CHAPTER 513: CHAPTER 512: THE PINNACLE_1

As Ye Nantian’s cold voice slowly faded, Ling Chen could sense an unusual pressure slowly emanating from the former’s body. Under this duress, the True Qi flowing magnificently within him had slowed somewhat.

The deep blue True Qi, like a liquid, enveloped Ye Nantian’s body entirely. The constantly rotating True Qi faintly released a dim radiance. The Great Thousand Sword Array began to operate again. Under this faint radiance, even the surrounding space showed some fluctuations. The piercing aura was intimidating. His sheer presence alone was enough to create such a spectacle. This proved that Ye Nantian indeed deserved the title of Sect Sword Leader!

"Ye Nantian is indeed just half a step away from the Sky Apex Realm. He only needs to connect with the Heavenly Earth Energy for an empowerment to break through to the Sky Apex Realm completely," Dong Shenglong remarked calmly, looking at Ye Nantian in the battle ring.

"Ye Nantian has unleashed his full strength now. I reckon Ling Chen can’t hold on much longer," a Sky Void Palace elder said, squinting.

It was a disgrace that Ye Nantian, with his high status, couldn’t defeat a junior not yet twenty years old.

Although they were quite far away, most people present were not ordinary individuals. Their eyesight was naturally extremely keen. Thus, they immediately spotted the fresh, red sword mark on Ye Nantian’s chest, which surprised them all slightly. Their gazes towards Ling Chen changed slightly; they hadn’t expected this young man to be capable of scarring Ye Nantian all by himself. Although, judging by Ye Nantian’s aura, the blow hadn’t caused him significant injury, the ability to bring a Half-step Heavenly Extreme Realm strong realm to such a state was enough to leave many dumbfounded.

WHOOSH!

A cold gleam flashed in Ye Nantian’s eyes. He moved abruptly, an afterimage flickering into existence. His figure then appeared before Ling Chen like a phantom!

At the same time, from within the Great Thousand Sword Array, seven or eight sword qi attacks flew out, striking ruthlessly towards Ling Chen.

Ling Chen’s expression grew solemn, his face as calm as still water. However, his movements showed no hesitation, no wasted motion. In the blink of an eye, he executed the Ancestral Dragon Whirling Abyss technique.

In a flash, Ling Chen and Ye Nantian clashed, exchanging over a dozen blows. Their swords met, each attack incredibly fierce. A single misstep could result in severe injury. However, overall, Ye Nantian clearly held the upper hand in this exchange, while Ling Chen could only barely hold his ground.

DANG!

Two blurred afterimages flashed in mid-air as their swords clashed fiercely once more. The relentless tide of powerful sword qi finally forced Ling Chen into a violent retreat. He let out a muffled groan, and a trickle of blood slowly flowed from the corner of his mouth.

After repelling Ling Chen, Ye Nantian did not immediately pursue. He calmly straightened his somewhat disheveled robes before sneering at Ling Chen, "In the face of an absolute disparity in strength, all unconventional methods are futile."

"That’s not necessarily true."

Ling Chen’s expression turned grim. He completely immersed his consciousness, simultaneously pushing the Ancient Saint King Battle Technique to its utmost limit. An even more formidable aura suddenly erupted from his body.

This aura was ancient and nameless. It seemed ordinary, yet it exuded an unfathomable feeling.

Ling Chen’s Ancient Saint King Battle Technique was currently still at the First Layer. He had obtained this battle technique from the Heavenly Mansion General, but it was not created by the General. After all, the Heavenly Mansion General’s own cultivation realm was only the Sky Apex Realm. However, the Ancient Saint King Battle Technique encompassed the universe and was incomparably profound; it was not something a Top Sky Apex Strong could create.

The creator of this battle technique must have been an ancient Great Ability, a supreme existence comparable to sages and emperors.

"Brat, if you cannot elevate the Ancient Saint King Battle Technique to the Second Level, you will undoubtedly lose this battle today! But if you succeed, killing this Ye Nantian will be as easy as flipping your palm!"

The Human Emperor was closely watching this battle. He knew Ling Chen’s intentions. Ling Chen was merely trying to gamble, to see if he could achieve a breakthrough in the Ancient Saint King Battle Technique and turn defeat into victory.

As the Human Emperor’s voice faded, Ling Chen’s brows tightened. Indeed, he was right. The strength of a Half-step Heavenly Extreme Realm strong realm surpassed his imagination. If he couldn’t achieve a breakthrough, he would surely lose this battle.

*The way to pacify the world: be a sage within and a king without!*

*Internally, achieve ultimate sagacity and enlightenment; externally, reign supreme!*

*The sage is born from it, the king achieves through it; take Heaven as the principle, the Dao as the gate!*

*Manifested in transformation, this is called a Saint!*

The incantations of the Ancient Saint King Battle Technique continuously surfaced in Ling Chen’s mind. The ancient and nameless aura about him also surged to its apex.

This brat is up to something!

Ye Nantian’s pupils contracted slightly. Ling Chen’s current state was undoubtedly an extremely ominous sign to him. He had a foreboding feeling that if he let this little beast continue, he might actually cause some serious trouble!

"Divine Gate Wind Sword Technique!"

His True Qi surged, and Ye Nantian’s robes whipped about wildly. He gripped his sword with both hands and slashed diagonally. A colossal wind blade extended from the sword, and as it shot forth, the fierce gale tore through the Void.

Such an attack was undoubtedly terrifying, causing all onlookers to avert their gazes in shock!

If Ling Chen were to meet this attack head-on, his fate would likely be tragic.

SHREEE!

The sound of the fierce wind rending the air was incessant. Just as the exceedingly sharp sword qi was about to pierce the space between Ling Chen’s eyebrows, his eyes suddenly snapped open.

THWACK!

The Sword Light pierced the space between Ling Chen’s eyebrows, penetrating his skull. But in the blink of an eye, Ling Chen’s figure suddenly collapsed and dispersed into nothingness.

"What?"

Ye Nantian was greatly shocked. With Ling Chen’s strength, he absolutely shouldn’t have been able to block this sword strike! Yet, right now, Ling Chen had actually blocked it?

Suddenly, he felt a violent surge of power from behind. He hurriedly spun around, only to see Ling Chen—who had appeared behind him at some unknown moment—unleash a terrifying aura that exploded outwards!

At this very moment, a peculiar white radiance suddenly flared within Ling Chen’s eyes.

"Ancient Saint King Battle Technique, Second Level: Pinnacle of Perfection!" Ling Chen roared, and with a sword strike imbued with overwhelming impact, he suddenly slashed out.

Ye Nantian braced himself and could only swing his sword to block.

Under the countless gazes of the crowd in the square, the two attacks, both containing exceedingly terrifying power, finally slammed into each other. At that instant, the piercing sound of an energy explosion, like a clap of thunder, reverberated through the air, causing temporary deafness in everyone’s ears.

Not good! An astonishing force bore down on him. The thought had barely flashed through Ye Nantian’s mind when that ferocious attack had already solidly bombarded his chest. Instantly, a mouthful of crimson blood sprayed out, witnessed by countless horrified gazes from below!