A moment later, Yang Kai's body solidified once more, but his face went white, and he couldn't help but cough up a mouthful of blood.
Although he had used the Void Secret Technique to dissipate Feng Xi's strike, he had still suffered some shock from the impact.
Feng Xi, however, pressed his advantage without mercy. Seizing the instant Yang Kai was distracted, he leapt into the air, his body wreathed in sword light, transforming into a brilliant rainbow as he charged at Yang Kai with overwhelming momentum.
The might of his Emperor aura surged outward in a torrent. Yang Kai was forced into a crouch under the pressure, staggering backward, a look of panic surfacing on his face.
"How boring! I haven't even finished warming up and you're already done. If you reincarnate in your next life, remember to show the strong the respect they deserve!"
As he spoke, the rainbow-like sword qi slashed straight down toward Yang Kai.
But just then, an inexplicable sense of foreboding suddenly surged within him, causing Feng Xi—already confident of victory—to freeze, his expression shifting between light and shadow.
When he looked up again, the panic was gone from Yang Kai's face. Instead, a hint of mocking derision played across his features.
What was going on? This brat was merely at the Dao Source Realm. At this moment between life and death, how could he be wearing such an eerie smile? Did he have some hidden card left to play?
As his thoughts raced, Feng Xi gritted his teeth, followed his instincts, and pushed off with his feet to drift backward.
And in the very instant he retreated, a massive moon blade suddenly slashed out from just ahead of his toes. The spatial rift it tore open radiated an incredibly unsettling aura.
"Haaah..." Feng Xi drew a sharp breath, his eyes widening as he stared at the moon blade, his face a mask of disbelief.
This strike had been utterly bizarre—silent and without warning—yet its killing power was enormous. He was certain that had he not dodged in time, this single blow alone would have left him gravely injured.
What kind of power was this? Feng Xi's expression sank at once. He had assumed Yang Kai's strength was nothing special, but after exchanging blows, he realized that what he had seen of Yang Kai's abilities was not the full picture.
"Oh? Not bad reflexes from the Young Sect Master." Yang Kai regarded Feng Xi with surprise, his tone somewhat taken aback.
More than two years ago, facing a strike like this, Feng Xi would have been dead for certain. But now he had reached the Emperor Realm, and he was clearly a different person. Yang Kai could also sense that Feng Xi at the Emperor Realm was somewhat stronger than Qiu Ze, whom he had slain back then.
As expected of a disciple from a great sect—the foundation he possessed and the secret techniques he cultivated were far beyond what Qiu Ze could compare with.
Qiu Ze had been the Palace Master of Tianzhao Palace, but Tianzhao Palace was merely a mid-to-lower tier sect in the Southern Domain. How could it compare to a colossal power like Wenqing Sect? Wenqing Sect had once produced the Wenqing Great Emperor!
"You were hiding your strength?" Feng Xi glared at Yang Kai through gritted teeth, his face full of displeasure and a tinge of humiliation.
Here he was, an Emperor Realm cultivator, who had thought he could dispose of Yang Kai with a mere wave of his hand. Yet in reality, he had nearly been ambushed by Yang Kai's sneak attack. How could he not be furious? Especially with two fellow junior disciples watching from the sidelines—it was putting him in an impossible position.
Yang Kai curled his lips. "That's an interesting thing to say, Young Sect Master. Just because you've grown stronger in the Shattered Star Sea, does that mean everyone else has to stand still?"
Feng Xi had advanced to the Emperor Realm within the Shattered Star Sea, his power soaring to new heights. But Yang Kai hadn't been idle either. During the year and a half he'd spent subduing the Mountain and River Bell alone, his strength had increased dramatically, with significant gains in both his internal Source Power and his Divine Sense.
"Good. No wonder Father said never to underestimate any opponent, regardless of their cultivation level. Today I've truly learned that lesson. Yang Kai, you've taught me something." Feng Xi snorted coldly. "I originally intended to end your life directly, but since you insist on resisting to the last, don't blame me for making you suffer."
Yang Kai snorted. "Does the Young Sect Master still think he can take me down?"
"You don't seriously think I can't kill you?" Feng Xi's eyes widened as though he had heard the most absurd joke in the world.
"Then give it a try!" Yang Kai said, his expression dark as he stared back.
"As you wish!" Feng Xi gave a low shout, sheathing the sword in his hand and producing another blade in one swift motion.
The sword was entirely deep blue, radiating an aura of extreme cold. The moment it appeared, wisps of white vapor drifted upward from the blade, and the surrounding space seemed to freeze solid.
"An Emperor Treasure!" Yang Kai raised an eyebrow, his gaze locking onto the deep blue sword. He grinned. "Now that's more like it. The Young Sect Master's status is noble, after all—it's only fitting you'd have an Emperor Treasure on hand!"
Previously, he had found it strange that Feng Xi didn't seem to possess an Emperor Treasure. Only now did he understand—Feng Xi had one all along; he simply hadn't used it until now.
Now that he had drawn this Emperor Treasure sword, there was no doubt he was going all out.
"Laugh all you want now—I'll have you crying in a moment!" Feng Xi cast a disdainful glance at Yang Kai, then shook the sword. A wave of freezing qi instantly swept outward in all directions as he shouted, "Snow Sky Wenqing Sword!"
Blossoms of sword light suddenly bloomed outward, manifesting as visible killing intent that surged toward Yang Kai in overlapping waves.
A chill ran through Yang Kai's entire body, and he couldn't help but shudder. Channeling the Space Law, he summoned the power of space, reached forward, and grasped fiercely with his hand. "Freeze!" he barked.
Hummmm...
A deep, muffled sound erupted without warning. In the area where Feng Xi stood, the space within a hundred-zhang radius suddenly solidified, becoming incomparably viscous.
The supreme sword technique he had unleashed was frozen in place in midair in that very instant.
Feng Xi's eyes bulged so far they nearly fell out of his head.
"This—this—this..."
"What's happening?!"