Chapter 473: Feeding Sword Technique

The moment the crimson giant sword fully plunged into Yuan Hong’s forehead, the entire world seemed to grow scorching hot. Simultaneously, a low sword hum echoed, reverberating through the air.

The sword hum continued ceaselessly, subtly transforming into an overwhelming surge of sword qi that permeated a radius of several thousand feet around Yuan Hong.

Even as Yuan Hong stood in the void, the ground beneath his feet began to tear open, forming countless smooth, mirror-like fissures.

The oppressive feeling emanating from Yuan Hong’s body escalated steadily.

Zhou Yuan instantly noticed Yuan Hong’s transformation, and his expression immediately changed. Yuan Hong’s Genesis Qi now seemed to be intensely hot and sharp, completely different from before.

“What’s happening?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes flashed with surprise and suspicion.

On the peak, Lu Yan, Zhou Tai, and Zhang Yan also looked bewildered, having clearly noticed Yuan Hong’s change.

Outside Chief Peak, numerous surprised gazes similarly watched the scene unfold.

Elders Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song frowned deeply. They stared at Yuan Hong’s figure, their eyes flickering. After a moment, as if realizing something, their pupils slightly contracted.

“It’s actually the Sword-Fostering Art?”

Their expressions turned grim. This “Sword-Fostering Art” was a rather sinister Genesis Art from Sword-Coming Peak. It involved nurturing the sword in one’s hand with one’s own flesh and blood, allowing one to briefly enter a state known as “Human-Sword Unity.” In this state, the practitioner’s own strength would increase, and they would gain the abilities of the nurtured sword…

However, this Genesis Art caused immense self-damage and would lead to significant side effects after use. Even the nurtured sword would become tainted with a malevolent aura, making it difficult to control in the future.

Precisely because the cost of using this Genesis Art was considerable, few disciples practiced it. And even if they did, they would never use it unless their life was on the line.

Yet, no one expected Yuan Hong to unleash it at this very moment…

Throughout the area, many disciples whispered among themselves, most of them criticizing Yuan Hong. It was clear that his methods were somewhat unscrupulous.

High in the sky, Sect Master Qing Yang also noticed the scene, his brows slightly furrowed.

“Hmph, it’s just a friendly match between fellow disciples, yet he’s using such a self-damaging Genesis Art. How ruthless!” Peak Master Lianyin coldly swept her gaze over Peak Master Ling Jun.

Other Peak Masters also shook their heads, seemingly expressing disapproval.

Peak Master Ling Jun’s expression remained unchanged as he said, “Yuan Hong is indeed too competitive. He should be reprimanded after this matter. However, the rules for the Chief Disciple competition inherently encourage giving one’s best, and it was never stated that such techniques cannot be used.”

Sect Master Qing Yang pondered for a moment and finally shook his head helplessly. While Yuan Hong’s actions were rather unsightly, they ultimately didn’t violate the rules, so he couldn’t say much.

His gaze fell upon Zhou Yuan’s figure on the peak, and regret flickered in his eyes. This Zhou Yuan, being able to push Yuan Hong to such an extent as a new disciple, was quite capable. Perhaps it was precisely because he dealt such a blow to Yuan Hong that the latter was forced to use such a method.

And given Yuan Hong’s current state, Zhou Yuan was likely in some danger.

A low hum continuously reverberated through the heavens and earth.

Yuan Hong’s originally sturdy body visibly withered and became gaunt at this moment. His eyes sank in, and crimson light emerged in his pupils, making him look quite terrifying.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan sensed an increasingly intense aura of danger emanating from Yuan Hong. He immediately gripped his Heavenly Yuan Brush tightly and stared intently at Yuan Hong.

“I truly didn’t expect… my first time using the ‘Sword-Fostering Art’ would be because of you,” Yuan Hong said, his eyes surging with crimson light fixed on Zhou Yuan, his voice becoming hoarse and chilling.

Zhou Yuan didn’t reply, his gaze cold, his body tense, and in a state of extreme vigilance.

“Next, I’ll show you what fear is!” A malevolent grin appeared on Yuan Hong’s lips.

He stomped his foot violently, and a sword hum seemed to resound. His figure then eerily vanished from its spot.

“Such speed!”

Zhou Yuan’s pupils constricted. Yuan Hong’s speed had undoubtedly increased tremendously compared to before.

Just as Zhou Yuan was about to dart back, a sword hum suddenly resonated above him. He abruptly looked up and saw Yuan Hong’s withered figure appear. His eyes were chilling, and his slightly gaunt hand chopped down fiercely.

As his palm-blade swept down, crimson light burst forth. It transformed directly into a massive, thousand-foot-long crimson sword light, scorching and sharp, like a peerless, ominous sword just drawn from a volcano.

As the sword light swept past, the void itself cracked.

At this moment, every one of Yuan Hong’s attacks, with every movement, was far more ferocious than when he wielded the Heavenly Flame Sword before.

The crimson sword shadow rapidly expanded in his pupils. Zhou Yuan dared not show any negligence. The tip of his Heavenly Yuan Brush quickly turned jet black, and silver light flickered within him as he channeled his full power and brought it down fiercely.

The crimson sword shadow struck the tip of the Heavenly Yuan Brush. A metallic clang erupted, and a crimson shockwave swept out, stirring up a hurricane between heaven and earth.

Everyone saw Zhou Yuan’s figure shoot backward amid the crimson light. He landed back on the ground, his feet sinking, causing the ground beneath him to continuously collapse. The sleeves on his arms had burst open.

His feet slid a hundred feet across the ground before Zhou Yuan finally stabilized himself. His expression became extremely solemn. Blood dripped from his hands, which gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush, his tiger’s mouth having been split open by the impact.

“What a terrifying attack.”

Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth. Yuan Hong’s strength in this state was indeed astonishing. Before, he could fight him to a standstill, but now, he was suppressed once again.

This Chief Disciple competition was clearly more difficult than Zhou Yuan had anticipated.

Even though he had prepared many trump cards for this, they were now being forced out, one by one.

In the sky, Yuan Hong’s crimson eyes, filled with malevolence, swept down, locking onto Zhou Yuan. The next instant, his figure shot directly downward. Clearly, he intended to completely finish off Zhou Yuan in this state.

As his figure streaked past, the air shrieked with sonic booms.

At the same time, Yuan Hong’s palms chopped down furiously. Massive, thousand-foot-long crimson sword shadows descended overwhelmingly. That offensive left countless disciples’ scalps tingling.

Facing Yuan Hong’s frenzied assault, Zhou Yuan also felt his scalp tingle. But now, there was no retreat. He could only grip the Heavenly Yuan Brush tightly, a low growl escaping his throat.

“Jade Skin!”“Silver Bone!”“Source Breaking!”“Myriad Whales!”

Terrifying power also erupted from within Zhou Yuan’s body without reservation at this moment. Clearly, against Yuan Hong’s assault, Zhou Yuan had no choice but to extract every ounce of his own strength.

This was the strongest clash!