Chapter 16: A Contest of Swords

Long Yan stared intently at the dueling ring, not even blinking.

’Yes.’

’He had betrayed Li Shuang.’

’But...’

’It wasn’t entirely his fault.’

’If Li Shuang hadn’t been so cold and aloof, if she could have shown him a little more care like Zhaozhao did, would he have ended up like this?’

It was Zhaozhao’s appearance that had shown him a Sword Spirit could have emotions. The taste of that dreamlike sweetness was so intoxicating that he couldn’t help but lose himself in it.

’He didn’t regret choosing Ye Zhaozhao. He didn’t regret forming a Sword Spirit contract with her!’

’Without Li Shuang, he was still the unrivaled Dragon Roar Sword.’

’But what about Li Shuang?’

’Without him, where could she possibly find another treasure sword with a Sword Spirit?’

’Shen Yue’s treasure sword, however, had the aid of a Sword Spirit.’

’Li Shuang was at a disadvantage from the very start.’

’Long Yan couldn’t wait to see the look of utter regret on Li Shuang’s face after she lost!’

"Long Yan... Long Yan... Long Yan?"

Long Yan was watching so intently that he didn’t snap out of it until Ye Zhaozhao had called his name several times.

"Master." Long Yan immediately turned to Ye Zhaozhao with a gentle expression.

A sweet smile blossomed on Ye Zhaozhao’s face. "Watching so closely? Don’t tell me there’s actually some suspense in this match?"

Long Yan hesitated for a moment.

He had told Ye Zhaozhao that Li Shuang’s Swordsmanship was nothing special and that she relied entirely on his support.

’But...’

’After being Li Shuang’s Sword Spirit for so long, Long Yan actually knew that her attainments in Swordsmanship were extraordinary.’

’In all the battles Li Shuang had fought over the past few years, big and small, he had actually never given her any support at all.’

’He had only told Li Shuang that he disliked fighting, and she had truly never forced him.’

’His heart and mind were completely filled with Ye Zhaozhao; even in the Sword Spirit Space, he was thinking of her every moment.’

’As for Li Shuang’s Swordsmanship, Long Yan only knew that it was certainly impressive, but he had never truly paid close attention to it.’

"What’s wrong?" Ye Zhaozhao looked at Long Yan, confused. "Is that a difficult question to answer?"

Long Yan’s heart skipped a beat.

’To emphasize his own importance, he had sworn to Ye Zhaozhao that without him, Li Shuang was completely useless.’

’Naturally, he had exaggerated by an untold amount.’

’But there was no way he could take it back now.’

’He absolutely could not ruin his image in front of Zhaozhao.’

’Besides...’

’Shen Yue had the advantage with his treasure sword. Li Shuang wasn’t guaranteed to win anyway.’

"Shen Yue has a greater chance of winning," Long Yan said after some deliberation.

Ye Zhaozhao smiled faintly.

’The ones who understand the Sword Cultivators of the Sword Sect best are their Sword Spirits.’

’If Long Yan said so, then Second Senior Brother’s victory should be certain.’

’Ye Zhaozhao was already scheming, planning how she would spread the news after Li Shuang’s defeat, how she would destroy her reputation as a genius of the Sword Dao! Step by step, she was sure she could force some negative emotions out of Li Shuang.’

「On the dueling ring.」

Shen Yue stared coldly at Li Shuang, a fiery red sword grasped in his hand.

"My sword is named Fiery Sun!" Shen Yue declared. "Li Shuang, where is your sword?"

’That’s right.’

’Where was Li Shuang’s sword?’

Long Yan stared fixedly at the dueling ring.

Li Shuang’s expression was calm. The next moment, the Black Abyss Sword appeared in her hand.

She said nonchalantly, "My sword is named Black Abyss."

’Black Abyss?’

Ye Zhaozhao couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

’This Li Shuang is really desperate. To think she’d actually bring out that piece of trash, the Black Abyss!’

’Because she could never awaken the Black Abyss Sword Spirit, Ye Zhaozhao had never bothered to properly forge this sword. Even now, it was only slightly better than a sword embryo, barely qualifying as a First-tier Treasure Sword.’

Shen Yue’s Fiery Sun, on the other hand, had been upgraded several times and was now a Third-tier Treasure Sword.

Just based on the advantage of his treasure sword alone, Shen Yue held a massive upper hand.

Seeing the Black Abyss, Long Yan also breathed a small sigh of relief.

A disdainful smile touched the corners of his lips.

’Li Shuang used to be so proud and arrogant.’

’She would rather die than use a treasure sword someone gave her out of pity. But now, she’s brought out the Black Abyss Sword that Zhaozhao didn’t even want. It’s clear that without him, she’s truly at the end of her rope.’

Jiang Rongyi glanced at Li Shuang, also slightly surprised. He confirmed with the two, "Are both parties ready?"

Shen Yue nodded coldly. "Of course."

Li Shuang also nodded.

Jiang Rongyi then announced, "To reiterate the rules: Spiritual Power is forbidden in this duel. This is a pure contest of Swordsmanship! If one party surrenders or is knocked off the ring, they lose. If anyone uses Spiritual Power mid-match, they will also be considered defeated."

Seeing that both Shen Yue and Li Shuang acknowledged the rules, Jiang Rongyi stepped off the dueling ring and announced, "The Swordsmanship competition begins!"

The competition had officially begun, but Shen Yue did not rush to draw his sword. With a mocking expression, he said coldly, "Li Shuang, you always said my Swordsmanship had plenty of force but lacked finesse, that if I encountered a true expert, my flaws would be easily exploited. But what’s the reality? When I use the Fiery Sun Sword Skill with my Fiery Sun Sword, I am practically unrivaled among disciples of the same rank! As Eldest Senior Sister, you always liked to nitpick to show off. In the past, I didn’t hold it against you. But now that you are no longer part of Lingxu Peak, I don’t have to be polite anymore!"

"I’m going to make you watch! Watch how my Fiery Sun Sword Skill will crush you completely!"

Li Shuang’s expression was indifferent. "So, you’ve always thought I was just nitpicking."

"What else?" Shen Yue sneered. "You really went to great lengths to keep me down. Too bad I saw through your hypocritical facade long ago!"

Li Shuang quietly watched Shen Yue, his face a mask of coldness.

She had been the one who helped him build his Swordsmanship foundation, bit by bit.

She had tirelessly explained and corrected his every move, his every stance.

’And now...’

’She was just nitpicking?’

’Then let Shen Yue experience for himself just how fragile Swordsmanship lacking in finesse can be.’

Li Shuang’s hand gently stroked the body of the Black Abyss Sword. She said softly, "Today is Black Abyss’s first battle. No sword is trash. They will all understand that soon enough."

「Inside the space within the Black Abyss Sword.」

In the deepest corner, a transparent Spiritual Body slumbered.

The Spiritual Body was curled into a ball, and one could faintly make out the form of a child.

The Spiritual Body had been asleep for a long time, showing no signs of waking.

Li Shuang didn’t mind.

’A person chooses a Sword Spirit, but a Sword Spirit also chooses its master.’

’If she wanted to earn the acknowledgment of the Black Abyss Sword Spirit, she naturally had to show some of her own skill.’

"Li Shuang, just you watch!" Shen Yue sneered. "Watch how the Fiery Sun Sword Skill you criticized as worthless will be the very thing that knocks you off this dueling ring."

Shen Yue was eager to show off. He took a step forward, and his Fiery Sun Sword descended like a falling star, its Sword Qi crashing down with violent force!

Li Shuang stood quietly in the center of the ring without moving, as if she were about to be ignited by the scorching swordsmanship in the next moment.