Chapter 150: Decisive Battle at the Palace Summit
Just as Zhang Ruochen was about to be defeated by Qing Chibai's sword, he suddenly activated the power of his bloodline. Wisps of crimson blood energy surged from within his body, forming a dense cloud of blood mist.
Blood energy coalesced into beasts.
"Roar!"
The deep, resonant cries of a divine dragon and a primeval elephant echoed from within the blood mist. Behind Zhang Ruochen, strands of blood energy intertwined, manifesting the shadowy forms of a dragon and an elephant.
The blood dragon was over ten meters long, with seven claws, prominent horns, and clearly defined dragon scales, horns, and claws. The blood elephant's shadow was majestic, like a mountain supporting heaven and earth, exuding an extraordinary aura.
Empowered by his bloodline, Zhang Ruochen's physical strength surged once more. Though still inferior to Qing Chibai's Earth Extreme Realm physique, it was far stronger than before.
"Boom!"
At the last moment, Zhang Ruochen blocked Qing Chibai's exquisitely precise sword strike.
With the power of his bloodline, Zhang Ruochen began a desperate counterattack.
"Heart of Heaven, Wind and Rain!"
Zhang Ruochen seemed to merge with the dragon and elephant, wielding his war sword and stepping with practiced footwork, conjuring nine afterimages in succession.
Around him, a massive vortex of sword energy formed, generating fierce sword winds.
Qing Chibai also activated his bloodline, manifesting the phantom of a peacock blood beast behind him. This peacock blood beast was over six meters long, with every blood feather clearly visible, its outline distinct—like the incarnation of the ancient barbarian beast god, Peacock Bright King.
With his bloodline's power, Qing Chibai executed the strongest move of the Swallow Sword Art.
"Swallow Without Tears!"
Under normal circumstances, Qing Chibai, at the Mysterious Extreme Middle Rank, could not perform "Swallow Without Tears." But with the boost from his bloodline, he forcibly unleashed this sword technique.
"Boom!"
The two swords clashed again, producing a deafening, clanging sound like metal striking stone.
The young geniuses in the distance could not see Zhang Ruochen or Qing Chibai's forms—only the dragon-elephant blood beast phantom and the blood-colored peacock violently colliding. Layer upon layer of waves rose on the lake.
A mournful peacock cry rang out, sharp and piercing, causing everyone present to feel a sting in their eardrums.
Fortunately, those attending the Sword Discussion Assembly were all young experts. If it had been a weaker martial artist, they might have been knocked unconscious by the sound waves.
Qing Chibai wielded a Spirit-level mid-grade sword technique, which was more powerful and intricate, giving him an advantage in swordplay. However, Zhang Ruochen had a higher sword dao realm and a more powerful blood beast.
In this exchange, neither gained the upper hand.
During that clash, the dragon-elephant blood beast phantom Zhang Ruochen had conjured nearly tore apart the peacock blood beast phantom Qing Chibai had manifested.
Inside the Golden Phoenix Pavilion, a cry of surprise arose. "Heavens! The blood beasts they conjured are so extraordinary. Could any ordinary genius of the same realm withstand even one of their strikes?"
"Qing Chibai conjuring a peacock blood beast was no secret in Thousand Water Commandery; it shook the entire nation back then. According to his master, Qing Chibai has the potential to become a saint."
"Zhang Ruochen's dragon-elephant blood beast is even more remarkable. Both the divine dragon and the primeval elephant are overlords that roam heaven and earth. Moreover, Zhang Ruochen has manifested both blood beasts simultaneously—his bloodline power likely surpasses Qing Chibai's."
"Both have the potential to become saints," Tuoba Linsu said solemnly.
Liu Xin snorted coldly. "It's too early to say that now! Many geniuses show astonishing talent at first, leading everyone to believe they have the potential to become saints. But they run out of steam later—some get stuck at a bottleneck, unable to break through for a lifetime. Others see their cultivation speed slow down until they stagnate. There are countless such examples."
The people around nodded. Liu Xin was right; predicting their future achievements now was indeed premature.
After the exchange, Zhang Ruochen landed back on the top of a willow tree by the shore, standing gracefully.
He raised his broken sword and examined it closely. Fine cracks covered its surface, like porcelain on the verge of shattering.
Qing Chibai's broken sword was the same, riddled with cracks.
This showed how powerful the clash had been—even the war swords had nearly shattered.
Qing Chibai faced the toughest battle since he had begun his path. He stared at the dragon-elephant blood shadow behind Zhang Ruochen, his eyes devoid of fear, filled instead with intense battle intent.
"Whoosh!"
Standing on the water, he raised his arms horizontally, releasing his true qi and sword intent.
The lake water began to churn.
Drops of water rose from the surface, hovering around Qing Chibai—hundreds of them, spinning continuously.
"Condense!"
Qing Chibai's true qi had an ice attribute. As he spoke the word, the hundreds of water droplets instantly froze into white ice swords. Each sword was only an inch long, fully enveloped in true qi.
Seeing this, many young geniuses were left speechless.
Those with high sword dao cultivation understood that at the peak of "Sword Follows the Heart," anything—a flower or a blade of grass—could serve as a sword. Even a single water droplet could be condensed into a sword.
Meanwhile, atop the willow tree, Zhang Ruochen raised his arm. The emerald willow leaves detached from the branches, flying up and spinning around him, emitting sounds like flying swords.
"Rustle!"
Zhang Ruochen swung his broken sword, pointing it at Qing Chibai. Countless emerald willow leaves, wrapped in true qi, shot toward Qing Chibai like a green rain of swords.
"Crack!"
Qing Chibai also launched his hundreds of ice swords simultaneously, colliding with the willow leaf sword rain.
After a series of impacts, both the ice swords and the willow leaf sword rain annihilated each other.
"Slash!"
Zhang Ruochen flew behind the willow leaf sword rain, stepping on the leaves as he advanced. Just as the sword rain dissipated, he gathered all his true qi and struck down with his sword.
Qing Chibai was slightly startled and immediately retreated.
"Rip!"
The front of Qing Chibai's robe was torn open by the sword energy, turning his blue robe into an open-front garment.
If he hadn't retreated quickly, Zhang Ruochen's strike would have severely injured him.
Seizing the advantage, Zhang Ruochen pressed his attack, giving Qing Chibai no chance to catch his breath.
"Heart of Heaven, Plum Breaking!"
"Heart of Heaven, Full Moon!"
"Heart of Heaven, Wind and Rain!"
...
Zhang Ruochen executed eighteen sword techniques in succession, transforming into eighteen afterimages. His movements were fluid and seamless, his sword intent ethereal, and his sword light nearly enveloped Qing Chibai completely.
Each sword technique connected without pause, forcing Qing Chibai into a perilous situation.
Four more sword cuts appeared on his clothes.
One of the cuts even grazed his skin, leaving a glaring blood mark.
Qing Chibai looked somewhat disheveled. His eyes darkened, and he roared, "Eternal Cold Sword Song!"
The Eternal Cold Sword Song was a Spirit-level high-grade sword technique.
Qing Chibai had trained in it for three full years, yet had only reached minor mastery.
Normally, with his Mysterious Extreme Middle Rank cultivation, he couldn't unleash the power of the Eternal Cold Sword Song. But with the boost from his bloodline and the peak of "Sword Follows the Heart," Qing Chibai managed to bring out thirty percent of its power.
Though only thirty percent, it easily broke Zhang Ruochen's attack and left a sword wound on Zhang Ruochen's arm.
After repelling Zhang Ruochen, Qing Chibai immediately turned and leaped backward, touching the water's surface with his toe before soaring up and landing back on the battle platform.
The battle platform was at a high position, while the pool was low.
From a high vantage point, one could easily counter attacks from below. By occupying the battle platform, Qing Chibai had effectively secured an undefeatable position. No matter how Zhang Ruochen attacked from below, he could easily neutralize it.
This was what they called: favorable timing, advantageous terrain, and harmonious human relations.
Now, Qing Chibai held the terrain advantage—he could attack or defend at will, seemingly in control of victory.
"Now it will be hard for Zhang Ruochen to win! But forcing Qing Chibai to retreat to a high position is already impressive."
"Regardless of the outcome, Zhang Ruochen will become famous across the nations, a top-tier prodigy on par with Qing Chibai."
Liu Xin stared at Zhang Ruochen, sneering coldly. "Let's see how you manage to win now!"
...
Just then, Zhang Ruochen moved.
Instead of attacking Qing Chibai on the battle platform, he activated the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow, stepping through the air and flying toward the distant Golden Phoenix Pavilion.
Tuoba Linsu saw Zhang Ruochen's intent and said, "The battle platform is eighteen meters high, but the Golden Phoenix Pavilion is eighty-three meters tall—more than four times higher. If Zhang Ruochen reaches the third floor of the pavilion, he will truly hold the high ground."
For other martial artists, reaching the Golden Phoenix Pavilion would be harder than ascending to heaven, but for Zhang Ruochen, who had mastered the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow, it was not too difficult.
Qing Chibai also realized Zhang Ruochen's plan. As Zhang Ruochen took his third step, Qing Chibai immediately executed the "Walking on Clouds" movement technique, rushing toward the top of the Golden Phoenix Pavilion.
Zhang Ruochen took his ninth step and landed on the pavilion's roof, standing on the glazed tiles like a young sword immortal descending from the heavens.
Qing Chibai was a step behind, about to land on the roof. Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen swung his arm, unleashing a seven-meter-long sword light aimed at Qing Chibai's legs.
Qing Chibai remained composed, avoiding a direct clash. He lowered his body and landed on the fourth floor of the pavilion.
An instant later, a loud crash came from the roof. Qing Chibai burst through the glazed tiles, soaring over ten meters into the air. Gripping his sword with both hands, he struck down with thirteen sword slashes.
Zhang Ruochen stood firmly on the roof, also delivering thirteen slashes, shattering Qing Chibai's sword energy completely.
"Crash!"
A large section of glazed tiles was shattered by the sword energy, falling from the roof.
The two fought atop the eighty-meter-high pavilion, their figures interweaving as their swords clashed repeatedly, producing piercing sword cries.
"Are they going to have their decisive battle atop the palace?"
The young geniuses below all craned their necks, looking upward.
Not just them—almost every martial artist in the palace could see the battle on the pavilion roof, causing quite a stir.
"Boom!"
Zhang Ruochen and Qing Chibai's swords clashed once more.
Both broken swords shattered simultaneously, turning into fragments of metal that flew in all directions.
Watching the sword fragments fly toward him, Qing Chibai discarded the bare hilt in his hand and immediately retreated backward to dodge them.