Jiang Wuming knew his spiritual power was only at the eleventh stage of One-star Battle God, insufficient to break Mu Qing's mental will, let alone kill him!
He used his spiritual attack as a feint, also to disrupt, allowing him to get close and unleash this blade strike!
The fourth form of the God-Slaying Saber Technique was, apart from the forbidden technique 'God-Slaying,' the most terrifying move, signifying that with one strike, even the heavens could be cleaved open, its momentum unstoppable.
In an instant, nearly one-fifth of the true qi and secret power within Jiang Wuming's body surged out, merging together to form a saber glow, like a sudden aurora appearing in the sky, illuminating all directions.
As the saber glow flickered, Jiang Wuming's entire being merged with the battle saber in his hand.
Man is saber, saber is man.
Man and saber become one!
*Swish!*
Mu Qing, having just broken Jiang Wuming's spiritual attack, sensed the saber strike and his expression immediately changed dramatically!
This was because the power contained within Jiang Wuming's strike made Mu Qing feel immense unease; it could threaten his life!
*Whoosh!*
While feeling uneasy, Mu Qing, relying on his powerful combat instincts, raised his right hand abruptly, drawing a circle in the air with his treasured sword.
A surge of true qi erupted, transforming into numerous small, moving true qi swords that merged together, evolving into a screen of light, blocking in front of Mu Qing.
Sword Curtain!
In that moment of crisis, Mu Qing utilized a powerful defensive move from the Mu family's sword techniques to withstand Jiang Wuming's terrifying saber strike.
However--
Mu Qing's reaction and control over true qi had been compromised by Jiang Wuming's spiritual interference. Acting in haste, he could only unleash less than fifty percent of the sword curtain's original power.
Mu Qing was acutely aware of this. To be safe, while executing the sword curtain, he retreated rapidly.
"Boom—"
Just then, a loud explosion reverberated.
The white saber glow, like a beam of white light, whistled past, directly piercing the sword curtain.
The sword curtain shattered with a sound, and an energy storm swept in all directions.
Amongst it, the energy waves directed towards Jiang Wuming were all dispersed by the saber glow, failing to harm him in the slightest.
Jiang Wuming continued his momentum, the saber glow slightly dimmed but not extinguished, pressing forward to strike Mu Qing!
*Swish!!*
Mu Qing's face contorted in shock!
Although he had realized earlier that his hastily executed sword curtain might not be able to block Jiang Wuming's strike,
Seeing Jiang Wuming easily cleave through the sword curtain and continue towards him, his heart was thrown into turmoil—this native's strength far surpassed his imagination!
Even, in his opinion, the most top-tier geniuses from the outer realms, if unable to cultivate supreme divine arts, would not be the match of this native at the same level!
In his astonishment, Mu Qing frantically circulated his true qi, using a secret technique to manifest a three-legged cauldron.
The three-legged cauldron, manifested from true qi, appeared lifelike, adorned with various divine beasts and mysterious patterns, emitting a mystical and profound aura that enveloped Mu Qing.
At this moment, Mu Qing cast aside his previous arrogance and prejudice, replacing it with solemnity, not hesitating to employ the Mu family's most powerful defensive secret art—True Qi Manifested Cauldron.
As the three-legged cauldron materialized, the white saber glow arrived with a thunderous impact.
"Boom—"
Another deafening roar echoed as the white saber glow fiercely struck the purple three-legged cauldron. Almost simultaneously, they exploded, unleashing an even more terrifying energy storm that swept outwards.
Instantly, whether it was Xing Tian, Dongfang Xiaoyao, and Huangfu Weixia, or the remaining five outer realm enemies, they all ceased their combat and rapidly evaded, avoiding being swept by the energy storm.
While evading, they invariably turned their gazes towards the center of the storm, concerned about the outcome of the clash between Jiang Wuming and Mu Qing.
The result of their battle would determine the victor of this engagement!
At the storm's epicenter, Mu Qing's body convulsed violently. He was sent flying backward, his internal blood and qi churning, his meridians and internal organs aching, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, his face ashen.
He was injured!
Although the True Qi Manifested Cauldron was the Mu family's most potent defensive ultimate, he had, like with the sword curtain earlier, activated it in haste, unable to unleash its true power.
Furthermore, by manifesting the three-legged cauldron with true qi to protect himself, he had taken the brunt of Jiang Wuming's strike. After the cauldron exploded, he could not avoid the energy wave and suffered immense impact!
On the other side, Jiang Wuming's body was also sent flying by the terrifying energy storm, and the battle saber in his hand was reduced to only its hilt, its blade shattered into fragments by the previous strike!
However, compared to Mu Qing, Jiang Wuming sustained no injuries. His true qi still surged, his fighting spirit soared, displaying a formidable momentum of growing stronger as the battle progressed!
"Young Master is... injured?"
"How... how could that native, merely a Two-star Battle God ninth stage, injure the Young Master?!"
Witnessing this scene, Mu Qing's five subordinates were once again stunned into disbelief, feeling as if everything unfolding before them was a dream, so unreal!
For in their eyes, even in the outer realms, with Mu Qing's strength of a Three-star Battle God seventh stage, no one at the Two-star Battle God ninth stage realm could possibly injure him!
Moreover, Mu Qing's true strength far surpassed that of a Three-star Battle God seventh stage; he was merely weakened and suppressed by the rules of this world.
And they were all well aware that while martial realm and strength could be weakened and suppressed by world rules, their experience in life-or-death combat would not be reduced in the slightest!
Was it possible?
"Bang—"
Their response was the sharp crack of a gunshot.
On the mountain peak five hundred meters away, Qin Xiaozhi pulled the trigger once more.
A one-star bullet whizzed out, traveling at supersonic speed, instantly reaching the battlefield and precisely hitting the head of one of the one-star Battle God outer realm enemies.
Qin Xiaozhi, leveraging the shock caused by Jiang Wuming's engagement with Mu Qing, seized the opportunity to fire, achieving a headshot with his absolute marksmanship.
Originally, he had the opportunity to snipe Mu Qing in that very moment, but he didn't.
This was because he remembered Jiang Wuming's words during their combat deployment: "Xiaozhi, after you snipe that Two-star Battle God spiritual cultivator and warrior, focus on assisting Xing Tian and the other two. That Three-star Battle God outer realm enemy is mine!"
Mu Qing, with his Three-star Battle God seventh stage combat power, was Jiang Wuming's target!
It was also because, before firing, he had seen through the scope that Mu Qing was already injured.
"Ah—"
The head of the one-star Battle God outer realm enemy exploded, blood and flesh splattering onto the faces of the other four outer realm enemies, jolting them awake and causing them to frantically dodge in terror.
Qin Xiaozhi did not reload but aimed his scope at another part of the battlefield.
For him, the day's battle had concluded.
From now on, he only needed to watch his comrades perform.
Soon, Qin Xiaozhi located Jiang Wuming through his sniper scope.
Jiang Wuming, still airborne and not yet having landed, had white light flashing between his brows. Terrifying spiritual power surged out, forming numerous fine threads that precisely acted upon the fragments of the battle saber.
*Whoosh whoosh whoosh...*
In an instant, those saber fragments, like bullets shot from a rapid-fire weapon, whistled and rained down upon the retreating Mu Qing!
*Thud!*
Immediately after, Jiang Wuming descended gracefully, stomping his right foot on the ground, propelling himself forward and continuing his assault on Mu Qing.
Pieces of saber fragments traversed the air, followed by the silhouette of the youth in hot pursuit.
The sun set as the battle unfolded like a painting.
...