Chapter 160: Chapter 159 Winding Mountain Path_1
Inside Celestial Fairy Town, Jianghu guests came and went in a hurry, deliberately avoiding the direction of the teahouse, because a life-and-death duel was taking place there.
Two True Disciples of the Divine Intent Sect were clashing fiercely. One of them was even a renowned genius on the Heavenly List.
Some bold and skilled individuals wanted to observe what was happening, but most people preferred to avoid the conflict, lest they become innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire.
WHOOSH, WHOOSH.
Two Jianghu guests leaped up and landed nimbly near the teahouse. The Light Skill they used was called Ladder Cloud Leap, a widely practiced Light Skill in the Jianghu.
Their gazes instantly fixed on the two battling outside the teahouse.
"Hey, isn’t that Ling Chen, the one rumored to have died on Ghost Fog Mountain? How is he still alive and well?" one of them exclaimed in astonishment.
"Yes, it’s common knowledge now. Unexpectedly, not only is Ling Chen alive, but he’s also here battling Yu Qingxuan, ranked thirty-third on the Heavenly List."
"It’s a good thing we rushed over as soon as we heard the news. If Ling Chen wins, the Heavenly List will change. If we sell this information to the Myriad Dao Sect, we’ll definitely make a fortune."
"Makes sense. Look, they’re fighting again!"
As they spoke, the two outside the teahouse re-engaged in battle.
Two streams of sword qi clashed, sending dust and stones flying as a wild wind suddenly howled.
Amidst the swirling dust, only two intersecting white figures could be seen. The dazzling glint of swords, reflecting the sunlight, was extremely harsh on the eyes, leaving onlookers dazed and bewildered.
In the dust, a slender white figure abruptly soared over ten meters into the air. Then, she dramatically changed direction in mid-flight, turned her sword, and aimed its point directly at Ling Chen below.
"Qingfeng Violent Dragon!"
Yu Qingxuan’s sword strike radiated a ferocious aura, like an enraged Violent Dragon descending from the sky, intent on suppressing Ling Chen.
Ling Chen had seen Song Hailan use this move before, but Yu Qingxuan’s execution now was far more formidable. If Yu Qingxuan’s sword strike was like a Violent Dragon, then Song Hailan’s had been merely that of a whelp, a dragon cub. The two were leagues apart.
"Thousands of Mountains and Rivers!"
Ling Chen showed no fear. He stomped on the ground, his body soaring upwards as he thrust his sword out, imbued with the might of Thousands of Mountains and Rivers.
PING!
The tips of the two swords met. Incredibly sharp sword qi slashed about furiously. True Qi formed a semi-circular aura around each of them, which then violently collided.
Yu Qingxuan’s arm moved, and another surge of cyan True Qi was infused into her sword. The tip of her sword bent, then abruptly snapped back.
In an instant, Yu Qingxuan’s lithe body was flung away; she once again used the force to propel herself into mid-air.
But the next moment, her sword plunged straight down again, even more fiercely than her previous strike.
Seeing this, Ling Chen also channeled all his Lingtian True Qi, not daring the slightest distraction or negligence. The woman before him was indeed a remarkably formidable opponent.
Any carelessness could lead to defeat, or even death.
PING!
With a glint of starlight in his eyes, Ling Chen raised his sword to meet the attack. The tips of the two swords struck each other again, and sparks flew at the point of contact.
HISSS, HISSS, HISSS!
The ferocious True Qi, incredibly fine, stirred after the collision, generating streaks of electric snakes that wriggled in mid-air.
However, those sharp streams of sword qi spread out, sweeping in all directions.
SHINK!
A stray stream of sword qi shot onto a pillar of the teahouse, leaving a deep mark.
One of the two Jianghu guests who had been hiding rubbed his arms and looked at his companion.
"Why do I suddenly have goosebumps all over?"
"Me too. My scalp suddenly feels numb," the other nodded, feeling the same.
"This is too intense! Senior Sister Yu Qingxuan, well, she’s an expert on the Heavenly List and a disciple personally trained by Vice-Head Ye Nantian. It’s normal for her to be strong. But Ling Chen, to actually be able to contend with her without falling into a disadvantage—that’s simply incredible!"
Xiao Muyu had retreated to a safe distance far away. Watching the heart-stopping battle before her, her heart churned.
She and Ling Chen are already quite familiar, but his strength never ceases to amaze her. This man can only be described as an anomaly. Perhaps it was the excellent genes of the two Top Sky Apex Strong that created this martial arts anomaly?
"Break for me!"
A trace of ruthlessness flashed across Yu Qingxuan’s face. As she let out a sharp cry, her long black hair suddenly billowed out, and an astonishing shockwave erupted from the point where their sword tips met.
Under this tremendous impact, Ling Chen’s body was flung backward; his Sword Momentum shattered and dissipated like smoke.
Damn! Xiao Muyu’s pretty face changed color suddenly.
In a duel between swordsmen, Sword Momentum is paramount. Sword Momentum is something that is gradually built up during combat. Once broken, it’s difficult to regather for a while. Even an ordinary person, if they lose their morale in a fight, would undoubtedly be defeated.
"Ling Chen’s advantage is gone!"
The two Jianghu guests shook their heads. In this situation, Ling Chen was doomed to lose.
Ling Chen, don’t blame me, Yu Qingxuan thought as she pressed her advantage, attacking Ling Chen. Ling Chen, whose Sword Momentum she had broken, was, in her eyes, already destined for defeat. With this strike, she would kill Ling Chen.
But at the same time, she felt a pang of regret.
Ling Chen’s talent is astounding. In the future, he would surely be an influential figure of the younger generation. Yet now, he was to die at her hands, his own fellow martial sister. But this was her master’s will, and she could not disobey it. So, even if she was fated to regret this strike, she had no choice but to execute it.
"Don’t speak too soon."
At that very moment, Ling Chen, still flying backward, swiftly spun in mid-air. Astonishingly, he turned around. Simultaneously, the Mountain and Water Sword Intent from him surged forth, causing the surrounding air to boil.
The artistic conception of Thousands of Mountains and Rivers was rapidly dissipating.
In adversity, Ling Chen powerfully swung his sword.
"Landscape Swordsmanship, Fifth Form: Winding Mountain Path!"
With this strike, Ling Chen’s Sword Momentum soared once more, completing a wondrous transformation, carrying an artistic conception of finding an unexpected path when all seems lost.
What?
Yu Qingxuan was greatly shocked. She hadn’t expected that Ling Chen, under such circumstances, could still execute such an ingenious counter-attacking sword strike. It was simply inconceivable.
This sword strike was timed perfectly.
SHLICK!
The Heavenly Emperor Heavy Sword swept past Yu Qingxuan’s side. The sword qi sliced into flesh; a bloody mark swiftly appeared on her. The white clothes on her shoulder were torn open, rapidly staining red with blood.