Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
Right now, all the hair on the back of Zhang Ruochen’s neck was standing up. He kept sweating and he felt extreme danger. His identity could be exposed at any time.
No matter what, I can’t stay in the Yin and Yang Sect anymore, he thought. The people haven’t processed it now, but it won’t take long before people think of me.
Sword Saint Xuanji evidently sensed that Zhang Ruochen was in danger as well. He huffed coldly and said, “Nine Serenity, according to what you said, you’re the innocent one?”
The Nine Serenity Sword Saint chuckled. “Xuanji, we’ve been opponents for our entire lives. Don’t you know how I am? Am I the type that doesn’t dare take responsibility for what I do?”
After a pause, Sword Saint Xuanji said, “I’d rather believe that you’re saying things like this before the final duel to disrupt my mindset.”
By saying this, he was also protecting Zhang Ruochen. He wanted to lead everyone present to doubt the validity of what the Nine Serenity Sword Saint said.
The other Sword Saint was still smiling. He admitted it calmly. “Indeed, I just want to disrupt your mindset. How about you guess if I really killed that disciple of yours?”
People in the crowd started yelling.
Second disciple Zhu Hongtao clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. “Despicable. He’s so lowly. At this critical moment, the Nine Serenity Sword Saint is actually using Junior Brother’s death to disturb Master’s mindset.”
“Master loves Junior Brother the most and had such high hopes for him,” first disciple Saint Qingxiao said with a serious expression. “I hope he can compose himself and not be affected by Nine Serenity Sword Saint’s words.”
Other than Huang Yanchen, none of the other disciples knew that Zhang Ruochen was still alive.
Sword Saint Xuanji challenging the Nine Serenity Sword Saint was, in a way, also to protect Zhang Ruochen. He didn’t want anyone to suspect that he was still alive. Just like now, even when the Nine Serenity Sword Saint said that he hadn’t killed Zhang Ruochen, people would still doubt him.
The Nine Serenity Sword Saint had to be charged for this crime.
Afterward, the two Sword Saints fell silent and started confronting each other. The Qi radiating from them grew stronger.
Whether the Nine Serenity Sword Saint had killed Zhang Ruochen or not, this battle was inevitable. Both Sword Saints wanted to use this battle to reach the cultivation realm that they dreamed of.
If they couldn’t reach it, they would have used up their vitality 100 years ago and died completely.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
The Nine Serenity Sword Saint and Saint Xuanji transformed into beams of Sword Qi almost simultaneously. They shot into the clouds. Then they stepped in the air and levitated. Powerful Holy Qi flooded out of them without holding back at all.
The young Monks on the ground all felt extreme pressure. Their legs shook uncontrollably as if the saintly might coming from these two Sword Saints was going to force them to their knees.
A duel between two Sword Saints would definitely be destructive. Even Saints could be at risk of dying if they were within a 100-mile radius.
“Activate the Ancient Taichi Formation,” Ning Xuandao ordered.
The next moment, 72 ancient formation platforms in the Ancient Gods Mountain started operating. Seventy-two beams of white light shot out. They flew into the sky and interlocked, forming a huge Taichi print.
With the Ancient Gods Mountain as the center, all land within 1,000 miles was covered completely.
At the moment, Zhang Ruochen was very nervous too. He clenched his fists and looked up, training his eyes on the two Sword Saints.
Master must win.
He’d never placed such importance on winning or losing. But the loser of this battle would die.
If not for Sword Saint Xuanji, Zhang Ruochen wouldn’t have reached the Peak Realm in the Void World Battleground. It was highly possible he would have been killed by an expert from the Black Market.
If not for Sword Saint Xuanji, Zhang Ruochen would have been captured by Wan Zhaoyi and brought to Chi Yao. He would be forced to kneel before Empress Chi Yao as a loser, a failure, a piece of scum.
Perhaps, he might even be killed by her for a second time.
To Zhang Ruochen, Sword Saint Xuanji wasn’t just a master who taught him cultivation and answered his questions. He was more like a caring and protective elder.
As the saying went, a teacher for one day was a father for a lifetime. It could be said that other than his parents, Zhang Ruochen respected Sword Saint Xuanji the most.
It wasn’t just Zhang Ruochen. The other disciples—Saint Qingxiao, Zhu Hongtao, Wan Ke…they were all very nervous and worried for their master’s safety.
In the sky, the two Sword Saints stood in the north and south, respectively. There were 20 miles between them. The Sword Intent, Qi, and saintly might radiating from them had reached the extremes.
They kept standing there without attacking. However, the sky they stood in kept thundering. Invisible Sword Qi clashed against each other.
In reality, they’d already started the intense fight, but they fought with Sword Intent. Thus, one couldn’t see their attacks with the naked eye.
Boom.
Suddenly, there was a huge explosion. A ring of white Qi rippled like water from Sword Saint Xuanji’s body. It forced the Nine Serenity Sword Saint hundreds of feet back.
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Clearly, Sword Saint Xuanji was more skilled in Sword Intent and had the upper hand.
“Taotian!”
Using this chance, Sword Saint Xuanji pursued closely. He summoned his Taotian Sword and extended a finger, pointing at the Nine Serenity Sword Saint.
The Taotian Sword flew across the sky, leaving behind a 100-meter-long trail of light like a shooting star.
In a battle between swordsmen, one must attack in a spurt of energy to succeed. One must believe that one can win. When Sword Saint Xuanji forced the Nine Serenity Sword Saint back with his Sword Intent, he’d boosted his ego while repressing the Nine Serenity Sword Saint’s.
With this, the scale quickly tipped towards Sword Saint Xuanji.
The Moon-Burier Sword Saint stared into the sky and nodded. “Sword Saint Xuanji has a 70% chance of winning today.”
“For the past 100 years, Sword Saint Xuanji has put all his efforts into the Tao of the Sword,” Ning Xuandao. “However, the Nine Serenity Sword Saint was involved with the Black Market and naturally has started falling.”
“Of the top three Sword Saints in the eastern region, Xuanji is number one,” the Moon-Burier Sword Saint continued. “Even without this duel, he can probably break through this realm in his lifetime.”
Thinking of that realm, both the Moon-Burier Sword Saint and Ning Xuandao’s expressions became dreamy. If they didn’t have an important chance, they would probably never reach that realm. But if they risked their lives like Sword Saint Xuanji and the Nine Serenity Sword Saint, they might have a chance.
Whoosh—
The sky in the south darkened completely. Plumes of black smoke gathered under the Nine Serenity Sword Saint like dragons. Eerie coldness radiated from them.
Nine ancient black swords flew out of the spot between his eyebrows and stood around him. The nine swords circled him quickly and grouped together. As one sword, they shot forward, clashing with Sword Saint Xuanji’s Taotian Sword.
Kaboom.
Dense Sword Qi was created at the spot of the collision and spread in all directions like tidal waves.
Some of the bits of Sword Qi flew thousands of miles away. When they landed, they still unleashed extreme power, leaving huge craters on the ground.
The martial artists in the Yin and Yang Sect and Shentai City also saw the Sword Qi flying in the sky. Each one was like a meteorite cutting across the sky with ear-splitting sounds.
Those who didn’t know what was happening thought that stars were falling from the sky. They knelt down and started praying in fear.
Gradually, the two Sword Saints disappeared completely, shrouded by the Sword Qi. One could only hear the sounds of fighting.
Only people in the Moon-Burier Sword Saint and Ning Xuandao’s level could continue watching.
This battle took the entire day. It still hadn’t ended when night fell.
Suddenly, the Moon-Burier Sword Saint’s expression changed. “This isn’t right, this isn’t right,” he said in confusion. “Sword Saint Xuanji clearly has the advantage, so how come his power is rapidly weakening? Did something happen?”
Zhang Ruochen’s heart clenched. He had a bad feeling. Immediately walking to the Moon-Burier Sword Saint, he asked, “Sword Saint, what happened to Sword Saint Xuanji?”
Kaboom.
Before the Moon-Burier Sword Saint could reply, Sword Saint Xuanji fell from the sky. He crashed onto the ground, creating a big crater. The crater was at least 100 miles wide and the ground around it shattered, sticking up.
Sword Saint Xuanji was in the center of the crater. A huge black sword stuck out of his chest. His ancient eyes stared straight up into the sky. He uttered one last word, “Fourth…”
And then he stopped breathing.
However, his voice was too weak. No one other than himself could hear him.
In the sky, the black clouds scattered gradually, revealing the bright moon. Slivers of moonlight fell upon Sword Saint Xuanji’s body, making the scene even more tragic.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
The Nine Serenity Sword Saint was covered in blood. He descended from the sky and stood beside the crater. Looking at Sword Saint Xuanji’s body, confusion clouded his eyes. Even he couldn’t figure out how Sword Saint Xuanji’s abilities had suddenly weakened so much or how he’d lost to his sword.
But no matter what, he’d finally won this battle.
Whoosh!
He shook his arm and put his saint sword away.
“Master!”
Saint Qingxiao, Zhu Hongtao, Wan Ke, Feng Han, Half-Saint Ling Shu, and Huang Yanchen all rushed into the crater. They stood around Sword Saint Xuanji. Some of them had already become Saints, but they all fell to their knees and sobbed painfully.
“Master…”
In the Yin and Yang Sect’s camp, Zhang Ruochen felt as if he’d been struck by lightning. His heart panged and he couldn’t control the tears in his eyes. His legs bent and he knelt in the direction of Sword Saint Xuanji.
(Author’s note: The Nine Serenity Sword Saint will obviously have to take responsibility for Xuanji’s death, but what’s the truth? Will Zhang Ruochen find the truth? Please anticipate the next chapter of God Emperor.)