Ye Chuxue couldn’t help but smile, cheering for her master.

This was the move her master was most proud of, a style of swordsmanship he had created himself.

Combining an Array with Sword Intent was not something just anyone could do.

Only he, with his profound understanding of both arrays and Sword Intent, had managed to perfect these sword moves after decades of dedicated research.

This was also the first time he had ever used it in front of others.

On the Martial Arts Arena, a slight smile played on Gu Qingyuan’s lips.

’I know many people don’t think much of me, but I’ll use my strength to shut them up!’

’Not even Song Wanning could necessarily defeat me at my peak.’

’I’ve already planned it all out. These sword moves are enough to be compiled into a Sword technique, one that could even be placed in the Sect’s Book Collection Pavilion to be passed down through the ages for future generations to study and admire!’

However, he failed to notice that Lu Xingyao, standing opposite him, had raised an eyebrow in surprise upon seeing this move.

Immediately after, Lu Xingyao shot into the air, his figure moving like a bolt of lightning as he ascended and thrust his longsword toward a specific point. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

The majestic Array, before it could even activate, deflated like a punctured balloon.

Lu Xingyao then swung his sword down, and the Sword Intent instantly dissipated without making so much as a ripple.

Silence!

The entire square fell deathly silent in an instant.

The smiles on the faces of the Sect Master and the others froze, not even having time to retract.

’We thought it would be a devastating killer move, but... that’s it?’

The disciples below the stage were also stunned and bewildered. The sword move just now had looked so majestic and brimming with killing intent. They thought it would surely cut Lu Xingyao down a peg, but instead...

Awkwardness was written all over everyone’s faces, especially those who had been singing his praises just moments before. They were so embarrassed they wished they could find a hole to crawl into.

Ye Chuxue’s heart leaped with anxiety, and she couldn’t stop herself from leaning forward, trying to get a clearer look.

’What did Lu Xingyao do just now?’

’How could he have broken Master’s killing move so easily?’

Ye Chuxue wasn’t the only one who was confused; Gu Qingyuan himself was profoundly shaken.

The Array combined in that last move was the Fifth-grade Array Flowing Light Array. The Array had its own offensive power, and its speed, like flowing light, was supposed to be overwhelming.

’But for Lu Xingyao to shatter it with a single sword strike before it even activated... how bizarre!’

’I’ve never heard of Lu Xingyao having such profound skill in arrays!’

Filled with doubt, Gu Qingyuan swung his sword once more.

Determined to regain his lost face, this time he unleashed his swordsmanship combined with the Sixth Grade Nine Revolutions Soul Formation. As long as Lu Xingyao was enveloped by it, his Divine Soul would be instantly separated from his body.

A Divine Soul without the protection of a physical body would become incredibly fragile and easy to crush!

’I’ll make Lu Xingyao regret ever setting foot in the Heavenly Inquiry Sect!’

BOOM—!

The sword light tore through the air, causing the space around it to tremble and rupture.

In the eyes of the crowd, long Array Patterns appeared like deep ravines, which then formed a wildly spinning vortex that pierced the heavens and descended from above.

The crowd was once again overjoyed, watching with great anticipation as the vortex fell.

’Maybe what happened before was just an accident?’

Under everyone’s watchful gaze, the corner of Lu Xingyao’s mouth twitched imperceptibly. He glanced out of the corner of his eye toward the high platform, then charged at the vortex with his sword once again.

The terrifying, insidious vortex spun madly. Just staring at it for a few moments made one feel dizzy, as if their very Divine Soul was being pulled.

Yet Lu Xingyao simply flew forward and, with a swift motion, swung his sword forcefully.

The Sword Intent shot straight into the vortex.

In that instant, the previously frenzied vortex suddenly fizzled out...

...like a firecracker about to explode, doused with water.

Silence!

The onlookers’ eyes went wide in shock, staring at the scene in disbelief.

Although Gu Qingyuan’s image had been damaged in everyone’s eyes, they had to admit his combat strength was still formidable.

The swordsmanship he displayed today, in particular, was mysterious and strange, unlike anything they had ever seen.

But...

’Is Gu Qingyuan just too weak, or is Lu Xingyao too strong?’

No one could figure it out.

The Sect Master and the others were so angry their faces turned dark, and they felt an urge to fly into a rage.

’What on earth is Gu Qingyuan doing?’

Little did they know, Gu Qingyuan himself was dumbfounded.

’Once is a coincidence. Twice is a pattern!’

’Lu Xingyao is actually skilled in arrays?’

His expression darkened as he cursed Lu Xingyao in his heart for being so deceitful, for hiding this fact so well!

’No, I can’t hold back any longer.’

’If this continues, I’ll become a laughingstock.’

Gu Qingyuan decided to use his ultimate killing move, the Destructive Heaven and Earth Technique!

He held his longsword vertically and let out a soft cry. His Red Rabbit Sword shot into the sky like a flash of cold light.

In the next instant, a vertical eye suddenly appeared in the air, radiating a terrifying aura.

This was the ultimate killing move from the Supreme Sword Technique.

"A single glance from heaven and earth, an entire clan annihilated."

Although he had not yet cultivated it to its peak, it was not something Lu Xingyao could handle easily.

"Hiss! What is that?"

"What a terrifying aura!"

"Grandmaster Gu is truly amazing! I underestimated him just now!"

"Of course! The title of Qingyuan Sword Lord is no joke!"

"Look, the vertical eye is about to open!"

This flurry of discussion happened in a mere instant. Just then, the vertical eye slowly opened, casting its world-ending gaze impassively toward Lu Xingyao.

Lu Xingyao’s expression remained unchanged. At that moment, he seemed to understand something, and the curve of his lips actually began to widen as he swung his sword once more.

From start to finish, he had only ever been reacting to attacks, never initiating them. It was the same now.

All the crowd could see was a figure streaking forward like lightning, followed by a brilliant golden flash. The blinding light forced everyone to squeeze their eyes shut.

When they opened their eyes again, the vertical eye had already dissipated in shock.

"How could this happen?"

The disciples were all dumbfounded.

They had imagined countless ways the battle might unfold, even a life-or-death struggle between the two. The one thing they never imagined was such a one-sided beatdown.

’Is Grandmaster Gu actually this weak?’

"What in the world is going on?"

The Sect Master was so agitated that he shot to his feet, clenching his fists in frustration.

He whipped his head around to look at Ye Chuxue and asked, "Is it possible your master is still suffering from old injuries?"

He truly couldn’t think of any other reason.

Ye Chuxue was taken aback by the question and shook her head blankly. "Master never mentioned anything of the sort."

The Sect Master: "..."

"Sigh, Junior Brother Gu is being ridiculous," the Seventh Elder couldn’t help but criticize. "Facing an expert like Lu Xingyao, he couldn’t afford to be careless, yet he ignored the arranged duel to focus on accepting some disciple. Now look, he’s lost all face!"

In the past, as long as the Sect’s interests weren’t involved, they didn’t care what trouble Gu Qingyuan caused. But now that it was clearly backfiring on the Sect, they naturally couldn’t stand by and watch.

"Isn’t that the truth? In recent years, Junior Brother Gu has neglected his cultivation for the sake of ’certain people.’ No wonder he’s being so mercilessly crushed!"

"Sect Master, the situation looks very bad now!"

The elders complained one after another, their gazes toward Ye Chuxue growing increasingly hostile.

’If it weren’t for this little temptress distracting Junior Brother Gu from his cultivation, how could today’s duel have turned into such a joke?’