Chapter 84: Playing the Trump Card

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“Your Plum Blossom Overlord Flash may be skilled, but it’s only at Earth-grade ninth rank. To shatter my Heaven-grade technique is impossible!” As he finished speaking, Quan Ruixin didn’t even bother dodging. He intensified his energy, swinging his radiant arm, the brilliance on it growing even more intense.

With a cold snort, Tianming ignored Quan Ruixin’s words. He once again activated the Plum Blossom Overlord Flash, his body straight as a spiraling drill, darting upwards and sidewise, weaving a trail of plum blossom-like afterimages aimed at the heart of Quan Ruixin’s palm.

Soon, a phantom finger collided with the descending luminous claw!

Boom!

The moment they touched, an energy storm erupted, sending a violent ripple of elemental force through the air. Though Quan Ruixin hadn’t reached the Spiritual Void Realm, with the support of Heaven-grade techniques, the energy of heaven and earth was drawn in. In such a situation, Tianming was at a clear disadvantage.

Moments later, from the center of the energy explosion, a silhouette was thrown back by the force.

“Damn it!” As his finger drove into the center of the luminous claw, Tianming felt an overwhelming pressure descend upon him, pressing against every corner of his body. This extraordinary force—was it a Heaven-grade sixth rank technique?

He pondered silently, his face growing pale. Bracing himself on the ground, a trickle of blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.

He was already at a disadvantage in terms of elemental energy. Now, using Earth-grade against Heaven-grade, the outcome was obvious—he’d fallen behind!

Both were elemental techniques, but there were levels of superiority. The Plum Blossom Overlord Finger was indeed an Earth-grade ninth rank technique, but even adding the Overlord Flash was futile. Against the wide-range attack of a Heaven-grade technique—especially a sixth rank one—footwork became less significant.

What?

Lifting his head, Tianming saw Quan Ruixin’s relaxed demeanor, his complexion still rosy. Had Quan Ruixin not unleashed his full strength yet? It seemed the third place on the Human Ranking was well-earned, a result of long and meticulous cultivation.

Taking a deep breath, Tianming knew now wasn’t the time for complaints. He hurriedly retrieved the Celestial Moon Creation Sword from the dimensional space. Now, only Heaven-grade techniques could face Quan Ruixin’s Heaven-grade attacks; otherwise, things would get truly difficult.

Clang!

In a flash, a silvery longsword appeared in Tianming’s hand. Without hesitation, he halted the Overlord Finger assault, darting left and right, settling like a plum blossom upon the ground. His left hand swept the sword, sending a wave of energy slicing toward the sky.

“Again.”

He didn’t concern himself with how much damage this strike would do to Quan Ruixin. As the first wave of sword energy shot forth, Tianming followed up with a flurry of left-arm swings. In an instant, “Nine Heavens Violet Lightning Annihilation Slash”—a succession of silvery moon-blades—shot skyward at sharp angles, targeting Quan Ruixin.

Fierce sword energy, utterly merciless.

Cold as moonlight, pale as ice.

This technique offered no elaborate flourishes, only relentless, accumulating sword energy attacks—the so-called Frenzied Sword Method...

Bang!

Elemental energy and the force of heaven and earth quaked, accompanied by a thunderous roar. As the sword energy surged, in Quan Ruixin’s surprised gaze, the sixteenth wave finally severed a finger from the luminous claw he had condensed!

“What is this...?” Quan Ruixin was momentarily bewildered at the sight of Tianming’s technique.

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The speed of the sword energy was so fast it was nearly impossible to block.

As countless moon-white sword energies rained upon him, Quan Ruixin was amazed at Tianming’s sword and Heaven-grade technique, but the circumstances left him no time to ponder further.

A sharp pain struck!

Only when a finger was severed did Quan Ruixin snap back to his senses, his face paling as he bit his lip. Though his luminous claw seemed imposing, it demanded immense focus, deep elemental control, and precision. Hastily stabilizing his energy, Quan Ruixin’s sharp gaze locked once more onto Tianming.

“Trying to flank me? Dream on!” Quan Ruixin snorted coldly.

Continuing to swing his arm, the claw imbued with the power of light seemed almost sentient, instantly reversing direction to grab at the rear of the moon-white sword energies.

Clearly, Quan Ruixin had anticipated this outcome, leaving a portion of his focus to control the claw ahead of time!

The outer disciples watching below were utterly baffled, mouths agape, sweeping away their previous disdain for Tianming. Could they ever hope to fight so brilliantly? Clearly not. Some, recalling their wagers, felt a wave of regret and despair.

Countless moon-white sword energies radiated forth, and half of Tianming’s elemental energy was depleted in an instant...

“Not good!” Just as Tianming was about to relax, he saw Quan Ruixin manipulate the luminous claw to chase after the silvery sword energies. If Quan Ruixin succeeded, Tianming’s entire offensive would be wasted.

Bang!

Bang! Bang...

Soon, the approaching silvery sword energies were crushed one by one by the pursuing luminous claw. Explosions of elemental energy erupted in midair, stirring turbulent currents and gusts that swept from left to right, clouds of dust swirling at the center of the dueling platform.

“Withdraw!”

Seizing the moment as Quan Ruixin controlled the claw, Tianming quickly sheathed the Celestial Moon Creation Sword, activating the Plum Blossom Overlord Flash to create a phantom and rapidly close in on Quan Ruixin. Darting left and right, shifting between real and illusory, he narrowly avoided pockets of explosive elemental energy.

“Down you go!”

In midair, a plum blossom phantom leapt up, striking at Quan Ruixin’s radiant arm. Seeing Quan Ruixin make no attempt to dodge, Tianming rejoiced, quickly channeling energy for another fierce attack, holding nothing back.

“Grand Radiant Elemental Art: Shock Element Seizing Light Cleave!”

Facing Tianming’s assault and his uncanny movement, Quan Ruixin seemed well-prepared, contemplating for a moment before unleashing a forceful shout. Instantly, a radiant axe appeared in his hand, its pure light so intense it seemed to steal the very brilliance from its surroundings.

The robust aura of the axe rapidly expanded in midair, spreading an overwhelming pressure across the platform. Disciples with weaker cultivation were forced to the ground by the force. Even before the attack was fully launched, the elemental energy was already raging.

“This is a Heaven-grade technique, Shock Element Seizing Light Cleave!”

“Hiss...” Gasps echoed from below.

“It’s said Quan Ruixin possesses a Heaven-grade eighth rank technique. The rumors are true!” An inner disciple of the Spiritual Void first rank, witnessing the assault, felt a surge of awe. Could he withstand such a strike himself?

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“Tian-ge!”

Hengcheng watched Tianming on the platform, his face pale as he gritted his teeth and struggled on. Concern was written all over Hengcheng’s face. In the corner, the black-robed figure had vanished, though no one knew when.

...

Elsewhere!

Dividing a portion of his energy, Tianming resisted the residual force of Quan Ruixin’s axe. From its brilliance, Tianming realized this was a light-based power, not belonging to the five elements. Listening to the murmurs below, he deduced that Quan Ruixin’s shout had signaled a combined technique and cultivation method.

But!

It was time to end the battle...

Taking a deep breath, Tianming murmured to himself, channeling the power of colorlessness. He once again drew the Celestial Moon Creation Sword. A spark of cold light flashed, his body radiating tiny silver points, as if moonlight had descended! This time, Tianming used no elemental technique, simply wielding his sword.

Swish!

As the silvery longsword met the radiant axe, a surge of elemental energy exploded, sending wild spatial currents swirling nearby. Just as Quan Ruixin was secretly restraining his force, Tianming’s left hand flickered with a flash of lightning, vanishing in an instant!

Spiritual Void first rank!

Spiritual Void second rank!

Spiritual Void sixth... tenth rank.

The overwhelming suppression of cultivation levels swept through, destroying all resistance!

In the moment when every mind was blank with confusion, Tianming, with a simple wave of moon-white sword energy, shattered the axe in Quan Ruixin’s hand, dispersing the brilliance as if even light itself was erased.

How could this be?

Before Quan Ruixin could retract the elemental energy from his axe, the scene before him became utterly surreal—his gaze stretched farther and farther from Tianming. “Is this his true strength?”

The sword, though lingering only briefly, did not lose its power. A wave of elemental energy rebounded, sending Quan Ruixin flying off the platform. Of course, this was Tianming holding back; otherwise, with such a vast disparity in cultivation, a single strike could have ended it.

Alas!

Tianming shook his head silently, saying nothing. Amidst the shocked stares of all disciples below, he sheathed the Celestial Moon Creation Sword back into the dimensional space and jumped down from the platform. Having driven Quan Ruixin back with a single sword, Tianming showed no hint of excitement, for he knew that if he fought with his true strength, defeat would be inevitable.

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