Chapter 50: Sword Intent Pierces the Heavens, Killing Intent Arises!

Jian Chaomian.

He began practicing the sword at age three.

By age six, he could release sword light.

By age twelve, he possessed sword qi!

Now, he had touched the threshold of the Dao of the Sword.

As a Supreme Elder of the Hidden Dao Academy in the Northern Region, he was also a sword cultivator.

He was also the strongest sword cultivator in the Northern Region today.

He once said that when the opportunity arrived, Jian Chaomian could be called a Sword Saint!

And what did Ye Qiubai have?

He was unknown and obscure.

His realm was only at the late stage of the Purple Mansion Realm.

Though his actual strength allowed him to fight across realms, Jian Chaomian was a powerhouse of the Qi Sea Realm.

Moreover, Jian Chaomian was also capable of fighting across realms.

And it would be a crushing dominance.

Under the suppression of these layers of prestige, how much possibility of victory did Ye Qiubai truly have?

To ignore someone surrounded by such layers of glory, and instead believe that an obscure person with such a massive gap in cultivation could win?

No one would have such a thought.

At the same time, the deans atop the high platform shared this sentiment.

Except for Qin Tiannan!

Watching this scene, Huang Tianming let out a "ho" and laughed, "What is the meaning of this, Jian Chaomian?"

Wu Deshi also shook his head and said, "Chaomian is a child devoted entirely to the sword; sometimes, even I cannot fathom his thoughts."

"Does Jian Chaomian actually consider Ye Qiubai to be his opponent?"

At this moment, Qin Tiannan chuckled softly, "Why couldn't it be so?"

"Oh?" Wu Deshi smiled faintly and said, "It seems Dean Qin holds this disciple of yours in very high regard—perhaps even more than your own disciple?"

Hearing this, Qin Tiannan merely smiled and said no more.

At that moment, Jian Chaomian looked up toward the high platform and said loudly, "Deans, is my request permitted? If not, I can defeat the leaders of the other two regions first."

His tone carried an air of absolute certainty!

As if this were a perfectly natural and simple matter!

Upon hearing this, Huang Yuan and Tian Cheng both looked grim, yet they were unable to refute him.

Because Jian Chaomian truly possessed that strength!

After a long pause, Wu Deshi finally stood up and said, "It is permitted."

In that instant, everyone turned their gaze toward Ye Qiubai on the martial stage.

Huang Yuan looked at Ye Qiubai with a complex expression, filled with confusion.

Qin Tiannan looked at Ye Qiubai with an expression of expectation.

Huang Tianming also stared at Ye Qiubai, his thoughts unreadable.

Beside Huang Tianming, Jiang Chan clenched his hands tightly.

Jian Chaomian also looked toward Ye Qiubai and said, "Come up."

Hearing this, Ye Qiubai raised his brows, held his sword with both hands, and asked, "Why do you wish to fight me?"

Jian Chaomian replied, "I can sense it... there is an aura upon you that is similar to mine..."

"Is that all?"

"Is that not enough?"

A sword cultivator's intuition is precise, whether regarding danger, opportunity, or aura.

Ye Qiubai nodded and said, "Then, as you wish."

The martial stage was not high.

It had nine steps.

Ye Qiubai took a step forward, landing on the first step.

Suddenly, sword qi erupted wildly!

The entire space was filled with sharp, piercing sword qi!

This surge of sword qi caused everyone's expression to change!

It felt as if it could slice through all things!

Huang Yuan, Tian Cheng, and Zhang He all experienced shifts in their expressions.

Because within this sword qi, they sensed a sense of threat!

Could this be Ye Qiubai's true strength?

Then, Ye Qiubai took his second step.

He stepped onto the second step!

At that moment, a heaven-shaking demonic qi burst forth!

It merged with the sword qi that was raging through the world!

The minds of everyone present were affected to varying degrees; those with low cultivation felt an urge to kneel in submission!

While those with high cultivation felt their souls tremble!

Huang Yuan and the others were no exception!

On the stage, seeing this, a look of interest appeared in Jian Chaomian's eyes.

A surge of sword qi swept out in response, seemingly resisting Ye Qiubai's highly corrosive black sword qi!

On the high platform, Huang Tianming leaned forward slightly. Watching this, he thought to himself, "So, he truly did have a fortuitous encounter?"

Xin Hongyi stared at Ye Qiubai's back, momentarily lost in thought.

This aura had already far surpassed hers.

As expected, it is difficult to catch up...

With every step upward, the sword qi surrounding Ye Qiubai grew increasingly powerful!

The aura upon his body continued to soar!

To everyone's horror, they discovered that Ye Qiubai's aura was no longer comparable to that of an ordinary late-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivator!

His aura was actually approaching the Qi Sea Realm!

At this time, on the high platform, Wu Deshi also smiled in surprise, "Oh? Dean Qin, your student has been hiding quite deeply."

The Dean of the Eastern Region Academy also gave a mirthless smile and said, "No wonder he could defeat Zhou Xing with a single strike."

Zhou Xing was the peak Purple Mansion Realm cultivator who had been crushed by Ye Qiubai.

Qin Tiannan smiled faintly, "I am not aware of my student's personal matters."

*Old fox!*

The deans of the other three academies couldn't help but curse him inwardly!

In the seat of honor, Jiang Chan held his hands together between his knees. Watching this, his eyes shone with pleasant surprise.

He had truly recovered his talent.

And he was even stronger than before!

Huang Tianming frowned.

He had heard rumors regarding the disappearance of Ye Qiubai's talent.

Now, not only had his talent returned, but his cultivation was progressing so rapidly.

Perhaps, he must tell the Shadow Kill side to accelerate their movements.

However, in the next moment...

When Ye Qiubai stepped onto the ninth step and reached the martial stage...

A sword cry soared into the heavens!

Within this space, besides the heaven-shaking sword intent and the rampant demonic qi!

There was another force traversing the martial stage!

Everyone watching this scene was stunned!

Huang Yuan, Tian Cheng, and Zhang He all experienced drastic changes in their expressions!

On the high platform, the deans of the four regions looked solemn!

Qin Tiannan, however, was filled with joy!

On the stage, Jian Chaomian was stunned at first, but then a look of wild ecstasy appeared on his face. He laughed three times, drew his long sword, and let layers of sword intent cover it!

"As I thought, my intuition was not wrong!"

If the previous scene had only stirred killing intent in Huang Tianming, the strength Ye Qiubai displayed now caused Huang Tianming to stand up abruptly!

Killing intent overflowed in his eyes!

How was this possible?!

How could it be sword intent!

Indeed, Ye Qiubai released his sword intent without reservation!

Unlike Jian Chaomian's sword intent, which had only just touched the threshold...

Ye Qiubai's sword intent had already reached the level of a Great Sword Master!

How many years had Ye Qiubai been practicing the sword!

How could he have comprehended sword intent to such a degree?

What kind of talent was this?

If this person was not killed immediately, Huang Tianming would find no peace in his heart!

Immediately, Huang Tianming spoke to the general behind him, "The match is over. Deploy the Asura Iron Cavalry immediately to slay Ye Qiubai! Also, send an immediate transmission to the Imperial Palace Envoys and Eunuch Ming, telling him to come in person!"

The general's expression turned solemn. He nodded and immediately flew toward the warship, intending to contact the people in the palace!

He knew that Huang Tianming had already developed killing intent!

Beside him, Jiang Chan felt no joy; seeing this, his heart was filled with anxiety!

At this moment, Ye Qiubai held a wooden sword in one hand, looked at Jian Chaomian, and said calmly, "Make your move."