The Sword Saint stepped into the arena, his plain, coarse robe fluttering lightly in the night breeze. Despite its simplicity, no one dared to dismiss him. His white hair and beard gleamed under the moonlight, yet his eyes burned with a vigor that belied his age.
Having forsaken the cold, emotionless Destructive Sword Art for the profound Myriad Swords Convergence Art, he carried an aura that felt both ancient and untouchable, like a mountain standing firm against the wind.
"Sword Saint, you've arrived at last," Xiongba said, his voice low as he rose from his throne, eyes narrowing. The air around him crackled with restrained power.
The warriors from Peerless City surged forward to greet their champion, their faces alight with pride. But the Sword Saint, here for the duel alone, gave only a curt nod, his focus razor-sharp.
His gaze briefly flicked to Alex, a subtle acknowledgment passing between them. A slight nod, nothing more, before his attention returned to the task at hand.
Xiongba studied the Sword Saint, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. Legends spoke of the Destructive Sword Art—its chilling sword energy, sharp enough to slice through hearts and hopes alike. Yet the man before him felt different, his presence softer, almost elemental, as if he'd merged with the very essence of the world.
"Xiongba, I'm here at your invitation. Let's begin," the Sword Saint said, his voice steady, untouched by emotion, like a still lake reflecting the moon.
"Very well! I've long heard your swordsmanship is unmatched. Tonight, I'll test it myself!" Xiongba's tone was firm, his pride unshaken despite the humbling lesson from Di Shitian and Luo Xian. As a titan of the martial world, he faced the Sword Saint without fear.
With no further words, Xiongba struck. His palm rose, and the air churned as Cloud-Dispelling Palm surged forth, a force so mighty it could shatter stone walls. The crowd gasped, feeling the weight of the strike ripple through the arena.
Swish!
The Sword Saint responded in an instant. His fingers snapped together, and with a flick, a lance of sword energy shot out, sharp enough to slice the very air. It gleamed like a shard of moonlight, cutting toward Xiongba's attack.
The duel had begun.
Though the Sword Saint had abandoned his old techniques for the Myriad Swords Convergence Art, sacrificing some of his peak strength, his new path promised greater heights. His swordsmanship now flowed like a river returning to its source—simple moves transformed into devastating strikes, each one heavy with intent.
Xiongba, meanwhile, was no less formidable. His Cloud-Dispelling Palm, Frost-Heaven Fist, and Storm God Kick were honed to near perfection. While he hadn't yet fused them into a single, ultimate technique, his raw power marked him as one of the era's elite.
His fists unleashed waves of icy force, his palms roared with destructive might, and his kicks danced with unpredictable grace. The crowd watched, nodding in silent approval. Xiongba's skill was undeniable, a testament to his dominance.
Yet the Sword Saint met every assault with calm precision. No matter the attack, he countered with sword energy alone, each bolt sharp and unyielding, slicing through Xiongba's onslaught like a blade through dry reeds. Without a weapon in hand, he was the weapon—a living blade, peerless and unrelenting.
Boom!
The clash escalated, the arena trembling under their power. Dust swirled, and the ground cracked as palm strikes met sword energy in explosive bursts. The onlookers stood transfixed, their breaths caught in their throats.
The Sword Saint's reputation held true—his skill was flawless. But Xiongba's ability to stand toe-to-toe with him stunned the crowd. When had his martial arts reached such heights?
Alex's eyes lingered on the Sword Saint, drinking in every move. As a swordsman himself, he saw lessons in the master's technique, each strike a puzzle piece to refine his own art. And then there was the Myriad Swords Convergence Art—a technique Alex realized he could learn.
To master it, one had to abandon their martial foundation, a price the Sword Saint had paid. Alex, too, had once lost his skills to Ren Woxing's Star-Absorbing Technique in that world. That sacrifice, he now understood, made him eligible to wield the Myriad Swords Convergence Art.
Though the Sword Saint's raw power had dipped, his essence—his swordsmanship and spirit—remained untouched. His strikes, while softer, carried the weight of a master's intent. And as a swordsman, his momentum was unbreakable, a tide that refused to be stopped.
Xiongba, for his part, fought with a tyrant's ferocity. Facing the martial world's legendary Sword Saint, he held nothing back, his confidence blazing like a bonfire.
The battle's intensity forced the crowd to retreat, their robes fluttering as they fled the shockwaves. No one wanted to be caught in the crossfire of such titans.
"What a swordsman," Luo Xian murmured from a safe distance, her eyes tracing the Sword Saint's fluid strikes. "His technique is exquisite."
But her gaze soon shifted to Alex. In her mind, she weighed their skills, a quiet certainty growing. Alex's swordsmanship, still raw, held boundless potential. With time, he'd surpass even the Sword Saint.
Bang!
The arena erupted as the duel reached its peak. Sword energy clashed with the icy force of Frost-Heaven Fist, shattering into sparks that lit the night. Both warriors staggered back, the impact forcing them apart.
He's found his edge, Xiongba thought, his eyes locked on the Sword Saint. After the crushing defeat at Di Shitian and Luo Xian's hands, he'd questioned everything. Yet he was still a force to be reckoned with. That ordeal had sparked a breakthrough, a glimpse of the Threefold Unity Force—a technique to merge his three arts into one.
The Sword Saint, too, was surprised. Xiongba's skill is remarkable. Given time, he'll threaten Peerless City. He'd underestimated his foe. Had he not abandoned his old techniques, this fight would be easier. But the Myriad Swords Convergence Art was his future, and he stood by it.
"Threefold Unity Force!" Xiongba roared, his voice shaking the arena. He hadn't mastered it fully, but even this imperfect version was devastating. Raising his palm, he gathered his energy into a glowing orb, its power pulsing like a heartbeat, and hurled it at the Sword Saint.
"Myriad Swords Convergence Art!" The Sword Saint's eyes sharpened, sensing the orb's terrifying strength. He leaped skyward, his body weightless against the moonlit sky. Hundreds of sword energy bolts erupted around him, a storm of blades that screamed toward Xiongba.
"Run!"
The crowd screamed, scattering as the two ultimate techniques collided. A massive energy orb met a whirlwind of sword energy, their combined force shaking the earth. The air itself seemed to groan under the weight of their power.