"Yama King did not die in vain at his hands," muttered the Ghost Emperor of Fengdu who was hidden among the crowd.
When he first emerged from the underworld, aside from participating in Zhao Baiyang's plan to slay the dragon, the Ghost Emperor of Fengdu's other goal was to kill Pei Xuanjing and restore the prestige of the underworld.
In the Battle of Tiandu, the Ghost Emperor of Fengdu was somewhat injured. He was planning to recover from his injuries before making his move.
Unexpectedly, after his recovery, he received news that Pei Xuanjing was challenging the old Celestial Master.
For the Ghost Emperor of Fengdu, he was also curious about the extent of the old Celestial Master's martial arts cultivation on Dragon Tiger Mountain, who had not made a move for a long time.
Pei Xuanjing's challenge was indeed a good opportunity, so it made the Ghost Emperor of Fengdu, who was initially prepared to make a move, to temporarily suppress his desire to act, planning to wait until this matter was resolved before making his move.
Of course, he naturally would not miss this battle. After changing his appearance, he ascended the Dragon Tiger Mountain and personally witnessed the exchange of moves between Pei Xuanjing and the old Celestial Master.
Both men left him astounded.
Considering the strength Pei Xuanjing demonstrated, even he needed to be cautious. Yama King was powerful indeed, but he was definitely not a match for his opponent.
However, the stronger Pei Xuanjing became, the more intense the Ghost Emperor's desire to kill him became.
Setting aside their enmity, the Netherworld Book alone was their irreconcilable conflict. He knew that unless he killed his opponent, it would be tough to take back the Netherworld Book.
He suppressed his murderous intent, lurking in the dark like a poisonous snake, ready for a critical strike.
"Compared to you, we old ones are really old," said the old Celestial Master with a wry smile as he felt the terror of Pei Xuanjing's sword.
As he spoke, he did not stop his movements and raised his divine sword.
Instantly, a huge sword scream emitted, his majestic sword aura was like an angry thunder, meeting Pei Xuanjing's sword light.
The Ghost Emperor of Fengdu and the Sky Demon Sect Master, who were hidden in the crowd, felt a deep sense of disgust for this sword aura.
Exterminate Evil Sword Skill!
This was one of the Dragon Tiger Mountain's foundation sword skills. It was said to be passed down by the Ancestor Celestial Master for the purpose of slaying demons and exterminating evil. It had a strong restraint on those who practiced the evil path.
Although Pei Xuanjing was not a wicked person and was not restrained by this sword aura, the power contained in this sword aura was comparable to his sword.
The two swords collided, making a loud noise like a thunderbolt, followed by a continuous sound of weapon clashes.
In just the blink of an eye, both parties had swung their swords countless times.
As the Celestial Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain, he acquired countless sword techniques due to Dragon Tiger Mountain's thousands of years of heritage. His experience and knowledge were as deep and unfathomable as the sea.
However, Pei Xuanjing was not any weaker. He had seen and learned countless sword techniques and practices. Even if he didn't seriously cultivate most of them, they were as easy for him as eating and drinking at his realm.
All kinds of sword moves were used by the two of them, from low-level martial arts, medium-level martial arts, to high-level martial arts. They made all of them appear extraordinary with uncommon power.
Countless sword techniques were displayed in their confrontation, making the audience dazzled, their blood boiling, and their waves of excitement surging.
Particularly, many people, after seeing the sword techniques they practiced being used so casually by the two, were stunned but extremely delighted, as they had gained a lot of insights from this showdown.
Did Pei Xuanjing start practicing martial arts from inside his mother's womb? How can he know so many kinds of martial arts and sword techniques.
Someone silently counted in his heart that Pei Xuanjing had used nearly a hundred different sword techniques since the battle, which shocked them.
The old Celestial Master, who had lived for three periods of sixty years, knowing so many sword techniques was acceptable in their cognition.
However, Pei Xuanjing was only in his thirties. Even disregarding where he learned so many sword techniques, it was hard to accept just based on time.
Qingyang Zi, who was standing on one side, was also flabbergasted. As the person who had encountered Pei Xuanjing the earliest, he naturally remembered that when Pei Xuanjing first entered the Martial Academy, he used a lot of martial arts to exchange for merits in the academy and then studied almost all the martial arts in the academy.
Likewise, after arriving at the True Martial Sect, Pei Xuanjing spent considerable time in the Scripture Pavilion of the True Martial Sect to study martial arts.
However, he always thought that Pei Xuanjing was just selecting suitable martial arts, choosing to blend and refine a hundred different martial arts. He never thought that Pei Xuanjing would be able to turn these martial arts into his own.
Inconsistent sword lights, crisscrossing sword aura, constantly appeared and disappeared on the martial arts practice field.
Both of their strengths were fully displayed at this moment, without any reservation.
In the end, they abandoned all sword techniques and chose the purest sword forms to confront each other.
Strike, hack, crash, lift, parry, clean, interrupt, stab, poke, stir, press, hang and other basic sword forms.
However, even so, the divine swords held by the two of them still unleashed amazing power, leaving deep sword marks on the martial arts field, which amazed many people.
It should be noted that the martial arts field on Dragon Tiger Mountain was not paved with rocks, but crafted with a mixture of pure gold and various types of Mysterious Iron. With the considerable wealth consumed, even for Dragon Tiger Mountain's heritage, it was a significant expenditure..
According to the master craftsman who oversaw the construction of the martial arts practice field, the resilience of this field was impenetrable unless it encountered a matchless warrior wielding a Ten Thousand-Forged Divine Weapon. Ordinary Thousand Refinement Divine Weapons would struggle to leave a scratch more than an inch deep, never mind deeper cuts.
One could say that such investment of energy and resources by Dragon Tiger Mountain into the creation of this martial arts field, was highly esteemed among many powerful factions.
But today, the duel between the two individuals had utterly shattered this notion. Even with their Thousand Refinement Divine Weapons, as their duel intensified, countless sword Qi marked the ground of the practice field, leaving deep sword scars as testament to their intense combat.
What was surprising, though, was that Yu Yangzi, a disciple of the senior Celestial Master and the future Celestial Master himself – the current executive authority at Dragon Tiger Mountain – showed no remorse over the destruction of the martial arts field they had spent a fortune constructing. In fact, he bore a faint smile on his face.
That's because every mark on the field carried the essence of both combatants' swordsmanship, the realization of their understanding of the sword art. For Dragon Tiger Mountain, this was equivalent to a treasure trove of wealth.
In the future, the disciples of Dragon Tiger Mountain could gain insights into these remnants of sword Qi during their cultivation and undoubtedly learn the understanding of swordsmanship from both Pei Xuanjing and the senior Celestial Master.
One could say that due to their duel, this practice field had evolved into a platform for understanding swordsmanship.
Many people who recognized this showed jealousy in their eyes.
They knew very well that if one day, a disciple of Dragon Tiger Mountain could understand all the traces of sword strides on this practice field, he would undoubtedly become a grandmaster of swordsmanship.
Unperturbed by the envious glances, Yu Yangzi had decided that after today's events, this practice field would be closed off and established as the core heritage of Dragon Tiger Mountain.
As for what to do without a practice field?
They would just build another one. Dragon Tiger Mountain had ample space, and countless palaces and pavilions could be demolished to construct a new practice martial arts field at any time.
In Pei Xuanjing's hand, the Shenxiao Sword was unpredictable, sometimes vanishing mysteriously, other times overflowing with vigor. Various sword attacks were released without restraint.
He had no idea how many moves he had made – tens, hundreds, or even a thousand?
He executed all his memorized sword skills, holding nothing back except for the yet incomplete Shenxiao Heavenly Will Sword and the Heavenly Transcendent Being.
Gradually, he no longer had to think. Every sword stroke became instinctive. This senior Celestial Master truly earned his title as the most formidable under heaven.
Pei Xuanjing had never met an opponent as challenging as him before.
No matter how exquisite Pei Xuanjing's sword art was, his opponent seemed to handle it with ease, showing no signs of struggle.
"Master, kindly accept my next sword!" Pei Xuanjing loudly announced, his True Qi surging around him.
Heavenly Transcendent Being!
Pei Xuanjing swiftly rotated his body, soaring high into the sky with his sword in hand.
He freely exhibited the Shenxiao Heavenly Will technique, accompanied by Wind and Thunder, with Four Seasons and Five Orders revolving around him.
From above, Pei Xuanjing descended like a deity, his godly might formidable, judging all under the heavens.
Wherever the Shenxiao Sword passed, it became a vacuum, and the divine power from heaven shone through it like a white rainbow piercing the sun.
"Hmm! Just as expected!"
The moment he heard Pei Xuanjing speak, the old Celestial Master caught on to his intentions, realizing Pei Xuanjing was unwilling to prolong the battle.
Their unending face-off, after so many years without a true fight, allowed the senior Celestial Master to feel refreshed and joyous for the first time.
Seeing this sword, he was reminded of what he had learned about Pei Xuanjing.
"I suppose this must be the 'ultimate strike' that has been circulating in the rumors!" he thought to himself.
Throughout his journey, even Bai Xiaosheng could not withhold all the information regarding Pei Xuanjing. His ultimate attack, the Heavenly
Transcendent Being, was now well known among the martial arts community.
While its name remained unknown, someone had given it a title: The Swords of Ultimate Stratagem.
Once this move was executed, it resulted in instant death, leaving no possible means of escape.
"The Swords of Ultimate Stratagem!"
"Finally, he has used this move!"
"It seems that we are about to see the final outcome."
In the crowd, everyone's hearts pounded, wondering how the senior Celestial Master would respond to the Swords of Ultimate Stratagem and whether he could break it.
This single sword!
In the face of this sword, he felt a genuine presence of death.
In the eyes of the senior Celestial Master, this descending sword was brilliant and swift. Its intent restrained but concentrated at the blade's edge, radiating an extremely terrifying sword's sharpness that was hard to predict. The sword light fluctuated unpredictably, shining intensely like lightning splitting the sky.
"Demon Slayer!"
The senior Celestial Master, without hesitation, executed the Demon Slaying from the Demons Slaying Swords Skill, whilst reciting the Golden Light Incantation for protection.
At this moment, the senior Celestial Master was enveloped by a radiant golden light, making him appear like a divine entity.
A single sword cut through the air, its brightness giving the impression it was bathed in magnificent golden light. The divine aura it released where the golden light shone, eradicated all evils.
Boom!
Followed by a thundering explosion, the Qi around both individuals erupted one after another. Dragon Tiger Mountain itself shook, as if the platform underneath could not withstand their battle, revealing indistinct and intricate cracks.
As the dust settled, the two stood across from each other.
The senior Celestial Master's hair was disheveled, scattered down his back, and his knuckles bled as they loosened their grip on the sword. He was indeed in an overwhelming situation..
Meanwhile, compared to his opponent, Pei Xuanjing appeared somewhat more disheveled. Though his clothes were intact, there was a shallow wound on his left cheek, from which a stream of fresh blood leaked.
The attack's intensity is evident as it was powerful enough to leave a mark on Pei Xuanjing's face, reflecting the frightening strength of the Celestial Master's previous sword.
"Did he lose?
The spectators thought about it inwardly but didn't dare to break the current silence.
Now in the martial arts field of Dragon Tiger Mountain, although crowded with people, no one dares to speak. It is eerily quiet, with only the sound of the howling mountain wind remaining.
After who knows how long, Pei Xuanjing, touching the wound on his face, slowly uttered, "Technically, the Celestial Master should have won by now, but I am still unwilling to admit defeat."
"Oh?" The Celestial Master raised an eyebrow. Seeing that his opponent still had something up his sleeve, he suppressed his breath, laughed heartily, and said, "Unleash whatever you have left. I'm waiting to see it!"
At this moment, the Celestial Master no longer had his previous calm demeanor. He revealed his true dominating character, full of vitality and boldness.
Did his opponent still have the strength for another fight? And wouldn't he?
Known as the top martial artist, he was not someone with undue fame. If it was a battle they wanted, then he would fight unrestrainedly with all his strength!
Pei Xuanjing slowly began to speak: "I have witnessed Spring's Mysterious
Orchid, Summer's Condensed Lotus, Autumn's Fire Chrysanthemum, and Winter's Cold Plum. I have witnessed spring's budding, summer's cicada chirping, autumn's falling leaves, winter's warm sun. I've seen the full bloom of spring, the vitality of summer, the solitude of autumn, and winter's silver
dance. Having experienced the changes of the four seasons, I finally understood a sword — named Shenxiao Heaven's Intention. Please appreciate, Master of Heaven!"
While speaking, he slowly unsheathed his sword with steady movements. The commanding air around him began to climb gradually. His liberating True Qi, boiling Blood Qi, and pervading Martial Arts' essence filled the air.
All those present were inevitably drawn in by his rather simple sword skill.
Underneath it, one could sense the radiant power of the sword in addition to the vitality of spring, the heat of summer, the desolation of autumn, and the chill of winter.
The Four Seasons Rotation was unpredictable, unceasing, seemingly beginningless and endless, in an everlasting cycle.
As Pei Xuanjing stood there, his body followed the movement of the sword, and the sword followed his heart's stirrings. At this moment, he seemed to blend into Heaven and Earth, exuding an inexplicable charm.
His once powerful sword skill was called the Heavenly Flying Immortal. When he mastered Shenxiao Heavenly Will Method, he realized the changes of the four seasons. He had considered integrating his understanding of the four seasons into Heavenly Flying Immortal to make it even more potent.
In previous illusions, fighting against Eight Union and Master Sanfeng, the sword he used was based on Heavenly Flying Immortal, blending with the Shenxiao Heavenly Will Method.
Despite failing during the exchanges with the two, Pei Xuanjing's understanding of his lack was enlightened.
He had been too greedy. The Heavenly Flying Immortal was an overpowering divine sword, perfectly formulated. It did not require an addition of anything else. Such an addition would not make the sword stronger but instead would dilute its purity, thereby forsaking the basics for the petty.
That's why Pei Xuanjing abandoned this idea and took another path.
He purely integrated his understanding of the Four Seasons and Five Orders into the Shenxiao Heavenly Will Sword.
Although not yet fully mastered, this sword skill was more potent than the Heavenly Flying Immortal.
At this moment, Pei Xuanjing demonstrated all his strength without any reservations. If the Celestial Master could block this sword, then he would admit defeat.
In an instant, the sword light was extraordinary, covering the sky and the Earth, leaving only this sword in existence.
Countless onlookers immediately closed their eyes, daring not to look at the sword light because it seemed to pierce through their eyes and into their hearts.
Only the powerful ones like Zhao Baiyang and the Fengdu Ghost Emperor were qualified to truly look at this god-like sword!
Zhao Baiyang's face was solemn. At this moment, he finally came to terms with his feelings, acknowledging that Pei Xuanjing had surpassed him.
The young man who, despite his tremendous talent, was leagues behind him when they encountered each other in the Wild Mountain Ancient Temple years ago, had gradually strengthened. Today, he had surpassed him and walked ahead of him on the path of Martial Arts.
"Brother Pei, you go ahead first. When my divine skill is fully cultivated, I will duel you at the pinnacle of Martial Arts!" Zhao Baiyang's eyes shone with determination.
Zhao Baiyang harbored no dissatisfaction or jealousy towards Pei Xuanjing, who went from being inferior to him to surpassing him. He was full of confidence, viewing Pei Xuanjing as his greatest rival in his Martial Arts journey.
"I must kill you! I absolutely cannot let you continue to grow!" The Fengdu Ghost Emperor's killing intent grew stronger.
The stronger and more brilliant Pei Xuanjing became, the greater the threat to him.
If the day ever came when Pei Xuanjing became invincible, it would be the darkest day for the Underworld, void of any chance of survival.
If previously killing Pei Xuanjing was driven by interests, now his life or death would decide the fate of the Underworld.
"This sword skill!"
The Celestial Master's smile disappeared instantly, replaced by a serious look with an unprecedented focus in his eyes.
He could sense that at this moment, Pei Xuanjing seemed not to be 'here.' He seemed to have entered a different world, where all the sensations and auras he released were annihilated.
At this moment, he was not facing Pei Xuanjing but his elusive Heavenly Will. This sword was more like a Heavenly Punishment than a sword skill!
The Shenxiao Heavenly Will Sword, huh?
Sure enough, it deserves its name for aligning with Heaven's Will.
The Celestial Master circulated his True Qi, the divine sword in his hand emitting a faint ringing sound and releasing a terrifying aura.
He reached out to the void with his other hand, and the divine sword on Yu Yangzi's waist broke through the air with a clattering sound and fell into his hand.
With the two divine swords at hand, the Celestial Master's aura also began to escalate rapidly, reaching a critical point.
He had one sword before and one behind, forming a mysterious sword stance. Then the golden light bloomed, carrying the momentum of slaying evil and demons, and chopped it down.
Slaying Evil Monsters!
This was the final skill in Dragon Tiger Mountain's Slaying Evil Monsters Sword Skill, which only the Celestial Master could practice in every generation.
The two sword lights turned into a Golden Dragon and a White Tiger.
The roars and howls of the dragon and tiger echoed mutually. The indefinitely formidable forces howled towards Pei Xuanjing!