Chapter 204: The Baptism of the Way

The beautiful captain of the Cold Moon team had just finished speaking when the Empress, seated high above, suddenly spoke. Her tone was calm and cool, yet it startled the captain, who quickly turned and knelt on the ground.

"I have no intention of blaming you. It's simply that Xu Yang is far from an ordinary person. He isn't acting because he doesn't want to reveal his true power. Moreover, he isn't originally from the Yuanyang Empire. If my assumptions are correct, he must have reached some agreement with Yuan Haotian to represent them, most likely related to the Dragon Cache. You should all be aware of what Feng Xiu signifies for the Northern Jin Empire. If he were to be defeated at the peak of Qianyun Sect, in front of all the factions, do you believe the Northern Jin Empire would simply accept it? If Tuoba Yun were to direct his anger towards you and the Yuanyang Empire, then the entire reason for their participation in this competition would be rendered meaningless."

The Empress truly lived up to her title; her words clearly outlined the significant implications, once again captivating the young women.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master. Wan'er was presumptuous."

Xue Qinghan smiled slightly. "This Xu Yang is quite interesting. I just attempted to probe his spiritual power multiple times, only to find that his spiritual cultivation is in no way inferior to mine, and perhaps even surpasses it. A man like him appearing in the Three Thousand Dao Provinces is certain to stir up significant events. Just wait; it won't be long before our Cold Moon lineage forms a connection with him."

As the Empress was speaking, an incredibly fierce and chilling murderous aura suddenly erupted from Feng Xiu.

The power of a sword dao cultivated for tens of thousands of years was beyond what any ordinary person could match.

The moment the deep gray sword light ignited before him, even the supervising elders of Qianyun Sect felt their hearts clench.

"Soul Severance? Is Feng Xiu truly going all out?"

"Third Senior Brother, should we intervene?"

Elder Qianyun shook his head slightly. "I cannot gauge the depth of the Yuanyang Empire's leader, but we are all aware of Feng Xiu's strength. In the entire Three Thousand Dao Provinces, only a handful can withstand his pressure. I will go and summon the Sect Master. If these two truly engage in a serious battle, he is likely the only one who can intervene."

Elder Qianyun vanished with a whoosh, but the arena was already erupting with thunderous cheers. The academy contestants and soldiers from various factions watched intently, eager to witness the unfolding spectacle.

The grey sword light, a manifestation of Soul Severance, was renowned as the Northern Jin's foremost divine sword and Feng Xiu's innate divine artifact. Although the full form of Soul Severance wasn't directly summoned, the emergence of this sword light already demonstrated Feng Xiu's resolve: if not to kill his opponent, then certainly to make him pay a hefty price.

Unfortunately, his opponent this time was Xu Yang, a man far beyond his comprehension.

The terrifying sword light's explosive power was capable of effortlessly obliterating a high-level Nascent Soul realm expert. In essence, this single strike would be a lethal blow for ninety-nine percent of those present.

The terrifying might was not immediately obvious. It was only as the hazy gray sword light drew closer to Xu Yang that the continuous, surging sword energy, like crashing waves, finally revealed the true horror of the attack to everyone.

"My heavens... is this the power of the Northern Jin Sword Alliance Leader? It's utterly astonishing!"

"Hiss... even our dean would likely find this sword incredibly difficult to withstand!"

"This clearly reveals the conflict between the two great empires; such prestige from the very first move!"

Whispers rose and fell throughout the crowd, and more people began to look at Xu Yang with nervous anticipation.

However, Xu Yang's next action completely astonished everyone.

He made no move to attack whatsoever. Instead, he calmly clasped his hands behind his back and didn't shift his feet to dodge, standing serenely in place as if accepting his fate.

Yet, the very instant this soul-destroying sword thrust towards Xu Yang's chest, all its immense sword power abruptly halted before him. It was as if an unseen barrier had silently materialized around him, completely isolating all the force.

Ordinary onlookers had no idea where this power originated, but Xu Yang's immense strength was perfectly and silently showcased.

"What?! Even the Northern Jin Sword Alliance Leader's Soul Severance can't harm him in the slightest? This..."

"My heavens, who exactly is this man? Does he have to be so incredibly imposing? He didn't even lift a hand. Does he truly dare to be so confident? Even if Qianyun Liefeng, the Sect Master in the Divine Infant Realm, were to personally confront this sword, he would certainly not appear this composed!"

The entire scene erupted in an uproar. Everyone watched, dumbfounded, as the formidable power of the brilliant sword light halted, unable to advance another inch. All were utterly shocked.

At this moment, the young women from the Cold Moon Empire truly grasped the precision of the Empress's judgment. This Xu Yang indeed possessed the demeanor of a dragon and phoenix, far surpassing anything ordinary people could comprehend.

"I told you, I have no interest in fighting you. If you insist on a battle, that's your choice."

At the same moment, Feng Xiu was far from as composed as Xu Yang.

The reason was simple: the Northern Jin Sword Alliance had always been renowned for its invincible sword-killing Sacred Way, and it was no exaggeration to call them the most formidable attacking force in the Three Thousand Dao Provinces.

Yet, the sword he personally wielded, though not a sure-kill move, failed to even penetrate the opponent's protective barrier. This round was undoubtedly a significant loss of face for him.

Feng Xiu let out a cold snort, stomped his foot forcefully, and the grey sword light surged with spiritual power. The subsequent wave of sword energy was undoubtedly a level stronger than the previous one.

"My heavens, a power fluctuation at the Grand Completion of the Nascent Soul Realm... he's truly..."

Faced with Feng Xiu's second assault, Xu Yang was beginning to feel annoyed, but he steadfastly maintained his position without retaliating.

He adhered to the "never more than three times" principle. If Feng Xiu continued to be so insolent, his third attack would mark the demise of the Northern Jin Sword Alliance!

Xu Yang lightly tapped his toe, and his entire body retreated with graceful lightness, as if aided by the wind. Throughout the process, not even a trace of spiritual power fluctuation emanated from him.

"How is that possible! Could he have already reached the Near-Dao Realm?"

This time, even the Empress couldn't help but gaze at Xu Yang more intently. His movement technique wasn't the crucial aspect; what was astonishing was the aura emanating from him. Even with her profound cultivation, the Empress couldn't discern the true nature of his power.

Little did they know, the so-called "Near-Dao Realm" was a gross underestimation of Xu Yang's true power. He had achieved an unprecedented ultimate perfection in Qi cultivation, ascending directly into the Dao, bypassing all conventional ranks. He had reached a level where he could manifest his own Dao. If one absolutely had to categorize Xu Yang's strength by conventional realms, he was, at the very least, at the Dao Integration Realm, a level far beyond what a mere Feng Xiu could ever hope to rival.

A moment later, Xu Yang's feet landed steadily once more, still maintaining the composed demeanor of a grandmaster. Feng Xiu's subsequent sword energy dissipated into nothingness yet again.