A Trace of Sword Force

Standing alone in a corner after stepping off the arena, Ye Ling reviewed the entire battle just now, quietly reflecting on her own shortcomings.

Xiantian Realm cultivators certainly lived up to their reputation.

Not only could they release true qi externally and condense spiritual energy into form, but their bodies were also constantly surrounded by a thick layer of protective true qi, creating an exceptionally sturdy barrier.

When ordinary Houtian weapons struck it, the impact would only be cushioned and deflected by the true qi, making it difficult to even scratch their skin.

Just now, she had clashed with Wang Jingyuan for hundreds of rounds, sequentially deploying her Flowing Cloud Sword Technique, Swift Thunder Movement Technique, and Lost Track Leg Technique.

Although she had suppressed her opponent completely throughout the match, she had struggled to cause any substantial injuries.

In the entire duel, the only method capable of tearing through Xiantian protective true qi and heavily wounding her opponent was the mouth-expelled sword qi.

Ye Ling understood in her heart that without this unique killer move granted by the sect-protecting cultivation method, trying to break through a Xiantian cultivator's defense relying solely on Houtian-level martial arts would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Zhou Ming's guess was not wrong.

The sword essence condensed in her throat was indeed limited, and that single mouth-expelled sword qi from today had already been completely exhausted.

With the sword essence in her body depleted, she would not be able to nurture another one in a short period of time.

For the remaining matches of the day, she indeed could not unleash a second projected sword qi to break through defenses.

But for them to think this was her ultimate trump card, and that she had no other way to break through Xiantian defenses without the mouth-expelled sword qi, was truly too shallow.

Her true greatest trump card had never been the Great Perfection of the 《Qinglan Sword Canon》, nor was it her various martial arts. It was her half-step Sword Force.

Ever since she had entered the threshold of the sword path, she had already quietly comprehended half-step Sword Force.

This artistic conception of the sword path was the true killer move that reigned supreme over all martial arts techniques.

During her battle with Wang Jingyuan just now, she had deliberately restrained her Sword Force the entire time, relying solely on pure techniques and spiritual energy to face her opponent without revealing even a fraction of her sword intent's sharpness.

While the Xiantian protective true qi seemed indestructible, under the enhancement of a condensed half-step Sword Force, the so-called impregnable Xiantian true qi defense would be rendered completely useless.

As long as she was willing, she only needed to channel her half-step Sword Force to bolster her swordplay, and she could tear through any Xiantian protective barrier in an instant.

As Wang Jingyuan retreated from his defeat, the arena underwent a brief recess, and Elder Leng Yue's cold and clear voice once again resounded throughout the grounds.

“The second match: a battle between Xiantian geniuses.

“Leng Xuerou versus Zhou Ming.”

Two figures swept through the air in response, landing steadily on opposite ends of the arena.

Leng Xuerou wore a plain white dress. Her face was cold, and her temperament was detached and ethereal, with her surrounding spiritual energy completely restrained.

Zhou Ming was dressed in navy-blue martial arts attire. His posture was upright, his brows sharp, and his Xiantian spiritual energy was fully unleashed.

Zhou Ming stared at Leng Xuerou across from him, solemnly transmitting his voice with spiritual energy.

“I didn't expect to run into you in the first round of our internal battles. Everyone on the outside says you are the strongest among the five of us, but I've never been quite convinced.

“In today's battle, I will do my utmost to personally verify the gap between us.”

Leng Xuerou's eyes turned slightly cold as she calmly replied via voice transmission.

“Very well. But before I face Ye Ling, I will absolutely not lose.”

With those words, their fighting spirit was instantly raised to the maximum.

Zhou Ming hesitated no longer. Spiritual energy surged in his palm, and his Xiantian true spirit slowly rose.

The moment the words left his mouth, his figure suddenly dashed forward. His Xiantian true spirit erupted with a bang as sharp, silver-green sword qi slashed horizontally and vertically.

Every move was fierce and overbearing, with each strike carrying the heavy pressure of the Xiantian Realm, attempting to suppress Leng Xuerou with absolute strength.

Leng Xuerou's expression remained indifferent. Her white dress fluttered as her figure drifted gracefully.

Her sword path was clear, gentle, and continuous, defending and attacking with calm composure. Her long sword danced to create layers of sword screens, using softness to overcome strength, steadily neutralizing Zhou Ming's violent offensive.

The two were evenly matched. On the arena, sword light exploded, and the sound of clashing metal rang out continuously.

Dozens of rounds of intense combat passed in a flash. Zhou Ming's offensive grew fiercer and fiercer.

Xiantian spiritual energy poured out frantically, almost sealing off all of Leng Xuerou's evasion space, forcing her to retreat and defend step by step, seemingly falling into a disadvantage.

But just when everyone thought the tide of battle was about to tilt toward Zhou Ming, the aura on the arena suddenly shifted.

An extremely faint yet incomparably sharp, invisible intent slowly diffused from around Leng Xuerou.

There were no exploding spiritual energy phenomena, nor was there any exaggerated rising sword light. Yet, the wind, sword qi, and spiritual energy flow across the entire arena were all silently suppressed by this intent. It was Sword Force.

Below the stage, countless disciples froze instantly. The entire venue fell dead silent for a moment before erupting into a wave of shocking clamor.

“Sword Force! It's really the concept of Sword Force!

“How is that possible! The ancient records state that one can only hope to barely glimpse the threshold of Sword Force after breaking through to the Xiantian Realm and bitterly cultivating for decades!

“How long has it been since Leng Xuerou broke through to the Xiantian Realm? Just a few short months!

“Countless veteran Xiantian sword cultivators have been stuck in the Xiantian Realm for decades, unable to even touch the edges of Sword Force in their entire lives.

“Leng Xuerou is only nineteen years old, yet she has already touched the threshold of the sword path's concept. Such talent is simply earth-shattering.”

In the waiting area, Wang Jingyuan's expression remained unperturbed, and Zhou Ruoyao beside him showed no surprise either.

Having fought her privately many times, the two of them had long known that Leng Xuerou had already touched upon a trace of Sword Force.

Only Su Wanqing's face was pale, her eyes filled with shock.

She murmured in a low voice, “With Sword Force at her disposal, none of us can compare to Sister Xuerou...”

High in the clouds, Leng Zhiwei and the various Peak Masters quietly looked down at the entire scene.

The First Sword Peak Master sighed softly. “This girl's talent is outstanding. To touch the threshold of Sword Force at such a young age is truly rare.

“It's just a pity she was born in the same generation as Ye Ling.

“If Ye Ling had not appeared out of nowhere, Leng Xuerou would be the undisputed number one genius of this generation.”

The surrounding Peak Masters nodded one after another.

On the arena, now that the Sword Force was unleashed, the outcome was already decided.

The addition of a mere trace of Sword Force completely rewrote the battle.

Leng Xuerou's originally gentle sword moves were instantly elevated. Every strike carried the suppressive power of the sword path's concept—precise, condensed, and leaving no way to counter.

Before the Sword Force, Zhou Ming's overwhelming and violent offensive was like a child waving a toy sword. His flaws were infinitely magnified, and his protective true qi trembled under the suppression of the concept.

In just three moves, Leng Xuerou lightly tapped her sword forward. Zhou Ming's sword flew from his hand, and his figure stumbled backward, completely losing the ability to fight on.

Leng Xuerou sheathed her sword and stood quietly, her white dress spotless, as the ethereal trace of Sword Force around her slowly receded.

The dozens of rounds of anxious, tangled combat finally concluded with her glimpsing the force in an instant and winning completely in three moves.

Zhou Ming stabilized his footing, his heart filled with shock, completely and utterly defeated.

He did not lose unjustly. This was not a gap in realm or cultivation methods at all; it was an absolute crushing in the concept of the sword path.

The tens of thousands of disciples below the stage chattered animatedly. A personal disciple gasped in admiration,

“Leng Xuerou is only nineteen this year. Not only did she break through to the Xiantian Realm early, but she has now even touched upon a trace of the grand Sword Force. Such aptitude is undoubtedly that of a True Disciple!”

He then changed the subject. “However, because of this, Ye Ling likely has no chance of winning anymore.

“With a Xiantian cultivation, a perfected protective true qi, and the concept of Sword Force, she has three layers of foundation on her side.

“Even if Ye Ling's talent is heaven-defying, she is ultimately still a Houtian cultivator. No matter how monstrous she is, it's impossible for her to cross the double barrier of concept and realm.”

The surrounding disciples chimed in agreement.

“That's right! The gap between Xiantian and Houtian is already a chasm, and now Leng Xuerou even has the suppression of Sword Force!

“The outcome of this battle is already set in stone!

“The first place of this year's new disciple tournament will definitely be Leng Xuerou!”

Almost everyone in the entire venue had decided on the final outcome.

On the periphery of the crowd, only Su Qinghan, Su Qinghe, and Nalan Yanli did not join the rest in favoring Leng Xuerou.

Instead, they all looked toward the solitary, quietly standing Ye Ling, deep worry hidden between their brows, their hearts hanging in suspense.

Standing in the corner, Ye Ling's calm gaze fell upon the white-clothed figure.

She had seen the embryonic form of that trace of Sword Force when Leng Xuerou struck. It was indeed not bad.

But it was merely an embryonic form.

She withdrew her gaze and continued to regulate her breathing, her expression as calm as usual.