Chapter 156: The Mystery of the Xuantian Cauldron
Bai Mufeng's sword struck out, the sword light like a rainbow. The sharp sword energy tore through the air, heading straight for Xiao Chen's throat!
However—
"Buzz!"
The sword tip suddenly came to a halt a foot away from Xiao Chen, as if it had struck an invisible wall, unable to advance another inch!
Xiao Chen stood with his hands behind his back, not even having drawn his sword. Yet, a faint layer of sword intent swirled around him, as deep and vast as an abyss or the sea, immeasurable.
The crowd below the platform instantly erupted!
"This... how is this possible?!"
"He blocked Senior Brother Bai's sword move with sword intent alone?!"
Bai Mufeng's pupils contracted sharply, the hand holding his sword trembling slightly. He had never encountered such a terrifying opponent—the other party hadn't even drawn his sword!
Xiao Chen raised his eyes, his gaze calm: "I will give you one last chance."
"Use your strongest sword move."
Bai Mufeng's face was extremely gloomy, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes. He abruptly retreated three steps, his long sword held horizontally as spiritual power from his body surged madly!
"Xiao Chen! You asked for this!"
He roared, and his sword stance suddenly changed. His entire body seemed to merge with the sword, transforming into a blinding sword light!
—The Tianyun Sect's ultimate guardian art, [Tianyun Nine Heavens]!
The sword light shot into the sky, like the Milky Way pouring down from the nine heavens, its momentum terrifying!
The disciples below the platform changed color, and even Lin Qingyue couldn't help but exclaim: "Senior Brother Bai actually mastered this move?!"
However, facing this heaven-shaking sword, Xiao Chen merely sighed softly.
"Enough."
He finally moved.
"Clang—"
A clear, high-pitched sword cry rang out, like a dragon's roar in the nine heavens!
The instant Xiao Chen drew his sword, time seemed to stand still.
A brilliant sword light cut through the sky, like a shooting star's shadow, striking later but arriving first!
"Boom!"
The two swords collided. Bai Mufeng's [Tianyun Nine Heavens] shattered like foam, and he was sent flying backward, crashing heavily at the edge of the Martial Arts Platform. His sword slipped from his grasp and stabbed into the ground, humming and trembling.
And Xiao Chen had already sheathed his sword.
The entire crowd was deathly silent.
It was truly just as Xiao Chen had said.
Victory or defeat was decided in the space of a single sword strike.
Xiao Chen turned, his gaze calmly falling upon Lin Qingyue.
There was no victor's arrogance, nor the pleasure of revenge, only the indifference of a settled matter.
—Many years ago, he had already guessed today's outcome.
"Lin Qingyue." He spoke, his voice low and clear. "The ten-year pact ends here."
"From now on, you and I have nothing to do with each other."
Lin Qingyue's face was pale, her lips trembling slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she couldn't speak.
She just felt inexplicably that she seemed to have missed something truly extraordinary.
Xiao Chen's gaze swept over Bai Mufeng, who was getting up disheveled, and said flatly: "Ten years ago, you struck me with a sword. Today, I have returned the favor."
"With this, we are even. As for your sword, I have no interest in it, so you can keep it."
The long sword that had fallen to the ground beside Bai Mufeng hummed and trembled.
Xiao Chen didn't even spare it a glance and was about to turn and leave.
Suddenly, a clear and cold voice approached from afar—
"Hold on!"
Everyone followed the sound and saw a young man in white walking through the air. His robes fluttered elegantly, and his every move exuded an arrogant demeanor.
"It's the Holy Son!"
"The Holy Son has actually appeared in person!"
The surrounding Tianyun Sect disciples exclaimed one after another, their eyes filled with awe.
The newcomer was none other than the current Holy Son of the Tianyun Sect—Zhou Xuanxiao.
Zhou Xuanxiao landed gracefully, his gaze like lightning as he stared directly at Xiao Chen: "Xiao Chen, although you may look down on Bai Mufeng's sword, I am determined to have the Xiao Family's Xuantian Cauldron."
Hearing this, a cold smile appeared on the corner of Xiao Chen's mouth: "The Tianyun Sect is considered a major power in Qingzhou. What's this? Can't win in a fair fight, so you're planning to rob me?"
Zhou Xuanxiao shook his head, his expression calm: "Rest assured, we know a little about your background. The Tianyun Sect does not intend to offend you. However—"
His gaze sharpened, and his tone suddenly became fierce: "The Xuantian Cauldron is related to a secret realm of an Ancient Immortal Venerable. I'll ask you, Xiao Chen, do you dare to fight me?"
"If you lose, we will let you leave safely. I only want the Xiao Family's Xuantian Cauldron."
"If you win—"
He extended his palm, and a spiritual light flashed. A small bronze cauldron floated out from the body of Bai Mufeng, who was still dejected and had not recovered from the blow, and hovered above his palm.
"This Baotian Cauldron will be yours."
Xiao Chen's gaze shifted slightly.
Zhou Xuanxiao continued: "However, even if you obtain two cauldrons, you are still missing two. Only when the four cauldrons are combined will you have the true key to the secret realm."
He put away the small cauldron and stood with his hands behind his back: "What do you say? Do you dare to accept this battle?"
Xiao Chen did not immediately respond to Zhou Xuanxiao's challenge. Instead, he looked thoughtfully at Lin Qingyue, a hint of mockery in his eyes: "So, your goal from the very beginning was the Xiao Family's Xuantian Cauldron?"
Zhou Xuanxiao stood with his hands behind his back and said with a frank smile: "That's right! If it weren't for the existence of Xiao Ling'er, the insignificant Xiao Family would have been flattened by our Tianyun Sect long ago. How could we have let Junior Brother Bai suffer such an indignity?"
"Hahaha..." Xiao Chen suddenly threw his head back and laughed wildly, his laughter filled with endless mockery and coldness.
Lin Qingyue looked as if she had been struck by lightning, her face instantly turning deathly pale. She staggered back two steps and looked at Bai Mufeng in disbelief: "Senior Brother Bai... tell me, this isn't true..."
Bai Mufeng snorted coldly, his eyes filled with contempt: "I am a swan in the sky, a prodigy on the Human Ranking. And you are just a sparrow on the ground, not worth mentioning."
He sneered, "How can a sparrow be worthy of a swan? Lin Qingyue, you think far too highly of yourself."
Lin Qingyue trembled as if she had been pierced through the heart by a sharp sword.
"But this is for the best... I was already tired of putting on an act with you these past few days. I can finally stay away from you." Bai Mufeng continued to twist the knife.
Lin Qingyue stared blankly at Bai Mufeng, the light in her eyes dimming bit by bit.
—So, the Senior Brother Bai she was so proud of had never once held her in his regard.
—So, the Xiao Chen she had personally pushed away was the true prodigy.
Regret, pain, humiliation, and anger... all sorts of emotions surged over her like a tide, almost suffocating her. She clenched her sleeves tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms, yet she felt no pain.
Xiao Chen gave her a cold sweep of his eyes, then turned to Zhou Xuanxiao, his fighting spirit rising: "Fine! For the sake of your frankness, this battle—"
"I accept!"
As his words fell, he took a step forward, and his aura suddenly erupted, vast as the sea, pressing directly toward Zhou Xuanxiao!
...
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