Xu Xian channeled the Supreme Pure Yang Art, concentrating all his inner strength into a long sword. The faint red glow on the blade did not intensify, yet its imposing aura grew ever more oppressive.

Though the long sword pointed diagonally toward the ground, it exerted a pressure that was impossible to ignore. Just as Lei Zhenshan was feeling smug, a sudden, violent pounding struck his heart; he had a terrible premonition that something ill was about to occur.

He furtively glanced left and right but detected no threat, seeing only the young man before him, who occasionally coughed softly. "Am I simply being too suspicious?" As this thought crossed his mind, his vision suddenly blurred.

Though Xu Xian had not moved, he seemed to have multiplied into five or six figures, vaguely forming an encircling pincer movement to strike him. "What is happening?" This spectacle was truly terrifying.

In his haste, Lei Zhenshan was startled, and his feet involuntarily shuffled several steps backward. When he regained his composure and realized this vision was merely the afterimage created by the peak exertion of the opponent's movement technique, his old face flushed with shame and anger.

He brought his greatsword down, slashing at the illusion of Xu Xian that had already lunged toward him. "Putting on a ghostly show!" He employed his Flying Dragon Swordplay again, simultaneously using the reflection of the sun to momentarily blind his opponent, but this strike seemed to hit empty air; the person opposite showed no reaction whatsoever.

"A feint?" Thinking this was merely a phantom created by a trick, the greatsword in his hand involuntarily slowed slightly. However, in that brief pause, the Xu Xian before him rapidly jabbed his long sword multiple times, executing the Three Peaks of Mount Tai technique taught to him by Ye Wen.

This particular skill had numerous similar moves in the Jianghu, known by various names; the most common was Three-Wave Impact, a method of delivering force, though everyone executed it slightly differently. If Ye Wen performed this move, it carried an air of profound stability, with the latter forces far surpassing the initial ones, overwhelming the opponent after the three jolts passed.

Xu Xian's execution was different. His swordplay was extremely fast; these three strikes were almost continuous, as if thrust out simultaneously, yet they were indeed three distinct movements, separated by the slightest fraction of time.

Lei Zhenshan felt one jarring shock on his sword, immediately followed by two more with almost no pause. Although the later two strikes held less force individually, the interval between them was so short that the three bursts of power virtually merged into one impact felt in his hand.

These three formidable forces almost numbed his wrist, making it nearly impossible to grip his sword. In panic, he could only retreat several steps, seeking distance.

Having gained the advantage, Xu Xian would never allow him to escape so easily. As Lei Zhenshan retreated a few steps, he felt a sharp sword energy assail the back of his head.

He quickly spun around to block, only to see Xu Xian had already arrived behind him, unleashing another set of the Three Peaks of Mount Tai. Another three crisp ding sounds, almost blended into one, followed.

Lei Zhenshan could no longer hold the greatsword in his right hand. That first barrage had already numbed his wrist; this second one left his right hand completely devoid of feeling, even bruising the web between his thumb and forefinger until it split and oozed blood.

Fortunately, Lei Zhenshan had considerable experience in the Jianghu and knew that losing his weapon meant certain death. In a frenzy, he caught the greatsword with his left hand and followed up with a basic move, "Sweep a Thousand Armies," relying on the sheer weight and mass of the weapon to force Xu Xian back.

Unexpectedly, Xu Xian neither retreated nor evaded. With a mere twist of his wrist, the long sword lunged again towards Lei Zhenshan's greatsword—yet another execution of the Three Peaks of Mount Tai.

After this clash, a sound of splintering followed the clanging. Lei Zhenshan was jolted backward by Xu Xian's power and hadn't yet assessed his own situation, only feeling both hands tingling and shaking uncontrollably.

The sword in his hand was only tenuously held, certainly no longer usable for combat. While trembling in shock, he suddenly heard a unified gasp from the crowd below, interspersed with cries like, "What exquisite swordsmanship!" Lei Zhenshan hadn't noticed the change until a glance to the side revealed everyone staring at him in astonishment.

Only then did he notice something amiss with the greatsword in his hand. He looked down: the very sword he relied upon for his Sun-Reflecting Swordplay was now crisscrossed with several deep cracks, with shards flaking off onto the ground.

Had the weapon not been so large, it would have shattered completely. Even so, his weapon was ruined, useless not only for reflecting sunlight but also for ordinary fighting.

"What?" Utterly baffled as to how his long sword had been destroyed, Lei Zhenshan stared blankly at the weapon, then turned a face etched with horror toward Xu Xian. There stood Xu Xian, stationary, somehow producing a handkerchief from nowhere to delicately wipe his own sword, before saying to him, "You seemed quite pleased with your weapon, treating it as your ultimate reliance...

And now?" It turned out that Xu Xian had consecutively used the Three Peaks of Mount Tai three times—nine strikes in total—each imbued with the potent energy of the Supreme Pure Yang Art, and every single strike had impacted the exact same spot on Lei Zhenshan's greatsword. Though the sword had a unique design and certain tactical uses, it was hardly a divine weapon.

Being struck nine times in succession at full force by Xu Xian made its shattering entirely logical. However, Xu Xian's strikes were too swift, and the power contained within his sword was condensed and restrained; ordinary people could not perceive the finesse involved.

Only those with high-level martial arts understanding or profound insight could discern the intricacies. This explained why Lei Zhenshan was forced to dodge and weave under the pressure of Xu Xian's blows, retreating in disarray, while the destruction of his weapon was met with cheers from the crowd, leaving his own mind utterly bewildered.

Only a few who grasped the situation cheered and then began explaining to their neighbors, finally making the crowd understand what had transpired. The representatives from the great sects gathered nearby marveled at Xu Xian’s swordsmanship.

True Master Tianyi smiled and remarked to Bei Cheng Yan, "The Shu Mountain Sect truly specializes in swordsmanship. Judging by Xu Xian's display of exquisite technique, he is likely not far behind the Sect Master of the Northern City." Although Bei Cheng Yan inwardly admired Xu Xian's sword skill, it was difficult for her to admit it openly, as she represented the dignity of her sect.

Unlike a lone wanderer who could act as they pleased, she had to respond haughtily, "Xu Xian's swordsmanship is indeed impressive, but compared to this Sect Master, it is hardly worth mentioning." True Master Tianyi recognized the reason for Bei Cheng Yan's guarded response. Normally he wouldn't argue, but with no one else around, he felt unrestrained: "Though Xu Xian's swordsmanship may not equal the Northern City Sect Master's, if you add in that movement technique..." This time, Bei Cheng Yan could not refute him.

Her Northern Sword Sect focused solely on sword arts; other skills were merely average. Even their internal cultivation method was unique, designed specifically to complement their sect's swordplay.

While effective for Northern Sword Sect disciples, it was not considered a top-tier technique in the broader Jianghu. If not for their exceptional swordsmanship, the Northern Sword Sect would have no footing at all.

As for the movement technique... She preferred not to mention it; bringing it up only brought tears to her eyes.

So, Bei Cheng Yan simply kept silent, especially since the two seniors beside her held extremely high seniority; she dared not lose her temper and thus chose to hold her peace. Seeing this, True Master Tianyi cleared his throat and apologized, "This old Daoist spoke rashly; Sect Master Bei, please forgive my offense." Bei Cheng Yan quickly returned the courtesy, "Your Reverence is too kind..." On the Jade Grotto faction's side, Yu Qingzi seemed unperturbed, but the Nine Swords Immortal's eyes lit up: "The Shu Mountain Sect certainly has many profound arts.

This young man named Xu, with just this movement skill and such exquisite swordsmanship, can roam the Jianghu freely." Yu Qingzi, unfamiliar with swordsmanship, couldn't appreciate the subtlety and merely nodded casually. In truth, the Jade Grotto Sect was not primarily a sword-wielding school; it was only due to a strange twist of fate that the Nine Swords Immortal emerged.

Their sect excelled in Daoist cultivation, focusing on longevity and the path to eternal life. Their foundational martial arts consisted only of the Foggy Water Palm, a set composed almost entirely of defensive moves, and the sect's ultimate protective art, the Rotating Circular Barrier—neither of which had anything to do with the sword.

Yet, precisely because of this, the Nine Swords Immortal had found an unconventional path, developing the divine skill of commanding nine swords. Furthermore, he utilized a large block of profound iron, originally a side asset of the sect, to forge a massive sword.

Not only were its original properties retained, but its magnetic properties were greatly enhanced. Coupled with the unique channeling method created by the Nine Swords Immortal, he could fluidly manipulate the sword's magnetism, making it far more practical than when it was just a lump of metal.

After a brief exchange, the two returned their gaze to the stage. They saw Xu Xian, having just destroyed Lei Zhenshan's weapon, calmly pulling out a handkerchief to polish his sword—appearing, to the outside, as if he were simply showing off.

In reality, he was deliberately adopting this posture while his mind rapidly considered whether to simply kill the man outright. "Perhaps I should spare his life, letting Rongrong seek revenge herself later?" After a moment of thought, he murmured, "Releasing a lurking tiger only breeds endless trouble.

He must die." He glanced towards the Shu Mountain faction and saw Huang Rongrong watching him. When their gazes met, Xu Xian faintly sensed a deep conflict in her thoughts.

Finally, she nodded hesitantly. Xu Xian immediately understood: Huang Rongrong consented to him taking action to exact her vengeance.

In truth, Huang Rongrong was torn. She desperately wished to kill her enemy with her own hands, but with her current skill level, it was impossible.

If she let him go, hoping to take revenge after achieving greater martial prowess—she feared Lei Zhenshan was not the sort of man to stay put; if released, he would vanish without a trace. Moreover, she understood the danger of releasing a persistent foe.

Letting him live today meant endless future trouble. Finally, she steeled her heart and nodded to Xu Xian—and because Xu Xian had stood up for her, even claiming she was his betrothed, Huang Rongrong felt immensely indebted and guilty for placing him in this difficult position.

In the past, she had often insisted on being Xu Xian's wife simply because her willful nature allowed her to do as she pleased, and because, back then, she hadn't considered the complexities; she just wanted to be with him. Having been away longer, she gradually understood many truths.

Coupled with the tragedy of her sect's annihilation and her background as a bandit, and considering Xu Xian was about to attend the Imperial Examination after this tournament—an assembly of the world's finest—their statuses were now worlds apart, leaving virtually no common ground. Furthermore, Xu Xian had been her teacher.

Considering all factors, a union seemed impossible. Yet, today, Xu Xian had publicly declared her his fiancée before the heroes of the world, solidifying their relationship.

How was this situation to be resolved? Thus, Huang Rongrong's mind was in turmoil, her future appearing utterly chaotic and without direction.

Seeing Xu Xian deliberately seeking her silent consent through his eyes, she felt moved but did not want to cause him further embarrassment, so she nodded, hoping to resolve this matter quickly. Seeing her agreement, just as Xu Xian was about to strike, he seemed to recall something.

He leaped to the edge of the arena closest to the Shu Mountain faction and called out to Huang Rongrong, "Rongrong, lend me your twin blades for a moment." Huang Rongrong instantly understood his intent. She drew her twin blades, ran over, and handed them to him, whispering, "Thank you..." Xu Xian gave her a brilliant smile.

"Silly girl, what for?" He handed his long sword to Huang Rongrong, picked up the twin blades, stood, and turned to face Lei Zhenshan. Turning back, the twin blades in Xu Xian's hands spun ceaselessly, appearing like two swirling halos of cold light suspended above his hands.

The crowd could no longer discern the true form of the blades. "I shall use the weapons of my—my fiancée—to take your dog life, thus avenging the more than one hundred souls of the Huang Family Stockade." Before Lei Zhenshan could utter a word, Xu Xian vanished from his sight.

He looked around frantically, only to see Xu Xian leaping into the air. His figure then shimmered, revealing three or four copies of himself.

Coupled with the harsh glare of the midday sun, Lei Zhenshan was again momentarily blinded. This time, he could see even less clearly which was real and which was illusion; all the Xu Xians before him appeared blurry—yet he feared his vision was compromised by the sun, and one careless moment might allow the swift and elusive Xu Xian to pierce his heart and lungs.

While looking up, Lei Zhenshan suddenly felt a sharp pain in his neck, followed by the sensation of something parting from his body. He glanced down to see two sections of blade resting against the sides of his neck, protruding slightly.

The pure white edges were stained crimson—the blood flowing from his neck, running down the blades to the tips, and finally dripping onto the ground. Only then did he realize that the moves Xu Xian used after leaping were all feints to draw his attention.

Xu Xian had flashed behind him with incredible speed and slashed his neck. The martial arts crowd saw a flash of movement, and then Xu Xian suddenly materialized behind Lei Zhenshan, who was still looking up and bracing himself.

With a cross-slash of the twin blades, Xu Xian cleanly severed Lei Zhenshan's neck. "This is the technique that slew your son, Lei Ying.

You shall meet the same end!" Lei Zhenshan felt continuous liquid pouring from his neck, and his consciousness began to fade. Hearing this declaration, his senses momentarily cleared.

Just as he was about to speak, he felt himself floating weightlessly into the air. As he tumbled, he seemed to glimpse Xu Xian standing beside a headless corpse, gripping the blood-soaked twin blades, looking up slightly toward him.

"That corpse... looks familiar..." His final thought dissipated, and Lei Zhenshan felt nothing more.

With a dull thud, his wide-eyed, unclosed head fell onto the stage, not far from Lei Zhenshan's headless corpse, and Xu Xian, holding the twin blades, allowing the blood to drip onto the ground. "Wah~" Watching Xu Xian standing on the stage, many in the crowd frowned, feeling his actions were excessively brutal.

Killing was one thing, but severing the head? That was behavior typically associated with members of perverse factions.

Even many from the major sects thought the same way. Master Huixin closed his eyes and began chanting Buddhist verses, muttering, "This benefactor's methods are excessively ruthless." Just then, Huang Rongrong, who had been standing at the edge of the stage holding Xu Xian's long sword, suddenly burst into loud, wrenching sobs, crying out that her father's revenge had been achieved.

Her words were disjointed and chaotic, revealing the accumulation of long-held grievances finally being vented. Everyone instinctively knew this was not the time to interrupt; it would be best to soothe her once her outburst subsided, lest the pent-up resentment cause her to descend into madness.

This might have been overlooked, but the horrors Huang Rongrong recounted were shocking: not only were all one hundred-plus souls of the Huang Family Stockade slaughtered, but many bodies were incomplete. Old Stockade Master Huang’s remains were shattered, barely fit for burial.

Upon hearing this, the crowd no longer found Xu Xian's brutality excessive. Even Master Huixin furrowed his brow and remarked, "Karma, karma repaid in this life.

What hope for the next? For the Lei family to commit such evil deeds, it is no wonder they couldn't even retain a whole body in death." With Lei Zhenshan dead, the remaining members of the Lei Sword Gate looked ashen.

A few seated near the outer edges had, at some point, stripped off their Lei Sword Gate robes and vanished while the audience was distracted. When the crowd turned back from the stage, they realized many from the Lei Sword Gate were gone.

"The beasts of the Lei Sword Gate have fled!" "It's fine; those are just small fry. The important ones are still sitting here." At these words, Lei Zhenshan's two junior martial siblings and several direct disciples felt as if sitting on needles.

Though they gripped their weapons tightly, none dared draw them—if anyone displayed armament, they risked instant execution, as the surrounding people stared at them with ferocious intent. Xu Xian descended from the stage, the twin blades in his hands.

Huang Rongrong had already fainted from crying. Lifting her gently in his arms, Xu Xian intended to find Ye Wen, explain the situation, and return to the inn.

However, after taking only two steps, Bei Cheng Xuan approached, cupping his hands toward Xu Xian: "I am Bei Cheng Xuan, a disciple of the Northern Sword Sect. If Brother Xu does not mind, you may use the rooms our sect has prepared and have our medically skilled disciples examine her, thus sparing you the fatigue of descending the mountain." Xu Xian glanced at Ye Wen, saw his senior brother nod, and smiled as he replied, "In that case, I thank your esteemed sect for the trouble." Bei Cheng Xuan returned a radiant smile; under the midday sun, his pearly white teeth seemed almost to glow.

"It is our duty, Brother Xu. Please, come this way." Once Bei Cheng Xuan had led the way, Ye Wen muttered under his breath, "He nearly blinded this father's gold-plated eyes." Just moments before, Xu Xian and Bei Cheng Xuan, two distinctive and handsome young talents, standing together and illuminated by the high sun, formed an image as exquisite as a finely painted scroll.

The surrounding crowd watched in silence, afraid to disturb the atmosphere. Ye Wen, however, couldn't help but grumble a few more words.

Ning Ruxue, standing beside him, heard this and curiously asked, "Senior Brother, are your eyes afflicted by some illness?" "No, they are not." Ning Ruxue became more confused. "Then what are gold-plated eyes?" "Nothing..." Unable to explain, Ye Wen brushed it off.

To avoid further questioning from his junior sister, he immediately leaped onto the stage.

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