NOVEL WEB Chapter 16:
Chapter 16:
When Xiao Yang shattered the long sword in Li Xingyao’s hand with a single finger, the fragments that flew out unexpectedly sliced off a strand of her hair.
This immediately enraged the Holy Maiden of the Fuyao Sword Sect.
“Divine Phoenix Soars to the Ninth Heaven, A Sword to Shake the Universe!”
Li Xingyao unleashed her ultimate technique. The broken sword was instantly reassembled, transforming into a divine phoenix that brought forth a raging inferno, surging directly toward Xiao Yang.
The phoenix flapped its wings, causing the void to tremble. The entire Sword Arena shook violently.
The protective barrier of the Sword Arena also shuddered under the immense force of the sword energy, as if it might collapse at any moment.
Everyone was left utterly stunned.
“Controlling the sword with intent and transforming its energy to attack?” Jiang Qitian couldn’t help but exclaim.
This was no ordinary sword energy manifestation. Li Xingyao’s technique carried a faint trace of sword intent.
Sword intent—a supreme swordsmanship ability that only Sword Gods of the Divine Martial Realm could typically wield.
Yet, Li Xingyao, at the peak of the Heavenly Martial Realm, had already demonstrated such a profound technique?
Who could believe this if they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes?
The reason geniuses are called geniuses lies in their ability to achieve what others cannot.
Nearby, Li Daozhen wore a faintly proud expression. In the entire Northern Territory, at the same level, who could rival her disciple?
Li Xingyao, driven by anger, unleashed a move that seemed to overshadow the heavens and earth.
“Why hasn’t Xiao Yang been poisoned?” Qin Fei, meanwhile, was still agonizing over his failed plan.
At this moment, everyone held their breath. Jiang Qitian, Li Daozhen, and the others fixated their gazes on the duel unfolding in the Sword Arena.
Facing Li Xingyao’s powerful attack, Xiao Yang remained calm and composed, exuding unshakable steadiness.
“I have a sword that can subdue the heavens and… slay the phoenix!”
Xiao Yang’s voice echoed across the arena, causing everyone’s expressions to change.
Brimming with confidence, he raised his sword finger with his right hand, then pressed it downward.
That simple motion seemed to lift the entire heavens and then bring them crashing down.
In the next instant, the divine phoenix formed from Li Xingyao’s sword energy was forcefully suppressed to the ground.
The faint sword intent she had displayed was completely obliterated.
“Boom!”
With a muffled explosion, the divine phoenix burst apart, scattering into countless flames that dissipated into the void.
The long sword Li Xingyao had reforged with her sword energy shattered once more.
Li Xingyao was sent flying, her back slamming heavily against the protective barrier of the arena.
“How is this possible…”
She stared in disbelief at Xiao Yang, who descended gracefully from the air.
Xiao Yang had effortlessly countered her ultimate move.
Throughout her career, no one had ever been able to break this technique of hers.
A surge of blood welled up in her throat, but she forcibly swallowed it back down.
“Do you still want to continue?” Xiao Yang stood with his hands behind his back, gazing calmly at Li Xingyao.
He hadn’t expected her to have mastered sword intent, but his own sword intent far surpassed hers.
Moreover, he had concealed his true strength with the Hidden Sword Technique, making even Jiang Qitian and Li Daozhen unable to sense his sword intent.
Li Xingyao remained silent. The entire arena was eerily quiet.
Everyone stared at the two figures on the Sword Arena, struggling to process what they had just witnessed.
“I underestimated him…”
Li Xingyao wanted to make another move, but the turbulent energy within her body made it clear that she would suffer a crushing defeat if she continued.
“Haha… Daoist Li, my humble disciple has won a single exchange against your outstanding disciple. I must apologize for the embarrassment!” Jiang Qitian laughed heartily, unable to hide his satisfaction.
Finally, a chance to vent his frustration. It felt incredibly satisfying.
Li Daozhen’s face turned ashen. Moments ago, she had been proudly thinking her disciple was invincible among her peers. Yet now, she had been thoroughly humiliated.
“Did the Holy Son Senior Brother win?”
“Senior Brother actually won…”
The plaza erupted with cheers. The disciples of the Azure Sun Sword Sect were beside themselves with excitement.
“He won, he really won…” Jiang Ting’s face was filled with joy. But since when had Senior Brother become so powerful?
Xiao Yang’s parents and younger sister were both thrilled and stunned.
Their son had defeated the Holy Maiden of the Fuyao Sword Sect.
It all felt too surreal to them.
Even the disciples of the Azure Sun Sword Sect found it hard to believe.
The Holy Maiden of the Fuyao Sword Sect was so powerful that even Lei Renjie and Qin Fei had been defeated without her drawing her sword.
Yet this same Holy Maiden had been beaten by their Holy Son Senior Brother.
If they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, who would believe it?
At this moment, Jiang Qitian waved his sleeve, dispersing the protective barrier around the Sword Arena.
The massive shield that had enveloped the arena vanished in an instant.
“Half a year from now, at the Grand Competition, we shall settle this!”
Li Xingyao turned and leaped off the arena.
“Let’s see if you can still laugh then,” Li Daozhen said coldly before preparing to leave with Li Xingyao.
“Ah, Daoist Li, leaving so soon? Why not stay for a meal and some wine?” Jiang Qitian said, thoroughly enjoying her discomfort.
Li Daozhen’s lips twitched.
Without replying, she waved her sleeve. A beam of sword light enveloped her and Li Xingyao, and with a flash, they vanished.
“Saint Xiao Yang, your merits cancel out your past mistakes. As the Enforcement Elder, I hereby rescind your previous punishment,” Elder Lei Lie declared, his gaze complicated.
“As it should be!”
“Senior Brother is invincible!”
“The Holy Son is invincible!”
The disciples of the Azure Sun Sword Sect shouted in unison, their voices echoing across the plaza.
Today, the Azure Sun Sword Sect had regained its pride.
The Fuyao Sword Sect?
The Saintess?
In the end, they had all been defeated by their Holy Son Senior Brother.
They had arrived arrogantly seeking a duel but left in disgrace. It was immensely satisfying.
“Senior Brother…” Jiang Ting excitedly rushed onto the Sword Arena, eager to congratulate Xiao Yang.
But Xiao Yang, as if not seeing her, stepped onto his flying sword and soared away without a word.
“…”
Jiang Ting stood on the Sword Arena, stunned, her face filled with grievance.
“Did Senior Brother just leave like that?”
The disciples of the Azure Sun Sword Sect were equally surprised.
Meanwhile, outside the plaza, in a nearby pavilion, Qin Fei lay on a stretcher, scratching his head in frustration.
He couldn’t figure out where his plan had gone wrong. Xiao Yang had clearly drunk the poisoned tea, so why was he unharmed?
Xiao Yang, however, had returned to the cave where he had been sent for reflection.
He had some belongings there and planned to retrieve them before heading to the Azure Sun Secret Realm for training.
The Grand Competition was only five months away, a critical event for the Azure Sun Sword Sect’s future.
Xiao Yang was determined to use this time to train hard and reach the peak of the Heavenly Martial Realm.
The Azure Sun Secret Realm was the most spiritually abundant area within the sect, far surpassing even his Holy Son’s residence.
As he prepared to leave the cave where he had spent the past month, Xiao Yang felt a tinge of reluctance.
The cave wasn’t bad—it was peaceful and free from external disturbances, perfect for focused cultivation.
However, its spiritual energy paled in comparison to the Azure Sun Secret Realm.
Moreover, the Azure Sun Secret Realm housed not only the sect’s treasure, the Azure Sun Sword, but also a reclusive expert guarding it.
If he were to take the Azure Sun Sword and leave the sect, would his master and the elders be furious?
In his previous life, he had met his end under this very sword.
Xiao Yang didn’t leave the cave immediately. He decided to stay one more night before departing the next day.
…
“How could you lose?”
A hundred miles from Azure Sun Mountain, two women stood atop a lofty peak.
Their ethereal presence made them seem like celestial beings, as if they could ascend with the wind at any moment.
They were none other than Li Daozhen and her disciple, Li Xingyao.
“Sword intent…”
Li Xingyao clenched her fists, her gaze sharp and resolute.
“What…”
Li Daozhen was stunned.
“How is that possible? Xiao Yang is only at the mid-stage of the Heavenly Martial Realm. How could he have mastered sword intent?”
Li Daozhen found it hard to believe. She hadn’t sensed any sword intent from Xiao Yang during the battle.
“Once I cultivate the True Phoenix Immortal Sword Technique to the fifth level, Xiao Yang will be nothing more than an ant to me.”
Li Xingyao’s eyes glinted with fierce determination.
“At the Grand Competition, I will crush Xiao Yang beneath my feet!” she declared haughtily, now fully regarding him as her greatest rival.