The sword light Li Zhexian unleashed didn't seem to belong to this mortal world.
Above the Grand Spirit Arena, the dome flickered with starlight, as though the stars themselves were swayed down by his blade.
That streak of bluish-purple sword light—
—shimmered with motes of radiance like fireflies.
Dazzling, resplendent, yet laced with a terrifying killing intent.
Even before the blade reached its target, the arena was already blanketed in a chilling cold.
Some spectators felt their throats tighten, unable to utter a sound; others' legs gave out beneath them, nearly collapsing on the spot.
The sword light wasn't aimed at them—
—but even so, the residual sharpness that brushed past their skin sent shivers straight to the bone.
It felt like thousands of needles piercing into their very marrow.
For Yu Tianheng, directly facing the strike, it felt like his soul was being torn in half.
His entire body bristled with hair standing on end, and in his needle-thin pupils, that blade of light that split the air was all he could see.
The lightning he had once been so proud of seemed as fragile as paper before that strike.
Shhhkt—!
Thunder was cleaved in two, and dragon scales shattered into fragments.
Before the sword light even reached Yu Tianheng, the skin on his chest began to burn with pain.
The scent of death enveloped him.
He could hear the thunderous pounding of his own heart, like it was ready to burst.
He let out a feral roar, forcing all his remaining Spirit Power like a broken dam into his arms.
A Spirit Power barrier crackling with arcs of lightning sprang up before him.
Under countless stunned gazes—
—the sword light struck.
The sound of shattering rang out like needles stabbing into the ears.
Yu Tianheng's face turned pale as spiderweb-like cracks spread wildly across the barrier.
Boom—!
The barrier exploded.
Yu Tianheng was blown clean off the platform.
Before he even hit the ground—
—a streak of sword light pierced through his shoulder and side, pinning him to the wall dozens of meters away.
"Hurgh…"
Yu Tianheng's head drooped, blood dripping steadily from the corner of his mouth.
His Spirit Power was completely drained, and with critical injuries to both his chest and ribs, he was on the brink of death.
The massive Spirit Arena was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.
Below the stage, faces were frozen like stone statues.
Many spectators had their mouths wide open—yet couldn't make a sound.
One sword!
It really was just one sword!
One sword defeated Yu Tianheng, a Rank 39 Spirit Elder with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul!
"Was that… Li Zhexian's self-created sword technique?!"
Even Porcupinefish Douluo and Snake Lance Douluo couldn't hide the astonishment in their voices.
They stared at the lone white-robed youth still standing on the platform—
—as though witnessing the rise of a future sword immortal.
And this was no exaggeration.
Even Sword Douluo, the Title Douluod hailed as the strongest offensive-type in the world,
—had never displayed such brilliance at this age.
"…What an incredible sword."
Xue Qinghe's eyes lit with an unusual brilliance.
Even he didn't think he could have blocked that strike.
Without hesitation, he turned and strode toward the exit.
Seeing his urgency, Porcupinefish and Snake Lance could only sigh and follow.
—
"Boss!"
Yu Feng and Osler burst out of their second-floor VIP box, with the Shi brothers anxiously close behind.
Dugu Yan's emerald eyes narrowed dangerously as she stared at Li Zhexian for a long moment before grabbing Ye Lingling, who hadn't looked away either, and following the others.
Below the stage, the crowd surged like wheat flattened by a storm.
Spectators craned their necks, shouting themselves hoarse for Sword Wine.
It was absolute madness.
The Spirit Arena was forced to dispatch dozens of Spirit Masters just to restore order.
But Li Zhexian paid it no mind.
He raised a hand—
—and the sword light pinning Yu Tianheng to the wall dissolved into stardust.
Yu Tianheng's limp body fell to the ground, caught by the towering Shi brothers.
Li Zhexian noticed four youths gathering around Yu Tianheng.
One of them, a girl in black robes with a veil covering her face and long blue hair cascading to her waist, conjured a mysterious healing flower in her palm, placing it against Yu Tianheng's wounds.
"Those must be the other members of the Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team," Li Zhexian thought casually.
Another girl, tall and sharp-eyed with shoulder-length violet hair and emerald-green pupils, looked him up and down. Her red lips curled in amusement as she called out:
"Sword Wine, do you dare take off your mask?"
Li Zhexian glanced at the seductive girl—
—instantly matched her to a name.
But he couldn't be bothered to respond.
He turned and walked away.
You think I'll take off my mask just because you said so?
That'd ruin my whole cold-swordmaster image. Where's the mystique in that?
Dugu Yan froze for a second—
Then the smile on her lips deepened, becoming even more dazzling.
Her alluring face brimmed with charm—but the danger in her eyes flickered like a serpent's tongue.
—
Li Zhexian reached backstage, running straight into Xue Qinghe, who was hurrying towards him.
"Are you alright?"
"I saw the other members of the Imperial Battle Team leave the stage."
"I'm fine."
Li Zhexian casually threw an arm around Xue Qinghe's shoulders.
Porcupinefish and Snake Lance both twitched visibly at the sight.
—
In the days that followed,
Li Zhexian's life was relaxed and carefree.
Sword practice. Dueling. Eating with Xue Qinghe.
—
Today.
The two of them were fishing by Lotus Lake.
"Sword Wine's reputation is getting out of hand."
"There are all kinds of nobles and major clans looking for you."
Xue Qinghe watched the rippling lake surface with a soft smile.
"I know you don't like that sort of thing, so I've been covering your identity."
Li Zhexian laid back beside him, one leg propped lazily.
"Ah… no one understands me like you, Qinghe."
"…By the way."
Xue Qinghe suddenly turned his head, voice tinged with something strange.
"Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan, is investigating Sword Wine, and the Nine Heart Begonia family is also secretly inquiring about you."
"Li Zhexian, I can't believe it. When did you provoke them?"
Plop—!
A fish took the bait.
Normally, Xue Qinghe would be gloating over his catch.
But today, for some reason, even looking at the fish annoyed him.
Li Zhexian sat up, puzzled.
"Dugu Yan? The Nine-Heart Begonia family?"
"Why are they asking around about me? I don't even know them."
"Who knows."
Xue Qinghe replied flatly,
"The Dugu family and the Nine-Heart Begonia family have no small standing in the Heaven Dou Empire."
"Even for me, it's not easy to interfere with what they're doing."
"You're on your own. They'll find you sooner or later."
Li Zhexian frowned.
"What are they doing now?"
Xue Qinghe's lips pursed. He pulled the fish off the hook and tossed it into the bucket—
—splashing water all over Li Zhexian.
"What, getting nervous already?"
"The Imperial Battle Team's gone to the Soto City Grand Spirit Arena."
"Just wait."
—
Li Zhexian's eyes narrowed.
Soto City Grand Spirit Arena?
That lines up with the timeline… the Imperial Team should be clashing with the Shrek Seven Monsters around now.
"…I wonder how Zhuqing-jie is doing."
—
Meanwhile, at the Soto City Grand Spirit Arena—
A fierce team battle had just ended.
The Shrek Seven Monsters had defeated the Imperial Battle Team from the Heaven Dou City.
"This is what the Heaven Dou City calls strong?"
Ma Hongjun crossed his arms, looking down at the defeated Imperial Team—especially the utterly spent Yu Tianheng.
"I heard you were the fastest ever to earn a Silver Badge?"
"Honestly, you seem pretty average to me."
Yu Tianheng was helped to his feet by the Shi brothers. Yu Feng clenched his fists and growled:
"Don't get cocky."
"If our captain wasn't still recovering from serious injuries, you wouldn't have stood a chance."
Tang San replied calmly:
"Regardless of the excuse, the result is the same—you lost."
"Even if we went again, the outcome would be no different."
Dai Mubai glanced at the girl standing off to the side, silently drinking—Zhu Zhuqing.
He stepped forward and said to Yu Tianheng:
"Even one-on-one, my Evil-Eyed White Tiger would crush you."
Yu Tianheng clutched his chest, glaring at Tang San, Dai Mubai, then Ma Hongjun.
"…You won. That's a fact."
"I won't make excuses."
"But—"
"You're a bit behind on the news."
"I'm no longer the fastest Silver Badge Spirit Master in the Heaven Dou City."
"Before I ever fought you—"
"I already lost to someone named Sword Wine."
"…He only used one sword strike."
"If you think you're strong—go challenge him."
Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others froze.
And the wine in Zhu Zhuqing's mouth stalled—
Her heart beat a little faster.
The Heaven Dou City?
Sword Wine?
…Could that be Li Zhexian?