Chapter 542: Combat Breakthrough

The number of enemies one can face at a time is ultimately limited.

If he positioned himself correctly, no matter how vast the space or how numerous the enemies, a maximum of only eight Martial Artists could attack him at any given moment.

This was a conclusion Ye Xuan had reached after countless simulations.

Eight Martial Artists was the standard for the fourth floor. The only difference was that on the fourth floor, one could dodge however they pleased, but on the fifth, an additional eight Martial Artists formed an outer ring, cutting down the space for evasion by at least half.

As for this sixth floor, even if only eight Martial Artists could attack him at once, another twenty-four watched like hungry tigers from the periphery. The angles for evasion were so limited as to be nearly nonexistent.

’To pass this sixth floor, I absolutely cannot let myself get bogged down by a larger siege.’

Ye Xuan understood clearly that if the first few floors only tested combat skill...

...then from the fifth floor onward, the trial also tested a Martial Artist’s calculation ability, willpower, and control over their Profound Power.

And the difficulty of this test only increased with each floor.

’A challenge to my limits, is it? Then I’ll just have to see where my limits truly are.’

Ye Xuan grinned. The reason he had struggled so much on the fifth floor was entirely because he wanted to experience that scenario more deeply, to lay the groundwork for the battle on the sixth floor.

SHING!

His longsword left its sheath and he held it ready. An unparalleled battle intent erupted in Ye Xuan’s eyes.

"Kill!"

Without hesitation, Ye Xuan’s figure shot forward, charging like lightning toward the thirty-two figures before him.

Kill!

The thirty-two spiritual constructs opposite him also emitted a silent spiritual ripple, simultaneously unleashing a frenzied sword attack toward Ye Xuan.

SHINK! SHINK! SHINK!

In an instant, a sky full of sword glints descended upon Ye Xuan like a torrential downpour.

Before the sword glints even landed, the sharp sword momentum already weighed down on Ye Xuan like a great mountain.

’Speed isn’t about being as fast as possible, but about knowing how to apply it reasonably. And I need to charge into their encirclement as quickly as I can.’ Facing such a terrifying Sword Rain, Ye Xuan’s gaze focused, and his figure suddenly blurred for an instant.

SWOOSH!

Like a nimble fish, Ye Xuan weaved through the Sword Rain with incredible elusiveness, forcefully breaking through the sharp sword glints to arrive before the thirty-two spiritual constructs.

’Now!’ Ye Xuan roared in his mind as his right hand thrust his sword forward.

Bright, fast, and exquisitely precise!

Ye Xuan’s strike was like a work of art. Only a single, brilliant streak of light tore through the void, followed by the head of a spiritual construct soaring into the air.

After delivering the blow, Ye Xuan didn’t pause for a moment, his body instantly flashing away.

BOOM!

The next moment, a massive number of sword glints descended, the blazing light spreading like a crazed spiderweb, completely enveloping the several-meter area where Ye Xuan had just been standing. The sharp sword glints stirred up ripples in the trial space, but they hit nothing.

"Die!" As the calm voice sounded, another spiritual construct’s head flew into the air, its entire body then vanishing from the illusory trial space.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

In the trial space, the remaining thirty spiritual constructs all moved. Their expressions were cold, and they emanated powerful auras. Each one moved like a swimming fish, attacking Ye Xuan from every angle.

The onslaught was dense and overwhelming.

’This should do it.’

Having slain two of the black-robed Martial Artists right at the start, Ye Xuan advanced instead of retreating, charging into the midst of the many Martial Artists.

After rushing into the dense crowd, the number of attacks Ye Xuan faced surprisingly dropped. He moved swiftly, ensuring he was only ever facing the absolute limit of eight enemies.

For a time, sword glints danced and powerful energy crisscrossed the battlefield.

Kill!

If one were to look down from above, they would see the spiritual constructs flowing like a torrent, frantically trying to crush Ye Xuan in the center. Ye Xuan, however, was like a stone, stubbornly resisting the impact of the rushing rapids.

The mass of black-robed Martial Artists formed a black sphere, trapping Ye Xuan within.

And because Ye Xuan was constantly moving, this black sphere composed of many black-robed Martial Artists continuously deformed and writhed.

Facing eight black-robed Martial Artists at once allowed Ye Xuan just enough time to react, and more importantly, to find opportunities to kill his enemies.

His brain was like a high-speed machine, spinning furiously.

In just a few moments, six spiritual constructs of the same rank had died at Ye Xuan’s hands. The only price he paid was a single, minor wound.

’Calculate. Endure. Be cautious!’

Ye Xuan’s expression was one of high tension. He was like a Martial Artist dancing on the tip of a blade; he couldn’t afford the slightest mistake. His hawk-like gaze frantically searched for openings and opportunities, and he swung his sword time and time again.

Ye Xuan didn’t strike often, but every time his sword flashed, a spiritual construct would be decapitated and eliminated from the trial space.

Gradually, Ye Xuan became completely immersed in this slaughter. His fighting had become instinct, thoroughly integrated into his body.

His mind calculated furiously.

But such calculations were bound to have errors, for no one could predict another’s actions with perfect accuracy.

Sure enough, an overlooked detail changed the battle formation. An opening appeared, giving the ninth black-robed Martial Artist on the periphery a chance to strike.

’Not good!’

PFFT!

The attack from this ninth black-robed Martial Artist immediately upset the balance of the battle. A long gash was cut across Ye Xuan’s chest, and blood sprayed from the wound.

Enduring the pain, Ye Xuan killed a spiritual construct beside him while simultaneously moving to restore the battle to its previous state of balance.

’Damn it, my strength is fading fast.’

Ye Xuan’s heart sank. This unexpected injury was causing his body to weaken rapidly.

Against an ordinary Martial Artist, this might not have been a big deal. But against a large number of Martial Artists of the same level, it was an impossible task.

’I’ve already killed seventeen spiritual constructs, and there are fifteen left. Am I going to lose?’

Ye Xuan muttered to himself. Caught in a storm of attacks, he felt as if he could fall at any moment.

This result was already undeniably astonishing. It would definitely place him above the vast majority of inner court disciples and earn him a top spot on the ranking stele.

But this was not a result Ye Xuan was satisfied with.

He didn’t care if his rank was high or low. He only cared about what was wrong with his fighting style and how he could improve it.

’Heh, am I just going to admit defeat like this? No. Until the very last moment, I, Ye Xuan, will never give up! Even if it comes to the last moment, even if I know I’m going to die, I, Ye Xuan, will fight to the end! I will fall with my sword in hand!’

Ye Xuan thought of the Profound Mystery Sect, watching like a hungry tiger from the outside world. He thought of Huangfu Xiuming, whose whereabouts were unknown. He thought of his parents and relatives in the Thirteen Nations Alliance. And he thought of Yingtai Yue, who was also somewhere out there.

An indescribable power and emotion surged in his chest.

"Kill!"

With a roar, Ye Xuan’s movements, which had begun to slow, instantly became sharp again.

PFFT!

Two spiritual constructs were killed by Ye Xuan in an instant, but at the same time, another spray of blood erupted from his body.

’I’ll kill as many as I can!’

At this moment, Ye Xuan’s eyes were brighter than ever. He was no longer thinking about how far he could get on the sixth floor, how many spiritual constructs he could kill, or what his final ranking would be. He was completely immersed in the battle—not just his Profound Power, body, and will, but his very heart and soul.

He just wanted to fight until the very end.

SWOOSH!

PFFT!

CLANG!

In the frenzy of battle, several more spiritual constructs died at Ye Xuan’s hands, and two more wounds appeared on his body. Yet he seemed completely unaware, his expression reverent, as if he had cast all pain aside and entered a state of profound enlightenment.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

The remaining nine spiritual constructs launched their most ferocious assault on Ye Xuan. A sky full of sword light swept in, completely enveloping him, leaving no room to escape.

But Ye Xuan seemed oblivious. In this moment of certain death, he still swung his longsword at the few spiritual constructs attacking most fiercely from the front.

The moment his longsword swung out, a strange feeling arose in Ye Xuan’s mind.

At that instant, it was as if something in his mind had cracked open. A feeling of pure, sudden epiphany, like having one’s head filled with wisdom, rose from the bottom of Ye Xuan’s heart.

In the trial space, the longsword swung by Ye Xuan suddenly erupted with an unprecedented, brilliant light.

PFFT!

With a single slash, the bodies of the three spiritual constructs in front of him instantly crumbled and disintegrated.

With three dead, Ye Xuan finally found a sliver of an opening in the overwhelming sword light and leaped through it to safety.

Six spiritual constructs remained.

’This feeling... This is...’

Ye Xuan’s right hand held his sword, his whole body trembling. That feeling from before made him feel as if he had truly found the way of combat.

But before he could fully comprehend it, the remaining six spiritual constructs were already charging at him again, their faces expressionless.

"Die!" Ye Xuan didn’t hesitate, slashing forward and channeling the feeling from his previous strike.

CRASH!

A sharp sword glint lit up the trial space—ethereal and unpredictable. The next moment, the three spiritual constructs enveloped by the sword glint disintegrated and fell.

’Only three left.’

A smile touched the corners of Ye Xuan’s lips, his gaze clearer and purer than ever. He swung his longsword in three different directions, and the three spiritual constructs, unable to mount any defense, died at his hands.

In an instant, all thirty-two spiritual constructs on the sixth floor of the trial space were gone, leaving only Ye Xuan behind.

’I passed the sixth floor!’

Ye Xuan was stunned, then overjoyed. But what surprised him even more was that he had finally found the true way of combat—or rather, the Martial Dao.