Sword light shot directly toward his face. He barely managed to twist half a meter to the side.
Shhk—
A deep gash split across his shoulder, slicing through his top-grade magical robe like paper.
He twisted midair to halt his momentum, leaving a whirl of air behind him.
But there was no time to dodge the next strike. Another blade of sword intent came tearing toward him, swift and merciless.
One step behind, and every step that followed fell short.
One mistake at the start, and every move afterward was wrong.
From the very beginning, Gu Qingyuan had lost the chance to turn the tables. He was on the back foot from the start.
Within just a few exchanges, his body was covered in wounds. A large chunk of his hair had been lopped off, the rest falling in a messy curtain over his shoulders.
Coupled with the bloodshot madness in his eyes, he looked like a deranged man.
The disciples watching clenched their fists in collective unease.
Pfft—!
Gu Qingyuan threw his head back and spat out another mouthful of blood. Crimson droplets stained his face and robe, painting a picture of utter misery.
"Concede, Gu Qingyuan. Just admit defeat!"
Lu Xingyao's voice cut through the air, taunting and steady.
He had been traveling far and wide, but the moment he heard Song Wanníng had severed her engagement with Gu Qingyuan—and that Gu Qingyuan had fallen into an illicit relationship with his own disciple—he had rushed to Wentian Sect to challenge him.
To Lu Xingyao, this was beyond unacceptable.
His cherished person had been insulted in the worst way.
He had to act, to vent this fury on behalf of Song Wanníng—and for himself.
His gaze grew sharper, and his killing intent surged. Blow after blow came harder than the last, forcing Gu Qingyuan back again and again until there was nowhere left to retreat.
Too many wounds to count. Clothes in tatters. Eyes red and feral.
The spectators were frozen in place. Many began to feel fear.
The Sect Leader could no longer sit still. He stood up abruptly, panic flashing in his eyes as he stared at the dueling platform.
Gu Qingyuan was finished.
The outcome was already decided. Why wouldn't he just surrender?
If his Dao heart shattered here, the Wentian Sect would lose one of its strongest champions. That would be a crippling blow.
Even Ye Chuxue couldn't stay quiet anymore. She ran to the edge of the dueling platform, ignoring the shocked gazes from the crowd, and pounded on the barrier's array lines.
"Master, I believe in you! You can come back from this!"
"I trust you, Master!"
Throughout her cultivation journey, she had survived countless disasters. Each time, she rose from the ashes and broke through to the next realm.
If she could do it, then her master surely could too!
If he conceded now, what would these people think of him?
His reputation would suffer immensely. Worse yet, it might shake his Dao heart.
"Ye Chuxue, get back here! Stop shouting nonsense!" The Sect Leader was already on edge. Hearing Ye Chuxue stir the pot made him even more furious.
If anything really happened to Gu Qingyuan, what would they do?
Better he admit defeat now and find a way to recover later. Victory was out of reach anyway. There were no other options.
But Ye Chuxue didn't listen. She kept slapping the barrier, trying to send strength and encouragement through it.
And the battered Gu Qingyuan—bloodied and reeling—did see her.
He saw Chuxue's tear-filled eyes, her look of desperation. A surge of power rose from deep within him.
He raised his sword, and with a roar, swung it once more.
Chuxue was right. He couldn't give up.
He wouldn't give up.
The blade lashed out, and the entire platform trembled violently. The sheer force of the sword intent sliced through the air with a shriek.
Lu Xingyao, calm as ever, met the strike with ease and shattered it instantly.
Again, Gu Qingyuan's momentum was crushed.
Again, he lost control.
Seeing his chance, Lu Xingyao intensified his assault.
Boom!
Gu Qingyuan was blasted backward, but he struggled back up.
Crash!
He fell again, and again he rose.
Each time, he got up slower. Wounds deep enough to reveal bone marred his body.
Then came a flash of light.
In the next breath, Gu Qingyuan crashed to the ground with a thud. The spiritual energy within him surged chaotically, spinning wildly beyond his control.
His mind was in total disarray.
So disordered, in fact, that he could no longer manipulate his qi.
Gasps filled the entire square.
Ye Chuxue stared in disbelief, unable to accept that the man collapsed on the ground was once the lofty, untouchable Sword Sovereign Qingyuan.
She still remembered the envy in everyone's eyes when she first entered the sect as his disciple.
How had everything fallen apart so quickly?
She staggered back a few steps, heart unwilling to face the reality before her.
On the platform, Lu Xingyao stood tall with his sword in hand, looking down at Gu Qingyuan.
"Gu Qingyuan. Surrender. It's not so hard to admit you're the lesser man."
His voice held a trace of pity, piercing straight through Gu Qingyuan's heart.
"I... haven't... lost..."
As long as there was breath in his lungs, he would never surrender!
Gu Qingyuan's bloodshot eyes gleamed with stubborn pride.
Lu Xingyao sighed, clicking his tongue. "Tch. I had hoped we could settle this more peacefully. But since you refuse..."
"Well then. I won't use any spiritual energy next. Don't want anyone accusing me of being too cruel." Before the words finished, his figure blinked across the stage.
Fists and feet rained down like a storm, each blow striking Gu Qingyuan with brutal precision.
His words sounded polite, but his actions were ruthless.
Boom!
Gu Qingyuan was tossed like a sandbag, unable to fight back. His qi was completely out of control. He couldn't even lift a finger, let alone counterattack. His once handsome face was now swollen and unrecognizable. His bones were shattered. Bruises covered every inch of skin. Not a spot was left untouched.
"Oh no... Elder Gu should've just admitted defeat. This is just self-torture now."
"Lu Xingyao is going too far. He's clearly humiliating him on purpose!"
"Elder Gu, get up and hit him! We're all rooting for you!"
"Don't kid yourself. He can't even control his qi anymore."
Voices rose from all around, mixing into a wave of confusion and frustration. Some disciples couldn't bear to watch and turned their heads away.
To many in the Wentian Sect, Gu Qingyuan had been their idol, their guiding star. The one they all aspired to catch up to.
Now, that same idol had fallen. The impact left them shaken and bitter. Especially since this duel affected the entire sect's reputation. Sighs echoed from every corner.
The Sect Leader slumped into his seat, too exhausted to be angry anymore.
Lu Xingyao's actions were harsh, but still within bounds. He didn't destroy Gu Qingyuan's foundation or strike a lethal blow.
There was nothing they could say.
Even if it was clearly humiliating, they had to swallow it down.
The Sect Leader cast a dark look at Ye Chuxue.
If she hadn't pushed Gu Qingyuan to keep fighting, he might have surrendered already.
Then Wentian Sect wouldn't be facing this humiliation.
And thinking back on all that had happened recently, the Sect Leader's eyes grew colder.
"This girl... keeping her around would only bring disaster."