Strongest War Emperor

Chu Xiuxiu was stunned for only a moment. Gritting her teeth, she advanced instead of retreating. "The second sword: Sword Qi Soars and Shoots the Dipper!"

In the next instant, the Longsword in Chu Xiuxiu’s hand burst with dazzling light. A beam of Sword Qi several yards long slashed up toward Shen Lang from a cunning and bizarre angle!

This sword strike was unparalleled in might, and its speed made the eyes of the surrounding contestants, who were waiting for their turn, twitch!

An ordinary Martial Artist at the Qi Martial Realm Fifth Heaven, even if they poured their entire Cultivation into the Spiritual Artifact in their hands, could never unleash Sword Qi with such immense Attack Power, let alone one that was several yards long.

Only a Martial Artist like Chu Xiuxiu, empowered by a Sword Martial Soul and specializing in the Sword Dao, could accomplish such a feat.

Compared to Shen Lang, who was just walking forward step by step, this sword strike seemed far, far too fast in the eyes of the crowd.

It even looked as though Shen Lang was about to walk right into the Sword Qi himself.

Under the crowd’s terrified gazes, Shen Lang suddenly took one diagonal step to the left, then one step forward, followed by two steps to the right, before finally leaning his body back!

His movements, which looked like a dance, were a Body Technique that everyone could see clearly. They watched as the gale-like Sword Qi swept right past him, just above his body!

"He dodged it again!"

Someone in the crowd shouted.

However, the people around were all staring blankly at the scene, paying no attention to the person who had shouted.

"Too slow, too weak. The Sword Qi is barely cohesive. It would shatter on impact," Shen Lang said indifferently.

Over the past several days, Shen Lang had been slowly integrating the War Emperor’s memories into his mind.

Aside from his power still being too weak and not yet having truly comprehended the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, in terms of Swordsmanship, the Sword Dao, and other techniques, he was the War Emperor, and the War Emperor was him.

How could the Swordsmanship of a clan like the Chu Family possibly harm him?

The only reason he gave Chu Xiuxiu this chance was that he wanted to take the opportunity to give her a helping hand.

After all, she was Chu Qingcheng’s cousin—one she was quite close with, at that—and she was also very kind-hearted.

Shen Lang had no desire to defeat her immediately and ruin this opportunity for her—the opportunity to enter the Imperial Dragon Sect!

Under Shen Lang’s guidance, not only would her chance to enter the Imperial Dragon Sect not be lost, but he would even create an opportunity to send Chu Xiuxiu directly into the Imperial Dragon Sect!

Seeing Chu Xiuxiu’s Sword Momentum falter, Shen Lang spoke again, "In a great battle, allowing your enemy’s movements to affect you and disrupt the fluid continuity of your Swordsmanship is a fatal mistake."

Cold sweat streamed down her back. Chu Xiuxiu charged forward a few steps, thrusting her Longsword at Shen Lang with an exceptionally graceful posture. "The third sword: Silent Chill of the Gentleman’s Blade! The fourth sword: Scorning the Mortal World with Swift Justice!"

Provoked by Shen Lang, Chu Xiuxiu forcefully linked the last two moves of the Four Swift Swords, surging toward him with overwhelming power!

A look of approval appeared in Shen Lang’s eyes as he stomped his right foot hard on the ground!

"BOOM!"

A sound like cracking thunder echoed across the platform. In the next instant, the crowd saw several afterimages suddenly appear on the stage, as if three or four Shen Langs were sprinting across it at once!

"SHHNK!"

Shen Lang’s figure bizarrely burst through the sky full of sword shadows and appeared right in front of Chu Xiuxiu!

The Four Swift Swords had indeed failed to even touch the hem of his clothes!

"You!"

Chu Xiuxiu’s face was ashen. She subconsciously tried to retreat.

However, compared to Shen Lang, her speed was simply far, far too slow.

The moment Chu Xiuxiu lifted her right foot, Shen Lang’s two fingers were already above her forehead, less than three inches away!

"I’m sorry. It’s over."

Shen Lang’s words made everyone’s hearts leap into their throats.

"Show mercy!"

From the Chu Family’s area, Grand Elder Chu Xicheng shot to his feet with a roar.

But he was a step too slow. The instant he spoke, Shen Lang’s two fingers had already tapped her on the forehead...

Chu Xiuxiu felt a tyrannical power pour into her from his fingers. A numbing sensation spread through her, and all the strength in her body was instantly sealed.

Then, her head spun. In a daze, she was shocked to find that she and Shen Lang had arrived in a wondrous place.

This place was vast and boundless, with no other people or objects in sight. There was only her and Shen Lang.

"Where is this? Why did you bring me here? Who are you?!"

Chu Xiuxiu clenched her right hand and was startled once more!

Somehow, the Longsword that had been in her hand was now in his!

Shen Lang gently blew on the Longsword in his hand and said, "Don’t worry. This is a Consciousness Space created through an illusion."

"A Consciousness Space from an illusion? What are you planning to do?" An anxious look appeared in Chu Xiuxiu’s eyes as she took two steps back.

Shen Lang didn’t answer her. He just said faintly, "The Chu Family’s Four Swift Swords emphasizes speed, precision, and ruthlessness, a doctrine of pressing forward without hesitation. For a family with the Chu Family’s strength to have developed their Swordsmanship to this stage is commendable, but it’s still far too ordinary."

He stood more than twenty meters in front of her and continued leisurely, "Although your disposition seems resolute, you are kind and gentle at heart. This Swordsmanship is meant to be indomitable and decisive in killing, yet in your hands, you always leave your opponent a chance to live. If you were to venture outside, you would easily suffer for it. Therefore, you aren’t actually suited for cultivating this type of Swordsmanship."

"What do you mean by all this? Do you know me?" Hearing Shen Lang’s words, Chu Xiuxiu relaxed a great deal.

In that short time, she had figured it out. With the strength he had displayed, if he had truly wanted to kill her, she would have had no power to resist.

But from his tone, it seemed he had no intention of harming her.

Because of this, Chu Xiuxiu’s anxiety eased considerably.

Shen Lang still didn’t answer her. Instead, he pointed the Longsword diagonally at the ground and said, "There is a style of Swordsmanship that’s very suitable for you, one that is balanced in both offense and defense, with a majestic momentum. I will demonstrate it for you once now. Just remember as much as you can. Although you won’t be able to comprehend it all with your current Cultivation, if you slowly study it and integrate what you do understand into the Chu Family’s Four Swift Swords, the results will be astonishing enough."

"In fact, with my current Cultivation, I can’t even perform these three sword moves myself. I can only demonstrate them for you using this Consciousness Space... After you’ve memorized them, do not pass them on to others, or you may bring a fatal disaster upon yourself! The Chu Family is nowhere near powerful enough to possess Swordsmanship of this Level."

Shen Lang stood there, his entire being seeming like wood or stone, yet as tranquil as still water.

Then, he slowly raised the Longsword in his hand.

This sword was Chu Xiuxiu’s Spiritual Artifact, a First Grade Spiritual Artifact, not a particularly high grade. But in Shen Lang’s hands, at this moment, it radiated a peerless edge!

Wisps of divine aura and Spirit Light coiled around the blade, making the Longsword seem like a pool of autumn water, shimmering with a cold, brilliant light.

Gradually, an ancient, desolate aura began to emanate from Shen Lang. His hair began to move without any wind, and where he stood, a hurricane kicked up, sending clouds and mist flying!

Shen Lang’s eyes were like those of a Demon God, tearing through the ages and blotting out the sun and moon!

"Watch closely. This Swordsmanship is called the Netherworld King’s Three Extremes Sword. It has only three moves, but each move has at least thirty thousand variations. Every form is filled with sky-blotting Evil Qi and is incomparably fierce! When the three swords reach Great Success, it is as if the Netherworld King himself has descended!"

As Shen Lang spoke, he held the Longsword horizontally, stepped forward, and swung!

"First sword, Qingtian, stirs the wind and clouds! Where the blade rises, gods and demons tremble!"

An overwhelming, terrifying, and malevolent aura suddenly exploded from the sword’s blade.

That blood-red evil aura instantly filled the entire world, making Chu Xiuxiu feel her very soul tremble. She couldn’t even breathe!

Then, a beam of Sword Qi like a Sea of Blood descended from the sky.

This Sword Qi was the size of several acres, as if it were tearing apart the Azure Vault and obliterating everything in its path!

Wherever the Sword Qi passed, winds howled and clouds surged. An ethereal, blood-red river of stars ran through its center, as if the Azure Vault itself had been torn in two, spewing forth a gushing torrent of blood. The sight made Chu Xiuxiu’s heart run cold, and she began to tremble, her entire body turning to ice.

"Second sword, Heaven’s Collapse and Earth Split! It shakes gods and demons and puts elves to flight!"

Shen Lang looked down upon the world, an invincible Sword Intent in the depths of his pupils. He united the sword with his body, achieved Integration with the Dao, united the Dao with the heavens, and united the heavens with fate.

At that moment, his entire body was a sword—the one and only Netherworld King’s Sword, unique in all of heaven and earth!

"Third sword, Heaven and Earth sink into oblivion! Yin and Yang reverse, shattering the scales of balance!"

Shen Lang’s thunderous voice echoed throughout the world, deafeningly loud.

The first two swords were already world-shaking, but once the third sword was unleashed, even someone at Chu Xiuxiu’s level of strength could see that the countless variations of the first two were all just preparation for the third!

The first two swords merged into one to become the third sword!

Under Chu Xiuxiu’s gaze, it was as if the entire world had ceased to exist. Only this one sword remained...

The overwhelming, blood-red Sword Qi instantly formed a gigantic Sword Gang—a peerless sword light, its edge perfectly sharp, its power unrivaled in all the world!

"SHHHHHK!"

The Giant Blade tore through space and chopped down directly at Chu Xiuxiu’s head!

"Ah!"

An unprecedented wave of fear instantly shattered Chu Xiuxiu’s fortitude.

She covered her face with her left hand, as if subconsciously trying to block the peerless sword light, and staggered backward!

"STUMBLE STUMBLE STUMBLE... THUD!"

After stumbling back five or six steps, Chu Xiuxiu fell to the ground. When she opened her eyes, she was completely stunned...

She was back on the battle platform in the Martial Arts Arena!

Her right hand still gripped her Longsword, and there wasn’t a single scratch on her. But her entire body was soaked with sweat, her long hair plastered to her skin.

And the Ghost-faced Person stood with his hands behind his back, right where she had been standing before!

"HUFF... HUFF... HUFF..."

Chu Xiuxiu gasped for air, recalling what had just happened, her face a mask of utter disbelief.

"Huh? What just happened? The Ghost-faced Person tapped Chu Xiuxiu’s forehead, and she screamed in terror and stumbled back. What’s going on?"

"Something’s not right. It doesn’t look like the Ghost-faced Person’s finger actually hurt Chu Xiuxiu, does it? From the looks of it, she was just frightened, not injured."

"It’s very likely the Ghost-faced Person used an Illusion Technique on her!"

The surrounding crowd broke into discussion.

In Chu Xiuxiu’s Consciousness Space, Shen Lang had demonstrated the Netherworld King’s Three Extremes Sword for her. But in reality, there had been almost no pause at all. The moment Shen Lang’s finger left Chu Xiuxiu’s forehead, she had screamed in terror, stumbled back, and fallen.

"Xiuxiu! Xiuxiu, are you alright?!"

Someone from the Chu Family’s side shouted.

"I’m fine!" Chu Xiuxiu called back, turning her head.

With that, she slowly stood up, bowed deeply to Shen Lang, and said, "Sir, your guidance is a kindness as great as giving me a new life. I, Xiuxiu, thank you for it! For this match, I concede."

After saying this, Chu Xiuxiu began to walk unsteadily off the platform.

"Wait," Shen Lang called out to her.

"Sir, is there something else?" Chu Xiuxiu was slightly taken aback and gave Shen Lang a deep look as she spoke.

Shen Lang turned his head slightly, his gaze landing on an inconspicuous spot to the north.

That area had been extremely quiet the entire time.

But according to Shen Lang’s perception, there were at least three experts at or above the Xuanwu Realm hidden there, along with more than ten Spirit Martial Realm masters.

No faction within Celestial Phoenix City could possibly field such a powerful lineup.

Aside from the people of the Imperial Dragon Sect, there was basically no other possibility...

Since this martial tournament was for the Imperial Dragon Sect to select talented individuals in Celestial Phoenix City for its Outer Sect, it made sense that the people from the Imperial Dragon Sect would be gathered there.

This was precisely why Shen Lang had taught Chu Xiuxiu the Netherworld King’s Three Extremes Sword.

Retracting his gaze, Shen Lang gave a faint smile and said, "Integrate what you have just comprehended into the Chu Family’s Four Swift Swords, and attack me one more time. Do your best and show me all the strength you can muster."