Chapter 176: Chapter 165: Battle of an Ultimate Venerable Powerhouse (Part 2)

"Haha, Nie Yun, I didn’t expect someone so young to be this strong. You’ve exceeded my expectations. You’re worthy of facing my sword!" 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Suddenly, the two combatants broke apart, and the linen-clad man let out a hearty laugh.

"Worthy of you using your sword? You’re worthy of me using mine, as well!"

Faced with the man’s arrogance, Nie Yun snorted coldly and threw his own words right back at him.

"That guy is so arrogant! ’Worthy of him using his sword’... Who does he think he is! If Master hadn’t told us to stay back, the three of us would have charged in and torn him to shreds already!" Hearing the linen-clad man’s arrogant words, the Wind Wolf King howled in fury.

"Exactly. The arrogant bastard. Zi Tong, if he keeps pushing his luck, you go gore him with your horn!" Hei Yan was also furious.

"Master was fighting with the Profound Jade Sword on his back just now. If he’d had it in his hand, his speed would definitely be greater than that guy’s!" Zi Tong snorted.

Although the three Demon Beasts—Hei Yan, Zi Tong, and the Wind Wolf King—were only at the Early-Stage Ultimate Venerable Level, not even an Ultimate Venerable Peak powerhouse could hope to gain an advantage against them combined.

"Hmph, enough with the war of words. Let me tell you, my swordsmanship isn’t some conventional Martial Arts technique; I created it myself. Once I unleash it, not even I can fully control its power. It would be a shame if you ended up dead!"

The linen-clad man snorted coldly when he heard the young man mimic him.

"’Self-created?’ Nie Yun was taken aback, his eyes filled with surprise.

’The only reason I could create the Momentum of Mountains and Rivers is because of the Profound Jade Sword’s unique properties and the fact that I’ve lived two lives. Even if my strength isn’t at its peak, my breadth of knowledge is vast. Creating a few techniques isn’t that difficult for me!’

’But this man looks to be in his thirties at most. Reaching the Ultimate Venerable Level at that age is already terrifying, but to have also created his own techniques... he’s an absolute genius!’

"I admire you for using a self-created technique, but... my technique was also one I created myself. Its power is so immense that I can’t control it either. If you’re unfortunate enough to die, well, I guess it’s just bad luck!"

The shock in his heart vanished as quickly as it came, and Nie Yun fired back a taunt of his own.

"Yours is self-created too? Good! Excellent! Today’s fight is finally getting interesting!"

Hearing that the young man’s technique was also self-created, the linen-clad man grinned. With a flick of his wrist, a gleaming longsword appeared in his palm.

"This sword is called the Residual Snow Sword. It’s of Royal Family’s Top-Grade Level. It’s been with me for over eight years, during which it has defeated twelve Ultimate Venerables and killed three. It’s sharp enough to sever a falling hair and radiates an immense Cold Ice. It is the weapon I wield best!"

"A Royal Family’s Top-Grade Weapon? Not bad! My Profound Jade Sword here is Refined by Profound Jade entirely. It isn’t sharp; on the contrary, it doesn’t even have a honed edge. I’ve only had it for three days, but it’ll be more than enough to kill you!"

Nie Yun once again brought the Profound Jade Sword from his back into his hands.

"You’ve only had it for three days? The Profound Jade Sword? Fine, then! Let me see this self-created swordsmanship of yours!"

The linen-clad man was visibly stunned to hear Nie Yun had only possessed the sword for three days, but he quickly broke into a laugh. With a flick of his wrist, the Residual Snow Sword in his palm began to spin wildly.

The Residual Snow Sword shimmered brightly on its own, and as it spun, it was as if the starry night sky had been shattered. Countless sword-shadows shot toward Nie Yun from all directions.

"My own creation: Stars Falling All Over the Sky!"

The linen-clad man bellowed, announcing the name of his swordsmanship.

"Stars Falling All Over the Sky? A fine name! Then witness my own creation: Momentum of Mountains and Rivers!"

Seeing the sword light, which truly did resemble a sky full of stars descending upon him, Nie Yun let out an excited cry. He raised the Profound Jade Sword, condensed the power of the Momentum of Mountains and Rivers, and struck out with a single blow!

One was the limit of skill, like a sky full of stars—a single strike creating a thousand phantoms!

The other was simplicity born from complexity, brute force overwhelming technique—a single attack with the weight of a falling mountain range!

BOOM!

The two attacks collided. A milky-white mushroom cloud instantly erupted in the sky. The immense Attack Power unleashed by the clash of the two swords instantly annihilated every living creature within a several-hundred-meter radius, leaving none behind.

’Such a powerful attack...’

’He actually blocked Master’s Momentum of Mountains and Rivers? How is that possible...’

The three Demon Beasts stared at the scene in the sky, completely stunned. Their eyes were wide with disbelief.

Hei Yan and Zi Tong had personally experienced their master’s Momentum of Mountains and Rivers. A single strike felt like a mountain crashing down on them, making it impossible to withstand. For this linen-clad man to shatter the technique with such a flashy sword move was simply incredible!

"Momentum of Mountains and Rivers... It has the form and power of mountains and rivers. What excellent swordsmanship! But you’ll only be truly impressive if you can withstand my second technique!"

The linen-clad man’s eyes shone, not having expected the young man’s attack to be so powerful. He took a deep breath.

"You have a second technique?" Nie Yun’s fists tightened.

’The last exchange seemed like a stalemate, but I actually came out slightly worse. Even though I used brute force to block his attack, some of that strange Sword Qi still traveled up the Profound Jade Sword and into my body!’

’If I weren’t a Healer, I’d probably be severely injured right now!’

’I could barely handle the first technique. How am I supposed to block the second?’

"My second technique is called Shining Nine Heavens. Once I unleash it, its power is infinite. Be careful!" the linen-clad man said, introducing his move.

After fighting the young man for a while, a sense of mutual admiration had taken root in his heart. His desire for battle was insatiable, but he still offered the warning, fearing his opponent might be killed instantly, unable to defend against it.

’Shining Nine Heavens?’

Nie Yun’s mind raced.

’The last move was Stars Falling All Over the Sky. The sword light was everywhere, which naturally dispersed its power. This one is called Shining Nine Heavens. What can shine over all nine heavens? The sun, of course!’

’There are countless stars in the sky, but only one sun. That must mean this attack will be focused on a single point. When he unleashes it, it’ll be a killing blow!’

’I could barely block Stars Falling All Over the Sky. Can I really stop this Shining Nine Heavens?’

For the first time, Nie Yun began to doubt his own strength.

’No, I can’t have doubts. I will win!’ As soon as the feeling surfaced, Nie Yun crushed it.

"One sword to fill the sky... Shining Nine Heavens!"

At that moment, the linen-clad man unleashed his second technique. In an instant, it was as if a scorching sun had appeared in the sky, radiating a hallowed light as it thrust slowly toward him.

’So strong...’

Before the sword even reached him, Nie Yun felt his body lock up, imprisoned by a strange power that left him unable to move. In that instant, he felt as if the Death God himself had descended, completely shrouding him.

’I can’t die! If I die, my family, my friends, and... her... I cannot die!’

An intense will to live erupted from the depths of his heart. Nie Yun let out a long cry, his vision suddenly snapping into focus through the sun’s blinding light, and he saw the earth far below.

’The earth? It’s true that mountains and rivers are heavy, but how can they possibly compare to the weight of the earth itself! The earth... that is the true wellspring of power. That is where true strength lies!’

A Spirit Light flashed in his mind. The second technique he couldn’t grasp before suddenly became clear. His Profound Jade Sword slashed out, seeming to carry the immense weight of the entire earth as it swung upward with vicious force!

BOOM!

The two ultimate techniques collided. Before the linen-clad man could even process what had happened, he was sent flying backward like a cannonball. He crashed headfirst into a cliff face tens of kilometers away, sending shattered rock flying everywhere. Under the force of the powerful attack, a fissure wider than a man’s torso split open in the massive mountain, which threatened to collapse at any moment! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)