Chapter 034
Chapter 34: Armor One Divine Sword
Bai Yuan’s house had been destroyed by the previous trial takers, and now, they lived not far from Wang Jie.
The dim streetlights cast long shadows on the ground, and upstairs, Bai Yuan gazed down below, lost in thought.
A knock sounded at the door.
“It’s me, Dad.”
Bai Yuan turned, his heavy expression fading to be replaced by a smile. “Come in.”
Bai Xiao entered, a beautiful young girl who warmed some porridge for Bai Yuan.
“I’m not hungry, dear.”
Bai Xiao gently pressed on his stiff shoulders, guiding him to sit down. “Do you feel confident about tomorrow?”
Bai Yuan smiled. “Of course. Your father is invincible in battle.”
Bai Xiao paused for a moment. “If you told me you weren’t confident, I’d be relieved.”
Bai Yuan fell silent for a moment. “Little Xiao, I’m sorry.”
“Dad, I’ve fallen in love.”
Bai Yuan suddenly stood, staring at her. “Who is it?”
Bai Xiao flashed a playful smile at him, then walked out of the study. “I’ll tell you tomorrow, at this time.”
Bai Yuan opened his mouth, as if to say something, but only a bitter smile escaped. Tomorrow, at this time? He could only hope he would still be alive.
The Three Gods and Five Extremes, the first batch of cultivators to emerge after the apocalyptic catastrophe on Blue Star, were created as legends to combat the impending disaster. But as more trial takers arrived, those legends shattered one by one.
And in the current legend, the only one still standing was Bai Yuan.
The second batch of trial takers had been slain by Bai Yuan in a single strike, even shocking Wen Zhao. Thus, if Yun Lai wanted to conquer Blue Star, he would first have to overcome Bai Yuan.
Outside Upper Capital City Base, Yun Lai stood casually with one hand behind his back, gazing out at the dilapidated tents in the distance, a stark contrast to his elegant stance.
Apart from the cultivators stationed at various defensive points, nearly all the other cultivators had gathered. Over one hundred thousand were assembled within and outside the city. This sight was something Yun Lai enjoyed—something he could never experience in Armor One Sect.
Even if Armor One Sect had this many disciples watching, they wouldn’t be looking at him, but at those top-tier true disciples—the senior brothers and sisters who seemed like monsters to him.
“I didn’t think last night would be peaceful. You’re even more foolish than I imagined,” Yun Lai said, smirking as he looked at Bai Yuan.
Bai Yuan drew his sword from his sleeve, gripping the hilt as firmly as when he had faced the second batch of trial takers. “Maybe, but you’re not that smart yourself.”
Yun Lai sneered. “Make your move.”
Bai Yuan tightened his grip and, under the watchful eyes of many cultivators, took slow, deliberate steps toward Yun Lai. His pace was so slow that it seemed like a stroll.
Among the crowd, Bai Xiao clutched her black cat, her heart in her throat.
Wang Jie and the others watched quietly, wondering just how much of Yun Lai’s power Bai Yuan could provoke.
Finally, Bai Yuan stopped in front of Yun Lai, raised his sword, and struck.
This sword was as elusive as the first, so fast that it seemed like a mere motion, and the sword was gone.
Yun Lai remained still, not moving.
Bai Yuan’s sword slowly came into view for the onlookers.
Everyone held their breath, staring fixedly.
A crack spread from the sword’s edge, followed by a loud snap. Bai Yuan looked down at the hilt in his hand, letting out a deep sigh. So, it was useless after all.
On the other side, Yun Lai’s lips curled upward. “Fast Shadow, as expected. It’s fast, with all your force condensed into the sword’s edge. If it weren’t for me, even ordinary nine seals wouldn’t be able to block this sword. And you should’ve been able to strike at least three times, meaning you could defeat all the other trial takers who came with me. That’s quite extraordinary among the natives.”
“Too bad you met me.”
Bai Yuan let go of the hilt, letting it fall with a soft clink.
The cultivators both inside and outside the base sank in despair. It was over—Blue Star’s strongest had been defeated.
They now understood just how powerful Bai Yuan truly was, but it came from the mouth of their enemy.
“Do you need me to make a move?” Yun Lai raised his right hand, slowly curling his fingers, as though a small arrow was forming in his palm, aimed directly at Bai Yuan.
Though small, the arrow exuded a chill that spread over the entire Upper Capital City Base.
Bai Xiao’s face turned pale, and she couldn’t help but rush forward.
“There’s one more sword,” Bai Yuan suddenly spoke, looking at Yun Lai. His words seemed directed at Bai Xiao. “Little Xiao, do you think I can strike that one?”
Bai Xiao stood frozen, eyes wide. Could Dad strike that sword?
Yun Lai grew impatient. “Don’t test my patience.”
Bai Yuan took a step back. “Little brother, I told you I would help you reach first-class status. Why rush?”
Yun Lai’s voice turned cold. “If it’s just Fast Shadow, no matter how many swords you strike, it won’t work. You and I have an innate gap.”
Bai Yuan looked up at the sky. “This sky projection, I can see quite a few figures, all wielding swords. Among them, there’s one whose swordplay I can’t understand. Even though I’ve mastered Fast Shadow, I still don’t understand it.”
“I’ve watched him for ten years.”
“Ten years. Ten years, apart from Fast Shadow, I’ve practiced nothing else, just watching that figure.” He turned to Yun Lai with a smile. “Finally, when you all descended, on the day the Heaven Stone surged and released its imprint power, I understood.”
“This sword is very strong.”
Yun Lai furrowed his brows. It was impossible. Fast Shadow was already one of the eighteen ultimate techniques, ranked among the top in Armor One Sect. To practice Fast Shadow and not understand another sword technique for ten years? How could that be?
Bai Yuan pulled out a second sword, one neither made of copper nor iron but of plastic. It looked like a toy, with a peculiar design, more like a broad blade than a sword.
However, the moment this sword appeared, Yun Lai, Wen Zhao, and the hidden trial takers outside the base were all stunned.
They recognized the style—this was the sword seen in the giant statue outside Armor One Sect.
“Impossible,” Wen Zhao exclaimed, staring at Bai Yuan.
Wang Jie looked confused. “What’s going on?”
In the distance, Yun Lai’s pupils flickered. “Impossible. You actually saw the Armor One Divine Sword?”
At the same time, a disciple observing the trial takers under a waterfall in Armor One Sect was startled and rushed to report to the sect: The Armor One Divine Sword had appeared.
On top of the waterfall, the chessboard was empty. The old one and the young girl were no longer there.
Bai Yuan held the broad plastic sword, gently running his fingers along the blade. His aura had grown noticeably heavier.
“What’s the Armor One Divine Sword?” Wang Jie asked.
Wen Zhao’s face grew solemn. “Each of the eighteen ultimate techniques of the sect is remarkable in its own way. Your Armor Eight Steps, Bai Yuan’s Fast Shadow—on the surface, they seem mastered, but in reality, they are just the surface. In past trials, it wasn’t impossible for natives to learn them. But among the eighteen ultimate techniques, there is one that far surpasses the other seventeen: the Armor One Divine Sword.”
“The Armor One Sect was actually founded based on the Armor One Divine Sword.”
“It’s the sword technique of the sect’s founder. Even in Armor One Sect, it takes many years to find someone capable of learning it. No native has ever mastered it during a trial.”
Wang Jie looked at Bai Yuan. So this was the foundation of Bai Yuan, the strongest of the Three Gods.
At this point, Wang Jie looked up at the sky projection and saw a figure wielding the broad blade exactly like Bai Yuan’s. He had been curious about it before but had never figured it out. Now, seeing the sword technique, he realized: It was the Armor One Divine Sword.
“Does this mean we can win?” Tang Jie asked. She had been staying close to Wang Jie since Wen Zhao and Yun Lai clearly knew each other, and she needed to keep an eye on things.
Old Five and the others also looked toward Wen Zhao.
Wen Zhao replied, “It’s hard to say. Yun Lai learned the Eight Cloud Arrow and gained the sect’s recognition. All the ultimate techniques you’ve mastered are just the basics, with no one to guide you, and your understanding differs. It depends on how far Bai Yuan can take the Armor One Divine Sword.”
Yun Lai’s gaze at Bai Yuan had shifted completely. Anyone who could learn the Armor One Divine Sword was extraordinary, even if they were a native with no future in cultivating Lock Force.
Bai Yuan tightened his grip on the sword hilt, facing Yun Lai. “How about it? I told you, once I break through to nine seals, I’ll give you a first-class result. Isn’t this the way forward?”
Yun Lai understood now. It was a path to victory. If Bai Yuan could drive the Armor One Divine Sword with his nine seals and fight him, Yun Lai might still win, but it would be a battle of equals. If he won, it would indeed be a first-class result.
But… why?
His gaze grew colder. Why should a native see the Armor One Divine Sword? Why should he, who had been trying to gain first-class status for access to the??? to study the sword technique, be outdone by this native who had already mastered it?
Bai Yuan saw the change in Yun Lai’s eyes and realized the danger. This person’s tolerance was smaller than he had imagined. Such a person would be deceitful when in a high position and would resort to any means when at a low one.
“Come on, let me see how strong the Armor One Divine Sword really is.” Yun Lai wouldn’t even wait for Bai Yuan to break through. With a flick of his finger, an arrow shot out from his palm, sharp as a razor. It appeared before Bai Yuan’s eyes in an instant, brimming with murderous intent.
Fortunately, Bai Yuan was alert. He dodged in the nick of time, no longer hesitating. Gripping both hands around the sword hilt, he swung it horizontally, channeling his imprint force. The sword expanded in an instant, multiplying its size by a hundred, a thousand, a million times. It grew so massive that it seemed like a mountain pressing down on Yun Lai, blocking out the sky.
Everyone who witnessed this was stunned.
The giant sword fell, yet its speed remained as swift as a normal sword.
Even if Yun Lai was faster, he couldn’t avoid it.
He turned and faced upwards, drawing his bow. Eight arrows fluctuated and shot out.
Eight Cloud Arrow.
The eight arrows pierced the massive sword without a loud clash. They twisted and scattered in different directions as they slid across the blade.
The city walls crumbled under three arrows, and the remaining arrows gouged deep, immeasurable pits into the earth.
Yun Lai’s pupils contracted. As the sword pressed down, he thrust out a palm, and countless tiny arrows shot from his palm, scattering into an arrow rain that fell on all sides, causing the ground to collapse.
But Bai Yuan’s sword still stood firm. The attack couldn’t fully suppress it.
With a snap of Yun Lai’s fingers, a gust of wind pierced through Bai Yuan’s body. Bai Yuan staggered back, spitting blood. The immense sword disappeared as if it had never been there.
“Dad!” Bai Xiao rushed out, supporting Bai Yuan to keep him from falling.
Tang Jie and the other cultivators quickly surrounded Bai Yuan, protecting him from Yun Lai’s gaze.
Lian Qin was stunned. This was Bai Yuan’s true strength. Yun Lai had once shattered the Heavenly Capital and Golden Hill from miles away, but just now, his eight arrows had been useless against Bai Yuan’s sword?
That sword-like technique, which didn’t even resemble a sword, was that powerful?
Yun Lai’s face darkened as he stared at Bai Yuan. Indeed, it was the Armor One Divine Sword. With the eight-imprint strength, it had forced him to use his ultimate technique, the Eight Cloud Arrow, and still been ineffective. No other technique could do that.
This person must die.
Bai Yuan, bitter and weak, was helped by Bai Xiao, still defeated.
He had thought this sword would win it for him.
Yun Lai dusted himself off, “You’ve lost.”