He Luoli stood up in shock as he stared at the arena below. None of the other four blamed him as they also froze in shock at the scene below, but only He Luoli felt it clearer than anyone else. He Luoli as a sword cultivator, was already on the verge of condesing his sword intent, unlike his brother, who was still grasping in the dark. So he could detect the tyrannical strength and unfathomableness behind Longwei's saber strike.

It really didn't feel like a Nascent Soul Cultivator's newly formed intent, but rather a saber intent from an old monster.

The four of them were momentarily surprised by Longwei's revealed trump card, but only Ji Muyang felt cold sweat coat her back because the target of Longwei's all-out attack was Xi Tianyi, the son of the Sword Empress! Unleashing such a level of attack out of the blue can no longer be considered a spar. Even if Tianyi were to luckily live through the strike that could even be lethal to Unity Realm Venerables, fatal injuries were already certain.

Where would this leave her?

The one who did such action was Longwei, but it was she who invited him and supported the idea of bringing loose cultivators. Even if the culprit was not her, she would not be able to untangle herself from this conflict. Her position as the Bright Ascension Saintess would be in jeopardy, and that was the best situation. Worse, she could even have her cultivation crippled and handed over to the Buzhou Immortal Sect to quell their anger.

Before, how much she admired Longwei was how much she despised and hated him now. When she met him, he appeared to have some street smarts and high emotional intelligence. Why couldn't he think of the consequence of his actions now? Even the arrogant Dong Chifan was much better than a beast that caused a calamity. She could only pray that the situation would not reach that point and that Xi Tianyi was lucky. But her breath hitched, and her eyes widened when she saw what happened next.

"What a good move. Aside from Sister Su, I did not think there would be another person at this gathering who would be able to harm me like this, nevermind already having condensed your saber intent."

Longwei's tensed body immediately retreated a distance. His previous confident expression stiff, and his eyes wide like saucers as if he couldn't believe his eyes.

His robes weren't harmed in the slightest, but Tianyi loosened them to reveal some of his chest and the laceration on his skin. The previously exposed collarbone had an even wider gash because it was directly struck. Tianyi felt an uncontrollable and brutal energy swirling around the injury -the lingering saber intent according to his guess- that prevent his wounds from mending. Shimmering black gas continued to leak out from his wounds out of control.

Naturally, there was pain, but it need not be mentioned. Because Tianyi's eyes flitted over towards Longwei with deep suspicion as he adjusted his robes.

I've always felt that the Xi Longyi wasn't an ordinary Dragon Emperor Clone since he could always bring techniques out of nowhere, even ones that he did not see or exist in the Immortal Scripture Repository. But I didn't ponder it over much since that specific clone no longer existed since I was here.

But could it be that Xi Longyi was special?

That saber intent is far too similar to the one I've seen in the dream, and from that world mother's word, perhaps the Dragon Emperor has already started to awaken at around that time.

Since I was no longer a viable choice, Xi Longyi awakened in another clone's body?

It seems preposterous, but it's completely viable if it was according to a book's plot. But I shouldn't be so quick to believe just because I've seen typical story plots appear before me. Perhaps this Longwei isn't unique, and that many Dragon Emperor Clones will awaken the same saber intent, resources, and potential.

...on second thought, that'd be terrible.

That attack, I could sense a deep killing intent. Even if he is aware of his status as a clone, why would he kill me in front of so many people? If he really did fatally injure me or even kill me, he should have more losses than gains.

Unless I got something that is worth the risk? What could it be? And even if he did succeed, then that means he should have an escape plan.

I'll ponder over these matters later. That attack would have killed anyone else here except me...or Su Wanyu. Since you dare to use such a powerful attack, then I won't be polite either. Hehe, since you've given such a good reason for me to have a grudge with you, then I'll accept it.

Tianyi gave a smile towards Longwei that was anything but a smile except the superficial expression. "Since you revealed such a technique, I should repay in kind, right?"

"Haha, Daoist Xi, I'll be sure to receive it," Longwei said after regaining his composure. Although Tianyi's defense surpassed his expectation by a long shot, Longwei had already gauged Tianyi's mastery over his techniques. No matter what, it should not be as deep as his. In terms of cultivation, although both of them were in the early Nascent Soul Realm, his experience and mastery towered over his foe.

Tianyi placed his hand over the handle of his sword, and a formless domain appeared. Sword Formation as the World, compared to when Tianyi used it against the Bliss Earth Sect Master, the suppression and power had increased by severalfold. After all, Tianyi was still a Core Formation Master back then, and his mastery had increased.

But Longwei didn't show any surprise or wariness and instead raise his saber. The domineering saber intent dispersed all the suppression from Tianyi's domain.

Tianyi didn't show much surprise at how easily his domain was broken. Seeing as it didn't work, he didn't release it anymore. Why use it when it would just waste his energy?

Shiiiinnnngggg

Tianyi slowly unsheathed his sword with an ear gratingly loud sound. Since he had reached the Nascent Soul Realm, the seal on his sword decreased by one, and the power it could display was already at the Unity Realm threshold.

Without warning, Tianyi leaped at Longwei and unleashed a myriad of thrusts and slices. An unaccountable number of different styles of sword arts were all displayed without the slightest hint of chaos. It was as if Tianyi was using a single school of sword art and all the styles were simply branches of that single school.

Not only that, Tianyi's sheer speed made his movement blurry to the vast majority of disciples at the pavilion. He was like the hurricane, entrapping Longwei in the eye of the storm, unable to escape and striking from all sides.

Longwei grunted as he deflected another strike from Tianyi. Yes, Tianyi was able to use numerous sword arts fluidly like it was one single style, but what was even more terrifying was that speed that caused Longwei to be unable to strike back. Even more hateful was the strength behind Tianyi's attacks. Each strike was like several hammers smashing at him at once.

Compared to Tianyi's sword arts, what was truly suppressing and pressuring Longwei was Tianyi's sheer speed and strength.

The scene was akin to when He Yongli first attacked Longwei, but Tianyi surpassed He Yongli in both speed and strength, causing it to appear even more one-sided. But Longwei didn't panic. He could tell that Tianyi was going through an enormous amount of true qi at an even greater pace than He Yongli. Although it was difficult to fend Tianyi off, but as long as he persevered, then Tianyi would lose steam and be like fish on a chopping block for him.

Longwei confidently thought this, but as time passed and his appearance became even more ragged. Yet, Tianyi still continued to use the same amount of qi at the same pace with a carefree smile; Longwei couldn't help but suspect whether it was Tianyi or him who couldn't persist.

Longwei gritted his teeth and persevered. But with each passing moment, he began to suspect that Tianyi had an inexhaustible source of true qi or some treasure that would replenish his qi, but Longwei could find it at all. Finally, he gave in first. But this mark, he, Longwei, would remember and return twofold. "Daoist Xi, how about we call this a draw? Continuing like this would be just wasting. I can't attack you, but you can't defeat me either."

Having a draw looked better than being defeated by Tianyi, at least. Even if it was because he was exhausted, but Longwei was clear that no one would think Tianyi gone overboard after unleashing his full-powered saber strike.

Tianyi stopped and stood in front of Longwei. "Oh? But I feel like if I continue, I will win."

Longwei's face stiffened, and a trace of hate flashed by. But Tianyi continued. "But I feel you're right. If we continue like this, it would be boring. How about this, that earlier saber strike of yours was your strongest move, right?"

"Naturally, otherwise, I wouldn't have been cornered like this," Longwei said it wasn't a lie. But the end result would remain the same.

"If you can block my next sword strike, then I'll call it a draw. But if you can't block my sword strike, it's my win. I did block your saber strike, after all." Tianyi said with a smile, but Longwei felt the pure malice behind that pleasant smile.

But Longwei smiled and agreed. He had confidence in his strength, and Tianyi's technique wasn't much to him. He only had trouble because of the sheer number of attacks and the power behind them. But Longwei had confidence that if it was a single strike, then he would easily block it.

Tianyi began to gather and manipulate his true qi, and his sword was covered in a layer of darkness with countless motes of light, like the infinite night sky. He didn't immediately attack and swung it a few times, but with each sword swing, the pressure Longwei felt increased.

"Dragon(籠)..."

Tianyi lightly said, and Longwei's pupils contracted into needle points. He felt an unprecedented amount of danger as if the object in Tianyi's hand was a sword-shaped dragon.

But Tianyi didn't strike again and instead continue to swing it as if he was writing with a brush.

"...Extermination (滅)"

When Tianyi said that word, his final sword strike soared towards Longwei.

The spectator had only felt that there was a lot of power in Tianyi's sword. It was only when Tianyi said the second word did they feel the extinction-like intent behind that strike. But Longwei felt it even more. That sword transformed from a sword-shaped dragon into the antithesis of a dragon's existence.

Just a little nick could prove fatal.

Longwei wanted to dodge, but Tianyi only revealed his true intent at the last moment, and he could no longer fully escape the attack. Left with no other choice, Longwei gambled it all and unleashed a full-powered saber strike. Longwei didn't have to gamble it all; he could have just partially blocked Tianyi's attack and let the force push him out of the arena. But that would result in his loss. So a draw was his bottom line.

You're just a failed clone, don't get arrogant!

Longwei's gold-encased saber collided against Tianyi's black blade. Golden light erupted, but little by little, it was being erased by the void.

Longwei cultivated the Dragon Emperor Fist, and his very existence had grown closer to that of a dragon. His claw arts, saber arts, and body only accentuated that fact. But against Tianyi's sword was like his natural enemy. His counterattack wasn't being deflected, blocked, devoured, or anything like that. It was destroyed to its very core; the foundation of his attack was being erased.

"YAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

Longwei yelled and struggled like a mere mortal defying against heaven and earth.

The clash seemed to last an infinite amount of time, yet it seemed to only last for an instant. When everyone broke out of their stupor, they saw Tianyi sheathing his sword and walking away.

"You blocked my greatest sword strike. It's a draw between you and me."

Blood dripped out of Longwei's mouth as he kneeled. Only leaning on his saber was he able to prevent himself from falling onto the floor.

"Hey, are you alright?" He ignored the changes in Ji Muyang's tone, who came to help him. His eyes targeted Tianyi's back like a wolf. The hatred in his eyes couldn't be hidden at all; everyone saw it.

Ever since I cultivated in this life, I have never been in such a sorry state. Not even that Lei Jingye was able to do this to me! Xi Tianyi, those that have antagonized me to this state have never lived long!