Chapter 239 | You Said You Only Wanted to Die

Clang!

Sparks from clashing blades splattered across the arena.

Fine beads of sweat broke out on Li Nanyi's forehead, and his hand holding the sword trembled slightly. He had never imagined that this seemingly shiftless disciple of the Five Elements Dao Sect would possess such sharp swordplay.

But if this was all the opponent had...

With a flick of his wrist, Li Nanyi's sword blade vibrated again, thrusting directly toward Duan Xianxing's throat.

This strike was incredibly fast—it was a secret sword art of the Sword Heart Sect!

Duan Xianxing, however, remained calm. With a gentle pick of his sword tip, he precisely intercepted the opponent's offensive. The two swords pressed against each other, sending sparks flying.

"Is this all you've got?" Duan Xianxing grinned. "This is the level of a direct disciple of the Sword Heart Sect?"

A cold light flashed in Li Nanyi's eyes, and his sword momentum suddenly became fierce. Shifting his stance, he stabbed out seven times in an instant, each strike aimed at Duan Xianxing's vital points.

"The Seven Absolutes of the Green Rainbow!" someone exclaimed from the sidelines.

Duan Xianxing shifted his feet slightly, his form elegant as he wove freely through the sword light. His swordplay seemed casual, yet he always managed to intercept the opponent's attacks at just the right moment.

Bang!

The two swords collided once more, and Li Nanyi was shaken back three steps. Fine beads of sweat soaked his forehead, and his sword hand trembled even more.

"You..." Li Nanyi gritted his teeth. "Have you been hiding your strength this whole time?"

Duan Xianxing flourished his sword. "The feeling is mutual."

Before his voice had even faded, he suddenly changed his moves.

The previously elegant sword momentum abruptly became fierce and powerful, each strike carrying the weight of a thousand pounds. It was a complete departure from his previous style. Some sharp-eyed cultivators recognized that the fluid transition between these sword moves was exactly the same as the technique Li Nanzhu had used before!

Although their individual sword styles were different, upon close observation, one could still see similar shadows!

"Is this the depth of the Five Elements Dao Sect?"

A spectator murmured.

On the stage, Li Nanyi's pupils constricted. He clearly hadn't expected the opponent to transition seamlessly into another type of sword move.

Forced to respond in haste, he quickly fell into a disadvantage.

Although Li Nanyi had cultivated diligently for many years in the Sword Heart Sect and possessed a solid foundation, his actual combat experience was far inferior to that of Duan Xianxing, who had spent years slaughtering demonic beasts.

Chirp!

The blade swept past, drawing a string of blood droplets. Li Nanyi groaned and hurriedly changed his move, but Duan Xianxing's offensive surged like a tide, every strike aimed at his vitals.

With another flash of sword light, the clothing on Li Nanyi's left shoulder tore, leaving behind another trail of blood.

"Concede," Duan Xianxing pointed his sword from a distance. "It's futile to keep fighting."

A ruthless look flashed in Li Nanyi's eyes. He suddenly bit the tip of his tongue and spat a mouthful of essence blood onto his sword. "Green Rainbow Piercing the Sun!"

The long sword instantly glowed with a piercing blood-red light, its power skyrocketing. This was a desperate move that involved burning essence blood; even if he won, his vitality would be severely damaged.

"Are you serious? Are you crazy?"

Duan Xianxing's mouth twitched, but he didn't dare be careless. His figure suddenly blurred as he sent out countless sword shadows toward Li Nanyi.

The referee on the scene was already prepared to intervene at any moment.

After all, neither of the people backing these two was someone to be trifled with!

Just as Li Nanyi's sword move and Duan Xianxing's sword shadows were about to collide, the expected sound of clashing metal didn't come!

The Duan Xianxing enveloped in sword shadows was actually an afterimage!

Li Nanyi realized something was wrong and was about to pull back to defend, but the real Duan Xianxing had already circled behind him and kicked him hard in the lower back.

Bang!

Li Nanyi fell heavily onto the ground outside the arena, his long sword flying from his hand.

"Arena Seven, Duan Xianxing of the Five Elements Dao Sect wins!"

The referee's announcement rang out, and the crowd burst into an uproar. No one had expected a direct disciple of the Sword Heart Sect to be defeated so decisively!

Li Nanyi struggled to climb up and silently picked up his sword.

He didn't spare a glance for Duan Xianxing. As he turned to leave, his back looked exceptionally desolate.

On the high platform, Immortal Venerable Ling Xiao's face was as dark as water.

"It seems old man Ling Xiao's disciple isn't much after all. He used every trick he had and still couldn't beat my disciple." Feng Yi toyed with his fire jade, a punchable smirk on his face.

"Hmph!" Immortal Venerable Ling Xiao suppressed his anger. "It was just a stroke of luck that he won one match. Le Changxi is a half-step Golden Core; he's more than enough to deal with that Feng Weilan!"

Feng Yi raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Then let us wait and see~"

...

"Arena Nine, Feng Weilan of the Five Elements Dao Sect against Le Changxi of the Sword Heart Sect!"

Feng Weilan walked slowly onto the arena. Opposite him, Le Changxi was dressed in white disciple robes, a long sword hanging from his waist.

Unlike Li Nanyi's overt sharpness, his aura was more restrained than it had been when they met in the Forest of Demonic Beasts. His gaze was also much steadier than before, without a trace of his previous impulsiveness.

"Fellow Daoist Feng," Le Changxi clasped his hands in a formal greeting. "I have heard much about your fame."

Feng Weilan nodded slightly in response.

"Let the match begin!"

Le Changxi took the initiative. His sword momentum was like a drizzling rain—seemingly soft, yet hiding lethal intent. This was another unique skill of the Sword Heart Sect, designed to overcome the hard with the soft, and it was the most difficult to defend against.

Feng Weilan remained unhurried as his long blade left its sheath.

His saber techniques appeared simple and unadorned, yet every strike precisely intercepted the opponent's sword momentum.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of clashing metal was endless.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged over a hundred moves, yet they were evenly matched!

"Interesting." A flash of surprise appeared in Le Changxi's eyes. "It seems the rumors were true; your saber techniques are indeed extraordinary."

He suddenly changed his moves, and his sword momentum shifted from soft to fierce. "However, this is where it ends!"

Boom!

The long sword slashed down with the force of thunder. Feng Weilan blocked with his blade but was actually shaken back three steps!

"Half-step Golden Core..." A trace of solemnity flashed in Feng Weilan's eyes.

Feng Weilan steadied himself, feeling the surging spiritual energy coming from the opponent's sword.

The power of a half-step Golden Core was indeed extraordinary, but he wasn't without a chance of winning.

"Fellow Daoist Feng of the Five Elements Dao Sect, it's not too late to concede now." Le Changxi turned his sword tip slightly, spiritual energy surging around him. "Once I unleash this strike, I'm afraid..."

Before he could finish, Feng Weilan suddenly moved.

His figure disappeared from where he stood. When he reappeared, he was already on Le Changxi's left. His long blade slashed down with a sharp whistling sound, the blade shimmering with the dual spiritual light of gold and earth.

"Gold and earth dual spiritual roots?!" Le Changxi blocked in haste and was shaken back several steps by the blow.

Feng Weilan gave him no chance to catch his breath. His saber momentum was relentless; the sharpness of the gold attribute and the heaviness of the earth attribute were perfectly fused in his techniques. Every strike was powerful yet incredibly precise.

"Your gold and earth spiritual energy is indeed remarkable." Le Changxi wasn't panicked; instead, the corners of his mouth curled up as his sword momentum suddenly intensified. "But before my fire spiritual root, you're still a bit lacking!"

Boom!

A scorching sword qi swept across. Feng Weilan was forced back three steps. Fine scorch marks had already appeared on his blade, and his gold and earth spiritual energy felt somewhat sluggish under the burning of the fire-attribute sword intent.