Chapter 492: I Go

The cultivation sects in the Nine Provinces are diverse, but if one were to consider which sect is best suited to deal with ghost cultivators, it would undoubtedly be array masters. Array masters can set up formations in advance, and a highly skilled array master can form one with a single thought. This makes it impossible for even the most capable ghost cultivators to stealthily approach them.

Other sects lack this advantage; when facing ghost cultivators, they often adopt a strategy of waiting patiently for the opponent to make a move. This, however, requires immense courage and confidence, because the moment a ghost cultivator reveals their presence is often the precise instant they unleash a killing move. If one cannot block it in time, there's a high risk of being decapitated.

Jiang Liuzi used this method to confront his opponent. He hadn't detected the ghost cultivator's presence beforehand, but he knew the ghost cultivator would surely approach him stealthily from some direction, waiting for an opportunity to strike. The moment the ghost cultivator made their move would also be his moment to counterattack.

His sword was incredibly fast; as he blocked the ghost cultivator's fierce strike, he counter-slashed and wounded him. The exchange lasted only an instant, but the ghost cultivator nearly lost more than half his life. If he hadn't instinctively stepped back, that single sword strike might have killed him instantly. This was a true sword cultivator!

As he retreated, flickering sword lights spread across his vision as flying swords attacked. A chill ran through the ghost cultivator. He instantly slapped a Golden Body Talisman onto himself and simultaneously shouted, "I concede!"

Thudding sounds rang out as the golden light enveloping the ghost cultivator shattered. A sword light pierced his right chest, bringing forth a gush of hot blood.

The ghost cultivator barely clung onto his life. He immediately shot into the sky and fled backward, only breathing a sigh of relief when Xia Qianqian came to his aid. If he hadn't timely used a mid-grade Golden Body Talisman on himself just now, he would probably be dead. Even so, he was gravely wounded. This was the terrifying destructive power of a sword cultivator.

Back in the valley, Jiang Liuzi still stood silently, as if he hadn't moved at all. Several sword lights floated at his side, one hand holding his sword, the other clasped behind his back, standing proudly between heaven and earth. Cheers erupted from the spiritual peak opposite. Jiang Liuzi's easy victory undoubtedly allowed the cultivators on the other side to breathe a sigh of relief and feel triumphant.

On Lu Ye's side, however, everyone's expressions were grim, especially the female spell cultivator, whose face had turned pale. The thought of potentially facing such a terrifying sword cultivator made her heart pound. In the early stages of cultivation, spell cultivators were the bane of martial cultivators because their ability to cast spells from a distance often gave them an advantage in combat. As long as they kept martial cultivators from getting close, martial cultivators became easy targets. However, as everyone's cultivation level increased, this advantage gradually disappeared.

At the Cloud River Realm, spell cultivators feared sword cultivators the most because sword cultivators were too fast, and their spells simply couldn't stop them. Once sword cultivators closed the distance, the physically fragile spell cultivators could only close their eyes and await death. Especially since the female spell cultivator was only at the fourth-level cultivation, she was even less likely to be Jiang Liuzi's opponent. If she were to enter the arena, it would be a complete surrender.

"I'll go," the body cultivator said, tilting his head as cracking sounds came from his neck. Then he strode forward. The female spell cultivator visibly sighed in relief.

Under everyone's gaze, the body cultivator descended into the valley. He raised a large spirit artifact shield, bending slightly to completely shield his muscular figure behind it. Earth-yellow spiritual power and crimson vital energy surged forth together, converging into an orange glow that enveloped him. He assumed a defensive stance. There was no other way; facing a true sword cultivator, he knew his speed would be no match for theirs. Charging at the opponent would be futile; he would only be toyed with by the enemy. Only by strictly defending, exhausting the opponent's strength, and seeking opportunities to counterattack within his defense did he have a chance to win. This was also the only way body cultivators could deal with opponents faster than themselves. Sadly, given the same cultivation level, almost all cultivators from other sects were faster than body cultivators, which often left body cultivators silently enduring attacks.

Jiang Liuzi on the other side made no move; he simply waited quietly for the body cultivator to get ready, as if he didn't even consider his opponent a threat. He indeed had such confidence. Sword cultivators were known for their destructive power; even if a body cultivator defended himself like a tortoise shell, he might not be able to withstand a sword cultivator's flying swords.

Once the body cultivator was ready, the several flying swords hovering by Jiang Liuzi's side suddenly vibrated and transformed into streaks of sword light, darting forward. The next instant, clanging sounds rang out as flying swords struck the large spirit artifact shield, causing its spiritual light to flicker wildly and sparks to fly. The body cultivator's body also continuously trembled. With one attacking and one defending, the scene was intense.

Three breaths later, the sword lights attacking the body cultivator suddenly increased as Jiang Liuzi summoned more flying swords. Numerous flying swords circled the body cultivator, constantly darting and shooting. Most were blocked by the large spirit artifact shield, but a few attacked from the body cultivator's sides or rear, positions not protected by the shield. However, the body cultivator's physique was indeed powerful; the fusion of spiritual power and vital energy formed an extremely dense protective force. The sharp flying swords could only inflict superficial flesh wounds, unable to harm his bones or tendons.

In just a moment, the body cultivator was covered in wounds, yet he remained silent, as if he were not the one injured. While focusing on protecting himself, he also observed the gaps in his opponent's attacks to find opportunities for a counterattack. If, at the Cloud River Realm, sword cultivators were the bane of spell cultivators, then at this level, the bane of sword cultivators was powerful body cultivators. The destructive power of sword cultivators was indeed terrifying, but they had one major weakness: their attacks were difficult to sustain because their terrifying destructive power came at the cost of immense energy consumption. Therefore, powerful body cultivators were undoubtedly the best choice for dealing with sword cultivators, which was why the body cultivator had volunteered earlier. The female spell cultivator feared Jiang Liuzi, the sword cultivator, but as a body cultivator, he was not afraid. As long as he could endure the enemy's strongest phase, he could turn the tide.

The continuous sword lights lasted for a full fifteen minutes. The spiritual light of the large spirit artifact shield in the body cultivator's hand had dimmed significantly, and his exposed back was covered in countless dense wounds. Just then, the body cultivator suddenly noticed that his opponent's attacks had weakened and the intervals between the flying swords had grown longer. A glint flashed in his eyes as he realized it was time to counterattack.

Leaning slightly forward, he stomped his feet on the ground and lunged forward like an arrow released from a bow. The large spirit artifact shield, held in his hand, felt weightless as he defiantly pushed through the sword cultivator's barrage, rapidly closing the distance between them.

Boom, boom, boom...

The myriad sword lights suddenly retracted. Jiang Liuzi remained expressionless as numerous flying swords suddenly converged in front of him, and in the blink of an eye, a massive sword body took shape. The sword body was ten meters long, entirely formed by the convergence of numerous flying swords, and extremely terrifying spiritual energy fluctuations surged within it.

The body cultivator, rushing forward, suddenly narrowed his eyes, immediately realizing something was wrong. He instantly halted, raising the spirit artifact shield high above his head. He crouched slightly, his feet sinking deep into the earth. His own vital energy and spiritual power were pushed to their limits, and the orange glow that enveloped his body became dazzlingly bright.

Jiang Liuzi joined his fingers and sliced forward, whispering softly, "Strike!" The ten-meter-long sword body instantly appeared above the body cultivator's head and crashed down.

The spiritual energy fluctuations were incredibly chaotic at that moment, and the dazzling light temporarily blinded the onlookers on both sides. When the light dispersed, Xia Qianqian had appeared on the battlefield at some unknown point. A thick spiritual energy barrier formed in front of her, blocking over a dozen flying swords. Behind her, the body cultivator lay sprawled on the ground, covered in blood, his fate unknown. It was clear that if Xia Qianqian hadn't intervened in time, the body cultivator would likely have been killed.

Jiang Liuzi raised an eyebrow.

Xia Qianqian looked at him calmly. "Concede!"

Jiang Liuzi stared stubbornly at Xia Qianqian, saying nothing. Xia Qianqian narrowed her eyes slightly. "What? Do you intend to attack me too? Think carefully."

From the spiritual peak opposite, the young man's voice came: "Since Fellow Daoist Xia has conceded for him, Jiang Liuzi, stop!" He didn't want to completely fall out with Xia Qianqian here. Besides, Jiang Liuzi couldn't possibly be Xia Qianqian's opponent; the cultivation gap was too large.

Only then did Jiang Liuzi retract his flying swords. Xia Qianqian gave Jiang Liuzi a deep look, then channeled her spiritual energy to envelop the unconscious body cultivator and returned to the spiritual peak behind them.

In the valley, the red-lipped, white-toothed youth still stood there, like an invincible war god. On the spiritual peak, the fourth-level female spell cultivator's face was ashen, and she was almost in tears. "Senior Sister, I'm no match for him." She had witnessed Jiang Liuzi's terrifying strength. Even a fifth-level body cultivator was utterly powerless against him. What could she, a fourth-level spell cultivator, do if she went up? Would she try to charm him? Looking at the unsmiling youth, he didn't seem like someone who would show mercy to women.

Xia Qianqian briefly examined the body cultivator's injuries, her eyebrows furrowing. All three of their combatants had been severely wounded; although their lives weren't in danger, they couldn't possibly participate in the upcoming melee. Of the two opponents who had fought earlier, the second was seriously injured, but the first was not badly hurt. It could be said that the current situation was very disadvantageous for their side.

She looked up at Lu Ye. It had originally been agreed that Lu Ye would hold the line, but given the current situation, he had no choice but to enter the fight.

"I'll go."

Lu Ye stepped forward. Whether he held the line or not didn't matter to him; he was just taking their money and helping them out of trouble. The sword cultivator named Jiang Liuzi was very strong. Lu Ye estimated that he was at least a top ten ranked cultivator in the Spiritual Stream Battlefield previously; otherwise, he wouldn't have such powerful reserves. But what if he was top ten? During the months he dominated the Spiritual Stream Rankings, only Lan Ziyi was someone he held in high regard in the entire Spiritual Stream Battlefield. As for the rest, they were all trash. His only disadvantage now was his cultivation level, which was two minor realms lower than his opponent's. However, since he began cultivating, what he had done most was defeat opponents of higher cultivation levels.

He lightly descended into the valley and stopped fifty zhang away from Jiang Liuzi.