Chapter 0020

Chapter 20: Instantly Beats Tang Qi

On the arena, Long Ling Yun and Tang Qi faced each other. Before they even moved, a cold sword qi spread out and made everyone’s skin prickle.

Someone whispered with awe: “What a powerful aura. They look evenly matched. We’re about to see a great duel.”

Another person snapped back: “Nonsense, junior brother is much stronger than that woman. The fight will end fast.”

Ge Hong Qiu spoke without thinking as she stared at Tang Qi with open worship: “Junior brother is unbeatable.”

Chen Ling’er’s face turned serious as she watched: “Do not be careless. This woman is not simple.” Among everyone present, Chen Ling’er’s Sword Dao ranked near the top, and she had even received the baptism of the Heavenly Dao, so she saw more than others.

The little demoness perked up, studied the woman on stage, and kept flexing and clenching her right hand. She was treating Long Ling Yun as a pretend enemy and running a duel in her head. [If it is just Sword Dao, I am not as good as her.]

A moment later she looked at Zhou Tong and asked: “Who do you think will win?”

Every gaze shifted to Zhou Tong. Even with his cultivation ruined, he had once been a king among the young generation, and his eye for battle was far from ordinary.

Jiang Yu Yao scoffed from the side: “What could a cripple know? He only wants attention.”

The little demoness shot her a glance, and Jiang Yu Yao fell silent at once.

Zhou Tong spoke calmly: “There is no suspense here. The winner will be decided within three moves, and the result is Tang Qi’s crushing defeat.”

His words were like a stone thrown into a lake, stirring a thousand waves. People stared at him, shocked.

Someone protested: “Impossible. Tang Qi is a top genius and has received the Sword Dao baptism. Among the young, there might not even be someone who can beat him by a single move.”

Chen Ling’er mocked him, still angry about a past slap and eager to press him down with words: “You’re mad with jealousy. What an ugly joke.”

Zhou Tong gave her only contempt: “Chen Ling’er, your talent is average at best. I should never have helped you hold the Heavenly Dao summoning ceremony. Even if that chance were given to a pig, the pig would gain bright Sword Eyes and not be a blind person with open eyes.”

“Enough,” Mo Liu Su said coldly: “You are not qualified to judge Ling’er.”

Zhou Tong met her gaze without fear and said: “First time I’ve heard you need special qualifications to judge trash. As trash, she did do one thing right. She learned to sort herself. Trash should stay with trash.”

That sentence crashed through the crowd like thunder from the Nine Heavens. Zhou Tong had just insulted everyone under Mo Liu Su’s teaching.

“You—” Mo Liu Su’s pupils tightened. Heat surged through her. She could not tell if it was anger or shame, only that her heart hurt. It was not supposed to be like this. In the past, Zhou Tong’s eyes had held only respect and devoted warmth when he looked at her. Whenever she felt restless and exhausted, those eyes calmed her and scattered her doubts. Now his eyes held only dislike and mockery, and all his gentleness had been given to someone else. [This is wrong. It should not be like this.] Outwardly she seemed calm, but inside she was torn. It felt like two wills were colliding within her: one wished to be cared for, the other insisted on staying proud and above all. She did not know what to do.

A boom from the arena snapped everyone back to the fight. Tang Qi moved first. Holding a Heavenly Dao sword, he gathered the energy of heaven and earth and shaped it into a giant blade more than one hundred feet tall that came chopping down. People trembled at the sight.

He moved with Heaven and turned it into Dao; he turned matter into spirit. This was a very high realm. Only by crossing the mortal barrier and stepping into the Heaven-Slashing Realm could a person master it, yet Tang Qi used it as if it were nothing.

Jiang Yu Yao sniffed with scorn: “Let’s see how that woman blocks this. Three moves to beat junior brother? What a joke.” In her mind, this one attack had already decided the winner, and she was busy planning how to shame Zhou Tong afterward.

But the next instant, her expression froze.

Long Ling Yun’s eyes were clear. Gripping her simple ancient sword, she gave a light swing forward. Wind and thunder roared. Another giant sword appeared in the sky, the same turning of matter into spirit that made the crowd cheer despite themselves.

The blades crossed with lightning and thunder. Sword qi wove and slashed through the air. Even the clouds above were torn to shreds.

Tang Qi’s face grew solemn. After probing, he finally took her seriously. Long Ling Yun was truly not simple. Yet his confidence did not fade. He felt certain he would win.

He called out with calm arrogance: “Miss Long, if you cannot take what comes next, surrender early. I can pull back in time.”

He took a step back and leaped into the air. Behind him, countless lights bloomed, bright like a river of stars.

“All Heavens Stars,” someone breathed. It was his signature sword art, the move he used to win without fail. Among his peers, almost none escaped it unscathed. Star after star poured down, lighting the world and leaving nowhere to flee. This looked like the peak of sword technique, already touching the threshold of momentum.

In the Sword Dao, when technique is complete it becomes momentum, and when momentum is broken it becomes Dao. Sword technique, sword momentum, and the Sword Dao mark the layers of the path. In this world, those who grasp sword momentum are rare. As for the Sword Dao itself, that exists only in legends.

“It’s over. Long Ling Yun cannot turn this around,” someone said with certainty. Unless she had learned sword momentum, she could only become prey before the peak of sword technique. Once again, the crowd turned to Zhou Tong, waiting to see how he would explain himself.

Zhou Tong nodded slightly: “It should end indeed.”

Before his words faded, the battle reversed. Long Ling Yun slid two fingers down her blade. A force like a king over all things burst from her. People felt their hair stand on end, as if a sword hung above their heads ready to end them at any second. Even the starry rain formed by sword qi began to tremble, then broke one after another and vanished.

“Sword momentum,” gasped voices from the stands.

An old expert choked out his verdict: “I am not mistaken. Present everywhere, unstoppable, breaking what is hard and succeeding wherever it goes. That is sword momentum.”

“Cut,” Long Ling Yun said as she flicked her sword. Though more than thirty feet separated them, Tang Qi jolted like he had been struck by lightning. He fell like a bird with a broken wing, blood spilling from his mouth.

The outcome was decided.

Ge Hong Qiu shrieked and rushed as if to kill: “Wretch, you dared hurt my junior brother, I’ll take your life—” but then she met Long Ling Yun’s eyes and almost lost control on the spot, fear freezing her in place.

Tang Qi pushed himself up, face tight with unwillingness, and forced the words out: “I lost.” He had lost without suspense because he had met a force from a higher floor.

He tried to comfort his pride: “Miss Long’s Sword Dao is strong, but in a real battle she might not be my match.”

Long Ling Yun did not even spare him a glance. She had heard too many boasts from losers. She turned to face Zhou Tong instead and lifted her chin: “Next, it’s your turn.”