Chapter 288: Chapter 207: Battle at the Peak of Refining Void!! Decisive Battle on the Ascension Platform (12)_1
Gazing at the hint of dawn spreading across the sky, Su Bei stepped out of his room.
Perhaps because of what he had seen in his dream, Su Bei felt a river-like rush of Spiritual Energy within him, flowing out from the Qi Sea of his Dantian, coursing through every bone and sinew, seemingly providing him with an endless supply of strength! It felt even stronger than it had just a few days ago.
Upon arriving at the rendezvous point, all the Sword Sect Disciples wore somber expressions, enveloped by an atmosphere of solemnity. At Wenren Pingxin’s command to set off, they all flew toward Azure Cloud Mountain.
Azure Cloud Mountain was still teeming with people. If the most spectacular event in the eyes of the world was the struggle for elemental Dao, then what they most anticipated was perhaps this very contest between blade and sword.
Sword and blade, the two most common weapons in the world—did this struggle also prove which one was truly the foremost among weapons?
If one looked back a thousand years, there was nothing to argue about. One sword broke the Broken Sword River, one sword entombed the Inverted Heaven, one sword brought frost to the Twenty-One Provinces... every reference was to the sword; even the unbeatable Wilderness Cultivators were but ghosts slain by the sword.
"Hurry up and start fighting! I bet a thousand spirit stones on the Sword Sect!!"
"?? Are you crazy?"
"Haven’t you heard the saying? ’Bet the opposite, and you’ll get a villa by the sea.’"
Su Bei focused his mind and calmed his breath, feeling the hum of his Qingping Sword in his hand. Wenren Pingxin came to his side and gave him a meaningful look. Su Bei smiled at her, "Why so serious? That’s not like you."
"Come on, girl, how about a smile for me?"
Wenren Pingxin glared at him and grabbed his ear, lifting him up. Looking at him grimacing, she sneered, "You dare to tease even your Senior Sister? Don’t want to live anymore?"
But she knew he was just trying to make her smile.
Su Bei rubbed his ear and, looking at the still-being-repaired arena, said softly, "It’s fine, Junior Brother knows his limits. After this match, we can just go home..."
Go home?
Wenren Pingxin’s eyes shifted slightly. Despite her reluctance, she let out a sigh, her delicate hand starting to clench, but it was suddenly enveloped by a larger one. She turned her head, startled, to look at Su Bei.
Su Bei studied the lines on Wenren Pingxin’s palm closely. That exquisitely delicate, jade-like hand was exactly as he remembered; the only difference was that his own hand was now much larger than hers.
Su Bei closed her fingers. A smile touched his lips. "Your palm says the Sword Sect will secure a grand victory today!"
Wenren Pingxin chuckled at his childlike behavior. She gave him a playful, scolding look, her mature charm making Su Bei’s heart flutter. "You’re a grown man," she teased, "still interested in children’s games. And which unreliable old master taught you this divination?"
Su Bei winked at her and then released her hand.
He turned around, his white, begonia-embroidered robe fluttering in the morning breeze.
The six Sword Sect Elders stood side by side in silence.
Yet in the eyes of Dan Wulan and Dan Wuque, there was an added layer of worry. They were naturally aware that Su Bei was about to face a Peak Refining Void opponent. Even Li Ziyu hesitated for a moment before advising, "Be careful."
Dan Wuque and Dan Wulan had a serious argument yesterday. As a result, Dan Wuque, as the elder sister, would face the Late Stage Refining Void practitioner from the Blade Sect, while Dan Wulan would fight the one at Mid Stage Refining Void.
The remaining three Peak Refining Void practitioners were to be handled by Su Bei, Mo Xingjian, and Li Ziyu, each taking one. According to Wenren Pingxin’s strategy, if Mo Xingjian won his match, and if Su Bei and Li Ziyu managed to significantly deplete the strength of the other two Peak Refining Void opponents, there was still a chance for overall victory.
For this, Su Bei had even cited an example, something about ’Su Bei’s horse racing strategy.’
But in their hearts, everyone knew that the Sword Sect’s chances of victory... were practically negligible.
Above the Elder’s Platform, Wang Tong watched the elders of the Sword Sect with a cold sneer. Under everyone’s gaze, they each stepped onto the arena!
SWISH—
Every pair of eyes widened in shock as they looked at the man in the white robe in the center, the incredibly familiar Longsword at his waist, looking as if he was about to merge with the heavens and earth around him.
On the platform, the brawny man with a scar exposed on his chest was also slightly taken aback as he looked at the handsome young man before him.
Beforehand, he had thought his opponent would be Mo Xingjian, or at least Li Ziyu.
But, remembering this young man’s previous performance, he wasn’t so shocked. However, facing an opponent two whole realms below his own in the first battle still left him with a twinge of discomfort. This old man is being underestimated...
Nevertheless, with a smile at the corner of his mouth, he looked at Su Bei and said, "Elder Su’s previous fight was something I witnessed as well. It was spectacular, and I must admit, even at Late Stage Refining Void, I absolutely couldn’t have withstood the combined attack of those twelve people."
As the saying goes, one does not slap a smiling face. Seeing Shi Zhen’s demeanor, Su Bei also smiled and replied, "I humbly request Elder Shi’s guidance."
The wind picked up. With the Sacred Land Elder’s declaration, "Begin!", all eyes instantly focused on Su Bei’s platform!
Mid Stage Refining Void versus Peak Refining Void!!
This was a battle never before seen in the Twenty-One Provinces.
The Sword Sect Disciples held their breath, unblinkingly watching that particular arena, afraid to miss any spectacular moment.
At the Wuhua Palace stronghold, Ling Ran’s lips curled into a cold sneer as he murmured, "Mid Stage Refining Void fighting Peak Refining Void? I must say, their courage is commendable!"
"It would be one thing if it were an ordinary Peak Refining Void cultivator, but this Shi Zhen is just one step away from reaching Half-Step into Dao Integration. What was that woman Wenren Pingxin thinking?"
"This contest between blade and sword... its outcome is already a foregone conclusion. There’s no other possibility!"
"It’s a pity, though, that Wuhua Palace didn’t get to clash with the Sword Sect."
Lin Duo, beside him, nodded. Ling Ran’s words weren’t intended to deliberately belittle the Sword Sect; anyone with discerning eyes could see the truth. Although Su Bei was highly acclaimed among the common people, and some even rashly claimed he had the strength to fight Peak Refining Void practitioners, those at their level of cultivation knew all too well the enormous gap between each stage above the Refining Void Realm.
"I do hope Elder Su can give us another miracle!" a cultivator in the crowd smacked his lips and muttered.
Next to him, a Divinity Transformation Stage elder, his expression solemn, sighed deeply and shook his head. "It’s not easy. Once one reaches those realms above Refining Void, the gap between each level is incomparable to that of the Golden Core Realm. For Elder Su to defeat twelve cultivators of the same realm by himself has already astounded the world. Given time, if he truly reaches Half-Step into Dao Integration, he might well become another Tong Xiu!"
"If Elder Su continues to grow like this, he might truly become invincible below Dao Integration at the next Ascension Platform!"
The cultivators by his side all nodded thoughtfully.
Above the arena.
Shi Zhen looked at Su Bei and said indifferently, "Given that I am at the Peak Refining Void stage, please draw your sword, Elder Su!"
Su Bei didn’t show any false modesty. His eyes narrowed slightly. With a piercing sound—
KLANG—
The sword hummed, clear and crisp. Its Sword Qi was chilling! The Qingping Sword at Su Bei’s waist was already three inches out of its sheath!
Then, Su Bei took a step forward. With this step, though no one saw him draw it, the Qingping Sword at his waist was already unsheathed, tracing a stunning arc in the air as it slashed towards Shi Zhen’s throat.
The Sword Qi of the Qingping Sword instantly spread across heaven and earth, a green and purple aura soaring upwards. Though only half-drawn, the sword had already carved a startling rainbow across the firmament, its Sword Qi piercing the highest heavens!
It is said that a fierce storm cannot last. This heaven-supporting Sword One was meant to surge toward the high heavens in one unstoppable burst of power!
That day, on the forest path, Su Bei first tightened his grip on the Qingping Sword!
It was also on that day that Su Bei, then only at Mid Stage Divinity Transformation, had slain even a Mid Stage Refining Void Evil Cultivator with a single strike.
"Sword One, Unwavering Advance!!"
Su Bei had no intention of probing with this strike; from the very outset, he gave it his all!
Of the three sword techniques Su Bei knew from the Sword Scripture, Sword Three perhaps had the grandest momentum. However, Su Bei knew clearly that only this Sword One was his most powerful strike!
BOOM—
The sound of slicing through the air was accompanied by a tumultuous green and purple light!
Shi Zhen’s expression instantly turned to shock. He quickly dispelled his earlier underestimation and retreated three steps, his entire body suddenly becoming illusory and indistinct, like mist or a phantom!!
From Su Bei’s strike, he felt the oppressive might of a Peak Refining Void expert!! Even more, there was a faint sense of power exceeding the Refining Void Realm!
How can this be??
He’s only at the Mid Stage Refining Void, right??
Cold sweat instantly streamed down his cheeks. Ignoring his earlier boast of allowing Su Bei the first move, a heavy Da Dao instantly appeared in his hand, and he swung it through the air towards Su Bei.
This strike was silent and seemed light, but in reality, it was the Blade Sect’s supreme Cultivation Technique, the Thirty-Six Consecutive Strikes Blade Art!!
This technique’s core principle was borrowing force; each strike was heavier than the last. Every swing inherited the Spiritual Energy and blade momentum of the previous one, continuously amplifying the power until it reached a point beyond the wielder’s control!
"First Strike, Sever!"
"Second Strike, Flow!"
"Third Strike, Tumble!"
"Fourth Strike, Slash!"
Unlike swords, blades emphasized sweeping, powerful movements, seeking to crush opponents with pure force!
KANG—
The sound of clashing metal shook the heavens!
Blade glints and sword shadows filled the mountains; all else fell silent.
The sword’s hum was like a dragon’s roar or a phoenix’s cry—clear, resonant, and peerless.
Following this, a green and purple rainbow shot straight into the highest heavens, seeming to connect heaven and earth. Before it, a blade light a thousand feet long slashed down, strike after powerful strike!
Each blow was heavier than the last; heaven and earth seemed to tremble with each impact!
The Qingping Sword, beyond its majestic Sword Qi, also possessed an almost tangible killing Sword Intent, honed over thousands of years. Countless cultivators had perished beneath this blade. Their resentments converged like a sea, yet even that could not suppress the sword’s overwhelming killing intent!
This killing intent was righteous, not evil. It was focused on slaying, not on wanton slaughter. In its presence, even Tribulation-Crossing Cultivators would tremble with an involuntary chill.
A terrifying vortex spread outward from the center of their platform, waves of Spiritual Energy expanding in every direction!
Explosions and thunderous roars!
Shi Zhen, face pale, met Su Bei’s relentless, death-defying Sword One with strike after furious strike of his Da Dao. His eyes were filled with disbelief as he stared at the man before him—this man who was only at Mid Stage Refining Void!
"Ninth Strike!!"
BOOM—
"Twelfth Strike!!"
BOOM—
"Eighteenth Strike!!"
With a loud BANG, the earth shook thunderously.
Tremendous Spiritual Energy spread outwards, creating ripples like those on a lake’s surface. These ripples then intensified, like a strong wind kicking up sand and stones. Everything in the vicinity seemed to bend and bow in submission.
The green and purple splendor began to disperse between heaven and earth.
The arena was instantly shattered beyond recognition. A massive chasm, over one hundred feet wide and over four thousand feet long, was torn through its center!!
Instantly, the entire mountain erupted in commotion!
All the Sword Sect Disciples suddenly stood up, their eyes wide with shock at the unfolding scene! They felt their hearts pound, cold sweat break out on their foreheads, and swallowed hard, silently staring at the scene before them.
Wenren Pingxin’s eyes stared blankly at the arena, at that towering Sword One!
Discussions instantly reverberated through the heavens and earth, one after another, creating a mighty uproar.
"Elder Su actually matched Elder Shi blow for blow?!"
"That’s the strongest Peak Refining Void expert from the Blade Sect!!"
"Could Elder Shi have gone easy on him?!"
"Impossible! That was the Thirty-Six Consecutive Strikes Blade Art, a supreme Cultivation Technique on par with the Sword Sect’s Sword Scripture! Eighteen consecutive strikes—how could he have gone easy?!"