Devouring Soul Emperor

"Hmph. So what if you have some brute force? Today, I’ll have you witness the elegance of my Sword Technique!"

"Phantom Sword Technique—One Sword Leaves an Image!"

Deng Zhuxuan let out a low roar. With a SHING, he drew his Treasure Sword and thrust it at Chu Qingyun.

Although he only held a single sword, his thrust produced two Sword Shadows that stabbed at Chu Qingyun simultaneously.

"Interesting."

"Spring Rain!"

Chu Qingyun’s eyes lit up, and he met the attack with the weakest move from his Gale Seven Swords.

Deng Zhuxuan’s One Sword Leaves an Image created a phantom with every strike, meant to confuse his opponent.

But Chu Qingyun’s Swordsmanship was already strong, and his comprehension was remarkably high. The phantom caused him some trouble at first, leaving him flustered.

But after a dozen or so exchanges, Chu Qingyun had completely seen through the so-called One Sword Leaves an Image.

One Sword Leaves an Image relied entirely on the element of surprise. Once seen through, it was worthless—the phantom could even become a burden.

’Damn brat. He actually saw through my Sword Technique.’

"Phantom Sword Technique—One Sword, Two Shadows!"

Deng Zhuxuan gritted his teeth, pushing his family’s Phantom Sword Technique to the limit. With One Sword, Two Shadows, every strike he made now produced two Sword Shadows.

The sudden appearance of an extra Sword Shadow once again threw Chu Qingyun into disarray.

However, Deng Zhuxuan’s delight didn’t last long. To his dismay, he realized that Chu Qingyun was adapting quickly, and even seemed on the verge of seeing through One Sword, Two Shadows.

’This damn brat! How is his Swordsmanship so profound?!’

Cold sweat began to bead on Deng Zhuxuan’s forehead, and he could only grit his teeth and struggle to hold on.

Offstage, Ye Qi frowned. "What is Chu Qingyun doing? His Swordsmanship is clearly much stronger than Deng Zhuxuan’s."

Though not powerful herself, she was experienced and had a keen eye. She had realized long ago that Chu Qingyun’s mastery of Swordsmanship far surpassed Deng Zhuxuan’s. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"He’s using Deng Zhuxuan as a sparring partner. This kid is no simpleton."

"As they say, experience is the best teacher. The path of the Sword Dao is vast and profound. The more one sees, practices, and experiences different Sword Techniques, the more one learns. Only by building a solid foundation can you have explosive growth and walk further down the path,"

Gao Feng said, nodding in earnest.

"Gao, Lord Qingyun is so amazing! Do you think he can get that Token!?"

Mo asked, her face slightly flushed as she batted her eyelashes.

"That Token... It could be a possibility. Let’s wait and see," Gao Feng said, stroking his chin with a hesitant look on his face.

While the three of them were talking, the situation on the fighting stage changed once again.

Having figured out Deng Zhuxuan’s tricks, Chu Qingyun began his counterattack. The fierce Sword Techniques of the Gale Seven Swords beat Deng Zhuxuan back again and again.

Deng Zhuxuan was particularly terrified when Chu Qingyun used Sword Techniques infused with Sword Momentum, finding them impossible to parry.

"You bastard! You damn mutt! I’ll show you the power of my Martial Soul!"

"Prism!"

Forced to the edge of the stage, Deng Zhuxuan roared and unleashed his Prism Martial Soul.

Before him, a transparent, triangular Martial Soul in the shape of a prism began to slowly rotate and glow.

Deng Zhuxuan frantically poured his Primordial Power into the Martial Soul. The powerful aura of a Tier Two Martial Soul instantly enveloped the entire fighting stage.

He was trying to suppress Chu Qingyun with the power of a High Tier Martial Soul!

"That Deng Zhuxuan... he’s so shameless!"

Ye Qi snorted angrily and couldn’t help but worry for Chu Qingyun.

Deng Zhuxuan’s move was nothing short of bullying. He assumed that someone from a small mountain village like Chu Qingyun wouldn’t possess a High Tier Martial Soul.

’Hmph, Martial Soul suppression?’

’Too bad for you. I’m not the same person I was when I faced Zhao Yishui!’

"Five-Star Vine!"

With a cold sneer, Chu Qingyun shouted, and his Five-Star Vine Soul materialized before him. It erupted with an aura in no way weaker than Deng Zhuxuan’s own Martial Soul!

Since both were Tier Two Martial Souls, the Five-Star Vine Soul naturally had no fear of the Prism Martial Soul.

"What? A Tier Two Martial Soul!"

Offstage, Ye Qi’s eyes widened. When she’d first met Chu Qingyun, his Martial Soul was clearly only Tier One.

But then, Ye Qi instantly thought of a possibility—Chu Qingyun had been hiding his true strength back then.

She might not have believed it of anyone else.

But Chu Qingyun was someone who could perfectly control his Martial Soul Power.

In her eyes, hiding two of its vines would be an easy feat for him.

’That damn brat... I was nice enough to give you the Sword Drawing Technique, and you dared to hide your strength from me? Just you wait, I’ll deal with you later...’

Ye Qi glared at Chu Qingyun, already grinding her teeth.

"He has a Tier Two Martial Soul, too!"

"Aargh! You damn bastard! I’ll risk it all!"

Deng Zhuxuan roared. With a flash of light before him, he unleashed a Soul Technique and thrust his sword toward Chu Qingyun.

Though he wielded but a single sword, his thrust produced six Sword Shadows that formed a ring, stabbing at Chu Qingyun simultaneously.

The six Sword Shadows sealed off every path of retreat, leaving him with no way to dodge!

"His Phantom Sword Technique turns one sword into three, all with attack power. When combined with the Illusionary Soul Techniques of his Tier Two Prism Martial Soul, it creates three real images and three fake ones. It’s impossible to defend against."

"This is Deng Zhuxuan’s last resort. It seems Chu Qingyun is about to use *that* sword form."

Gao Feng said, his expression grave.

"That one? The Sword Drawing Technique?"

Ye Qi’s eyes also widened in curiosity. She’d possessed the Sword Drawing Technique for several years but had never seen anyone actually use it.

"Profound Celestial Divine Pattern!"

"Dawn Wind and Waning Moon!"

"Break!"

Chu Qingyun let out a low roar as a dark gold Divine Pattern lit up on his right arm. He unleashed Dawn Wind and Waning Moon, a move he had yet to use, condensing the Sword Momentum from over twenty Sword Techniques into a single, powerful downward slash.

A Sword Aura several meters long erupted from his Longsword, as desolate and sharp as the dawn wind and a waning moon.

Faced with this piercing Sword Aura, the six real-and-illusory Sword Shadows disintegrated on contact, utterly crushed.

"How can this be!?"

Deng Zhuxuan cried out in disbelief. His proudest move, the perfect fusion of his Soul Technique and Swordsmanship, had been broken by a single strike from Chu Qingyun!

"Get down!"

After the Sword Aura passed, Chu Qingyun leaped forward and kicked Deng Zhuxuan hard in the chest, sending him flying backward off the stage.

"You... you..." SPLAT!

Deng Zhuxuan pointed at Chu Qingyun. When he recalled all the contemptuous words he’d spoken earlier, he was overcome by such shame and fury that he violently spat out a mouthful of blood.

Onstage and off, everyone was utterly stunned. Defeating a Level 8 Martial Artist who had just used his ultimate move, and with a single sword strike... What kind of strength was this!?

He was only a Level 7 Martial Artist!

Offstage, Gao Feng and Ye Qi were equally astonished.

"It’s only been a few days since his last visit, and he’s already comprehended another sword form with such immense power!"

Even Gao Feng, a Martial Master Level expert, was profoundly shocked by Chu Qingyun’s aptitude for the Sword Dao.

When Chu Qingyun returned offstage, he saw that everyone there—including Gao Feng, Ye Qi, and Mo—was staring at him like he was some kind of monster.

"You’re full of surprises, kid. With your strength and potential, you are qualified to receive this."