Chapter 80: Chapter 15: Sworn to Capture the Top 3, Cang Tie Carnage!
If there were one word to describe my relationship with Senior Sister An, it would be “doting.”

Two words, “protective.”

Three words, “little brother fixation.”

It must be said that the judgments of the Kunlun Mirror and Lin Duanshan are probably quite accurate.

After careful reflection, Ling Yunpo realized that the probability of An Zhisu doing so was indeed not low.

Think about it, the Thunder Punishment Sword is a Tenth Rank Immortal Sword, yet she gave it to me so casually…

No! If I take Senior Sister An’s opportunity for Core Formation, I can’t conscionably feel guilt-free!

If my conscience is burdened, my thoughts will not be clear, and my Daoist Heart won’t be harmonious, affecting my future path!

The road to the throne in the sky does not permit defilement!

Thus, in the following battles, Ling Yunpo exerted an extra 20 percent of fierceness, cutting through obstacles and passing several stages, finally making it onto the Immortal Sword Ranking, temporarily placed at seventy-second.

After each victory, he would go and report his achievements to Senior Sister An.

An Zhisu was overjoyed, but Ling Yunpo was puzzled in his heart, wondering if his character had truly burst with luck, having encountered weak opponents in several consecutive battles, allowing him to win so easily?

With that thought, he unwittingly raised a flag, bringing upon himself a formidable enemy.

Now, during the fifth round, as soon as Ling Yunpo left the arena, he saw a middle-aged man in a plain robe with white at his temples and a face weathered by the elements, standing quietly with hands bound and waiting.

With just one glance, Ling Yunpo recognized who the man was.

Duan Fenhai, who entered swordsmanship through martial arts, is one of the rare figures in the entire Cultivating Immortality world’s history.

It is said that he was originally a swordsman from the Mortal World. As a youth, he was competitive and, with a sword in his right hand, became invincible under heaven. Later, after being plotted against and his right arm injured, he turned to practicing the sword with his left hand and starting from zero, once again reached the peak of invincibility.

Having occupied the position of the Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch for three years straight, his enemies were scattered across the martial world. One day, a peerless master was finally invited, who defeated and severely injured him on the spot.

Yet that master, seeing his extraordinary courage, ultimately chose to spare his life.

After the master left, enemies great and small swarmed him, surrounding Duan Fenhai in a chaotic battle.

Somehow, Duan Fenhai managed to fight his way out from the Blood Sea, and upon hearing that his entire family had also been cruelly killed by his foes, he hid until the turmoil settled, then unexpectedly forsook vengeance and went straight to the Shushan Sect to become a disciple.

The Shushan Sect does not limit age for taking disciples, but those who pass the tests are mostly teenagers.

The reason is that these young people’s Root Bone is just forming, and their willpower and spirit are at their most vigorous.

If one waits until their thirties or forties, after being worn down by the distractions of women, alcohol, and the like, the purity of their Root Bone and spirit won’t be so perfect anymore.

Duan Fenhai was also an oddity, perfectly retaining his Root Bone at over forty years old, with no interest in women or alcohol, he smoothly passed the mountain’s sword tests and successfully became a disciple of the Shushan Sect.

Then, relying on his abundant combat experience and tenacious fighting will, he cultivated diligently for many years, eventually becoming a strong Sword Cultivator, ranking second in the previous Immortal Sword Ranking, with his sword known as “Cangtie.”

Lin Duanshan had said earlier that Duan Fenhai would likely be this competition’s toughest enemy for Ling Yunpo to defeat.

And for no reason other than his profound understanding of swordsmanship, rich combat experience, and unyieldingly tough mental constitution, which made him seem flawless all around; how to attack?

This strongest enemy of the competition just happened to appear halfway through the stages, and to say that the organizers did not cheat during the drawing of lots, even I wouldn’t believe!

Ling Yunpo inwardly cursed the Shushan officials thoroughly, but on the surface, he had to act perfectly, cupping his hands and saying:

“Senior Brother Duan.”

“Junior Brother Ling.” The middle-aged man waved his hand indifferently, saying, “I know your intent, there’s no need for more words. Shall we start the fight directly?”

Start your sister!

Ling Yunpo felt helpless inside, but at that moment, he only steeled himself and said through gritted teeth, “Fine!”

As soon as the words fell, he activated the Qing Ping Sword’s first layer of Daoist Magic, “Green Mist Veil Over the Mountains!”

“The mist rises ethereal, like towers among the clouds.” With the incantation sighing in the air, a thousand-mile mist arose, enveloping the entire scene.

Obscure and hazy, they completely shrouded the figures of both combatants.

The outside audience immediately cursed in anger, having expected to see a good fight, yet here Ling Yunpo was using this same trick again, causing them to protest vehemently, though they were powerless to change anything.

Within the dense fog, clouds and mists stretched afar, with not a single object visible.

In the fog, Ling Yunpo maneuvered his sword at high speed, keeping his body extremely low, almost brushing the ground.

This was a Hidden Sword Technique taught to him by Lin Duanshan, which excelled in silent and invisible flight.

With this Forbidden Technique domain in place, Divine Sense was suppressed for everyone except for him, who could extend his Divine Sense to cling to every drop of water in the thick fog.

Every blade of grass, every grain of sand, was clear to him.

In comparison, the opponent was like groping in the dark, almost like a blind person.

He circled around the edge of the arena while Duan Fenhai stood motionless in the center, his gaze fixed straight ahead, steadying his Flying Sword without moving.

Could it be that he’s staying put because he can’t see, thus choosing to remain unchanging in response to myriad changes?

Ling Yunpo felt puzzled and quietly flew to a position twenty meters behind him, but still, there was no reaction; he just stood there.

Looking at the immovable figure, Ling Yunpo suddenly felt that his opponent was full of openings.

Perhaps I should strike with my sword to test him?

With that thought, he executed a Sword technique, and from the Sword Box on his back flew the Thunder Punishment Sword, tracing a wide arc towards Duan Fenhai’s back.

As the Sword Light neared, Duan Fenhai suddenly turned around and chanted,

“Zichen stars, the winds rise to Tian Gang!”

As soon as he finished speaking, an Immortal Sword appeared in the palm of his hand—it was Duan Fenhai’s Life-bound Sword Artifact, the Tenth Rank Metal System, Starry Sky Iron Sword.

The sword, dark all over, suddenly rotated sharply in the air, bringing a wind and thunder momentum as it slashed down.

Metal clashing against metal, the sound was like thunder, and Ling Yunpo’s Thunder Punishment Sword was directly sent flying upon impact with the Starry Sky Iron Sword!

“This sword is sharp and firm, perhaps not inferior to the Immortal Sword!” Ling Yunpo had just thought, when he saw the Cangtie Sword, as if sensing something, immediately dive along the original path of the Flying Sword toward him.

Bad news! He hastily summoned the Green Duckweed Sword, blocking the Cangtie Sword’s attack mid-air.

The two swords collided fiercely, their forces vibrating off each other.

The Cangtie Sword, relentless, struck down again in mid-air.

Ding ding ding ding, ding ding ding ding!

The swords clashed numerous times in an instant, sparks flying, and amidst the vast fog, those outside couldn’t see what was happening inside, seeing only the constant disturbance of the thick mist.

Within the mist, Ling Yunpo retreated quickly. The Cangtie Sword hesitated for a moment before slashing towards his chest again.

Ling Yunpo attempted to block with the Green Duckweed Sword, but unable to withstand the momentum, he had to deflect the force upwards.

The swords rubbed against each other, spitting out a trail of brilliant sparks.

“Your swordsmanship is not bad,” Duan Fenhai said indifferently, his voice echoing in the mist, “But compared to An Zhisu, it’s too inferior and sloppy.”

“With your level of strength, entering the top fifty of the Immortal Sword Ranking would already be reaching the limit. To expect to climb even higher is an impossible feat.”

“It’s laughable how those people feared you climbing directly into the top ten, resorting to such despicable methods to have me intercept and kill you here.”

“Hmph, truly an overabundance of concern by mediocrities.”

Duan Fenhai continued, his tone becoming more impatient:

“I want to break your Life-bound Sword Artifact, to injure you seriously enough to be bedridden for half a year, so An Zhisu won’t let it go without a fight.”

“But your strength is so weak that I can’t exert full effort; I still need to control my power, which is really troublesome.”

“Just surrender quickly and don’t waste any more of my time.”

This guy’s ridicule seemed to have no end!

The Cangtie Sword kept slashing and chopping, carrying the Wind and Thunder Sword Qi, displaying absolute dominance, while Ling Yunpo was in a difficult situation, frantically thinking.

He knew from the beginning that his opponent was stronger than himself, which is why he had chosen this Hidden Sword Technique, to avoid a direct confrontation.

Unexpectedly, during the previous sneak attack, he accidentally revealed himself, and now the opponent’s Life-bound Sword Artifact relentlessly pursued, catching him in a tight bind with no room to break free!

If this continued, not only would the Hidden Sword Technique lose its purpose, but he would also expend more energy in controlling his sword and defending himself than his opponent.

In a sword duel, the stronger must use direct attacks to overbear the weaker, while the weaker must use cunning to win.

If I continue to be completely dominated like this, I might not even have a chance to turn the tables in the end!

As he formulated strategies in his mind, Duan Fenhai, also shrewd, sensed his momentary lapse and increased the speed of his Flying Sword’s attacks, giving him no chance to catch his breath or think.

Ling Yunpo struggled to hold on and quietly executed the sword incantation, activating the second layer of Daoist Magic of the Green Duckweed Sword, “Mountain’s Echo after the New Rain”!