Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Sword Duel

Long Yan stared at the arena without blinking. [Yes.]

He had betrayed Li Shuang.

But it was not all his fault.

If Li Shuang had not been so cold every day, if she had given him even a little care like Zhao Zhao did, would it have come to this?

Only after Zhao Zhao appeared did he realize a Sword Spirit could have feelings. That sweet, dreamlike warmth pulled him in before he knew it.

He did not regret choosing Ye Zhao Zhao and forming a Sword Spirit Contract with her.

Even without Li Shuang, he was still the unstoppable Dragon Roar Sword.

And Li Shuang? Without him, where could she find a treasured blade that housed a Sword Spirit? Shen Yue’s sword had a Sword Spirit to help him.

Li Shuang had been at a disadvantage from the start.

Long Yan could not wait to see her face after she lost, full of pain and regret. Ye Zhao Zhao called softly from his side: “Long Yan… Long Yan… Long Yan?”

He had been watching too closely. Only after she called several times did he jolt back to himself.

He turned to her with sudden gentleness and said: “Master.”

Ye Zhao Zhao smiled sweetly and asked with a teasing lift of her lips: “You’re watching so hard. Do you think there is any suspense in this match?”

Long Yan hesitated.

He had told Ye Zhao Zhao that Li Shuang’s swordplay was nothing, that she relied on his help for everything.

But the truth was different.

He had been Li Shuang’s Sword Spirit for a long time. He knew her skill with the sword was extraordinary.

In the many battles Li Shuang had faced these past years, he had not helped her at all.

He told her he disliked fighting and killing, and she never forced him.

His heart and mind were full of Ye Zhao Zhao. Even in the Sword Spirit Space, he thought of her all the time.

He knew Li Shuang’s swordcraft was not ordinary, yet he had never truly paid attention.

Ye Zhao Zhao studied his face and asked with a hint of doubt: “What’s wrong? Is the question that hard to answer?”

Long Yan’s heart jumped.

To make himself look important, he had sworn to Zhao Zhao that without him Li Shuang was useless.

He had exaggerated, by a lot.

But he could not take it back now.

He could not ruin his image before Zhao Zhao.

Besides, Shen Yue had the advantage of a superior sword. Li Shuang might not win anyway.

He chose his words and said: “Shen Yue is more likely to win.”

Ye Zhao Zhao smiled again.

No one understood a Sword Cultivator from a Sword Sect better than their Sword Spirit.

If Long Yan said so, then Second Senior Brother was sure to win.

In her mind, she was already planning how to spread the news of Li Shuang’s defeat, how to ruin the name of a “Way of the Sword genius.” Step by step, she would force out Li Shuang’s negative emotions.

On the stage, Shen Yue looked at Li Shuang with an icy gaze. A fiery red sword rested in his hand.

He raised his voice with pride and said: “My sword is called the Blazing Sun Sword. Li Shuang, what about yours?”

Yes, what about hers?

Long Yan narrowed his eyes at the platform.

Calm as still water, Li Shuang lifted her hand. The Black Abyss Sword appeared in her grip.

She answered in an even voice: “My sword is called Black Abyss.”

“Black Abyss?”

Ye Zhao Zhao could not help a small laugh.

Li Shuang really was desperate. She had actually brought out that trash Black Abyss.

Because the Black Abyss Sword Spirit had never awakened, Ye Zhao Zhao had never put care into forging the blade. Even now, it was only a little better than a sword blank, barely a First Tier weapon.

Shen Yue’s Blazing Sun Sword had been raised in grade several times. It was now Third Tier.

By sheer weapon quality, Shen Yue held a huge edge.

Seeing Black Abyss, Long Yan let out a slow, quiet breath.

His lips curled with scorn.

Li Shuang had always been so proud.

She would have rather died than use a sword someone else gave her. Yet now she had pulled out the Black Abyss Sword that Zhao Zhao had rejected. Without him, she truly had reached a dead end.

Jiang Rong Yi glanced between the two and, with a trace of surprise, asked: “Are both sides ready?”

Shen Yue gave a cold nod and said: “Of course.”

Li Shuang nodded as well.

Jiang Rong Yi spoke clearly for all to hear: “I will repeat the rules. This duel forbids spiritual power. You are to compete with pure swordplay only. If one side admits defeat or falls from the stage, that side loses. If anyone uses spiritual power mid-fight, that also counts as a loss.”

When both agreed, Jiang Rong Yi stepped down and announced: “Swordplay contest, begin.”

The match began, yet Shen Yue did not strike at once. He wore a mocking look and said coolly: “Li Shuang, you always said my sword is too forceful and lacks detail, that a true expert could grab my openings. But what is the truth? When I use the Blazing Sun Sword with my Blazing Sun Sword Art, I have almost no equal among Disciples at my level. As First Senior Sister, you liked to nitpick to make yourself look superior. Before, I let it go. Now that you are no longer of Ling Xu Peak, I do not need to be polite.”

He lifted his sword and declared with a chill in his eyes: “Watch closely. My Blazing Sun Sword Art will knock you into the dust.”

Li Shuang looked at him calmly and said: “So you always thought I was only picking at faults.”

“What else?” Shen Yue gave a short, cold laugh and said: “You worked hard to keep me down. Too bad I have already seen through your fake face.”

Li Shuang watched his cold expression in silence.

She had built Shen Yue’s foundation, step by step.

She had corrected each of his moves with patience.

And now, that was called nitpicking?

She lowered her lashes. [Then let him feel it. A sword style with no detail is full of holes.]

Her fingers stroked the body of the Black Abyss Sword as she whispered, almost to herself: “Today is Black Abyss’s first battle. No sword is trash. They will learn that soon.”

Inside the Black Abyss Sword, in the deepest corner of its inner space, a transparent spirit slumbered.

Curled up like a child, the spirit slept on without any sign of waking.

Li Shuang did not mind.

People choose Sword Spirits, and Sword Spirits choose their masters.

If she wanted the Black Abyss Sword Spirit’s recognition, she should first show what she could do.

Shen Yue’s voice cut in, sharp with pride: “Watch well. You said my Blazing Sun Sword Art was worthless. Let us see how it knocks you from the stage.”

He stepped forward. The Blazing Sun Sword fell like a meteor, and savage Sword Qi crashed down.

Li Shuang stood quiet at the center of the platform and did not move, as if the next instant she would be burned by the blazing heat.