“ nà shì shuí ？ bù guò jīn dān jìng ， jiù gǎn zhè me xiāo zhāng ？ méi kàn dào gāng gāng yuán yīng hòu qī de huá shī xiōng dōu yī zhāo bài běi le me ？”
“那是谁？不过金丹境，就敢这么嚣张？没看到刚刚元婴后期的华师兄都一招败北了么？”
"Who is that? Just a Golden Core Realm cultivator, daring to be so arrogant? Didn't you see how Senior Brother Hua, who was at the late Foundation Establishment stage, lost after just one move?"
“ nèi mén dì zǐ jī zhào xuàn ！ píng rì lǐ chén mò guǎ yán ， háo bù qǐ yǎn 。 méi xiǎng dào zhè ge shí hòu jū rán huì zhàn chū lái ！”
“内门弟子姬兆炫！平日里沉默寡言，毫不起眼。没想到这个时候居然会站出来！”
"The Inner Gate disciple Ji Zhaoyuan! He's usually quiet and unremarkable. Who would have thought he'd actually step forward now!"
“ hǎo ！ bù kuì shì wǒ tiān jiàn zōng dì zǐ ， suī rán míng zhī bù dí 、 què yī jiù dǎn gǎn liàng jiàn ！ guāng píng zhè yì diǎn ， tā jiù shì nèi mén dì zǐ zhōng de jiǎo jiǎo zhě le ！”
“好！不愧是我天剑宗弟子，虽然明知不敌、却依旧胆敢亮剑！光凭这一点，他就是内门弟子中的佼佼者了！”
"Good! Truly worthy of being a disciple of our Heavenly Sword Sect. Even though he knows he can't match me, he still dares to wield his sword. Just that alone makes him an outstanding Inner Gate disciple!"
wéi guān de tiān jiàn zōng dì zǐ men yì lùn fēn fēn ， yǒu bù xiè zhě 、 yǒu zàn tàn zhě 、 yǒu chóng bài zhě 。
围观的天剑宗弟子们议论纷纷，有不屑者、有赞叹者、有崇拜者。
The spectators from the Heavenly Sword Sect discussed among themselves, some showing disdain, others admiration and even worship.
lǐ fán què duì zhōu wéi de shēng yīn zhì ruò wǎng wén ， zhǐ shì mù guāng zhí shì bái xiān shēng ：“ xiān shēng shí lì ， dìng rán yuǎn chāo yú wǒ 。 bù guò ruò zhǐ lùn duì jiàn dào de lǐ jiě ， kǒng pà xiān shēng wèi bì bǐ wǒ qiáng 。”
李凡却对周围的声音置若罔闻，只是目光直视白先生：“先生实力，定然远超于我。不过若只论对剑道的理解，恐怕先生未必比我强。”
But Li Fan ignored all the noise around him, focusing solely on Bai Sir: "Your strength is undoubtedly far greater than mine. But if we're only comparing our understanding of sword techniques, you may not necessarily be better."
lǐ fán zì xìn mǎn mǎn ， bái xiān shēng què shì wēi wēi yī xiào 、 bìng wèi fǎn bó 。
李凡自信满满，白先生却是微微一笑、并未反驳。
Li Fan was confident, but Bai Sir merely smiled without refuting him.
“ suǒ yǐ jīn rì bǐ shì ， wǒ men zhǐ bǐ shéi de jiàn dào gèng shèng yī chóu 、 bù bǐ shí lì gāo dī ！”
“所以今日比试，我们只比谁的剑道更胜一筹、不比实力高低！”
"So today's competition will be about whose sword technique is superior, not who has the greater power!"
cǐ yán yī chū ， zài chǎng zhòng rén quán dōu lèng zhù le 。
此言一出，在场众人全都愣住了。
This statement left everyone in the audience stunned.
“ zhè shì yào ràng duì fāng ， bǎ xiū wèi jìng jiè wéi chí zài jīn dān jìng zài bǐ shì ？”
“这是要让对方，把修为境界维持在金丹境再比试？”
"Is he going to make his opponent maintain their cultivation at the Golden Core Realm and then compete?"
“ hái néng zhè yàng ？”
“还能这样？”
"Can that even happen?"
“ wǒ pēi ！ hòu yán wú chǐ ！”
“我呸！厚颜无耻！”
"Pfft! Shameless!"
“ wǒ què jué de ， zhè yàng yě bìng wú bù kě 。 bì jìng zhè wèi kè rén de xiū wèi shēn bù kě cè 。 rú guǒ zhēn de quán lì shī wéi ， kǒng pà zhǐ yǒu dà shī xiōng chū miàn cái néng jī bài tā le 。”
“我却觉得，这样也并无不可。毕竟这位客人的修为深不可测。如果真的全力施为，恐怕只有大师兄出面才能击败他了。”
"I think it’s fine. After all, this guest's cultivation is beyond comprehension. If he really goes all out, only Senior Brother could defeat him."
miàn duì lǐ fán pǒ yǒu xiē wú lǐ de yāo qiú ， bái xiān shēng què shì méi yǒu zài yì 。 diǎn diǎn tóu ， xiào zhe shuō dào ：“ fàng xīn ， wǒ cóng bù yǐ dà qī xiǎo 。”
面对李凡颇有些无礼的要求，白先生却是没有在意。点点头，笑着说道：“放心，我从不以大欺小。”
Facing Li Fan's somewhat impolite request, Bai Sir paid no mind. He nodded and said with a smile: "Rest assured, I never bully the weak."
shuō bà ， tā shēn shàng yuán běn liú lù chū de mò cè qì xī ， shà shí píng huǎn xià lái 。 biàn dé gēn lǐ fán fù shēn de jī zhào xuàn yī yàng ， zhǐ yǒu jīn dān hòu qī xiū wèi 。
说罢，他身上原本流露出的莫测气息，霎时平缓下来。变得跟李凡附身的姬兆炫一样，只有金丹后期修为。
With that, his previously enigmatic aura suddenly calmed down, becoming just like Ji Zhaoyuan's, at the late Golden Core Realm.
lǐ fán gǒng le gǒng shǒu ， shén qíng sù rán ：“ jì rú cǐ ……”
李凡拱了拱手，神情肃然：“既如此……”
Li Fan respectfully bowed: "If so..."
“ kàn jiàn ！”
“看剑！”
"Watch my sword!"
kàn jiàn liǎng zì hái wèi shuō chū kǒu ， lǐ fán shí zé jiù yǐ jīng dòng shǒu le 。
看剑两字还未说出口，李凡实则就已经动手了。
Before he could even finish saying 'watch', Li Fan had already acted.
dāng guān zhàn zhòng rén tīng dào lǐ fán de bào hē zhī shí ， tiān dì jiān yǐ rán yǒu yī bǐng jù jiàn de xū yǐng jiàng lín 。
当观战众人听到李凡的暴喝之时，天地间已然有一柄巨剑的虚影降临。
When the spectators heard Li Fan's roar, a giant sword shadow descended from the heavens, its tip pointing directly at Bai Sir's head.
cóng tiān ér jiàng ， jiàn jiān zhí zhǐ bái xiān shēng tóu dǐng 。
从天而降，剑尖直指白先生头顶。
Around the giant sword, countless different divine swords seemed to be embedded. The giant sword appeared like a king of swords, drawing countless sword qi and light to dance around it.
jù jiàn zhōu wéi ， sì hū chā mǎn liǎo wú shù gè shì gè yàng de bù tóng shén jiàn 。 ér jù jiàn wǎn ruò jiàn zhī dì wáng ， yǐn dé wú shù jiàn qì zòng héng 、 guāng máng jiāo zhī huī yìng 。
巨剑周围，似乎插满了无数各式各样的不同神剑。而巨剑宛若剑之帝王，引得无数剑气纵横、光芒交织辉映。
All the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples watching were unable to control their own soul swords, which flew out one after another, floating in the air with faint sounds as if paying homage.
ér zài xiàn chǎng ， tiān jiàn zōng suǒ yǒu guān zhàn dì zǐ ， zài jù jiàn chū xiàn de chà nà 、 dōu kòng zhì bú zhù zì jǐ de běn mìng zhī jiàn 。 cì dì fēi chū ， piāo fú kōng zhōng ， jiàn shēn wēi míng ， wǎn ruò jìn jiàn 。
而在现场，天剑宗所有观战弟子，在巨剑出现的刹那、都控制不住自己的本命之剑。次第飞出，漂浮空中，剑身微鸣，宛若觐见。
Not only that, but even the entire Heavenly Sword Sect seemed to tremble slightly.
bù jǐn rú cǐ ， jiù lián zhěng gè tiān jiàn zōng ， dōu zài wēi wēi zhèn dòng 。
不仅如此，就连整个天剑宗，都在微微震动。
As if something deep within the sect was awakening.
fǎng fú zài tiān jiàn zōng shēn chù ， yǒu shén me zhèng zài sū xǐng 。
仿佛在天剑宗深处，有什么正在苏醒。
This breathtaking scene naturally caught the attention of all cultivators in the Heavenly Sword Sect.
zhè jīng tiān dòng dì de dà chǎng miàn ， zì rán shà shí yǐn qǐ le tiān jiàn zōng suǒ yǒu xiū shì de zhù yì 。
这惊天动地的大场面，自然霎时引起了天剑宗所有修士的注意。
Countless figures rushed over.
wú shù dào shēn yǐng fēn fēn gǎn lái 。
无数道身影纷纷赶来。
One drunk disciple holding a wine gourd arrived and caused everyone to exclaim: "Is it Senior Brother?!"
ér yī wèi ná zhe jiǔ hú lú 、 zuì xūn xūn de xiū shì dào chǎng ， gèng shì yǐn dé zài chǎng zhòng rén qí shēng jīng hū ：“ shì dà shī xiōng ？！”
而一位拿着酒葫芦、醉醺醺的修士到场，更是引得在场众人齐声惊呼：“是大师兄？！”
"Senior Brother is here!"
“ dà shī xiōng lái le ！”
“大师兄来了！”
At this moment, Si Tu Yao's usual carefree demeanor was absent. He stared intently at Li Fan and Bai Sir who were competing.
tiān jiàn zōng sī tú yáo cǐ kè bù shì wǎng cháng de wán shì bù gōng ， shén qíng níng zhòng 、 dīng zhe zhèng zài bǐ shì de lǐ fán yǔ bái xiān shēng 。
天剑宗司徒遥此刻不似往常的玩世不恭，神情凝重、盯着正在比试的李凡与白先生。
The changes outside did not seem to affect the two of them.
ér chǎng wài de biàn huà ， sì hū wán quán méi yǒu yǐng xiǎng dào zhè liǎng wèi 。
而场外的变化，似乎完全没有影响到这两位。
As the giant sword shadow appeared with a myriad of swords, Bai Sir's eyes flashed with surprise.
zài jù jiàn xū yǐng bàn suí zhe wàn jiàn chū xiàn de chà nà ， bái xiān shēng de yǎn zhōng shǎn guò yī sī cuò è 。
在巨剑虚影伴随着万剑出现的刹那，白先生的眼中闪过一丝错愕。
He noticed that his wooden sword suddenly felt much lighter in hand.
yīn wèi tā chá jué dào ， zì jǐ shǒu zhōng de mù jiàn ， dùn shí biàn qīng le xǔ duō 。
因为他察觉到，自己手中的木剑，顿时变轻了许多。
It seemed...
jiù fǎng fú ……
就仿佛……
The sword technique凝聚 on his wooden sword had instantly transferred to the opponent!
mù jiàn shàng níng jù de jiàn dào ， zài shùn jiān zhuǎn yí dào le duì fāng de shēn shàng ！
木剑上凝聚的剑道，在瞬间转移到了对方的身上！
"Using my False Heaven Dao and my understanding of the Heavenly Sword. This unexpected move is enough to snatch control of the Xuanhuang Sword Technique!"
“ jiǎ é tiān dào ， jiā shàng wǒ duì mù jiàn tiān zhī qí de lǐ jiě 。 chū qí bù yì zhī xià ， zú yǐ shùn jiān fǎn duó xuán huáng jiàn dào de kòng zhì quán ！”
“假讹天道，加上我对木剑天之奇的理解。出其不意之下，足以瞬间反夺玄黄剑道的控制权！”
"But I am a manifestation of the Xuanhuang Heaven Dao, so this False Heaven Dao trick can only be used once."
“ bù guò bái xiān shēng bì jìng shì xuán huáng tiān dào huà shēn ， cǐ jiǎ é tiān dào zhī fǎ ， kě yī bù kě zài 。”
“不过白先生毕竟是玄黄天道化身，此假讹天道之法，可一不可再。”
"So there's only one chance!"
“ suǒ yǐ zhǐ yǒu yī cì jī huì ！”
“所以只有一次机会！”
Li Fan was unusually calm.
lǐ fán nèi xīn qián suǒ wèi yǒu de píng jìng 。
李凡内心前所未有的平静。
Under his manipulation, the giant sword turned real as countless other swords manifested.
zài tā de cāo zòng xià ， jù jiàn yóu xū zhuǎn shí ， zhōu wéi wàn jiàn yě fēn fēn xiǎn huà 。
在他的操纵下，巨剑由虚转实，周围万剑也纷纷显化。
Like a sudden downpour, they appeared in an instant.
yóu rú bào yǔ pāng tuó ， zhòu rán zhà xiàn 。
犹如暴雨滂沱，骤然乍现。
Countless sharp blades tore through space, forming a terrifying storm that swept across everything around it.
wú shù lì jiàn sī liè kōng jiān ， xíng chéng yī gǔ kǒng bù de fēng bào ， cháo zhe zhōu wéi xí juǎn héng sǎo 。
无数利剑撕裂空间，形成一股恐怖的风暴，朝着周围席卷横扫。
The spectators all changed color and dodged backward. Many Foundation Establishment cultivators, even some Transcendence Realm cultivators, were knocked off balance by the sudden appearance of this sword storm.
zài chǎng guān zhàn zhòng rén jǐn jiē sè biàn ， fēn fēn cháo hòu shǎn duǒ 。
在场观战众人尽皆色变，纷纷朝后闪躲。
Let alone those with lower cultivation.
dàn réng rán yǒu bù shǎo yuán yīng 、 shèn zhì huà shén xiū shì ， dōu bèi zhè zhòu rán chǎn shēng de wàn jiàn fēng bào gěi guā de dōng dǎo xī wāi 、 kòng zhì bú zhù shēn xíng 。
但仍然有不少元婴、甚至化神修士，都被这骤然产生的万剑风暴给刮的东倒西歪、控制不住身形。
"What kind of joke is this? Can Golden Core Realm cultivators use such techniques?"
gēn gèng bié tí nà xiē xiū wèi gèng dī de dì zǐ le 。
跟更别提那些修为更低的弟子了。
"Could Ji Zhaoyuan have been hiding his true strength all along?"
“ kāi shén me wán xiào ， zhè shì jīn dān jìng néng shǐ chū lái de ？”
“开什么玩笑，这是金丹境能使出来的？”
"Monsters! Today I get to see two monsters fight!"
“ nán bù chéng ， jī zhào xuàn tā yì zhí zài yǐn cáng xiū wèi ？”
“难不成，姬兆炫他一直在隐藏修为？”
The raging sword qi obscured the majority's vision.
“ guài wù ， jīn rì jū rán yǒu xìng néng jiàn dào liǎng gè guài wù duì jué ！”
“怪物，今日居然有幸能见到两个怪物对决！”
But the realm-bonded and higher cultivators still stared intently at the center of the storm.
sì nüè de jiàn qì zhē bì le jué dà duō shù zhòng rén de shì yě 。
肆虐的剑气遮蔽了绝大多数众人的视野。
They were shocked to see Bai Sir not dodging or retreating in the face of this world-destroying attack.
dàn hé dào 、 yǐ jí hé dào zhī shàng de qiáng zhě ， cǐ kè réng shì mù bù zhuǎn jīng de dīng zháo fēng bào zhōng yāng 。
但合道、以及合道之上的强者，此刻仍是目不转睛的盯着风暴中央。
All those sharp blades whistling past him didn't cause any harm.
tā men yǒu xiē hài rán de kàn dào ， miàn duì zhè yī shì huǐ tiān miè dì shā zhāo ， bái xiān shēng jū rán bù shǎn bù duǒ 。
他们有些骇然的看到，面对这一式毁天灭地杀招，白先生居然不闪不躲。
Instead, they vanished as silently as if they had never existed.
rèn hé nà wú shù lì jiàn hū xiào zhe hōng jī zài zì jǐ shēn shàng 。
任何那无数利剑呼啸着轰击在自己身上。
Only Bai Sir's wooden sword seemed to come back to life.
zhǐ bù guò guǐ yì de shì ， zhè xiē jiàn bìng méi yǒu néng duì bái xiān shēng zào chéng rèn hé de shāng hài 。
只不过诡异的是，这些剑并没有能对白先生造成任何的伤害。
The endless storm raged on, but Li Fan disappeared into it.
fǎn ér rú shí chén dà hǎi 、 xuě piāo rù shuǐ 。
反而如石沉大海、雪飘入水。
Bai Sir showed no intention of retaliating. He stood quietly in the center of the storm.
qiāo wú shēng xī de xiāo shī bú jiàn 。
悄无声息的消失不见。
"The Xuanhuang Sword..."
zhǐ shì bái xiān shēng shǒu zhōng de nà bǐng mù jiàn ， sì hū chóng xīn biàn dé xiān huó le 。
只是白先生手中的那柄木剑，似乎重新变得鲜活了。
"I didn't expect anyone could master it this well. Impressive!"
wàn jiàn fēng bào wú qióng wú jìn ， yī shí bàn huì méi yǒu píng xī de yì si 。 ér lǐ fán què shì zài fēng bào zhōng ， qiǎo rán shī qù le zōng yǐng 。
万剑风暴无穷无尽，一时半会没有平息的意思。而李凡却是在风暴中，悄然失去了踪影。
Bai Sir sincerely praised him.
bái xiān shēng méi yǒu fǎn jī de yì si ， zhǐ shì yú fēng bào zhōng yāng jìng jìng zhàn lì zhe 。
白先生没有反击的意思，只是于风暴中央静静站立着。
"But with just these, I can't win."
“ xuán huáng zhī jiàn ……”
“玄黄之剑……”
Bai Sir's words echoed through the sword storm.
“ méi xiǎng dào shì shàng jū rán hái yǒu rén néng jiāng qí zhǎng wò dào zhè zhòng dì bù 。 liǎo bù qǐ ！”
“没想到世上居然还有人能将其掌握到这种地步。了不起！”
He scanned his surroundings, trying to locate Li Fan's position. But by now, Li Fan had merged into the myriad of sword techniques. Even as a manifestation of Heaven Dao, Bai Sir couldn't find Li Fan in time.
bái xiān shēng zhēn xīn shí yì de kuā zàn dào 。
白先生真心实意的夸赞道。
The storm roared on, reaching its most violent moment just before it calmed down.
“ zhǐ kě xī ， guāng píng zhè xiē ， shì shèng bù liǎo wǒ de 。”
“只可惜，光凭这些，是胜不了我的。”
In the flash of countless sword lights, one seemingly ordinary wooden sword hid among them and quietly flew towards Bai Sir with unwavering resolve!
bái xiān shēng de huà huí dàng zài wàn jiàn fēng bào zhōng 。
白先生的话回荡在万剑风暴中。
At first, it was no different from regular sword techniques.
tā shì xiàn piāo hū ， xiǎng yào suǒ dìng lǐ fán de wèi zhì 。
他视线飘忽，想要锁定李凡的位置。
But as the wooden sword's speed increased, so did its aura.
bù guò cǐ kè lǐ fán yǐ jīng yǐ shēn huà jiàn ， róng yú wàn qiān jiàn dào zhī zhōng 。 ráo shì bái xiān shēng shēn wèi tiān dào huà shēn ， yī shí jiān yě méi néng zhǎo chū lǐ fán 。
不过此刻李凡已经以身化剑，融于万千剑道之中。饶是白先生身为天道化身，一时间也没能找出李凡。
Like a raging fire spreading across the sky or a meteor lighting up the darkness.
wàn jiàn hōng míng ， zhōng yú yíng lái le jí jiāng píng xī zhī qián zuì kuáng bào de shí kè 。
万剑轰鸣，终于迎来了即将平息之前最狂暴的时刻。
Compared to all other swords in the storm, they seemed dim and unremarkable.
zài wú shù jiàn guāng qí qí zhàn fàng de chà nà ， yī bǐng kàn shì píng píng wú qí de mù jiàn ， yǐn cáng qí zhōng 。
在无数剑光齐齐绽放的刹那，一柄看似平平无奇的木剑，隐藏其中。
"This... " Si Tu Yao and the Heavenly Sword Sect elders present were all shocked and saddened.
qiǎo rán cháo zhe bái xiān shēng fēi qù ， yī wǎng wú qián 、 mǎn shì jué jué ！
悄然朝着白先生飞去，一往无前、满是决绝！
Because this was a sword forged from one's own life force—his last strike!
qǐ chū zhǐ hé xún cháng jiàn dào yī yàng 。
起初只和寻常剑道一样。
The Life Sword!
bù guò suí zhe mù jiàn de sù dù yuè lái yuè kuài ， tā de qì shì yě yuè fā qiáng shèng 。
不过随着木剑的速度越来越快，它的气势也越发强盛。
Bai Sir naturally recognized its true nature.
rú màn yán tiān jì de xióng xióng liè huǒ ， yòu rú zhào liàng hēi àn de liú xīng 。
如蔓延天际的熊熊烈火，又如照亮黑暗的流星。
He hesitated slightly.
yǔ zhī xiāng bǐ ， fēng bào zhōng qí tā suǒ yǒu de lì jiàn ， dōu xiǎn de àn dàn wú guāng 。
与之相比，风暴中其他所有的利剑，都显得黯淡无光。
After all, it was just a competition. There was no need to risk the young man's life for victory.
“ zhè shì ……” cǐ kè guān zhàn de sī tú yáo 、 yǐ jí zhū wèi tiān jiàn zōng zhǎng lǎo ， quán dōu miàn lù zhèn jīng yǔ wǎn xī 。
“这是……”此刻观战的司徒遥、以及诸位天剑宗长老，全都面露震惊与惋惜。
Moreover...
yīn wèi zhè shì yǐ zì shēn xìng mìng jī fā de zuì qiáng yī jiàn 。
因为这是以自身性命激发的最强一剑。
His understanding of the sword technique was truly rare in this world and not weaker than his own.
yě shì zuì hòu yī jiàn 。
也是最后一剑。
In such perilous times, every additional talent is beneficial to the Xuanhuang Realm. To let him die so easily would be a pity.
mìng zhī jiàn ！
命之剑！
Thoughts racing, Bai Sir made up his mind.
bái xiān shēng zì rán yě kàn chū le zhè yī jiàn de dǐ xì 。
白先生自然也看出了这一剑的底细。
"I yield."
tā bù jīn yǒu xiē yóu yù 。
他不禁有些犹豫。
The moment he said it, he released his cultivation restrictions.
bù guò shì yī cháng bǐ shì bà le ， shí zài méi bì yào wèi le shèng fù ér dā shàng duì miàn nà ge nián qīng rén de xìng mìng 。
不过是一场比试罢了，实在没必要为了胜负而搭上对面那个年轻人的性命。
He used the power of the Everlasting Realm to forcibly reverse Li Fan's burning life process.
duì fāng yú jiàn dào de lǐng wù ， dí què shì zhī hǎn jiàn 。 bìng bù ruò yú zì jǐ 。
对方于剑道的领悟，的确世之罕见。并不弱于自己。
Li Fan showed no intention of stopping.
zhí cǐ wēi nàn guān tóu ， měi duō yí gè rén cái ， duì yú xuán huáng jiè dōu shì hǎo de 。 jiù zhè me bái bái sǐ le ， shí zài kě xī 。
值此危难关头，每多一个人才，对于玄黄界都是好的。就这么白白死了，实在可惜。
Even though his sword technique was lost, his speed remained unchanged.
sī niàn jí zhuǎn jiān ， bái xiān shēng yǐ rán zuò le jué dìng 。
思念急转间，白先生已然做了决定。
In the end, that wooden sword gently pierced Bai Sir's body.
“ wǒ rèn shū 。”
“我认输。”
(End of chapter)
"Who is that? Just a Golden Core Realm cultivator, daring to be so arrogant? Didn't you see how Senior Brother Hua, who was at the late Foundation Establishment stage, lost after just one move?"
"The Inner Gate disciple Ji Zhaoyuan! He's usually quiet and unremarkable. Who would have thought he'd actually step forward now!"
"Good! Truly worthy of being a disciple of our Heavenly Sword Sect. Even though he knows he can't match me, he still dares to wield his sword. Just that alone makes him an outstanding Inner Gate disciple!"
...
The spectators from the Heavenly Sword Sect discussed among themselves, some showing disdain, others admiration and even worship.
But Li Fan ignored all the noise around him, focusing solely on Bai Sir: "Your strength is undoubtedly far greater than mine. But if we're only comparing our understanding of sword techniques, you may not necessarily be better."
Li Fan was confident, but Bai Sir merely smiled without refuting him.
"So today's competition will be about whose sword technique is superior, not who has the greater power!"
This statement left everyone in the audience stunned.
"Is he going to make his opponent maintain their cultivation at the Golden Core Realm and then compete?"
"Can that even happen?"
"Pfft! Shameless!"
"I think it’s fine. After all, this guest's cultivation is beyond comprehension. If he really goes all out, only Senior Brother could defeat him."
Facing Li Fan's somewhat impolite request, Bai Sir paid no mind. He nodded and said with a smile: "Rest assured, I never bully the weak."
With that, his previously enigmatic aura suddenly calmed down, becoming just like Ji Zhaoyuan's, at the late Golden Core Realm.
Li Fan respectfully bowed: "If so..."
"Watch my sword!"
Before he could even finish saying 'watch', Li Fan had already acted.
When the spectators heard Li Fan's roar, a giant sword shadow descended from the heavens, its tip pointing directly at Bai Sir's head.
Around the giant sword, countless different divine swords seemed to be embedded. The giant sword appeared like a king of swords, drawing countless sword qi and light to dance around it.
All the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples watching were unable to control their own soul swords, which flew out one after another, floating in the air with faint sounds as if paying homage.
Not only that, but even the entire Heavenly Sword Sect seemed to tremble slightly.
As if something deep within the sect was awakening.
This breathtaking scene naturally caught the attention of all cultivators in the Heavenly Sword Sect.
Countless figures rushed over.
One drunk disciple holding a wine gourd arrived and caused everyone to exclaim: "Is it Senior Brother?!"
"Senior Brother is here!"
At this moment, Si Tu Yao's usual carefree demeanor was absent. He stared intently at Li Fan and Bai Sir who were competing.
The changes outside did not seem to affect the two of them.
As the giant sword shadow appeared with a myriad of swords, Bai Sir's eyes flashed with surprise.
He noticed that his wooden sword suddenly felt much lighter in hand.
It seemed...
The sword technique凝聚 on his wooden sword had instantly transferred to the opponent!
"Using my False Heaven Dao and my understanding of the Heavenly Sword. This unexpected move is enough to snatch control of the Xuanhuang Sword Technique!"
"But I am a manifestation of the Xuanhuang Heaven Dao, so this False Heaven Dao trick can only be used once."
"So there's only one chance!"
Li Fan was unusually calm.
Under his manipulation, the giant sword turned real as countless other swords manifested.
Like a sudden downpour, they appeared in an instant.
Countless sharp blades tore through space, forming a terrifying storm that swept across everything around it.
The spectators all changed color and dodged backward. Many Foundation Establishment cultivators, even some Transcendence Realm cultivators, were knocked off balance by the sudden appearance of this sword storm.
Let alone those with lower cultivation.
"What kind of joke is this? Can Golden Core Realm cultivators use such techniques?"
"Could Ji Zhaoyuan have been hiding his true strength all along?"
"Monsters! Today I get to see two monsters fight!"
The raging sword qi obscured the majority's vision.
But the realm-bonded and higher cultivators still stared intently at the center of the storm.
They were shocked to see Bai Sir not dodging or retreating in the face of this world-destroying attack.
All those sharp blades whistling past him didn't cause any harm.
Instead, they vanished as silently as if they had never existed.
Only Bai Sir's wooden sword seemed to come back to life.
The endless storm raged on, but Li Fan disappeared into it.
Bai Sir showed no intention of retaliating. He stood quietly in the center of the storm.
"The Xuanhuang Sword..."
"I didn't expect anyone could master it this well. Impressive!"
Bai Sir sincerely praised him.
"But with just these, I can't win."
Bai Sir's words echoed through the sword storm.
He scanned his surroundings, trying to locate Li Fan's position. But by now, Li Fan had merged into the myriad of sword techniques. Even as a manifestation of Heaven Dao, Bai Sir couldn't find Li Fan in time.
The storm roared on, reaching its most violent moment just before it calmed down.
In the flash of countless sword lights, one seemingly ordinary wooden sword hid among them and quietly flew towards Bai Sir with unwavering resolve!
At first, it was no different from regular sword techniques.
But as the wooden sword's speed increased, so did its aura.
Like a raging fire spreading across the sky or a meteor lighting up the darkness.
Compared to all other swords in the storm, they seemed dim and unremarkable.
"This... " Si Tu Yao and the Heavenly Sword Sect elders present were all shocked and saddened.
Because this was a sword forged from one's own life force—his last strike!
The Life Sword!
Bai Sir naturally recognized its true nature.
He hesitated slightly.
After all, it was just a competition. There was no need to risk the young man's life for victory.
Moreover...
His understanding of the sword technique was truly rare in this world and not weaker than his own.
In such perilous times, every additional talent is beneficial to the Xuanhuang Realm. To let him die so easily would be a pity.
Thoughts racing, Bai Sir made up his mind.
"I yield."
The moment he said it, he released his cultivation restrictions.
He used the power of the Everlasting Realm to forcibly reverse Li Fan's burning life process.
But...
Li Fan showed no intention of stopping.
Even though his sword technique was lost, his speed remained unchanged.
In the end, that wooden sword gently pierced Bai Sir's body.
(End of chapter)