Chapter 38: The Protagonist's Power Fantasy (37)

The name Yin Xubai was one that Su Bai had heard Yue Nianxin and Shen Xing mention more than once.

As one of the most prominent favorites to win the Dao Law Tri-Millennial Assembly, Yin Xubai possessed an Ice-type Heavenly Spiritual Root and was at the mid-stage of the Division of Spirit realm. His primary cultivation focused on the Divine Mobility of Tongyou and the Nine Heavens Frost Art. He was a master of observing the world from the deep abyss, and his natal dharma treasure, the Ten Directions Heavenly Sha Spear, was ranked among the top ten in the Divine Weapon Rankings.

Seeing Yin Xubai standing firmly on the arena, Yue Nianxin gulped, nervously gripping Shen Xing’s arm. "Why did Yin Xubai come to challenge our Junior Sister?!"

The Kunwu Sect specialized in soul-based techniques. To maximize the power of these arts, a cultivator's spiritual sense needed to be one realm higher than their actual cultivation level. Therefore, while Yin Xubai appeared to be at the mid-stage of the Division of Spirit, no one knew to what extent he had truly honed his spiritual sense. Furthermore, although "Observing Fire from the Deep Abyss" was an auxiliary technique intended to watch the trends of all things, Yin Xubai had perfected it to such a degree that he did not rely on his eyes to observe an opponent’s movements; he used his own spiritual sense to observe theirs.

What kind of terrifying concept is "insight into the soul"? It meant that Yin Xubai could predict an opponent’s positioning and the logic of their next move based on the shifts in their soul. As long as his soul was powerful enough, he could simulate thousands of outcomes in advance and choose the one most advantageous to himself.

Shen Xing’s heart was in his throat. He replied dryly, "Could it be that he thinks Junior Sister is too formidable and wants to give her a show of strength before the finals?"

"She did injure two Kunwu Sect disciples in a row, so it is reasonable for their senior brother to come and settle the score."

"Yin Xubai has been in the cultivation world for so long; judging by his personality, he doesn't seem like the type to hold a grudge."

Yue Nianxin shook her head. "I don't understand, I just don't understand."

For a big shot like Yin Xubai to deliberately trouble a junior sister whose bone age was only forty seemed beneath his status. Yin Xubai clearly realized this as well.

"Having watched you win 572 consecutive matches using only the Heavenly-grade Lone Goose Sword, I find myself lacking in comparison. However, I do not intend to end your streak; I merely wish to use this final opportunity to exchange insights on the Dao with you," Yin Xubai said. "I have been cultivating for a century longer than you, so in that sense, time is on my side. To show my sincerity, I will not use any dharma treasures in this duel."

The crowd erupted in an uproar. For a cultivator, a natal dharma treasure—especially one with great destructive power—could nearly double their strength. By refusing to use his, Yin Xubai was indeed showing great sincerity. Yet, although the girl’s bone age was only forty, after ten days of competition, almost every cultivator at the Bixun City venue believed she was truly at the Division of Spirit realm. If she used her natal sword and he didn't use his treasure, he would gain nothing by winning, and if he lost, he would suffer a massive humiliation.

The young girl’s gaze remained distant and cold, devoid of any joy.

"I am at the Division of Spirit realm, and so are you. If you do not use your natal treasure, I would be winning unfairly," she said calmly. "There is no need for such unnecessary gestures."

Eight days ago, Su Bai had admitted to Zang Wu that she was at the Division of Spirit realm, but no one had believed her, dismissing it as a joke. Now, backed by 572 consecutive victories, the weight of those words caused everyone’s expressions to shift.

"Damn it, she really is a forty-year-old at the Division of Spirit realm?!"

A Kunwu Sect disciple widened his eyes. "Your Wuji Sect is too good at hiding things! Not a single whisper of this leaked out!"

A Wuji Sect disciple stretched out his hand. "Heh, I told you she was at the Division of Spirit realm. You lost the bet, so stop talking nonsense and pay up!"

"So she was aiming for the championship of the Tri-Millennial Assembly from the very start? My god, because she looked so young, I never dared to guess that."

"Zang Wu and Xie Ningqing didn't lose unjustly, nor did Zeng Ning of the Heavenly Sword Sect or Zhao Zhiwu of the Tai-Xuan Sect. I’ve realized it now! I should never judge someone by their age!"

Jiang Yuyang shook her head off-stage. This old tree of nearly two hundred years was finally ready to bloom, so why did he have to set his sights on such a stunning, brilliant girl? Yin Xubai was a match for any woman at the Assembly, but when it came to this junior sister from the Wuji Sect, Jiang Yuyang—who had known Yin Xubai for over a hundred years—could not bring herself to say they were a good match.

Yin Xubai had long expected her to be at the Division of Spirit realm, so he was not surprised. "I have been in this realm for many years, and the Ten Directions Heavenly Sha Spear is immensely powerful. If you only use the Lone Goose Sword, the situation would inevitably be unfavorable for you."

There was a chasm between Heavenly-grade and Saint-grade treasures. As one of the top ten weapons on the Divine Weapon Rankings, if Yin Xubai used even a little force, shattering the Lone Goose Sword would be easy. Though a Wuji Sect disciple like Su Bai shouldn't be limited to a mere Heavenly-grade blade—and she was old enough to have attended the Sword Grave six years ago, which was full of Saint-grade treasures—she had moved with such grace over the past ten days that it seemed her intent followed her sword perfectly.

If it wasn't her natal sword, could she truly achieve such a state? Or perhaps—did she possess a natural Sword Heart, the innate ability to communicate with all swords?

Yin Xubai’s expression seemed sincere, but Su Bai spoke again. "I never said I only had one sword."

So the Lone Goose Sword really wasn't her natal sword! The cultivators below all wore expressions of realization. Everyone always kept a trump card until the last moment of the Assembly. It seemed her trump card was her true natal sword; no wonder she had used a Heavenly-grade blade to spar with others.

She lowered her arms and said, "Fine. If you want fairness, then you use the Ten Directions Heavenly Sha Spear, and I will use the Dragon’s Chant Sword. Both are in the top ten of the Divine Weapon Rankings. Does that count as fair?"

The moment the name "Dragon’s Chant Sword" was spoken, the scene—already chaotic from Su Bai’s admission of her cultivation level—fell deathly silent. The crowd stopped their exclamations and looked at one another. Had she just said... Dragon’s Chant Sword?

In the profound silence, a Wuji Sect disciple exclaimed excitedly, "Back then, there were rumors that Junior Sister Su had formed a perfect Golden Core in the Sword Grave. You all called it hearsay. She took the Dragon’s Chant Sword from the grave, and you all said that since you hadn't seen it, it was a lie."

"You lot are just frogs at the bottom of a well, thinking that's the size of the whole sky!"

The quiet lasted less than three breaths before it exploded like boiling water in a pot.

"A forty-year-old at the Division of Spirit, a perfect Golden Core, and the world’s number one—oh wait, the world’s number two—Dragon’s Chant Sword?! Am I crazy, or is this cultivation world crazy?"

"Heavens, is the new generation really this terrifying now?! Are us old folks supposed to survive?"

"I need a moment... I originally thought Yin Xubai was bullying the girl, but now it looks like this is a damn well-matched battle!"

"The Wuji Sect is absolutely killing it this year. Qin Yang in the South, Su Bai in the East. Here’s a joke: Pei Yizhou might win the Tri-Millennial Assembly this year, but he’s definitely not guaranteed to win the Wuji Sect’s internal trial in the future."

"Qin Yang dared to take on a disciple from the Rejuvenation Valley—he was plucking the whiskers of the Jade Emperor himself! He dared to provoke this ancestor? He deserved it!"

Elder Fu Sui also exclaimed along with the crowd: "Is the Dragon’s Chant Sword really in her possession?"

The Supreme Elder watched his rival's frustrated expression and stroked his beard with increasing lightness. "Indeed."

"She was the one who formed the perfect Golden Core in the Sword Grave, and she was the one who took the Dragon’s Chant Sword."

"She is also the one with the natural Sword Heart."

Every word the Supreme Elder uttered felt like a sharp pain in Elder Fu Sui’s heart. How could such a talent go to the Wuji Sect?

The City Lord of Bixun City leaned his head on his hand, speechless. How much merit did that old scoundrel Su Yueshan accumulate in his past life to have such an excellent daughter? If he had a daughter like this, he would support her even if she were to break off an engagement with the Carefree Sword Sovereign!

The Dragon’s Chant Sword was currently ranked second on the Divine Weapon Rankings, while the Ten Directions Heavenly Sha Spear was seventh. If Yin Xubai didn't use his spear, even with his years of experience, this battle would be a perilous one.

Yin Xubai stopped with the pleasantries. With a wave of his hand, the Ten Directions Heavenly Sha Spear appeared in the air. The massive spear was six feet long, with meteor-like lines crisscrossing from the tip to the hilt, flowing like liquid fire. The hilt, made of rare metal, was thick and solid, engraved with various array runes. The entire spear exuded a heart-stopping power, looking like a magnificent black monolith embedded with shimmering stars.

The spear was stunning, yet everyone held their breath, watching the young girl on the other side.

"This hundred-spirit-stone entrance fee was truly worth it," someone whispered. "Just to see this Dragon’s Chant Sword, I would pay a hundred high-grade spirit stones!"

The Dragon’s Chant Sword had occupied the top spot on the Divine Weapon Rankings for ten thousand years, but it had been hidden deep in the Sword Grave, so no one had ever seen its true form. The City Lord of Bixun City clenched his fists, leaning forward to get a better look. That was the Dragon’s Chant Sword, the sword every sword cultivator dreamed of owning!

The girl drew the sword. The blade was forged in the shape of dragon scales, and the moment it left the scabbard, the runes carved along its length lit up with a silvery-white glow. It seemed as if everyone present heard the roar of a true dragon.

The appearance of the Dragon’s Chant Sword left even the experienced City Lord trembling with excitement. What right did Bixun City have to witness the first unveiling of the Dragon’s Chant Sword?

The hilt was inlaid with dragon-shaped ornaments, a dragon head coiled around the scabbard, solemn and majestic. A thunder-summoning bead, containing pure, primordial energy, was embedded in the handle. The silvery-white glow of the blade contrasted sharply with the black hilt, like the intersection of a dragon and the dark night, condensing mysterious, ancient power accumulated over tens of thousands of years.

Shen Xing, standing off-stage, whispered, "Seeing these people act like country bumpkins witnessing the world, I’ve finally made peace with my own past self, who nearly cried in excitement upon first seeing the Dragon’s Chant Sword."

During their four years in the Far North, he and his junior sister had spent so much time together that he had mistakenly thought everyone in the world was like her—where cultivation was as easy as drinking water, and subduing exotic flames or taking down ice demons was just a normal Tuesday. Yue Nianxin and Shen Xing had progressed so rapidly in the Far North because Su Bai’s staggering upgrade speed and her tireless spirit always made them doubt if they were just lazy and stupid.

Once the match began, Yin Xubai’s "Observing Fire from the Deep Abyss" triggered automatically.

But—Yin Xubai’s eyes deepened. Her soul emitted a faint, deep blue light. Beyond that, Yin Xubai could see nothing else. He had never seen a soul so pure. She seemed to have no distracting thoughts. She didn't even think about what she should do next. Yin Xubai’s infallible soul-observation technique had failed for the first time.

In the gap of Yin Xubai’s distraction, the girl had already struck with her sword. The moment Su Bai’s wrist turned, Yin Xubai caught a slight shift in her soul. When she began to swing, her body naturally told her what to do; she didn't need to think. Thousands of battles had forged her unique intuition.

The sword was her. She was the sword itself. Her logic existed only in the instant she swung the blade.

The Dragon’s Chant Sword stirred with thunderous power, and the girl attacked Yin Xubai like a bolt of lightning. Yin Xubai blocked with his spear. The moment they collided, the sword energy surrounding the Dragon’s Chant Sword surged.

Su Bai was only three inches away from him. Yin Xubai couldn't help but look into her eyes. The young girl’s pitch-black pupils remained calm, yet like a storm gathering before thunder, they suppressed a dark, thick intent to battle.

Yin Xubai’s pupils contracted.

The Heavenly Derivation Sword Art summoned a dragon again; the sword energy transformed into a soaring dragon body and head. Even though Yin Xubai blocked the strike, the dragon body made of sword energy coiled around the Dragon’s Chant Sword, roared, and lunged directly at him.

The City Lord of Bixun City muttered in shock, "Dragon soul resonance! She can actually achieve resonance with the dragon soul of the Dragon’s Chant Sword!"

She could communicate with the sword to such a degree; no wonder she could use it as her natal sword.

Yin Xubai’s gaze sharpened, and he channeled the Divine Mobility of Tongyou. As the name suggested, this technique relied on spiritual sense to manifest through spiritual energy. While Su Bai’s sword art manifested through sword energy, he now placed both hands on his spear, needing to manifest his spiritual sense just like her to break the dragon.

The competition of the Division of Spirit realm had evolved from a contest of pure spiritual energy to a confrontation of manifested souls.

Having missed the strike, the girl’s eyes flickered, and she leaped backward.

"She forced Yin Xubai to use the Divine Mobility of Tongyou in the very first move?" someone off-stage stammered.

The Kunwu Sect’s unique technique allowed spiritual sense—steeled by the Dao heart—to manifest through energy, nearly killing anyone in the same realm. Yet this girl had forced it out in the first move? The disciples who had previously sparred with Su Bai shuddered. They had been blind to her power, trying to teach her a lesson; it was fortunate she had no intent to kill!

This strike was merely Su Bai testing the waters. Yin Xubai was indeed worthy of being a favorite for the championship, reacting quickly to block the second style of the Heavenly Derivation Sword Art. His spiritual sense intensity was certainly beyond the peak of the Division of Spirit realm.

During the Tri-Millennial Assembly, big shots of the Division of Spirit realm would choose to defend the stage. Over the past ten days, the highest cultivation level of those challenging Su Bai was no more than the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul. Winning against them had brought her no sense of accomplishment. If an adult took pride in bullying a three-year-old, it was truly shameful. She didn't need to seek presence among such people.

Yin Xubai was different. His mid-stage cultivation and peak-level spiritual sense meant she could treat him as a real opponent. Respecting an opponent meant not holding back a single bit of strength.

The tip of the Dragon’s Chant Sword dragged on the ground, carving a line into the stone-hard arena. The cold, frosty eyes of the girl finally showed a subtle shift.

"Jade Sea Tide Rises."

Simultaneously, Su Bai’s spiritual sense spread across the space, pulling at every tiny water droplet in the air. The sword energy of the Dragon’s Chant Sword surged again! Yin Xubai attempted to block it with the Nine Heavens Frost Art, but ice required water, and since the water elements within the defensive array had been seized by her spiritual sense, he could not use a single drop. He was forced to expand his spiritual sense to snatch water elements from outside the array.

Yin Xubai was struck with indescribable shock. In those 572 victories, she had likely used less than a tenth of her true strength! The Nine Heavens Frost Art quickly froze the arena, but before the ice could reach Su Bai, she shattered it with a single sword strike.

Yin Xubai’s Frost Art was not to be underestimated; as she shattered the ice, the dragon formed from her sword energy also dissipated. But water droplets in the air continuously gathered toward the Dragon’s Chant Sword, and in an instant, a second water dragon formed!

Using water to carry the Dao heart—that was how she transformed water into sword intent!

"A genius of the age! A genius of the age!" The City Lord of Bixun City was trembling, his eyes shining. "Combining 'Jade Sea Tide Rises' with the Heavenly Derivation Sword Art, making the dragon sword intent endless—marvelous, simply marvelous!"

Yin Xubai’s spiritual sense had reached the Great Perfection of the Division of Spirit realm. He channeled his technique into the spear, his spiritual sense taking the form of a white tiger. The roar was deafening, and he finally began his counterattack. The defensive array, said to withstand a strike from the Tribulation Transcendence realm, began to tremble slightly.

The silvery-white light of the Dragon’s Chant Sword intertwined with the black shadows of the Ten Directions Heavenly Sha Spear. The roars of dragons and tigers echoed, leaving the cultivators below stunned.

"Is this match as exciting as the finals?!"

"She can actually trade blows with Yin Xubai? Who would believe it?"

[Actually, little Bai is already holding back. If she used the Heaven-Swallowing Ice Flame, this match would be a crushing victory.]

[Right, she only used the Dragon’s Chant Sword; she hasn't even used the Su-Zhao Sword.]

[I wonder what expressions these people would have if they knew she had other trump cards?]

Yin Xubai was worthy of his reputation. Having lurked in the mid-stage of the Division of Spirit realm for years and honed his spiritual sense to the peak, he certainly had the capital to fight for the championship. And thanks to his focus on the soul—Yin Xubai was also a cultivator who had formed a perfect Golden Core.

Under Su Bai’s relentless pressure, Yin Xubai actually unleashed his rarely used lightning-type technique: the Nine Heavens Thunder Control Art. Indeed, the Kunwu Sect excelled in techniques. As an elite who had formed a perfect Golden Core, even if Yin Xubai was born with an Ice-type Heavenly Spiritual Root, he would naturally be proficient in other arts. Yet it was only today that everyone realized his best technique wasn't the Frost Art he used most often, but the lightning-type one.

The young girl was forced back several steps by the overwhelming lightning. The Nine Heavens Thunder Control Art ranked in the top three among lightning techniques, and combined with the Frost Art, it could indeed trade blows with her second style of the Heavenly Derivation Sword Art.

Suddenly, someone noticed purple-white electric light flickering on the Dragon’s Chant Sword. The dragon formed of sword energy had dissipated, but "Jade Sea Tide Rises" remained. Under the intense heat, the water droplets—attached to the girl’s Dao heart—were being burned into steaming mist.

"Summoning Clouds."

Her eyes were deep. The moment she spoke, thousands of wisps of mist swirled around the Dragon’s Chant Sword. From afar, it looked as if a true dragon had awakened and was riding the clouds.

"What sword move is 'Summoning Clouds'?" someone whispered.

A disciple well-versed in sword arts explained in shock: "The Heavenly Derivation Sword Art has three styles. The first is 'Break the Clouds,' the second is 'Summon the Heaven Dragon,' and 'Summoning Clouds' is the essential bridge between the second and third styles."

"She is starting the third style of the Heavenly Derivation Sword Art."

"Shatter Mountains and Rivers!"

The third style, "Shatter Mountains and Rivers," used sword intent to transcend all things in heaven and earth. The sword cultivator had to align their spiritual sense with the world, gathering the power of mountains and rivers into a single strike to break through all obstacles. It was said that when this move appeared, mountains would crumble, rivers would flow backward, and the sword intent would be so sharp that the very void would tremble.

The arena began to shake violently. The sky full of lightning was enveloped within, but amidst the roaring thunder and surging frost, one sword strike shattered the thunder and broke the ice with unstoppable force.

This strike was named "Shatter Mountains and Rivers."

The Nine Heavens Thunder Control Art shattered. The Nine Heavens Frost Art shattered. The Divine Mobility of Tongyou shattered.

Yin Xubai was swept out of the arena by that sword energy. Simultaneously, the defensive array, filled with lightning, began to vibrate crazily like a jumping ball of electricity. Dark purple lightning surged, but the blue-white sword light was even brighter—cold, murderous, and unstoppable.

The girl’s figure flashed, and the sword light of the Dragon’s Chant Sword cut through the air. The defensive array, which claimed to withstand a strike from the Tribulation Transcendence realm, was—in broad daylight—shattered into pieces by the sword energy.

The City Lord of Bixun City’s face crinkled like a chrysanthemum. Heartbreak!

The girl holding the sword broke through the defensive array and landed lightly on the ground. She straightened up, put away the Dragon’s Chant Sword, and clapped her hands, as if she weren't the one who had caused such a massive commotion.

"It’s over," Su Bai said calmly.

The cultivators retreated a step. She had shattered the arena—of course it was over!

She looked at Yin Xubai. "Yin Xubai, is it?" Then she nodded. "Not bad at all."

Yin Xubai coughed as he stood up from the ground. This was the first time he had ever appeared so disheveled. Yet, the moment the girl spoke his name, a flush of red crept up the young man’s ears. He was in such a sorry state that surely no one would notice.

Yin Xubai’s heart raced as he thought: Finally. She knows my name.