Chapter 54

The two stood facing each other, their auras instantly enveloping everyone, creating a suffocating atmosphere that made it hard to breathe.

"You have the qualifications to make me act!" This was the first time Shangguan Liuyun spoke, his voice somewhat low, like a闷雷潜伏在云层之中 (a muffled thunder lurking in the clouds).

Shangguan Liuyun spoke few words, and after just a few, he fell silent again. The purple light and无形的压力 (intangible pressure) dissipated like flowing water.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

After a brief silence, the outer disciples in the stands erupted into a thunderous roar. They naturally hoped the two would engage in battle. Such a duel between geniuses could only be seen in the inner selection competition, not at any other time.

However, they also knew that for the two to engage, they would have to wait until the final. The disciples in the stands temporarily suppressed their excitement and waited for the next match.

The next match: Lin Xuan vs. Huayang Ping!

Huayang Ping, ranked fifth on the outer disciples' leaderboard, was a genius disciple just below the outer four geniuses. He led the outer enforcement team, wielding considerable power. Some even suspected that his strength was very close to that of the outer four geniuses, making him almost invincible among his peers.

Lin Xuan, on the other hand, was the dark horse of this competition, rising from 135th place in the first round to the top eight. His formidable strength was evident to all, making him an idol among the common disciples.

"Hmph, kid, I didn't expect to face you. Don't worry, I won't hold back!" Huayang Ping's voice carried a hint of mockery. When his casual attack was blocked by Lin Xuan, it cost him his dignity, and he failed to capture him.

"Don't hold back, you won't even get the chance!" Lin Xuan said coldly.

Lin Xuan had no good feelings towards this person. His initial attempt to capture him without any reason had already put him on Lin Xuan's blacklist.

As the referee gave the command, Lin Xuan drew the red flame greatsword from his back and swung it with force. A solitary mountain appeared, weighing as much as ten thousand catties, pressing down on the void with a humming sound, and struck Huayang Ping.

"Hmph! Do you really think having a sword technique makes you invincible?" A mocking smile appeared on Huayang Ping's lips. He drew the longsword from his waist and thrust it into the ground with a thud.

With a flick of his finger, a black sword formation appeared beneath his feet, as dark as ink, resembling a deep abyss.

"A sword formation?" Lin Xuan was taken aback, not expecting Huayang Ping to be a sword formation master. After a brief surprise, Lin Xuan's heart calmed down. "No matter what, my longsword can cleave through everything."

Inside the black sword formation, Huayang Ping wore a smile. He had full confidence in this formation. Apart from the outer four geniuses, no one could break through his defense. With this, he was invincible.

"Lin Xuan, Lin Xuan, I'll make you know that some people are not to be provoked. Even if you have Elder Fang's backing, on the arena, I can still cripple you!" Huayang Ping seemed to see Lin Xuan falling helplessly to the ground, and he couldn't help but laugh maniacally.

At this moment, in the stands, in the rest area.

Yin Qingyi was tense, her small hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, her pale face showing a hint of anxiety. She was also a sword formation master, so she could clearly feel the terror of the black sword formation.

"Lin Xuan, you mustn't be hurt!" Yin Qingyi said to herself.

Whoosh!

Just as the red flame greatsword was three feet away from Huayang Ping's head, the black sword formation suddenly emitted a dark glow. Strands of black sword qi intertwined, forming a shimmering sword qi defense.

Clang!

Lin Xuan's greatsword, carrying the weight of a mountain, unleashed a violent sword qi that made the surrounding air howl like a real mountain pressing down.

The sword struck the black sword qi defense, and countless waves of qi surged around the two. The stone floor was split by the overflow of power, creating deep grooves over a foot deep, extending all the way to the bottom of the arena.

The impact was terrifying!

But the black sword qi only violently surged a few times and then, to everyone's shock, remained intact.

"Ha ha ha! Lin Xuan, is this your strongest attack? Indeed, it's pitifully weak!" Huayang Ping laughed wildly, ready to torment Lin Xuan at will.

"Captain Huayang, you are mighty!"

In the stands, a group of enforcement team disciples cheered loudly.

"Take down that blind kid!"

"Finish him in one move!"

The enforcement team disciples laughed wildly, while other disciples couldn't help but sigh.

"Ah, though he is a new dark horse, he still has a significant gap compared to the veteran genius disciples!"

"Yes, every genius on the leaderboard has their own special skills. Lin Xuan is probably going to lose this time."

...

"Is this your reliance?" Lin Xuan asked calmly.

Despite the failed attack, he showed no signs of frustration. The previous strike was merely a warm-up, not using much of his strength.

"Just keep showing off. Soon, you'll be on your knees begging for mercy!" Huayang Ping was enraged by Lin Xuan's composure.

"It takes only three moves to deal with you." Lin Xuan gripped his greatsword again. "I've already used one move. Now, I have two more!"

Lin Xuan's voice was not loud, but it clearly echoed throughout the arena.

"What, did I hear that right? He actually claims to defeat Captain Huayang in three moves?"

"**! He can't even break through the defense, yet he dares to talk about winning in three moves?" The enforcement team disciples cursed loudly.

Even some elite disciples wore skeptical expressions. To be honest, they didn't have high hopes for Lin Xuan and didn't believe his claim of winning in three moves.

Even Jiang Yulong sneered, his eyes full of disdain.

"Idiot!" Shangguan Liuyun suddenly said in a low voice, so softly that only Jiang Yulong, Duan Fei, and other genius disciples could hear.

Shen Qian'er's beautiful eyes were filled with surprise. She didn't expect the usually silent Shangguan to curse someone. Even Duan Fei couldn't help but shake his head, not knowing who Shangguan was cursing.

On the arena, Lin Xuan made his move again.

The dark red greatsword, rusted and scarred, but beneath the rust, a strange red glow surged. Lin Xuan combined the Thundering Sword Technique with the Solitary Mountain Sword Technique, using the multiple strikes of the Thundering Sword Technique to enhance the Solitary Mountain Sword Technique.

Boom!

Lin Xuan's sword struck the black sword formation, sparking a series of hot sparks. The posture was the same as before.

"Ha ha, don't waste your effort..." Huayang Ping was about to mock, but before he could finish, the black sword formation changed.

A crack appeared in the black sword qi, visible to the naked eye, and then spread like a spider web.

"How is this possible? How can he break through?" Huayang Ping's face changed drastically. "Could he have the strength of the four geniuses?"

He hurriedly mobilized his inner spiritual energy to control the sword formation, trying to quickly repair the cracks. But before he could act, the third strike came.

"Solitary Mountain Unites!"

This strike shattered the black sword curtain, and heavy dark energy surged like a tidal wave, each wave stronger than the last. Huayang Ping was overwhelmed by the mountain-like force, unable to resist.

In the next moment, he was sent flying.