"Lin Feng, watch yourself!!"
Seeing Wei Wuyi make his move, the Swordsman's eyes sharpened. He barked out the warning and immediately flung the longsword in his right hand forward. With a resonant "Zing!", the blade leaped from its scabbard like a diving dragon, streaking through the air to meet Wei Wuyi's attacking flying sword head-on.
—His longsword was actually a flying sword as well!
Moreover, the fierce, vibrating sword energy radiating from it indicated its grade was no lower than Wei Wuyi's weapon; it, too, was a mid-grade spiritual artifact!!
"CLANG!!!"
Swift as the thought, the two flying swords collided mid-air, equidistant between their masters. A crisp metallic clang rang out, accompanied by an explosion of dazzling sparks. Both swords recoiled violently, knocked back by the impact.
The exchange ended in a deadlock!!
Beside the Swordsman, Lin Feng had already reacted the moment the warning was given. Pushing off with his feet, he darted sideways, putting distance between himself and the Swordsman. This both prevented him from being caught in the crossfire of two Golden Core cultivators and avoided potentially hindering the Swordsman's movements.
"Whoosh!!"
He had barely put ten meters between them, with no time to even glance at their clash, when a sharp whistling sound tore through the air beside his ear. Lin Feng's expression instantly changed. Without the slightest hesitation, he threw himself backward. A flying sword gleaming with golden light shot past, the razor-sharp tip missing his chest by a hair's breadth.
Before he could fully regain his footing, the golden streak reversed direction with unnerving agility. Lin Feng whipped up his Scarlet Soul Flying Sword to block. "Clang!" The golden sword was deflected, but the jarring impact sent a wave of pain through his wrist. Hastily, he scrambled back several more meters, momentarily thrown off balance.
Finally steady, he looked up, his expression grim. The golden streak had already flown back to Loong Tian'ao's side. Loong Tian'ao stood there, a look of mocking disdain plastered across his face as he stared Lin Feng down.
"Hmph! Brat, never expected this, did you?" Loong Tian'ao sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Running into me right here, right now… Today, this young master will make sure you learn the price of crossing me!"
Loong Tian'ao watched Lin Feng with the predatory glee of a cat toying with a cornered mouse—thoroughly savoring this moment of perceived dominance. He silently wished Lin Feng would 'cooperate' a little more, perhaps showing some fear, despair, or frantic pleas for mercy; that would make it perfect.
"Idiot…"
Lin Feng curled his lip dismissively. He risked a quick, concerned glance towards the Swordsman's battle. He saw the man controlling his flying sword, locked in a relentless aerial duel with Wei Wuyi's blade. Neither seemed to employ other techniques, solely focused on mastering their swords. Remarkably, they appeared evenly matched.
The Swordsman was only at the third layer of Golden Core, while Wei Wuyi stood at the sixth—a substantial gap in cultivation. Crucially, Wei Wuyi was a dedicated sword cultivator, specializing in flying swords! Yet, the Swordsman held his own. This renewed Lin Feng's deep respect for his companion's hidden depths.
"BASTARD!! DIE!!!"
Seeing Lin Feng seemingly 'ignore' him again, just like back in the inn, fury ignited within Loong Tian'ao like a volcano. Veins bulged on his forehead, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. With a vicious swipe of his right hand, the golden flying sword beside him howled through the air, aimed squarely at Lin Feng's heart!
"Hmph!!" Lin Feng's gaze hardened. He raised his right hand and hurled the Scarlet Soul forward. Simultaneously, he channeled his true essence, commanding sharply, "Go!!"
"ZING!!"
Instead of falling to the ground, the Scarlet Soul Flying Sword trembled as if alive, emitting a sound akin to a joyful cry. Brilliant crimson-silver light exploded from it, transforming the blade into a blurry streak of radiance as it shot forth to intercept Loong Tian'ao's golden sword.
"CLANG!!!"
An instant later, a loud, clear clang echoed across the clearing. The two flying swords collided violently in mid-air, shuddering upon impact before bouncing violently apart.
"WHAT?!" Loong Tian'ao's face instantly contorted in shock, his eyes bulging wide with utter disbelief.
Lin Feng halted his flying sword in the air before him. Observing Loong Tian'ao's stunned expression, he stated coolly, "Did you think… you were the only one with a flying sword?"
"A flying sword?!!" Loong Tian'ao finally snapped out of his stupor, gasping in astonishment. "Impossible!! You're merely a Foundation Establishment second-layer trash… how could you possibly possess a flying sword?!"
"Impossible? Then test it yourself!"
A cold glint flashed in Lin Feng's eyes. At his mental command, the hovering Scarlet Soul erupted. Its sword aura flared dramatically, releasing an intense, scorching heat that distorted the air around the blade. With another resonant hum, the flying sword shot forward again like lightning, targeting Loong Tian'ao directly.
"AAAH!!"
Loong Tian'ao roared, panic momentarily overriding his anger. He frantically directed his own golden sword to intercept. Another sharp "Clang!" rang out as the swords clashed and recoiled once more. This time, however, Lin Feng didn't pause. He seized the initiative, immediately commanding his sword to press the attack relentlessly.
"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!!"
A rapid succession of metallic strikes filled the air. The Scarlet Soul flew with overwhelming momentum, its crimson light surging, actually seeming to gain the upper hand for a moment.
"AAARGH!! DON'T GET COCKY!! DIE!!"
Loong Tian'ao boiled with humiliated rage. He refused to believe that a Foundation Establishment second-layer ant, someone he had previously thought he could crush like a bug, now possessed a flying sword just like him. This brutal assault on his pride and confidence ignited a towering inferno of fury within him; he wanted nothing more than to tear Lin Feng limb from limb.
With a furious bellow, Loong Tian'ao formed a complex hand seal with his right hand. Turbulent true essence surged within him. He thrust his finger towards the sky. Instantly, his golden flying sword erupted with blinding radiance, its apparent size doubling in an instant! It whistled through the air with terrifying force. "BANG!!" The Scarlet Soul was violently battered far aside. The golden sword barely shuddered, its unstoppable momentum carrying it straight towards Lin Feng!
"Whump…"
"CLANG!!!"
Just as a cruel grin twisted Loong Tian'ao's lips, anticipating Lin Feng's demise, a sudden flash of golden light appeared before Lin Feng. Faster than the eye could follow, it coalesced into a shimmering spiritual barrier. Loong Tian'ao's sword slammed into the barrier, producing a deafening metallic clang before being violently rebounded!
Lin Feng had activated his Spirit Light Bracer on his left wrist just in time. While blocking this vicious strike, he simultaneously commanded his Scarlet Soul to launch a counter-attack towards Loong Tian'ao.
Loong Tian'ao's triumph instantly turned to terror. He desperately tried to recall his sword for defense, but it was too late. With a panicked motion, he raised his left hand. A golden jade talisman clutched within it flared brightly, projecting its own protective spiritual barrier around him. Almost simultaneously, an ear-splitting "SCRAAAPE!" sounded right in front of his face! Cold sweat drenched his back. Seeing Lin Feng's flying sword deflected off his barrier, he slumped inwardly with profound temporary relief.
This exchange forced a sliver of caution back into Loong Tian'ao's rage-clouded mind. He recalled his golden flying sword, intercepting the Scarlet Soul midway. The two blades locked into a fierce, intricate duel once more.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!…"
Like butterflies dancing amidst flowers, the two flying swords whirled, dipped, and soared through the air. They clashed repeatedly, their sharp impacts creating a near-continuous metallic symphony. A tense stalemate seemed to settle over their duel.
"Hmph! So that's your trump card? No wonder you dared to act so arrogantly! But," Loong Tian'ao sneered inwardly, his initial shock replaced by cold fury and calculation as he regained his composure, "a mere Foundation Establishment second-layer wretch dares to duel me with flying swords? You're practically begging for death!!"
He had clearly seen it now. Lin Feng's sword control was crude and clumsy, utterly incomparable to his own refined techniques. Challenging a sword cultivator to a flying sword duel was inherently foolish. Loong Tian'ao was certain that within ten minutes, Lin Feng's meager true essence reserves would be exhausted. Once that happened, he would find the perfect opening and deliver a single, fatal blow.
Thinking this, Loong Tian'ao deliberately intensified his assault. He commanded his golden sword to strike faster and harder, raining down blows without respite, denying Lin Feng any chance to recover.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!!"
The frequency of the clashing sounds increased dramatically. Loong Tian'ao's blade battered relentlessly against the Scarlet Soul, each impact pushing it back incrementally. A smirk of triumph grew wider on Loong Tian'ao's face; victory seemed tantalizingly close.
"CLANG!! CRACK…"
Abruptly, a different sound pierced the rhythm of clangs, freezing Loong Tian'ao mid-thought.
Simultaneously, an intense gleam sparked in Lin Feng's eyes. He roared internally, pouring every ounce of his true essence into his command. His right hand snapped up, finger pointing straight at the duel!
"ZZZIIIINGG!!!"
In that instant, the Scarlet Soul Flying Sword, which had been seemingly 'retreating' under the golden sword's relentless assault, erupted with ferocious brilliance! Its aura multiplied several times over! It cut through the air like a searing meteor, striking Loong Tian'ao's golden flying sword with devastating force!
"KRA-KOOM!!!"
"CRACK!!!"
A collision louder than any before thundered across the field, followed instantly by the sickening sound of shattering metal. Loong Tian'ao watched in sheer, petrifying horror as his cherished flying sword… was cleanly severed into two pieces!
"WHAT?!"
Loong Tian'ao's pupils contracted violently to pinpoints. Before he could even process the sight, a searing pain erupted in his mind. "Pfft!" He doubled over, spraying a mouthful of bright crimson blood onto the ground before him.
The flying sword was linked directly to his soul essence. Its destruction instantly inflicted severe damage upon his own soul, amplified by the utter lack of mental preparation. His internal true essence violently convulsed. The shimmering spiritual barrier protecting him flickered wildly like a dying candle flame, its stability shattered.
"WHOOSH!!!"
At that exact moment of vulnerability, a sharp whistling sound screamed towards him. Loong Tian'ao's head snapped up in abject terror. He saw Lin Feng's Scarlet Soul Flying Sword, unimpeded and unstoppable, piercing through the air directly at his heart!