Chapter 323: Chapter 221: Listening to the Story, Just Like I Told Sister. _1
The sun gradually slanted, and at last, the final trace of Sword Qi in the sky dissipated.
Su Bei stood atop the Ascension Platform, watching Shentu He slowly approach the front of the stage. He calmed his heart, striving to appear as natural as possible.
But he knew deep down that the fight against Lin Duo, although seemingly a swift victory, had actually consumed too much of his Spiritual Energy and ruptured too many of his meridians.
He clearly had a more reliable method.
Yet Su Bei hadn’t wanted to use it, nor was he willing to.
The moment he saw Dan Wulan struck away by Lin Duo, he couldn’t hold back the surge of anger in his heart any longer.
Why did she have to step onto the platform? He had already made it this far. She clearly didn’t need to endure such pain.
"Sword Sect, Su Bei. Please enlighten me!" he declared, his voice calm, his grip tight on the Qingping Sword as the Energy of Great Dao around him intertwined.
Shentu He’s eyes narrowed as he stared intently at Su Bei, Ling Ran’s words from before he stepped onto the platform echoing in his ears: "This young man seems strong, but there’s something odd about him. It’s as if all his techniques rely on overtaxing his meridians... Don’t engage him head-on. Wear him out, draw out the fight."
Shentu He’s eyes remained narrowed, his gaze fixed on Su Bei with grave seriousness. His own strength was far less than Lin Duo’s; he was merely on par with the likes of Xi Qingyi.
"After this, I’m afraid the whole world will know of Elder Su!" he exclaimed. "I am truly impressed! I fear Elder Su genuinely deserves the title of the foremost expert beneath the Dao Integration Realm in all the world."
A slight smile played on his lips. He appeared far less aggressive than Lin Duo, yet his words were laced with hidden meanings.
Su Bei frowned slightly and said, "Su Mou has never claimed to be the foremost expert beneath Dao Integration, nor has Su Mou ever dared to entertain such a thought. In such a vast world, how could it possibly be Su Mou’s turn!?"
The Twenty-One Provinces were lands of hidden masters; even Tong Xiu, publicly acknowledged as the foremost expert beneath Dao Integration, dared not claim true invincibility. Many cultivators had survived the cataclysm a thousand years ago. How many had withdrawn from worldly affairs, hiding themselves in the mountains and wilderness? Even the Sword Sect, widely recognized as declining and dismissed by common folk as the weakest of the Ten Great Sects, was a different matter. If any of the world’s sects truly took such rumors at face value, they were simply clueless. Many masters from the previous era had survived. After entering the Dao Integration Realm and Tribulation-Crossing Stage, those willing to make their presence known joined a Sacred Land. Others, realizing their hopes of Ascension were futile, chose to retire to a quiet corner of the world to live out their remaining years.
"Elder Su is indeed modest, hehehe..."
Su Bei pointed his Qingping Sword forward, his brow furrowed, and said coldly, "Enough nonsense. If you don’t wish to fight, you can concede."
Shentu He shook his head, took out the horsetail whisk in his hand, and said faintly, "Elder Su, you still lack composure..."
Before he could finish his sentence, he had already swung the whisk forward.
A fierce gust of wind howled towards Su Bei.
This move was a probe; he wanted to gauge how much Spiritual Energy Su Bei had left. If he detected even a hint of weakness, he would strike with his full power.
Su Bei stared at him, a cold smirk playing on his lips. Testing me!? Little does he know, every sword strike of mine is at its peak!
"Or do you believe Su Mou is not worthy of you using your full strength, Elder Shentu?"
CLANG—
The Qingping Sword flared with brilliant light, but this time, it wasn’t the overwhelming golden magnificence of before. The Sovereign Sword... its power is like a colossal landslide, but it inflicts the most damage to the meridians. The terrifying Sword Qi it contains is not something my current cultivation realm can withstand. I suppose only when I truly reach the Dao Integration Realm will I be able to freely wield its first six forms. Only then will the Qingping Sword truly sing with unrestrained joy.
Immortal Dao Sword!
"Sword One: Unwavering Depth!"
A purple-green light soared upwards, and the patch of sky above them became saturated with a purple aura, resembling the ethereal, misty paradise of an Immortal. Then, the purple aura began to churn, and beneath it, a brilliant, resplendent light flowed.
It seemed that using the Immortal Dao Sword after the Sovereign Sword had brought Su Bei profound insights. The Sovereign Path and Immortal Path of the sword, when combined, formed the complete Sword Scripture. Each had its strengths and weaknesses. Su Bei pointed into the distance, executing Sword One.
Shentu He instantly felt as if he were facing a formidable enemy. His probing gust of fierce wind was directly severed, and then that streak of purple-green light rapidly magnified in his pupils.
"Wind Sigil! Swift as the wind, tranquil as the forest!"
In that instant, the wind seemed to solidify. A deafening roar of wind and thunder erupted.
Swift wind blades, carrying a sky full of dust and sand, converged upon Su Bei’s sword strike. It seemed Su Bei’s attack further confirmed Ling Ran’s suspicion: he was indeed at the end of his tether, seeking a swift conclusion!
The sky full of wind blades possessed an incredibly fierce aura and moved with extreme speed. It made one anticipate the imminent, intense, and unexpected collision.
The wind, sharp as blades, seemed to cut at one’s ears and cheeks.
Dust, flying sand, and rolling stones followed in its wake, sweeping up in countless layers.
The chaotic wind obscured vision.
Looking out, the area below the platform was nothing but a vast expanse of gray.
Undeniably, Shentu He’s technique was stunning, even creating the illusion that Su Bei’s sword strike had been swallowed by it.
Like a silent thunderclap erupting from a clear sky.
This was an attack into which he had poured all his Spiritual Energy. He was convinced that Su Bei’s sword strike would be utterly ineffective, and that he himself would heavily wound Su Bei!