"Empty Shadow Dark Force."
Li Lingfeng still carried the bearing of a grandmaster, but in secret he unleashed power.
The force on his sword erupted in an instant.
"Good timing."
Yang Cheng's eyes burst with sharp light.
This was the moment he had been waiting for!
Though his Sword Dao comprehension surpassed Li Lingfeng's, the latter's battle experience was far deeper.
Under normal circumstances, breaking Li Lingfeng would be hard.
He could only wait for Li Lingfeng to show a flaw—only then would he have his chance.
Now Li Lingfeng finally grew impatient and used a killing move.
Its power was immense, but in doing so, Li Lingfeng's near-perfect offense and defense showed cracks.
Truth was, Yang Cheng had long seen through Li Lingfeng's Sword Dao and knew his weaknesses.
But Li Lingfeng's responses were almost flawless. Any weakness that appeared vanished in an instant.
Yang Cheng had no opening to strike.
Now, with this sudden outburst, those flaws didn't vanish at once—in fact, it was like his defenses had swung wide open.
Buzz!
Yang Cheng thrust forward.
His sword aimed straight at Li Lingfeng's left shoulder—one of his weaknesses.
Li Lingfeng's pupils shrank. He hadn't expected Yang Cheng to strike exactly at one of his flaws.
If hit, even if he won, he'd still be embarrassed.
And that was something Li Lingfeng could never accept.
What he wanted was to defeat Yang Cheng with complete ease.
Only then could he crush Yang Cheng's spirit, avenging his disciple's loss and the insult to his self-created sword art.
Yes.
His heart was that petty.
Outwardly he looked magnanimous, but in truth he nursed grudges.
Being Yang Cheng's teacher was secondary. More than that, he needed to punish him.
So Li Lingfeng could only retract his Empty Shadow Dark Force.
That caused the force to rebound inside his body, sending his blood and qi surging chaotically.
Yet he couldn't show it, which only left him feeling more stifled.
And that wasn't all.
Just as he went to block Yang Cheng's sword, the latter suddenly shifted his strike.
No longer aimed at a small flaw, it turned toward a far greater one.
Yang Cheng slashed at Li Lingfeng's right leg.
Li Lingfeng's face finally changed.
He could no longer keep up his calm facade, forced instead into a rushed, full defense.
Clang!
Their swords clashed, and Li Lingfeng was blasted back three steps.
The entire crowd gasped.
No one had expected Yang Cheng to force Li Lingfeng back.
Yang Cheng had no plans to give him another chance.
After being tempered by Li Lingfeng, his combat experience had grown rapidly.
Combined with his level of Sword Dao, there was no way Li Lingfeng could turn the tide.
In that instant, Yang Cheng was like an emperor.
His sword was the commander, his sword qi the army.
Wave after wave of strikes surged like mountains and seas, crashing toward Li Lingfeng.
Li Lingfeng had wanted to counter, but now his heart churned with shock.
Because every strike from Yang Cheng was flawless, exquisite beyond words.
Faced with this storm, he could only fend off blows in a scramble, unable to mount a proper counterattack.
"This… this…"
Even Emperor Qian Yuan was dumbfounded.
With his realm, he could see clearly how terrifying Yang Cheng's Sword Dao had become.
Not just him—Yun Liyue's eyes also widened in disbelief.
"Empress," Qian Yuan turned to her, "our son's Sword Dao is this high—why have you never told me?"
Yun Liyue gave a helpless smile. "Your Majesty, though I knew Cheng'er's talent was extraordinary, I too did not know his Sword Dao had already reached such a level."
"No… impossible. I must be dreaming."
Li Tingxiao's mind went blank.
Madam Wang's face looked like she'd just seen a ghost.
"Sword Dao Perfection… your Sword Dao has reached perfection."
At that moment, even Li Lingfeng couldn't help crying out in horror.
Hearing that, even those unfamiliar with the Sword Dao stopped breathing.
Sword Dao Perfection?
It was like thunder exploding in everyone's minds.
Every martial artist, no matter how ignorant, knew what that meant.
In the whole Wasteland Realm, anyone who reached perfection in a Dao would be remembered in history as a sage.
Even Sword Emperor Li Lingfeng, hailed as one of the greatest in Sword Dao, had only reached great achievement.
But the Crown Prince's Sword Dao was already perfected. He had surpassed Li Lingfeng.
It was simply too outrageous.
If anyone else had said it, no one would have believed it.
But these words came from Li Lingfeng himself.
No one could doubt it.
"What? Sword Dao Perfection!"
Qian Yuan and Yun Liyue both cried out in shock.
They had thought Yang Cheng had reached great achievement—never perfection.
"His Highness truly is like a god," Hu Po whispered in awe.
By now, Li Lingfeng's face had flushed red. He could barely hold back from unleashing true qi.
"Hm?"
Qian Yuan and Yun Liyue both sensed his qi stir and instantly pressed down with their own pressure.
Li Lingfeng snapped back to his senses.
But that moment of hesitation had already cost him everything.
Clang!
Yang Cheng's sword stabbed for his throat.
Li Lingfeng blocked by instinct, but was sent flying, crashing down to the ground in disgrace.
The hall fell silent.
Though neither had used true qi in the duel, the scene before their eyes left no doubt—Yang Cheng had defeated Li Lingfeng.
Ding!
[Host, are you even human?]
[Li Lingfeng, a Refining God powerhouse who controls the Sword Domain, has actually been defeated by you in front of everyone.]
[Whatever scheme he had against you, it now means nothing.]
[You've once again completed the task in a defying-the-heavens way, creating another miracle.]
[Congratulations, Host, for obtaining one of the Supreme Seven-Star Sword Sheaths —the Tian Shu Sword Sheath.]
Yang Cheng looked at Li Lingfeng and smiled. "Pavilion Master Li, seems like when it comes to the Sword Dao, I'm not all that far off."
Li Lingfeng's face turned darker than ever.
Yang Cheng ignored his displeasure and turned to Emperor Qian Yuan. "Father Emperor, this Pavilion Master Li's Sword Dao seems rather ordinary. I fear he's not fit to guide me. Perhaps it's best we drop the matter of taking him as my teacher?"
"You little brat."
Qian Yuan laughed and cursed, then dropped the matter of apprenticeship altogether. "Pavilion Master Li, it's almost time for the evening feast. Why not stay for dinner before leaving?"
The words were no different than a dismissal.
He had invited Li Lingfeng here to raise Yang Cheng's level in Sword Dao.
Now that Yang Cheng's Sword Dao surpassed Li Lingfeng's, the man held no more value in his eyes.
"Thank you for Your Majesty's kindness, but there's no need."
Li Lingfeng forced himself to keep a calm expression and said flatly, "I just remembered I have urgent matters to handle. I can't stay long in Fengtian City, so I'll take my leave."
"Someone, see Pavilion Master Li out."
Qian Yuan ordered.
At once, Li Lingfeng, Madam Wang, and Li Tingxiao followed several palace attendants toward the gates of the palace.
Yun Liyue frowned. "Your Majesty, Pavilion Master Li's reputation might be good, but to me, he doesn't seem like the kind of man with an open heart."
"No need to mind him."
Qian Yuan said, "His strength may be great, but here in Great Zhou, even if he holds a grudge, he can only swallow it."
"Your Majesty speaks true."
Yun Liyue agreed outwardly, but in her heart she thought, 'Cheng'er won't stay in Fengtian City forever. If such an enemy lurks in the shadows, it won't be good for him.'
Yes, Yang Cheng had defeated Li Lingfeng today, but that was only because neither used true qi.
As the saying goes, 'one strength can crush ten skills.'
If Li Lingfeng fought with his full power, he could simply overwhelm with absolute might, and even Yang Cheng's perfected Sword Dao would mean nothing.
But killing Li Lingfeng wasn't so simple either.
If he died within Great Zhou's borders, other factions would assume Zhou was behind it, even without evidence.
Would they really have to hunt him down outside the borders?
After Emperor Qian Yuan left, news of the battle spread quickly across the capital.
Everyone who heard it was shaken.
The Crown Prince's Sword Dao comprehension had reached perfection!
Such talent was truly world-shaking.
Meanwhile.
Yang Cheng had already returned to his palace to study the Tian Shu Sword Sheath.
It was wooden, carrying the faint scent of ginkgo.
The moment he examined it, he discovered its frightening function.
Placing a sword inside let it nourish and store sword qi.
The longer it stored, the more terrifying the sword qi became.
When suddenly unleashed, it could deal a devastating blow.
On top of that—
"Receive the Sword Intent of the Killing Sword Ancestor."
At once, a terrifying sword intent erupted within Yang Cheng's sea of consciousness.
It was so overwhelming it surpassed his understanding.
'Could it be… the Killing Sword Ancestor was an Ancestral God?'
Once the shock faded, his heart blazed with heat.
Such a terrifying sword intent—if he carefully comprehended it, the benefits would be immense.
"This sword intent can remain for seven days."
"After seven days it will fade."
"In these seven days, I must devote myself fully to understanding it."
Not only that, he also planned to use its power to the fullest.
In three days, the cultivators of the Square Inch Mysterious Realm would gather.
By then, he would display this sword intent, raising the prestige of 'Suihuo' in their eyes even higher.
At the same time.
Yun Liyue had summoned Yun Jinghuai to the palace.
"Your Highness, is this about the Crown Prince?"
Yun Jinghuai asked excitedly, "The Crown Prince really is unparalleled. At just ten years old, he has already perfected the Sword Dao."
Yun Liyue shot him a glare. "I didn't call you here to hear you brag about your nephew."
Yun Jinghuai scratched his head and grinned. "I couldn't help it, I couldn't help it."
But then, seeing her expression turn serious, he grew solemn too. "Sister, are you planning to kill Li Lingfeng?"
Yun Liyue was taken aback.
"It's not hard to guess."
Yun Jinghuai said, "I heard a bit about what happened today. If it were someone else, you might not care much. But Li Lingfeng is narrow-minded, and as a swordsman he's especially skilled at assassination."
"Someone like that alive poses a great threat to the Crown Prince."
"Sister, I say don't hesitate. Strike now. If you wait until he's gone far, killing him will be harder."
"But if he dies within Great Zhou's borders, people will surely point fingers."
Yun Liyue said.
"Let them point."
Yun Jinghuai snorted. "As long as there's no proof, all they can do is grumble."
"Fine."
Yun Liyue was decisive. "Jinghuai, can we kill him?"