Seven-Star Swordsman

Seven-Star Swordsman . . .

In the heart of the Cloudheaven Arena, a brewing storm of audacity and ambition was unfurling before the eyes of the mesmerized crowd. Qin Wentian, that audacious warrior with a penchant for defying the limits of possibility, had just issued a challenge that sent ripples of disbelief through the assembled onlookers.

His target? None other than a sixth-level ascendant, Li Yu, a formidable sword cultivator whose reputation for wielding the blade was nothing short of legendary. But what set Qin Wentian's challenge apart from the norm was the audacious leap he intended to take—two cultivation levels above his own. It was a feat that defied logic and convention, akin to dancing on the precipice of madness.

As Qin Wentian and Gu Zhantian exchanged their enigmatic glances, it became abundantly clear that a subtle rivalry was taking shape between them. Gu Zhantian, the aspiring top contender, had embarked on his own daring "journey," challenging eighth-level ascendants while standing at the precipice of the seventh level. His goal was clear: to transform his battle halo into the coveted violet-gold hue. Yet, in this very moment, Qin Wentian's audacity had seemingly upstaged him, daring to leap two levels with the fearless intent of a warrior poised for war.

"I'll challenge one level above? Watch me jump two," seemed to be Qin Wentian's unspoken retort, a proclamation that sent shockwaves through the hearts of all who bore witness to this audacious display. To engage in combat with opponents who were, without exception, extraordinary individuals, each boasting a battle halo of at least 10,000 meters, was a statement of unbridled courage and resolve.

Indeed, only the fiercest of combatants remained on the Cloudheaven Arena's platforms, as the weaker contenders had wisely retreated to the safety of the sidelines, well aware that their battle qi would become easy prey in the presence of such formidable adversaries.

Li Yu, the chosen opponent of this audacious leap, was a force to be reckoned with. As a sixth-level ascendant, his mastery of swordplay was a testament to his formidable skills. His sword techniques, shrouded in an aura of mysticism, had vanquished countless opponents, amassing a battle halo that soared beyond 10,000 meters. He was a relatively new participant, and his meteoric rise had been nothing short of remarkable.

The crowd below couldn't help but murmur with recognition as they beheld Li Yu's presence. He hailed from the illustrious Starasura Sword Sect, a powerhouse that needed no introduction.

"Haha, that's Li Yu for you, the Seven-Star Swordsman of the Starasura Sword Sect. His swordsmanship is truly peerless," one observer commented with admiration. "But this time, Qin Wentian's 170,000-meter battle halo might be in grave jeopardy. The disparity in cultivation levels isn't something to be trifled with, and Li Yu is no pushover."

The experts from the Starasura Sword Sect, witnessing this unfolding drama, radiated an aura of fierce determination. An elderly figure among them offered his insight, "This is a rare opportunity for Li Yu. If he triumphs over Qin Wentian, his battle halo will instantly swell to 180,000 meters, second only to Gu Zhantian. Victory in this bout would grant him the luxury of resting as a spectator for the remainder of the selection test, an unprecedented advantage."

The mere notion of an 180,000-meter battle halo was a terrifying prospect. By the time the selection test concluded, very few would have achieved such a monumental feat, and their numbers were unlikely to exceed ten.

Li Yu's gaze, sharp as the blade he wielded, locked onto the towering figure of Qin Wentian. Despite the 1,500-meter colossus before him, he emanated a presence so overwhelmingly sharp that it seemed to threaten even the mightiest of warriors.

Yet, there was an air of confidence that enveloped Li Yu, a quiet assurance that stemmed from his unwavering belief in his own skills. "Your audacity in challenging me is truly commendable," he remarked, his voice steady and resolute. "But I must regretfully inform you that your 170,000-meter battle halo will soon be mine."

With those words, an aura of profound calm settled over Li Yu, but it was a deceptive tranquility. In the blink of an eye, a tempest of terrifying sword qi erupted around him, shrouding the battle platform in a whirlwind of unstoppable power.

From the heavens, a resplendent diagram materialized, casting a luminous glow that enveloped the entire arena. It was a colossal sword-shaped formation, an intricate masterpiece that seemed to meld seamlessly with Li Yu's very essence. The diagram hung suspended in mid-air, exuding an aura of unparalleled swordsmanship. As radiant streams of sword light cascaded from its core, Li Yu emerged as an indomitable sword saint, every fiber of his being an embodiment of precision and supremacy.

Within the sprawling expanse of the Cloudheaven Arena, where the very air thrummed with anticipation, Qin Wentian, the towering titan of the moment, had a nonchalant yet spirited declaration to make.

"I'm not just a giant; I'm proficient in the way of the sword too," Qin Wentian proclaimed, his colossal 1,500-meter figure casting a formidable shadow that could have obliterated Li Yu with a mere flick of his fingers. But beneath that colossal exterior lay a prudent mind, one that refused to underestimate his opponent. For even the mightiest body required protection when faced with an adversary of sufficient strength.

And so, in a mesmerizing display of celestial power, his Sword Slaughter Constellation materialized in the heavens, enveloping him in an aura of boundless sword might. In this moment, the two combatants bore an uncanny resemblance, for both had become living incarnations of the sword.

Qin Wentian exuded the aura of a sovereign swordsman, a master of blades who controlled the very fabric of reality. In contrast, Li Yu embodied the essence of a sword, teeming with vitality and a thirst for annihilation, exuding an apocalyptic force that sent shivers down spines.

Li Yu, the sixth-level ascendant, chose his moment to strike. In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a streak of radiant swordlight, closing the gap between them with breathtaking speed. His blade cleaved the air with the elegance of a maestro, releasing a resplendent sword beam that tore through the very fabric of space. The power contained within this sword beam was enough to cleave Qin Wentian in twain, no doubt about it.

But Qin Wentian was no mere spectator in this dance of blades. With a flourish of his hands, the Sword Slaughter Constellation blazed to life, illuminating the arena with its dazzling brilliance. Out of the constellation, an onslaught of razor-sharp swords materialized, creating a formidable screen of blades. However, Li Yu's assault sliced through the screen as though it were parchment, splitting it cleanly down the middle. It was evident that relying solely on the power of his constellation wouldn't suffice to halt Li Yu's sword.

After all, this was a strike delivered by a sixth-level ascendant—no trifling matter.

In that instant, a cataclysmic black sword surged forth with indomitable force. A thunderous rumble shook the very foundation of space as the colossal black blade, the veritable monarch of swords, thrust forward with a menacing intent to annihilate all. The impact generated a shockwave of swordlight that forced Qin Wentian to stomp his foot upon the platform, anchoring himself in place. His body shimmered with resplendent runic inscriptions, effectively repelling the shockwave's assault.

Yet, as Li Yu's swordlight dissipated, Qin Wentian sensed a chilling foreboding wash over him. A palpable sense of impending doom seized him, and in the next instant, Li Yu materialized before him once more. The celestial swordsman's blade slashed upward from bottom to top, creating a thin rupture in the very heavens. This strike, if it landed, would surely bisect its target.

"BANG!" Qin Wentian ascended into the heavens with lightning speed, despite his towering 1,500-meter stature. The black giant sword descended with overwhelming might, conjuring a vortex of sword qi at its tip, rending asunder everything in its path.

With an unwavering gaze, Qin Wentian locked eyes with Li Yu. His opponent moved like a streak of swordlight, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye. Suddenly, Li Yu reappeared near Qin Wentian's waist, executing a horizontal slash that resonated with terrifying might. Li Yu harnessed his smaller size to unleash a relentless torrent of sword techniques.

Qin Wentian's palm pulsated with formidable runic inscriptions as he reached out to intercept the incoming blade. His palms bore the power to annihilate and suppress all, a force more formidable than divine weapons.

"Bang!" The sword clashed with the colossal palm imprint, sparking brilliant astral flares. Qin Wentian felt a searing burn in his palm as the swordlight threatened to rupture his unbreakable defense. Simultaneously, Li Yu experienced the powerful backlash, feeling as though the heavens themselves quivered in response.

With the agility of a lightning bolt, Li Yu shot upward into the sky, bathed in the radiant glow of the sword diagram, which cascaded down upon him like a torrent of celestial swords. His entire being resonated with boundless sword might as he stood cloaked in its embrace.

Li Yu understood that, in his current state, he could damage Qin Wentian but not vanquish him. To secure victory, he needed to harness overwhelming strength, focusing his attacks on raw power rather than speed or technique.

"Proficiency in the sword is commendable, but how can it compare to a dedicated sword cultivator like myself?" Li Yu queried, a wave of his hand conjuring an enormous sword diagram beneath his feet. It mirrored the brilliance of the celestial sword diagram in the heavens. Countless blades emerged from the diagram, alongside several incarnations of Li Yu, each poised for a breathtaking battle that would determine the victor in this celestial contest of blades.

In the heart of the Cloudheaven Arena, the clash of titans reached a crescendo as streams of sword might, each possessing the destructive force to rend the very fabric of existence, burst forth like a tempest unleashed. The celestial battleground quaked beneath the relentless power of these two formidable swordsmen, Li Yu and Qin Wentian.

A deafening "RUMBLE~" reverberated through the arena as the two colossal sword diagrams wielded by Li Yu exploded into a symphony of destructive sword qi, casting a surreal haze over the space. Around them, the multiple incarnations of Li Yu, each a mesmerizing blur of motion, engaged in a breathtaking sword dance that defied the laws of physics.

"DIE!" The chilling proclamation pierced the air like an icy dagger. Seven incarnations of Li Yu, akin to radiant stars, moved with a synchronicity that seemed almost otherworldly, converging on Qin Wentian from seven distinct angles. Each of their swords emitted a dazzling sword light, each measuring an astounding 1,000 meters in length. These incandescent blades surged forward, carrying with them the volcanic fury of an impending cataclysm.

Undaunted, Qin Wentian responded with a thrust of his sword fingers, a manifestation of the King Sword's unforgiving power. In an instant, the radiating sword might surged forward, clashing head-on with the celestial onslaught of Li Yu's seven star swords.

But the brilliance of those seven star swords refused to wane; instead, it grew more blinding by the moment, piercing through the field of sword might cast by the King Sword with relentless determination, closing in on Qin Wentian's position.

With swift mastery, Qin Wentian conjured a colossal, ancient shield before him, directing the formidable energy of his palms to envelop it in a shimmering, protective glow. Yet, in the face of Li Yu's relentless assault, the ancient shield succumbed with an explosive cacophony, crumbling under the overwhelming force of the seven star swords.

"ERADICATE!" Astral light burst forth, as the skies above were darkened by the countless palm shadows that seemed to multiply in number. Qin Wentian, with an unyielding determination, managed to repel the overwhelming might of the seven star swords. However, in the very same instant, Li Yu unleashed his second strike—an extension of his Seven Star Sword Art. This time, the seven blades brimmed with the devastating power of calamitous lightning.

"A true Seven-Star Swordsman," the spectators whispered in awe, their admiration palpable in the hushed tones of their voices. The boundless sword might radiating from the battle platform appeared to dance to the tune of Li Yu's swordsmanship, a testament to his unwavering control over the tumultuous energy.

A sudden, dazzling golden light erupted from Qin Wentian's being, and behind him manifested a violet-gold astral soul—a towering giant gleaming with resplendent light and standing an astonishing 3,333 meters tall.

"A violet-gold astral soul!" The crowd had suspected as much, given the hints of violet-gold hue within Qin Wentian's Suppressive Annihilation Constellation. Yet, the confirmation sent shivers down their spines.

With a single earth-shattering punch, numerous titanic figures of suppression materialized and surged forth. The devastating sword might wielded by Li Yu found itself quashed entirely, with even the once-razor-sharp sword qi now dulled in its presence.

"KILL!" Qin Wentian bellowed, his rage resounding like a thunderclap. He stamped into the air, an intense light radiating from his very being. The brilliance that enveloped him was suffused with the might of suppressive annihilation, as more colossal figures of suppression manifested and surged forward, each an embodiment of crushing force.

"If Li Yu were but an ordinary sixth-level ascendant, he would surely falter before the overpowering might of this suppression-type constellation. Forged from a violet-gold astral soul, the sheer pressure it exuded could vanquish all in its path without Qin Wentian even needing to lift a finger." The hearts of the spectators quivered as they bore witness to the unparalleled might of Qin Wentian, a celestial force to be reckoned with.