A max-level player in Jade Dynasty: Awakening the Innate Dao at the start.

The moment the tip of the Tianya Sword touched the fingertip, time seemed to be secretly paused throughout the entire plaza.

On the high platform, Master Shuiyue suddenly stood up.

She hated Zhang Xiaofan, hated his face that always had that smirk on it.

I hate his frivolous and disrespectful way of speaking; I despise him from the bottom of my heart.

As annoying as he is, if the Heavenly Sword really cuts off this kid's finger...

She wouldn't be able to explain herself to Su Ru.

Back then, she earnestly advised Su Ru against marrying Tian Buyi, that dark-skinned, fat man.

The two sisters had a huge fight over this and remained in a cold war for three years.

What if Tian Buyi's precious apprentice were to suffer a lifelong disability at the hands of his own beloved apprentice...?

She simply didn't dare to think about it anymore.

On the stage, Lu Xueqi's cold pupils suddenly contracted.

She knew Zhang Xiaofan was incredibly strong, so strong that it was unbelievable; he could even injure the Mountain Guardian Spirit.

But the Heavenly Sword is a divine weapon from the heavens! Although she didn't use her full strength in this strike, she still applied seven-tenths of her power.

The sword's momentum had waned; it was too late to forcibly retract it now.

If I really do cut it down...

This thought clenched her heart tightly.

In that split second,

The strange blue and gold light on Zhang Xiaofan's two joined fingertips suddenly became brighter!

It wasn't a violent outburst, but rather an extremely restrained and concentrated force.

The two colors of light were compressed wildly at his fingertips, eventually transforming into a thin, translucent film of light that was almost invisible to the naked eye.

The indestructible azure tip of the Tianya Divine Sword pierced directly into this layer of light membrane.

It emitted a strange, hissing sound, like a red-hot iron being suddenly plunged into icy water.

The sword stopped.

Just like that, so abruptly and unbelievably,

It stopped between those two slender fingers, unable to move forward even an inch.

Lu Xueqi felt a sense of relief, but before she could catch her breath,

An even greater sense of horror immediately surged up—

To be able to catch the Heavenly Blade with one's bare hands—that's some skill.

It was far more terrifying than she had originally anticipated!

She subconsciously exerted force on her wrist, trying to pull back Tianya and change her move.

But Zhang Xiaofan's two fingers were even more firmly gripped than pliers forged from millennia-old black iron, firmly "biting" the tip of the sword.

She channeled her spiritual power three times in succession, but the Heavenly Sword remained completely still between his fingers!

A deathly silence fell over the arena and its surroundings.

Everyone's gaze was drawn to it as if by a magnet.

It was firmly pinned to those two fingers and to that hovering, radiant, azure-glowing divine weapon.

After a few breaths, someone finally snapped out of their daze at the unbelievable scene.

The sound of gasps and hissing filled the air.

Lu Xueqi reacted extremely quickly; without hesitation, she released her grip on the sword!

This was not a genuine abandonment of Tianya, but rather an extremely decisive tactical response.

At the very moment she released her grip, her left hand formed a sword shape with her fingers together, the tip of her fingertips gathering a sharp sword aura.

It pierced Zhang Xiaofan's throat with lightning speed!

At the same time, his right leg swept out silently like a steel whip, aiming straight for Zhang Xiaofan's lower body!

A coordinated attack from both above and below, ruthless and vicious!

Zhang Xiaofan had no choice but to take a half step back and loosen his grip on his two fingers.

The Heavenly Sword, freed from its restraints, immediately transformed into a streak of blue light and flew back.

Lu Xueqi performed a graceful flip in the air, precisely gripping the sword hilt again.

She landed gracefully, her clothes fluttering, her movements so fluid and effortless.

The two of them were now three zhang apart again.

The air was thick with tension, ten times heavier than before.

Zhang Xiaofan flicked his slightly numb fingertips.

Tsk, the sharpness of the Heavenly Jade Divine Weapon is still a bit beyond expectations.

If he hadn't been proficient in both Buddhism and Taoism,

The spiritual energy within the body has been tempered by both the Great Brahma Prajna and the Taiji Profound Purity Dao.

Its quality far surpasses that of cultivators of the same level; that attack just now...

It's probably not just numbness; at the very least, there will be some bleeding.

He reached out and untied the inconspicuous fire poker that always hung from his waist.

The dark, rough, and even somewhat ugly stick was completely exposed to the scorching afternoon sun.

It looks much like the fire poker next to a woodcutter's stove.

But the moment Zhang Xiaofan's hand firmly gripped the middle section of the staff—

A sudden change has occurred!

Suddenly, a very faint, yet real, dark red pattern appeared on the jet-black surface of the stick.

Those patterns seemed to possess a life of their own, twisting and spreading slightly.

In an instant, the entire stick exuded an indescribable, menacing aura.

It was as if an ancient ferocious beast, which had been asleep for countless years, had quietly opened its cold eyes at this moment.

Across the arena, Lu Xueqi's gaze was fixed on that black stick.

She had seen this strange stick when they first met two years ago at Tongtian Peak, and at the time she only felt that its aura was unusual.

Looking at it now, the subtle yet chillingly malevolent aura emanating from the staff...

Her heightened spiritual awareness, honed through her practice of the Great Brahma Prajna, instinctively triggered the highest level of alarm.

"Be careful," she said again.

This time, it was no longer a polite reminder, but a serious warning.

Zhang Xiaofan grinned, his smile almost dazzling in the sunlight: "You too."

The moment the last word was uttered, the two moved.

Instead of close combat, they all chose to use objects!

Zhang Xiaofan made a simple yet ancient sword incantation with his left hand.

The black fire poker trembled slightly with a "hum," then transformed into a streak of black light with astonishing speed.

It tore through the air and shot straight at Lu Xueqi!

Lu Xueqi released her grip almost simultaneously, and the Tianya Divine Sword rang out clearly.

It transformed into a stunning azure rainbow, meeting the attack head-on!

"bite--!"

The first collision produced a crisp, melodious sound, like jade striking each other.

The fire poker was bounced back by the recoil and flew back three zhang away.

The Heavenly Sword paused slightly, its light becoming somewhat diffused.

Before the audience could even blink, the two magical artifacts suddenly changed direction in mid-air and collided violently once again!

"Thump!"

This time, the sound was deep and heavy.

It was like a heavy hammer slamming down on a thick anvil!

The disciples below the stage were all dumbfounded, their jaws practically dropping.

The art of manipulating objects can be learned at the fourth level of the Jade Purity Realm, and is considered a basic skill.

But like this, using a magical artifact as a flying sword...

To engage in such intense, rapid, and varied aerial attacks,

It requires more than just reaching a certain level of cultivation; it demands an extremely refined and precise control over one's own spiritual power.

At the same time, the magical artifact itself must also possess considerable spirituality in order to be so easily controlled.

The key thing is—that dark, unremarkable thing that looks like a fire poker.

It actually can rival the world-renowned divine weapon "Tianya"

A head-on collision, and it looks... completely unharmed?

"What...what kind of magic weapon is it?" a disciple murmured absentmindedly.

No one could answer.

On the high platform, even the most knowledgeable and experienced leaders couldn't help but exchange glances.

Master Zeng Shuchang frowned and said in a deep voice, "That stick... is definitely not ordinary."

Master Shang Zhengliang nodded slowly, his tone solemn:

"To be able to withstand the sharpness of the Heavenly Jade head-on without being harmed, such material and spirituality..."

It is at least a treasure of the level of a divine weapon from the Nine Heavens.

But my Qingyun Sect has a long and rich history, and we have countless records of the Nine Heavens Divine Weapons.

I've never heard of... such a black, rod-shaped magical artifact.

Tian Buyi leisurely twirled his few sparse whiskers.

He wore a mysterious smile and didn't say a word.

He certainly knew the terrifying origins of this fire poker, but he couldn't say, at least not now.

On the stage, the pace of attack and defense is getting faster and faster!

Dark and blue light intertwined, chased, and collided wildly in the air.

The dense clanging of metal almost blended together, sending chills down one's spine.

Zhang Xiaofan stood firmly in place, his right hand fingers moving in a series of taps as if plucking invisible strings.

Manipulating that dark light, it performed all sorts of incredible evasions and counterattacks.

Lu Xueqi remained frozen in place, her entire focus on the azure sword light in the air.

Engaging in an invisible yet intense game with the other side.

Ten breaths.

Twenty breaths.

Thirty breaths passed.

Gradually, the dark shadow of the stick began to gain a slight advantage.

This is not because the fire stick is of a higher grade than the Heavenly Jade, but because Zhang Xiaofan's control technique is simply too exquisite.

The unique sword control technique personally taught by Wan Jianyi, derived from "Slaying Ghosts and Gods".

In addition, his powerful spiritual energy, which had already reached the Shangqing Realm, served as a support.

The trajectory of that fire poker in the air became increasingly unpredictable and elusive, appearing and disappearing without a trace.

A fine layer of sweat appeared on Lu Xueqi's smooth forehead.

She had pushed her intuition and control to the limit, but she always felt that something was missing.

Every time Tianya was about to strike the black staff, the opponent always managed to land a last-minute blow.

She twisted and dodged in a way that defied common sense, and then launched a fierce counterattack from an angle she never expected.

This feeling... is like fighting your own shadow, possessing the power of thunder, yet having nowhere to land.

She gritted her teeth, and with a thought, the azure sword light flew back and was grasped in her hand again.

We can't continue to be so passive.

Lu Xueqi lightly touched the white jade floor of the arena with her toes.

He seemed weightless as he gracefully rose into the air.

When she leaped to a height of three zhang (approximately 10 meters), her figure suddenly stopped.

She gripped the Heavenly Sword tightly with both hands, raising it high above her head, the tip of the sword pointing straight at the sky!

In that instant, the sky... darkened.

It wasn't that dark clouds rolled in and blocked out the blazing sun.

Rather, it was a more profound and majestic force, seemingly originating from the very source of heaven and earth.

They are gathering wildly high in the sky! A fierce gale suddenly rises from nowhere over the square.

The wind whipped the robes of thousands of disciples, making it almost impossible for them to open their eyes. In the air...

A tense and oppressive atmosphere permeated the air, like the unsettling stillness before a summer storm.

Lu Xueqi's clear, cold voice rang out, echoing throughout every corner of the square:

"Nine Heavens Mysterious Temple, transform into divine thunder—"

"Boom—!!!"

From the distant depths of the clouds came a deep, unsettling rumble of thunder!

It wasn't a single line, but a continuous expanse, like thousands of horses galloping and trampling above the thick clouds!

The blazing white lightning flashed and danced wildly between the gaps in the clouds, its flickering light casting an inconspicuous glow on her ethereal and otherworldly face.

"The might of Heaven is awe-inspiring; I will draw it forth with my sword!"

When the last word was uttered from those pale lips...

The blade of the Tianya Divine Sword suddenly erupted with dazzling, blinding lightning!

It was no longer sword energy wrapped in lightning, but rather the divine sword itself seemed to have completely merged with the divine thunder of the nine heavens!

The sword, originally a deep blue like autumn water, had now transformed into a dazzling silver-white.

Countless violent electric snakes coiled and thrashed wildly across the sword's blade.

It emitted a dense and terrifying "crackling" sound, as if it were something held in her hand.

It was not a sword, but a divine punishment thunderbolt that was forcibly restrained and could explode at any moment!

On the high platform, Master Shuiyue suddenly stood up again, oblivious to the chair behind him that was knocked over.

She looked up at the moon-white figure in the sky that seemed to command the might of the heavens.

Gazing at the Tianya Divine Sword, its intense lightning flashing and which even made her heart tremble,

His eyes were filled with undisguised shock and disbelief.

The Divine Sword Thunder Control Technique! One of the four great secret techniques of the Qingyun Sect!

Forcibly using this technique with the cultivation level of Jade Purity Realm will inevitably result in a backlash of lightning, causing damage to the meridians at best and regression in cultivation at worst!

But Lu Xueqi... although her aura was fluctuating violently at the moment, she did not show any signs of being attacked by the backlash?

She actually did it! In the Jade Purity Realm, she summoned lightning without taking any damage?!

At this moment, the pupils of the immortal Cangsong shrank to dangerous pinpoints.

He stared intently at Lu Xueqi in the air, at the Tianya sword that seemed to command the power of heaven and earth.

The tragic yet glorious scene from three hundred years ago uncontrollably flooded my mind.

At that time, there was also such a person, dressed in white, standing proudly against the sky.

Wielding a divine sword, he summoned divine thunder from the heavens. Alone with his sword, he slaughtered the demonic sect members, leaving them terrified and falling in fear...

Wan Jianyi.

"Genius..." Master Cangsong murmured unconsciously, his voice hoarse.

"Truly...unparalleled talent."

Although Lin Jingyu is highly talented, compared to this girl...

Ultimately, it was far inferior.

Tian Buyi, standing next to him, turned his head, his dark face beaming with a dazzling smile:

"Senior Brother Cangsong also thinks my disciple has... quite good taste, right?"

"Your disciple?" Master Cangsong was pulled back from his memories, and upon hearing this, he let out a cold laugh.

His gaze remained fixed on Lu Xueqi.

"I'm referring to Lu Xueqi. The Divine Sword Lightning Control Technique can be used flawlessly even with a Jade Purity Realm cultivation level."

Such talent and comprehension are probably hard to find in the Qingyun Sect within a hundred years.

The outcome of this competition is no longer in doubt.

"Oh? Maybe not."

Tian Buyi slowly sat back down, even crossing his legs, appearing quite relaxed.

"The Divine Sword Thunder Control Technique is indeed powerful, but our Qingyun Sect has more than just this one peerless technique passed down through generations."

I remember... there was another move, in terms of raw power and domineering force.

In terms of sheer force, it is in no way inferior to the art of summoning lightning.

Master Cangsong was taken aback at first, then seemed to remember some taboo that had long been sealed away and deliberately forgotten.

His face suddenly turned extremely pale, even showing a hint of ashen color.

On the stage, Zhang Xiaofan tilted his head slightly.

Gazing at the aloof figure in the sky, enveloped in blazing lightning, like a thunder god descending to earth.

The violent lightning reflected on his face, creating a play of light and shadow.

He could feel with absolute clarity the overwhelming power of heaven and earth that was rapidly gathering—

It is violent, domineering, and filled with a terrifying will to destroy everything.

If that move were to actually land, let alone this arena,

I'm afraid most of the square will be affected and turned into scorched earth.

He understood that Lu Xueqi was gambling.

I'm betting he won't dare to directly confront this overwhelming divine power, and that he'll choose to dodge.

They were betting that she could use one of the Qingyun Sect's strongest attack techniques to force him to reveal his hidden full strength.

Unfortunately, she made the wrong bet.

Zhang Xiaofan had no intention of hiding at all.

He stretched out his left hand, and the dark light that had been hovering beside him immediately flew back and landed steadily in his palm.

The moment he gripped the blackened fire poker tightly with his five fingers again, that fierce aura that had been deliberately suppressed resurfaced.

Like a prehistoric beast breaking free of its shackles, it was released with a roar!

On the shaft of the staff, dark red patterns spread and lit up at an unprecedented speed.

Like the blood vessels flowing through the human body, or like the veins of some ancient life resurfacing,

It was accompanied by a heavy and eerie rhythm, like the breathing of a giant beast.

Zhang Xiaofan took a light breath.

He was afraid too.

It wasn't that he was afraid he wouldn't be able to handle the move and would lose, but rather that he was afraid Lu Xueqi wouldn't be able to control him.

The power of the Divine Sword Thunder Control Technique is too great, especially for her current cultivation level, it is more like a double-edged sword.

If her spiritual power becomes even slightly stagnant, the heavenly lightning she summons might go out of control and rampage.

The first to suffer a severe backlash was herself.

Serious injury is one thing, but what if the rampaging lightning is indiscriminate and disfigures him...?

Zhang Xiaofan's heart skipped a beat.

No, absolutely not!

This was his future wife, whom he had already "pre-selected."

His appearance is unparalleled in the world; if he were disfigured, who would he cry to?

Therefore, you can't dodge, you can only accept it.

And we'll have to use a different approach to counter it.

Using another move, also from the Qingyun Sect, with unparalleled power.

Yet it is relatively controllable, and can directly confront this unparalleled true technique of "the awe-inspiring might of heaven".

Zhang Xiaofan gripped the fire poker with both hands and slowly raised it above his head.

The tip of the stick pointed diagonally at the sky filled with surging lightning.

This action is not a provocation, but a solemn response.

Then he spoke.

The sound wasn't loud, yet it strangely overpowered the muffled thunder rolling down from the sky, echoing clearly in everyone's ears:

"The righteous spirit of heaven and earth will endure forever—"

As the incantation was uttered, the crimson light on the fire poker suddenly surged!

It wasn't a dazzling, fiery silver-white like lightning, but a deep, restrained, almost congealed blood.

It's like the molten lava flowing from the depths of the earth.

A thick, bloody light shot into the sky from the staff, and even into the void behind him.

It vaguely coalesced into a blurry yet majestic enormous phantom!

The illusory figure was indistinct and could not be clearly seen.

But the instant it appeared, a terrifying sword intent that could annihilate everything and be avoided by gods and demons alike...

Like a real cold wave, it swept across the entire square!

The disciples with slightly lower cultivation levels couldn't help but tremble all over, and an instinctive fear arose from the depths of their souls!

"I don't seek the Immortal Slayer Sword."

Zhang Xiaofan took a step forward.

"Crack!" The hard white jade slab beneath his feet, strong enough to withstand a tremendous impact,

It cracked instantly, and countless cracks spread wildly in all directions like a spider web!

At the same time, the vast spiritual power belonging to the Shangqing Realm that he had been deliberately concealing

No longer needing to hide, it erupted like a dormant volcano, bursting forth before everyone!

"Shangqing Realm?!"

On the high platform, several chiefs could no longer remain calm and jumped up from their seats almost simultaneously!

Master Shang Zhengliang cried out in shock, and Master Zeng Shuchang's eyes widened in disbelief.

Daoist Tianyun opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

Master Cangsong swayed almost imperceptibly, his gaze fixed intently on Zhang Xiaofan.

He stared at the terrifying phantom behind him, which carried a familiar aura, and at the fire poker that shone with blood-red light, as if it were about to pierce the sky.

The fierce battle three hundred years ago that changed the fate of many, that figure in white robes stained with blood yet still standing proudly.

That gleaming, emerald-green longsword that had terrified countless demons...

And then there were those wild and unrestrained words carved in the blood of the enemy chieftain on the stone pillars of the Demonic Cult's headquarters...

Countless fragments of memories, deliberately sealed away, burst forth like a flood, utterly shattering his defenses!

On the arena, Zhang Xiaofan's last four words resonated like thunder in the depths of everyone's souls:

"But I'll slay demons and gods—!"

"boom--!!!"

The towering crimson light from the fire poker and the blazing white lightning drawn down by Lu Xueqi's Tianya Divine Sword finally collided with a deafening roar!

At that moment, it was as if the sky had been torn in two by an invisible giant hand!

Half of it was a blazing, raging sea of ​​silvery-white lightning, with electric snakes dancing wildly.

The thunderous roar symbolizes the punishment and destruction of heaven and earth.

The other half is a deep, violent, dark red blood domain, with sword intent soaring to the heavens.

The pervasive malevolent aura symbolizes the ultimate struggle and annihilation by humankind.

Two terrifying forces, both at the peak of Qingyun Sect's Daoist techniques, clashed fiercely in mid-air!

That wasn't a simple collision; it was a frenzied devouring, a brutal crushing.

It is the most direct and brutal confrontation between two completely different wills that both pursue the ultimate "destruction"!

Then, before anyone could react—

"Buzz—!!!!"

A deafening roar, indescribable and seemingly originating from the very source of the world, engulfed everything!