Chapter 698: Sword Soul Ice Soul
The cultivators who could come to the Sword Pavilion were naturally the proud sons of heaven chosen from among ten thousand. They certainly understood the significant meaning of cultivating Sword Two to the second layer in the Fish-Dragon Realm.
After all, even the legendary Zangyue Sword Saint had only cultivated Sword Two to the second layer when she was in the Fish-Dragon Realm.
Clearly, Lin Yue's achievements would not stop at his current level; there would be much room for improvement in the future.
"Has he really cultivated Sword Two to the second layer?"
On Qi Feiyu's calm and beautiful face, some subtle changes finally occurred. Even with her state of mind, it was difficult to remain calm and accept this fact.
After all, only a month had passed.
If he were given a year or ten years, what level would his sword dao attain?
"Handsome, so handsome! No wonder he's the boss. His sword dao realm can only be admired from afar," Xun Hualiu said, puffing out his chest a bit. From now on, with Boss Lin Yue backing him, who in the Liangyi Sect would dare to provoke him?
Qi Hong's face turned somewhat gloomy. He simply could not believe that Lin Yue's sword dao attainment had already reached the second layer of Sword Two, the Yin-Yang Chaos realm.
He stepped forward, first bowing to Zangyue Sword Saint, then said, "Master, this disciple has some research on the sword dao and truly finds it hard to believe that one can cultivate Sword Two to the second layer in just a month. Of course, this disciple is not doubting Lin Yue, but it feels quite unbelievable."
Zangyue Sword Saint was in an excellent mood. Lin Yue's sword dao talent had finally given him a glimmer of hope. As long as Lin Yue could continue to grow at his current pace, why worry about the Liangyi Sect not continuing to dominate the Sword Discussion Assembly?
He stared at Qi Hong, smiled, and said, "Then, how do you suggest we verify this?"
Qi Hong said, "This disciple proposes that Qi Feiyu and Lin Yue have a sparring match. If Lin Yue can win, it will naturally convince everyone."
Gai Tianjiao immediately stepped forward, snorted coldly, and said, "Sixth Senior Brother, your method is not quite fair, is it? Junior Sister Qi's cultivation has already reached the Ninth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm. However, Junior Brother Lin Yue's cultivation is only at the Fifth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm."
"Even if Junior Brother Lin Yue's sword dao attainment is higher than Junior Sister Qi's, it's impossible for him to be her match."
Qi Hong found Gai Tianjiao more and more irritating, always opposing him. If not for Zangyue Sword Saint's protection, he would have already eliminated Gai Tianjiao.
Qi Hong hid that anger in his heart, not showing it.
"We can compare only sword techniques, not cultivation," Qi Feiyu stepped forward, her demeanor very elegant, her eyes fixed directly on Zhang Ruochen. "Actually, I have long wanted to spar with Junior Brother Lin Yue in sword techniques. This is a rare opportunity."
Zangyue Sword Saint nodded slightly, looked at Zhang Ruochen, and said, "Lin Yue, since you claim to have cultivated Sword Two to the second layer, shouldn't you prove it to everyone?"
Zhang Ruochen stepped forward, came to the opposite side of Qi Feiyu, and said, "I have also long wanted to experience Senior Sister Qi's high skills. Since there is such an opportunity, a sparring match is fine."
The crowd stepped back, clearing a wide space for Zhang Ruochen and Qi Feiyu.
Among the crowd, a proud daughter of heaven at the Seventh Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm was somewhat surprised and said, "It is said that Lin Yue and Qi Feiyu have a very close relationship, that they are a pair of lovers. How could they come to blows over the Sword Soul Ice Soul?"
"The Sword Soul Ice Soul is a supreme treasure nurtured on the fifth floor of the Sword Pavilion. It can only produce one piece every twenty years and holds infinite temptation for sword cultivators. To obtain the Sword Soul Ice Soul, it's not just a pair of lovers who would break up; even blood brothers or parents and children would likely scheme against each other in secret."
"Actually, Lin Yue and Qi Feiyu are truly a perfect match in talent and appearance, and their sword dao talents are both outstanding. They can be called the golden boy and jade girl of the Liangyi Sect. If they could come together, it would surely become a beautiful story. Ah! What a pity!"
The cultivators present were all discussing among themselves.
Many of them were quite optimistic about Lin Yue and Qi Feiyu getting together and felt quite regretful to see them break up over the Sword Soul Ice Soul.
Instead, the two people standing on the square remained very calm.
"Shua!"
Qi Feiyu extended a snow-white jade hand, and the ancient sword on her back trembled, dragging a long sword light as it left its sheath and flew into her hand.
Zhang Ruochen took out the Void Sword and said, "Senior Sister Qi, forgive my offense."
Taking a step forward, Zhang Ruochen's figure seemed to turn into a ghost, leaving only a trail of shadows.
The Void Sword in his hand quickly drew a huge circle of sword energy, radiating outward.
Wherever the circle of sword energy covered, a black-and-white alternating Taiji mark condensed, half night and half day.
At the same time, Qi Feiyu also swung her sword, and the sword energies interlocked, forming a circular shape.
From the ancient sword, two completely different forces flew out. One force was extremely cold, condensing into a cold cloud; the other force was quite yang and firm, condensing into a fire cloud.
The two opposing forces continuously alternated and changed.
A Half-Saint Ancestor praised, "The two of them have indeed both reached the first layer of Sword Two, Yin-Yang Alternation. However... the sword dao they have comprehended is somewhat different."
Another Half-Saint Ancestor said, "Clearly, Qi Feiyu cultivates the most orthodox sword dao, with Yin and Yang Qi integrated into the sword technique, giving a sense of unpredictability."
"As for Lin Yue... this old man finds it a bit hard to understand. The sword dao he displays indeed contains the true essence of Yin-Yang Alternation, but why is there another mysterious force flowing within the sword technique?"
Zangyue Sword Saint stroked his beard and laughed, "That is the power of day and night, also the power of heaven and earth. If I am not mistaken, Lin Yue should have referenced Qiangu Nüdi's notes on Sword Two and integrated them into orthodox sword dao. This child's comprehension is truly astonishing."
Hearing Zangyue Sword Saint's explanation, the several Half-Saints present all showed expressions of surprise.
"Actually, Qi Feiyu is also quite outstanding."
A rather elderly Half-Saint said, "Sword Saint, have you never thought of training them as the holders of the Heavenly Sword and Earthly Sword?"
"With these two little ones' attainments in the sword dao, if they cultivate the 'Yin-Yang Two Forms Sword Formation' and hold the Heavenly Sword and Earthly Sword, they would surely become guardians of the Liangyi Sect in a hundred years."
Zangyue Sword Saint was somewhat moved. If not for Gai Tianjiao reporting some matters about Qi Feiyu to him, he might have truly gone out of his way to match Qi Feiyu and Lin Yue, training them as the holders of the Heavenly Sword and Earthly Sword.
As for now, he could only wait for the sect's investigation results on Qi Feiyu and the Qi family. If the Qi family truly had connections with the Demon Sect, no matter how high Qi Feiyu's talent was, she would have to be eliminated.
The sword technique Zhang Ruochen displayed formed a sword qi domain, completely engulfing Qi Feiyu.
Qi Feiyu felt as if she had fallen into another time and space. Above her head, day and night alternated endlessly, sometimes with a blazing sun high in the sky, sometimes with a sky full of stars.
Suddenly, the sun in the sky transformed into Lin Yue's body.
Holding a war sword burning with fierce flames, he stabbed down at her rapidly. Qi Feiyu was not flustered at all and immediately met the attack.
The two swords clashed quickly, and the black-and-white alternating sword qi domain pressed Qi Feiyu's sword qi domain backward.
"Boom."
The next moment, Qi Feiyu's sword qi domain shattered, and her figure slid backward, retreating dozens of zhang.
"Yin-Yang Chaos."
Zhang Ruochen gave her no chance to catch her breath, unleashing the second layer of Sword Two. His body and sword charged forward simultaneously, striking at Qi Feiyu's heart with a devastating momentum.
Such a force seemed intent on killing Qi Feiyu on the spot.
"Moon in Water."
Forced to do so, Qi Feiyu mobilized all her sacred qi and executed a move from the Yin Yi Nine Swords, swinging her sword forward.
"Bang!"
A crescent-shaped sword qi flew out, emitting a piercing roar, and with powerful force, repelled Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen retreated dozens of steps, steadied himself, looked at the bloodstain on his arm, and thought to himself, Qi Feiyu's cultivation is indeed quite profound. Even if she can't compare to Gai Tianjiao or the Demon Son Ouyang Heng, she is still stronger than a Sacred Body at the Ninth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm.
Qi Feiyu put away her ancient sword, smiled faintly, and said, "I have lost. Junior Brother Lin Yue's sword dao cultivation is truly remarkable. The Sword Soul Ice Soul rightfully belongs to you. I hope that Junior Brother Lin Yue can represent the Liangyi Sect at the Sword Discussion Assembly and defeat all the young sword cultivators under heaven."
Then, Qi Feiyu withdrew.
Originally, the two had agreed to compare only sword techniques, not cultivation.
Qi Feiyu was the first to use her Ninth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm cultivation, although she repelled Zhang Ruochen, she broke the rules, so she was naturally considered the loser.
Moreover, Lin Yue had already displayed the second layer of Sword Two, clearly showing that his sword dao attainment was higher than Qi Feiyu's.
Thus, the Sword Soul Ice Soul should naturally be awarded to him.
"She gave up the Sword Soul Ice Soul so easily?" Zhang Ruochen rubbed his chin, staring at Qi Feiyu's retreating figure.
Even if she was willing to give up the Sword Soul Ice Soul, the people of the Qi family would certainly not let it go easily. From now on, he would have to be careful.
The sword dao confrontation between Qi Feiyu and Lin Yue caused quite a stir among the cultivators present. They all entered the Sword Pavilion one after another, beginning to train frantically, also hoping to cultivate Sword One, or even Sword Two.
Zhang Ruochen received the Sword Soul Ice Soul from Zangyue Sword Saint and went to Room Number Eighteen of the Xuan Character Section, entering a closed-door cultivation room. He activated the formation in the room.
He placed the box containing the Sword Soul Ice Soul on the ground and opened it.
Inside, the Sword Soul Ice Soul was a piece of ice crystal the size of a pigeon egg, milky white, emitting extremely cold chill. A sword the size of a grain of rice floated inside the crystal, shining with a bright light. (To be continued.)