When the vibration of the sword tips meeting finally subsided, a sharp light flashed simultaneously in the eyes of both combatants.
At almost the exact same moment, majestic spiritual energy erupted from within them both!
Boom—
Two powerful spiritual energy fields collided violently. An airwave rippled outward with the two of them as the epicenter, making the protection barrier hum and shake.
Gasps of shock came from the spectator stands, as many disciples were forced back several steps by the sudden spiritual energy impact.
Qi Yunze’s Heart-Probing Sword glowed with a pure white light. "Fellow Daoist Mu, be careful!"
Mu Wenyan also smiled slightly. "Please!"
Their figures moved like lightning, shifting rapidly across the arena.
Sword light and spiritual energy intertwined, producing deafening roars. Every clash made the ground tremble and the air distort.
"Too fast! I can't see them at all!" a disciple cried out.
Duan Xianxing grabbed the railing excitedly. "This is a true nascent soul duel! The matches before this were nothing compared to this!"
Li Nanzhu focused her gaze. Although she couldn't see the specific moves, she could feel two completely different intents of the Dao clashing intensely.
All cultivators, upon reaching the nascent soul stage, must choose a path—this is the time when their resonance with heaven and earth is strongest, making it the easiest to find a Great Dao that fits them.
However, in the cultivation world, there are always those extraordinary geniuses who have already solidified their Dao heart as early as the golden core stage or even the foundation establishment stage.
This is both a talent and a risk. If the chosen path conflicts with the Great Dao they are truly suited for, their cultivation will be hindered at best, and their Dao foundation will be damaged at worst.
When that happens, one is often forced to painfully discard their Dao and start over. This process is extremely agonizing, equivalent to destroying one’s own roots to cultivate anew; the cost is undeniably heavy.
Those who can choose a path early and achieve perfect harmony with the Great Dao are truly as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.
Therefore, most cultivators spend their time in the nascent soul stage repeatedly meditating and sensing before finding the path that suits them.
Li Nanzhu already knew from the original story script that Qi Yunze’s path was the Heartless Dao. But what about her Eldest Senior Brother’s path... what exactly was it?
Boom—
Following another violent collision, both men were sent flying backward at the same time, yet they stabilized themselves in mid-air, their sword tips pointing at each other once again.
"Invigorating!" Qi Yunze laughed loudly, his battle intent soaring higher.
"Thoroughly enjoyable!" Mu Wenyan’s eyes shone with excitement.
On the judges' bench, the various sect leaders watched the duel with solemn expressions.
Zhao Wufeng stroked his beard and sighed. "These two children have actually pushed the power of the nascent soul stage to such a level!"
Ling Xiao’s eyes were also full of complex emotions. "When the two of us were at the nascent soul stage... we didn't seem to possess this kind of strength."
The weight behind those words was significant—of those who could cultivate to the soul transformation stage, which one among them had not been a peerless genius who once dominated their entire generation?
"The indigo blue is extracted from the indigo plant but is even bluer than the plant itself. The younger generation truly surpasses the old," Liu Changhe chuckled and shook his head, though his gaze never left the two intersecting figures in the arena.
Suisui stood up on Li Nanzhu’s shoulder, its soul fire flickering along with the changes in the sword moves.
In the arena, the sound of clashing swords became increasingly clear and melodious. Mu Wenyan’s sword momentum suddenly shifted, striking directly at Qi Yunze’s center. Qi Yunze remained unperturbed, his Heart-Probing Sword drawing a profound arc to precisely parry the incoming strike.
"Good!" Zhao Wufeng couldn't help but cheer.
Although Ling Xiao’s expression didn't change, he nodded slightly. "Yunze’s move of clarity of mind and nature has truly grasped the essence of the sword heart inheritance."
After another hundred moves passed, Qi Yunze shifted his stance. A pure white light emanated from the Heart-Probing Sword, growing brighter and brighter until it gradually enveloped the entire arena.
"Light Radiant Over the Nine Provinces!"
The blinding light was like a scorching sun hanging in the sky. Many disciples with lower cultivation couldn't help but raise their hands to cover their eyes.
Light-attribute techniques have a suppressive effect on most cultivators. Under this intense light, opponents often find it difficult to even open their eyes, let alone respond accurately.
Mu Wenyan frowned slightly in the brilliant glare, but he did not panic.
He knew well that his dark spiritual root must not be exposed; he could only rely on his sword dao cultivation to endure.
"Eldest Senior Brother..." Li Nanzhu gripped the railing in worry.
She understood how difficult her brother's situation was—he had to both deal with the suppression of the light-attribute technique and hide the characteristics of his dark spiritual root.
Though Mu Wenyan appeared calm on the surface, fine beads of sweat had already broken out on his forehead.
The natural suppression of light-attribute techniques over a dark spiritual root was not something that could be completely negated by sword dao cultivation alone.
Just then, Mu Wenyan’s sword momentum changed once more!
His figure became as elusive as drifting clouds, and a sudden, indescribable and profound intent was added to his sword moves.
"This is..." On the judges' bench, Ling Xiao suddenly stood up, his eyes wide with shock. "My Ling Xiao Sword Scripture?!"
This was the most exquisite defensive move in the Ling Xiao Sword Scripture, yet because it didn't suit Qi Yunze’s style, he hadn't been able to teach it to him.
As for his other disciples, although he had wanted to teach them, they were unable to fully comprehend it due to the required level of perception and sword intent. Usually, they practiced the techniques of the Sword Heart Sect instead.
Now, a disciple of the Five Elements Dao Sect had actually used his move. Beneath his anger, he couldn't hide his sense of pleasant surprise, but he still turned to glare at Feng Yi with fury.
"Feng Yi! You promised not to transcribe the Sword Scripture!"
Feng Yi gave a lazy yawn and said nonchalantly, "Don't come to me with your madness. This sect leader truly didn't transcribe it."
"Then where did this move come from?" Ling Xiao’s tone was stern. "This is a sword move I created myself!"
In the arena, Mu Wenyan’s swordplay became increasingly exquisite.
Under the suppression of the intense light, he actually used this sword move to perfectly neutralize the advantage of the light-attribute technique. His sword momentum was like clouds and mist, making it impossible for anyone to pin him down.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Feng Yi slowly picked up his teacup. "Ling Xiao, have you forgotten? Scripts are dead, but people are alive. Some geniuses can grasp the essence of sword intent just by looking at it a few times."
Naturally, he wouldn't tell Ling Xiao that this was the result of his own disciples’ transcription efforts; he simply pushed all the credit onto his eldest disciple. After all, watching Ling Xiao’s exasperated expression was truly delightful.
Ling Xiao’s expression shifted between various emotions.
He naturally knew Mu Wenyan was a sword dao genius, but surely he couldn't be more talented than a Natural Sword Physique?
He had specifically had Zhao Wufeng ask Duan Xianxing in private, and that boy had personally said the Sword Scripture was too profound to be mastered in a single day.
Duan Xianxing definitely wouldn't lie in front of a soul transformation cultivator—after all, those at that stage can sense whether someone is telling the truth.
That was why Li Nanzhu’s tirade at the Immortal Ascension Assembly had enraged Ling Xiao so much; it was because he could feel that every word she said came from the bottom of her heart!
Now Feng Yi was saying that someone could grasp the essence of the Sword Scripture just by observing it? This was simply preposterous!
But none of them realized: Duan Xianxing indeed couldn't tell a lie, but he didn't necessarily have to tell the whole truth either.
If one day wasn't enough to master it, wouldn't ten days or half a month be sufficient?
Ling Xiao stared intensely at Feng Yi’s solemn face and couldn't help but begin to doubt his life—was his Ling Xiao Sword Scripture really that easy to master?
He turned his head to look at his own direct disciples, his gaze becoming complex.
Qu Chen and the others felt bewildered by their master's look, and they glanced at each other, wondering what they had done wrong.
The more Ling Xiao looked at them, the angrier he became.
"You lot! After today's matches are over, all of you are going back for extra training!"
Qu Chen and the others: "?"
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