Chapter 276 Nie Fengzhuo's Comeback
On Bai Zihan's side, he watched with calmness while Jin Yuelin excitedly cheered for the two participants fighting.
After learning that Bai Xueqing was Bai Zihan's sister, she naturally cheered more for Bai Xueqing.
With her cultivation and current strength, it was enough for her to enjoy the battle-unlike weaker cultivators, who needed a more powerful expert to explain what was going on.
At their full speed, to weaker Cultivator, it looks like they are disappearing and appearing again on the stage.
At first, Bai Zihan thought it would be a long, boring fight, with Nie Fengzhuo shocking the people again and again before finally taking the win.
But it wasn't as simple as he thought.
First of all, his sister was easily dominating the fight. Of course, to most eyes they seemed equal, but if one looked closer, they would notice that Bai Xueqing wasn't even struggling much.
While Nie Fengzhuo's form wasn't exactly the best.
(Did he get injured?)
Bai Zihan was instantly able to identify the problem with Nie Fengzhuo being a bit off in today's fight.
Because he wasn't there when Nie Fengzhuo fought with Chu Ziyan, he didn't know the details, but he was able to conclude it once he thought about it.
Chu Ziyan-his fiancée, at least in name must have done it.
He didn't dare underestimate her. Very talented, he must admit.
Very scary as well, since he had experienced that personally.
But even then, he wouldn't have imagined that she would become strong enough to severely injure a Four-Star Heaven's Chosen One.
Though she still lost, as he had expected.
And while things were disadvantageous to Nie Fengzhuo, Bai Zihan thought he would soon change that as well.
And he did. With Heaven-Rending Breakthrough, which boosted his cultivation and strength-a classic protagonist skill-it seemed like the battle was turning in his favor.
Though one thing did worry Bai Zihan.
(Looks like he has already shown off this move previously.)
With the audience discussing it, he heard that Nie Fengzhuo had used it once already against Chu Ziyan.
(A trump card should normally be unknown.)
Well, in most cases for the protagonist. But of course, a strong skill would
remain strong, and it should be enough.
Well, at least Bai Zihan thought so.
The arena quaked as Nie Fengzhuo's qi surged to its peak.
Black-crimson light coiled around him like living flame, his presence expanding until it felt as though a mountain had descended upon the stage.
His sword trembled-not from weakness, but from the violent power pouring into it, eager to be unleashed.
Then he moved.
WHOOSH!
The world seemed to blur. His strike descended like the heavens themselves splitting apart.
BOOM!
The stage cracked under the sheer force, shards of stone erupting into the air. Bai Xueqing darted aside, her figure flickering with Nine Shadows, but even as she evaded, her afterimages were obliterated one by one, erased by the suffocating might of his blade.
Her silver sword rang out desperately as she intercepted his next swing.
CLANG!
But the shockwave blasted her back several steps, the veins in her arm screaming from the force.
Nie Fengzhuo pressed forward, his eyes cold, his movements precise.
There was no arrogance, no reckless surge of confidence in his blows. Every strike carried intent-measured, merciless, leaving not a single opening.
For many who suddenly gain strength liek Nie Fengzhuo, they tends to become more careless and drunk on power but it wasn't the case for Nie Nengzhuo. He was still calm and cautious despite the increase in his strength.
After a while, it was no longer a contest of equals.
Bai Xueqing's breath quickened.
Her afterimages flickered and reformed, her footwork gliding with grace, yet every defense was shaken, every counter broken apart before it could bloom.
The difference was suffocating.
(This power... it isn't just a small increase!)
It wasn't the same Nie Fengzhuo she had fought moments ago.
This was as if she were facing a cultivator of an entirely higher realm-someone who had stepped beyond Soul Formation and crushed her beneath the sheer weight of their cultivation.
Her sword blurred again, silver light flowing like water, but each time his black-crimson blade came down, it was like a tidal wave slamming against a
fragile ship.
Her fingers trembled around the hilt, her shoulders aching from the endless
impacts.
(Tough!)
Her eyes narrowed, sweat trailing down her temple.
(Despite preparing myself, I still wasn't ready for this.)
Each clash left her arms numb, her qi circulation disrupted by the violence of
his aura.
It was all she could do to keep up, to slip between the crushing arcs of his sword without being devoured entirely.
Yet Nie Fengzhuo gave her no room, no reprieve. His strength, his caution, his
cold determination-they closed in from all sides.
The audience roared in disbelief.
"He's... he's overwhelming her!"
"Bai Xueqing, the Number One Genius-actually being suppressed!"
"This is insane! Could this end in an upset?!"
"NO! I bet all of my fortune on Bai Xueqing!"
The storm raged on-black-crimson dominance crashing against silver light,
each strike threatening to decide the match.
Their blades clashed again, sparks bursting like miniature stars before vanishing
into the void of their killing intent.
Nie Fengzhuo's eyes narrowed, his breath steady despite the storm raging
around them.
Each strike carried the weight of mountains, the pressure of rivers flooding their banks. Yet even as he pressed her back, a cold thought gnawed at him.
(...This isn't her limit.)
His voice cut through the roar of steel and shattered stone.
"Bai Xueqing!" he barked, his sword trembling with lethal intent. "Stop holding back. Show me your best-or else you will be defeated by me."
He was thinking about the technique she used to defeat Zhao Chen instantly. His instincts screamed that compared to the flowing elegance of her Nine Shadows Flowing Light Sword, that other technique... carried a much greater
terror.
".."
But Bai Xueqing's steps faltered for the briefest of moments.
Despite the provocation, she showed no sign of using that technique-and
wasn't planning to.
That illusion, Shui Lian'er's mirage had pierced straight into her heart.
The image of her loved ones, swallowed by her power.
She had thought she had conquered it. That with her growth, with her
strength, she could master it, bend it to her will.
But Shui Lian'er had torn open that buried wound, planting back the hesitation.
The fear.
Her voice was low, steady, yet carrying the weight of resolve.
"I don't need that power to defeat you."
Nie Fengzhuo's brow furrowed, his aura flaring with disbelief.
Bai Xueqing lifted her sword, silver light dancing across its blade like rippling
moonlight. Her stance was unshaken, her gaze firm.
"I'll show you something stronger," she declared.
(Something stronger?)
Bai Zihan didn't believe it was possible. He thought Bai Xueqing was just
bluffing.
(Fine! If she won't reveal it willingly, then I'll force it out of her.)
His qi surged again, his sword raised high. The black-crimson light condensed
along its edge, sharp enough to split heaven and earth.
The arena groaned under the pressure, the protective formations flaring
desperately as if afraid of what was to come.
"Then... let's see it!"
He roared-
"Absolute Severance!"