"Senior Li, stop stalling and make your move already. If you can so much as touch me today, I'll count it as your win!" Dugu Aoyun said with a contemptuous smile.
"What an arrogant brat. Today, I'll show you the true methods of our Azure Dragon Sect," Li Changqing snorted coldly. He suddenly transformed into a streak of light, trailing layer after layer of afterimages as he lunged at Dugu Aoyun.
"Whoosh!" But just as Li Changqing was about to reach Dugu Aoyun, the latter simply shifted his body slightly to the side, easily dodging the attack.
"Not fast enough. Faster," Dugu Aoyun taunted with a grin after evading.
Stimulated by Dugu Aoyun's provocation, Li Changqing's speed truly did increase with every strike, and his angles grew increasingly cunning—so cunning that even the Xuan Martial eighth-stage experts couldn't help but let their eyes light up, murmuring their admiration.
None of them had ever imagined that Li Changqing was the type to remain silent until the perfect moment. Based on the combat power he was displaying, they themselves might not even be his match. This sect master of the Azure Dragon Sect had genuinely caught them off guard.
"It's no good, still not enough. Dugu Aoyun hasn't even used his full strength."
However, the two sect masters who had reached the ninth stage of Xuan Martial could only shake their heads helplessly. Having just been defeated by Dugu Aoyun themselves, they understood all too well how unfathomable he truly was. If even they couldn't beat him, Li Changqing stood no chance.
Sure enough, despite Li Changqing's increasingly ferocious offensive, Dugu Aoyun remained standing in place with his hands clasped behind his back. Every time Li Changqing attacked, he dodged effortlessly. He hadn't even looked at Li Changqing once—relying entirely on instinct and spatial awareness.
"Still not fast enough. Can you go any faster? At this speed, you'll never touch me in your entire life," Dugu Aoyun sneered.
At that moment, Li Changqing suddenly halted, and his figure finally became visible to the crowd.
His face had gone pale, he was gasping for breath, and drenched in sweat. It was clear that the movement technique he had been using, though wondrous, had consumed a tremendous amount of his stamina.
Yet despite this, Li Changqing showed no sign of backing down. A look of iron resolve and determination flashed through his eyes as he spoke to Dugu Aoyun: "You think I can't touch you? Now I'll show you whether I can or not."
Suddenly, Li Changqing threw both arms wide open. A torrent of mystic force erupted from within his body, surging skyward before spreading outward. The mystic force then rapidly condensed, and in moments, countless gleaming cold swords materialized out of thin air.
The swords multiplied, orbiting slowly around Li Changqing. By rough estimation, the swords formed from mystic force numbered at least in the tens of thousands, each one trembling in midair like a beast straining at its leash, unable to contain its thirst for blood.
"Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin!"
Li Changqing thrust both hands forward, palms shaped like blades, pointing straight at Dugu Aoyun. The tens of thousands of swords swirling around him transformed into as many streaks of light, like a meteor shower fired in reverse, hurtling toward Dugu Aoyun.
"Oh ho ho, getting serious now? Too bad—it's still useless."
Dugu Aoyun smiled faintly, then his body blurred into a phantom, flickering and darting at impossible speed among the ten thousand swords.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!" The swords followed his fingers. Wherever Li Changqing pointed, the blades rained down, forming an enormous encirclement around Dugu Aoyun.
But Dugu Aoyun's movement technique was simply too bizarre. He not only survived the onslaught of ten thousand swords but ensured that not a single blade grazed his body.
The onlookers were utterly awestruck, completely stunned by what they were witnessing. Li Changqing's technique was a sixth-rank martial art, and among sixth-rank arts, it was considered a supreme specimen. In Li Changqing's hands, it had been executed to absolute perfection, unleashing truly terrifying power.
Yet even such a technique could not so much as shake Dugu Aoyun. This only underscored how powerful he was. This young man, who stood at the same eighth stage of Xuan Martial as Li Changqing, possessed even greater combat strength.
Suddenly, a phantom shot out from the sea of swords like a beam of light, heading straight for Li Changqing.
"This is bad!"
Chu Feng cried out inwardly, sensing killing intent within that phantom. But before he could move to help, a crushing wave of pressure enveloped him, locking him in place.
"Young man, when others are dueling, you must not interfere. That is the most basic rule—surely you understand that?" A sidelong glance revealed the Lingyun Sect's master, Yan Yangtian, watching Chu Feng with a smile. The pressure pinning Chu Feng had come from him.
This man has truly entered the Heaven Martial Realm.
Chu Feng's brows furrowed deeply. Facing this pressure, he had no way to resist. There was an insurmountable force contained within it—a power that transcended mystic force. Chu Feng knew this mysterious and formidable power was most likely Heaven Force, which meant Yan Yangtian had genuinely stepped into the Heaven Martial Realm.
At that same moment, the phantom had already arrived before Li Changqing, resolving into Dugu Aoyun's form. Dugu Aoyun reached out with both hands and seized Li Changqing's arms in a vice grip. A cold smile crossed his face.
"Senior Li, it's over!"
With that, Dugu Aoyun wrenched downward. A sickening tear rang out as Li Changqing's arms were ripped clean off his body, blood gushing in great sheets onto the ground.
"Sect Master!" Chu Feng's expression changed drastically, and he roared in fury, trying to rush forward—but that overwhelming pressure still held him fast.
"Chu Feng, don't be rash. I'm not dead yet," Li Changqing said through gritted teeth, enduring the agony of his severed limbs, trying to calm the young man.
"Oh my, I do apologize, Senior Li. I had no idea your body was so fragile—one little pull and I've gone and hurt you."
"But don't worry. My Lingyun Sect has excellent medicine and the finest physicians. We can reattach your arms," Dugu Aoyun said, holding Li Changqing's severed limbs, his tone dripping with mockery.
At that moment, the Jade Maiden Sect's master suddenly swept into the arena. She snatched Li Changqing's severed arms from Dugu Aoyun's grasp, supported the injured sect master, and then turned a cold glare on Dugu Aoyun.
"Step aside. Unless you want me to kill you right here and now!"
"Oh? It's the Jade Maiden Sect's master. This junior greets you respectfully." Upon seeing her, Dugu Aoyun adopted a more courteous tone and gave her a mocking bow.
The Jade Maiden Sect's master ignored him. As she passed by his side, she said in a low voice: "I know you have your eye on Ruyu, but let me tell you this right now—give up on her. I have already promised her in marriage to my good nephew Chu Feng." With those words, she swept away, supporting Li Changqing as they left the arena.