Chapter 45: The Invincible Dragon's Triumph (44)

At the junction of the clouds, a deep black gap stretched across much of the sky. The rising sun was half concealed, and the exposed half beyond the clouds had lost its usual golden-red glow, appearing pale and somewhat piercing to the eyes.

The Su Zhao Sword fell into Su Bai’s hand. Jiang Yu Yang planted her foot on the edge of the arena platform. At the moment the sword was seized, Su Bai’s figure flickered, leaving only a phantom trace on the stage as she dashed away like a startled swan. Jiang Yu Yang’s eyes sharpened; she exerted strength from her lower body, her upper body bending slightly backward. With both hands, she gripped the Ghost Blade Soul-Devouring Whip, conjuring a manifestation of her spiritual awareness to block the fierce incoming strike.

“So terrifying,” a disciple whispered from the audience. “I thought her luck in the draw had been abysmal all along—having to face all those renowned masters at the Fragmented Spirit Realm. But now it seems those masters were the ones truly unlucky.”

“She’s referring to Su Bai,” another disciple chimed in with lingering fear. “Except for the one round she was exempted from yesterday, every master she faced was defeated. If she hadn’t met them, reaching the top sixteen probably wouldn’t have been a problem.”

“But now, in the White Ruins top eight, those championship favorites didn’t even make the top four. She’s advanced round after round, causing upset after upset in the finals, as if gods and Buddhas alike stand no chance against her.”

The Su Zhao Sword’s sword aura burned intensely, while the Ghost Blade Soul-Devouring Whip trembled slightly in the air.

“Apologies, senior sister,” Su Bai said calmly.

In an instant, the sword aura of the Su Zhao Sword ran rampant. Within a very short time, silver-white streaks of light condensed along the blade, forming a resolute sword intent that seemed to embody her very will—an independent sword spirit born of her resolve.

Jiang Yu Yang’s eyes widened.

The overwhelming sword aura washed over the blade repeatedly, eventually refining into a piercing sword intent that effortlessly sliced through the spiritual manifestation entangled with the Ghost Blade Soul-Devouring Whip. The surging sword intent broke through the encirclement but was still unsatisfied; pale blue sword aura surged wildly, spreading instantly like ink dropped into water.

A powerful shockwave caused Jiang Yu Yang to stagger.

Amid the crowd’s gasps, she fell heavily from the platform.

“Another victory!” a disciple of the Infinite Sect exclaimed excitedly. “Now both first and second place are ours!”

Pei Yizhou also stood below the arena.

“How’s it going?” Chang Yi, who had just lost to Pei Yizhou and stopped at the top four of the Dao Fa Three Thousand Convention, stood with him watching Su Bai’s duel. “With her sharing the pressure, this time the competition must feel much lighter for you.”

There were fifty masters of the Fragmented Spirit Realm competing in this Dao Fa Three Thousand Convention, and even within that realm, there were gradations. Excluding the match she was exempt from yesterday, this girl fought eight battles in total, almost sweeping up every top-tier contestant without exception.

Jiang Yu Yang held her waist, gritting her teeth and gasping, slowly rising from the ground. “Junior sister, your swordsmanship is just too outrageous.”

She completely defied conventional tactics.

Especially after Su Bai drew the Su Zhao Sword, Jiang Yu Yang finally understood what it meant for the sword to be her and she to be the sword.

Pei Yizhou withdrew his gaze. “Winning against her is very difficult.”

Pei Yizhou had spent many years training outside and didn’t know this junior sister well, but he had watched footage of her duels in Bi Xun City.

She truly possessed terrifying talent in swordsmanship. Besides her, both Jiang Yu Yang and Yin Xu Bai were outstanding practitioners of soul-based techniques in the Kunwu Sect, with spiritual awareness far exceeding their cultivation levels. Yin Xu Bai even wielded exotic fire and a contracted beast, yet all had fallen under her sword.

The reason Kunwu Sect had remained invincible in soul cultivation over the years was thanks to Yin Xu Bai’s “Submerged Abyss Fire Viewing,” which could trigger automatically in battle, and Jiang Yu Yang’s “Nightmare Prayer Illusion Soul Technique,” which subtly stirred the deepest fears in opponents’ hearts. These two had perfected these passive techniques, allowing the Kunwu Sect to hold its ground among elite gatherings.

But neither Yin Xu Bai’s Abyss Fire Viewing nor Jiang Yu Yang’s Nightmare Prayer could affect her.

Chang Yi, who had been Pei Yizhou’s rival for nearly eighty years, had never seen him so dispirited, joking, “Losing to a junior sister only forty years old by bone age—looks like the reputation of Infinite Sect’s senior brother is a bit overrated.”

Pei Yizhou gave Chang Yi a helpless look. “Don’t you know her level by now?”

The more adept one was in swordsmanship, the more one would realize how formidable she truly was.

Xu Hening stood on the platform, dumbfounded. “Good grief, only forty years old by bone age and she’s made it to the championship match?”

“I was wondering what kind of sword could surpass the Dragon Roar Sword. Now watching her wield the Su Zhao Sword, it’s no surprise the Dragon Roar Sword lost.”

“Hey, Yan Lai, you’re a swordsman, so you should understand swords best. I noticed her sword aura always seems connected to the power of heaven and earth. To forge frost and ice, one must tame exotic fire. Do you think it’s possible she’s infused exotic fire into the sword while tempering the frost and ice?”

Xu Hening excitedly analyzed.

The sect leader of the Heavenly Sword Sect nearby perked up and eagerly joined in. “They’re all talking about her talent in swordsmanship, but in my opinion, this girl is clearly a gifted swordsmith! That Su Zhao Sword she wields has a wave-shaped serrated left edge for cutting and a slanted right edge for piercing. The hilt houses spirit-attracting and soul-binding formations, which require massive spiritual energy and precise control to construct.”

“Moreover, since she uses this sword, she actually dared to carve high-level formations on the hilt for attracting and binding souls. These formations, if misused, can trap the cultivator’s spiritual awareness inside. They must be formed in one continuous effort without interruption, and the sword intent needs to gather spiritual energy. Since each cultivator’s soul is unique, simplifying the process of concentrating spiritual awareness into these formations shows how much effort she’s put into formation crafting!”

The sect leader’s eyes gleamed with admiration. “I wonder where your disciple comes from, to be so proficient in swordsmanship, sorcery, and formations all at once!”

Xu Hening looked on at Yan Lai with great anticipation.

At that moment, Yan Lai’s mind was elsewhere, pondering the situation at Falling Dragon Peak.

Yesterday, the Eight-Directional Instrument and Chaos Orb monitoring Falling Dragon Peak showed anomalies, yet the octagonal crystal’s readings still depicted calm and tranquility.

Legend had it that in ancient times, the Saint Lord used his entire life’s spiritual energy to seal the Candle Dragon, and the formation inscribed on Falling Dragon Peak was carved with his life force. This event had passed tens of thousands of years ago, and when the current generation hears about the Saint Lord slaying the dragon to save the world, they instinctively believe such primordial events have long been buried in history.

However, the Carefree Sword Sovereign had once told Yan Lai that after the inner sect trials, he accepted Qin Yang because the Heavenly Dao personally issued a divine decree naming Qin Yang the fabled Purple Star Emperor.

Blessed by the fortune of the Purple Star Emperor, Qin Yang’s talent and fate before entering the Sword Tomb matched the legend. Yet since the inner sect trials, when Su Bai struck with a sword embodying frost and cold at the early stage of Heart Movement Realm, Yan Lai sensed that something was slipping beyond the control of the Heavenly Dao, heading toward an unpredictable state.

Behind such changes often lie greater causes and effects.

Today, Jin Yue City dispatched a small team to investigate the anomalies at Falling Dragon Peak.

Were they beasts born in the cultivation world? Demons infiltrating from the demon realm?

But the Eight-Directional Instrument detected formation reactions, and after much reflection, Yan Lai could only think of the legendary God-Slaying Dragon Suppression Formation, long lost to the annals of time.

The formation said to have been used by the Saint Lord to subdue the Candle Dragon.

---

Xu Hening and the Heavenly Sword Sect leader’s quarrel gave Yan Lai a headache.

He could only respond, “Since she can use the Water Cloud Technique, her master must be Elder Yaoguang.”

Both Xu Hening and the Heavenly Sword Sect leader stopped chatting, turning in shock. “But she’s a swordsman!”

Yan Lai, irritated, replied perfunctorily, “What’s wrong with that? She’s also a swordsmith!”

So what if she’s a swordsman? Can’t a swordsman study under a sorcery elder? And if she does, can’t she switch to becoming a swordsmith? Everything is perfectly reasonable.

On the stands, the chatter continued, while on the arena, Su Bai and Pei Yizhou stood ready.

“Finally,” a disciple of the Infinite Sect exclaimed excitedly, “I’ve heard Pei senior brother has reached the pinnacle of Fragmented Spirit Realm, with 178 years of cultivation, wielding the Chiwang Sword, surpassing Heavenly Sword Sect’s prodigy Chang Yi. Our junior sister, with less than forty years of cultivation, wields the Su Zhao Sword as her life sword, yet can also command the Dragon Roar Sword. She’s no less formidable.”

The so-called championship match no longer involved the Kunwu Sect’s participation.

Hence, Kunwu Sect disciples calmly munched sunflower seeds nearby, eagerly joining the discussion for entertainment. “Though Pei Yizhou’s sword techniques aren’t as diverse as Su Bai’s, over half of the sword techniques in the manual have been seen employed by him in the last hundred years.”

“Pei Yizhou’s signature move is his own creation—the Buddha’s Myriad Sword Techniques.”

“I’ve long heard that the junior sister’s swordsmanship is exquisite, and she wields two divine swords.”

Pei Yizhou cupped his hands. “I respectfully ask junior sister to instruct me.”

Su Bai replied, “Please, senior brother, guide me.”

After brief pleasantries, Pei Yizhou brandished the Chiwang Sword and initiated with the Scale-Cutting Moon-Gazing Sword technique. Strangely, although he began with this form, he suddenly shifted in the second move to the Submerged Dragon Sword.

First the Moon-Gazing, then the Submerged Dragon.

Disciples who had long observed closely quickly realized that Pei Yizhou’s sequence mirrored a discussion thread on the forum that had been replied to over ten thousand times.

Starting with Scale-Cutting Moon-Gazing, then suddenly reversing to Submerged Dragon, connecting with the Dragon Out of Water move, and interspersing the second move of Scale-Cutting Moon-Gazing within Submerged Dragon.

This was the swordplay approach Su Bai had once used in her arena match. Why Pei Yizhou also chose this opening was unknown.

Chang Yi clasped his hands behind his head, mumbling, “This guy is truly a sword fanatic.”

Chang Yi and Pei Yizhou had competed for the title of the top swordmaster for nearly a century without resolving the rivalry, until this junior sister with extraordinary sword talent suddenly appeared. Chang Yi could only sigh at the whims of fate.

Pei Yizhou’s use of Su Bai’s sword form in the finals might have been misunderstood by others, but Chang Yi knew exactly.

For those who regarded swordsmanship as life, having the chance to discuss and learn from an opponent was far more valuable than chasing empty fame.

Pei Yizhou had chosen this set of sword techniques; the girl opposite him copied the exact same form.

The Su Zhao Sword swept icy cold air; the Chiwang Sword’s aura was murderous. Yet on the final strike of Submerged Dragon, Pei Yizhou suddenly took an unexpected turn, rotating his wrist to thrust the sword tip, launching the surprise “Dragon Emerges from the Sea” strike.

Su Bai’s eyes flickered.

This man indeed had some skill in sword techniques.

The “Dragon Gazes at the Moon, then Submerges to Rouse Strength” sequence was deliberate, choosing to gamble everything on the last strike. Instead of continuing Submerged Dragon, he opted for Dragon Emerges from the Sea to break the deadlock.

Unlike the solemn and deadly Submerged Dragon, this strike gathered all previous sword energy to risk everything in a decisive move.

The previously suppressed sword aura on the Chiwang Sword suddenly surged.

Chang Yi watched with relish.

These two were not merely dueling—they were engaging in a sword debate!

Su Bai deconstructed Scale-Cutting Moon-Gazing and integrated it into Submerged Dragon. Pei Yizhou initiated with this swordplay, but although they used the same technique, Pei Yizhou’s sword intent was always suppressed by Su Bai. So in the last strike, he infused his state of mind into the move, choosing Dragon Emerges from the Sea instead of continuing Submerged Dragon.

At this moment, Su Bai could have forcibly broken the deadlock with the Heavenly Evolution Sword Technique.

But for a true sword debate, this seemed more like Pei Yizhou presenting Su Bai a test—how should she complete this final strike to break the stalemate?

In this first match, they were clearly debating their understanding of the two sword techniques: Submerged Dragon and Scale-Cutting Moon-Gazing.

Pei Yizhou could condense the “break or be broken” sword intent in Dragon Emerges from the Sea because his sword intent had been suppressed by Su Bai’s. Under such pressure, resistance inevitably arises, and resistance breeds a mindset of breakthrough.

Since he wanted to break—

Su Bai’s eyes flashed sharply. The sword tip traced an arc, turning upward. Halfway through the Submerged Dragon move, the dragon coiled back as if the previous move was a feint.

She followed with a twist in the swordplay!

Pei Yizhou struck Dragon Emerges from the Sea to gamble for a chance at victory; she responded with True Dragon Emerges from the Sea to suppress him!

The pale blue sword aura swept across the arena like rippling waves. To onlookers, the sword auras appeared like gentle water ripples, but when clashing with Pei Yizhou’s frenzied sword aura, the water remained calm, firmly halting the “break or be broken” sword intent.

He breaks.

She counters with stillness.

This strike was called “Calming the Storm.”

The Carefree Sword Sovereign applauded loudly, “The Dao Fa Three Thousand Convention was meant for disciples to debate swordsmanship and Dao. These two, using Scale-Cutting Moon-Gazing and Submerged Dragon as their entry points, have discussed sword techniques and Dao hearts, upholding the honor of swordsmen!”

The sword light on the stage was sharp and dazzling, blurring the eyes of the spectators.

After Su Bai suppressed Pei Yizhou’s breaking intent with True Dragon, she had the chance to press the advantage, but her sword tip paused and allowed Pei Yizhou to counter with a stroke called “Ephemeral Midge on the Sea.”

Pei Yizhou, burdened with exotic fire, still hesitated to unleash it, clearly determined to continue debating swords with Su Bai.

What seemed like an ordinary sword debate was far more exciting than contests of who had better pills, more powerful life treasures, or stronger contracted beasts.

Sword-practicing disciples were fired up, clenching fists, “Swordsmen only debate sword Dao, discarding useless external tools, ignoring artifacts and pills, returning to simplicity. This is the true beginning of Dao!”

Thus, they nearly covered the top ten sword techniques in the manual one by one.

Pei Yizhou’s cultivation reached the pinnacle of Fragmented Spirit Realm, and as cultivation ascends, the gap between small realms widens. His condensed sword intent should be more solid than Su Bai’s, yet Su Bai, with only the early Fragmented Spirit Realm, managed to consistently suppress his sword intent with every strike.

“Junior sister, your understanding of Dao far surpasses mine,” Pei Yizhou admitted, stepping back under the pressure of sword aura, his eyes bright. “The final strike is my own creation—the Buddha’s Myriad Sword Techniques.”

“Please,” Su Bai invited.

The Buddha’s Myriad Sword Techniques embodied Pei Yizhou’s lifelong understanding of sword Dao, excelling in inclusiveness. He slashed his sword tip, releasing a faint golden sword intent that instantly expanded, generating countless sword intents in the pattern of “Dao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, three gives birth to myriad things.”

Thousands of sword intents mixed with sword light converged in the girl’s frost-like deep eyes.

“Go!” Pei Yizhou commanded softly.

The myriad sword intents prepared to strike like golden arrows charging toward the girl.

“Although the sword techniques in the manual are powerful, they are always based on the paths forged by predecessors,” Yan Lai said, unable to look away. “But to create a sword technique from one’s own Dao, and even unleash power far exceeding the top ten manual techniques—that’s remarkable.”

The Su Zhao Sword stood upright before Su Bai’s chest.

Su Bai’s right hand traced the sword tip; pale blue sword aura intertwined with spiritual energy gathered in her palm. Concentrating, she pushed forward. The hilt of the Su Zhao Sword trembled lightly, and the winding pale blue patterns along the blade lit up in sequence.

First attracting souls, then binding souls.

She wielded spiritual awareness to strike!

She only struck once.

The Buddha’s Myriad Sword Techniques held the thought that Dao gives birth to myriad things.

She reversed this: myriad things return to Dao.

Dao gives birth to one, one to two, two to three, three to myriad things.

And myriad things return to their Dao.

This is the unity of all methods.

The pale blue sword aura seemed blunt but focused on a single line, expanding overwhelmingly. The golden sword intents rushing forward, no matter their Dao, were all equally absorbed by this seemingly blunt sword aura.

Rather than swallowing them, Su Bai’s sword intent assimilated the golden sword intents, following the pale blue aura to expand her territory.

The sword intent was simple and unadorned but firm without edge. The sword aura swept the arena instantly. Pei Yizhou’s pupils contracted sharply as he hurriedly crossed his sword to block.

Though she only struck once, that strike contained myriad Dao principles and even absorbed Pei Yizhou’s Buddha’s Myriad Sword Techniques, turning them to her use.

Since all things share the same origin,

His Dao could also be said to be hers.

The sword aura came on fiercely. Pei Yizhou failed to evade; the Chiwang Sword was knocked away. The sword intent broke through the sword and continued rushing toward Pei Yizhou.

He was blasted outside the arena.

The Buddha’s Myriad Sword Techniques were broken!

Su Bai withdrew the Su Zhao Sword.

The vast arena of tens of thousands fell into silence, both shocked by her sword intent and unable to believe it—

The champion of the Dao Fa Three Thousand Convention was only forty years old by bone age!

“W-won?” an Infinite Sect disciple stammered. “She, she won!?”

Yue Nianxin cheered, “Junior sister won! She won!”

In the overwhelming silence, her shout rang out clearly, and the arena erupted with thunderous cheers.

Su Yue Shan grabbed the collar of the Bi Xun City lord, repeating, “Did you see? Did you see? My daughter is the champion!”

The city lord was shaken to the scalp by the sword debate, feeling no envy but only excitement as he shouted back, “I saw it! I saw it!”

She was the youngest champion in the Dao Fa Three Thousand Convention.

The youngest Fragmented Spirit Realm cultivator ever recorded in the cultivation world.

The swordsmith who forged the world’s finest sword, the Su Zhao Sword.

And today, the name Su Bai would resound across the entire Guiyuan Continent, her brilliance unmatched by anyone.

Thus, the Dao Fa Three Thousand Convention concluded perfectly.