Chapter 1185: Da Yan's Eighteen Heroes

A clear hum of swords resonated as thousands of azure flying swords danced erratically in the sky. Wherever they passed, the void emitted piercing whooshing sounds, and a powerful current of air appeared out of nowhere.

Wang Qingshan's gaze turned cold as he stepped forward. The thousands of azure flying swords suddenly transformed into an azure sword-dragon, over thirty zhang long, with a wide mouth, sharp fangs, and a ferocious appearance.

The azure sword-dragon circled once in the sky before lunging at Zhao Richen, looking as if it would tear him to shreds.

Zhao Richen remained calm. He formed a hand seal, and countless yellow grains of sand flew up. After dancing erratically in the sky, they transformed into two yellow giants, over ten zhang tall, their bodies covered in a layer of yellow light. One held a yellow spiked club, and the other a five-zhang long yellow greatsword.

He changed his hand seal, and the two yellow giants swung their weapons, striking at the azure sword-dragon.

Clang, clang, clang! A series of dull metallic thuds resounded as the yellow spiked club and yellow greatsword struck the azure sword-dragon, erupting in a burst of golden light.

Wang Qingshan let out a soft snort, his aura intensifying. The azure sword-dragon glowed brightly, its size increasing by more than a full circle. Its body began to spin rapidly, transforming into a misty azure tornado that struck the two yellow giants. Wherever the azure tornado passed, large amounts of yellow sand flew into it, emitting dull clinking sounds.

This was a clash between a minor divine ability and a spirit art. Wang Qingshan and Zhao Richen had similar cultivation levels, but Wang Qingshan had comprehended sword intent. His minor divine ability, boosted by sword intent, saw a significant increase in power, and the Yellow Turban Armored Warrior itself was not inherently a defensive spirit art.

Boom! After two deafening roars erupted, the two yellow giants were pulverized by the azure tornado, turning into swirling dust that was scattered by the powerful airflow.

The azure tornado, with overwhelming momentum, headed straight for Zhao Richen.

Zhao Richen's expression became serious. He had used a spirit art, while Wang Qingshan had used a minor divine ability. Did Wang Qingshan truly believe he could defeat him with just one minor divine ability?

Zhao Richen changed his hand seal, his hands glowing with a large expanse of yellow spiritual light. He lightly pointed his right hand towards the void, which emitted a buzzing sound and twisted and warped. A yellow giant tower, over ten zhang tall, appeared out of nowhere, shimmering with flowing light as if crafted from beautiful jade.

Spirit Art: Spirit Suppressing Pagoda!

The bottom of the yellow giant tower emitted a streak of yellow light, and a powerful current of air appeared out of nowhere. Countless yellow grains of sand were swept into the yellow giant tower. The azure sword-dragon struggled furiously, but it was useless; it was still swept into the yellow giant tower by the powerful current of air.

Wang Qingshan let out a soft snort. He formed a hand seal with both hands, and a deafening dragon's roar rang out. The yellow giant tower suddenly burst apart, and the azure sword-dragon's body shrank by more than half, yet it continued to lunge at Zhao Richen.

Zhao Richen's face showed panic. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation. He had dealt with sword cultivators before, but Wang Qingshan's strength far surpassed any of his previous opponents.

He changed his hand seal, and countless yellow mist rose around him. The yellow mist swirled, suddenly transforming into a yellow giant python, over thirty zhang long, with menacing scales.

Spirit Art: Spirit Swallowing Python.

The yellow giant python opened its gaping maw and lunged at the azure sword-dragon.

Boom!

The result was the same: the yellow giant python was torn to shreds by the azure sword-dragon. The azure sword-dragon's body shrank by more than half, becoming only about a zhang long.

The azure sword-dragon continued to lunge at Zhao Richen. Zhao Richen flicked his sleeve, and countless yellow grains of sand flew up, transforming into yellow sand blades that pulverized the azure sword-dragon.

Just then, thousands of misty azure flying swords had already reached Zhao Richen, obscuring the sky and blocking all of his escape routes.

Countless yellow spirit patterns lit up on Zhao Richen's body, and a misty yellow battle armor appeared on him.

Thousands of misty azure flying swords simultaneously emitted a clear hum, then suddenly merged into a misty azure sky-reaching greatsword. It chopped down directly, and wherever the sky-reaching greatsword passed, the void seemed to rip apart.

Boom!

The sky-reaching greatsword struck Zhao Richen, and fine cracks appeared on his yellow battle armor.

A loud whooshing sound erupted as a misty azure rainbow light shot forth, striking the yellow battle armor. The yellow battle armor instantly shattered, revealing a yellow glow on Zhao Richen's body, clearly a magic treasure-grade spiritual robe.

His face flushed crimson; he was unwilling to lose to Wang Qingshan.

Wang Qingshan stepped forward, and as the sky-reaching greatsword glowed even brighter, Zhao Richen's pressure increased significantly.

One step, two steps, three steps...

Wang Qingshan took five steps forward, and as the sky-reaching greatsword's light intensified greatly, Zhao Richen spat out a mouthful of vital blood, his face turning slightly pale.

"Alright," Murong Rong said, "this match, young friend Wang has won. Truly worthy of being the disciple of Sword Sovereign Xiaoyao and the nephew of the Azure Lotus Immortals. What genuine talent!"

Murong Rong flicked his sleeve, and an invisible force lifted the sky-reaching greatsword, which then dispersed into specks of azure light and vanished.

All the Core Formation cultivators present gasped. Zhao Richen and Wang Qingshan had not used any magic treasures from start to finish, relying solely on minor divine abilities and spirit arts. Ordinary Core Formation cultivators were simply no match for them.

"Hmph, Zhao Richen," a disdainful male voice came from the sky, "you've brought too much shame upon our Great Yan Dynasty. That's all a Law Cultivator amounts to."

A golden rainbow light flew over and, after a few flashes, landed near the arena. The escape light dispersed, revealing a tall, golden-robed youth with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. He carried three flying swords on his back, and a faint murderous aura emanated from him.

"Seventh Uncle," Wang Tianwen transmitted to Wang Qingshan, "this is Dugu Yunfei, one of the Eighteen Prodigies of Great Yan. The Dugu family is one of the seven non-royal vassal kings of the Great Yan Dynasty, specializing in sword arts. Dugu Yunfei ranks ninth among the Eighteen Prodigies of Great Yan." Wang Tianwen transmitted this reminder to Wang Qingshan, adding that the Dugu family was an old cultivation force in the Central Plains cultivation world, and it was rumored that their ancestor originated from the Myriad Sword Sect in the South Sea.

"I am Dugu Yunfei," Dugu Yunfei said, his gaze fixed on Wang Qingshan. "Fellow Daoist Wang, would you care for a spar?"

With the prestige of two cultivation worlds now at stake, Dugu Yunfei naturally hoped to defeat Wang Qingshan. At the Myriad Beast Assembly hosted by the Murong royal family, the cultivators from the South Sea cultivation world had stolen all the limelight, making the cultivators of the Great Yan Dynasty seem like mere backdrops. This was simply too humiliating.

"Very well," Wang Qingshan agreed. "I, Wang, also wish to spar with Fellow Daoist Dugu."

Wang Qingshan agreed. He was currently stuck at a bottleneck, and he believed that sparring with a master from the Great Yan Dynasty would be somewhat helpful in resolving it.

"My cultivation is higher than yours," Dugu Yunfei stated. "If we spar, a win for me wouldn't be honorable. Let's limit it to three moves. If I defeat you within three moves, I win. If I cannot defeat you, then it's a draw. How about that?"

Dugu Yunfei dared not be overconfident, understanding that a great reputation is never unfounded. Wang Qingshan had a considerable reputation in both the Eastern Barren and South Sea cultivation worlds, so it was better to be cautious.

"Good," Wang Qingshan replied.

Wang Qingshan did not care about superficial honors. He knew very well that the best outcome would be a draw; if he made the cultivators of the Great Yan Dynasty lose face, the Wang family would face difficulties in the future.