As Chen Changkong left his spot and walked towards the Jade Pool, everyone knew they were about to witness a legendary battle.
Chen Changkong, hailed as the Young Sword Saint, had no equal in swordsmanship within the Hundred Clans Alliance or even the surrounding dynasties. The sword that shattered Yan Yu Chu's words today gave them hope.
The world was curious: who among these two had the stronger, faster sword? Just as they wondered who was more formidable between Zuo Mingqiu and Xu Mu, or Nangong Huaitian and Xuanyuan Shennian.
However, in this round, Nangong Huaitian was not paired with Xuanyuan Shennian.
And no one expected that after Zuo Mingqiu chose Xu Mu, Chen Changkong would not choose Yan Yu.
He was heading for the fourth Jade Pool.
This caused everyone in the world, including Yan Yu standing on the first Jade Pool, to freeze in surprise.
Within the fourth Jade Pool, amidst a hazy poisonous mist, Nangong Huaitian and the young guardian of the Mo clan stood in a tense standoff, neither making a move, when Chen Changkong flew in on his sword.
"Chen Changkong?"
Nangong Huaitian turned his head, his expression clearly stunned upon seeing Chen Changkong. The young guardian of the Mo clan was equally surprised, even doubting his own eyes.
"What do you mean, you want to fight me?"
The young guardian, named Zang, stared at Chen Changkong, his voice solemn and upright.
Upon hearing this, Chen Changkong looked at the young, impossibly handsome face, and an impression formed in his mind.
"I remember you. You were also present during the East Sea Hunt."
The guardian named Zang nodded and said to Chen Changkong,
"Yes, we were in the same camp then and had no chance to spar. I had intended to fight you after the hunt concluded, but an unforeseen event in my clan forced me to abandon the idea. It wasn't until long after that incident that I realized the swordsman who fought alongside me was you, Chen Changkong."
Chen Changkong nodded with considerable emotion. "Indeed, I didn't know you were the Ninth Guardian of the Zhongtian Mo clan back then. If I had, I wouldn't have chosen to hunt sea monsters."
"So, are you here now to fight me?" the guardian named Zang asked Chen Changkong, his expression grave. Despite being a peerless talent, he lacked the confidence to defeat Chen Changkong. However, if a fight were unavoidable, he would not back down.
"No."
To their surprise, Chen Changkong shook his head and smiled at Nangong Huaitian and Zang. "You two fight your own battles; I won't interfere. I am here only because the rules require me to choose a Jade Pool. When the time is right, I will withdraw from here."
Nangong Huaitian and Zang exchanged glances, both bewildered by Chen Changkong's intentions. However, they were not worried that Chen Changkong was lying; with his strength, he had no need for such stratagems.
"As you wish, just don't interfere," Zang finally compromised after a long hesitation. While he longed to fight Chen Changkong, the Myriad Clans Alliance was of utmost importance. Losing this match, though not an immediate elimination, would severely deplete his condition, thus forfeiting his chance to advance to the top four and claim the Unclaimed City. Therefore, he chose to press on towards Nangong.
...
On the other side, in the third Jade Pool, Ji Xuansu and Xuanyuan Shennian had already engaged in a fierce battle.
"Boom!"
With another clash, Ji Xuansu's boots lightly touched the surface of the pool, sending him sliding back hundreds of meters before he could finally stop. Before he could make a move, Xuanyuan Shennian, dragging a star, slammed down towards him.
Facing the onslaught, Ji Xuansu's expression remained calm.
The spring breeze turned a page, the nth page, but he wielded his majestic brush, writing down all that was contained within.
"Stones from other mountains can be used to polish jade."
Eight golden characters materialized in the misty Jade Pool. In the next instant, the calm water churned violently, erupting towards the sky like a volcanic eruption, transforming into a water dragon that lunged at Xuanyuan Shennian.
Caught off guard, she could only grit her teeth and forcibly bring the star down. The power of Taiyin and starlight fully bloomed, shattering the water dragon. However, her attack was rendered useless and had to be halted mid-air.
At this moment, Ji Xuansu's writing was complete.
"A slight deviation can lead to a thousand-mile error."
As the ink dried, boundless righteous energy filled the heavens and earth. All the dense fog in the Jade Pool coalesced into tangible form, transforming into massive stones that pressed down upon Xuanyuan Shennian. She swung her fists, attempting to block, but realized these stones attacked the soul; ordinary physical force was powerless against them.
"All of you, retreat!"
Xuanyuan Shennian's face turned pale under the assault. In her rage, the blood within her burned, her long hair flew, and a third eye opened in the center of her brow, radiating immense pressure, the unique aura of a sovereign. All the surrounding mist was scattered by its force.
"Die!"
Xuanyuan Shennian roared, stepping onto an even larger star and descending once more, her momentum fiercer than before. Even the geniuses in other Jade Pools could sense the oppressive force.
But Ji Xuansu merely narrowed his eyes, then calmly raised his brush and wrote four more characters:
"With uprightness, repay resentment."
Following these words, the righteous energy of heaven and earth gathered, borrowing the sun's brilliance to shine upon Ji Xuansu, causing his aura to become incredibly radiant and searing.
But it was not enough.
Facing the furiously attacking Xuanyuan Shennian, he raised his brush again, stepping forward forcefully, and shouted:
"Though a thousand men stand against me, I shall charge forth!"
...
Within the second Jade Pool.
Xu Mu and Zuo Mingqiu were also locked in a fierce battle. However, compared to Ji Xuansu and Xuanyuan Shennian, their fight was not as explosive but rather somewhat subdued.
Yes, they were fighting.
From Tai Chi Pao Chui to Bajiquan, from Yin Hand to Yang Hand, they exchanged blows in the Tiger Crouching stance. Xu Mu and Zuo Mingqiu sparred for nearly half an hour. Eventually, due to Zuo Mingqiu's inferior stamina, he sustained considerable injuries and was forced to abandon close combat, resorting to Daoist arts.
There were three thousand Daoist arts in the world, and Zuo Mingqiu knew them all.
Xu Mu did not know as many, but he mastered the Primordial Eight Trigrams, allowing him to alter positions at will. With the rotation of the formation disk, his combinations were ever-changing, equivalent to endless Daoist arts. Thus, they continued their prolonged exchange until, in a clash of lightning techniques, Xu Mu fell at a disadvantage. Zuo Mingqiu then seized the opportunity, gripped his peach wood sword, and unleashed a world-shattering sword light towards Xu Mu.
Facing this sword strike, Xu Mu felt a sense of helplessness.
Zuo Mingqiu's strength was essentially on par with his own. Even with his mastery of the Primordial Eight Trigrams, Zuo Mingqiu's responses were impeccable, allowing him no advantage. In their close-quarters combat, Zuo Mingqiu was inferior, yet Xu Mu could not eliminate him, as any heavy punch was skillfully deflected by his opponent. Now, Zuo Mingqiu had unleashed a sword strike upon him, and he could not draw his saber.
What was he to do?