Chapter 24: The Ferocious Might of the Abyssal Heavy Sword

As Lu Chengfeng stepped outside the hall, he was met with Zhou Tong's cheerful laughter. Looking up, he saw Zhou grinning at him. "Junior Brother, how was it? Did Master scare you?"

Lu Chengfeng gave a wry smile, realizing that while Zhou Tong appeared straightforward, he had a mischievous side. With a dramatic sigh, he responded, "It seems I'm destined not to become a true disciple. I accidentally angered Master and was just expelled from the mountain."

Zhou Tong's expression froze in shock. "How could that be?" He frowned slightly. "Wait here; I'll plead with Master on your behalf to take back her command."

However, as he glanced at the scroll Lu Chengfeng held, understanding dawned, and he laughed, "You sly fellow! You're making fun of me, aren't you?"

"Haha, learned it from you, Senior Brother!" Lu Chengfeng shot back, not missing a beat.

After sharing a few laughs, Zhou Tong asked, "Are you planning to stay on Yuxian Peak for training, or are you going back to your Bixiao Peak?"

Without hesitation, Lu Chengfeng replied, "I'll be returning to Bixiao Peak, of course. With a lovely wife waiting for me, why would I stay here?"

Zhou Tong's mouth twitched slightly in exasperation. "You're really insufferable."

"Well, that's the perk of being daring enough to marry one's master's widow," Lu Chengfeng teased.

Zhou Tong could only grit his teeth, feigning annoyance. "Clearly, you have no respect for seniority. Very well, then; let's see if you can handle the Five Elements Returning to Origin Sword Manual."

Lu Chengfeng's eyes lit up, understanding that his senior brother intended to teach him a lesson. "Lead the way, Senior Brother. I'd love to see your expertise firsthand."

They bantered as they walked, eventually reaching a training ground on a cliff edge, surrounded by mist and overlooking a vast sea of clouds. The view made the area feel as though it floated high above the world.

"This is the Cloudgold Summit, where we practice martial arts. If you're ever here training, feel free to use this place for your sword practice," Zhou Tong explained, positioning himself on the platform. He then moved his right hand to his back, gripping the hilt of a massive sword strapped across his shoulders.

The sword was broader than an average blade, measuring about three inches wide and five feet long, exuding an aura of sheer strength. It lacked a scabbard, held in place only by a leather strap. Zhou Tong drew the sword with a fierce shout, assuming a battle stance with one leg forward, the blade dragging behind him.

"Junior Brother, be on guard. This Abyssal Sword was forged from black iron and meteoric stone. It's as unbreakable as it is heavy, and it's felled countless outlaws and beasts. If you can't withstand it, step back—don't force yourself."

Seeing Zhou Tong's serious expression, Lu Chengfeng's eyes filled with determination. He slowly removed his sword, still sheathed, holding it firmly. "Please, Senior Brother, show me your technique. Although I'm new, I've trained diligently in swordsmanship and would like to test myself against your skill."

Zhou Tong's tone turned solemn. "Keeping your sword sheathed—is that a show of disdain?"

Lu Chengfeng shook his head. "This scabbard was a gift from Elder Yun Mo, made of rare metal, and is more resilient than my Cold Cicada Sword. Your Abyssal Sword is mighty, and I wouldn't want to risk damaging my blade without reason."

"So be it," Zhou Tong said, ceasing further questions. With a fierce roar, his entire aura transformed, exuding the dominance of an unmatched warrior. His Abyssal Sword scraped the stone ground, sparking and emitting an ear-piercing screech.

"Five Elements Returning to Origin Manual—Mountain Severing Strike!"

With a shout that resonated through the peak, Zhou Tong's heavy sword surged upward with incredible speed, unleashing a mighty gale that tore through the air.

The strike was raw power—bold, massive, domineering, and swift—a single slash embodying the might to cleave mountains.

For a split second, Lu Chengfeng's vision darkened, as if he were beneath a collapsing mountain. His breath seized as he felt the weight of impending doom.

Without drawing his sword, he sprang lightly to the side like a willow in the wind, avoiding the fierce blow. He then counterattacked from an angle, his hand flicking the Cold Cicada Sword within its scabbard. He launched thirteen swift strikes in succession, a fluid sequence from the Bixiao Sword Technique, designed to deflect an opponent's power and, when timed perfectly, launch a devastating counterattack.

Yet Zhou Tong wasn't an ordinary adversary. As Lu Chengfeng's blade approached, Zhou Tong's Abyssal Sword swung in a wide arc, smashing forward like an impenetrable wall.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of thirteen strikes in rapid succession echoed as Lu Chengfeng felt a tremendous force from Zhou Tong's sword. He staggered backward, his hand and arm numb from the collision, barely holding onto his weapon.

Zhou Tong wasn't done. "Five Elements Returning to Origin Manual—Earth-Splitting Slash!" he roared, launching into the air, sword poised above Lu Chengfeng, ready to strike down with immense power.

The wind howled, the sheer force of his jump creating ripples in the air. The descent of the Abyssal Sword was swift, merging both strength and speed into a terrifying blow.

"I can't block this!" Lu Chengfeng thought, his heart pounding. Were it not for his recent breakthrough to the tenth level of the Blue Sea and Clear Sky internal art, he doubted he could've survived even the first move.

Zhou Tong's power escalated with each strike, imbuing his attacks with a ferocity that seemed capable of sundering mountains and tearing the earth itself.

Lu Chengfeng's clothes billowed in the fierce wind, his hair whipped about wildly, and even his eyes stung from the sheer force radiating from the oncoming strike. The aura Zhou Tong projected was overwhelmingly aggressive, like a raging tiger or a powerful bear, carrying an unstoppable force.

"Can't let him look down on me!" Lu Chengfeng narrowed his eyes, focusing. Although his sword was still sheathed, an inch-long blade of qi emerged from the tip, its edge radiating a biting chill.

With a sharp, slicing sound, the qi blade shot upward, colliding with Zhou Tong's powerful slash. The impact sent sparks flying, a section of Lu Chengfeng's sleeve tearing away and fluttering to the ground as he strained to withstand the force.

The clash of sword qi and physical strength reverberated across the summit, leaving both men standing on the mis

t-covered peak, breathless and intensely aware of each other's power.