Xianchang Star, in the clouds.

Thick mist concealed their figures.

Chen Qingyuan and Yan Qianling faced each other, one dressed in white, the other in blue robes.

A Yulan Sword stirred the surrounding sea of clouds for thousands of miles, its sharp sword intent slicing through the void, forming countless white vortices of various sizes.

For this battle, Yan Qianling would not hold back, directly displaying the fluctuations of his cultivation level.

Half-step Divine Transformation!

In an instant, the onlookers gasped in shock, their expressions changing dramatically.

“Among peers, there are few who can reach this level.”

No wonder Yan Qianling had the confidence to refuse being pushed out of the top ten.

“Boom”

A dull sound echoed as a dark ancient mirror appeared in Yan Qianling’s hand.

The mirror’s surface rippled with eerie law patterns, resembling an evil eye with the terrifying power to devour souls.

The black circular ancient mirror adhered to Yan Qianling’s right palm, about two feet in diameter.

“Fight!”

As Yan Qianling’s words fell, his figure instantly appeared before Chen Qingyuan, channeling the Qiankun Law within him. His right palm struck out, and the black ancient mirror emitted an overwhelming black light.

This strike seemed capable of shattering thousands of mountains. The surrounding space twisted, causing the souls of the spectators to suffocate, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

“Break!”

Chen Qingyuan stood high and unmoving, holding his treasured sword, lightly swinging it.

The sword light clashed with the black light from the ancient mirror for a few breaths, then the black light was split in two.

“Boom”

The split black light brushed past Chen Qingyuan, one part shattering the sky, the other piercing the ground, causing a massive upheaval.

Immediately, Yan Qianling attacked again, letting out a long roar, his spiritual power surging, black hair standing on end.

“Clang!”

The power of the ancient mirror surged out like a tide, transforming into countless mysterious forces, enveloping Chen Qingyuan from different directions.

Chen Qingyuan dared not be careless, merging the Qiankun Finger from the Academy with his own swordsmanship. In a short time, he stepped into the half-step Swordless Realm, sweeping away the approaching ancient mirror’s power with one sword.

Simultaneously, Chen Qingyuan struck again with his sword.

Swish—

The sword light flashed and instantly reached Yan Qianling.

Yan Qianling’s pupils contracted rapidly, hastily placing the ancient mirror in front of him for defense.

“Boom”

With a loud noise, Yan Qianling was forced back several miles, his right arm trembling slightly.

Chen Qingyuan’s sword brought immense pressure to Yan Qianling, making his expression extremely serious, not daring to underestimate him.

“How can someone with just an early Elemental Infant cultivation have such sword power?”

The surprise in Yan Qianling’s eyes was hard to conceal, his heart trembling slightly, hands tightening.

Among the onlookers were many sword cultivators. Just from Chen Qingyuan’s previous strike, they could deduce some things, though they found it hard to believe, their expressions shocked: “Could it be that Chen Qingyuan has already comprehended the Swordless Realm, a realm we sword cultivators have longed for all our lives?”

“A coincidence!”

Many were unwilling to believe it, thinking they had seen wrong.

“To fight Yan the Holy Son, who is half-step Divine Transformation, with an Elemental Infant cultivation, proves his swordsmanship is far above ours.”

Under normal circumstances, each minor realm has a significant power gap, like an insurmountable chasm.

Just try and see.

Yan Qianling steadied his mindset and took the initiative to attack again.

“Swish—”

His ghostly figure formed dozens of images in the sea of clouds. With the naked eye alone, it was impossible to discern Yan Qianling’s true body.

Chen Qingyuan scanned the surroundings, his eyes emitting a faint golden light, using a top-tier eye technique from the Academy to distinguish truth from falsehood, dispel demons, and see through illusions.

With one look, Chen Qingyuan broke through Yan Qianling’s illusion, attacking his true body with a sword.

“Clang—”

A casual sword strike, accompanied by a sword hum.

A sword mark tens of thousands of miles long appeared in the sea of clouds, shattering all the illusory images Yan Qianling had created. His true body raised his right hand above his head, using his spiritual power and the black ancient mirror to withstand the astonishing sword, his whole body tense, pressure mounting.

This was an illusion Yan Qianling had cultivated for years, thinking that with the ancient mirror’s power, he could confuse Chen Qingyuan’s sight and find an excellent opportunity to strike.

However, Chen Qingyuan easily broke the illusion, making Yan Qianling doubt himself.

“Ah…”

The enormous sword light emitted terrifying pressure, making it hard for Yan Qianling to hold on, letting out a loud roar.

After a stalemate, Yan Qianling activated the black ancient mirror in his right palm, generating a strange devouring force, absorbing all the sword power.

Next, the two fought for about a hundred moves, evenly matched.

According to Yan Qianling’s expectations, he should have had an absolute advantage, but the situation was different.

Having started the fight, Yan Qianling had no retreat, gritting his teeth to fight to the end.

At a certain moment, Yan Qianling found a suitable opportunity, immediately activating the ancient mirror in his palm, emitting a terrifying beam.

“Bang”

Chen Qingyuan blocked with his sword, his body flying back ten miles, the sound of breaking through the air sharp and piercing.

Just as Yan Qianling thought he could catch a breath, Chen Qingyuan had already teleported to his side, thrusting his sword.

“Boom”

In the instant Yan Qianling’s expression changed drastically, he quickly used a body-protection technique and aimed the ancient mirror at Chen Qingyuan.

Although Yan Qianling’s reaction was swift, he was still half a step too slow.

“Rip”

The sword light flashed, leaving a deep sword mark on Yan Qianling’s left arm.

Immediately, Yan Qianling retreated, keeping a safe distance from Chen Qingyuan.

“Why?”

Yan Qianling’s eyes were filled with surprise and confusion.

Up to now, Yan Qianling, whose cultivation was far higher than Chen Qingyuan’s, was actually at a disadvantage.

Not only did Yan Qianling doubt himself, but the onlookers were also bewildered, their expressions shocked.

“Fight to the end!”

Yan Qianling gritted his teeth, deciding to stake his foundation for a final showdown with Chen Qingyuan. He couldn’t believe that Chen Qingyuan, who had restarted his cultivation, could surpass him in such a short time.

He couldn’t accept this result.

Since being removed from the top ten, he often heard gossip, appearing indifferent on the surface but tormented inside. He wanted to prove himself with action, standing at the pinnacle of his peers in the Northern Wilderness.

“Buzz—”

The temperature in this void suddenly dropped, and hundreds of ice mountain phantoms appeared in the sea of clouds.

Yan Qianling stood at the peak of the highest ice mountain, like a king overlooking his realm, his spirit unmatched.

“Command!”

The black ancient mirror separated from his right palm, floating in front of him.

Yan Qianling’s right index finger pointed at the center of the black ancient mirror, a cut appearing on his finger, blood flowing into the mirror.