On the dueling stage, Long Lingyun and Tang Qi faced each other.
Before either had even moved, a frigid sword aura pervaded the surroundings, sending chills down everyone’s spines.
“What formidable momentum — they’re truly well matched.
There’s going to be a spectacular showdown today.”
“Nonsense.
Junior Brother is far stronger than this woman — the fight will end soon enough.”
Ge Hongqiu said mindlessly, gazing at Tang Qi with nothing but infatuation and adoration in her eyes.
“Don’t be careless — this woman is no simple opponent.”
Chen Ling’er’s expression was grave.
Among those present, her sword cultivation ranked near the top, and having undergone the baptism of the Way of Heaven, she saw more than ordinary people.
The Little Vixen was intrigued as well.
She sized up the woman on the stage, her right hand opening and clenching again and again.
She was treating the woman as an imaginary opponent, simulating battle scenarios in her mind.
“In swordplay alone, I’m no match for her.”
After a moment, the Little Vixen reached her conclusion, then looked at Zhou Tong.
“Who do you think will win?”
Everyone’s gaze turned to him.
Even if his cultivation had been crippled, Zhou Tong had once been the king of the younger generation — his judgment was beyond what ordinary people could match.
“Heh…
what could a cripple possibly know?
He’s just grandstanding!”
Jiang Yuyao said coldly from the side.
The Little Vixen shot her a single glance, and she shut up at once.
Just then, Zhou Tong spoke up.
“This is a fight with no suspense.
It will be decided within three moves — and the result is a crushing defeat for Tang Qi!”
A single stone stirred a thousand ripples.
The crowd buzzed with commotion, staring at Zhou Tong in disbelief.
“That can’t be…
Tang Qi isn’t just a top-tier genius — he’s also received the baptism of the sword.
There may not even be anyone in the younger generation who could take even a single move from him!”
someone said in disbelief.
“I think jealousy has driven you mad.
Truly, your ugly side is on full display — a laughingstock before the world!”
Chen Ling’er’s tone was mocking; still nursing her grudge over the slaps, she tried to put Zhou Tong down with words.
“Chen Ling’er, I have to say, your talent is truly mediocre.
Back then, I should never have held the Heaven-summoning rite for you — after all, even if that kind of opportunity were given to a pig, the pig would gain a pair of bright sword eyes, rather than remaining blind with its eyes wide open!”
Zhou Tong looked at her with nothing but contempt in his eyes, driving Chen Ling’er to the brink of fury and shame.
Mo Liusu said contemptuously.
“You have no standing to judge Ling’er.”
Zhou Tong was utterly unafraid, meeting her gaze.
“First I’ve heard that judging trash requires standing.
As a piece of waste, she’s at least done one thing right — she’s learned to sort herself, because trash belongs with trash!”
These words were no less than a thunderclap from the nine heavens, exploding over everyone’s heads.
In one breath, Zhou Tong had insulted everyone under Mo Liusu.
“You—!”
Mo Liusu’s pupils contracted.
In that instant, her temperature shot up; she could no longer tell whether it was anger or shame, and could only feel her heart seize with pain.
This wasn’t right.
This shouldn’t be.
Once, Zhou Tong’s gaze toward her had held nothing but respect and devotion.
There had been a time when, whenever she was agitated or weary, one look into those eyes would calm her, and all her doubts and confusion would dissolve.
But now, Zhou Tong’s gaze held only disgust and mockery for her — while all his gentleness had been given to someone else!
This was wrong!
This shouldn’t be!
On the surface Mo Liusu remained serene, but inside she was caught in a struggle.
It was as if two wills were clashing within her — one yearning to be cared for, the other clinging to the pride of standing above all — leaving her at a loss.
“Boom!”
Violent ripples erupted from the stage, pulling everyone’s minds back.
Tang Qi struck first.
Gripping the Sword of the Way of Heaven, he gathered the aura of heaven and earth and shaped it into a giant sword ten zhang long, cleaving straight down!
The sight made everyone tremble.
Channeling heaven into the Dao, animating matter with living spirit!
This was an extremely high state, mastered only by experts who had crossed the divide between mortal and transcendent and stepped into the Heaven-Cleaving Realm — yet Tang Qi wielded it with ease.
“Let’s see how that woman blocks this now.
And he said Junior Brother would lose within three moves — what a joke!”
Jiang Yuyao sneered.
In her view, this single move would decide the battle, and she was already planning how to humiliate Zhou Tong.
But the next moment, her expression froze.
Long Lingyun’s eyes were clear and calm as she gripped her archaic sword and swung it lightly forward.
In an instant, wind and thunder erupted — another giant sword appeared in midair, equally a case of animating matter with living spirit, drawing cries of excitement from the crowd.
The sword edges clashed, lightning flashed and thunder roared!
Sword aura crisscrossed and swept through the air, even shredding the clouds above into tatters.
Tang Qi’s expression turned grave.
After testing her, he finally grew serious — this Long Lingyun was indeed no simple opponent.
Yet his look remained confident; he was already sure of victory.
He stepped back and leaped into midair, countless lights appearing behind him, brilliant as a river of stars.
“Stars of the Myriad Heavens!”
This was his signature sword move — once unleashed, victory was assured, and few of his peers could walk away unscathed.
The crowd was stunned.
Stars rained down from the sky, illuminating the four corners of the world, leaving nowhere to flee.
It was practically the pinnacle of sword technique, already touching the threshold of “momentum.”
In the cultivation of the sword, perfected technique becomes momentum, and broken-through momentum becomes the Dao.
Sword technique, sword momentum, and the sword Dao represented the tiers of mastery — and across the world, the experts who had comprehended sword momentum could be counted on one hand, while the sword Dao itself existed only in legend!
“It’s over — Long Lingyun has no way to turn the tide!”
someone declared with certainty.
There was no suspense left in the fight: facing a blow at the pinnacle of sword technique, unless one had comprehended sword momentum, one could only be at the mercy of the blade.
At this moment, everyone once again turned to Zhou Tong in unison, wondering how he would explain himself.
“Indeed, it should be over!”
Zhou Tong said — but before the words faded, the situation on the stage reversed in an instant!
Long Lingyun ran two fingers along the blade of her sword, and an aura of might that dominated the world erupted suddenly.
Everyone felt a chill run down their spines, as if a sharp sword hung over their heads, ready to take their lives at any moment.
Not only that — the stars of the myriad heavens formed from sword aura began to tremble, then shattered one after another, until they vanished into nothing!
“Sword momentum!”
“Impossible!”
“This old man’s eyes do not deceive — present everywhere, omnipresent, unstoppable, invincible — this is what is called sword momentum!”
“Sever!”
Long Lingyun gave a light wave toward the front.
Though the two were separated by more than ten zhang, Tang Qi was struck as if by lightning — like a bird with broken wings, he spat blood and crashed to the ground.
The victor was decided!
“Bitch!
You dare to hurt my Junior Brother — I’ll make you pay with your life!”
Ge Hongqiu shrieked and was about to charge forward, but then she met Long Lingyun’s gaze and was so frightened she nearly wet herself.
“I lost!”
Tang Qi climbed to his feet and said with reluctance.
He had lost without a shred of suspense, for he had run into a strike from a higher dimension.
“Miss Long’s swordplay is formidable, but in a true life-and-death battle, she might not be my match.”
Hearing this, Long Lingyun couldn’t be bothered to spare him even a glance.
She had seen plenty of losers’ bluster.
“You…”
Tang Qi’s expression shifted, but he saw that Long Lingyun had already turned to face Zhou Tong.
“Next — your turn!”