trail of sword light appeared, dominating the sky.

Xie Lingfeng's heart skipped a beat, and he hastily parried with his sword. Xu Yan struck again, unleashing a series of swift, fierce, and overwhelming attacks.

"What sword technique is this? It's no less impressive than the Myriad Rivers Sword Technique!" Xie Lingfeng thought, his heart pounding.

"Have you learned it yet?" Xu Yan asked.

Xie Lingfeng gritted his teeth and replied angrily, "You're humiliating me! Who can learn an opponent's sword technique and moves in the middle of a battle?"

No matter how talented someone was, it was impossible!

"Someone who has entered the Sword Path can," Xu Yan said matter-of-factly. "That's why Sword Path warriors don't compete with sword techniques but with their understanding of the Sword Path itself!"

"Nonsense!" Xie Lingfeng shouted, his face reddening with anger.

Xu Yan sheathed his sword and took a step back, a look of disappointment on his face. "I understand now. You haven't truly entered the Sword Path, and you don't even realize it. It's not your fault...

"...It's your limited perspective that constrains your understanding."

Xie Lingfeng's face turned purple with rage. Xu Yan had humiliated him repeatedly!

It was too much!

"I, Xie Lingfeng, will not let this go..." Xie Lingfeng began, but Xu Yan interrupted, "I'm afraid you don't even know what Sword Heart Enlightenment is, do you?"

What?!

Xie Lingfeng was left dumbfounded, his mind reeling from Xu Yan's words.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end