CHAPTER 242: CHAPTER 241: VICTORY OR DEFEAT_1

CLANG!

The two swords collided, scattering a broad sweep of sparks.

Simultaneously, Ling Chen’s left hand thrust out, aimed at Xue Jingfeng’s chest.

Wielding a sword with the right hand and punching with the left at the same time was not something an ordinary person could achieve. It required an extremely high level of Mental Power to multitask to such an extent.

Xue Jingfeng’s expression changed subtly, but he reacted quickly, also throwing out a palm strike.

THUD!

Both men were forced back.

Both Ling Chen and Xue Jingfeng were Swordsmen. Their proficiency in palm techniques was not high. After trading palm strikes, neither managed to harm the other.

"The mountain need not be high; it is famous if an immortal resides there!"

Xue Jingfeng spun around, executing an extremely exquisite sword strike. Within this strike, lethal intent was concealed, forming an invisible aura. Xue Jingfeng’s own killing intent was wholly integrated, seemingly transforming him into a deadly Sword Immortal.

Ling Chen steadied himself, his expression unchanged, and unleashed the "Thousands of Mountains and Rivers" technique.

Their Sword Momentums intertwined, as if dozens of Treasure Swords were dueling.

Xue Jingfeng was on the offensive. His sword qi was like a spiral, ferociously drilling towards Ling Chen. In contrast, Ling Chen’s sword qi was like a mountain. Despite facing Xue Jingfeng’s aggressive onslaught, it remained unmoving, deflecting all attacks.

POP!

The two torrents of Sword Momentum collided and swept apart, sending both figures flying backward. However, Xue Jingfeng’s body retreated continuously. He intentionally leaped off the duel platform and fell into the pool of water below.

"Water need not be deep; it is sacred if a dragon dwells within!"

Xue Jingfeng followed up his previous move with an extremely exquisite Sky-grade superior swordsmanship. Driven by True Qi, his Ghost Killing Sword swung rapidly, transforming into a shadowy phantom of a Giant Dragon. The sound of surging tides echoed in the surrounding air.

The sword qi guided the water, which coalesced into a Giant Dragon and charged towards Ling Chen.

Meanwhile, Xue Jingfeng, wielding the Ghost Killing Sword with its edge rotating, positioned himself at the dragon’s head and attacked Ling Chen.

Facing this Water Dragon, Ling Chen quickly retreated. He moved to the edge of the arena, stomped his foot, and spread his arms. Light as a swallow, he flew backward, landing with a SPLASH! in the pool below.

SPLASH!

The Water Dragon passed through the arena, kicking up astonishing splashes wherever it went.

"Trying to escape?"

Xue Jingfeng gripped his battle sword in one hand, the other hand behind his back. He too launched himself from the edge of the platform, chasing Ling Chen.

Just then, the pool water suddenly seemed to boil. After a flurry of rapid bubbles, the water violently burst open, and an astonishing surge of Sword Intent erupted.

"Dragon Soaring Over the Vast Sea!"

Ling Chen executed the eighth form of the Dragon Seeking Sword Technique. From the pool, a stunning dragon roar suddenly erupted. The next moment, a Water Dragon, over ten meters long and thick, shot upward. Ling Chen’s figure was clearly visible within it.

ROAR!

The two Water Dragons let out faint roars and then collided fiercely.

SPLASH!

The two Water Dragons shattered almost simultaneously, collapsing and disintegrating. Instantly, it was as if a great flood had occurred; a deluge of water poured down, submerging the entire arena.

Xue Jingfeng pushed upwards with both hands. Propelled by the water’s recoil, his body descended rapidly, landing on the surface of the pool below the platform.

If it were an ordinary person, they would have already fallen into the water by now.

However, his feet only sank slightly, as if he were stepping on flat ground, and he skimmed away into the distance.

Just as Xue Jingfeng dodged, Ling Chen’s sword slashed down, striking the spot where Xue Jingfeng had just stood. It split the water’s surface, sending up a large spray.

Ling Chen stepped on the water’s surface, riding the wind. His movement technique was incredibly elegant, like a Sword Immortal treading water as he rapidly pursued Xue Jingfeng.

The Light Skill Xue Jingfeng cultivated was a top-tier Earth-grade technique called "Surprising Cloud Step." It was as ethereal as a cloud and quite formidable, but still slightly inferior to Ling Chen’s Wind Shadow Step.

Soon, Ling Chen overtook Xue Jingfeng.

"Immortal Points the Way!"

Ling Chen’s body spun rapidly, head down and feet up, whipping up the pond water into waves. Driven by his sword qi, these waves surged towards Xue Jingfeng.

Behind the waves was Ling Chen’s relentlessly fierce sword qi.

Just as Xue Jingfeng was about to be engulfed by the waves, he suddenly stopped. He wheeled around and slashed his sword straight down, uttering a single word, "Break!"

The Ghost Killing Sword slashed out fiercely. A sword qi, over ten meters long, split the waves and collided head-on with Ling Chen’s sword qi.

Both sword strikes dissipated into nothingness.

Ling Chen’s toes tapped the water’s surface lightly. He floated gently onto the top of a willow tree by the pond, landing on its branches and leaves without falling.

Ling Chen mused inwardly, This Xue Jingfeng is indeed one of the top geniuses of the Aqua Country. At my current level, I’m finding it difficult to defeat him. Although Xue Jingfeng only has the Cultivation of a Ninth-level Martial Artist, he’s a genius—a truly rare one. Even Liu Sha, a Second Realm Grand Master whom I killed earlier, couldn’t compare to Xue Jingfeng; he was far inferior.

Many had initially thought Xue Jingfeng would hold an absolute advantage and defeat this Dustless within a few moves. No one expected such an evenly matched situation to arise. Luo Xibai, who had lost to Ling Chen in three moves, had initially felt somewhat unresigned. But after witnessing the battle between Xue Jingfeng and Ling Chen, he was thoroughly convinced. Even if I used my full strength, I probably couldn’t defeat Ling Chen, let alone if I suppressed my Cultivation to his level. Thinking about it now, what Ling Chen said before wasn’t him being unsure of himself. If we both fought at the same Cultivation realm, there would be no contest. Indeed, that was the truth.

The Second Prince’s face twisted. "How is this kid so strong?" he said angrily. "What is Xue Jingfeng doing? Why can’t he end the fight already? That guy... he wouldn’t be intentionally throwing the match, would he?"

"He’s not intentionally throwing the match," Lin Mo, who was nearby, suddenly said. "Rather, Xue Jingfeng himself isn’t confident he can defeat Dustless. I originally thought Xue Jingfeng’s current strength was enough to rank in the top five of the Heavenly List, not far behind the Sky Heart Swordsman Feng Piaoling. If he went all out, he should have easily defeated Dustless. But now it seems I was wrong."

"Wrong? Where were you wrong?" the Second Prince asked, his face grim.

"I was wrong to underestimate Dustless," Lin Mo said, shaking his head, a glint in his eyes. "This fellow’s strength definitely qualifies for the top five of the Heavenly List. And his Cultivation is only at the Seventh Realm Martial Artist level! If he reaches the Nine Heavy Realm, I’m afraid the top spot on the Heavenly List will be his!"

"First on the Heavenly List!"

The Second Prince’s mind buzzed. He stared at the young figure still locked in battle, a look of disbelief in his eyes. Does this kid... truly possess such terrifying potential?

In the crowd, only one person had remained calm and composed from beginning to end: Xu Ruoyan.

Observing the ongoing battle, Xu Ruoyan had barely spoken from the start. It was as if the outcomes of these fights were nothing surprising to her.

Xu Ruoyan picked up her teacup from the table and took a sip. The corners of her lips curled up slightly, revealing a row of pearly white teeth. "With Xue Jingfeng’s strength, even if he can’t defeat him, he should be able to force out his true capabilities."

"If you can’t even defeat Xue Jingfeng, Ling Chen, you would be truly disappointing."