Chapter 150: Testing One's Skill

The once noisy Sword Discussion Platform suddenly fell silent.

To the onlookers surrounding it, the seemingly loose azure sword qi shattered the water curtain before Kong You almost instantaneously.

Zhao Mian, watching from below, initially tried to predict how this person would be "corrected" in the duel.

But now, he was dumbfounded.

Having just sparred with Kong You, he knew well the resilience of that water curtain. How could it be broken so effortlessly under this person's hand?

"…"

"This…"

The cultivators around were stunned, exchanging glances, unable to utter a coherent judgment for quite some time.

Kong Yun was even more astonished.

He was well aware that among the inner disciples at the Qi Refining stage, his elder brother was not invincible.

But those few opponents were among the most renowned peers within the sect.

Where did this person suddenly appear from?

"Song Yan?"

Someone in the crowd murmured, "Could it be that Song Yan, who publicly slaughtered the inner disciples of the Xuan Yuan Sect in Changping?"

"Ah…"

At last, many began to recognize him.

Indeed, it must be him.

However, this individual lived in obscurity, with almost no news within the sect.

On the Sword Discussion Platform, as Kong You stabilized his mind and calmed his spiritual energy, a second surge of azure sword qi shot forth.

He opened his palm wide, and the raindrop-shaped pendant on his chest suddenly crackled with thunder.

The fierce thunderous spiritual power instantly dispersed the azure snake-like sword qi from his sleeve.

“...Such a pure thunder technique,” Song Yan thought, acknowledging this opponent’s skill.

The third snake-like sword qi that had already formed was casually dispersed.

With a flick of his sword finger, several white sword lights trailing afterimages leapt from the sword case behind him, whirling fiercely around Song Yan.

Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, dazzling and overwhelming.

"…"

The violent sword qi generated by the Cloud Sword surged turbulently across the entire platform.

Eighteen sword shadows in total!

Yuwen Yao’s eyes widened. His previously tipsy expression was now completely alert.

"Sword shadows splitting light, such terrifying momentum..."

Though he spoke of fear, his heart could not help but thrill.

Good, good, good.

Unexpectedly, among the current inner disciples, there was another opponent who excited him.

Yuwen rejoiced quietly beneath the stage.

On the platform, Kong You was groaning in despair.

Never mind his Qi Refining seventh layer cultivation, where could such a powerful spiritual sense come from? Given the spiritual energy reserves of the Qi Refining stage, such a vast array of sword qi must be extremely hollow.

Casting some area spells at will could easily disrupt it.

But was that really the case?

Kong You pushed his thunder power to the utmost.

---

Countless sword qi swirled and danced on the Sword Discussion Platform.

Kong You was driven back, staggering under the chaotic sword qi.

Now, despite his spiritual power cultivation, he was completely overwhelmed by the sword lights, finding no chance to counterattack.

He had underestimated his opponent from the start. With someone like Song Yan suppressing him comprehensively and pressing the advantage, there was no opportunity for a desperate counterstrike…

No such chance remained.

Four sword lights successively shattered Kong You’s protective spiritual aura, while the remaining white sword shadows gathered in the air, condensing into a radiant glow.

Song Yan’s sword finger gently pressed down as he softly uttered a single word: “Fall.”

The glow suddenly dropped.

Kong You looked up in astonishment, seeing the majestic sword light descending rapidly toward him.

Yet, during its descent, it disintegrated inch by inch, dissipating until it reached his brow — a cool drop of rain.

“…”

One by one, the sword shadows returned to the sword case. At that moment, the sky cleared.

The Cloud Sword fell; the world returned to tranquility.

Kong You stood there stunned, then slowly spoke, “I lost.”

“Thank you for the match.”

Song Yan made a formal bow without delay, then turned and stepped down from the Sword Discussion Platform.

The entire eastern side of the Sword Polishing Peak was deathly silent.

The cultivators below parted to let him pass, watching as he left the platform.

At the edge of the platform, Gu Qingqing stared blankly at Song Yan’s departing figure, speechless.

Her heart was restless: “Only a year gone, and Senior Brother Song has advanced so much!?”

“Not only promoted to the inner sect, but even able to defeat Senior Brother Kong in sparring.”

Looking at herself… she was still far from breaking through to the seventh layer of Qi Refining.

She couldn’t help but feel a little disheartened.

But soon, she gathered her spirits anew.

“Blaming heaven or others is pointless; the real task is to work hard and catch up.”

Snapping back to reality, she noticed Yuwen Yao staring at her suspiciously.

“What’s that girl muttering to herself in bursts?”

“N-nothing, Senior Sister Yuwen. Let’s hurry back to the peak; I need to train hard!”

“All right, all right…”

Yuwen put the large wine jar back into his Qian Kun pouch, took Gu Qingqing’s small hand, and headed toward Lotus Seclusion Peak.

“By the way, do you know that disciple surnamed Song just now?”

“Yes. Qingqing has done many missions with Senior Brother Song—Silent Valley, Peach Blossom Dock, and even North Ya Mountain.”

Gu Qingqing indicated she was fairly familiar.

Yuwen Yao pondered a moment: “What cultivation method does he specialize in?”

Gu Qingqing thought for a moment, then shook her head. “I’m not sure about Senior Brother Song’s main method, but his sword control technique is extremely refined. He…”

“…”

Suddenly, Gu Qingqing froze, as if recalling something.

---

“…”

Yuwen Yao looked at her quietly, saying nothing.

Of course, she had heard of the name Song Yan from the sect’s rumors.

No matter how exaggerated the gossip, all versions shared one common point.

That was, this Song Yan was skilled at controlling flying swords.

But…

The flying swords?

“…”

Yes, the flying swords…

The cultivators gathered near the platform also realized this.

Throughout the duel with Kong You, he had only wielded sword qi.

The azure sword qi from his sleeves, the white wind and thunder sword shadows.

His flying swords remained hidden in the sword case, never summoned.

Some things don’t bear close scrutiny.

In fact, since Song Yan was used to giving his all, even when he mentally prepared himself to treat this as merely a “sparring match,” not a life-or-death fight, he still exerted full power within his limits.

Only when he was sure of victory or the opponent lost the will to fight did he slowly ease up.

Kong You had been overconfident in many ways.

This was the primary reason for his crushing defeat; the moment Song Yan struck, Kong You had already lost.

Song Yan naturally knew this as well.

So this match held little reference value.

If Kong You had another chance, the outcome might not be the same.

However, in Kong You’s heart, this was a lesson from Song Yan.

—In a life-or-death battle, no one gives you a second chance.

“…”

He slowly stood up, exhaling a breath of stale air, and stepped down from the platform.

“Brother…”

“I’m fine.”

There was no lament of “I could have won.”

Strength, luck, mentality...

The failure encompassed every aspect.

Song Yan...

Kong You pondered the name silently, then left Sword Polishing Peak with his younger brother.

Near the platform, the crowd finally erupted into a tide of discussion.

But as the clouds dispersed atop the peak, a ray of sunlight broke through the clouds and shone down.

Song Yan descended the stone steps; the voices of debate behind him gradually faded into the distance.