Chapter 699 - 378: Arrogance

At the same time, Yan Lianxing was flying backward in retreat.

Gazing at Fang Daoyun’s back, a complex expression filled her face. Once she was clear of the azure mist’s range, she activated another Teleportation Talisman and vanished in a streak of light.

Lü Zhong had no time to spare for her. He flicked his sleeve.

Using the Sleeve Universe Technique, he caught the dozens of incoming Sword Lights, then sent them all back. They shot out as streaks of red light, raining down on Fang Daoyun.

"How is that possible?" Fang Daoyun’s expression changed, and he immediately formed a Sword Gesture, pointing at his Fire Qilin Sword.

A burst of fire erupted, surging from the spine of the blade. In a flash, it transformed into a Flame Qilin that galloped through the air toward the red streaks of light.

In an instant, all the Sword Lights shattered.

Lü Zhong’s expression remained unchanged at the sight.

They were his opponent’s moves, after all. He had only expended a small amount of Magical Power.

Then, a new thought crossed his mind.

’The Sleeve Universe Technique isn’t just for trapping people or turning their own attacks against them. If I time it right, I could even use it to seize an enemy’s Magical Treasure.’

’Thinking about it that way, this Divine Technique truly has endless uses!’

Meanwhile, Fang Daoyun’s expression was flickering with uncertainty.

Lü Zhong truly lived up to his reputation; his strength was beyond what others of the same rank could match. This move that turned his own attack against him, in particular, left him at a complete loss.

Several attempts had already proven that if he couldn’t break through this capturing technique, he would inevitably be the one to suffer in the end.

Suddenly, he let out a soft sigh.

’If this is how it’s going to be, then I have no choice but to play my trump card.’

With no visible sign of casting, the red light from the Fire Qilin Sword above Fang Daoyun’s head suddenly intensified. The Flame Qilin Artifact Spirit that had materialized from it roared at the sky. Then, the Fire Qilin Sword split from one into two, then two into four, quickly filling the sky with sword shadows. He had unleashed his Sword Dao Divine Technique—Sword Transformation of Ten Thousand Forms!

For a moment, Sword Light illuminated the night sky!

The sound of tearing air grew loud. Amidst the surging Sword Qi, an overwhelming torrent of Sword Light converged and shot toward Lü Zhong.

Seeing the sky full of sword shadows flying toward him, Lü Zhong felt no fear, even though he was locked on by his opponent’s aura. He flipped his hands over, revealing two treasures: the Thunder-Attracting Needle and the Human-Faced Flood Dragon Banner.

Immediately, two pillars—one of lightning and one of fire—intertwined and shot out. Everywhere they swept, thunderous explosions erupted. The display of power was so immense that it shattered more than half of the Sword Lights in an instant.

CLATTER!

A shower of fragmented Sword Qi rained down.

Where it fell on Bidao, it kicked up clouds of dust.

Where it fell into the sea, it sent plumes of muddy water splashing into the air.

After a moment, the pillars of light vanished.

Lü Zhong, standing at the center of the Sword Qi, was completely unharmed by the siege. He seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack. A flash of lightning erupted from the Star Mirror above his head, and he instantly disappeared from his spot.

CLANG!

An invisible shockwave spread out.

As always, Lü Zhong was using his superior strength to wear down his opponent’s Protective Gang Qi.

His assault was like a raging flood—wave after relentless wave.

As the one on the receiving end, Fang Daoyun was in agony. He could only watch as his Gang Qi was depleted, unable to come up with a countermeasure. This was because every one of Lü Zhong’s strikes was devoid of finesse—it was all pure, brute-force hacking.

It was a perfect example of brute force overwhelming technique.

The thought that he was about to be defeated and killed made Fang Daoyun’s heart sink.

’How can this be? He only just reached the late stage, while I’ve been a Great Cultivator for a thousand years! Even if there’s a genuine gap in our strength, it can’t possibly be this wide.’

He had to go for broke.

’What’s the worst that can happen? Death.’

At that moment, Fang Daoyun threw all caution to the wind. He bit the tip of his tongue and spat out a mouthful of Essence Blood. He then formed a series of Finger Mantras, and the Fire Qilin Sword in his hand began to tremble violently. The faint roar of a Qilin could be heard, as if resonating with its master’s emotions, its aura rapidly surging.

In the end, he simply sliced open his palm, letting the sword drink its fill.

His body weakened rapidly. In an instant, his hair had turned completely white, and his heroic face was now lined with wrinkles. Yet, at this moment, Fang Daoyun’s Sword Heart was clearer than it had ever been.

Only then did he finally understand something: the one thing holding him back from advancing further on the Sword Dao was his own hesitation, born from fear.

Now that he had cast aside all thoughts of life and death, his Sword Heart naturally achieved another breakthrough.

At almost the exact same moment, Lü Zhong, who had been observing from a distance, sensed that his opponent was likely on the verge of a battlefield breakthrough. A cold glint flashed in his eyes. He had no intention of giving his opponent a chance to adapt, nor did he plan on playing the part of a gentleman. He vanished in a flicker of lightning, leaving only the spreading sound of thunder in his wake.

Fang Daoyun, his mind and body completely immersed in his Sword Dao breakthrough, suddenly felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. His Protective Gang Qi had been pierced. A golden longsword had been thrust into him up to its hilt. Then, with a vicious twist, thousands of streams of Sword Qi erupted from it, instantly shredding everything in their path to mincemeat.

With a flicker, Lü Zhong once again put distance between them.

"You are a pure Warrior, while I... I am just a lost Sword Cultivator!" With his breakthrough interrupted, Fang Daoyun spoke with a bitter smile, blood seeping from his nose and mouth, his face filled with regret.

That last strike had completely pulverized his Nascent Soul.

Pure Spiritual Energy was already leaking from his body—the remnants of his destroyed Nascent Soul. It would soon return to the heavens and the earth, just as it had once been absorbed from them.

"There’s no such thing as pure or not. I simply dare to swing the sword in my hand," Lü Zhong said, his expression flat as he flicked the blood from his blade.

The two of them had never crossed paths before, yet now they were forced to fight to the death.

It could be said that this was fate.

Of course, he was more inclined to believe it was a conflict of interests.

It wasn’t hard to guess the Celestial Origin Immortal Palace’s motive for taking action. There were only a few likely reasons, all pointing to some new trouble in Central Earth—most likely instigated by the Gui Miao Sect.

Then, a streak of Sword Light flew out. Lü Zhong gave his opponent a quick end.