Chapter 132: A Sword Strike That Shook the Heavens

Even so, Liu Yingfeng could not help but feel a flicker of astonishment upon recognizing that the Azure Flame Sacred Sword was a mid-grade treasure.

This momentary lapse in focus was immediately seized upon by Lin Xiaobao, whose spiritual senses were exceptionally keen. With a sharp cry, he merged his body with the radiance of his blade, transforming into a streak of crimson light. Cutting through layers of sword energy, he charged toward Liu Yingfeng at a speed that bordered on the supersonic.

When he was less than three feet away, Lin Xiaobao let out a thunderous roar. His internal spiritual energy surged, and the blade emitted a crisp, explosive sound. Countless threads of sword qi erupted like silk, writhing toward Liu Yingfeng like the tentacles of some exotic beast.

Such incredible speed!

Liu Yingfeng’s heart tightened. He had never imagined that Lin Xiaobao possessed such ghostly agility, one that was in no way inferior to his own at the peak of the ninth stage of the Spirit Path. Furthermore, there seemed to be the power of primordial true fire imbued within his attacks—wasn't the realm of the Dao Heart required to condense such a flame?

However, the situation allowed for no contemplation. Liu Yingfeng, well aware of his own strength at the peak of the ninth stage, swung his Purple Sky Tyrant Sword violently. A curtain of purple light rose from the ground to shield him. Simultaneously, his arm flickered, and countless sword shadows, like arrows released from their strings, streaked toward Lin Xiaobao.

"The Luo Heaven Tyrant Sword!"

The Luo Heaven Sword Art was a technique specifically designed to complement the Purple Sky Tyrant Sword. Liu Yingfeng had stumbled upon it by chance, and with it, he had defeated countless rivals of his own standing. By invoking it now, it was clear that he had begun to treat Lin Xiaobao as an equal.

The sky filled with purple blades, descending like a violent storm. Even before the shadows struck, the sheer weight of the sword intent caused Lin Xiaobao to feel a sense of suffocation. The prowess of a peak ninth-stage Spirit Path expert was truly formidable. Lin Xiaobao bit his lip and let out a low cry:

"Dragon Slaying Sword Art, Fourth Form: Dragon Diffusing Across the World!"

The Azure Flame Sacred Sword traced an exquisite arc in his hand. Countless sword shadows coalesced into a crescent-shaped blade of light, glowing with such intense heat that the entire surroundings turned a fiery red. With a fierce slash, the crescent energy spun rapidly, cutting straight toward Liu Yingfeng.

*Clang... Clang... Clang...* The hall echoed with the sound of metal clashing against metal as the two figures collided repeatedly, only to scatter in an instant. Every impact shook the entire hall. The onlookers had no doubt that had it not been for Chen Zhong’s formation suppressing their momentum, the entire Long family estate—perhaps even the whole street—would have been reduced to ruins.

Seeing that Lin Xiaobao and Liu Yingfeng were locked in such an evenly matched battle, the Second Elder’s eyes burned with intense jealousy. Everything happening now should have been his; the cultivation techniques he had hoped to extort from Lin Xiaobao were now beyond his reach.

Si Mengling’s cultivation was too low to even track their movements. She could only see a red blur and a purple blur, intertwined amidst the bursting sparks, constantly separating and engaging. She clutched her hands into tight fists, her eyes filled with deep concern.

"Don't worry, sister-in-law. My brother’s capabilities go far beyond this," Chen Zhong said, noticing her anxiety and leaning in to whisper.

In the center of the hall, a thunderous explosion signaled the two figures finally breaking apart.

Lin Xiaobao stood where he had started, his chest heaving, his face pale, and a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. Yet, his gaze remained locked on Liu Yingfeng.

Compared to Lin Xiaobao, Liu Yingfeng looked even more disheveled. His Daoist robes were shredded, his right hand trembled as it gripped his sword, and his eyes were filled with a hint of terror as he stared at his opponent.

He could not fathom how Lin Xiaobao, who was only at the sixth stage of the Spirit Path, possessed spiritual energy that did not pale in comparison to his own. His speed seemed even greater, and his spiritual senses could not lock onto him. All of this defied Liu Yingfeng’s understanding.

Despite his confusion, he was forced to accept one fact: Lin Xiaobao was powerful—far stronger than he had imagined, perhaps even stronger than his master, Lin Tian.

"When you wounded my master, did you ever think this day would come?" Lin Xiaobao asked, his killing intent undiminished by the other’s wretched state.

"Each of us serves our own master. If I hadn't wounded him, he would have wounded me!" Liu Yingfeng’s voice remained harsh, but anyone could hear the undertone of justification in his words.

"Then you can only blame your own ill fortune!" With a shout, Lin Xiaobao soared into the air, hovering above the ground. He raised the Azure Flame Sacred Sword high, and the surrounding spiritual energy rushed madly into the blade. In an instant, Lin Xiaobao and his sword seemed to fuse into a single entity of crimson flame.

Suspended in the air, Lin Xiaobao looked down like a god of fire. An intangible pressure erupted from his body. Then, gripping the sword with both hands, he slashed downward with all his might.

"Dragon Slaying Sword Art, Fifth Form: Capturing the Dragon and Slashing the Heavens!"

As the Azure Flame Sacred Sword descended, a dragon of fire erupted from the tip of the blade. Accompanied by a heaven-shaking roar, it surged toward Liu Yingfeng. Wherever the dragon passed, a massive fissure tore through the ground, sending debris flying—only for the rubble to be reduced to black ash the moment it touched the dragon’s body.

Though the crowd had faith in Chen Zhong’s formation, they could not help but retreat several steps in the face of such a terrifying strike. They knew that in the wake of such power, a few steps mattered little, but their instincts drove them back regardless.

The moment Lin Xiaobao took to the air, Liu Yingfeng sensed the danger. He knew that this would be Lin Xiaobao’s ultimate strike. If he failed to block it, he might truly fall at the hands of this junior today.

Holding nothing back, Liu Yingfeng began to spin his body rapidly on the ground, his Purple Sky Tyrant Sword weaving a tapestry of purple light. With every rotation, the aura of his blade deepened until the crowd could see only a sphere of purple radiance, with Liu Yingfeng hidden from view.

"Tyrant Sword Returns to the Source!"

With a roar, Liu Yingfeng also rose into the air, hovering at a height matching Lin Xiaobao’s. As he came to a stop, the countless rays of purple light converged onto his sword as if summoned.

In the blink of an eye, the Purple Sky Tyrant Sword swelled to several yards in width. With a heavy shout, Liu Yingfeng pointed forward, and beams of purple light—each as thick as a barrel—accompanied by the rumble of thunder and lightning, shot toward the gargantuan fire dragon.