Chapter 553: Su Zhi Battle VS Helian Ba

Su Zhizhan defeated Bai Jie, a result that surprised no one. He cleanly and decisively defeated Bai Jie without excessive entanglement, clearly intending to conserve his profound energy. Standing in the center of the arena, his gaze fixed on the west seats, he didn't wait for the next participant from the opposing side to step forward. Instead, he directly extended his longsword, pointing it proudly at someone in the Helian clan's seating area, and declared, "Helian Ba, do you dare to fight me?!"

This was the first time since the competition began that someone had called out a specific opponent. And the one Su Zhizhan pointed to was none other than Helian Ba, who, like himself, was considered the top young talent among the Twelve Guardian Families!

Su Zhizhan knew very well that the side they represented was destined for a crushing defeat in this decisive battle. The best way to salvage some dignity was to defeat Helian Ba, who was also hailed as the best of his generation.

Under such public scrutiny, being challenged by someone of equal fame and power, Helian Ba had no choice but to accept, lest he be perceived as fearing Su Zhizhan. Without hesitation, he stood up and soared to land directly in front of Su Zhizhan, a cold sneer on his face. "Su Zhizhan," he said, "it seems you want to end this match quickly and slink away. In that case, I certainly won't disappoint you."

"The one who's about to be sent packing is you," Su Zhizhan retorted coldly.

"Heh heh!" Helian Ba grinned. "A pathetic loser can only boast with words. For someone supposedly on par with me, Helian Ba, you're truly pitiful. Hmm, you just fought Bai Jie, so you've expended some energy. Tsk tsk, don't worry, I, Helian Ba, wouldn't stoop to taking advantage of you. I'll give you fifteen minutes to recover. I want you to lose convincingly, because there can only be one true number one."

"No need," Su Zhizhan's eyes were icy as he sneered. "On par, you say? I could accept that before, but now, you're not worthy! For me, Su Zhizhan, to be equated with a traitorous dog who forgets his ancestors and forsakes righteousness, is an utter humiliation! Why would I need to rest to defeat a dog like you?!"

Su Xiangnan had always been upright and unwavering throughout his life. Although his son was filled with arrogance, he had inherited this trait completely, harboring extreme disgust for the betrayal of the Seven Guardian Families and various princely estates.

Helian Ba's expression immediately darkened. "I originally intended to show some restraint, but you're asking for death!"

"Hmph!" Su Zhizhan snorted coldly, disinclined to say anything more. His grip on his sword tightened, his gaze icy, as he slowly stepped forward. From his body, a powerful sword aura surged forth with rapidly swirling winds. With each step forward, the winds grew fiercer, and the sword aura became more immense. By the time he had taken ten steps, countless sword images were already dancing within the gale.

"This is the Su family's 'Windstorm Sword Domain'," Yun Qinghong explained to Yun Che. "It's the embryonic form of the Su family's ultimate domain, the 'Wind God Sword Domain'. It combines wind with sword aura, making it incredibly destructive. Anyone with slightly weaker strength who gets caught in it will be directly shredded. Su Zhizhan unleashing the Windstorm Sword Domain right from the start indicates he's resolved to hold nothing back."

With a clap of thunder, Helian Ba clutched a pitch-black longsword. Lightning crackled across the dark blade, and a dark, thunderous domain slowly began to expand around his body. But before it could fully form, a wind howled in front of him as Su Zhizhan charged like lightning. The two swords clashed mid-air, and the two powerful domains instantly collided and intertwined.

Bang bang boom boom boom!

In an instant, the two had exchanged a dozen blows. Su Zhizhan's sword aura poured forth like a descending galaxy, while Helian Ba's dark sword moved like an enraged flood dragon. Their two powerful domains were like two rampaging beasts, clashing, tearing, and devouring each other. From the moment they engaged, their battle was incredibly fierce.

Their profound energy rapidly escalated during the intense fight, gradually rising from initial probes to their peak. Amidst the howling winds and roaring thunder, the two fought hundreds of rounds like a fierce storm, yet neither managed to suppress the other. Their domains continuously shrank and expanded simultaneously. The overflowing sword qi, fierce winds, and crashing thunder extended beyond the arena. If not for the powerful families and princely estates closest to the arena, who had shielded themselves with profound energy, the entire hall would have been engulfed by the sword qi, wind, and thunder.

"How incredibly powerful! Are they truly of the younger generation?" Some young people, visiting Demon Imperial City for the first time, were already dumbfounded. Having qualified to attend this centennial grand ceremony, they were naturally top figures from their respective regions. Yet, the battle before them completely shattered their long-held pride and confidence. Although they had always known that Demon Imperial City possessed the highest profound energy level in the entire Illusory Demon Realm, they had never imagined the gap to be this immense.

These were clearly just two people of similar age to themselves, yet their own strength, compared to theirs, was vastly different; even their most respected and revered elders would hardly possess such power.

"This is the true power of the Twelve Guardian Families," an elder exclaimed with deep admiration.

"In the Guardian Families, achieving the Sovereign Profound Realm before the age of thirty is considered merely passing. In our regions, having a single Emperor Profound Realm practitioner is enough to command admiration for a thousand miles and bring a millennium of glory. But in the Twelve Guardian Families, being an Emperor Profound Realm practitioner is just one of the qualifications to become an elder. Especially the Yun family a hundred years ago, they had as many as eleven High Emperor Profound Realm practitioners, at level seven or above!"

The young people listened, utterly dumbfounded, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

Su Zhizhan's sword was as swift as flowing light, and his wind-infused sword aura rained down like a storm of pear blossoms. Helian Ba's sword, though comparatively slower, was incredibly forceful, shattering several of Su Zhizhan's sword auras with each swing.

Su Zhizhan's face remained calm and rigid, but Helian Ba's expression grew increasingly distorted. This was because Su Zhizhan, directly in front of him, fought like a madman. Every move, every sword stroke, was as if he faced a sworn enemy, dedicating ninety percent of his profound energy to offense and only ten percent to defense. Under this desperate fighting style, neither sustained severe injuries, but amidst the raging, intertwining Windstorm Sword Domain and Thunderclap Domain, Su Zhizhan's body was singed black in places, while Helian Ba was covered in hundreds of cuts from the sword winds, his armor already shredded into a honeycomb.

BOOM!!!

With a heavy impact, both their domains collapsed simultaneously. Su Zhizhan and Helian Ba were sent flying backward like cannonballs, landing at opposite edges of the arena. The moment Helian Ba landed, his profound energy slightly dissipated, and all hundred cuts on his body immediately burst open, staining his clothes and most of his body crimson. Though superficial, such profuse bleeding was enough to enrage him. Gritting his teeth, he furiously tore off his upper garments and roared, "Su Zhizhan, are you trying to die?!"

Su Zhizhan was also covered in wounds. They had fought fiercely within their intertwining wind and lightning domains, and only now, separated and fully injured, did they realize their battle wasn't just intense, but gruesome! Although neither had suffered severe injuries, their state was enough to send shivers down observers' spines.

Su Zhizhan didn't seem to be in a competition; he was fighting for his life.

This was a battle he absolutely could not lose.

"What? Are you afraid to die?" Su Zhizhan sneered.

To be frank, Helian Ba was indeed a little afraid. Any sane person would fear a madman fighting to the death. His face darkened, and all patience vanished from his mind. He roared, "Since you want to die, I'll grant your wish!"

As his voice fell, Helian Ba raised his sword with both hands. Instantly, the dark sword hummed, surrounded by crackling lightning. In a flash, the space around the dark sword suddenly distorted. Even Helian Ba himself was engulfed by intensely twisted space, with ripples of spatial distortion swirling around, a truly shocking sight.

The aura of this single sword strike caused everyone in the hall to slightly change color.

"Su Zhizhan, do you truly believe you're worthy of being called number one alongside me?!" Helian Ba's body twisted with the spatial ripples. A pressure, as if the heavens were collapsing, enveloped the entire arena and the great hall. Even the surrounding light visibly dimmed. He didn't fully expand his lightning domain; only a faint ring of lightning surrounded his sword. Yet, deafening thunder, seemingly from nowhere, reverberated through the hall. "Our Nine-Headed Demon Serpent clan possesses profound thunder energy and bodies of bedrock bestowed by the heavens! How can your human race compare?! Under this one sword, you are only fit to bow down and kneel!!"

"Get out of my sight!!"

With a furious roar, Helian Ba leaped high. Mid-air, his figure flickered, suddenly manifesting the shadow of a colossal serpent with nine heads. The nine serpent heads hissed in the air, jaws wide, simultaneously lunging and biting at Su Zhizhan. The next instant, the nine serpent heads vanished simultaneously, transforming into nine Helian Bas, all striking at Su Zhizhan at once.

"'Nine Nether Thunder Emperor Slash'! Helian Ba can actually use this move, and a complete Nine Nether Thunder Emperor Slash at that!" Yan Zijing, the Yan family patriarch, abruptly stood up, exclaiming in shock. "This is not an attack that a Sovereign Profound Realm Level Six can withstand. Su Zhizhan is in danger..."

He turned to look at Su Xiangnan, only to find him still seated, his expression solemn but seemingly unpanicked.

The immense aura descended from above, and everyone in the hall felt a deep sense of suffocation. Several individuals with relatively weaker profound energy turned pale, their chests feeling as if they would burst. The mere peripheral aftermath was so terrifying; the power of this sword strike was simply unimaginable.

Su Zhizhan raised his head, watching the nine figures plummeting from the sky with indifference. His Windstorm Sword Domain silently emerged and rapidly spread.

"What is Su Zhizhan doing?! Why isn't he defending or escaping? Why is he still activating his Windstorm Sword Domain now?!"

Su Zhizhan paid no heed to the shouts around him. Just as his Windstorm Sword Domain touched the approaching Helian Ba figures and was effortlessly torn apart by the dark sword, a chilling glint flashed in his eyes. The sword in his hand suddenly flew forward, hovering before him, then began to spin rapidly. A massive vortex of wind swiftly formed as the sword rotated, growing larger and larger.

"Wind God Sword!!"

Three low, deliberate words escaped Su Zhizhan's lips. Just as Helian Ba's dark sword was less than two zhang (approx. 6 meters) from his head, Su Zhizhan suddenly pushed his hands forward. The longsword, carrying the massive wind vortex, abruptly shot out, flying directly towards one of the nine Helian Bas.

"What?!" Helian Ba was startled. The nine figures he conjured were naturally not all corporeal. Although his true form was a Nine-Headed Demon Serpent, having nine heads did not mean he could manifest nine bodies. Of these nine figures, one was real, while the other eight were meant to utterly disorient the enemy's mind and senses.

And Su Zhizhan's sword was flying directly towards his true body!

"So that's it. He used the Windstorm Sword Domain to probe for Helian Ba's true body," Yun Che realized. "This sword domain is different from ordinary domains; it not only requires profound energy to sustain but also incorporates a powerful sword intent. Based on the feedback from the sword intent when Helian Ba's nine figures touched the domain, he instantly determined which one was the true body."