Chapter 225 - 167: Sword Species

Chapter 225: Chapter 167: Sword Species

On one side was Bai Yimeng, the most outstanding disciple of the Divine Sword Sect’s younger generation.

On the other was Zhao Xingtian, the Young Sect Leader of the Xuanyuan Sword Sect.

Both were paragons of the younger generation.

This very first match had all the Sword Dao Masters present watching with rapt attention.

"I cultivate one of the Divine Sword Sect’s primary cultivation techniques, the [Ten Thousand Swords Technique]. In my hand is the Spirit Sword, ’White Frost’," Bai Yimeng said slowly, taking his stance.

Since this was a friendly exchange of swordsmanship, it was customary to clearly state one’s background and techniques.

The Divine Sword Sect’s [Ten Thousand Swords Technique] was a Bone Refining Realm cultivation technique. It seemed Bai Yimeng had grown even stronger since his bout with Lu Changfeng at the Daliang Martial Arts Conference.

Zhao Xingtian also announced, "I cultivate the Star Drift Swordsmanship of the Xuanyuan Sword Sect’s Star Drift Lineage."

"This blade in my hand is the Star Drift Spirit Sword. It has been passed down for a hundred years and is brimming with spirituality."

The Divine Sword Sect had seven peaks, and the Xuanyuan Sword Sect had three lineages: Starshift, Star Drift, and Moon Chasing.

The current Sect Master of the Xuanyuan Sword Sect hailed from the Star Drift Lineage.

Their auras locked onto each other, and Zhao Xingtian was the first to strike.

As this was just a friendly spar, and to avoid letting their Sword Energy leak out and damage the surrounding buildings, both tacitly agreed to compress their Inner Strength and fight purely with their Spirit Swords.

Beyond the differences in their cultivation techniques, in Lu Changfeng’s eyes, this was also a battle between a [Sword Immortal] and a [Sword Vein].

Both possessed a High-Grade Sword Dao Talent.

Bai Yimeng, with his [Sword Immortal] talent, moved with a seemingly casual grace. His strikes were magnificent and grand, exuding an ethereal, immortal aura.

In contrast, Zhao Xingtian, with his [Sword Vein] talent, wielded his sword with clear purpose. Each and every move was precise, aimed straight for a vital point.

The two exchanged a hundred moves, but neither could gain the upper hand.

The onlookers witnessed the prowess of both the Star Drift Sword Technique and the Ten Thousand Swords Technique.

They separated, and Bai Yimeng clasped his hands in a salute toward Zhao Xingtian. "I hope Young Sect Master Zhao will allow me to witness the power of the Xuanyuan Sword Sect’s Sword Species."

Zhao Xingtian nodded slowly.

Then, Zhao Xingtian slowly opened his mouth, and a moon-colored sphere of light floated out.

"This is the Moon Chasing Sword Species of the Xuanyuan Sword Sect’s Moon Chasing Lineage," Zhao Xingtian stated slowly.

Lu Changfeng narrowed his eyes slightly, observing the Moon Chasing Sword Species.

Outwardly, the Moon Chasing Sword Species looked like an ordinary orb of light, about the size of a pearl.

But it clearly contained a profound and mysterious power. Even from a great distance, Lu Changfeng could feel the Sword Dao power held within.

As Zhao Xingtian’s opponent, Bai Yimeng tightened his grip on his White Frost Spirit Sword, bracing himself for what was to come.

"I’ve had the honor of witnessing the Xuanyuan Sword Sect’s Sword Species once before," a Rebirth Realm Swordsman beside Jiang Changge spoke up.

All the Rebirth Realm Swordsmen present today were seated beside Jiang Changge, including Xu Fan.

This was because Bai Yimeng had previously been in the center of that area, making it convenient for these Rebirth Realm experts to use his Heroic Root Bone to maintain their state.

As for Lu Changfeng, ever since he had condensed the [Demon God Body] some time ago and learned to conceal his Root Bone, he had kept his Heroic Root Bone hidden whenever he encountered Rebirth Realm experts to avoid revealing his identity.

Since the Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy around Lu Changfeng remained unchanged, the Rebirth Realm experts present naturally couldn’t detect that he possessed a Heroic Root Bone.

The Rebirth Realm Swordsman who had spoken was known by the title ’Streamlight Swordsman’.

He came from a small sect, which he left for certain reasons. Afterward, he happened to obtain a legacy in some ruins.

Not only did he achieve great things in the Sword Dao, but he also managed to advance to the Realm of the Primordial Spirit Body.

Lu Changfeng glanced at the Streamlight Swordsman’s interface.

Lower A Class Root Bone, High-Grade Talent [Swordsman].

His Root Bone wasn’t the most outstanding. That he could advance to the Rebirth Realm with it was due more to the Sword Dao legacy he had obtained and his Sword Dao Talent.

"Oh? Please, Elder Streamlight, do tell us more," Jiang Changge said, clasping his hands respectfully.

The Streamlight Swordsman hurriedly returned the gesture. "Sword God, you are too kind."

He kept his story brief.

As it turned out, back when the Streamlight Swordsman was still in the Bone Refining Realm, he had traveled the world.

That was back in an era of peace, when Rebirth Realm experts did not appear, and the Bone Refining Realm represented the pinnacle of strength.

The Streamlight Swordsman, having achieved success in his Martial Arts Cultivation, was proud and ambitious. After traveling to Yunyang Prefecture and defeating several famous Swordsmen, he sought out the Xuanyuan Sword Sect.

The one the Streamlight Swordsman faced was none other than the current Sect Master of the Xuanyuan Sword Sect.

At that time, the Streamlight Swordsman was brimming with confidence. With his Streamlight Sword Technique, he forced the Xuanyuan Sect Master into a steady retreat.

That is, until the Xuanyuan Sect Master used his Sword Species.

It was an orb of light similar to the one Zhao Xingtian now held.

"The Sword Species merged into the Xuanyuan Sect Master’s body. When we fought again, the power of his strikes had increased severalfold. Moreover, his Sword Intent became incredibly varied and difficult to parry. I was defeated."

The Streamlight Swordsman finished his tale in one breath, his eyes still showing his astonishment at the memory. Clearly, the event, which had happened decades ago, was still etched in his mind.

After hearing the Streamlight Swordsman’s story, the Swordsmen present grew even more expectant of Zhao Xingtian’s upcoming performance. 𝖋𝘳ℯ

All eyes turned back to the arena, where, after Zhao Xingtian had spat out the Moon Chasing Sword Species, it suddenly flared with light and merged into his body.

At this moment, Zhao Xingtian’s body began to emit a faint, yellow glow.

"Be careful, Bai Yimeng! Moon Chasing Sword Intent!"

Zhao Xingtian raised his sword and lunged ferociously at Bai Yimeng.

’Hm? His Sword Intent’s strength... it’s so much higher!’ Bai Yimeng thought as he raised his sword to block, only to be sent flying by the sheer force of a single strike.

"The Sword Species contains the Sword Intent of all the past masters of my Xuanyuan Sword Sect’s Moon Chasing Lineage. Right now, you are not fighting me alone, but all the lineage heads of our Moon Chasing Lineage throughout history."

Zhao Xingtian experienced the streams of Sword Intent swirling in his mind. It was all Moon Chasing Sword Intent, but each master had possessed a different understanding of it.

Among them was even the Moon Chasing Sword Intent from Old Luo.

’So a Sword Species is formed by condensing the Sword Intent of many people together,’ Lu Changfeng thought to himself.

He now understood what a Sword Species was.

’But the conditions for fusing a Sword Species must be very strict. For one, the type of Sword Intent has to be the same.’

’Only a major sect like the Xuanyuan Sword Sect, with its thousand-year legacy, could possibly achieve something like this.’

’To think that Sword Intent can be condensed into a Sword Species like this... it’s incredible.’

’This is just one corner of the Profound Realm. I wonder what kinds of developments Martial Arts have undergone in the other worlds of the Outer Realm?’

For a moment, Lu Changfeng’s desire to explore the worlds of the Outer Realm was rekindled.

Lu Changfeng had originally thought Bai Yimeng would activate his Ancient Baize Bloodline to counter Zhao Xingtian.

But Bai Yimeng clearly had no intention of doing so. The theme of the day was the discussion of swords, so there was no need to activate a Demon Fiend Bloodline.

After struggling to exchange several dozen more blows with the Sword Species-empowered Zhao Xingtian, Bai Yimeng finally used his ’One Sword Ascends to Immortality’, only for Zhao Xingtian to forcefully shatter the technique, ending the friendly match.

"Young Sect Master Zhao, the Sword Species is truly formidable. The Xuanyuan Sword Sect truly deserves its reputation as one of the top three Sword Dao Sects in the Song Country," Bai Yimeng said earnestly, clasping his hands.

"Brother Bai, you are also very strong. In terms of pure Swordsmanship and Sword Intent, I am not your match," Zhao Xingtian admitted, acknowledging Bai Yimeng’s excellence.

This was just an exchange of Sword Dao. Zhao Xingtian naturally knew that Bai Yimeng had been holding back.

During the duel, Zhao Xingtian could faintly sense a rather formidable power hidden within Bai Yimeng’s body, one that had not been unleashed.

In all likelihood, that was Bai Yimeng’s Demon Fiend Bloodline.

At this thought, Zhao Xingtian felt a pang of anxiety. He didn’t have a Demon Fiend Bloodline. If he relied solely on the Sword Species, the difficulty of advancing to the Rebirth Realm would still be immense.

The current Xuanyuan Sect Master, for example, had been unable to advance to the Rebirth Realm for decades.

The match was over.

Zhao Xingtian and Bai Yimeng returned to the pavilion.

Bai Yimeng naturally returned to the center of the Rebirth Realm experts to act as a ’Primordial Energy Source’...

The first match, a friendly duel between the Divine Sword Sect and the Xuanyuan Sword Sect, was a clash between two top-tier Sword Dao Sects.

It was quite a feast for the eyes for the assembled Scholar Swordsmen.

Both the Xuanyuan Sword Sect’s [Star Drift Sword Technique] and Bai Yimeng’s [Ten Thousand Swords Technique] were the absolute pinnacle of swordsmanship.

Although they had held back their power, preventing the full scope of their swordsmanship from being displayed, everyone present was a Sword Dao expert. From seeing one part, they could infer the rest.

And although Bai Yimeng had lost this bout, no one dared to say the Divine Sword Sect had been defeated.

The single fact that Bai Yimeng possessed a Heroic Root Bone was enough for him to look down upon every other Swordsman present.

In the world today, there were only two people publicly known to possess a Heroic Root Bone: one was Lu Changfeng, and the other was Bai Yimeng.

As for the one in the hands of the Profound Nether Sect Master, Lii Tianxing, that person could only be considered a ’Primordial Medicine’, not a true human being.

With Bai Yimeng and Zhao Xingtian having set the stage, the Sword Discussion Conference that followed began to get into full swing.

The Streamlight Swordsman rose and clasped his hands toward Ren Xiong, the Sect Master of the Meteor Sword Sect. "Sect Master Ren, I wish to see your Meteor Sword Intent."

"Hahaha! I’ve heard the name of the Streamlight Swordsman many times! Our titles both start with ’Stream,’ so let’s have a go!"

The two Rebirth Realm experts hit it off immediately and entered the arena to begin their match.

As experts of the Rebirth Realm, there was no doubt that the longswords they held were of the Spiritual Artifact Level.

The moment the Spirit Swords were drawn, Spiritual Light flared, and their cool factor instantly maxed out.

Lu Changfeng thought to himself, ’Looks like I’ll have to get my hands on a few Spiritual Artifacts too. Otherwise, my cool factor is just too low.’

Moreover, Spiritual Artifacts were crafted from Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects. The more they were used, the stronger their spirituality became. They could even autonomously absorb Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy to repair minor damage to the blade and also provided a power bonus to one’s attacks.

Lu Changfeng decided that when he had the chance, he would acquire a Spirit Saber and a Spirit Sword. That way, both of his identities would have a fitting weapon.

In the arena, the Streamlight Swordsman and Ren Xiong had already begun to fight.

Both were experts who had comprehended an Advanced Martial Arts True Intent.

The moment they struck, they unleashed a visualized Advanced Sword Intent!

Flashes of Escape Light flickered constantly around the Streamlight Swordsman, his speed so great that even Lu Changfeng was forced to take notice.

Meanwhile, Ren Xiong’s visualized Sword Intent transformed into terrifying meteors that continuously bombarded his opponent!

However, because they had to control their energy to avoid damaging the buildings, their exchange of blows seemed more like a meticulously calculated, cooperative practice session.

Lu Changfeng himself possessed several Advanced Martial Arts True Intents.

He could tell at a glance that the Streamlight Swordsman’s Advanced Sword Intent was at the first stage.

This Ren Xiong, however, was far from simple. His Advanced Sword Intent had already reached the second stage, and he looked completely at ease during their ’cooperative’ exchange.