Chapter 137: Breaking Through to the Harmony of Spirit Realm

Bai Changqing’s expression shifted. He was stunned to find that such a direct collision had failed to send Long Yun flying as he had anticipated.

Seeing Long Yun reverse his sword momentum and unleash a different sword technique, the contempt in Bai Changqing’s heart vanished completely. He had indeed underestimated Long Yun; this battle was destined to be his most grueling one yet.

With a fierce roar, he shook his arms, and a brilliant azure light soared into the sky, manifesting as a twelve-foot-long spear in his grip.

"The Vast Sea Spear?" Rong Pian’s eyes narrowed. He had not expected Bai Changqing to resort to his signature weapon, a treasure recognized as one of the finest in the West City.

Rong Pian’s attention, however, remained fixed on the long sword in Long Yun’s hand. The Qinghe Bladeless Sword was a treasure passed down by the ancestors of the Qing Sect, and he could sense that its quality surpassed even that of the Vast Sea Spear. A flash of greed crossed his eyes as he began to doubt Long Yun’s origins; a disciple from an ordinary sect would never possess such a supreme treasure.

With the Vast Sea Spear in hand, Bai Changqing wasted no time. Gripping the shaft with both hands, he thrust it forward, tracing a peculiar, eerie arc that collided head-on with Long Yun’s Ten Thousand Annihilation Sword.

It was a clash of equals. Two streams of light formed cone-shaped vortices, grinding against each other in a stalemate.

Long Yun gradually sensed the strength of his opponent. A master at the Marrow Cleansing stage was indeed not someone he could contend with in his current state. If only his internal energy could break through to the Spirit Convergence stage, perhaps he could defeat him. But as it stood, Long Yun had no certainty of success. If he had not forcibly suppressed the backlash and launched a preemptive strike while risking injury, he would have been sent reeling over thirty meters backward long ago.

The cost of that decision was damage to his meridians. Now, as the two engaged in another direct collision, Long Yun’s cultivation level immediately proved insufficient.

"Boom!" The two clashing forces of internal energy erupted violently. Long Yun groaned, unable to withstand the force any longer, and spat out a mouthful of blood as he was thrown more than sixty meters back before finally stabilizing his stance.

"Brother!" Seeing Long Yun injured, a murderous glint flashed in Yan Qingqing’s beautiful eyes. She prepared to unleash her hidden internal energy to slay Bai Changqing.

However, Long Yun shook his head at her. He had his own plan. His two months of cultivation had brought his internal energy accumulation to its absolute limit; he only needed a catalyst to break through to the Spirit Convergence stage. Bai Changqing was undoubtedly the perfect opponent, and Long Yun intended to force his breakthrough under the pressure of Bai Changqing’s might.

Reading his intent through his gaze, Yan Qingqing respected his choice. Though her heart was heavy with concern, she held back, though her own internal energy began to churn wildly within her. If Long Yun were to face a life-threatening crisis, she would strike without hesitation, caring nothing if it meant slaughtering the entire West City.

Long Yun struggled to calm his roiling blood. The Power of Reincarnation surged within him, aided by the Heaven-Snatching and Creation energies, rapidly mending his injuries.

Bai Changqing, however, clearly had no intention of giving him a chance to recover. If he couldn't even handle Long Yun, his title as one of the Four Young Masters of West City would become a laughingstock.

Twirling the Vast Sea Spear, he let it spin at high speed before him, the azure energy rotating around the shaft until it condensed into a blue vortex the size of a water vat, radiating a terrifying aura.

"Vast Sea Poison Dragon Drill!" Bai Changqing roared, thrusting his palms forward. The vortex transformed into a rainbow like a venomous dragon, hurtling toward Long Yun and leaving ripples in the very space it traversed.

Long Yun frowned. What a formidable move!

Not daring to be careless, he thrust the Qinghe Bladeless Sword forward. His sword intent split into five, fueling his five great lethal sword techniques, before merging into one at the moment of release.

Five Swords as One! He refrained from using his strongest techniques, the Reincarnation Blade Arts and the Dragon God’s Creation, fearing that their overwhelming power would invite too much suspicion. Aside from those, the Five Swords as One was his most potent attack. After his recent insights, the five different elemental sword energies had reached their peak upon fusion, far surpassing his previous capabilities.

"Boom!" The two lights collided, and a terrifying shockwave rippled outward from the point of impact. A massive mushroom cloud erupted, rising hundreds of meters into the air in a spectacular, magnificent display.

Long Yun felt an overwhelming force surge toward him. Unable to endure it, he was sent flying backward, blood spraying from his mouth like rain. Yet, his gaze held a flicker of realization. Sword intent formed a small vortex on his skin, and his internal energy began to circulate autonomously through his damaged meridians.

"So that’s it!" A hint of color returned to his pale face, followed by a faint smile.

This smile caused Yan Qingqing, who had been on the verge of intervening, to pause. She saw that even though he was injured, his expression was one of enjoyment. She understood: her brother had found the flaw in the barrier. He was breaking through!

"Spirit Convergence stage! Breakthrough!" Long Yun let out a long cry. The final word rang out like a sword piercing the clouds, echoing across the heavens.

His aura began to grow at a terrifying rate. Even Bai Changqing, who had been pushed back four or five steps by the shockwave, looked on in stunned disbelief. A breakthrough in the middle of battle? What kind of monster was this?

The Heaven-Snatching energy flowed like a stream, nourishing his injured meridians as the barrier to the Spirit Convergence stage shattered into dust. Long Yun opened his eyes, two sharp gleams flashing briefly. With a flick of his Qinghe Bladeless Sword, his injuries vanished, and his cultivation officially reached the second level of the eight innate stages: the Spirit Convergence Realm.

"Let’s go again!" Long Yun smiled, wiped the blood from his mouth, and thrust his sword forward. The dazzling sword energy transformed into a rainbow that pierced the sun, striking fiercely toward Bai Changqing.

Bai Changqing’s brow tightened. Seeing the power of Long Yun’s strike multiply, he offered a wry smile and thrust his Vast Sea Spear forward, its tip flickering with light.

"Boom!" The two forces exploded upon contact, and both figures retreated two steps. They were evenly matched!

"Splendid! This is what a fair fight should be! Again!" Long Yun’s smile grew increasingly fervent, as if this battle were a source of pure enjoyment.

Meanwhile, Rong Pian stood completely frozen. The aura of the Four Young Masters of West City had crumbled to dust in this moment. Long Yun, with his newfound Spirit Convergence cultivation, was actually holding his own against Bai Changqing, a peer of his own rank. This strength was enough to command his respect. In truth, his previous politeness toward Long Yun had been entirely for Yan Qingqing’s sake; deep down, he had looked down on him.

Reality had slapped him in the face with Long Yun’s overwhelming combat prowess. A bitter taste rose in his throat. A genius youth like Long Yun, if placed anywhere else—even in the Central City—would be fought over by every major power. How laughable that he had not taken him seriously!

In the span of their exchange, the two had traded twenty moves. This time, Bai Changqing could not gain even a slight advantage; it was as if two experts of equal rank were sparring. Long Yun grew more at ease with every move, refining his control over his newfound energy, while Bai Changqing began to suffer in silence. His opponent’s techniques were endless, and their power only grew. If this continued, he would surely be defeated by Long Yun’s sword before long.

The more Bai Changqing thought, the more terrified he became.

Just then, a massive surge of internal energy rushed between them, forcing both Long Yun and Bai Changqing to retreat. A voice followed swiftly: "Changqing, come here. Is this all you are capable of—just brawling?"