Wenren Xiao looked at the isolated Guann Xuan and said slowly, "Guann Xuan, hand over the Exotic Treasure."

"If you want the Exotic Treasure today, fine. Kill me, and it’s yours." Guann Xuan’s eyes were bright and spirited. He stared at the crowd, who watched him like hungry tigers, without the slightest intention of backing down.

"Stand aside. This has nothing to do with you," Guann Xuan said to the people from Lanyu Country behind him.

Zhao Rui’s mouth opened and closed. He glanced at the surrounding crowd and said helplessly, "Brother Xuan, I’m sorry."

Guann Xuan nodded, his eyes still locked with the crowd’s. He burst out laughing. "HAHAHA! I am a man standing proud and alone. Do you think your threats frighten me?"

At that moment, Guann Xuan stood alone and proud, a sense of lofty heroism filling his heart.

Fearless!

His spirit soared to the heavens!

But at that very moment...

"Once we’re out of the Thousand Rivers Secret Land, don’t you forget—we’ve got a drink to share!" Wen Qingye said with a laugh, ambling forward with his sword in hand.

Under the crowd’s chilly gazes, Wen Qingye laughed heartily.

When Guann Xuan saw Wen Qingye actually walk to his side, a grin spread across his face. "Good, good! I still have a jar of wine right here. We can drink it now."

As Guann Xuan spoke, he retrieved a wine jar from his Sumeru Ring.

This was a jar of wine Guann Xuan had specially saved. A top-quality vintage, it was none other than... Daughter Red Wine.

When Luo Xue saw the Daughter Red Wine, her heart trembled for some unknown reason. Her pupils contracted violently, and she felt as if she had lost something.

GLUG! Guann Xuan broke the seal, took a large swig, and let the wine trickle down his neck.

"Here!"

Wen Qingye took the jar, a strange feeling flashing in his eyes. He drank deeply, gulp after gulp.

"Since you’re so eager to die, I’ll grant your wish," Luoo Ying sneered. He cracked his neck, and his aura began to climb relentlessly.

SMASH!

Wen Qingye hurled the wine jar away. The empty vessel smashed to pieces.

Luoo Ying’s expression turned cold. "Wen Qingye, if you don’t want to die, stand aside. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless."

Wen Qingye, buoyed by a touch of tipsiness, laughed toward the heavens. "Today, let me see just how powerful the top geniuses of the Sixteen Countries really are."

With a flicker of movement, Wen Qingye’s figure shot toward Luoo Ying.

SWISH!

Wen Qingye moved with such extreme speed that very few people present could see him clearly.

The One Thought Sword flew from its sheath. A cold light streaked through the air as Wen Qingye slashed the blade toward Luoo Ying’s throat.

"Is that all the strength you have?"

Luoo Ying abruptly stepped back, extending both hands to slap at and clamp down on Wen Qingye’s One Thought Sword.

SPLAT!

The moment Luoo Ying’s hands clamped onto Wen Qingye’s sword, his expression changed instantly. Blood began to seep from his palms, dripping to the ground.

How could it not be razor-sharp, with the edge of Wen Qingye’s swordsmanship combined with the fierceness of the One Thought Sword? Luoo Ying had been too arrogant.

Luoo Ying retreated, trying to pull Wen Qingye’s sword along and drag him off-balance. But Wen Qingye saw through his tactic. As Luoo Ying fell back, Wen Qingye sharply withdrew his blade, somersaulted through the air, and landed back where he started.

"Wen Qingye, you really do have some skill," Luoo Ying said gravely, staring at his incessantly bleeding palms.

Although Wen Qingye’s cultivation appeared to be at the Refining Spirit Fifth Layer Heaven, he had previously suppressed his cultivation to reach Ten Layers of Heaven in both Qi Cultivation and Refining Essence. Because of this, the density of his Primordial Qi was comparable to that of a master at the Refining Spirit Seventh Layer Heaven. Coupled with his supreme Martial Arts and vast experience, Wen Qingye felt no fear facing Luoo Ying, an expert at the Refining Spirit Eighth Layer Heaven.

With a flick of his wrist, Wen Qingye shook the blood from his One Thought Sword.

Wenren Xiao and Lin Zijun exchanged a glance, and the two of them charged toward Guann Xuan.

"So you’ve come!" Guann Xuan roared, striding forward to meet them.

Masters from several other countries rose to their feet, forming a circle to enclose the area.

Outside the Water Curtain, the representatives of the Sixteen Countries watched without blinking, afraid of missing a single detail.

...

Luoo Ying reached behind him and slowly drew the saber from his back.

"You won’t be able to protect the Exotic Treasure!"

Luoo Ying shouted, and a blast of purple Saber Qi shot from his fingers, its speed amplified by his Primordial Qi until it was as fast as a meteor.

CRACK!

Wherever the Saber Qi passed, stone fragments and wood splinters flew into the air as its powerful force erupted outwards.

Wen Qingye raised his sword and met the attack head-on.

In mid-air, Sword Auras and Saber Qi crisscrossed back and forth, painting the sky with a myriad of colors.

Luoo Ying strode forward aggressively, arm muscles bulging and veins popping. His saber, wreathed in silvery-white light, moved at a horrifying speed.

"So fast! Luoo Ying’s saber is so fast!"

"The Northern Snow Quick Saber! That’s the Ninth-Grade Martial Arts from Gaotang Country, the Northern Snow Quick Saber!"

"It’s too fast! I can’t see it at all!"

Everyone had clearly recognized Luoo Ying’s Saber Technique and was stirred by it.

Luoo Ying’s saber strikes were like a raging tempest, while Wen Qingye was like a lone boat, tossed about in the storm.

’Luoo Ying’s saber really is fast!’ Wen Qingye’s brow furrowed slightly. His sword could only barely parry the swift blade.

Seeing that Wen Qingye could actually block his quick saber, a cold light flashed in Luoo Ying’s eyes.

"Kill!"

The saber in Luoo Ying’s hand moved even faster—frighteningly fast, terrifyingly fast.

CLANG CLANG CLANG!

Wen Qingye hurriedly raised his sword to block. A fierce wind whipped around him, and a wave of dense Primordial Qi washed over him, instantly increasing the pressure he was under.

In the short time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, Wen Qingye’s back and forehead were soaked with sweat.

Luoo Ying’s cultivation suppressed Wen Qingye’s, and his Saber Technique was absurdly fast. For a moment, Wen Qingye was completely overwhelmed.

HISS!

A wisp of Luoo Ying’s Saber Qi grazed Wen Qingye’s arm. A spray of blood scattered in the air, and a faint red stain appeared on his sleeve.

’This is bad. I can’t get entangled with Luoo Ying,’ Wen Qingye thought to himself.

Wen Qingye kicked off the ground backwards. He held his sword in one hand and swung. The explosive speed of the strike made the very air tremble.

BANG BANG BANG!

Luoo Ying pursued relentlessly, his saber delivering a continuous stream of chops.

A series of thunderous explosions rang out. In just a short time, Wen Qingye and Luoo Ying had exchanged dozens of blows, meeting force with force every time, neither willing to give an inch.

Finally, the crowd that had been preparing to secretly support Luoo Ying could no longer stand it. One by one, they scrambled backwards in a frenzy.

"Luoo Ying’s strength is truly incredible. From what I see, he alone is more than enough to defeat Wen Qingye."

"He’s too strong. Luoo Ying’s power is just too great. I think only Guann Xuan and Wenren Xiao could fight him. Wen Qingye is still a long way off."

"Wen Qingye... is another genius about to fall?"

The crowd watched Wen Qingye locked in a desperate battle, murmuring amongst themselves.

Meanwhile, Guann Xuan was in an even more perilous situation than Wen Qingye. Lin Zijun and Wenren Xiao had joined forces, their attacks vicious and merciless, and Guann Xuan was already showing signs of being unable to hold on. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Luoo Ying stomped on the ground, shattering it as he shot into the sky. The silver light from his saber flared, twisting and coalescing until it formed a snow-white, frenzied lion with bared fangs and claws. The lion roared, and a terrifying pressure enveloped the heavens and the earth.

"Northern Snow Frenzied Lion!"

Luoo Ying slashed down. The frenzied lion within the blade took a step, carrying with it an endless ferocity as it pounced, aiming to tear Wen Qingye to shreds.

As Wen Qingye watched the snow-white frenzied lion charge at him, his sword suddenly moved. The light from his blade flared, and a furious wind howled.

"Four Symbols Sword Technique, Third Stance! Feng Buliu!"

A colossal azure Sword Qi surged from the One Thought Sword, slashing out horizontally and spreading to the endless horizon.

PFFT PFFT PFFT PFFT!

Like a firework display, the snow-white frenzied lion was submerged in the azure sword light. The lion’s phantom grew weaker and weaker, while the sword light also began to fade.