198: Chapter 198 A Battle of Life and Death (Part 3)
On the arena, Yun Tai's gaze swept over Ning Yuan. His previously indifferent face was now etched with astonishment, clearly not expecting this move. However, he quickly regained his composure.
A Secret Technique is, after all, just a Secret Technique!
No matter how much it boosts one's cultivation, it could never be compared to him. To think one could defeat him by relying on a Secret Technique was pure fantasy!
"Is this your trump card? Or have you already run out of tricks?"
"You'll witness my true means soon enough! I just hope you can withstand them!" Feeling the power surging within him, Ning Yuan couldn't help but revel in it. Soul Transformation was truly Soul Transformation, far beyond what the Nascent Soul stage could compare to.
This sudden surge in cultivation was naturally the result of using the 'Spirit Fusion' Secret Technique. Fusing with Bone Firefly also led to his appearance bearing some resemblance to hers.
He had obtained this Secret Technique long ago, but back then his cultivation was too low, and his Physical Body couldn't withstand power exceeding his own. Thus, he had never used it.
Now, however, things were different. His cultivation had reached the Peak Nascent Soul stage, and his Physical Body could withstand Soul Transformation-level power. Moreover, he wouldn't bear the side effects; at most, Bone Firefly would be weakened for a while. Such an excellent Secret Technique, he naturally wouldn't hesitate to use it.
"Come on! Don't disappoint me, or this will be far too boring!"
Gripping the longsword in his hand, the blade vibrated, emitting a crisp, ringing sound. Yun Tai's Aura surged yet again. The tip of his foot tapped the ground fiercely, and his body transformed into a bolt of lightning. Under the gaze of all present, he launched the first attack against Ning Yuan.
As the blade swung, it was like a fierce tiger breaking free from its cage, lunging to tear Ning Yuan apart. Accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, it slashed viciously towards Ning Yuan's chest.
Calmly watching the blade tip rapidly enlarging in his pupils, Ning Yuan raised 'Yuan Zhi' without hesitation, blocking this heavy, powerful slash. Upon contact, a crisp 'clang' rang out.
After having his strike blocked by Ning Yuan, Yun Tai showed not a hint of surprise. His longsword began to dance rapidly once more. Nine blade phantoms materialized in an instant, and with a soft shout, they shot towards Ning Yuan like lightning.
The nine sharp blade phantoms sliced through the air's resistance, appearing before Ning Yuan almost in a flash. At the critical, hair's-breadth moment, he thrust out nine sword strikes, shattering all the blade phantoms.
His foot stomped heavily on the ground. With a thunderous explosion, his body transformed into a white streak of light, closing in on Yun Tai as if teleporting. An unending stream of sword phantoms stabbed towards vital points all over Yun Tai's body, accompanied by a continuous, dense sound of rending air.
Feeling Ning Yuan's storm-like offensive, Yun Tai's longsword vibrated in his palm, engaging in a straightforward, unadorned clash. The terrifying force caused a constant, unbroken clangor of metal to ring out in the Void Realm. Every missed attack left pits of varying depths on the ground.
On the arena, as the battle between the two gradually reached a fever pitch, powerful spiritual energies collided, and violent explosions sounded incessantly.
During the close-quarters combat, flashes of blade light and sword shadows constantly shot out, riddling the arena with holes. Two figures darted and shifted positions at incredible speed on the stage, the crisp sounds of blade and sword collisions continuously emanating from their clashes.
As the battle wore on, the ferocity of their attacks grew increasingly insane, becoming more and more astonishing to behold.
Watching the blurred figures constantly exchanging blows on the stage, the surrounding spectators' faces all held a trace of stunned disbelief. Among the younger generation of the Nine Profound Realm, Yun Tai had always held a leading position. Whether in talent or strength, he was far ahead of his peers.
Yet, all of this seemed insignificant when faced with Ning Yuan. No matter how fierce an attack Yun Tai launched, Ning Yuan effortlessly neutralized it, even appearing somewhat at ease.
The most terrifying thing wasn't his strength, but the fact that Ning Yuan's true cultivation wasn't at the Soul Transformation stage; it was forcibly elevated through a Secret Technique. Even so, he was fighting Yun Tai to a standstill.
At this moment, they truly understood just how terrifying the strength of this youth from the Ming Dao Sword Sect was!
Everyone held their breath, their gazes following the moving figures. As the battle intensified, their hearts rose to their throats. The members of the Cloud Tiger Tribe in the viewing stands finally began to look somewhat uneasy.
What they thought would be a one-sided, crushing battle had unexpectedly developed to this point. Yun Tai, with a whole cultivation Realm higher, facing Ning Yuan who had forcibly boosted his cultivation with a Secret Technique, actually couldn't gain an absolute advantage.
Could it be that he'd have to drag it out until the Secret Technique's duration ended? Even if Yun Tai ultimately won, he'd only earn a reputation for an unearned victory!
Just as everyone's thoughts raced, the two figures on the arena clashed and separated once more. With a thunderous boom, both slid back dozens of yards across the ground.
The retreating figures slowly came to a halt, clearly appearing in everyone's sight. Looking at their conditions, the crowd was momentarily stunned.
The white bone armor on Ning Yuan's body was now crisscrossed with numerous blade marks, and faint traces of blood could be seen seeping through. Clearly, he hadn't come through the fight with Yun Tai completely unscathed.
In contrast, Yun Tai also looked somewhat disheveled. His originally neat robes were now tattered. A clear sword wound was visible on his abdomen, the flowing blood dyeing his robes crimson. His lips were slightly pale, and his breathing was somewhat ragged.
It seemed that in the previous fierce battle, both had their victories and losses; neither had gained the upper hand.
After the two reappeared, the hushed whispers that had existed fell silent at the opportune moment. Everyone fixed their unblinking eyes on the two, fearing to miss the next exchange of blows, which might very well determine the victor.
The silence lasted for a while. In the end, Yun Tai was the first to move. His calm eyes held a trace of complexity as he took a deep look at the young man opposite him, who was his equal.
His long hair suddenly began to move as if stirred by an unfelt wind, and his body started to levitate upwards. The spiritual energy around him also began to seethe like boiling water at this moment, growing turbulent. Ripples of spiritual energy continuously spread out from his body.
He slowly lowered his longsword, pointing it directly at Ning Yuan on the arena. The longsword began to tremble faintly, and a dazzling radiance gradually ignited along its blade. The blinding light forced people to close their eyes, as if they dared not look directly at the sun.
"You are quite impressive. But the one who will win in the end is definitely me!"
Ning Yuan looked up, gazing at the increasingly brilliant light. He could clearly sense terrifying spiritual energy madly coalescing, a sight that made even his own heart pound with trepidation.
"One move to decide the outcome? Fine, I'll accompany you to the end!"
Gripping the longsword in his hand slightly tighter, the spiritual energy within his body surged wildly. A Sword Intent more terrifying than before instantly erupted. The ground was carved with numerous fine sword marks. To achieve this through Sword Intent alone hinted that the next strike would undoubtedly be earth-shattering.
Those watching the battle didn't even dare to breathe heavily. Everyone held their breath, their gazes firmly locked on the two combatants. The next move would decide the victor; they couldn't afford to miss a single detail!