Chapter 798: Dueling with Swords

The next day, in the morning.

On a towering, sheer peak, thousands of sword cultivators had gathered, most of them at the Foundation Establishment stage. The Sword Duel Assembly was organized for Core Formation sword cultivators; Foundation Establishment cultivators were primarily there to observe, while Core Formation cultivators were the actual participants. At the summit was a vast green stone plaza, featuring dozens of identical green stone arenas. The Sword Duel Assembly, as its name suggests, involved flying swords battling each other. Sword cultivators would unleash their flying swords to contend with others', employing various sword manipulation techniques. Hundreds of Core Formation sword cultivators participated in this assembly. Some were rogue cultivators, some were from cultivation families, but the majority were disciples of immortal cultivation sects. The Taiyi Immortal Sect also sent participants, but Wang Qingshan did not recognize any of them.

A blue-robed old man, slightly over fifty, stood on one of the green stone arenas. His complexion was ruddy, and his tiger-like eyes conveyed authority without anger. "I am Du Yunlong," he announced, "and I welcome all of you to our Myriad Sword Sect's Sword Duel Assembly. This assembly is a contest between flying swords, conducted in one-on-one duels. Harming an opponent is strictly forbidden, and violators will be severely punished. The top ten will receive generous rewards. Without further ado, let's begin the drawing of lots for the matches." After this brief introduction, the blue-robed elder instructed the participants to draw lots for their matches.

Wang Qingshan drew lot number fifteen. His opponent was a tall, thin middle-aged man carrying a massive red sword on his back, a Core Formation Layer 4 cultivator. The Sword Duel Assembly was a clash of flying swords, testing a sword cultivator's sword manipulation techniques and the quality of their flying swords. As the match began, Wang Qingshan shrugged his right shoulder. With a crisp clang, five misty green flying swords flew out from the sword scabbard on his back, circling above his head. Wang Qingshan's life-bound magical treasure was the Azure Glaze Sword. The Sword Duel Assembly rules did not stipulate that only life-bound flying swords could be used. Wang Qingshan decided to first use his five Jade Void Swords; if they proved insufficient, it wouldn't be too late to unleash the Azure Glaze Sword. The middle-aged man formed a sword incantation. The massive red sword on his back flew out of its sheath. With another sword incantation, it multiplied, one becoming ten, then ten becoming a hundred. Soon, hundreds of glowing, identical red great swords appeared above his head.

Wang Qingshan formed a sword incantation. The five Jade Void Swords simultaneously emitted crisp clangs, transforming into a vast expanse of green sword shadows that slashed towards the hundreds of flying swords. Clang! Clang! Clang! A dull series of metallic clashes resounded as the hundreds of red great swords and green flying swords hacked at each other. The green and red lights intertwined brilliantly, like a dazzling fireworks display. On the other arenas, sword cultivators also employed various methods to control their flying swords in battle. None of them immediately revealed their trump cards; most used basic sword splitting techniques to test their opponents' flying swords. Some cultivators used their spiritual power to transform their flying swords into the forms of demonic beasts to attack their opponents' swords. Others unleashed a dozen glowing flying swords, which then multiplied into thousands to assault the enemy's flying swords. Still others transformed their flying swords into discs, releasing torrents of sword qi. For a time, sword lights flickered across the arenas, and various sword auras intertwined.

Wang Qingshan changed his sword incantation. The hundreds of green flying swords swiftly merged into a single green great sword, over ten zhang long, and charged into the hundreds of red flying swords. Clang! Clang! Clang! A series of clangs and thuds rang out as a large number of red flying swords were shattered by the green great sword. Not to be outdone, the middle-aged man formed a sword incantation. The hundreds of red flying swords quickly merged into a red great sword and flew forward to meet the attack. He then opened his mouth, and a red small sword, about two chi long, flew out. The small red sword was crystal clear, constantly shimmering with iridescent light. The small red sword emitted a crisp clang, transforming into a red long rainbow about a zhang long, striking the green great sword. A series of metallic clashes echoed. The green great sword, fighting against two, seemed to be struggling. The small red sword's light intensified and merged with the red great sword. The red great sword's surface then manifested a large expanse of crimson sword light, along with a torrent of crimson flames, aggressively slashing towards the green great sword. The green great sword collided with the red great sword, immediately flying backward. Seizing the opportunity, it transformed back into five green flying swords, encircling the red great sword. A sword formation!

Wang Qingshan continuously formed hand seals. The five green flying swords simultaneously hummed and began spinning rapidly. A fierce wind arose. A green tornado materialized out of thin air, enveloping the red great sword and spinning rapidly. The powerful airflow caused both Wang Qingshan's and the middle-aged man's clothes to flutter incessantly. The middle-aged man frowned slightly. He formed a sword incantation, and the red great sword's light intensified, transforming into a colossal red python with a waist as thick as a water vat. It opened its gaping maw and lunged at the green tornado. Wang Qingshan scoffed. He changed his sword incantation, and the green tornado spun even faster. Countless green sword qi blades flew out from within the green tornado, slashing towards the red python. Boom! A massive roar resounded, and the red python reverted to its original form, becoming a red great sword. The middle-aged man's expression turned cold. He continued forming sword incantations, and the red great sword's light intensified, transforming into a red long rainbow over ten zhang long, attempting to shatter the green tornado. The green tornado's size suddenly expanded by more than threefold. The red long rainbow involuntarily plunged into the green tornado, traversing its outer wall. A deafening roar erupted as the green tornado burst apart, reverting into five misty green flying swords. A red great sword and a small red sword fell to the ground, their spiritual light noticeably dim. "Wang Qingshan wins!" the referee loudly declared. The middle-aged man frowned slightly, said nothing, retrieved his flying swords, and jumped off the arena. Wang Qingshan breathed a sigh of relief. He formed a sword incantation, and the five Jade Void Swords swirled once before flying back into his sword scabbard. Wang Qingshan jumped off the arena to watch other sword duels.

"Oh, it's him," Wang Qingshan murmured, his gaze falling on a particular arena. A tall, red-robed man was battling a blue-robed young woman in her early thirties. The red-robed man was none other than Cheng Zhenyu. Wang Qingshan had met Cheng Zhenyu years ago; because he had sold information about the Worldly Spirit Fire to the Wang family, Wang Qingshan had a relatively deep impression of him. Cheng Zhenyu, a Core Formation Layer 2 cultivator, controlled two red flying swords, each about two chi long, releasing a vast expanse of crimson sword shadows that slashed towards hundreds of blue sword shadows. The blue-robed young woman was a Core Formation Layer 3 cultivator, with a higher cultivation base than Cheng Zhenyu. Cheng Zhenyu seemed unwilling to prolong the fight. He formed a sword incantation, and his two red flying swords glowed brightly, transforming into two red eagles, each about a zhang in size, and lunged towards the hundreds of blue sword shadows. The red eagles flapped their wings, conjuring a powerful hurricane. The blue sword shadows that touched the hurricane were all sent flying backward. The blue-robed young woman frowned. She formed a sword incantation, and the hundreds of blue sword shadows merged into a colossal blue giant eagle. Cheng Zhenyu changed his sword incantation. The two red eagles merged into one, expanding to more than double their size, and pounced on the blue giant eagle. The red giant eagle and blue giant eagle tore at each other. The blue giant eagle seemed to have a slight advantage, but Cheng Zhenyu changed his sword incantation, and a large expanse of crimson flames appeared on the red giant eagle's surface. As the blue giant eagle came into contact with the crimson flames, they rapidly spread, causing the blue giant eagle to emit a pained shriek. The red giant eagle's light intensified, transforming into a crimson blazing sun, over ten zhang in diameter. With a loud whooshing sound, hundreds of crimson flying swords shot out from the crimson blazing sun, striking the blue giant eagle. The blue giant eagle immediately reverted to its original form, becoming three small blue swords, which fell to the ground, their spiritual light dim. "Cheng Zhenyu wins!" the referee announced loudly. Wang Qingshan witnessed the entire process, a thoughtful expression on his face. He had not realized that Cheng Zhenyu was also a sword cultivator.