It looked as if Ye Zhaozhao was the one holding the sword.
But everyone knew the truth—
Ye Zhaozhao was only providing spiritual power. The one truly fighting was Long Yan.
The sword spirit was facing his former master. The drama had begun.
Long Yan could no longer wait. With his mind and body linked to Ye Zhaozhao, he launched the first strike.
Exquisite sword moves burst forth instantly.
Li Shuang unfolded her sword domain, gripped the Black Abyss, and charged forward.
The clash was fierce. To the audience, it appeared as if two masters of kendo were locked in combat.
But before long, Meng Yifei and others noticed something unusual.
Meng Yifei said meaningfully, "On that stage, it looks as if two Li Shuangs are fighting."
Long Yan had been cultivated by Li Shuang, and all of his insights into the sword came from her.
His techniques were entirely in Li Shuang's style.
The two knew each other's swordsmanship too well. It was less a fight between Li Shuang and Long Yan, and more as if Li Shuang were battling her own past self.
On the ring, Li Shuang held the advantage of her sword domain, while Long Yan had Ye Zhaozhao's abundant spiritual power and the sharpness of the Dragon Roar Sword.
The outcome was finely balanced.
Long Yan concentrated fully, controlling the Dragon Roar.
"Long Yan, don't waste time—knock her off the stage!" Ye Zhaozhao's impatient voice rang out.
Her spiritual power was far greater than Li Shuang's, so why hadn't Long Yan already won? Hadn't he boasted about his formidable abilities? Why was Li Shuang still holding her ground?
Ye Zhaozhao sent a sharp telepathic message, distracting Long Yan. His blade faltered, opening a flaw in his defense.
The Black Abyss lunged, and Long Yan barely blocked.
"Zhaozhao, give me a little more time," he pleaded. "Li Shuang isn't easy to deal with."
"Not easy?" Ye Zhaozhao snapped. "Didn't you claim her swordsmanship was all thanks to you? Didn't you say she was no threat with you here? Why is she so difficult now? Or…" her tone grew cold, "do you still miss her? Are you holding back on purpose?"
Long Yan panicked. "Zhaozhao, you know my heart. I'd never think of returning to her!"
But Ye Zhaozhao didn't believe him. "So many people are watching! I must win, and I must win quickly. End this battle, or I'll think your loyalty still lies with your old master!"
Long Yan's voice rose in desperation. "Zhaozhao! I struck at Li Shuang on the snowy mountain—how can you doubt me?"
A sword spirit changing masters was already shameful. For Ye Zhaozhao, he had chosen betrayal over loyalty.
And still, she doubted him.
Normally, Ye Zhaozhao would have softened her words, but with this crucial battle, her patience had run dry.
"But what was the result?" she hissed. "Did she die? Isn't she still alive before us? Long Yan, perhaps you didn't even go all out then!"
"I—" Long Yan tried to explain, but Li Shuang's relentless strikes gave him no room. Even with Ye Zhaozhao's spiritual power, he was falling behind.
From the audience, cheers for Li Shuang swelled. Luo Mingyue shouted her name, and others followed.
Their voices echoed in Ye Zhaozhao's ears. Her face darkened with rage.
"Long Yan, can you win or not?" she demanded.
Her words were edged with fury.
Long Yan faltered. The fight had been evenly matched, but Ye Zhaozhao's constant messages shattered his focus. His swordwork grew flawed, and Li Shuang struck without mercy.
"Hurry up!" Ye Zhaozhao gritted her teeth.
Li Shuang's sword pressed harder. Ye Zhaozhao felt pain in her wrist as she clutched the hilt.
"If I had known you were this useless, I'd never have accepted you!" she spat. "All that boasting before—was it all lies? Long Yan, you disappoint me!"
Her accusations pierced deeper than Li Shuang's strikes.
Long Yan's eyes burned red.
In the sword spirit space, he glared toward Li Shuang's direction.
He had to win.He would make Li Shuang regret.He would make Zhaozhao smile.
No matter the cost.
A faint blue flame ignited within his soul, and at once it spread to the Dragon Roar Sword.
The weapon surged with terrifying power.
Li Shuang failed to dodge in time; a gash split across her arm.
"Excellent—you were hiding your strength all along!" Ye Zhaozhao exclaimed in delight. "Long Yan, keep going!"
But Long Yan said nothing. His silence carried the weight of desperation. He launched a frenzied assault.
The ordinary disciples couldn't see the truth.
But Meng Yifei and Lin Qingling instantly recognized it.
Lin Qingling's gaze snapped toward Master Lingxu. "Burning the soul? That is a technique reserved for life-and-death battles. And she allows the sword spirit to use it here, in a sect competition?"
Once a sword spirit burns its soul, the damage is irreversible.
Though the Dragon Roar's power surged, Long Yan's essence was unraveling. His tangible form would likely collapse back into intangibility. His foundation would be crippled forever.
To use such a reckless technique in a trial was unthinkable.
Lingxu Zhenren remained impassive. "It may not be Zhaozhao's intention. Perhaps Long Yan, obsessed with defeating Li Shuang, chose it himself."
Meng Yifei shook his head. "Too late to stop him now."
The duel could not be interrupted unless lives were in danger.
Unaware of the consequences, Ye Zhaozhao rejoiced at the sudden surge in power. To her, it only proved Long Yan had been holding back until she forced him.
The tide of battle shifted.
Ye Zhaozhao smirked at Li Shuang. "Senior Sister, I was only letting you show a few moves earlier. Now, I'll get serious."
Li Shuang shot her a cold glance.
This fool. She had no idea what Long Yan was sacrificing.
But since it was his choice, Li Shuang would honor it with a proper response.
The burning soul blazed brighter.
Long Yan launched his killing move, the Dragon Roar sweeping with overwhelming might.
Lin Qingling stood, her expression tense. Should she intervene?
If she didn't, Li Shuang's life might be at risk.If she did, Li Shuang would lose immediately.
Would Xiaoshuang accept such interference?
Her hands clenched, her body rigid.
On the stage, Li Shuang faced the terrifying strike.
Instead of fear, she smiled.
She had intended to hide it a while longer.
But fate was forcing her hand.
Very well.
They would now witness the sword technique she had just mastered.
The Dragon Roar descended, a golden dragon coiling through the sky.
Li Shuang lifted her gaze, her figure swallowed in its shadow.
Then—
her hand moved.
Her sword answered.