The arena battle progressed extremely quickly. Under cruel elimination, the top twenty-five were quickly decided. Then came the fourth round draw determining the top sixteen positions. In this round, one person would have a bye, directly advancing.
Perhaps due to luck, or perhaps the conference's arrangement, that lot signifying fortune ultimately was drawn by Mu Xue. She maintained that cold demeanor. For the result of not fighting yet advancing, she showed no joy, just calmly walking to the side, closing her eyes to rest, as if surrounding commotion was unrelated to her.
Tang Xiaoqi, however, welcomed a truly formidable swordsman as his opponent.
"Arena Twelve—Clearness Void Sect Tang Xiaoqi versus Wave-Touching Sword Sect, Lin Tao!"
Following the elder judge's announcement, Xiaoqi and a young man in blue (tight clothing), bearing a long sword on his back, his temperament calm like still water, simultaneously ascended the arena.
Lin Tao, the Wave-Touching Sword Sect's current chief disciple, though not on the Hidden Dragon Chart, had great fame among the younger generation for his sword cultivation. He especially excelled at pressing opponents with (continuous) sword momentum like ocean waves, until they revealed openings, then decisive victory with one strike. His gaze was sharp and focused. Looking at Xiaoqi, he showed no contempt, but rather a solemn seriousness of meeting an opponent worth fighting.
"Wave-Touching Sword Sect, Lin Tao. Please advise." Lin Tao cupped hands, voice steady.
"Clearness Void Sect, Tang Xiaoqi." Xiaoqi returned the greeting, his expression equally serious. He could feel the pure, condensed sword intent on this opponent. This was a true swordsman.
The battle began.
Lin Tao didn't rush to attack. He slowly drew the sword behind his back. The blade was like autumn water, flowing with faint blue luster. His wrist slightly moved, sword tip (slantingly pointing) the ground. A sword momentum like tides rising and falling slowly condensed, covering the entire arena.
Xiaoqi could sense the surrounding air seemed to thicken. An invisible pressure came from all directions, as if submerged in a deep sea, even his movements somewhat affected. He knew this was the opponent's sword momentum field. Once his rhythm was completely controlled, he would fall into passive beating.
He didn't choose to forcefully break through the sword momentum with Swimming Dragon Nine Turns. That would work, but wasn't optimal. Facing a pure swordsman, he also felt the urge to exchange pointers through swords.
He took a deep breath, his right hand slowly gripping the Red Flame Sword's hilt behind him.
"Zing—!"
A clear sword cry rang out. The Red Flame Sword unsheathed on command! The blade was crimson red, as if flames flowed within. A warm yet heroic aura instantly (spread), forming a stark contrast to Lin Tao's deep-sea-like sword momentum.
This was the first time Xiaoqi had drawn his sword in this tournament!
Below arena, a soft gasp instantly rose. Everyone knew his movement technique was uncanny and his wok's power astonishing, yet few had seen his swordsmanship. Now with the Red Flame Sword unsheathed, that pure sword intent actually didn't (wasn't inferior) to Lin Tao opposite him at all!
Lin Tao's eyes also flashed with surprise, then battle intent increased: "Good sword! Good sword intent! Please!"
Words fell, he moved. The long sword danced, no longer slowly condensing but instantly erupting! Wave after wave of blue sword qi, each wave higher than the last, with overwhelming power and continuous aftermath, surged toward Xiaoqi! The sword momentum was magnificent, as if submerging the entire arena.
"Wave-Touching Sword Manual—Ten Thousand Waves of Azure!"
Xiaoqi's eyes narrowed. Instead of retreating, he advanced! The Red Flame Sword in his hand transformed into a crimson shooting star. He didn't use any fancy sword techniques, just pushed his comprehended Guardian Sword Intent to the extreme, merging it into his swordsmanship.
His sword wasn't fast, yet steady as mountains! Not hurried, yet dense as sudden rain!
"Ding-ding-ding-ding...!"
Crimson and blue sword lights (frantically) collided on the arena, erupting in (continuous) metallic clashing sounds, sparks flying!
Each of Xiaoqi's strikes precisely struck the weakest or transforming nodes of the blue wave's power, breaking the magnificent momentum layer by layer with one point shattering the whole. His sword intent's core was "Guardian," not purely hard resistance, but dissolving, guiding, shunting. The warm sword intent within the Red Flame Sword especially counteracted that water-attribute sword momentum, making sizzling vaporizing sounds.
Lin Tao's sword momentum was like a furious ocean, surging mighty. Xiaoqi's sword was like a pillar in the river, letting the wind blow and waves crash, I remain unmoved! Occasionally, the Red Flame Sword would erupt with (sharp) counterattacks. Warm sword aura surged (upstream), forcing Lin Tao to defend with his sword.
The two turned and dodged on the arena. Sword lights vertical and horizontal, forms intersecting. This was a collision of pure sword cultivation attainment and sword intent realm!
Lin Tao fought more and more in amazement. He felt his sword momentum was like crashing against a resilient volcano. No matter how he pushed and transformed, the opponent always resolved it in the most appropriate way. And that counterattacking warm sword intent, directly piercing his meridians, made his qi and blood churn. What made him most unbelievable was that during collisions with the opponent's sword intent, he could feel a steadfast, guarding-everything belief. That wasn't killing intent, yet even more weighty, causing his sword heart to be touched and resonate slightly.
Xiaoqi also felt pressure. Lin Tao's swordsmanship was indeed exquisite, spiritual energy abundant, momentum wave after wave, nearly flawless. Had it not been for his steadfast Guardian Sword Heart and superb control of power, he would have lost long ago. But he also gained new (understanding) from this battle—Guardian wasn't passive defense, could also seek within movement, contain within attack. Using defense as attack!
After nearly a hundred intense exchanges, the two remained evenly matched.
Lin Tao knew he couldn't delay further. He took a deep breath. His spiritual energy poured into the long sword without reservation. The blade blue light blazed, sounding like a tsunami!
"Receive my final sword! Terrifying Waves!"
His entire person merged with the sword, transforming into a massive blue giant wave sword aura, carrying unstoppable, world-shattering momentum, crushing toward Xiaoqi! This was his ultimate strike condensing sword momentum to the extreme!
Facing this resolute sword, Xiaoqi's gaze was composed. The Red Flame Sword crossed before him. Guardian Sword Intent (condensed) unprecedentedly. He didn't choose to clash head-on. At the instant that giant wave sword aura was about to make contact, his body slightly turned sideways. The Red Flame Sword thrust out diagonally at an extremely tricky angle!
This sword wasn't opposing the wave, but like a master butcher dissecting an ox, precisely stabbing into the wave's core pivot of force circulation!
"Hiss—!"
A slight sound, like tearing silk.
That overwhelmingly magnificent blue giant wave sword aura, at the point where the Red Flame Sword tip struck, suddenly stalled. Then like a punctured balloon, the energy instantly lost control, collapsing! The powerful backlash made Lin Tao groan, face paling. He retreated step after step, stabbing his sword into the ground to steady himself, barely standing. A trace of blood appeared at his mouth corner.
He looked up at Xiaoqi, still standing with sword, his breath only slightly hurried. His eyes were filled with complex emotions—shock, admiration, also a trace of relief.
He cupped hands, voice somewhat hoarse: "Daoist Tang's sword intent is supreme. Lin's... loses. Heartily convinced."
Xiaoqi sheathed his sword, also cupping hands: "Daoist Lin's swordsmanship is exquisite. You've been generous."
This battle, without the (intense) life-and-death struggle, yet full of swordsmen's mutual respect and skill exchange. Xiaoqi, relying on superior sword intent realm and understanding of power's essence, won this top sixteen battle.
Below arena, after a quiet moment, warm applause erupted. This wonderful sword duel impressed many.
Xiaoqi descended the arena. Feeling his internally slightly boiling sword intent, he knew—after this battle, his sword heart was clearer. And ahead, battles toward higher ranking would be even harder. His gaze involuntarily fell on Mu Xue meditating in the distance, and other victorious contestants with powerful auras. The true challenge was still to come.