Yanqing didn't resort to any feints. For this test, a single strike was enough.
He held back—choosing not to use the [Stone of Enlightenment] to awaken the sword's spirit. But because of that, as a swordsman who specialized in flying swords, most of his techniques were unusable.
Thus, this strike would test only his fundamentals—his very foundation as a swordsman!
"General Feixiao, forgive me!"
Feixiao showed no fear. Though the weapon in his hand was no ordinary blade, as a protector of Yaoqing, she would never take him lightly—but neither would she falter.
As she stood there, no longer suppressing her aura, it was Yanqing—the one holding the massive sword—who began to feel crushing pressure. This was the weight of centuries upon the battlefield, of tens of thousands of wolf-headed Beasts felled, condensed into a commanding force that shook the air itself.
"Come at me without reservation. I will see to it that the Exalting Sanctum remains unharmed."
"Haah!" At her words, Yanqing wasted no breath. His Path energy surged forth, a raging flood pouring into the sword's edge.
He stepped forward—not to charge, but to leap high. The sword, already wider than Feixiao's waist, stretched even longer in the wind, swelling into a colossal blade over ten meters long!
Its shadow engulfed her completely. At last, her expression grew grave—not from the shade nor the towering blade, trifles to her, but from something far more dire.
What commanded her full vigilance was the possibility of death.
As the sword's aura locked onto her, her hackles rose instinctively. That strike had the power to kill her.
And not only her—Yanqing himself, the wielder, broke into a cold sweat.
The sword's edge howled with violent force, whipping his hair and robes into a frenzy. Feeling the aura brushing past his cheeks and hands, his heart raced. He had no doubt—were he not the wielder, he would already have been carved into bloody shreds!
"Take this!" Yanqing crossed the air, the greatsword thrust forward in what looked like a simple attack—yet carried all his training and life's essence within it.
The wave of sword-aura crashed downward like a surging tide. No defense, no restraint—just a single ultimate blow, his art distilled from Celestial River's Torrent, now transformed without rehearsal, in mere moments. His talent and ability were undeniable.
"A fine strike indeed!"
Feixiao's lips curved into a sharp grin. She stepped forward, unleashing the full might of an Emanator of The Hunt. Within dozens of miles, onlookers quailed, their hearts seized by the pressure; some even collapsed to their knees, unable to rise.
Yet the descending tide of sword-aura was unshaken. She had never expected to counter it so easily.
In a flash, she too leapt upward. Vast as the sea, her Path energy coiled around her, and behind her loomed the spectral form of a monstrous beast, blotting out half the skies over Exalting Sanctum.
As Yaoqing's Great General, she left not a shred of power unused.
"Come!" Carrying the authority of an Emanator, she struck forward in the simplest of ways.
A single fist. Unadorned. Catastrophic. It collided head-on with the flood of sword-aura in midair.
BOOM!!!
Where the two forces met, light erupted, blinding and searing, and a terrible explosion bloomed above Exalting Sanctum!
…
"What is happening?! How could such a blast appear out of nowhere?"
Jing Yuan, working in the Strategist's Office, felt the surge of power and shot into the skies.
Seeing the detonation in the distance, his heart went cold. The force of this blast could destroy half of Exalting Sanctum—and the people of Luofu would suffer countless casualties.
Was this Phantylia's revenge? But how could she conjure such destruction from thin air?
In that moment, his faith in his plan of "Purge the Unclean, Promote the Virtuous" crumbled, leaving only regret.
To allow the Xianzhou such damage—this was his failure.
And though the Xianzhou had laws to hold him accountable, who could answer for the lives of the people who perished here?
He did not hesitate. He sped toward the blast's heart. Even if gravely wounded, he would stop it.
…
The searing light threatened to engulf the city below.
At the critical moment, Feixiao transformed into a mass of azure light, wrapping the explosion tight before it could spread, swelling like a balloon fit to burst.
"Swords—come!" she cried from within the radiance.
Four sword-shaped lights manifested, merging into the azure glow. At once, the blazing orb shrank rapidly.
At its peak height, it burst into countless azure sparks, falling like a grand display of fireworks.
The countless citizens below stared, dumbstruck by the sudden spectacle.
They had no idea what had truly happened—only that moments ago, death had loomed over them.
And their savior was the foxian woman now floating in the sky.
Seeing their fear, Feixiao spoke aloud: "People of Exalting Sanctum, be at ease. What you witnessed was but a sparring match, a prelude to the coming Martial Ceremony. I am Yaoqing's General, Feixiao. With me here, you may rest assured."
Her words, swift and steady, calmed the shaken crowd.
"Oh heavens, it was General Feixiao! No wonder such power shook the skies—what a rare sight!"
Patrolling Cloud Knights whispered in awe: "The Great General of Yaoqing herself? The one with victory after victory recorded in the Yellowbell Resonance System? She's come to Luofu!"
A foxian woman among the crowd sparkled with delight: "General Feixiao is my idol! I want her autograph so badly!"
With her renown across the galaxy, a few words were enough for Feixiao to soothe the hearts of thousands.
She descended before the little garbage-can shop.
Yanqing, who had been flung by the shockwave, lowered his head and stepped before her. With both hands cupped, he bowed deeply. "I misjudged the sword's power. Without your intervention, calamity would have followed. I, Yanqing, beg forgiveness."
Feixiao only laughed softly. "It is not your fault. I pressed you to give your all, boasting I would keep Exalting Sanctum safe. You merely obeyed orders. If punishment is due, it should fall on me first."
Clear duties, clear judgment—this was the hallmark of her command. She would not censure him.
Besides, she herself had underestimated the sword's might. When its aura surged forth, she realized she could not take it head-on with certainty.
So, she had opted to use her swords to engage in aerial combat. Even then, the explosion nearly spun out of control.
Had it not been for the [Four Swords of Slaying Immortals], she might have survived—but at the cost of collateral damage.
"But still…" Yanqing's eyes wavered, troubled. He truly believed himself at fault.
Feixiao's smile was calm. She reassured him: "And yet, no harm was done. No ruins, no casualties—was there?"
"…That's true." His heart lightened slightly, but he swore inwardly to learn from this mistake.
"What happened here?!"
Jing Yuan landed before them, his voice sharp with demand.
He knew every event leading to the Martial Ceremony, and none included such chaos. Feixiao's words to the people had clearly been a cover, meant to prevent panic.
This was not some exercise—it had been an attack. And the enemy was still at large.
Perhaps the only choice was to abandon the original plan and conduct a sweeping purge across Luofu. Some foes might escape, but waiting any longer was unthinkable.
Today's strike had fallen upon Exalting Sanctum, and only by fortune had Feixiao been there to resolve it. Where would the next strike fall—and in what form?
No one could promise Luofu would escape unscathed again.
Feixiao ignored his suspicion. She glanced at Yanqing and said with a smile: "Jing Yuan, I must congratulate you."
Jing Yuan's expression was pure Are you mocking me?
What was there to congratulate? What joy could be found here?
He held his tongue, waiting for her explanation.
Though anxiety clawed at him, his famed composure endured. He sensed that he and Feixiao were working from different pieces of knowledge.
Otherwise, she would never have spoken so carelessly.
Arms crossed, Feixiao declared: "Congratulations, Luofu has a bright future. Your burden will be lighter. Yanqing's future will be strong enough to uphold half the heavens of Luofu."
"…Could it be another precious Curio has appeared?" Jing Yuan murmured, turning his gaze toward Yanqing.
There, in his hands, gleamed a broad greatsword. Its edge caught the sunlight, scattering a thousand sharp rays, dazzling the eyes.