For several minutes, Lin Feng had intentionally 'played weak', holding back the Scarlet Soul Flying Sword's full power, all to set up this decisive strike. He had deliberately restrained the sword's aura to the level of a low-grade spiritual artifact, precisely to bait his opponent into a direct clash of flying swords.
Loong Tian'ao, his cultivation not yet reaching the Golden Core realm, failed to perceive the Scarlet Soul's true grade. Instead, he saw Lin Feng's sword duel as falling right into his trap, a suicidal move. He never imagined that with each successive clash, his own flying sword was being subtly worn down by Lin Feng's Scarlet Soul. By the time he realized it, it was far too late.
Lin Feng seized the precise moment to unleash the Scarlet Soul's full might. In one devastating blow, he shattered the opponent's flying sword!!
This was the decisive advantage of superior weapon grade. Even though Loong Tian'ao was a sword cultivator with far more refined sword control than Lin Feng, he couldn't withstand Lin Feng's strategy of overwhelming force crushing finesse. A single lapse in vigilance led to the destruction of his prized weapon.
The destruction of the flying sword triggered a chain reaction. Loong Tian'ao's divine sense was injured, his concentration shattered, and his true essence ran wild. The spiritual barrier before him flickered dangerously, destabilized. Lin Feng capitalized on this perfect opening, commanding his flying sword to deliver the fatal strike!
Yes, Lin Feng intended to kill. Since the other party had openly declared their intent to kill and seize treasures, there was no reason to show mercy—especially since they were from the Absolute Sword Sect! This made silencing them even more crucial. If word got out that he possessed information about the Spirit Spring, it would spell immense trouble!
"AAARRGH!!!"
Lost in the shock and agony of his sword's destruction and soul injury, Loong Tian'ao was jolted by the instinctive scream of impending death. From the corner of his eye, he saw the enemy's lethal projectile streaking towards him. Uttering a strangled cry of pure terror, he threw himself unceremoniously to the right in a desperate, graceless dive.
"SCRAPE!! THUMP!!!"
Despite being the Absolute Sword Sect's Young Master, Loong Tian'ao's cultivation hadn't reached the Golden Core realm, disqualifying him from possessing spiritual artifact-grade defensive treasures. The Spirit Light Jade Talisman in his hand was merely a top-grade treasure artifact. Combined with his wildly fluctuating true essence, it stood no chance against the Scarlet Soul. It shattered with a thunderous "CRACK!" under the impact. Unstoppable, the Scarlet Soul continued its deadly trajectory towards Loong Tian'ao!
"SHHHLICK!!!"
The sickening sound of rending flesh nearly stopped Loong Tian'ao's heart with terror. Then, excruciating pain exploded from his left flank…
"I'm hit!!" A chill of dread washed over him, mingled with a sliver of desperate relief. He had managed to twist away from a vital organ strike! Though his side was deeply gashed, it wasn't a chest-piercing blow. He had narrowly escaped death!
"Mid-grade… his sword is actually a mid-grade spiritual artifact!! How could—"
The thought, filled with disbelief and horror, flashed through Loong Tian'ao's mind as he savored his momentary reprieve. But before he could finish it, his eyes suddenly bulged grotesquely, almost popping from their sockets. His face drained of all color, turning ghostly pale!
"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
A split-second of rigid paralysis was followed by his legs buckling beneath him. He crashed heavily to the ground, unleashing a hysterical shriek of soul-deep agony!
The bloody gash on his flank wasn't the cause of this complete collapse. The unbearable torment came from deep within his very essence — his soul!
Undoubtedly, this was the Scarlet Soul Flying Sword's unique ability: Soul Damage!
Instantly, Loong Tian'ao lost all composure. He writhed on the ground, clutching his head in unbearable torment, utterly defenseless.
"Whoosh!"
Simultaneously, the Scarlet Soul Flying Sword arced gracefully through the air above him. Without a shred of mercy, it plunged straight towards the helpless, thrashing figure of Loong Tian'ao!!
...
...
On the other battlefield, Wei Wuyi had fallen into a state of profound shock shortly after the battle commenced.
"A Sword Cultivator!!"
After just a few exchanges of flying swords with the Swordsman, Wei Wuyi's pupils constricted as he made the realization—this opponent was also a sword cultivator!!
Within the Xiabo cultivation world, the Absolute Sword Sect was the only established sword cultivator sect. Independent sword cultivators were exceedingly rare, and Wei Wuyi was familiar with most renowned, powerful ones. Yet, he had never heard of a twenty-something-year-old Golden Core sword cultivator genius emerging in Xiabo.
This discovery sent a heavy weight plummeting into Wei Wuyi's gut. He realized the situation was far more complex and dangerous than he had initially anticipated.
Earlier, while he had felt a flicker of caution towards the Swordsman, he hadn't truly considered him a major threat. Even if the man possessed some skill, Wei Wuyi, confident in his own prowess as a sword cultivator, believed he could dismantle any technique the opponent might use, perhaps at a minor cost. But learning the opponent was also a sword cultivator instantly chipped away at his absolute confidence. As their duel raged on, his shock deepened. Despite being several minor cultivation layers lower, the Swordsman's sword control was every bit as refined as his own. In fact, in many nuanced maneuvers, it seemed… superior!
He was the one who had inherited the Absolute Sword Sect's legacy and cultivated diligently for nearly a century! Yet this opponent, barely past twenty, matched him stride for stride on the path of the sword! Apart from 'genius', Wei Wuyi could find no other descriptor.
The loss of his inherent advantage as a sword cultivator – a rarity in his decades-long career – ignited a spark of uncontrollable anxiety and unease within him.
"Even if you are a sword cultivator, your cultivation stops at the third layer of Golden Core! Even in a battle of endurance, you are no match for me!!"
Forcing himself to regain composure, Wei Wuyi settled on a strategy of weathering the storm. He would leverage his superior cultivation base to outlast his opponent in true essence reserves.
Meanwhile, the Swordsman seemed either oblivious to this tactic or unconcerned. He remained wholly focused on controlling his flying sword, showing no sign of resorting to other methods. This secretly pleased Wei Wuyi.
Wei Wuyi also spared glances at the other duel. What he saw astounded him. He had assumed Loong Tian'ao would dispatch the mere second-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator with ease. Instead, he witnessed the opponent producing a flying sword of his own, engaging Loong Tian'ao in a surprisingly 'deadlocked' battle!
Wei Wuyi had long sensed Lin Feng was unusual, noticing during their first encounter at the inn that the young man wore a Spirit Armor robe – not something an average cultivator possessed. However, Lin Feng's abysmally low cultivation level had prevented Wei Wuyi from paying him serious attention. Seeing Lin Feng wield a flying sword now made him realize he had gravely underestimated the youth.
Still, even knowing Lin Feng possessed a flying sword, Wei Wuyi remained confident in Loong Tian'ao's ability to prevail quickly.
Mid-battle, constant vigilance elsewhere was impossible. After his initial assessment, Wei Wuyi poured his full concentration back into his own duel with the Swordsman.
Yet, merely minutes later, a sound ripped through the air that froze Wei Wuyi's blood – Loong Tian'ao's agonized, despairing scream!
Wei Wuyi's face contorted. He whipped his head around, only to witness a scene that filled him with abject horror!
He saw Loong Tian'ao inexplicably collapsed defenseless on the ground, writhing in apparent agony. And hovering above him, a flying sword blazing with crimson-silver light was plunging downwards!
If that strike landed, Loong Tian'ao was unquestionably dead!
...
"NO!!"
Terror seized Wei Wuyi's heart and soul. His pupils shrank to pinpoints. With unprecedented urgency, he channeled every shred of his true essence. He flung his hand desperately towards Loong Tian'ao, roaring his command!
"ZZZIIIINGG!!!"
A brilliant, azure streak of light tore through the sky with unimaginable speed, arcing from above Wei Wuyi's head and streaking towards Loong Tian'ao!
"FWOOSH—CLANG!!!"
Propelled by Wei Wuyi's full-power eruption, the speed of his flying sword was phenomenal. It arrived later but struck first, intercepting the Scarlet Soul Flying Sword a mere meter above Loong Tian'ao's prone form at the absolute last possible instant!
"Huummm…" The Scarlet Soul shuddered violently upon impact, sent spinning wildly away without resistance. The vibration of its blade produced a sound eerily like a wounded cry.
"Ungh!!" Simultaneously, Lin Feng grunted as if struck by a physical blow to the head. His true essence faltered, and he instantly lost control of the Scarlet Soul.
"DIE!!"
Seeing his desperate rescue succeed, Wei Wuyi exhaled sharply in profound relief. Simultaneously, murderous intent exploded in his eyes. With a vicious roar, he swept his right hand sideways, intending to command his flying sword to annihilate Lin Feng in one decisive stroke.
"YOU DIE FIRST!!!"
But at that critical moment, the Swordsman's furious shout ripped through the air beside Wei Wuyi's ear. Wei Wuyi's expression contorted in sudden, absolute terror. He whirled around just in time to see a blindingly cold, razor-sharp flying sword already piercing the air less than an arm's length from his face!