At this moment, Tian Fan had nearly transformed into a silver figure, his entire body shrouded in a silver radiance. A holy aura emanated from him in waves, resembling the arrival of a sage. Purple light radiated from Duan Tianya, covering him like an ocean, even dyeing his hair purple. His powerful aura spread out in waves, giving the impression of a war god descending to the battlefield.
“So powerful!”
Someone exclaimed in awe, their body trembling slightly. Even though they were shielded by the defensive barrier around the arena, many still found it hard to withstand the immense pressure from both combatants, their legs barely able to hold them steady.
In the distance, a tall, well-built man quietly observed the scene. With hands clasped behind his back, he wore golden attire, his face resolute and appearing to be around twenty-three or twenty-four. His expression was calm, even slightly cold.
The Scarlet-Green Sword flew from Duan Tianya’s hand and hovered above his head, rotating gently yet exuding a formidable aura.
“Buzz…”
The Scarlet-Green Sword emitted a hum, its tip pointed skyward as a beam of sword light shot forth from its blade.
Golden rays shone like the blazing sun, and a large swast!ka symbol materialized above Tian Fan’s head, casting a golden veil around him, enveloping his entire body. Countless silver talismans appeared, revolving around Tian Fan without cease.
Boom!
The silver light around Tian Fan condensed into a massive Fangtian Halberd, brimming with fighting spirit, and clashed with Duan Tianya’s Scarlet-Green Sword. The collision felt apocalyptic; space trembled, stones scattered, and even the defensive barrier set up by the Immortal Ascension experts outside the arena rippled like water. This clash was clearly beyond imagination in its power.
When the waves of energy subsided, Tian Fan stood still at the center of the arena, unmoved, with the golden swast!ka symbol shining brightly above his head, protecting him firmly within its light. Ancient silver characters floated around him as if forming a small world, unaffected by the turmoil around them. Across from him, Duan Tianya’s Scarlet-Green Sword spun above his head, blocking all the energy waves without so much as a ripple in his attire.
“Brother Duan is truly strong. I’m impressed!” Tian Fan said with a faint smile, his voice calm.
“You flatter me. Since I started my journey, you’re the strongest opponent I’ve ever met!”
Both men exchanged smiles, and the fierce battle resumed. Duan Tianya’s swordsmanship was far superior to that of Nie Dao. The Scarlet-Green Sword moved rapidly, creating countless afterimages that posed a great challenge to Tian Fan.
Five Elements Method, unparalleled in heaven and earth, excelled in both offense and defense. After Tian Fan reached the Cloud Heaven realm, the Five Elements Seal grew even stronger; its engravings became clearer, almost like a real divine weapon. He summoned its spirit from an unknown space, and the diagram began to produce afterimages that pursued the Scarlet-Green Sword relentlessly. With the aid of the “Desire Without Trace,” Tian Fan could pinpoint the Scarlet-Green Sword’s movements, resulting in a constant clash between the sword and the array in the air.
“Embracing the Path, Enlightening in a Day!”
Suddenly, Duan Tianya shouted these eight words. A purple cage formed in the sky, a net made from the path traced by his sword, encasing Tian Fan within it.
“Hehe, Brother Tian Fan, you were careless,” Duan Tianya chuckled.
“Not necessarily.”
Tian Fan remained calm, showing no fear at being trapped in Duan Tianya’s purple cage. He laughed lightly and spoke softly:
“Imperfect are the Five Elements, flawed is the world!”
A burst of silver light erupted within the purple cage, shattering it instantly as fragments of purple light scattered and faded in the air.
“I knew it wouldn’t be easy to trap you!”
Duan Tianya smiled, without a trace of disappointment.
“Heh, this time it’s my turn to strike first. Watch out, Brother Duan!”
Tian Fan chuckled. A lotus appeared at his feet, complementing the golden swast!ka symbol above him, as he initiated the sword technique, “Ninefold Unity.” Fully aware of the move’s potency, Duan Tianya dared not let his guard down and moved swiftly, his figure spreading across the arena.
Watching the countless afterimages, Tian Fan’s eyes gleamed with golden light as he used “Desire Without Trace” to track Duan Tianya’s path. However, he found it difficult; unlike Nie Dao’s technique, Duan Tianya’s illusions were overwhelmingly powerful, mysterious, and complex. Even with the supreme mind technique of “Desire Without Trace” to refine his spiritual senses, Tian Fan felt the strain.
Silver swords clashed with the endless illusions, and suddenly Tian Fan leaped into the air. Just as he left his spot, a green light struck down, creating a small crater in the sand below.
In the sky, Duan Tianya stood with his white robes fluttering. Nine divine lights circled his body, making him appear unapproachable. Similarly dressed in white, Tian Fan floated opposite him, eighty-one silver sword rays hovering around him.
Zing…
The sound of sword resonance rang out. The divine lights surrounding Duan Tianya surged forward, manifesting as ethereal beasts like dragons and phoenixes, aiming to knock Tian Fan down.
Buzz…
The eighty-one sword rays flew up, radiating dazzling silver light, colliding with the nine divine rays. Lotus petals fluttered in the air as Tian Fan formed mysterious hand seals, pushing his hands forward.
Clanging sounds echoed as Duan Tianya moved, the nine divine rays emitting sharp whistles. The rays revealed their true forms: nine unusual short flying swords, weaving through the air, shattering Tian Fan’s sword rays.
“Ninefold Unity, the Ultimate Sword!”
Tian Fan shouted, merging the eighty-one sword rays into one. A towering sword light emerged, drawing in spiritual energy from all around, exuding a destructive aura as it bore down on Duan Tianya.
“Shatter mountains and rivers, illuminate the path!”
Duan Tianya responded, his nine flying swords glowing intensely as they arranged themselves in a mysterious formation. Seven-colored radiance appeared in the array, forming a massive light sword aimed directly at Tian Fan’s sword light.
Boom!
The resulting clash was beyond imagination in its intensity. The defensive barrier around the central arena trembled violently, creating ripples in the air as if it might shatter. Light scattered everywhere, and small electric arcs sparked, sending shivers down the spines of all present.
“My heavens, these two are terrifying!”
“They look like scholars, but when they fight, they’re downright ruthless!”
Witnessing their battle, someone muttered a soft curse.
As the divine light faded and clarity returned to the sky, both fighters faced each other from afar, their faces pale and bodies unsteady. Clearly, both had sustained considerable injuries from this clash.
“It’s getting late. How about we decide the winner in three moves?”
Opposite him, Duan Tianya was surrounded by a faint purple light as he circulated his inner power to heal himself, smiling as he spoke to Tian Fan. Many were speechless—truly a man of his sect, much like Nie Dao. However, Nie Dao needed only one move, while Duan Tianya proposed three.
“Alright, three moves it is!”
Golden radiance surged around Tian Fan as he readily agreed, preparing for their final showdown.