Chapter 20: The Invincible Dragon’s Triumph (19)

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Su Bai took the initiative to challenge, while Yan Qing, at this moment, chose to avoid the fight, which placed him at a disadvantage. The Immortal Guest Inn was located near the Sword Tomb, nourished year-round by the sword aura emanating from the tomb, attracting many disciples of sword cultivation. These disciples were naturally combative and often lacked restraint in their strikes. Therefore, from the day the inn was established and opened to the public, the first rule set was that any sword duels within the inn were forbidden to use spiritual energy.

To outsiders, forbidding the use of spiritual energy seemed highly unfavorable to Su Bai.

Firstly, without the ability to channel spiritual energy, the competition would rely solely on physical strength. But the young women, accustomed to protecting themselves with spiritual energy, rarely considered strengthening their bodies.

Secondly, as cultivators advance, their physical strength naturally improves. Su Bai’s cultivation level was two minor realms below Yan Qing’s, who was already halfway into the Golden Core stage. Naturally, her physical strength could not compare.

Thirdly, the legendary sword intent “Freezing Ice” that had famously allowed her to defeat a peak Heart-Motion stage Thunder Spirit Root opponent was now unusable.

At the center of the inn stood a raised platform specifically reserved for these sword-cultivating “warriors” to duel.

Upon hearing that a disciple from the Infinite Sect was to duel with the Heavenly Sword Sect, many were dragged out of their rooms by their elders, eager to witness the prowess of the Thunder Spirit Root who had leapt to the peak Heart-Motion stage in just two years.

Yet, upon seeing who stood on the platform, they were surprised to find a female cultivator at mid Heart-Motion stage.

“Did I take a wrong turn?”

“No, no. This young lady must be spoiled by her senior brothers and sisters, thinking Yan Qing looks down on her, so she insisted on dueling!”

“But where’s the Thunder Spirit Root? The one who jumped from early to full Heart-Motion in just two years?”

“Don’t worry, she’ll lose quickly. Once she steps down, the Thunder Spirit Root will take the stage!”

Yan Qing stepped onto the platform and raised a hand in a gesture of invitation.

“Junior sister, you shall strike first.”

“I shall let you have ten moves first, so no one can say I won unfairly.”

Su Bai’s fingers brushed the sword sheath, pausing as she said, “If you let me have ten moves, and I win, others will say I won unfairly.”

“Senior brother, not holding back is the true respect to one’s opponent.”

Yan Qing was taken aback; seeing her serious expression, he gained newfound respect for this seemingly reckless junior sister.

His face grew solemn as he cupped his fist: “Very well, junior sister, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

“The duel begins.”

Elder You assumed the role of referee.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Yan Qing’s hand was on his sword sheath, about to draw his blade, when a sharp, whistling wind cut through the air. Yan Qing’s pupils constricted; instinctively, he turned his head to dodge the incoming strike.

The Lone Wild Goose Sword slashed, severing a corner of his robe.

In less than a breath, how could she execute such a swift and decisive strike?

Another sword followed immediately. Yan Qing barely had time to react, drawing his sword to block the fierce blow, but Su Bai anticipated his defense perfectly and struck at his unguarded side.

Qin Yang pursed her lips, watching silently as the swords clashed back and forth.

Even facing the full Heart-Motion stage prodigy of the Heavenly Sword Sect, she showed no sign of inferiority, forcing Yan Qing onto the defensive.

“Her strength isn’t in power, but in seizing opportunities. She doesn’t watch with her eyes but with her heart,” the enclave’s revered master instructed him mentally. “Every reactive step Yan Qing takes is calculated by her, allowing her to exert the maximum potential of the Lone Wild Goose Sword with minimal force and at the fastest pace.”

“Qin Yang, do you understand now?”

Though unwilling, Qin Yang followed the master’s explanation, watching as Su Bai’s swordplay danced like a startled swan, and when blades collided, her stance was as immovable as a mountain. She could not help but be drawn in by her swordsmanship and movement.

Yan Qing, half a foot into the Golden Core stage, struck with strength and speed, but soon sensed something amiss. He tried to seize control of the duel.

“Judging by swordsmanship alone, this young lady indeed has some skill,” said Ling Su with a grave look. “In fewer than fifty exchanges, she has switched between several sword techniques.”

The fluidity of her transitions was remarkable. Each set of moves chosen was precisely the most advantageous for the current situation.

How many sword styles did she truly know?

And how deep was her understanding of the sword path to such a frightening degree?

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Recalling the actions of the master, Ling Su grew increasingly alarmed.

The clang of clashing blades resounded through the hall. Su Bai stepped back once. Yan Qing, harried and anxious from her relentless pressure, saw her falter and smiled inwardly, preparing to strike the opening. He turned his sword tip to attack her left side.

However, Su Bai’s retreating left foot never touched the ground. To Yan Qing’s astonishment, she pressed her right foot’s tip, threw the Lone Wild Goose Sword backward and upward, drawing a full, rounded arc. Leaning back, she vaulted into the air using only her left foot’s strength, performing a graceful backflip.

Then, the Lone Wild Goose Sword descended straight into Su Bai’s left hand. With a slight twist of her wrist, she turned her body and struck at Yan Qing’s unguarded right side with lightning speed.

This was... the Twin Dragons Playing with Pearls sword technique!

A wave of astonishment swept through Ling Su.

She actually wielded the sword with her left hand!

The crowd erupted in murmurs.

“Twin Dragons Playing with Pearls! I never thought I'd see it again!”

“Is that technique difficult?”

“Very difficult! Nowadays, sword cultivators focus on channeling sword aura and refining sword intent. The Twin Dragons Playing with Pearls, which focuses solely on the sword itself, was a technique practiced by ordinary swordsmen before the cultivation era!”

“The brilliance lies in the wielder’s ability to switch grip at will, striking unexpectedly. But the high cost of training and the need for dexterous application—almost like juggling—has made it nearly extinct.”

“But in a duel, where sword techniques change in an instant, cultivators often neglect one side while guarding the other. Those who master this technique are almost impossible to find a flaw in.”

Yan Qing’s mind was shaken; his steps faltered as he tried to retreat, but Su Bai left him no chance. Her left-hand sword strikes were just as forceful as her right, attacking from an unexpected direction. Yan Qing’s wrist ached; before he could muster strength, the sword slipped from his grasp.

The crowd was stunned into silence.

The Lone Wild Goose Sword returned to its sheath. Su Bai cupped her hands: “Senior brother, I yield.”

Yan Qing’s face turned ashen. He stepped forward, unable to contain himself: “How do you know the Twin Dragons Playing with Pearls?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” She turned her head, voice cool and clear. “Sword cultivators cultivate the sword. If one becomes obsessed with merely advancing their cultivation and neglects the sword techniques themselves, isn’t that foolish?”

At her words, the crowd’s emotions were mixed.

Indeed, being too obsessed with cultivation advancement while neglecting swordsmanship was their prejudice against her.

Yet, ironically, they themselves were sinking deeper into that quagmire.

Yan Qing staggered, shame in his expression but this time he accepted defeat wholeheartedly.

“Thank you for your guidance, junior sister.”

He bowed deeply: “Yan Qing has learned much.”

[This acting is flawless!]

[Wow! That was incredible! Can I even speak right now?]

[Upstairs, soul questioning… are you an “Wow Spirit”?]

[What is a “Wow Spirit”? Can I be one too? Wow! (starry eyes)]

“Unsurprisingly, as a sword cultivator of the Path of Ruthlessness, her understanding of swordsmanship is profound—this is pure dimensionality reduction strike!”

Since Yan Qing, the Heavenly Sword Sect’s new generation prodigy, had lost the duel, Qin Yang, who had been waiting on the sidelines, naturally lost her chance to enter the stage.

Elder You had initially thought Su Bai was just a showy facade, but seeing her decisive draw, fluent sword swings, and clever understanding of swordsmanship, he suppressed his disdain and praised, “To defeat a peak Heart-Motion Thunder Spirit Root with a Water Spirit Root at early Heart-Motion stage, she truly is a promising talent!”

“Supreme Elder, you have found a treasure this time!”

Ling Su’s eyes gleamed as he stepped forward: “As expected of one personally chosen by the master! I’ve greatly benefited from witnessing junior sister Su’s sword!”

“When I have time, I will visit the master and discuss swordsmanship with junior sister Su!”

Earlier, Elder You first asked about Su Bai, and the Supreme Elder first introduced her, yet neither truly regarded this temporary, age-disparate friendship with the Sword Sovereign seriously.

They had assumed that the Sword Sovereign, perhaps aged, simply wanted to chat with the young miss for amusement.

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When Su Bai took the initiative to challenge Yan Qing, they humored the young lady out of respect for the Sword Sovereign, expecting her to tire before watching Qin Yang duel Yan Qing.

Who would have imagined this young lady truly had such skill!

Recalling that Shen Xing had said Su Bai defeated Qin Yang in the Infinite Sect’s inner gate test using the “Freezing Ice” sword intent, they finally realized that compared to Qin Yang, the Sword Sovereign’s reluctant disciple, this young lady, who had formed a timeless friendship with the Sword Sovereign, was the one they must rely on in the future.

On a dark, windy night, unable to sleep, Qin Yang lay tossing and turning.

“Holy Sovereign, I refuse to accept this!”

He suddenly sat up, clenching his fist: “Junior sister Su... no, Jiao Jiao and I grew up together. I was only away for two years of training. Why has it come to this between us?”

“Is she taking out her anger on me because of me and Yun Zhu?”

The Holy Sovereign sighed deeply within his mind: “Boy, don’t you understand by now?”

“Understand what!?” Qin Yang’s face twisted in pain: “I thought she only saw me as a brother. I... just wanted to tell her about what happened with Yun Zhu in a few months...”

Suddenly, the jade pendant on his chest emitted a golden light. Sparkling rays shot out like arrows, forming a translucent, pale golden barrier around Qin Yang.

The trailing light at the arrow’s tail gathered like fireflies, eventually forming the shape of the Holy Sovereign.

“Is your resentment now only about the long years of sibling affection between you and Su Bai?”

His eyes were stern, as if piercing straight into Qin Yang’s heart.

“I...” Qin Yang’s lips moved, displaying confusion: “I’m just unwilling... after so many years, why did she say nothing, ask nothing, and instead embarrass me by renouncing our engagement publicly?”

“Qin Yang!” The Holy Sovereign’s voice suddenly deepened: “You’re only making excuses for yourself!”

“If she hadn’t been recognized by the Jade Slip remnant soul that day, if she hadn’t defeated you, if she hadn’t publicly declared the engagement annulment—that is, if she had lost to Yan Qing today—would you still feel this resentment?”

The rapid-fire questions left Qin Yang speechless and stammering: “I...”

As he honestly pondered, would he?

Of course not.

He would still, like when he saw Shen Xing enter the sealing formation, think Su Bai was just childish, deceived by Shen Xing’s flowery words, or believe Su Bai was merely jealous because of Yun Zhu.

Back then, enjoying the envy and hatred from peers, he naturally thought he had everything under control.

He knew cultivation respected strength above all. As long as his sword was sharp enough, no rumors could stand against it.

Shen Xing was the Supreme Elder’s direct disciple and the second-in-command of the Righteous Path Hall; Yun Zhu was a revered alchemist, proud and willful; and he was a once-in-a-century Thunder Spirit Root genius, already favored by many inner gate elders before officially entering.

In everyone’s eyes, Su Bai was just a gentle little junior sister shadowing Qin Yang.

What of her being the city lord’s daughter? She showed no ambition or talent befitting her status. Among the talents of the Infinite Sect, she was just an ordinary outer gate disciple.

“You are not regretting that you didn’t confess to her sooner what happened with that alchemist!”

The Holy Sovereign flicked his sleeve, turning his back and speaking sternly: “You are not lamenting the brotherly bond you lost for nothing!”

“What truly makes you regretful is that your relationship with Yun Zhu changed her attitude so drastically that she created for you an insurmountable rival!”

At these words, Qin Yang’s body trembled.

The Holy Sovereign narrowed his eyes, turning back to look at him sharply and spoke, word by word: “Qin Yang, she is no longer the sister you call her.”

“She is now a swordsman like you, perhaps even more enlightened and disciplined!”

“What you truly want now is to defeat her!”