Threads of vibrant crimson shot out from Zhao Qingdong's slender waist, swirling in a vortexlike fashion, dancing with a gentle breeze in the air.
With a soft *snap*, the young woman's fingers tightened on her sword hilt.
"Boom!"
A fierce gust of wind erupted, and the red sword intent suddenly expanded, engulfing Zuo Mingqiu with a thunderous roar. Instantly, his Taoist robe was riddled with countless tears, and even his eyebrows began to ooze droplets of blood.
"Such formidable sword momentum!"
From the crowd, gasps of astonishment echoed.
Zuo Mingqiu wiped the blood from his brow with his index finger, his expression growing slightly solemn. Just the sword momentum alone had managed to breach his protective spells. It seemed Zhao Qingdong had grown considerably stronger.
With a grave expression, Zuo Mingqiu drew a large circle in the air with one hand, and three illusory gates of light materialized, enclosing Zhao Qingdong within. The red sword intent was completely blocked, leaving behind countless mottled etchings.
Then, he clenched his fist slightly. The three light rings rapidly contracted, their faint glow seeping into the red sword intent, transforming it into sharp, solid blades. As the space tightened, these blades became countless sharp edges that lunged at Zhao Qingdong.
Caught off guard, if Zhao Qingdong had been unprepared, she could have been turned into a pincushion.
A collective cry of alarm rose from the spectators. Zuo Mingqiu's move was too sudden, and this ability was unknown to them. He could actually turn Zhao Qingdong's sword intent to his own use. Could it be that the Taoist son was going to win this match?
"Crack!"
Zhao Qingdong, gripping her sword, drew a semicircle from her toes to the top of her head. A terrifying sword energy was unleashed, cleaving all of Zuo Mingqiu's metallic blades into dust.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
The three light gates, which had sealed her, shattered in response, falling to the ground like shards of glass.
The sword energy, advancing relentlessly, slashed towards Zuo Mingqiu.
Yet, he seemed unfazed, standing motionless as if unable to comprehend the sheer power of Zhao Qingdong's sword.
"Your acting is terrible."
In an instant, Zhao Qingdong spoke coldly. Simultaneously, she employed her Qinggong, leaping back over fifty meters. As she moved, she roared and swung her sword, a crimson sword energy surging forward, intercepting the incoming Bright Dot Strike in mid-air before erupting with a thunderous explosion.
"Boom ka!!!"
The terrifying collision whipped up a tempest in the space. Sword energies raged, shattering the surrounding flora and stones. Even the white clouds in the sky seemed to split in half, one side stained blood-red.
The Bright Dot Strike, colliding with the sword energy, unleashed a brilliant radiance, a volatile heat exploding within like dynamite. Dense patterns of dark gold runes spread through the air, seemingly imbued with some fundamental law of the Great Dao, holding their own against the sword energy in a stalemate. The light was so intense that it blinded the onlookers.
Lan Yu and the others stared in shock, hastily retreating behind True Person Lan Qi. They exclaimed in disbelief,
"Is this still the Second Realm!"
From the direction of Xianyou Peak, a genius who had reached the peak of the second stage couldn't help but swallow hard.
To his senses, either of Zhao Qingdong's sword strike or Zuo Mingqiu's projectile could have instantly killed him, leaving him with no chance to retaliate.
Among the crowd, a short-haired youth ranked just below Zuo Mingqiu on Shengyang Peak looked on in stunned silence, then shook his head with a bitter smile.
Whether it was Zuo Mingqiu or Zhao Qingdong, their casual attacks possessed such destructive power that anything in their path was reduced to dust, including the clouds thousands of meters above, which were churned into chaos.
The reason this group could stand here so fearlessly was that an elder had long since conjured an invisible battle platform spanning a hundred square meters. Energy touching the boundaries of the platform would be contained, but there were no restrictions above or below.
This was why the clouds a thousand meters high were now in countless fragments, unable to recombine, and why the ground was crisscrossed with such massive fissures.
"You've gotten faster again."
Within the battle platform, Zuo Mingqiu looked at Zhao Qingdong and praised her with a smile.
"And you're still so cunning."
Zhao Qingdong retorted with a sneer.
Hearing this, Zuo Mingqiu chuckled softly.
The Bright Dot Strikes, which had been radiating light, were actually second-stage talismans he had personally inscribed and hidden within the three mirror shards that had trapped Zhao Qingdong.
He had deliberately allowed Zhao Qingdong to shatter the mirror seals, letting the shards fall to the ground, and then activated the talismans within. The terrifying energy would instantly inflict severe injuries on Zhao Qingdong, perhaps even kill her.
But in that crucial moment, Zhao Qingdong had not fallen for the trap. She had reacted and executed a perfect counter-sword strike.
"This isn't cunning, it's strength."
Zuo Mingqiu said earnestly.
He had mastered all three thousand Taoist methods. He had simply chosen the easiest and quickest method to end the match when he attacked. How could that be considered cunning?
"Three thousand Great Daos, I shall break them with one sword."
Zhao Qingdong wasted no more words with Zuo Mingqiu, raising her sword and charging. She was almost instantly in front of him.
She knew clearly that Zuo Mingqiu must be accumulating some killing move in secret. If they delayed for even two more sentences, he might conjure a formation, and then winning would become extremely difficult.
Zuo Mingqiu took a step forward, and a phantom image of a dragon-elephant appeared in the space. With a clang, it collided with Zhao Qingdong's sword, halting her momentum.
Simultaneously, from Zhao Qingdong's left and right, two lion-tiger beasts, adorned with flaming golden rings, roared forth. Within their gaping maws lurked a dark, suction-filled energy black hole.
Zuo Mingqiu had fused his Taoist methods with his abilities. Others couldn't even guess what kind of injuries Zhao Qingdong would sustain if hit by this attack.
Zhao Qingdong's expression grew serious. Faced with such a barrage, she still chose to draw her sword. One sword, two swords, three swords... Phantom images of small red swords filled the space. The dragon-elephant phantom was shattered, the lion-tigers became fragments, and the two black holes exploded from absorbing too much crimson thread.
Finally, the small red sword landed before Zuo Mingqiu.
"Clang!"
Zuo Mingqiu also drew his sword.
In a simple, unadorned clash, both Zuo Mingqiu and Zhao Qingdong were forced back five steps.
They exchanged glances, then continued their fierce battle. Zuo Mingqiu unleashed a torrent of abilities and Taoist methods, continuously summoning phantoms in the space. Elemental turbulence intertwined, and lightning spells flashed, yet he could not overcome the red sword to injure Zhao Qingdong.
Zhao Qingdong, too, was unable to break through. Her sword blazed with a deep crimson fire. Each downward strike carried a terrifying aura of annihilation, effortlessly cleaving through the elemental torrents. But then, she would be blocked by Zuo Mingqiu's even more potent Taoist methods. No matter how fast she was, she couldn't injure Zuo Mingqiu.
This stalemate continued for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Both their foreheads were beaded with a fine sheen of sweat.
The onlookers marveled once more. Zuo Mingqiu was employing Taoist methods and abilities almost every second, his abilities consuming a tremendous amount of energy. His speed, which was beyond their comprehension, was also being maintained throughout. In the same realm, individuals couldn't even catch a clear glimpse of Zhao Qingdong's face several times during this incense burn.
"Miss Qingdong, your strength has indeed ascended to a new level after your seclusion," True Person Lan Qi exclaimed with admiration.
Zuo Mingqiu's methods were powerful and insidious. A moment's carelessness could disrupt one's rhythm, leading to an irreversible defeat, just as it had happened in their battle years ago.
Many elders nodded with emotion. Daoist Master Wuyin bowed and said with a smile,
"I recall four years ago, Miss Zhao Qingdong attacked in a similar fashion. Zuo Mingqiu used over seventy Taoist methods in two hundred breaths, defending while also injuring Miss Qingdong's right hand, and then used that to break through and win the match."
"But this time, Zuo Mingqiu has already used nearly three hundred Taoist methods, even employing the Five Thunders True Law. Yet, Miss Zhao Qingdong remains unhurried and composed. This shows her strength has undergone a qualitative improvement, which is truly something to celebrate."
A hint of joy appeared on True Person Lan Qi's aged face. Other elders who supported Zhao Qingdong felt the same.
They all knew that geniuses of Zhao Qingdong's caliber, when breaking through to a certain realm, would often become the strongest within that realm.
For instance, when Zhao Qingdong was in the lower stage of the second realm, she had already pushed her sword techniques to their utmost limit. Subsequent breakthroughs in minor realms only brought enhancements in power and speed.
For geniuses like her or Zuo Mingqiu, advancing beyond an already perfected realm was undoubtedly a hundred or even a thousand times more difficult than for ordinary individuals. This was because they were striving for perfection beyond near perfection, while countless cultivators couldn't even catch a glimpse of perfection.
Four years ago, Zhao Qingdong had perfected her swordsmanship in the second realm, sweeping aside all opponents without a single flaw or mistake, yet she still lost to Zuo Mingqiu.
This time, no one could pinpoint where Zhao Qingdong's strength had improved after her seclusion, but she was demonstrably stronger in all aspects. Therefore, not only was she not injured or at a disadvantage when facing Zuo Mingqiu's onslaught, but she was also constantly seeking opportunities to break through.
Sword shadows and crimson light, endless Taoist methods, the battle between the two continued. Zuo Mingqiu seemed to sense Zhao Qingdong's difference, his expression more serious than ever.
Xu Mu stood at the rear, observing their fight, and shook his head slightly.
In terms of speed, he couldn't compare to Zhao Qingdong, who could indeed contend with him in their conversations. And in terms of the sheer number of methods, he was far inferior to Zuo Mingqiu.
If he were to fight them with a hunter's knife of the same level, Xu Mu was confident he would win. This was because his combat skills had been honed through countless near-death experiences. Even if he lacked speed and Taoist methods, he still believed he would win, solely based on that hunter's knife.
Even so, this did not diminish Xu Mu's admiration for the two of them.
Another half-hour passed.
Lightning spells clashed with swords, and the two figures separated.
Zuo Mingqiu and Zhao Qingdong were blasted to the edge of the battle platform by the terrifying explosive energy. Both their faces were pale, their Taoist robes damp with sweat.
"A draw again!"
Witnessing this scene, the surrounding spectators were utterly astonished. They had not expected Zuo Mingqiu and Zhao Qingdong's strength to be so evenly matched. In such a dazzling and terrifying battle of the second realm, neither had gained the upper hand, resulting in another tie.
On Zhao Qingdong's side, the elders who supported her were ecstatic. Even they had not anticipated that Zhao Qingdong could actually fight Zuo Mingqiu to a draw. That was Zuo Mingqiu, after all, hailed as the foremost Lord of the Nine Heavens!
Zhao Qingdong ceased her attack. She exhaled the breath she had been holding and said with a serious expression,
"Fighting further will be meaningless."
"Let's battle in the Third Realm, without any restrictions."
The onlookers' eyes burned with excitement. Even Xu Mu stared intently at the battle platform with keen interest.
Zuo Mingqiu's current strength was significantly greater than when they had fought at the Myriad Races Assembly. And based on Zhao Qingdong's performance in these two matches, if she fought with all her might, her strength would likely not be inferior to Zuo Mingqiu's.
This meant that this battle could rival his own and Zuo Mingqiu's encounter at the Myriad Races Assembly, and its excitement was self-evident. Anyone who missed it would surely regret it.
"No, quickly contact the sect master brother! They've reached the final round, something big has happened!"
True Person Fu Yuan of Shengyang Peak stood beneath a willow tree, anxiously speaking to the young Taoist boy beside him.
He had not expected Zhao Qingdong to push Zuo Mingqiu to this extent. And if Zuo Mingqiu lost this final match, the blow to his inheritance of the Heavenly Master position would be fatal.
As for Zhao Qingdong's side, although the principle was the same, the issue was that they were the challengers. Even if they lost, they could bear the consequences, albeit significant ones.
"Zuo Mingqiu, stop here. Don't fight any further!" True Person Jie Jiao of Shengyang Peak also transmitted his voice, holding a large whisk and issuing a stern command.
"Qingdong, now that it's come to this, you absolutely cannot let him leave!" a True Person riding a green ox declared.
True Person Lan Qi and the others quietly spread out, warily watching the other group of elders, unwilling to let this hard-won battle be halted.
"Zuo Mingqiu, you must not agree!"
True Person Randeng of Biyun Peak, the old Taoist who had taken Zuo Mingqiu to the Myriad Races Assembly, said anxiously.
"Why shouldn't we fight?"
Zuo Mingqiu spoke directly, not choosing to transmit his voice.
His tone carried a hint of absurd disdain as he surveyed everyone with a smile, saying,
"What's wrong with all of you?"
"Do you have so little faith in me? Why did you elect me as the Taoist son in the first place?"
Just as the various True Persons were about to respond, True Person Lan Qi scoffed, "Esteemed elders, you wouldn't be using telepathy to ask the Taoist son to forfeit, would you? The successor to the Heavenly Master position running away halfway through a match would be a laughable disgrace!"
"Don't worry, I won't run."
Zuo Mingqiu said, completely releasing the seals on his body. The oppressive aura of his peak Third Realm ability crushed the space. Zhao Qingdong even let out a muffled groan.
"Don't forget, I am half a realm higher than her."
Zhao Qingdong heard this and shouted,
"So what!"
"I have comprehended a new sword technique. You will surely lose today!"
Zuo Mingqiu shook his head, chuckling to himself,
"I will not lose."
"In my life, I will only lose to Xu Mu, and even then, it might not be certain he can win against me after some time."
"As for you, you cannot defeat me."
Zhao Qingdong, suppressing the anger in her heart, uttered coldly, "Then let's try!"
Zuo Mingqiu looked at Zhao Qingdong and smiled faintly, as gentle as a spring breeze, saying amiably,
"Let's try."
"I'll give you three moves."