Chen Xiao then said in a low voice, "Lin Xuan, your strength is impressive! You've exceeded my expectations once again. But if this is all you've got, you're bound to lose this duel!"
"You can try," Lin Xuan replied with a faint smile, giving an ambiguous answer.
Chen Xiao's heart skipped a beat at that, a bad feeling creeping in. But since things had come to this, he couldn't hold back anymore. Whether Lin Xuan had more hidden or not, he had to unleash this final trump card to fight without regret.
"Fine! Then I'll try!" Chen Xiao shouted, gripping his blade with both hands as a far more terrifying, overwhelming aura of dominance burst forth, surpassing anything before.
The surrounding disciples felt a stabbing pain and a deadly threat, quickly retreating in shock. Even the few stewards near the arena were visibly shaken, exclaiming in surprise.
"This is a formed intent!" "Half-step blade intent!" "Who would've thought Chen Xiao had also comprehended a formed intent!" "..."
Intent was the most basic manifestation of the laws of heaven and earth, incredibly difficult to grasp. Even among inner sect elites, few could comprehend a formed intent at the early Condensation Rotation stage. Most only succeeded at the late Condensation Rotation stage or even after breaking through to the Spirit Opening stage. Yet Chen Xiao, at the third layer of Condensation Rotation—still early stage—had grasped a formed intent, half-step blade intent. Among inner sect elites, he was considered a decent genius.
That was why the stewards were somewhat shaken. But compared to Lin Xuan—a monster who had comprehended a formed intent, half-step sword intent, while still in the Qi Gathering stage as an outer disciple— it seemed utterly ordinary.
And now, Lin Xuan was right there on the arena, dueling Chen Xiao. So the stewards' hearts stirred briefly before calming down, their gazes returning to the arena.
Earlier, after Lin Xuan unleashed his half-step sword intent, its power was formidable, even putting Chen Xiao, an inner sect elite, on the back foot, unable to match him. But now, Chen Xiao had also unleashed his formed intent, half-step blade intent. With the same level of intent, Chen Xiao's cultivation was a whole major realm higher than Lin Xuan's, so its power would be far greater. This twist made the duel even more thrilling.
Their eyes gleamed with excitement. This was the kind of duel rarely seen in the arena in months.
The stewards hadn't lowered their voices, and their words spread out, reaching the disciples who had retreated hundreds of meters away to the plaza. A wave of commotion erupted.
"Senior Brother Chen Xiao has also comprehended a formed intent, half-step blade intent?" "Half-step sword intent versus half-step blade intent?!" "Senior Brother Lin Xuan's cultivation is still a bit lacking; he might lose." "Not necessarily—maybe Senior Brother Lin Xuan has another hidden card?" "Isn't half-step sword intent enough? How could he have more?" "..."
The disciples buzzed with discussion, most still skeptical of Lin Xuan. After all, Lin Xuan was still a new disciple who hadn't been around long. At this stage, most disciples hadn't even gotten familiar with the outer sect. Yet Lin Xuan had surged ahead, entered the inner sect, and trampled over veteran inner disciples.
The disciples naturally felt uneasy. But in this world, where strength reigned and the strong ruled all, they were forced by Lin Xuan's power to address him as "Senior Brother." Deep down, they still hoped Lin Xuan would lose.
Lin Xuan's path had been too dazzling. If he could suffer a single defeat, they'd feel a bit better. They consoled themselves with that thought.
But unfortunately, it was just wishful thinking. Defeating Lin Xuan? How could it be that easy?
On the arena. After releasing his half-step blade intent, Chen Xiao said nothing more and struck.
"Blazing Torrent!" He stomped the ground, leaping into the air, gripping his treasured blade with both hands as he slashed down heavily. A crimson blade light shot out, riding a surge of rolling flames, charging at Lin Xuan. Empowered by the half-step blade intent, its power skyrocketed, transforming into a tens-of-zhang crimson flame blade that seemed to shatter the void as it descended upon Lin Xuan.
Its might was far greater than before. The air around them heated up sharply, the very space seeming to warp. Even the disciples far off in the plaza felt parched, their blood boiling as if their qi might ignite at any moment. They were awed by Chen Xiao's strength.
The stewards near the arena also felt their skin burning, only recovering by channeling their qi. They were even more astonished by Chen Xiao. With this level of power, especially after unleashing half-step blade intent, even an ordinary seventh-layer Condensation Rotation cultivator might not be sure of defeating Chen Xiao, right? This strike's power was already close to late-stage Condensation Rotation combat strength.
Chen Xiao had hidden quite a bit! Now, for Lin Xuan's sake, he had revealed it all. It showed how seriously he regarded Lin Xuan.
The disciples and stewards all turned to Lin Xuan. This time, Chen Xiao had exposed several times more power—how would Lin Xuan respond? Would he be defeated on the spot, or would he unleash even greater strength? Everyone watched eagerly.
On the arena. "Not bad power," Lin Xuan murmured, shaking his head slightly. "Too bad you ran into me."
As the words fell, he angled his treasured sword, and a sword light shot out. "Gale!"
Instantly, a terrifying sharpness erupted from Lin Xuan, surging skyward as if tearing the heavens apart! It was utterly fearsome! The sword light, boosted by this dreadful sharpness, swelled abruptly. The wind swirling around him turned into a storm, sweeping everything in its path. Nothing could stand in its way!
Even the flames spreading from the descending crimson blade light were extinguished. Before the Gale sword light even struck, the storm had already snuffed out most of the crimson blade light's momentum. Its power was unmatched!
The next moment! The Gale sword light shot upward, clashing with the crimson blade light.
Crack! This time, there was no explosive roar. A crisp sound rang out. The crimson blade light shattered like a brittle biscuit, breaking cleanly in two. Then it dissolved into countless motes of spiritual energy, vanishing.
But the Gale sword light, its power only slightly diminished, continued at the same speed toward Chen Xiao. As it passed, a series of crisp cracks echoed, as if the space itself was being crushed. It was awe-inspiring and terrifying!
"Is this a formed intent—one-percent sword intent?!?" Chen Xiao felt the terrifying sharpness surging skyward, his heart shaken as he blurted out in shock. He never imagined Lin Xuan truly had more hidden!
An inner disciple at the Qi Transformation stage comprehending half-step intent was already a miracle, setting an unprecedented record. But Lin Xuan had grasped even more! One-percent sword intent! This wasn't a miracle—it was heaven-defying!!
He had never thought the rumors were not only true but had vastly underestimated Lin Xuan. To comprehend one-percent sword intent at the Qi Transformation stage! Unimaginable!