This sword cultivator is indeed looking for trouble with Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng!
As soon as Li Xuan finished speaking, Mu Dan and the others' expressions shifted slightly. Although Li Xuan had now broken through to become a Sword Grandmaster, Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng were not pushovers. The second trial was about to begin, and Li Xuan intended to clash with them head-on?
However, no one would try to dissuade him. It was none of their business. Moreover, if these three ended up in a mutually destructive fight, it would undoubtedly increase their chances of obtaining the inheritance.
"What do you intend to do?" Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng stood up. Although the sword cultivator before them was now a Sword Grandmaster, they only felt a slight pressure. With Li Xuan actively seeking them out, they naturally felt no fear.
Li Xuan pondered for a moment, then stated directly, "You two, come at me together."
"Sir, those two are not weak. If it were a one-on-one fight, I believe you could win. But if they join forces, your chances of winning would be greatly reduced," Jian Chi said immediately.
"Jian Chi, this is between us and him!" Bu Jing Lei retorted with a cold snort.
"Sir, do you require my assistance?" Jian Chi ignored Bu Jing Lei and bowed towards Li Xuan. Having already decided to recruit Li Xuan into the Myriad Sword Sect, Jian Chi no longer cared about angering Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng.
Just as expected!
As soon as Jian Chi spoke, Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng's faces changed drastically. Jian Chi, as his name implied, was deeply infatuated with the way of the sword. In a one-on-one fight, Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng believed they could not overpower Jian Chi. Not to mention the presence of Li Xuan, who had just become a Sword Grandmaster. Once this battle commenced, their situation would be dire.
"No need, but I appreciate your kind offer," Li Xuan replied, shaking his head. He then looked at Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng and said, "I can handle these two by myself."
Hearing Li Xuan's words, Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng relaxed slightly, but the latter half of Li Xuan's statement caused their expressions to darken once more.
"Then we shall witness your performance." Jian Chi was taken aback, clearly not expecting Li Xuan to refuse his offer. However, seeing Li Xuan's confidence, Jian Chi stepped back with some curiosity, waiting.
"I will unleash one sword strike. If you can withstand it, then the previous matters will be dropped," Li Xuan said after some thought.
Everyone sighed softly. It seemed Li Xuan intended to de-escalate the situation. It was just one sword strike; how could Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng, with their strength, not withstand it? Many now believed Li Xuan was simply seeking retribution for being sneak-attacked earlier, otherwise, why would he say such a thing?
"Just one sword strike? I accept," Bu Jing Lei said after a moment of silence.
"Unsheathe your sword," Kun Peng also nodded at this point.
As soon as they finished speaking, spiritual energy barriers illuminated around them. In front of so many witnesses, they would naturally not cheat. Of course, they also believed that Li Xuan, as a Sword Grandmaster, would not unleash a second sword after promising only one.
Therefore, as long as they could withstand Li Xuan's single strike, Li Xuan would be the one humiliated.
"Alright." Li Xuan nodded slightly upon seeing this, then with a thought, a high-grade spirit sword appeared in his hand.
Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng looked serious at this, then re-condensed a barrier, preparing for battle.
Li Xuan smiled slightly, moved his left hand, and then turned to walk towards the unfamiliar woman.
Everyone present was stunned. What was this sword cultivator doing? Didn't he say he would only strike once? Why was he walking towards that woman of unknown origin?
Even Liu Jia Qi was somewhat surprised. Why was this sword cultivator walking towards her instead of attacking?
"Such a fast sword!"
At that moment, Jian Chi's pupils contracted sharply, and he suddenly exclaimed. Mu Dan and the others, as well as Feng Hao and the others below, felt a stir in their hearts. Had the sword cultivator already attacked?
"You... you've already attacked?" Liu Jia Qi had not seen clearly, but Jian Chi, being a sword cultivator, understood the way of the sword better than them. Since Jian Chi had spoken those words, it meant Li Xuan had indeed attacked. Even so, Liu Jia Qi still asked for confirmation.
Li Xuan nodded.
"Then why was there no sound?" Liu Jia Qi asked, puzzled. Mu Dan and the others also looked at Li Xuan with curiosity.
Li Xuan smiled and replied, "Let the sword fly for a while longer."
*Crack!*
At that moment, a faint cracking sound was heard. Everyone quickly looked towards Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng. To their surprise, their spiritual energy barriers had developed a crack, much like an eggshell. The crack then spread rapidly, and in an instant, it dissolved into spiritual light.
*Pfft!*
Just then, two high-grade spirit swords flew through the air and, under everyone's gaze, pierced directly into their chests. Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng's expressions were filled with terror as they spat out mouthfuls of blood.
"Huh? They're not dead? It seems the disciples of the Twelve Sects are indeed quite strong." Li Xuan looked at Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng, who had been sent flying back a hundred meters, with a trace of regret in his eyes. Then, with a wave of his hand, the two high-grade spirit swords flew back.
"What... what is going on?"
"How did that sword cultivator do it? Didn't he say he would only strike once? That's three strikes now."
"Are your eyes faulty? Let me ask you, was the strike that hit Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng one sword?"
"But didn't the sword cultivator's earlier attack break their barriers?"
"..."
The crowd buzzed with discussion, their opinions divided. Meanwhile, Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng had no time to explain anything and immediately sat down cross-legged to heal their wounds.
"First, he used the speed of his sword strike to generate sword energy that directly broke through their defenses. But retracting his sword without fully unleashing it was not considered a full strike. The true killing blow was when you concealed two spirit swords in the void from the beginning, waiting for their defenses to break before attacking. Little fellow, am I correct?" Qi Bai Yan said.
Li Xuan looked at Qi Bai Yan with surprise and then generously nodded, "As expected, I couldn't hide it from senior's keen eyes."
Qi Bai Yan laughed heartily and said, "You don't have to flatter me. Although I've guessed the general idea, I don't know when you prepared and concealed those swords. Little fellow, could you enlighten me?"
Li Xuan smiled and nodded, "As soon as my comprehension concluded, I had already made all these preparations."
*Hiss!*
As soon as Li Xuan finished speaking, everyone gasped in unison. This guy was too insidious! He had already planned to attack Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng at that very moment. Such a scheme was truly terrifying.
At this point, many spiritual masters silently warned themselves never to become enemies with this sword cultivator in the future. Even if they encountered him, it would be best to turn and flee immediately.
"It was at that time... Hmm, when you withdrew your sword intent, there were indeed two streaks of sword light that flashed by. I thought I was seeing things, but it turns out it was because you concealed your swords. Not simple, not simple at all." A trace of realization flashed in Qi Bai Yan's eyes, and he praised without reservation.
"Senior is too kind. By the way, senior, this quarter-hour period seems to have ended, hasn't it?" Li Xuan glanced at Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng, then smiled faintly at Qi Bai Yan.
"Hmm... it seems it has indeed ended." Qi Bai Yan understood Li Xuan's implied meaning but cast a regretful glance at Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng. Although they were not dead, they were now heavily injured. How could they continue with the second trial?
Qi Bai Yan had also realized that Li Xuan had not truly exerted his full strength. The sword that pierced Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng's chests was merely an inch away from their hearts. As a sword cultivator, how could he not calculate this? Preserving their lives but losing their opportunity was a trade-off.
"The second trial, strength."