Chapter 82: Do You Yield?

The voice of Kong Xi, master of the Sword Sect, echoed high above Sword Heaven Marsh, stirring the hearts of all cultivators who heard it.

Gu Tianxiong and Gu Li stood at the edge of the corridor, gazing up at Kong Xi's distant figure. Gu Li bit her lip lightly and whispered, "Utter shamelessness. If he wants to fight, then fight—what use are these hypocritical words?"

Gu Tianxiong's expression was complicated as he sighed. "He's trying to absolve both the Hanging Flood Sword Sect and himself, but perhaps he truly means what he says."

The pain of being limited by the grade of one's spiritual treasure was something most cultivators had endured. Even if one was the most gifted of their age, there would always be someone with a higher-grade treasure to surpass them. When looking up to others, one resigns to fate; but when overtaken, the unwillingness to be bound by destiny only leads to deeper suffering.

The disciples of the Fang clan, however, were brimming with indignation.

"Nonsense! If Fang Wang were truly so lucky, would we have come so close to total destruction?"

"Exactly! If not for Fang Wang, we'd all be dead by now."

"This old scoundrel is spouting rubbish—he just can't accept defeat!"

"What is Fang Wang waiting for? Defeat him! Prove it with strength!"

Fang Meng and Fang Yin remained silent, their eyes fixed on the Sword Sect master, filled with emotion. To them, Kong Xi was a figure from generations past, yet here he was, so provoked by their junior—clearly, they had underestimated the impact of the Heavenly Origin Spirit Treasure on the cultivation world.

At the summit, Kong Xi leapt skyward, swiftly flying to the center of Sword Heaven Marsh. Terrifying sword energy erupted from within him, whipping his black robes about so fiercely that he seemed a mass of black flame blazing in the sky.

Behind him rose twelve magical swords, forming a circle, each radiating streams of sword energy—visible to the naked eye—expanding outward in a magnificent display.

Cultivators scattered across Sword Heaven Marsh could see his sword aura and feel its overwhelming force, all of them shaken to the core.

The aura of someone who had surpassed the Profound Heart realm erupted in full!

At this moment, Kong Xi concealed nothing, preparing to face Fang Wang at his absolute peak.

"Fang Wang, be careful!" Fang Hanyu called out, his gaze fixed ahead. Even after receiving the Sword Saint's sword energy, he felt the pressure of facing the Sword Sect master—he knew he was no match for him.

Song Jinyuan was even more anxious, his eyes full of hope as he looked at Fang Wang. More than anyone, he wished for Fang Wang's victory—so long as Fang Wang remained undefeated, his own loss to him would no longer matter. Besides, this was Fang Wang's first battle since inheriting the title of Sword Saint—he must not lose!

Fang Wang vaulted upward like a sharp arrow, ascending to match Kong Xi's height. His white robes fluttered, a black folding fan in hand, exuding an air of grace and poise.

The two stood in perfect contrast: one in black, one in white.

Thousands of cultivators fixed their eyes on them, holding their breath in anticipation, waiting for the inevitable clash.

Kong Xi studied Fang Wang, sighing in admiration. "Truly, a hero emerges from the young. Had you been born five centuries earlier, even the Sword Saint would have lived in your shadow."

Fang Wang gently shook his fan and replied calmly, "To share an era with me should not be cause for sorrow, but for celebration. An age of heroes marks a golden era, and in every golden era, there must be one who becomes the ideal to which all heroes aspire. Come, let me witness the name of the Sword Sect."

His words, carried by the sword will of heaven and earth, spread to every corner of Sword Heaven Marsh. He ignored Kong Xi’s attempts at psychological manipulation, revealing only his own confidence.

He intended to rise with unstoppable momentum, crushing any thought of resistance from those who faced him!

As his words faded, Fang Wang swung his fan with sudden force. Dozens of treasured swords flew from his storage pouch, even the Azure Monarch Sword at his waist unsheathing with a flash.

Seventy-two superior magical swords in all, arranged in circles around him, layer upon layer, arrayed even more magnificently than Kong Xi.

"Could it be...?"

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Master Sleepyhead was beside himself with excitement, his old face flushed, lips trembling uncontrollably.

Zhao Chuanqian seemed to realize something, his pupils dilating.

Other disciples watched the two figures high above, afraid to miss even a moment.

Kong Xi, seeing Fang Wang’s formation, furrowed his brow. He said in a deep voice, "Then allow me to witness the Sword Saint’s ultimate art!"

Fang Wang’s lips curved in a slight smile as he continued to wave his fan. "The Sword Saint’s path never seeks to kill—I will not sully my master’s name. Today, I will use the ultimate technique of the Grand Abyss Sect. This sword formation is called the Nine Heavens Azure Thunder Sword Array!"

His confident voice swept across Sword Heaven Marsh, moving many cultivators; the disciples of the Grand Abyss Sect in particular were thrilled.

The Nine Heavens Azure Thunder Sword Array was the most powerful and difficult technique of the Grand Abyss Sect, and Fang Wang had mastered it?

"It is! It truly is! Hahaha!"

Master Sleepyhead leaped to his feet, laughing aloud. As he stood, hundreds of Grand Abyss Sect disciples followed suit.

Not only them—cultivators who had heard of the Nine Heavens Azure Thunder Sword Array also rose, or stepped forward, all gazing up at Fang Wang.

Kong Xi, upon hearing this, flew into a rage. "No killing? Ridiculous! The Sword Saint once humiliated me the same way! Very well—let me force you to use the Sword Saint’s ultimate art!"

Boom!

His sword will exploded; the twelve magical swords trembled and shone with blue light. Kong Xi formed a sword with two fingers of his right hand, thrusting at Fang Wang. All twelve swords erupted with azure sword energy, and in a flash, the heavens were dyed blue. The blue light illuminated every face, exposing every expression.

The surging azure sword energy swept across the sky like a river of the heavens, unstoppable as it charged toward Fang Wang.

Fang Wang’s expression did not change. With a swift motion, he reversed his grip on the folding fan and swept it upward.

The fan unleashed endless Xuan Yang True Fire, raising a terrifying fiery wind that crashed into Kong Xi’s sword energy.

Kong Xi leaped away, dodging the sea of fire. The fierce wind barreled into the distant mountains, setting the peaks ablaze, shaking the heights, churning up dust and sending rocks flying.

He glanced back, secretly alarmed, then turned once more to Fang Wang—only to see that the Nine Heavens Azure Thunder Sword Array had already been activated. Countless bolts of azure lightning danced around Fang Wang as the three rings of seventy-two superior magical swords gathered overwhelming might.

Fang Wang gazed at Kong Xi, and in that instant, his eyes changed, a nameless pressure radiating from his body.

The True Art of Battle!

He entered a state of absolute focus, forming the sword array at maximum speed, his surging spiritual power binding the seventy-two swords.

As his eyes locked onto Kong Xi, the Nine Heavens Azure Thunder Sword Array erupted at once!

Boom! Boom! Boom...

Beams of sword energy, laced with azure lightning, shot toward Kong Xi in a grand display, sword light dazzling the world.

Kong Xi gritted his teeth and, instead of retreating, advanced. He reached behind, seized a sword hilt, and swung it swiftly. Thousands of sword energies burst forth, and the eleven swords behind him followed, as if wielded by invisible hands. His swordplay was fierce, his sword energy sweeping like a storm.

A deafening clash echoed through heaven and earth!

Kong Xi smashed apart the first wave of thunderous sword energy, but the azure lightning wrapped around him, numbing his body and drastically changing his expression.

"Impossible!"

Kong Xi was in utter shock, terror etched across his face.

The azure lightning had instantly dissipated twenty percent of his spiritual energy!

He immediately turned to flee, but the countless thunder sword energies curved through the air in pursuit.

Kong Xi twisted around, flying backward, swinging his sword as fast as he could. The eleven swords joined in, unleashing his most powerful sword techniques—sword energies that once dominated the cultivation world of Great Qi. Yet his attacks could not destroy the thunder sword energies.

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All the cultivators stared wide-eyed, utterly shaken.

The moment the battle began, the Sword Sect master was already being overwhelmed?

Their eyes followed Kong Xi as he retreated at astonishing speed.

Boom! Boom! Boom...

A continuous barrage of thunderous explosions rang out above Sword Heaven Marsh. The thunder sword energies were too fast—Kong Xi had traversed most of the marsh before they caught up to him.

Suddenly, all the thunder sword energies converged, forming a colossal sword of lightning, ten zhang long, soaring into the sky before plummeting down at unimaginable speed, aimed straight at Kong Xi.

Kong Xi’s spiritual energy was exhausted—he had no time to dodge.

Before thousands of watching cultivators, the mighty sword descended like the wrath of heaven, crashing into Kong Xi and driving him down into the forest at the marsh’s edge.

Boom!

A deafening explosion erupted; wild winds swept out, forcing the cultivators to shield themselves with spiritual power. In their eyes, a mountain of dust rose from the forest, lightning flashed and thunder boomed, even trees were hurled aside—the destruction was immense.

Was the Sword Sect master dead?

That was the thought in every spectator’s mind—any one of them would have perished under such an onslaught.

Sword Heaven Marsh fell silent, save for the rumbling thunder still echoing around Fang Wang, who now stood proud and solitary in the sky, the Nine Heavens Azure Thunder Sword Array encircling him, making him seem like the very Lord of Thunder descending to the mortal realm.

Lightning flashed, Fang Wang’s posture was as unyielding as a mountain, his expression grim.

More and more cultivators turned their gaze upon him. Seventy-two superior swords hovered like divine guards at his side. This sight burned itself into their memory—they would never forget this day.

Gu Li looked at Fang Wang with amazement. Beside her, Gu Tianxiong stood stupefied. This was only the second time he had seen Fang Wang fight, yet he was still overwhelmed.

How could such a person exist in this world?

He had already mastered the Sword Will of Heaven and Earth, and the Soul-nourishing Sword Qi, and now, even the most difficult technique of the Grand Abyss Sect—the Nine Heavens Azure Thunder Sword Array—he could wield with ease!

He’d only been cultivating for sixteen years!

Fang Wang raised his left hand and reached forward. His right hand formed a claw and seized through the air. From the distant cloud of dust, a figure suddenly flew out.

It was Kong Xi—now charred black and covered in blood, a sword protruding from his chest—his own magical sword, the hilt pointing toward Fang Wang.

His reappearance drew all eyes once more.

Thousands watched as he flew toward Fang Wang, the sword hilt in his chest landing in Fang Wang’s hand. From afar, it looked as if Fang Wang were skewering Kong Xi on his sword—Kong Xi’s limbs dangled, his body trembling, all former dignity gone.

The Sword Sect master had been utterly defeated!

All who witnessed this battle felt only one thing:

Kong Xi was no match for Fang Wang!

Were it not for knowing their respective ranks, they would have thought Fang Wang was crushing a lesser opponent with superior cultivation.

Fang Wang raised his chin slightly, looking down at Kong Xi impaled on his sword, the cold light in his eyes fading. He asked softly, "Do you yield?"

These three words, carried by the sword will of heaven and earth, rumbled throughout Sword Heaven Marsh like thunder, echoing on and on.