I didn't even see how Moonshadow shifted her stance! Yet, the Heaven-Cleaving Greatsword, originally lunging in a swift, pursuing strike, executed an almost impossible flip and transformed the attack into a parry! Clang! Clang! Clang!

A series of sharp sounds followed as the Heaven-Cleaving Greatsword smoothly deflected four phantom sword shadows—each utterly fantastical—sweeping them aside with a mere touch.

Even more surprising, the expected explosions did not occur! Instead, the four displaced dragon shadows seemed drawn by an unseen kinetic force, soaring high into the air!

This sudden turn of events left me dumbfounded! Parry! So this was true blocking!

It wasn't about brute force, but mastering the angle, much like redirecting force in Tai Chi. Although Moonshadow's Heaven-Cleaving Greatsword struck the dragon shadows, the exquisitely precise angle and controlled force of the strike instantly neutralized the terrifying impact. The dragon shadows' violent (Dou Qi) explosion required a powerful collision to trigger, but Moonshadow hadn't given them the chance to detonate!

While the principle was instantly clear, discerning the trajectory of the dragon shadows and mastering the exact angle and force of the counter-strike in that split second was nearly impossible. Yet, Moonshadow accomplished it effortlessly!

At this point, I dared not hold anything back! Almost simultaneously, the other five dragon shadows followed closely, launching their assault. To prevent Moonshadow from neutralizing them with her parry technique, I imbued every single dragon shadow with an additional layer of hidden force. This way, regardless of whether they met powerful resistance, the dragon shadows would detonate under my control!

It was like tossing out grenades with the fuses already pulled!

The howling dragon shadows swept toward Moonshadow from above, below, left, right, and center, sealing off every avenue of evasion! Their speed was astonishing. Whether she dodged or blocked, I was certain she could not escape this finishing blow...

However, before the dragon shadows even reached her, Moonshadow stamped her feet sharply, settling into a strange, half-bow horse stance. The inky black Heaven-Cleaving Greatsword sliced upward in a bizarre arc!

Fourth Move: Sweep! Amidst Lan Ye’s soft narration! The Greatsword, lifted diagonally upward, suddenly unleashed a thick wave of sword qi! Skimming the ground fiercely, it roared forward!

The astonishing wave of Dou Qi battered the very earth, tearing it open to form a horrifying chasm! The tip of the air current surged toward me like a fish breaking the surface of the waves!

And almost as she unleashed this sword qi, Moonshadow launched herself forward in a sudden, soaring leap, rushing forward like a marlin right above the ground-level chasm!

Swish! Swish! The five dragon shadows missed instantly, and the one aimed at Moonshadow’s lower body grazed past her back as she flew!

I was completely opened up to the strange application of the Sweep technique! I had truly seen the world broaden!

By using the uncanny execution of the Sweep, Moonshadow actually blasted the ground open to burrow beneath the earth, escaping the dragon shadows’ pursuit! Not only that, but she used the momentum to launch a counter-attack, closing the distance!

In the blink of an eye, that spectral figure materialized before me!

Fifth Move: Wipe!

Afterimages flashed! The dark luster of the blade suddenly flickered! I didn't have time to see clearly, nor did I register the faintest sound of displaced air. Yet, the icy killing intent that radiated from it instantly drenched me in cold sweat!

This sudden strike, like the Grim Reaper’s scythe, slashed toward my throat—my vital point!

So fast! Even the Illusory Demon Eye couldn't track this speed! At this moment, the only thing I could rely on was instinct and awareness; I didn't even have time to think before my body instinctively leaned back! I executed the Harrier Flip!

The edge of the Heaven-Cleaving Sword flashed past, silent as lightning! It carried no wind sound, yet its sharpness made my scalp tingle with dread!

Is this the true application of the Wipe technique!

Concealment, strangeness, and unpredictability—that is the essence of the Wipe Sword Art! In the past, I obsessively pursued maximum speed, and relying on superior reaction nerves, I could unleash the power of basic swordsmanship. But never could I be as precise and lethal as Moonshadow!

In the Demon Dragon World, my 'One Sword, Eight Seconds' could sever the head of a Demon Dragon Shieldbearer. Those maneuvers were the application of the 'Wipe' principle within basic swordsmanship!

But compared to Moonshadow’s Wipe, mine couldn't even be called a Wipe; perhaps 'Sweep-and-Brush' would be more fitting. It consumed far more energy, and because the arc and force of the blade were too broad, the speed was significantly reduced! It might work against opponents weaker than myself, but against someone of equal skill, the outcome was uncertain.

In contrast, Moonshadow’s Wipe involved a minimal arc and moderate force, but the angle and speed were flawlessly perfect!

I am certain that if my reaction had been even slightly slower, while that strike wouldn't have severed my head, it would have certainly cut my throat! It would have ended my life!

Keep in mind, Moonshadow has currently reduced her combat power to only twenty percent of her total strength. According to Lan Ye, Moonshadow’s physical toughness, Dou Qi intensity, reflexes, and agility are currently comparable to mine!

Yet, she is executing a terrifying level of martial mastery that even my Illusory Demon Eye cannot follow! And she is using the most fundamental basic sword techniques!

This level of precise control over force, speed, and angle is unheard of! Simple principles of mechanics achieving such devastating lethality—if I hadn't witnessed it myself, I never would have believed it.

If my style, born from the Flash Swordplay of fencing, maximized the thrusting aspect of the sword, then Moonshadow is maximizing every fundamental use of the blade!

Chen Feng once said my stabbing limit represented the ultimate simplicity—Dadao Zhijian (The Great Way is Utter Simplicity). But Moonshadow’s basic swordsmanship contains the true essence and substance of the sword—simple, direct, and utterly unbeatable. In my eyes, that is the true Dadao Zhijian!

The more I thought, the more my heart pounded with fear! But Moonshadow allowed me no more time to ponder!

As the Heaven-Cleaving Greatsword missed its wipe, she didn't pause for an instant! Following the momentum of the swing, she executed a sharp pivot of her waist, her graceful figure instantly rotating a full circle! She then gripped the sword with both hands!

Sixth Move: Whirlwind!

With Lan Ye’s soft commentary—the Heaven-Cleaving Greatsword swept out like a cyclone during Moonshadow’s rapid spin! And her swiftly rotating form charged toward me like a massive tornado!

The powerful vortex currents actually pulled me involuntarily toward her!

Damn it, is this really a Sweep? It’s a literal tornado! My thoughts raced, and my retreating form didn't stop for a second! Simultaneously, I danced my sword forward!

The nine dragon shadows that Moonshadow had parried or dodged simultaneously coiled like projectiles, whipping toward the rapidly approaching, turning Moonshadow!

Boom! Crash! Every dragon shadow that hit the tornado exploded, then flew far away! However, the shocking explosive impact offered no resistance to the vortex. In fact, the shockwaves from the blasts were drawn in and amplified the vortex's power, causing its speed to surge to an even more terrifying level at the moment of explosion!

Before I could even process what happened, the tornado was upon me!

Ah! I’m finished this time!