Chapter 1216: The Red-Blue Two-Sword Technique

"What?"

His pupils contracted, and Zhang Xuan's hairs stood on end.

This sword qi was extremely fast, like lightning, and most importantly, its power was immense. Even with his recent surge in strength, he instantly realized that if he didn't dodge, he would be pierced through and killed on the spot.

He shifted his feet, executing the Walker's No Boundaries. The space on one side seemed to compress, and his entire body moved sideways three meters, pressing against the wall.

Swish!

A cold wind swept past as the sword qi shot by from one side and vanished before his eyes.

"That was close!"

Fortunately, he had recently gained a deeper understanding of space and the Walker's No Boundaries; otherwise, even if he didn't die, he would have been severely injured!

Such terrifying sword qi!

"Nascent Soul realm... early stage peak!"

His fists clenched.

Though it was just one strike, he had already determined the opponent's strength: at least the early stage peak of the Nascent Soul realm, and they were also skilled in swordsmanship.

Otherwise, they couldn't have unleashed such a powerful attack.

Under a sneak attack, even he had barely dodged it!

Zzzz!

Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, he sensed a surge of killing intent again. Two more streams of sword qi shot toward him, one in front and one behind, sealing off all paths forward and for evasion.

"Hmph!"

Knowing that the passage was narrow and he couldn't dodge as before, Zhang Xuan's expression darkened. He flipped his wrist, and the Ice Rain Sword appeared in his palm. With a light sweep, two streams of sword qi met the incoming attacks.

Although the Ice Rain Sword was only a low-grade saint artifact, combined with his current strength, its power was formidable. Like two flashes of lightning in the dark night, it collided with the incoming sword qi, producing a dull explosion that sent碎石 flying on both sides.

Hum!

The sword bent slightly and nearly broke.

Having shattered the opponent's sword qi with one strike, Zhang Xuan did not pause and continued charging forward.

Clatter!

He was fast, but the opponent's sword qi was faster. After only two steps, he felt the sword qi tearing through the air again. This time, there were four streams, each stronger than the last. If he charged through, he would likely be cleaved in two.

The Ice Rain Sword slashed repeatedly, blocking the attacks. However, the opponent's power seemed to have a stacking effect, each strike stronger than the previous. After four swords came six, and the power increased further.

"It's a sword formation, or... a special sword technique!"

Though he didn't know who was on the other side, anyone capable of such attacks either had a unique martial technique or was using a powerful sword formation.

No longer underestimating the enemy, he circulated his true energy, which roared within him. His brows rose, and he pointed a finger forward.

Hum!

The space before him seemed to freeze instantly. The six streams of sword qi halted in midair, moving slowly, losing their previous threat.

The Ice Rain Sword thrust out, breaking them one by one. Just as he was about to continue, eight swords appeared on the opposite side.

The eight streams of sword qi were even more powerful, far surpassing the previous six. Before they even reached him, the space he had frozen began to shake violently, and with a "crack!" it shattered.

Staggering back!

Suffering from the backlash, Zhang Xuan retreated two steps. He grabbed with his palm, forming a sphere of dense true energy to block the attacks, his heart filled with shock.

Having reached the peak of the Embryonic Infant realm, his combat strength was comparable to a mid-stage Nascent Soul expert. Yet, he was forced back by a few streams of sword qi. The opponent's combat prowess was beyond imagination.

"Sword qi faster and stronger with each strike... Could it be the Red-Blue Two-Sword Technique, famous fifteen hundred years ago?"

His brows lifted as a name jumped into his mind. Having read all the books in the War Master Hall, he was well-versed in historical anecdotes.

The two most talented sword-wielding war masters in the Qingyuan Empire's War Master Hall had once received a sword inheritance in the Qianchong Empire and created a special sword formation called the Red-Blue Two-Sword Technique.

When the two fought together, even a mid-stage peak Nascent Soul expert couldn't withstand them.

However, these two had died over a thousand years ago, their bones turned to dust.

Could it be... their corpses were captured here and turned into golden figures?

If so, that would be terrifying.

Even he might not win in a direct confrontation.

"Without seeing the person, I can't find the flaws in their moves. If I keep being passive like this, the villain will take the chance to escape, and that would be trouble..."

Knowing that further delay would bring more trouble, Zhang Xuan exhaled and flipped his wrist, producing the massive Gold Origin Cauldron.

"Charge through for me!"

"Alright, don't worry, master. Just a bunch of clowns. Watch me, Ding Ding, crush them..."

With a roar, the Gold Origin Cauldron flew up and charged straight ahead.

Clang! Clang!

The sword qi struck its body, producing crisp sounds.

Having fused with Gold Crystal Mystic Stone, the Gold Origin Cauldron's defensive capabilities had greatly increased. Moreover, its strength had reached the late Nascent Soul realm. Although the opponent's sword qi was fearsome, it couldn't pierce through.

Seeing it easily withstand the attacks, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and followed closely behind, striding forward. The passage was long, about seventy or eighty meters. Soon, they arrived at another hall-like place.

It was an excavated underground palace, about a hundred meters in diameter.

Entering it, his spiritual sense was no longer affected by the formation and spread outward. He then saw two figures retreating rapidly.

Like the soulless golden figures outside, these two had flesh, skin, and hair indistinguishable from living people, but they were completely expressionless, clearly having lost their souls.

"You want to leave after attacking me? Do I look that easy to bully?"

Seeing them try to retreat, he sneered, flipped his palm, and struck at them.

Boom!

Power like a dragon surged forth with overwhelming force.

Great Compassion Demon Palm!

Feeling the might of the palm, the two golden figures quickly turned and slashed with their swords.

But without the stacking effect of their previous power, the sword qi was only as strong as the first strike. Before it could fully exert its force, the palm power reached their chests. Then came the sound of ribs breaking, and both golden figures were embedded into the wall.

"Master, leave one for me..."

Seeing that Zhang Xuan had made his move and the two were already out of commission, Jin Yuanding hurriedly called out.

Having improved his strength, and finally encountering something fun, of course he wanted to give them a good thrashing and enjoy himself.

"They're all yours..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He was looking for ruthless individuals; these minor underlings just needed to be incapacitated.

"Alright..."

Full of excitement, Jin Yuanding charged straight at the two alien tribesmen, ramming into them with his cauldron.

Splat!

One Soul-less Gold Man was immediately smashed into a meat patty, stuck to the wall like a mural.

"Fun, fun..."

Overjoyed, Jin Yuanding spun around and charged at the other one. The latter, terrified, struggled to pull himself off the wall and turned to flee.

"When Lord Ding makes a move, can you escape?"

With a cold snort, "Weng," Jin Yuanding rushed over.

The Soul-less Gold Man hastily drew his sword and met the attack, slashing downward fiercely.

The sword struck the cauldron with a roar, snapping in two on the spot. The residual force surged, pressing the Gold Man back against the wall.

Crack!

All the bones in his body were crushed flat, turning him into a mural just like the previous one.

"Uh..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He had been thinking that these two corpses were experts from the War Master Hall, and he wanted to leave them intact for Hall Master Xing and the others to take back. He never expected that Jin Yuanding's attack would result in this...

Oh well, it wasn't a big deal.

Since they were already dead, a proper burial would suffice.

People from the War Master Hall weren't as rigid as those from the Master Teacher Hall, who cared about sentiment. On the battlefield, life-and-death struggles meant survival was paramount; there were no such formalities.

"Eye of Insight!"

Having slain the two Gold Men, Zhang Xuan looked along the thin line again and saw it slowly extending underground.

He stepped forward, ran his fingers over the ground, and indeed found the entrance to a mechanism.

He formed his fingers into a palm and gently pushed.

Creak! Creak!

The mechanism opened.

"Come over here..."

Without rushing in, he called out.

"Coming..."

Jin Yuanding flew straight over.

"Go in first and see if there are any traps or dangers!"

Zhang Xuan instructed.

Just now, when he broke the mechanism, a sword qi attack came. If not for his recent surge in strength, he would definitely have been killed.

With Jin Yuanding here, let this big oaf go in first to scout the way, so they could be prepared if danger arose.

"Got it!"

With a reply, Jin Yuanding charged straight toward the entrance of the mechanism.

Slap!

"Master, I'm stuck..."

Zhang Xuan glanced at him and was speechless.

This guy was too big, and the entrance too small; he was wedged right in, unable to move.

"Come out first..."

Holding his forehead, he pulled him out and put him into the storage ring. Only then did Zhang Xuan circulate his true qi and slowly walk inside.

The passage was quiet, without a sound. After the previous experience, he dared not be careless. Holding the longsword in his palm, he advanced step by step.

Before long, he reached the end of the stairs, and this time there was no attack at all.

He took out a night pearl and threw it on the ground, illuminating the room before him.

Like the one above, it was a spacious hall, very empty, with not a single person in sight.

He frowned.

The thin threads controlling the many golden figures disappeared in this room. He had thought the ruthless man would be hiding here, but unexpectedly, there was no one.

Creak!

Just as he was about to search carefully for any other mechanisms, he heard the sound of springs above his head. Looking up, the passage he had opened was already closed.

Though it wasn't a dragon-breaking lock, the mechanism was intricate. Once closed, without a discerning eye, finding the entrance would not be easy.

"This is meant to separate me from Hall Master Xing and the others..."

After a moment of surprise, Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

It seemed the opponent's goal was simple: to separate him from the group. That way, fighting alone, he would be easier to deal with.

Instead of trying to open the passage, he took a deep breath and looked around.

"Closing the mechanism means the jig is up. Since that's the case, come out then..."

"Master Zhang is indeed clever..."

As the voice ended, a faint sound rang out, and then a tall figure emerged from the wall, as if performing a wall-penetration technique.

Knowing it was the effect of some mechanism, Zhang Xuan paid it no mind and looked at the figure. But after just one glance, he couldn't help furrowing his brows.

"You... aren't dead yet?"

The one appearing before him was none other than the Vice Hall Master Tian Qing, whom he had soul-searched in Qingyuan City and who had been devoured by the ruthless man... Qingtian Emperor!