Chapter 13: Sword Cuts Through Blue Peak, Commanding the Scene

Xue Dulong's hulking form stood before the gathered disciples, looking around with a domineering sneer. "Who are you to speak to an elder like this? You have no idea what you're up against."

He turned to his followers. "Take them all down."

"Yes, Elder." Several disciples immediately stepped forward, prepared to assault Su Wanqing and Li Mo.

Seeing this, Su Wanqing swiftly drew her sword, her face cold and her voice sharp. "Xue Dulong, don't think that just because you're an outer peak elder, you can act with impunity. Offend the wrong people, and you won't even know how you met your end."

Xue Dulong's disciples sneered in response, displaying the same ruthlessness as their leader. "Bixiao Peak now belongs to Elder Xue! Resisting him is a grave offense. Kneel!"

With these words, seven or eight disciples raised their swords, each blow aimed with deadly intent, showing no mercy as if striking lifelong enemies.

"Enough!"

Lu Chengfeng stepped forward, positioning himself between the Bixiao Peak disciples and the aggressors. With a flick of his wrist, his Cold Cicada Sword remained sheathed as he spun it like a dragon, creating eight phantom sword shadows. Each shadow struck with pinpoint accuracy on the spine of his opponents' blades.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

In a flurry of sharp clinks, the seven or eight disciples from Canglong Peak recoiled in pain, dropping their swords as if struck by lightning. The swords fell to the ground, embedding partially into the earth, forming a neat line that blocked the path before Xue Dulong's followers.

"So, you've been honing your swordsmanship," Xue Dulong muttered, a dark expression crossing his face. The precision of Lu Chengfeng's moves was beyond the norm. Had he not lacked the manifestation of sword energy, Xue Dulong would have mistaken him for a swordsman of the tenth level.

"Lu Chengfeng, I see you're still defiant. I'll teach you a lesson and show you what real power looks like." He reached behind him, producing two short spears, one in each hand, pointed downward. The blackened, gold-etched serpents on the spears twisted with menace.

These were Xue Dulong's infamous Black Wind Poison Dragon Spears, forged from rare metals and chilling to the touch. The spears were durable and razor-sharp. Although a slight flaw in craftsmanship had kept them from becoming ranked weapons, they were still formidable.

With his weapons in hand, Xue Dulong's aura transformed, like a venomous serpent poised to strike, exuding a feral hostility.

Lu Chengfeng narrowed his eyes and placed his hand on his sword hilt.

With a resonant hum, his blade left its sheath, a flash of white light slicing through the air. A cold arc of sword energy extended a foot from the blade, passing effortlessly through the swords embedded in the ground, severing each one.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The severed blades clattered to the ground, and for a moment, everyone was stunned. Both Bixiao and Canglong Peak disciples stared in silence, their expressions a mix of shock and awe.

After a long pause, Li Mo exclaimed, "How can this be? Senior Brother, you've reached the tenth level in swordsmanship?"

Su Wanqing's eyes widened in disbelief, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "There's no mistake. One foot of sword energy, cutting through metal like butter—this is the hallmark of the tenth level in swordsmanship."

Bixiao Peak disciples were ecstatic, their faces glowing with excitement and admiration.

"Senior Brother has reached the tenth level! This means he's eligible to become an elder, too!"

"That's incredible! Our peak is saved!"

"So young and already an elder—what talent!"

"I knew Senior Brother wouldn't let us down."

Meanwhile, the disciples from Canglong Peak were equally astounded, their initial disbelief turning to fear and anxiety.

"Is he really just twenty? How could he already be wielding sword energy?"

"If I hadn't seen it myself, I wouldn't believe it. It's beyond comprehension."

"This could spell trouble…"

Xue Dulong's expression grew grim. Lu Chengfeng's mastery of sword energy at such a young age was rare even within the entire Yun Cang Sword Sect—a prodigy in every sense of the word.

"This brat will be a major threat if left alive."

With such talent, it wouldn't be long before Lu Chengfeng rose to prominence within the sect.

Resolved, he thought, If I can't kill him outright today, I'll cripple him.

"Lu Chengfeng, while you may have reached the tenth level, you haven't yet passed the sect's formal evaluation. To defy an elder in front of everyone is a serious transgression," Xue Dulong sneered, holding his spears aloft. "I'll show you that defying an elder comes at a price."

Lu Chengfeng met Xue Dulong's cold gaze. "You should know that according to sect rules, any disciple or elder with a tenth-level mastery or above may challenge one another on the Sword Trial Platform if their differences are irreconcilable."

He continued, his voice calm but laced with iron resolve. "You have repeatedly insulted my wife, tried to usurp Bixiao Peak, and acted with malice. For this, I cannot forgive you. One of us will leave here alive, the other dead."

"If you have the courage, meet me on the Sword Trial Platform."

Xue Dulong's readiness to strike faltered as he looked into Lu Chengfeng's unwavering eyes. Anger and disdain flared in him. "Think I'm scared of you? Today, I'll smash your head in."

"And after that, I'll take good care of that pretty wife of yours."

Without another word, Lu Chengfeng leapt toward the foot of the mountain, his figure flashing forward.

Xue Dulong snorted, wasting no time in pursuing him.

Both men moved with blinding speed, leaving the rest of the disciples behind in mere seconds.

Seeing this, Su Wanqing and Li Mo immediately follow

ed, while the remaining Canglong Peak disciples hesitated before hurrying after them.