Chapter 55 - 30: The Sword Moves

It appeared that Ye Zhaozhao was the one holding the sword.

But everyone knew the truth.

Ye Zhaozhao was merely a tool, a conduit for Spiritual Power. The one truly fighting was Long Yan.

The Sword Spirit versus his former master—the main event was about to begin.

Long Yan could hardly wait. He and Ye Zhaozhao synchronized their minds, and Ye Zhaozhao launched the first attack.

Exquisite sword moves were instantly unleashed.

Li Shuang deployed her Sword Domain and, holding the Black Abyss Sword, moved to intercept.

The battle was intense. Both sides appeared to be masters of the Sword Dao.

But soon,

Meng Yifei and the others noticed something was off.

Meng Yifei remarked meaningfully, "Out there, it looks like two Li Shuangs are fighting each other."

Long Yan had been personally trained by Li Shuang. All his insights into the Sword Dao originated from her.

His sword moves perfectly mirrored Li Shuang’s style.

As they fought, they were far too aware of where each other’s blows would land. This wasn’t Li Shuang fighting Long Yan so much as it was Li Shuang fighting her former self.

On the stage, Li Shuang was augmented by her Sword Domain, while Long Yan was bolstered by Ye Zhaozhao’s Spiritual Power and the sharpness of the Dragon Roar Sword.

For a time, neither side could gain the upper hand.

Long Yan was concentrating on controlling the Dragon Roar Sword.

"Long Yan, stop dragging this out! Just knock her off the stage," Ye Zhaozhao’s irritated voice suddenly cut in.

’My Spiritual Power Cultivation is so much higher than Li Shuang’s. Why hasn’t this Long Yan won yet?’

’Didn’t he boast about how powerful he was? So what’s going on now?’

Ye Zhaozhao’s sudden mental message startled Long Yan for a moment, and a huge opening instantly appeared in his sword moves.

The Black Abyss Sword thrust forward. Long Yan hastily parried and said, "Zhaozhao, just give me a little more time. Li Shuang is not that easy to deal with."

"Not that easy to deal with?" Ye Zhaozhao was losing her patience. "Didn’t you say her current Sword Dao Cultivation was all thanks to you? Didn’t you say that with you on my side, Li Shuang would be no match for me? So why is she suddenly ’not that easy to deal with’? Or could it be that you still have feelings for Li Shuang and want to go back to her, so you’re intentionally holding back?"

Long Yan panicked. "Zhaozhao, you know my heart is with you! I would never think such a thing!"

Ye Zhaozhao wouldn’t listen. "Everyone is watching! I have to win this time, and it has to be a clean, decisive victory! End this fight now, or you’re proving your heart is still with your old master!"

Long Yan grew frantic. "Zhaozhao! I attacked Li Shuang for you on the Snow Mountain! How can you still doubt me?"

A Sword Spirit changing masters doesn’t come with a good reputation.

But for Ye Zhaozhao’s sake, he had been willing to kill Li Shuang just to follow her.

’For Ye Zhaozhao to say such a thing now... what does that make me?’

Normally, Ye Zhaozhao might have been willing to coddle Long Yan, but this battle was far too important. She was in no mood for it.

Ye Zhaozhao sent a direct mental command: "And what was the result? Is Li Shuang dead? No, she’s alive and well, isn’t she? Long Yan, don’t tell me you didn’t do as I said!"

"I..." Long Yan tried to explain.

But Li Shuang’s relentless attacks were already intensifying. Even with her insufficient Spiritual Power, the mounting pressure of her assault had Long Yan scrambling to defend himself, barely able to keep up.

On the stage, the scene was one of Ye Zhaozhao being completely overwhelmed.

Luo Mingyue was thrilled, shouting Li Shuang’s name at the top of her lungs. Many others in the crowd, caught up in the excitement, joined in the cheering.

The ceaseless cheers for Li Shuang drilled into Ye Zhaozhao’s ears.

Ye Zhaozhao could no longer keep her composure. "Long Yan, can you win this or not?"

Her voice was now laced with anger.

Long Yan was suffering in silence.

Originally, the fight had been evenly matched.

But with Ye Zhaozhao constantly sending him mental messages, his concentration was broken. Openings inevitably appeared in his sword moves, and with Li Shuang’s skill, how could she not seize them?

"Hurry up!" Ye Zhaozhao seethed through their connection.

Li Shuang’s attacks were relentless, and Ye Zhaozhao could feel her own sword-wielding wrist starting to ache.

"If I’d known you were this useless, I never would have taken you in!"

"Was everything you said before just a load of hot air?"

"Long Yan! You’ve disappointed me greatly!"

Ye Zhaozhao’s mental taunts were incessant.

A hint of red suddenly flickered in Long Yan’s eyes.

From within the Sword Spirit Space, he glared fixedly in Li Shuang’s direction.

’This battle... I have to win!’

’I absolutely must win.’

’I will make Li Shuang regret this, and I will make Zhaozhao happy.’

’To achieve that, I will stop at nothing.’

A ghostly blue flame suddenly ignited upon Long Yan’s soul body. A moment later, the same flame appeared on the Dragon Roar Sword.

In an instant, the power of the Dragon Roar Sword surged.

A single downward slash came so fast that Li Shuang couldn’t dodge in time, and a long gash was cut into her arm.

"Excellent! So you were holding back before!" Ye Zhaozhao was overjoyed. "Long Yan, keep going!"

Long Yan could no longer speak. He controlled the Dragon Roar Sword, launching a desperate, life-or-death assault.

The ordinary disciples couldn’t see anything amiss.

But the expressions on the faces of Meng Yifei and the others changed abruptly.

Lin Qingling shot a cold glance at Master Lingxu. "Burning his soul body? That’s a fatal technique, a last resort for life-or-death situations. This is just a sect tournament, yet Ye Zhaozhao has her Sword Spirit using such a move."

Once a soul body begins to burn, the damage is irreversible.

If this continues, the power of his Swordsmanship will certainly increase dramatically. However, Long Yan will damage his very essence. His body, which had already achieved Transforming Void into Reality, would likely revert from tangible back to void.

Furthermore, it will damage the very foundation of his Spiritual Body!

Using a technique with such devastating side effects in a mere sect selection tournament was simply ludicrous.

Master Lingxu was silent for a moment before saying impassively, "This might not be Zhaozhao’s intention. It is likely Long Yan, seeking revenge for being abandoned by Li Shuang, has become overly obsessed with winning."

"Now that his soul body has begun to burn, it’s too late to stop it," Meng Yifei said in a low voice.

As long as no lives were in danger, they couldn’t just stop a tournament match once it had begun.

Ye Zhaozhao, however, was oblivious to all this. All she knew was that the Dragon Roar Sword had suddenly become incredibly powerful.

’So Long Yan really was holding back. It’s a good thing I pressured him. Otherwise, who knows how long he would have kept this move hidden.’

The tables had turned.

Ye Zhaozhao looked at Li Shuang smugly. "Senior Sister, I was just letting you have a few moves earlier. Now, I’m getting serious."

Li Shuang gave Ye Zhaozhao an indifferent glance.

’This idiot.’

’She probably has no idea what’s actually happening.’

However, this was Long Yan’s own choice. Li Shuang respected it, wished them well, and hoped they’d be stuck with each other for good.

The soul body continued to burn.

Long Yan couldn’t maintain this state for long. He manipulated the Dragon Roar Sword and unleashed a fatal blow.

Lin Qingling couldn’t help but rise to her feet, her expression grave.

’This move...’

’Should I intervene?’

’If I don’t, will Little Frost’s life be in danger?’

’But if I do, Little Frost will lose the match instantly.’

’Would she... want me to intervene?’

Lin Qingling’s hands tightened into fists, her body rigid with tension.

Looking at the menacing sword strike hurtling toward her, Li Shuang actually smiled.

Originally, she’d planned on holding back a bit.

But now, it seemed even the heavens wanted her to put on a show.

In that case...

...they might as well witness the new sword move she had just comprehended.

The Dragon Roar Sword descended with immense power, a giant golden dragon dancing in the air above it.

Li Shuang looked up at the sky, seemingly about to be completely engulfed by the massive dragon.

And then.

Her hand moved.

And so did her sword.