Chapter 266: Chapter 261: Discussing the Sword, Not the Person
"Two swords," one refined from solid to void, the other capable of five instantaneous transformations.
Jiang Li realized there was so much more to artifact refining than he had seen.
As the Heavenly Will Sword was about to land, Long Yue flicked his finger, and the sword, which returned to an embryonic form, whistled towards Jiang Li’s face.
In that instant, Jiang Li’s eyes perceived the Sword Embryo as splitting into five different swords simultaneously, each with a different momentum— heavy, fierce, swift, soft, and ferocious.
Complicated patterns suddenly appeared in Jiang Li’s eyes as the Dream Butterfly gracefully moved, overlaying two visions.
He tilted his head slightly, letting the sword tip pass by, then suddenly raised his hand and grabbed the hilt of the sword that was about to pass.
The phantom-like momentum of the swords disappeared, replaced by the unimpressive Sword Embryo and also...
Very light.
At its inception, the Sword Embryo was hammered by a giant, three zhang tall, forged from Heavenly Sinking Iron and supposed to be extremely heavy. Jiang Li had braced himself for its heft. Yet when the Sword Embryo was in his hand, it felt as light as a feather, starkly contrary to the weight he had expected.
Jiang Li infused his True Qi into it, closely sensing the sword, when suddenly—
He swung and chopped down.
The Heavenly Will Sword in his hand underwent various transformations, casting five sword shadows in front of him, each showing a different form. They reverted to the original form of the Sword Embryo when the sword stopped.
"Amazing!"
Tan Wuwei applauded, "The Heavenly Will Sword’s form changes with the nature of the user’s True Qi. The fact that you can perform five transformations instantly proves that your True Qi undergoes five changes in the blink of an eye, truly worthy of the ’Qi Tomb’ successor."
Elder Kaiyang clicked his tongue in wonder, examining the Heavenly Will Sword up and down.
He could tell that the previous transformations were complete changes to the sword’s body itself, not like the Mo Wu Battle Box that disassembled into parts to reconfigure. The magic was so bizarre, it was beyond comprehension.
"Could it possibly be..." Elder Kaiyang’s eyes sparkled with speculation, "Ruyi Xuan Tie?"
Hearing this, Tan Wuwei looked at Elder Kaiyang with surprise and nodded, "Exactly, the so-called ’Divine Treasure Iron,’ Ruyi Xuan Tie, which can transform with one’s thoughts. It is a divine item born of heaven and earth. The Mo Sect has fortuitously obtained a small piece and used it in the forging of this sword."
"It really is Ruyi Xuan Tie," Elder Kaiyang’s gaze toward the Heavenly Will Sword grew even more fervent.
’Just not sure how much aid such a divine sword’s aura can bring to the Xuanyuan Sword, and whether it could awaken it...’
He entertained other thoughts in his heart, looking forward to the developments that would follow.
The Heavenly Will Sword, divine and refined to void, and the Great Circle Sword, each with their own marvels, made even a master of the Artifact Dao like Elder Kaiyang unable to determine which was superior.
While Jiang Li was becoming familiar with the Heavenly Will Sword using his True Qi, he also held the Wind Queen Compass in his hands and made calculations.
On the brink of every major event, divination was a good habit.
He had not forgotten that the current state of the world was troubled.
Two elders from his sect had arrived, while the other four continued to guard the Seven Halls. Despite being the hosts, they did not come to observe the scene. Clearly, they were taking precautions.
Additionally, the Thunder God of the Taiping Sect was still detained, and with the current relationship between the Taiping Sect and the court, it was quite likely they would attempt a rescue.
Therefore, no matter what, Jiang Li felt it necessary to cast a divination.
Alas...
’Too many fourth-rank powers are involved, I can’t make any calculations.’ Jiang Li lamented inwardly.
His divination of Feng Manlou’s encounter was like a miracle that didn’t repeat, leaving him utterly perplexed.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Guangming Daoist of the Yuxu Temple gestured, and the Sword Rainbow similarly fell toward the platform.
"The Great Circle is above, encompassing all, without any worry of rejection. Xuanming, you take the sword," Guangming Daoist called his similarly named disciple, his voice full of expectation.
As the Sword Rainbow fell through the air, it took on its true form in front of Xuanming.
The nearly transparent long sword was clear and bright, with hidden Sword Light. The round handguard embedded with gems, the Essence Qi flowing within it.
This sword seemed dreamlike and unreal, as if it were the towering Heaven, impossible to fully grasp.
Xuanming’s hands trembled slightly as he took hold of the hilt, his pure True Qi blending perfectly with it, in harmony as if there was no distinction between them.
Just as Guangming Daoist said, the Great Circle Sword was inclusive of all, blending perfectly with Xuanming.
This spared the Retro Party the trouble of finding a sword bearer. If it had been as demanding as the Heavenly Will Sword, the Retro Party might have been defeated before the fight even began, or perhaps they would have used it as an excuse to indefinitely postpone the competition?
However, with both parties having their sword bearers, it was time to determine the superior.
People from below flew up to the platform, and several fourth-rank powers simultaneously released their True Qi, forming a smooth light barrier around the Xuanyuan Sword.
"Step onto the stage," Guangming Daoist called out.
Xuanming first rode the clouds up and floated down gracefully.
Jiang Li stepped forward, shrinking the ground beneath him to arrive on the platform in an instant.
Both sides locked eyes, their gazes stern.
The surrounding crowd focused intently, their thoughts varied.
"Jiang Li, in seventh-rank realm, has fought with geniuses like Zhong Shenxiu. His strength should be above Xuanming’s."
"But this sword discussion is about the sword, not the person. The Great Circle Sword, refined from solid to void, is undeniable and thus stands on unbeatable ground."
"Indeed, the outcome is still uncertain."
······
...
A cacophony of noise assaulted his ears, but Daoist Xuanming, with a sword guided by his intent, dispelled all distractions from his mind, concentrating his Qi into the sword’s body. Within the Great Circle Sword’s rounded guard, the shape of the Taiji emerged.
"Fellow Daoist Jiang, please enlighten me," Xuanming declared loudly.
His voice carried an unmistakable sharpness, showing no regard for the disparity in strength; his whole being was committed to the battle.
This Daoist, at this moment, finally revealed his own edge.
"Please."
Jiang Li held his sword at an angle towards the ground, his eyes reflecting the constant shifting of the stars, the cycle of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the rotation of the Eight Trigrams, with an enigmatic sharpness that seemed to peer into one’s soul. With one hand behind his back, he adopted the standard starting position of the Louguan Swordsmanship.
His gaze met Xuanming’s, giving the latter the unsettling illusion of being seen through. Each rotation of the divinations in Jiang Li’s eyes deepened Xuanming’s sense of impending crisis.
In just a few breaths, Xuanming felt unable to maintain their standoff any longer.
So—
Sword unleashed!
The Great Circle Sword suddenly burst forth with a blinding Sword Light, scattering countless sword lights like stars. Xuanming’s figure vanished amid the sprawling sword lights, leaving only the meteoric shower of sword lights streaking through the air.
Yuxu Temple Swordsmanship・Taiyin Separating Light Sword!
’This Daoist turns out to be a Martial Cultivator...’ Jiang Li realized in shock that Daoist Xuanming, known for his mastery of the Artifact Dao, was actually a Martial Cultivator. Or rather, he primarily followed the Martial Way, with Magic as a secondary pursuit.
’His realm is the sixth rank, and he is of the Mystic Sect, so the Dao Fruit he harbors must align with the Way of a Human Immortal in martial practice.’
As he contemplated, the Sword Embryo in his hand morphed, taking on the form of a Battle Sword, a weapon tempered for the battlefield. Innate Wood Qi flowed along the blade, and as Jiang Li cut through the air with a semicircular arc, his verdant Sword Light collided with the rain-like sword lights, and in an instant—
"Boom!"
The Sword Light exploded into Thunder and Fire. Jiang Li’s Sword Qi harbored within it the essence of Wood, yet also embraced the Thunder Technique. In a flash, countless bolts of Thunder Light and Flames erupted, the thunder echoing ceaselessly, blasting apart the star-like sword lights and revealing the concealed form of Xuanming.
The Heavenly Will Battle Sword was forged from Purple Thunder Gold Copper, perfectly suited to the Thunder Technique. With it, Jiang Li wielded Thunder and Fire with ease, as if a tiger had grown wings, massively amplifying his Sword Qi’s power and sweeping away the sword lights.
However, behind the rain of sword lights, the Great Circle Sword transformed again into a Sword Rainbow, shooting forth like an unbowed arrow. Its momentum was vast and mighty; although it was a single Sword Rainbow, it seemed infinite in scope, overwhelming one with the sense that they were facing the very firmament itself.
Xuanming was not as powerful as Jiang Li, but his resonance with the Great Circle Sword was profound. Or more specifically— the Great Circle Sword had embraced him, displaying the immense vastness of Heaven that inspired extreme reverence.
"Clang—"
At the critical moment, the Heavenly Will Battle Sword, like a spirit snake, slithered swiftly, suddenly positioning itself in front of him with the sword tip meeting the Sword Rainbow head-on.
After a brief probe, the Great Circle Sword struck the Heavenly Will Sword’s tip. Then, the two swords met face-to-face, with Xuanming’s True Qi surging into the Sword Rainbow like a tidal wave, the many Sword Qi threads converging into one, like a river crashing against the blade.
"Hum!"
In the head-on clash, the sword sound hummed thunderously, sparks flying everywhere. The Sword Rainbow suddenly split apart, revealing its crystal-like, nearly transparent body. A dot of red appeared at the point of contact, betraying a violent aura.
In the blink of an eye, the river-like Sword Qi, with the strength of a long rainbow, tore through the opposition. The Heavenly Will Sword’s tip vibrated fiercely, displaying its furious power amidst the flashes of electric light.
Divine Sword Thunder Protection High-frequency Technique!
Without a doubt, the Heavenly Will Sword was far superior to the Mo Wu Sword, allowing Jiang Li to unleash this violent sword formula without restraint. Under the fierce engagement of the blades, the Great Circle Sword’s tip sparked with countless sparks from friction, the vibrations transmitting through the sword, nearly wrenching the blade from Xuanming’s grasp.
Retreat!
Decisively, Xuanming stepped back and released his force, then used the momentum to surge forward again. The Great Circle Sword transformed into a rain of swords, darting sword lights shooting chaotically towards the Battle Sword.
Neither party employed evasive tactics; instead, they engaged directly, for this was a sword duel, not a contest of individuals.
However... sometimes a duel is also a test of the individuals themselves.
Jiang Li stood firm, the Battle Sword moving boldly and simply across the sky, leaving behind trails of scorched red sword marks. The countless converging sword lights perished upon contact, unable to withstand the assault.
Xuanming sought to beat simplicity with complexity, to break the Heavenly Will Sword through an incessant barrage of strikes. But the Heavenly Will Sword vibrated endlessly with immense power; the strategy was futile against such dynamism, and only brute force proved effective.
In a split second, the two exchanged over a hundred blow, the scorched red sword marks lingering on. Meanwhile, the base of Xuanming’s thumb split open, bloodied.
"A Human Immortal Body is indeed hard to surpass; such a ruthless sword technique," Guangming Daoist exclaimed in surprise.
The physical form of a Human Immortal is naturally resilient, considered superior amongst those of the same realm. Even though Xuanming had neglected his cultivation due to his focus on the Artifact Dao, he was no common sixth-rank. Yet he was utterly overpowered head-on.
Jiang Li’s foundation was too strong; sheer violence alone was enough to suppress Xuanming.
The Heavenly Will Sword had yet to defeat the Great Circle Sword, but Jiang Li was about to claim victory over Xuanming.
"Screech—"
Another collision ensued, the swords met again, but instead of the sound of clashing metal, a grating friction was heard, sparking countless sparks.
The intense vibration travelled along the sword to Xuanming’s hand, ultimately forcing him to lose his grip on the hilt. The blade, now airborne, reflected the moonlight and the flame light, its clarity and beauty dazzling and bewitching. Ling Wujue on the platform watched the sword’s flight intently, then suddenly stepped forward, ready to leap up and grab the sword.
He intended to use this sword to test Jiang Li’s strength.
But it was at that moment that a Vigorous Flame Qi emanated from behind.
"Fifth Brother, this sword is beyond your control; best let me handle it."
Amidst light laughter, Fire Force surged forth, rising from behind Ling Wujue and rocketing towards the sky.