অধ্যায় ১৪২: আমি যদি প্রথম হই, তবে কেমন হয়? [চতুর্থ পর্ব]
নine Dragons Facing Heaven, a supreme imperial martial art, with each golden dragon stretching a hundred feet long, presenting a magnificent and awe-inspiring spectacle.
Zhou Xuanji stood atop the mountain peak, swiftly executing the Soul-Consuming Demon-Slaying Slash.
Three demonic sword qi streaks slashed out like razor-sharp claws, directly tearing one of the golden dragons to shreds.
Instantly, he leaped into the air, bounding over the heads of the remaining eight golden dragons.
He thrust his sword directly at Yang Renlong.
Yang Renlong's gaze sharpened as he waved his right hand, causing a purple halo of light to manifest once more. It absorbed the raging winds of heaven and earth, transforming them into countless wind blades that surged toward Zhou Xuanji.
Zhou Xuanji rapidly flicked his sword with his right hand, unleashing the Sun, Moon, and Stars Sword Technique.
The sword qi transformed into a torrential flood, with the sun and moon in the front and the stars trailing behind, looking not the least bit smaller than the golden dragons of the Nine Dragons Facing Heaven.
Rumble...
The sun, moon, and stars crushed the endless wind blades with an overwhelmingly tyrannical momentum, threatening to engulf Yang Renlong completely.
Yang Renlong's expression changed drastically. Why did he feel that Zhou Xuanji's sword qi was even stronger than yesterday?
At that moment, a soft, yielding sword suddenly appeared beneath Zhou Xuanji's feet. Treading upon the divine sword, he executed the Eight Sword Steps, appearing directly in front of Yang Renlong in a single stride.
Six Ghostly Sword Shadows appeared!
All of them simultaneously unleashed the Sun, Moon, and Stars!
Everything happened far too quickly. Yang Renlong had no time to dodge and instinctively raised his arms to block.
Boom! A deafening explosion echoed through the air!
The sun, moon, and stars collided with Yang Renlong, detonating instantly!
Countless people widened their eyes, gazing up at the spectacle as the blinding light from the explosion illuminated the entire heaven and earth.
Emperor Yang Xin slightly furrowed his brow, feeling a sense of concern for Yang Renlong.
Di Yu wore an expression of profound admiration, never expecting the Phoenix Sword Emperor to still possess such hidden means.
The blinding light dissipated.
Before the shockwaves from the explosion had even faded, Yang Renlong, covered in blood, plummeted downward.
Having lost consciousness, he had fainted completely. Falling from such a height, he was bound to sustain severe injuries.
Emperor Yang Xin sighed softly and waved his right hand, snatching Yang Renlong out from within the formation.
Silence.
The Imperial City of Zhaoge fell into a profound stillness.
Those close to Mount Qingsong were utterly stunned, while those farther away eagerly awaited the final outcome.
Who on earth had won?
Chongming Demon Emperor crouched on the windowsill, gazing into the distance toward Mount Qingsong. He swallowed hard, his face filled with extreme shock.
"Too strong!"
If he were the one facing that consecutive combo of the Eight Sword Steps, Six Ghostly Sword Shadows, and the Sun, Moon, and Stars, he would probably have perished on the spot.
Too strong!
Simply invincible!
Zhou Xuanji swung his sword downward, the blade pointing toward the earth. His White Dragon Gold-Imperial Robe fluttered in the wind, fully displaying his demeanor as a sword emperor and moving countless onlookers to revere him.
"In this Heroes Assembly beneath the Dome, I shall take first place. Any objections?"
Zhou Xuanji spoke aloud, though inwardly he was breaking out in a cold sweat.
Would the Six Ghostly Sword Shadows expose his identity?
He had been far too hasty just now and completely forgot about that detail.
However, this was the Great Shang Empire; not all of Sword God Zhou's techniques were widely known here yet.
Zhou Xuanji returned to the mountain peak and sat down cross-legged, choosing not to pursue the remaining participants below.
Boom!
The Imperial City of Zhaoge erupted into chaos!
"Too powerful! Yang Renlong was no match for him at all!"
"The Sword Emperor is truly a sword emperor!"
"To think a sword cultivator could possess such breathtaking elegance."
"I want to learn the sword! If the Phoenix Sword Emperor establishes a sect, I will definitely join!"
"Incredible! Famous in a single battle!"
"Yang Renlong's defeat was not unjust."
Succeeding waves of heated discussions echoed throughout the Imperial City of Zhaoge, shaking the heavens.
Countless humans and demons cheered for the Phoenix Sword Emperor, completely captivated by his extraordinary bearing.
Emperor Yang Xin's gaze burned brightly as he declared, "After the Heroes Assembly concludes, I shall personally host a banquet for him."
A general asked with curiosity, "What if he declines Your Majesty's invitation? How should we deal with him?"
Emperor Yang Xin chuckled and replied, "Naturally, I will not force him."
As the Son of Heaven, he had witnessed countless heroes and champions and had never coerced anyone into serving him.
The general was deeply impressed, and Di Yu felt a renewed sense of respect.
As for Yang Renlong, he lay sprawled on the ground like a lump of mud, completely unconscious.
"Proceed with your matches among yourselves. Fight fairly, and we shall await the final victor."
Zhou Xuanji's voice rang out, carrying across the entire Mount Qingsong.
The remaining participants all heaved sighs of relief.
Down below, within the misty forest, a tiger demon hid among the bushes, instinctively reaching back to touch his own rear end.
"To think he is this powerful..."
Having witnessed Zhou Xuanji's terrifying strength, he suddenly felt that the injury on his rear end was actually a badge of honor.
With Zhou Xuanji's prowess, he could easily have slain him with a single sword strike, yet he had merely knocked him down without taking his life, granting him a chance. How could he not admire such magnanimity?
Not just him, but the others who had been pierced by the soft, yielding sword also transformed their grief and indignation into fervent excitement.
The female cultivator felt her heart flutter intensely.
"Could it be that senior pierced me there intentionally because..."
Her face flushed crimson with shyness as she wrung her hands, recalling how Zhou Xuanji had searched her person for storage rings and pouches, making her feel even more bashful and deeply stirred.
Perhaps ignited by Zhou Xuanji's fighting spirit, the lurking participants burst forth from their hiding places, engaging in fierce combat.
Inside the Imperial City of Zhaoge, at a four-story-tall inn...
An enchanting figure stood by the window, gazing out toward Mount Qingsong.
She wore a purple dress adorned with exotic patterns, her face veiled in purple silk. Her skin was fair, her eyes seductive yet cold, a crimson flower mark graced her snow-white forehead, and her dark hair was gathered with a white jade hairpin.
"Interesting. This brat clearly has only the cultivation of the third tier of the Spirit Spring Realm, yet he easily defeats those in the Out-of-Body Realm. That sword is extraordinary."
She murmured to herself before turning around and departing.
Three hours later.
Only twelve participants remained on Mount Qingsong, including Zhou Xuanji and Xu Xianxuan.
The true powerhouses had already been eliminated by Yang Renlong, and those who remained had cultivation levels ranging from the fifth tier of the Nascent Soul Realm to the third tier of the Out-of-Body Realm.
In the end, Xu Xianxuan stopped at sixth place and was eliminated.
As the Saintess of the Hanyin Divine Sect, Emperor Yang Xin naturally would not let her die here. Seeing that she could no longer continue the fight, he had her teleported out.
Another hour and a half passed.
Only two people remained on Mount Qingsong.
Aside from Zhou Xuanji, the other was a bare-chested giant with unkempt black hair, resembling a humanoid beast.
He flew up to the summit, facing Zhou Xuanji in mid-air at a distance of nearly ten meters.
Zhou Xuanji slowly opened his eyes and looked at the giant.
The giant took a deep breath, bowed deeply toward empty space in front of Zhou Xuanji, then turned and flew toward the edge of the formation, shouting loudly, "I admit defeat!"
Securing second place already far exceeded his expectations.
Zhou Xuanji's terrifying strength filled him with awe, leaving him utterly without the courage to fight.
Boom!
The entire city erupted in uproar, the thunderous cheers merging together as if trying to overturn the vault of heaven!
Everyone began chanting the four words: Phoenix Sword Emperor!
The formation around Mount Qingsong shattered, and the hearty laughter of Emperor Yang Xin echoed across the land: "Splendid! Truly magnificent! Tonight, I shall host a banquet for you all within the imperial palace!"
The top ten victors all wore radiant smiles of excitement.
Di Yu flew up before Zhou Xuanji, cupped his fists in salute, and said, "Follow me. I will take you into the imperial palace, and we can take the opportunity to befriend one another."
A smile graced his face, entirely devoid of the bitterness or resentment of defeat.
He genuinely submitted to Zhou Xuanji's strength!
Zhou Xuanji smiled slightly, feeling a surge of excitement within his heart as well.
Thunder Heart Grass, here I come!
Nascent Soul Realm, await my arrival!
Led by Di Yu, Zhou Xuanji flew toward the Great Shang Imperial Palace. Emperor Yang Xin had already teleported away, and the floating pavilions vanished one by one.
The Heroes Assembly beneath the Dome had thus come to an end.
The Phoenix Sword Emperor had become famous in a single battle!