Inside the Everlasting Pavilion, outside the Everlasting Pavilion.
Chang Hao and Qin Yi locked eyes, their gazes as sharp as clashing water and fire, locked in a fierce, head-on confrontation.
The problems plaguing Mount Shu had persisted ever since Xu Zhangqing's departure.
Chang Hao had never been the previous Sect Lord's ideal successor. Xu Zhangqing's most admired and favored candidate had always been Qin Yi, but fate had intervened, causing them to miss their chance.
While not universally known throughout Mount Shu, most of the Elders were well aware of this history.
Now, with Qin Yi's return, the entire sect's attention was riveted. No one dared to interrupt or voice an opinion.
Even though Qin Yi had violated sect rules, he was still the Elder of Laws and Morals. Moreover, his earlier display of power, single-handedly repelling eight Elders, had instilled deep respect and fear in the hearts of many. Such formidable power commanded reverence.
'Domineering, ruthless, formidable', these were the indelible impressions Qin Yi left on everyone's minds.
Chang Hao strode step by step out of Everlasting Pavilion, the Sword Qi in his eyes growing increasingly intense.
"You return to Mount Shu today seeking justice from me?" he demanded, his voice booming like thunder, as cold as the dead of winter.
As he spoke, the longswords at the waists of the crowd hummed and vibrated. Their eyes narrowed, recognizing the Sect Lord's fury.
Unlike his earlier confrontation with Jiang Qing, this meeting with Chang Yi ignited the Sect Lord's genuine battle intent. He was deadly serious.
Jiang Qing was still a junior to him, a lovable talent. But Chang Yi was no such thing. They were peers, rivals, and opponents!
"I know you've been waiting for this day for a long time. You may be stubborn, conservative, and recklessly arrogant," Qin Yi said, his voice cold as ice.
"But in truth, I never intended to concern myself with you. No matter how much trouble you stir up, the damage to Mount Shu would never be severe."
"The only thing that chilled my heart was Jiang Qing's situation!"
Qin Yi slowly gripped Cangsheng at his waist with his right hand, his gaze icy.
Sword Intent, a boundless, all-encompassing Sword Intent, erupted, causing every sword across Mount Shu to tremble. The tyrannical Sword of Kings was about to unleash its radiant might.
"I've come for Jiang Qing, and for you!"
With this final declaration, Qin Yi concluded.
Cangsheng hummed as it slid from its sheath, the Roaming Dragon rippling with surging Sword Intent that pierced the heavens!
"Very well, Chang Yi," Chang Hao said, his voice heavy. "Let's settle this today, see which of us is truly fit to be the Mount Shu Sect Lord!"
With a deliberate motion, he drew the longsword Big Dipper from his back.
Suddenly, he moved. His sword flashed forward in a swift thrust, his figure blurring like a phantom as he transformed into a streak of light.
Whoosh!
In an instant, he was before Qin Yi, his sword humming with Sword Intent as it pierced forward.
Qin Yi's eyes blazed with intensity as he countered with a precise thrust of Slay the Heavens.
Hum!
From utter stillness to explosive motion, the two faced each other, their sword tips locked in a deadly dance. An overwhelming surge of Sword Intent erupted between them.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A moment later, waves of Sword Qi radiated outward from the epicenter of their clash, carving deep sword marks into the jade and bluestone tiles. The spectating Mount Shu disciples recoiled in shock.
"Come and fight!" Chang Hao roared.
The pent-up rage and frustration he had been suppressing since the Jiang Qing incident erupted in a violent outburst. He needed release, he needed to vent his fury, and the man before him was the perfect target.
At that moment, Chang Hao's sword techniques became ferociously sharp. Each strike, each blade, was not only accompanied by Sword Qi, but also enveloped in an immeasurably powerful and piercing Sword Intent, making every attack unstoppable.
Every swing of their swords left behind countless afterimages. These weren't merely illusions caused by the rapid movements, but rather the physical manifestation of their Sword Intent.
Clang! Clang clang clang!
A dazzling cascade of sword flashes lit up the plaza before Mount Shu's Everlasting Pavilion. Their figures moved like lightning, each strike and parry perilous yet swift beyond comprehension.
An ordinary person facing such a relentless assault would be utterly unable to defend, their head severed in an instant.
Unlike those who practice the Sword Controlling Technique, cultivators of the Way of Cultivation possess a fullness of Essence, Energy, and Soul (Jin-Qi-Shen) that allows them to achieve even greater speed in close combat. Their movements are almost instantaneous, their bodies reacting the moment the thought arises.
'Swift, precise, and merciless!' There was no room for error.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The battle erupted, streaks of Sword Qi soaring into the heavens before crashing violently into Mount Shu's ground, artificial mountains, and buildings, causing countless faces to pale in fear.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Even the residual force of the battle threatened to overwhelm Mount Shu. The ground cracked, and the floating islands trembled beneath the increasingly intense Sword Qi.
"Get out of here!" an Elder roared. "If you continue fighting like this, you'll destroy Mount Shu!"
They knew all too well that the two combatants had become utterly absorbed in their battle, their Sword Intent growing stronger with each passing moment, and their techniques becoming increasingly devastating. If this continued, Mount Shu would surely crumble.
Amidst the swirling sword light, Qin Yi and his opponent exchanged a sharp, wordless glance.
Without a word, they continued to wield their swords, their figures beginning to ascend.
Buzzing!
Gradually, as they ascended higher above Mount Shu, the Sword Qi and Sword Intent in the air grew even more intense.
Their battle transcended ordinary martial techniques; each strike carried immense Sword Qi and Sword Intent, making them countless times more potent than ordinary sword moves.
The higher they soared, the more ferocious their sword strikes became, and the greater the destruction they wrought.
Whoosh!
A streak of Sword Qi tore through the void and slammed into a mountain peak below.
Slash!
In an instant, the mountain peak was cleaved in half, erupting into a cataclysmic explosion of dust and debris.
Shriek!
Another spiraling strand of Sword Qi plunged downward at blinding speed, piercing into the river below.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
A clear sword mark, stretching dozens of meters, split the riverbed.
Xiūūūū!
Sword Qi of such immense power continued to erupt, radiating in all directions. Surrounding white clouds dispersed, and startled birds froze mid-flight before plummeting helplessly from the sky.
The intent, momentum, spirit, aura, and sheer power had all reached an inconceivable level of potency.
Cultivation's Way practitioners, especially Sword Immortals, advance on all fronts, leaving virtually no weaknesses. Compared to the specialized strengths of characters in Hokage or the Pirate World, their comprehensive mastery is overwhelming.
After years of dedicated cultivation, Qin Yi had eliminated his weaknesses and honed his strengths to an even greater degree. His power had reached the zenith of his life.
Even facing Mount Shu Sect Lord Chang Hao, he felt no fear, unleashing his sword with unrestrained abandon, testing the insights he had gained over decades of practice.
This was not only a final battle, but also an opportunity to test himself, to temper his spirit, and to refine his mastery.
Chang Hao, on the other hand, was releasing his pent-up emotions. Suppressing his feelings for too long had left him deeply scarred. For Cultivation's Way practitioners, maintaining a clear and untainted heart is crucial, the consequences of failure are far more severe than for ordinary people.
"Chang Yi! You've truly surpassed this Sect Lord's expectations!"
"You're even stronger than Jiang Qing. Though your cultivation realm is slightly inferior to mine, your offensive power is on par with my own!"
Chang Hao spoke solemnly after exchanging a single sword strike with his opponent.
The two swiftly separated, hovering in the air, locked in a tense staredown.
"Spare the empty words. Unleash your true techniques!" Qin Yi snapped coldly.
"Very well!"
"Your arrogance is matched only by your audacity!" Chang Hao roared.
In an instant, the Sword Intent radiating from him intensified explosively. Three breaths later, the boundless Heavenly Sword Intent and Sword Qi behind him coalesced into a colossal, radiant sword.
This blade stretched hundreds of meters wide and thousands of meters long, its surface etched with intricate, golden runes that shimmered with divine power. Its mere appearance sliced through the void itself.
"Heavenly Sword Style!" Qin Yi's pupils contracted sharply.
(End of Chapter)
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