Chapter 228: Tian Yang Sword
Today was the tenth day of the ranking battle.
In the early morning, before the sky had fully brightened, the ranking battles for fifth to eighth place had already begun on the Sword Discussion Platform. The participants—Ling Feiyu, Shui Wushuang, Xiao Kuanglei, and Fen Juebi—were all losers from yesterday's top-eight battles. However, having entered the top eight, they were already absolute prodigies among the younger generation of this era. If the influence were to be negative, it truly wouldn't have anything to do with me.
Knowing he was in the wrong, he quickly changed the subject and looked up, saying, "But Boss, you really didn't let me down. Back then, when those people were all mocking you, I knew that you would make them regret it. Hehe, just as I, Ling Jie, expected. Could the person who made me have no choice but to admit defeat and become your little brother be an ordinary figure? But I never imagined that you would actually advance to the semifinals and end up facing me... Hmph hmph hmph, this is an absolutely fantastic opportunity!"
"Oh? Opportunity?"
"That's right, that's right!" Ling Jie grinned widely. "Although I don't deny calling you Boss, there's still a tiny bit of reluctance in my heart. After all, back then you only received three of my sword strikes—you didn't actually defeat me. To be the Boss, at the very least, shouldn't he be stronger than his little brother?"
"So what then?" Yun Che rested his chin on his hand and smiled faintly.
Ling Jie reached into his space ring and retrieved a white jade-carved sword case... That's right, it was a white jade sword case, not the Earth Xuan Sword he had been using in the previous matches. Stroking the smooth surface of the sword case, Ling Jie's smile began to carry a sharpness that was hard to look directly at: "If I could enter tomorrow's match, I would definitely not be a match for Big Brother. So, in this battle, I will use all my strength completely! Let everyone in the world remember my, Ling Jie's, glorious bearing! If you want me, Ling Jie, to willingly become your little brother, then on this Sword Discussion Platform, defeat me at full strength! If you win against me, from now on you are my Boss. If you lose... well, I might consider taking you on as my little brother instead."
"Alright!" Yun Che nodded directly, his expression becoming serious and focused: "If I can't even defeat you, then I'm naturally unworthy of being your Boss. In that case, draw your sword. Let me see your true strength!"
Ling Jie's hand twisted gently, and the white jade sword case opened. With a flash of orange light, a slim, long sword, entirely orange-yellow and about five feet five inches in length, flew into Ling Jie's hand.
Zheng...
The orange sword emerged into the world and spontaneously released a prolonged sword hum. A sword momentum also quietly spread out. The momentum was not intense nor sharp, but it carried an astonishing penetrating power. Within just two breaths, it enveloped the entire Sword Discussion Platform. Everyone sitting at the edge of the platform felt a gentle sword momentum quietly surround them, drawing their minds and gazes under an inexplicable pull, involuntarily focusing on the orange sword blade. Upon closer inspection, one would notice that the space around the orange sword was slowly twisting to a small degree.
"What kind of sword momentum is this? I've never heard of it... Wait! An orange sword, could it be..."
"Tian Yang Sword!"
"That's right! It's indeed one of the three Heavenly Xuan Divine Swords of Tian Jian Villa—the Tian Yang Sword! It is said that Ling Yun conquered the Tian Yuan Sword at seventeen, but at only sixteen, Ling Jie has already subdued the Tian Yang Sword!"
"Tian Jian Villa truly produces geniuses one after another. Ling Yun is already an unparalleled talent, but Ling Jie is even more impressive! With two sons like this, Ling Yuefeng's life is already fulfilled."
"It seems that in this battle, it's basically impossible for Yun Che to defeat Ling Jie, who can wield the Tian Yang Sword."
Yun Che had never heard of the Tian Yang Sword, but the moment it was revealed, he could feel its extraordinary and astonishing sword momentum. The murmurs of deep surprise all around him also made him understand even more how remarkable this sword was. Without a doubt, this was a Heavenly Xuan Sword famous throughout the world!
This ranking battle had finally seen the appearance of a Heavenly Xuan artifact for the first time!
With the Tian Yang Sword in hand, Ling Jie's entire aura underwent a drastic change. He seemed to have transformed into a sword himself, his whole body brimming with soaring sword energy. There was no longer any trace of playfulness or carelessness in his eyes; instead, they released a sharp, piercing cold light like a blade.
Yun Che took a half step back, raised his right hand, and the heavy, blunt Overlord Giant Sword descended from above, slamming down with a crash in front of him, half of its blade sinking deep into the ground. Yun Che grabbed the hilt with both hands and, with a slight exertion, the Overlord Giant Sword roared up amidst flying fragments of stone, its mountain-like, heavy, and overbearing momentum rushing straight toward Ling Jie.
But after all, the Overlord Giant Sword was only an Earth Xuan artifact, with a gap in realm and level compared to the Tian Yang Sword. Its unrivaled, domineering presence did not suppress the momentum of the Tian Yang Sword much; instead, it was sliced apart layer by layer by the gentle sword momentum of the Tian Yang Sword.
The difference between a Heavenly Xuan artifact and an Earth Xuan artifact was like fine steel to straw. In terms of weapons, Yun Che stood at an absolute disadvantage. But his momentum showed no sign of weakness. He swung the heavy sword once, and the sound of wind shook the ears: "Come on."
"The first match of the top four: Yun Che of the Cangfeng Imperial Clan versus Ling Jie of Tian Jian Villa... Match begins!"
"Jie'er not only directly revealed the Tian Yang Sword, but even so, there is no slackness in his aura. It seems he places great importance on this battle against Yun Che." Ling Yuefeng looked at the two on the Sword Discussion Platform and said slowly.
"Mm." Ling Yun nodded. "After all, Yun Che is the only person in this world, besides me, that Xiao Jie has truly been convinced by. Half a year ago, Yun Che, with the profound strength of the third level of the True Xuan Realm, forcibly blocked three of Xiao Jie's sword strikes, greatly impressing him, and he kept talking about it for a long time. But at that time, Yun Che's overall strength was far inferior to Xiao Jie's. Over these six months, Xiao Jie's strength has advanced by leaps and bounds. But if he were to be defeated by Yun Che this time, then he should be completely convinced by him... Perhaps even more than he is convinced by me."
Ling Yuefeng's brows moved slightly upon hearing Ling Yun's words. After thinking silently for a moment, he suddenly said, "If that's the case, then this battle absolutely cannot let Yun Che win. Yun'er, if Jie'er falls into a disadvantage, use the Tian Yuan Sword to assist him!"
Ling Yuefeng's words made Ling Yun pause for a moment, then he seemed to understand something. He nodded lightly: "I understand."