My Swordsmanship Has No Upper Limit

"You’re too late."

The three words landed, crisp as ice striking jade, causing Lin Kong’s brow to twitch. But he quickly shook his head and said nonchalantly, "I’m not so sure I’m late. You, however, are as arrogant as ever. Declaring victory before the fight has even begun... You truly don’t take me seriously at all!"

VMMMM!

As he spoke, the aura around Lin Kong grew more solitary and chillingly cold, like a timeless, frozen pool.

When wisps of this aura brushed against Zhong Ming, he too felt a distinct chill.

However, this wisp of cold was swiftly incinerated by the scorching light radiating from Zhong Ming’s body.

Then, in the next instant, a candle-like flame flickered in Zhong Ming’s left eye, and a searing, terrifying pressure crashed down upon Lin Kong.

"This isn’t arrogance, just a statement of fact... Huh?!"

His words came to an abrupt halt as a hint of surprise flickered in Zhong Ming’s eyes.

He sensed the aura of a dragon on Lin Kong, and it was unlike his own Candlelight Dragon, which commanded the four seasons—its open eyes bringing day and its closed eyes bringing night.

The dragon aura on Lin Kong had a profound, earthy weight to it, and a magnificent power that felt capable of sealing all of creation.

Of course, Zhong Ming wasn’t intimidated by the dragon’s power. What puzzled him was, ’Doesn’t this aura clash with Lin Kong’s desolate, chilling Moonlight Sword Intent?’

Zhong Ming’s confusion didn’t last long. His As Clear as Daylight ability quickly revealed that the dragon protecting Lin Kong was emanating from an ancient Jade Pendant at his waist.

Furthermore, using Bright Mirror Stilled Water - Ripples and True Sight, Zhong Ming could also see that the Dragon Qi was merely a layer of golden armor protecting the exterior of Lin Kong’s Soul Spirit, not truly fused with his Soul Intent.

This detached connection allowed Zhong Ming, using his Spirit Stream Finger - Jie Technique, to easily locate the weak points in the link between the Dragon Qi and Lin Kong.

’If we were evenly matched, I could easily create an opening by attacking these weak points.’

But at that thought, he immediately scoffed.

’For me, right now, that’s unnecessary. Bathed in the sun’s light, I can crush anything with sheer power!’

BOOM!

At this thought, the fiery light in Zhong Ming’s left eye erupted in a brilliant blaze. The golden-red flames nearly solidified, and the pressure bearing down on Lin Kong surged by more than thirty percent!

Sword Heart: Heaven and Earth, Only I am Supreme!

Zhong Ming’s aura surged irresistibly. Across from him, Lin Kong, who met his gaze, felt his pupils contract sharply.

The desperate plight others had faced now fell upon him.

BOOM!

Staring directly into Zhong Ming’s left eye, Lin Kong felt his vision instantly consumed by a scorching Great Sun. The magnificent Sun Wheel radiated an aura that could incinerate the heavens and extinguish the earth.

Then, to his horror, the Great Sun transformed into a colossal dragon whose body shimmered with the light of stars, possessing a unique majesty.

With another transformation, the Morning Star-Candlelight Dragon became a sword—a Divine Sword radiating boundless Divine Power and brilliant light.

As the Divine Sword solidified, poised to strike, Lin Kong sensed the danger. ’But I can block this!’

His thoughts raced, his eyes devoid of fear:

’Even without the Dragon Qi’s protection, I’ll only be injured, not defeated!’ 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

’And as things are now, I won’t even be injured.’

’As long as I block this strike, victory will be mine!’

...

Fearless, Lin Kong’s Sea of Consciousness swiftly became empty and boundless—a characteristic of the Void Moon Sect’s Divine Soul Technique.

They don’t clash head-on with their enemies. Instead, they use the absolute emptiness of their mind to prevent an enemy’s Divine Soul attack from finding purchase.

Furthermore, this empty, chilling Sea of Consciousness could also disperse and dissolve an enemy’s power.

In the past, even when Zhong Ming’s Sun God Sword didn’t strike, its endless radiance and Flame would inflict unbearable agony on any ordinary Cultivator who merely sensed it.

The brilliant light would cast deep shadows, causing Heart Demons to sprout within the enemy.

But now, when the light and Flame from Zhong Ming’s Sun God Sword entered Lin Kong’s Sea of Consciousness, they failed to stir even a single ripple, let alone scorch his Divine Soul.

The ability to induce Heart Demons had no effect on Lin Kong, either—his mental realm, completely empty and free of stray thoughts, offered no soil for them to take root.

"Not bad." A smile touched Zhong Ming’s lips at Lin Kong’s strength.

Lin Kong, however, gave a cold smile. His voice was devoid of emotion as he said, "So you truly are a Sword Cultivator. My prediction was correct. Even without any outside help, my odds of defeating you are seventy percent!"

In saying this, Lin Kong didn’t actually believe his desolate, chilling Sea of Consciousness could completely swallow the Sun God Sword that Zhong Ming had manifested.

Having witnessed the Sun God Sword’s transformation from the Great Sun and the Morning Star-Candlelight Dragon, he knew—despite his arrogance—that a strike from Zhong Ming’s Divine Sword would most likely leave him severely wounded.

However, losing the Divine Soul duel didn’t shake his conviction that he would be the ultimate victor.

’Zhong Ming’s only strength is this one Divine Soul attack. As long as I endure it, even if I’m injured, I will be the one to seize the initiative!’

’And with the help of the Dragon Vein Jade Pendant, I can even win this battle without a single scratch!’

Believing his advantage to be immense, Lin Kong was suddenly in no hurry. He hadn’t forgotten Zhu Junfeng’s instructions: he not only had to win, but for the honor of his sect, he had to make the victory look good!

Thus, he had no intention of ending the battle quickly. Instead, he placed one hand behind his back, raised the other, and with the air of a true Grandmaster, said to Zhong Ming, "Whatever abilities you have, feel free to use them. I will give you the time, an opportunity to show me everything you’ve got."