Chapter 24 Fast Sword

"There's an open space ahead; let's go there," said a disciple from the Divine Power Group.

A group of people surrounded Lin Xuan and walked to the open space, and other curious disciples gathered around, looking eager to watch a spectacle.

"What's going on? Wasn't this settled yesterday? Why is it happening again?" a disciple asked, confused.

"I don't know, it seems like a member of the Divine Power Group has come to challenge Lin Xuan again—it's outright bullying!"

"Damn! Lin Xuan actually accepted the challenge; has he lost his mind? The opponent is from the Divine Power Group; doesn't he know only the elites can enter the Divine Power Group?"

"I bet he will lose miserably, with severe injuries or even disability possible!" Everyone was pessimistic about Lin Xuan's chances because they knew too well the strength of the Divine Power Group members, who were definitely the strong performers within the same rank, otherwise, they wouldn't be in the group.

"Each challenge is for thirty Contribution Points, dare or not?" Lin Xuan said with a smiling face.

"Kid, do you know the rules of the challenge?"

"Nonsense, apart from not killing each other, everything else is fair game, right?" Lin Xuan shrugged his shoulders.

"I hope you can still laugh afterward!" sneered a disciple from the Divine Power Group.

"Less talking, who's coming first!" Lin Xuan's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"I will!" said a skinny disciple as he stepped forward, carrying a treasure sword.

His opponent was a Fourth-stage of Congealing Veins disciple, tall and skinny with an average face, and a golden scimitar hanging at his waist.

A disciple from the Divine Power Group took out a palm-sized jade Array Plate and activated his Spiritual Power. The jade Array Plate grew larger in the wind, and a blood-red banner appeared in the air.

With a loud bang, the blood-colored banner thrust into the ground, forming a closed space of about three meters in diameter, perfectly enveloping Lin Xuan and the Divine Power Group's disciple inside.

This was an Array Flag specifically used for sparring; it created an independent small space that allowed disciples to spar freely while ensuring bystanders were not injured.

The disciple facing Lin Xuan was named Su Xing. His cultivation was at the Peak of the Fourth Rank of Pulse Condensation, just one step away from stepping into the Fifth Level of Pulse Condensing, making him a rare competitor among his peers.

He sneered, drew the golden scimitar from his waist, and his icy eyes instantly fixed on Lin Xuan.

"Ha!" Su Xing shouted explosively, leaping up. The scimitar in his hand turned into a streak of golden light, shot out obliquely, and its sword light flashed, aiming straight for Lin Xuan's chest.

Lin Xuan thrust forward with his sword, the speed of which was astonishing.

Clang!

The longsword, like a dragon, struck the golden saber, the immense force numbing Su Xing's arm. He couldn't believe Lin Xuan's strength was so great.

"Damn it, he's just at the Fourth Rank of Pulse Condensing too, how could he have such strength!" Su Xing was shocked.

"I have to go all out now!" Su Xing had originally planned to toy with him, but now it seemed he had to show his real skills.

"Golden Flame Saber Technique!"

Su Xing roared, a layer of golden light brightening on the blade, looking like golden flames burning.

"I didn't expect Su Xing to start with his real skills right away; it looks like Lin Xuan's chances are slim!"

"Right, it's a Yellow Rank Intermediate Martial Arts after all, and with Su Xing's Peak Fourth Rank of Pulse Condensation Cultivation, I reckon within three moves, Lin Xuan will be defeated," whispered the watching disciples, none of whom were optimistic about Lin Xuan.

Su Xing swung his Flame Saber, stirring up a wave of heat in the air, enveloping Lin Xuan with high temperatures.

Lin Xuan, however, maintained a light smile on his face, his swordsmanship unchanged. Every sword stroke was like thunder from the Nine Heavens tearing through the sky; the cold sword tip cut through the void, aiming a stab right at Su Xing's right shoulder.

"Pu!" Su Xing felt as if struck by thunder, his entire body flying backward and falling to the ground.

"Hisss—"

Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief. No matter what, they could not have imagined that Lin Xuan would defeat Su Xing with a single sword strike, especially since Lin Xuan's cultivation was not considered superior to Su Xing's.

Even the members of the Divine Power Group were astonished. They knew Su Xing's strength very well, which was why they had him lead the charge. In their eyes, Su Xing defeating Lin Xuan was almost a certainty, but against all odds, Su Xing lost decisively.

Cough! Su Xing coughed up a mouthful of blood as he struggled to his feet, his eyes filled with shock.

"You lost, don't forget you owe me thirty Contribution Points," Lin Xuan said as he sheathed his longsword.

Pfft! Su Xing, trembling with anger, couldn't help but spit out another mouthful of fresh blood, unable to accept the outcome.

However, although he was furious, he didn't dare to advance further; that sword strike had been too fast, so fast that he hadn't seen it clearly before being struck down. This clearly demonstrated that Lin Xuan's strength was far superior to his.

"Su Xing, come back here!" a member of the Divine Power Group called.

Reluctantly, Su Xing stepped down from the Array Platform while the members of the Divine Power Group quietly conferred among themselves.

"This kid is tricky, his swordsmanship is very fast."

"Yes, we can't afford to lose again, or our Divine Power Group will lose all face."

"Liang Hong, you're up," the disciple Xing Lifeng, responsible for this operation, commanded.

"All right, let him see what a Fast Sword really is," the disciple called Liang Hong said with a sinister smile.

With his arms crossed and an arrogant look, he stepped onto the Array Platform, his gaze towards Lin Xuan filled with contempt.

"Damn, it's Liang Hong!" Someone in the crowd exclaimed.

"The Divine Power Group is really playing hardball, sending a Fifth Level of Pulse Condensing master, and a Sword Master at that!"

"I wonder if Lin Xuan can withstand this?" Many were filled with anticipation.

"That sword strike earlier was not bad, but against me, you're destined to lose!" Liang Hong declared confidently, "Don't worry, I won't take your life, but you'll need to spend a couple of months in bed."

Lin Xuan arched an eyebrow. He felt a dangerous aura emanating from Liang Hong, but he wasn't afraid; the stronger his opponent, the more excited he was. Su Xing earlier had been too weak, hardly giving him a chance to practice his swordsmanship.

"I hope you can give me a good opportunity to practice the Thunder Move Sword Technique!" Lin Xuan thought expectantly.

"Are your thirty Contribution Points ready?" Lin Xuan asked nonchalantly.

Liang Hong was taken aback, then sneered, "You really are an idiot who doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth!"

He suddenly drew his longsword and charged forward with a swoosh, his longsword glowing red and exuding a bone-chilling coldness as he stabbed at Lin Xuan.

In the air, a flash of red light appeared and reached Lin Xuan in the blink of an eye, its speed eliciting a chorus of astonished yells.

Lin Xuan's pupils contracted; Liang Hong indeed had the skills to be arrogant. Besides his cultivation reaching the Fifth Level of Pulse Condensing, his swordsmanship was even more remarkable. With just one attack, Lin Xuan recognized that Liang Hong was no ordinary opponent.

He took a deep breath and suddenly executed the Thunder Move Sword Technique, stabbing forward just as fast.

Clang!

The two longswords collided, sending sparks flying in midair, the two combatants moving rapidly, each strike as fast as lightning. The audience could hardly see their movements, only catching glimpses of red and green lights fiercely battling.

"Blood Soaked Cold Mountain!" After taking one hard strike, Liang Hong's sword technique suddenly changed, and endless red light spread out, his blade looking as if it had been soaked in fresh blood, extremely eerie.

"It's a sword skill! Liang Hong is getting serious now!" A member of the Divine Power Group exclaimed. They hadn't expected Lin Xuan to push Liang Hong to use a sword skill, considering the gap between their levels.

"Kid, you're seeking your own death, and I'll oblige you!" Liang Hong's eyes turned blood-red, akin to a bloodthirsty Demon King.

He transformed into a blood light, charging at Lin Xuan. The whole space seemed to split in two, leaving only a trail of blood light moving rapidly.

"A sword skill, huh?" Lin Xuan's eyes sparkled. His aura surged, and his Black Iron Sword instantly transformed into a Divine Thunder.