Lü Xuan sat down calmly, his expression serene as he watched the two figures battling above.
However, despite his outward calm, Lü Xuan's heart was anything but peaceful.
To be fair, he didn't hold much hope that Chu Xingchen could actually defeat Li Moze, who had emerged from a sea of blood and slaughter, when they were of the same cultivation level.
Right now, both he and Li Moze seemed quite reasonable, but anyone who had survived to become the sect leader had experienced countless life-and-death situations.
Those who survived were the elite, and those who stood out among the elite were the most top-tier combat cultivators.
Sometimes, combat experience and instinct required numerous battles to cultivate, something to be comprehended from the brink of death.
The core element of fighting stronger opponents was having these extraordinary combat instincts.
In Lü Xuan's eyes, whether in terms of cultivation or combat instinct, Chu Xingchen was actually far behind Li Moze.
But seeing Chu Xingchen's confident appearance, plus Bai Xuanling fanning the flames beside him, Lü Xuan could only grit his teeth and trust him for now.
The current situation seemed acceptable. Li Moze didn't seem to have a significant advantage, which was fine.
For Lü Xuan, it didn't matter if Chu Xingchen won, as long as he didn't lose too badly.
Naturally, it wouldn't be bad if there were some unexpected surprises, though it seemed unlikely.
But the next moment, Lü Xuan's eyes narrowed instantly, ready to intervene and assist Chu Xingchen at any moment.
He never expected Li Moze to be so shameless, using such a powerful technique against a junior.
Li Moze's spiritual energy surged around him, a terrifying aura rising from nothing as Daoist rhythms manifested behind him. He raised his sword, his movements seemingly slow enough to be followed.
But if one looked toward Chu Xingchen, they would find his figure as if frozen in time.
That terrifying aura condensed, the immense spiritual energy compressed, then instantly dissipated like rain flowing into a river.
The long sword in Li Moze's hand seemed to vanish from sight, reappearing only after the slash had been completed.
Yet it was as if it had traversed space itself, arriving in an instant. The brilliant white light now blotted out the sky as it surged forward, the residual power of the terrifying aura alone capable of shaking the heavens.
Lü Xuan was certain this was an attack Chu Xingchen could never withstand. This was clearly a move Li Moze would only use when he threw all caution to the wind.
However, Lü Xuan didn't go to protect him. As for why... the reason was quite simple.
Li Moze had inexplicably unleashed an attack into empty air, vigorously outputting toward a vacant spot, his previously solemn expression relaxing.
The range of this technique was actually quite large, but... it couldn't make up for how ridiculously off-target it was.
Lü Xuan was momentarily baffled. What did this mean? Was he implying the powerful technique was over?
Lü Xuan asked himself, if some junior dared to challenge him like this, wouldn't he have to teach them a lesson or two to draw some blood, even without Bai Xuanling saying anything? He'd be calling himself a coward himself.
But the next moment, Li Moze's expression turned solemn again. His figure suddenly flashed forward as he raised his long sword and vigorously slashed at the empty air.
A horrifying sword energy crushed the clouds, terrifying residual energy wildly scattering in all directions. The movement looked impressive.
Seeing this, Lü Xuan instantly understood—this kid Chu Xingchen knew illusion techniques?
And without a doubt, Chu Xingchen's illusion techniques were of a very high level. Although part of the reason was Li Moze underestimating that Chu Xingchen knew illusion techniques, to be able to deceive a cultivator of Li Moze's level, even if only for a moment, was something ordinary illusion techniques could never achieve.
Illusion techniques of this level were exceedingly rare in this world, and cultivating them required absolute talent.
It had to be said, this person Chu Xingchen really knew how to surprise people.
For top-tier combat cultivators, illusion techniques weren't that useful.
At least for Li Moze, the trigger needed to detect an illusion might be something simple, like a strange position, sudden malice, or unreasonable spiritual energy flow.
One's second sense in life-or-death combat would amplify everything that felt off.
And to deceive a cultivator of this level, there might only be one chance.
Chu Xingchen's figure retreated slightly while trying to conceal his own spiritual energy fluctuations, along with the urge to immediately stab Li Moze twice with his sword.
The Bai Qing Dafa seemed to be working so far, but Chu Xingchen also understood that this might be the only chance to get Li Moze.
He didn't think Li Moze would be like Yuyang Daozi, who could fall for the same move twice.
What Chu Xingchen needed to do was seize this opportunity, coordinating with the twisting of spiritual energy within the illusion.
Li Moze's gaze fixed on Chu Xingchen, who wore a calm smile on his face. He never imagined that the Tianyan Sect could cultivate such a disciple.
With a simple gesture, ten thousand swords shifted and flowed, an intimidating momentum that made it extremely difficult to approach him.
In a one-on-one fight, Xu Jin might not be able to defeat this versatile junior.
But... for some reason, Li Moze felt something was off. He looked at Chu Xingchen's elegant figure and the continuously surging swords behind him.
Li Moze's vigilance grew several notches. This kid probably had more tricks up his sleeve. Anyone who dared challenge him must have some means.
Although Li Moze was certain he wouldn't lose, what if he actually lost...
Li Moze instantly made up his mind. His figure shot forward as dense, pure white spiritual energy chains descended from the sky, heading toward Chu Xingchen to seal his retreat while also pressing down on his last escape route.
The white chains sealed down. In Li Moze's eyes, Chu Xingchen's expression instantly turned solemn. His figure twisted as he charged toward Li Moze, while the surging sword flow behind Chu Xingchen also solidified and rushed forward.
Li Moze's brow wrinkled slightly, showing hesitation. Then his figure twisted again, ignoring Chu Xingchen who rushed forward with his sword raised. His spiritual sword flashed with a cold light, its brilliance piercing through as he slashed forward.
The next moment, everything in Li Moze's eyes rapidly collapsed into fragments and vanished. In his divine sense, Chu Xingchen behind him and the surging sword flow also disappeared.
Chu Xingchen held a simple long sword formed from flowing, transparent water. There seemed to be no aura or spiritual energy fluctuations around him. His eyes shimmered slightly, his expression calm and waveless.
Li Moze felt that almost primal force. He had no choice but to press down with his spiritual treasure sword and all his spiritual energy at once.
The terrifying spiritual energy in his spiritual treasure sword surged, its violent power tearing through sound in a moment of silence.
The compressed spiritual energy and the rhythms of the divine technique transformed into a force capable of destroying everything.
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