The man in black looked at the person before him with a hint of surprise. In his mind, I should have been facing those two Mid Stage Refining Void elders, shouldn't I? What's the deal with this Elder Su of Sword Sect? Am I being underestimated?
However, he didn't feel the slightest hint of disdain. After all, he had heard not long ago that Elder Su had overturned Luo Ritian of Wuhua Palace with a single sword strike.
Although Luo Ritian had only just stepped into the Mid Stage Refining Void, I have been immersed in this realm for decades. Luo Ritian is not comparable to me in any aspect!
"Quicksand Sect, Sha He!"
"Please enlighten me!"
Su Bei didn't rush to make a move, standing still with his palm resting on the hilt of the Qingping Sword at his waist, exuding elegance.
Although Su Bei was quite well-known, many of the spectators did not focus on his platform. More eyes were watching the two platforms exclusive to the Half-Step into Dao Integration realm!
BOOM—
The sound of swords clashing, accompanied by terrifying explosions, raged on.
Clearly, Xi Qingyi and Shui Tianyi had already crossed swords!
Su Bei did not pay attention to the sword clashes ringing in his ears. He calmly looked at Sha He in front of him, as the Spiritual Energy around his body surged continuously. The Selfless Realm and Microcosmic World were fully unleashed, every movement around him completely under his control.
Sha He said no more. He stretched out one hand, palm up, and stated straightforwardly,
"I've long heard of Elder Su. Seeing you today, your reputation is indeed well-deserved. Please!"
"..."
Sha He was not like Luo Ritian. He was a veteran Mid Stage Refining Void Elder from Quicksand Sect!
The heavy sand rain fell like steel needles. Continuous tearing and exploding sounds echoed at the point of confrontation as sharp and fearsome Spiritual Energy leaked out, riddling the platform's surface with holes like a honeycomb.
Su Bei's eyes narrowed as he retreated rapidly backward.
Under the effects of the Microcosmic World, every torrent of sand rain from the skies above seemed to move extremely slowly. With a slight shift of his body, he dodged each torrent of sand.
The Qingping Sword bloomed like a resplendent Qinglian above his head, keeping the sand rain at bay!
The sand rain struck the blade, creating a rapid and dense sound reminiscent of a multitude of crossbows firing in unison!
A contemptuous smile crossed Su Bei's lips.
I had imagined the Mid Stage Refining Void to be terrifying, but if this is all it amounts to…
HUM—
The Qingping Sword instantly shone brightly!
Azure-purple Sword Qi soared, creating an arc, followed by two, four, eight, and then sixteen!
Like an unending river, the dense, layered Sword Qi was grand and imposing.
A resplendent Qinglian bloomed in an instant!
Su Bei stomped on the ground, and a fierce wind swept in from the horizon!
The Energy of Great Dao within his body spread to the sword, and then the Spiritual Energy around his body burst forth in an instant!
"Mid Stage Refining Void!!"
In an instant, a multitude of astonished voices rose from below, all looking at the figure on the platform!
"Wasn't Elder Su in the Early Stage Refining Void? When did he advance to Mid Stage Refining Void?!"
"How is this possible?"
Wenren Pingxin, who had been paying close attention to Su Bei, suddenly stood up, her mouth half open, a look of shock on her face!
He… When did he advance to Mid Stage Refining Void?!
Sha He instinctively felt the pressure around him intensify in an instant. The resplendent Qinglian in the heavens above resisted his sky-filling sand rain!
The next moment, he sensed a blur before his eyes, and Su Bei's figure had vanished!
Immediately afterward, all the hairs on his body stood on end, and he turned around sharply.
There, he saw Su Bei's lips curved into a slight smile; they were merely an arm's length apart!
He heard Su Bei's faint voice near his ear,
"I think it's time to end this, Elder Sha He!"
"Sword Two! Brief Moment of Splendor!"
BOOM—
CLANG—
Sword Two, imbued with the Energy of Great Dao! A Sword Two that amplified his power a hundredfold, unleashed while his dual realms were active!
A flash of sword light passed!
It was a snow-white Sword Shadow, exceedingly fleeting yet stunningly beautiful!
The whistling sword wind dispersed the long hair loosely bound by his Azure Crown, letting it fly behind him. His long robe, embroidered with crabapple blossoms, fluttered and danced in the air.
A stunning streak across the sky, a brilliant flash of sword light.
All of it happened in an instant—Brief Moment of Splendor!
THUMP—
A muffled sound!
Sha He's eyes widened instantly, unable to believe the sword before his eyes!
The heavy blow to his body came not from the blade's edge, but from the flat of the sword!
BOOM—
Dust filled the sky!
Sha He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his body shooting across the sky like a meteor!
Even though numerous sand walls emerged behind him in an instant, trying to halt his backward momentum, it was all in vain!
THUD, THUD, THUD!
BOOM!!
The ground cracked open in an instant, and then everyone saw Sha He's figure fall heavily to the ground, leaving a long, crimson trail of blood.
The skin between his thumbs and forefingers had split open, his sleeves were tattered, and blood streamed continuously from the ghastly wounds!
PFFT!
A large mouthful of blood sprayed out! Sha He, eyes filled with fear, looked at the figure in white in the distance; his vision blurred, and he fainted.
Everything happened in an instant!
From Su Bei stepping onto the stage to the end of the fight, only five breaths had passed!
It took one sword! And only one sword!
The tenth competition area was dead silent.
Everyone was wide-eyed and tongue-tied, watching everything unfold. They thought it would be an evenly matched battle; how did it turn so one-sided as soon as it began?
The next moment, BOOM— The cacophony of discussions erupted instantly, echoing between heaven and earth!
"This..."
"Is Elder Su really just at the Mid Stage of Refining Void?"
"How is this possible? Even those at the Late Stage Refining Void couldn't possibly find it this easy... this is utterly overwhelming!!"
On the high platform, the group of elders from the Sacred Land also took note of this scene.
This was the fastest conclusion to an arena battle so far! The fastest, bar none!
And both competitors were even in the same realm!
Wang Tong's eyes widened in shock, staring at the figure on the stage!
What had transpired here quickly spread throughout the entire competition area!
Cultivators from all over were rushing towards the tenth competition area, staring dumbfounded at what was before them.
On the arena stage, Su Bei casually sheathed the Qingping Sword. The glorious Qinglian above the firmament slowly dissipated into the heavens and earth.
The thick dark clouds were split apart by the sky-piercing Sword Qi, revealing a line of the pitch-black firmament. Parting the clouds to reveal the night sky—a magnificent sight!
HISS—
"Is this the Sword Scripture?"
"The Sword Sect's Sword Scripture? This..."
Elder Su's combat power is this terrifying?!
Su Bei leaned on the Qingping Sword, his right hand resting on its hilt, the other hand behind his back. The night wind fluttered his long robe.
His eyes calmly took in everything before him as he spoke indifferently,
"Next!"
"..."
Upon hearing this, the elders from the various sects looked at each other.
"Elder Su is from the Sword Sect. Not only has he cultivated the Sword Scripture, but he also wields the Qingping Sword. How can we possibly fight him?"
"One person's combat strength can't possibly be this horrifying. It must be because of that Treasure of Sword Sect in Elder Su's hands, the Qingping Sword!"
A sect elder narrowed his eyes and spoke resentfully from below the stage.
Sha He was already one of their strongest at Mid Stage Refining Void, yet even he couldn't withstand a single sword strike from Su Bei. What would be the use of others going up one by one?
"If Su Bei weren't using the Qingping Sword, perhaps I, this old man, could contend with him!"
"Elder Su's realm is supreme, far beyond ours, but we still do not accept this! Holding the Treasure of Sword Sect, ultimately, is relying on external power!"
"..."
Finally, one of the elders looked at Su Bei and spoke plainly.
Immediately, the noise of discussion rose and fell. Everyone was looking at Su Bei on the stage; some agreed, some dissented!
After all, the Qingping Sword was no ordinary weapon; it was the Treasure of Sword Sect!
"The Qingping Sword is his weapon. How is he supposed to fight without it?"
"Isn't that bullying? Don't you think it's an unrighteous victory?!"
"..."
Su Bei's eyes slightly drooped, listening to the numerous voices around him. Then he raised his head, gazing at everything around him and finally spoke lightly,
"What you all say makes sense. Wielding the Qingping Sword, as I am, does indeed seem like an unfair advantage, just as you've discussed."
The expressions of the elders on the high platform were strange, unsure of what Su Bei intended to say.
Is he going to not use the Qingping Sword and just casually switch to another one?
Wenren Pingxin also wore a puzzled look, wondering what her junior martial brother was up to.
After a pause, Su Bei swiftly drew the Qingping Sword. An azure-purple sword light scattered across the sky, its brilliance enveloping the heavens!
Then, his calm voice echoed between earth and sky, long remaining in the air,
"Since that's the case, I have this one sword, the Qingping Sword."
"There are twelve Mid Stage Refining Void elders below the stage. Therefore, you twelve, join forces and battle me."
"How about that?"
His voice, like a thunderclap, exploded in everyone's hearts!
The entire place burst into uproar!
The shock was indescribable!