Chapter Thirty-Five: Xiao Leng Accepts the Challenge

Sensing the incredibly concentrated sword energy of Hua Longyin’s attack, Ark’s expression changed slightly. With a flick of his wrist, his sword stance shifted abruptly, sending countless streams of sword energy shooting from the tip of his blade. These streams merged with the previously faltering, earthen-yellow sword aura, forming a colossal sword force nearly thirty feet long that cleaved through the air in a furious arc, colliding head-on with Hua Longyin’s sword energy.

A thunderous boom erupted as the two finally met in direct confrontation; the massive energies rampaged outward, stirring a fierce storm of dust and stones. Both figures retreated in unison, each stepping back fifteen or sixteen paces before regaining their footing.

Hua Longyin’s expression remained unchanged. His sword pointed steadily at Ark’s brow, its radiant edge flickering with uncertain light.

Ark’s countenance, however, had turned grim. In the instant their sword energies clashed, a chillingly sinister trace of energy from Hua Longyin’s attack had infiltrated his meridians through his sword. At the time, both were wholly focused on defense, and Ark failed to notice it. By the time he realized, that trace of true energy, like a maggot gnawing at the bone, was already moving through his channels, causing piercing pain to surge through them.

He urged his own earthen sword energy to circulate powerfully within, striving to expel the invasive force. Yet Hua Longyin gave him no opportunity.

With a sharp cry, Hua Longyin leapt into the air. His long sword conjured dozens of sword energies, densely packed, raining down on Ark like a storm of blades.

“Hmph, you think driving out my energy will be that easy?” Hua Longyin’s brows finally revealed a glint of icy determination.

Hua Longyin was the eldest son of Hua Ying Sect’s master, Hua Tianxiong, who cherished him greatly. Nor had Hua Longyin ever disappointed his father. At just nineteen, he reached the Bone-Melding stage. Overjoyed, Hua Tianxiong personally ventured deep into the mountains to slay a primal beast—a Cold Spirit Beast—of innate cultivation.

Like Xiao Leng’s snow marten, this Cold Spirit Beast was of the ice element, rare and precious. Hua Tianxiong removed its spirit bone and had Hua Longyin fuse it into himself, granting him a unique power: the ability to wield a trace of the Cold Spirit Beast’s innate energy.

Unbeknownst to others, he secretly wove this force into his sword techniques. Many experts had suffered heavy losses to it, and now Ark too found himself overwhelmed by the cold energy invading his body, leading him toward defeat.

“Suppress!” Ark would not yield so easily. His true energy erupted, forcibly suppressing the invading force, at least for the moment. At the same time, he slashed upward, sending a spiraling burst of true energy roaring forth like a wild horse, colliding once more with Hua Longyin.

Yet, with thirty percent of his true energy tied up in suppressing that strange power, only seventy percent remained for combat—a level far beneath Hua Longyin’s strength. Though his sword aura shattered all of Hua Longyin’s attacks, Ark staggered back, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

“Hua Longyin, forgive my offense!” Hua Longyin’s words were polite, but his attack was swift and unrelenting. His sword swept crosswise, sword energy surging—not a complex move, but under his infusion, it became terrifyingly powerful.

Wounded and battered, Ark felt the foreign energy rampaging within him and silently cursed his misjudgment. Only now did he regret allowing Hua Longyin to provoke him earlier. But it was too late; all he could do was endure a little longer to avoid total disgrace.

Forcing his numb arm to move, he summoned a fierce burst of sword energy to block Hua Longyin’s attack, but the impact forced him to spit blood and retreat another ten paces.

Hua Longyin pressed his advantage, refusing Ark a moment’s respite. His sword strikes flowed ceaselessly, driving Ark back again and again, leaving him coughing blood.

Finally, after more than ten consecutive exchanges, Ark could hold out no longer. His sword slipped from his grasp and flew from his hand.

This time, Hua Longyin did not pursue. He sheathed his sword and smiled at Ark. “Thank you for the match, Senior Brother Ark.”

Ark’s face was ashen. After a long silence, he finally said in a heavy voice, “I have lost.” With that, he turned and walked straight into the crowd without looking back.

The disciples of Jade Sword Sect fell silent at once. Even Senior Brother Ark had been defeated—a figure who stood high above his peers. How could this Hua Longyin be so formidable?

Having vanquished Jade Sword Sect’s two strongest Bone-Melding disciples in succession, did this mean that Hua Ying Sect’s sword arts and techniques had become so fearsome?

The disciples felt as if a mountain pressed down on them. For years, the rivalry between the two sects had slightly favored Jade Sword Sect, owing to their deeper foundation. But now, their faith was shattered.

“Is there any other Jade Sword disciple who wishes to teach me?” Hua Longyin swept his gaze over the remaining disciples, speaking softly.

The dozen-odd disciples of Hua Ying Sect, emboldened by Hua Longyin’s double victory, straightened their backs proudly, as if the Jade Sword disciples around them had suddenly shrunk in stature.

Most of Jade Sword’s talented disciples were usually busy training under their masters, so only Ark and one other had arrived in time. The lower-ranked disciples had no chance of victory, especially after witnessing Hua Longyin defeat two of their Bone-Melding experts. Fear kept them rooted to the spot.

Hua Longyin’s lips curved with a trace of smugness. “I wonder how many more Bone-Melding experts Jade Sword Sect has yet to show? I am newly advanced to this stage and wish to learn from my seniors, but it seems Jade Sword Sect will not grant me the chance. Then please, pass word to Senior Brother Chang Yi that my senior, Chu Huafei, awaits outside the gate and hopes for another bout!”

“Another bout?” Hiding in the branches, Long Yun narrowed his eyes. It seemed Chu Huafei and Chang Yi had crossed swords before, with Chang Yi likely holding the advantage.

Otherwise, Chu Huafei would not now issue such a challenge. If he dared to come, he must have had some fortuitous encounter or acquired new techniques.

Long Yun scrutinized Hua Longyin’s faintly triumphant expression. Though formidable, Hua Longyin had mostly relied on cunning rather than raw power to defeat Ark. There was also that strange, sinister energy at play, which Long Yun sensed was of a dark and yin nature—perhaps from a spirit beast similar to a spirit fox.

No one from Jade Sword Sect spoke. A few disciples of the Heavenly Sword lineage had already hurried off to inform Senior Brother Chang Yi. The rest stood quietly, saying nothing.

“I will fight you.” Suddenly, a voice rang out. A black-clad figure leaped over the crowd, landing before Hua Longyin.

“Senior Brother Xiao Leng?” Recognizing him, Long Yun’s heart stirred. Xiao Leng’s spirit bone was of the cold element, sharing a nature very similar to Hua Longyin’s, perhaps even of equal grade. With his mastery of the formidable Flying Snow Sword of the Human-Sword Lineage, if he was careful, defeating Hua Longyin should not be too difficult.

“It’s Senior Brother Xiao Leng of the Human-Sword Lineage!” The Jade Sword disciples were elated once more. Xiao Leng, a rising star among the younger generation, rivaled even Rui Dong and Ark. In fact, he had surpassed them, for he had also only recently attained Bone-Melding.

Standing there, Xiao Leng was as cold and expressionless as ever, his entire being exuding an icy aura.

“How should I address you, Senior Brother?” Hua Longyin, sensing his opponent’s chilling presence, furrowed his brow and asked.

“Human-Sword Lineage, Xiao Leng. I’ll let you rest a moment before we fight,” Xiao Leng replied curtly.

“Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Xiao, but that won’t be necessary. Those last two matches cost me little energy. We may begin at once,” Hua Longyin answered coolly.

At these words, the faces of the Jade Sword disciples darkened again—this was blatant provocation.

Xiao Leng remained unmoved, his face utterly calm. With a resonant clang, he drew his sword. “You may make the first move.”

PS: Tomorrow, I return to my hometown for the New Year. From tomorrow on, updates will be posted by someone else; the timing may be irregular, but two chapters a day are guaranteed. Thank you all for your ongoing support. Today there will be only one update; from tomorrow, it will be two. We’ve already made it onto the new books ranking, so please keep up the support and let’s not fall behind. The novel will be completed, so go ahead and collect it—it’ll only get more exciting!