In the blink of an eye, Changsun Fengye and Chen Qingyuan launched their attacks simultaneously, their sword tips pointing at each other without touching, separated by half a foot due to the powerful momentum of their blades.
"Sssss…"
A massive storm erupted on the platform, shattering the void around them as two distinct sword intents probed each other, as incompatible as water and fire.
From the sheer force unleashed by that single strike, everyone could tell that both their Sword Daos had reached the realm of returning to simplicity, much to their surprise.
"Sword Dao geniuses!"
An Elder from the Song Family exclaimed.
"Boom!"
After a momentary stalemate, the clash of their formidable sword might forced both to retreat.
Chen Qingyuan's gaze sharpened, unfazed by the strength Changsun Fengye had shown. In fact, this was merely the tip of the iceberg of his abilities.
Boom—
In the blink of an eye, Chen Qingyuan struck again, his sword emerging like a dragon, its cold light dazzling.
Changsun Fengye swung his sword, easily blocking the attack.
Then, Changsun Fengye executed a sword technique, conjuring over a hundred sword beams behind him, all aimed at Chen Qingyuan, chilling to the bone.
"Execute!"
With Changsun Fengye's command, the hundred sword beams shot forth.
The younger generation spectating were terrified. If they were on the platform, they feared they wouldn't be able to withstand even a single strike, let alone a hundred.
Chen Qingyuan remained calm, waiting until the sword beams closed in within ten feet before making his move.
Lifting his sword, he pointed forward.
Buzz!
A spherical barrier of sword energy suddenly appeared, protecting Chen Qingyuan within it.
Despite Changsun Fengye's attacks, he couldn't breach Chen Qingyuan's defense.
"Rumble…"
The hundred beams of sword light struck the barrier, all shattering to pieces without harming Chen Qingyuan in the slightest.
After this exchange, Chen Qingyuan switched from defense to offense, sweeping his sword in a wide arc.
Whoosh—
The residual pressure on the sword energy barrier, combined with the full force of Chen Qingyuan's swing, surged towards Changsun Fengye.
With the platform's limited space, Changsun Fengye had no choice but to take the hit head-on.
"Bang!"
In an instant, Changsun Fengye raised his sword to block, but the powerful sword might still forced him to retreat a kilometer.
The platform was under the suppression of Prohibition Laws; otherwise, the commotion from their spar would have been much greater.
"Clang—"
Chen Qingyuan seized the opportunity to pursue, leaping into the air and striking from above. Immediately, his sword intent roared, startling many Cultivators in the audience as their swords resonated and unsheathed themselves, humming loudly.
"Come!"
Changsun Fengye was excited, ready to meet force with force, thrusting his sword upward.
Boom—
In a head-on clash, Chen Qingyuan gained the upper hand, leaving a sword mark on Changsun Fengye's left shoulder, from which blood slowly seeped.
A huge crater appeared on the platform's floor, but it was quickly restored by the Prohibition Laws.
"The Holy Son is injured!"
The Elders from the Piaomiao Sect showed a hint of shock.
It was the first time they'd seen the Holy Son injured in a duel among his peers, so their reaction was understandable.
More importantly, if Changsun Fengye couldn't defeat Chen Qingyuan under normal circumstances, he would have to reveal his trump cards. The Piaomiao Sect truly did not wish to reveal them so soon.
However, since the battle had begun, the Elders could do nothing but silently watch.
"Worthy of being the opponent I've set my sights on, truly remarkable," Changsun Fengye commented with a smile, looking at his wound without anger.
The two fought dozens more rounds, neither able to gain an advantage over the other.
The platform had shattered many times, and if not for the Prohibition Laws, it would have been reduced to ruins.
The audience watched the battle with rapt attention.
"If we keep fighting, we won't be able to hold back."
The dangerous atmosphere grew thicker, enveloping the area. Although Chen Qingyuan had wounded Changsun Fengye, it was merely a superficial injury.
"Unable to hold back? That's exactly what I want."
Changsun Fengye intended to force Chen Qingyuan to reveal some of his trump cards.
Subsequently, a change appeared on Changsun Fengye's face.
His eyes turned blood-red, sprouting numerous tiny roots like seeds, spreading across his cheeks, giving him a somewhat eerie appearance.
At the same time, a suffocating aura emanated from Changsun Fengye, filling every corner of the platform.
"Chen Qingyuan, I'm getting serious now," Changsun Fengye's voice was deep, like an ancient beast growling, full of majesty and oppressive power. "You'll have to show your true skills, or I'll be very sad if you lose your life."
A sinister aura, like a demon sealed within Changsun Fengye, was unleashed.
The Holy Son had indeed taken this step!
The higher-ups of the Piaomiao Sect sighed inwardly, wishing Changsun Fengye hadn't revealed his trump cards so soon.
"Chen Qingyuan has forced the Holy Son's second personality to emerge, truly extraordinary."
The Elders carefully observed Chen Qingyuan, silently praising him.
"What's happening with Young Master Changsun?"
The people from the Song Family, unaware of Changsun Fengye's specifics, were shocked and abuzz with speculation.
"He's mastered the Piaomiao Sect's forbidden technique!"
As the Clan Leader, Song Xiufeng, who was experienced and knowledgeable, only puzzled for a moment before realizing, his expression revealing a hint of shock.
That forbidden technique, rumored to involve a pact with demons, unleashed the darkest aspects of one's nature. If controlled, it could increase one's talent and strength tenfold, or even more.
However, in the nearly 100,000-year history of the Piaomiao Sect, anyone who practiced this technique either perished or was consumed by their dark side, transforming into a demonic being, and was subsequently purged by the Sect with tears.
In short, the power of the forbidden technique was indeed terrifying, but the side effects were also very clear.
If Changsun Fengye's Dao Heart wavered even slightly, he would suffer the technique's backlash, with unpredictable consequences.
"Your Sect's actions may be ill-advised," Song Xiufeng said, looking at the Piaomiao Sect's Grand Elder with a grave expression. If not controlled properly, this technique could create a powerful and erratic evil Cultivator.
"This is the Holy Son's Fortune, and we have no right to interfere. Two hundred years ago, the Holy Son accidentally learned the forbidden technique and has since controlled it well. If in the future he cannot master the technique, the Piaomiao Sect will take the corresponding responsibility," the Grand Elder said frankly, now that the secret was out.
"Has he been practicing it for two hundred years without any incidents of losing balance?" Song Xiufeng asked in surprise.
"No," the Grand Elder slowly shook his head, glancing at Changsun Fengye on the platform with pride in his eyes. "This technique is a disaster for us, but for the Holy Son, it's like adding wings to a tiger."
After years of practice, Changsun Fengye could switch personalities well.
When he released his second personality, he became bloodthirsty and cruel, and his strength increased significantly. Even so, he retained his rationality and was not consumed by the forbidden technique.
Once the forbidden technique was mastered, Changsun Fengye would be able to control his second personality completely, without any accidents.
"Such an evildoer, who among his peers in the Northern Wilderness can match him?"
If what the Grand Elder said was true, Song Xiufeng couldn't think of anyone among the younger generation in the Northern Wilderness who could challenge Changsun Fengye.
Then, Song Xiufeng turned his attention to Chen Qingyuan.
Could Chen Qingyuan withstand a battle of equal realms?
Swoosh!
With a devilish smile, Changsun Fengye appeared in front of Chen Qingyuan in an instant, releasing his treasured sword and throwing a punch.
With a "boom," even though Chen Qingyuan had used Dao Techniques to defend, he was still sent flying far away, crashing into the platform's edge barrier, causing the barrier to ripple with light waves.
That really hurt!
Chen Qingyuan stared at Changsun Fengye not far away, knowing that if he didn't reveal some of his true abilities, he probably wouldn't last five hundred rounds.
"Like fighting a monster."
Changsun Fengye's second personality had increased his strength by more than tenfold, putting immense pressure on Chen Qingyuan.
Inside him, a holy-grade Golden Elixir began to rotate, signifying that Chen Qingyuan was ready to reveal a small part of his true strength. He didn't want to be beaten up by Changsun Fengye; it was time to get serious.
Proofreader & Editor: Lotas