Breaking through the illusion of the mortal world

Chapter 174 The One-Word Soul-Severing Blade

The silence at the edge of the clouds was suddenly shattered.

The young man in red stepped out slowly, his crimson silk robe standing out starkly against the backdrop of the raging war.

His face was as beautiful as jade, but his eyes held a coldness and arrogance that were beyond his years.

He never revealed a trace of spiritual power, yet with a single step, he stood directly in front of Xia Linxian and Li Jingyun, locking onto both of them simultaneously.

Ning Qingxue frowned slightly, but ultimately remained silent. Seeing that her young master had joined the battle, Shuangye also flew up to the sky to assist Luo Tianming.

Ning Hanchuan couldn't wait to join the battle below.

Xia Linxian was the first to withdraw his stance. Twenty-four Zhenhai Pearls hovered around his body, their mysterious light concealed. The Heavenly Secret Disc in his sleeve trembled slightly, yet he was unable to deduce anything about his opponent.

He looked up and stared intently: "Who are you?"

Li Jingyun slowly sheathed his sword. The Dragon Roar Sword hummed and trembled. He also sensed the extraordinary nature of this person. This red-clothed youth's demonic skills were truly rare.

Li Jingyun pointed his longsword directly at him and said, "I have never seen you before under the command of the Lihentian Palace."

The boy in red had a slight upturn at the corners of his lips, a half-smile on his face.

"I've got it."

He gently raised his right hand, and a wisp of red blade light slowly rose from his palm.

Gradually, the entire blade appeared. This blade had no handle or sheath, no form or shape, yet with only a wisp of blade light, it distorted the surrounding light and shadow.

"Hua Cheng, the young master of the Palace of Parting Sorrows."

Hua Cheng's gaze swept over the two of them, lingering on Li Jingyun for a moment, his tone arrogant:

"Li Jingyun, it was you who wrote your blood-written inscription on the cliff, moving through the Li Tian Cliff as if it were your own backyard. Very well done!"

After saying that, he turned to look at Xia Linxian: "Chief of the Dao Academy, you two are the so-called 'Twin Prodigies of the Dao Academy.' Today, I will experience the Dao Academy's superior skills!"

Once the words were spoken, the world fell silent.

Xia Linxian's eyes narrowed slightly, but he was not angry. He simply shook the sea pearl and let its azure spiritual light flow, gradually arranging it into an array. The world became solemn, which neutralized the corrosive light of Hua Cheng's sword.

Xia Linxian said indifferently, "Hmph, arrogance should have some basis. I wonder how much you are capable of, daring to face both of us at the same time."

Li Jingyun's sword intent coalesced, and the wind howled even louder: "What, do you expect me to personally go to the Palace of Parting Sorrows to inscribe words for you?"

"Hahaha, very good, very good! I hope your magic is just as powerful!"

Hua Cheng said no more.

He had no visible domain around him, nor did he use any spells. He simply maintained the posture of raising his hand to hold the knife, and with light steps, he directly closed in on him.

This strike simultaneously affected both Xia Linxian and Li Jingyun.

The blade flashed out, and even before it arrived, its killing intent had already locked onto the two men.

Although it seemed like an ordinary strike, it was as if no matter how you dodged it, you would inevitably be hit.

Xia Linxian simply stopped dodging, and with a flick of his fingertip, the Heavenly Mystery Disc spun, causing the Zhenhai Pearl to connect and form a celestial radiance: "Jun Tian Ding Yu!"

Space was momentarily frozen, and the blade's edge froze in mid-air, trembling slightly.

"Hmm?" Hua Cheng let out a soft exclamation.

At that moment, Li Jingyun made his move.

As the Dragon Roar Sword was drawn, the roar of the dragon was like the arrival of a real dragon. Once the sword was drawn, it carried an overwhelming force, piercing straight into the blade's edge.

"Good timing."

Hua Cheng slightly twisted his wrist, and the blade's edge suddenly changed direction, allowing him to fight two opponents simultaneously, parrying left and right.

The crimson blade light swept to the left, deflecting Li Jingyun's sword, then returned to the right, breaking through Xia Linxian's spatial confinement.

Hua Cheng, his red robes billowing, moved with ease, single-handedly catching the combined attack of the two with a single sword in his hand.

Xia Lin concealed his Immortal Thunder Technique, with lightning flashing at his fingertips, but he did not rush to unleash it. Instead, he used the Sea-Shaking Pearl to gradually block Hua Cheng, trapping him in the designated airspace. The Heavenly Mystery Disc rapidly calculated the trajectory of the sword strike.

Li Jingyun's sword moved with him, its speed entirely at his command. Sometimes it was like a gentle breeze brushing against a mountain, sometimes it was like a thunderclap. The sword shadows were dense and continuous, giving Hua Cheng no chance to gather his strength.

The three were locked in a fierce battle, neither gaining the upper hand. Although they were both testing each other, Hua Cheng managed to hold his own against two opponents with ease.

The three auras of blade light, thunder magic, and sword light clashed and intertwined within a small space.

Hua Cheng, relying solely on a wisp of blade light, dealt with the situation with one hand, remaining calm and composed, a flippant smile on his face.

The sacred artifacts in the heavens continued to roar, and the collision between the Primordial Heavenly Spirit Tablet and the Azure Nether Mirror caused the world to lose its color.

The battlefield below was engulfed in fierce fighting, but the three people here seemed unaffected by the outside world as they battled.

After a hundred moves, Xia Linxian and Li Jingyun both felt a chill run down their spines.

Although this person is unknown, his combat strength far exceeds expectations.

He fought two opponents alone and actually held his own.

Hua Cheng's eyes gradually showed impatience.

He had finished testing the waters and was ready to end things.

He suddenly turned and retreated swiftly, his red robes flashing a crimson streak in the air, creating a hundred-foot distance between himself and the two.

The sharp, red blade of light slowly rose in his hand. Anyone with low cultivation would feel a stinging pain in their eyes just by looking at it.

Hua Cheng drew his sword, aiming it directly at Xia Linxian and Li Jingyun.

"Alright, I'm done playing with you guys, it's time to end this!"

At this moment, he no longer held back.

The blade's aura gradually intensified, emanating an aura of annihilation that sent shivers down one's spine.

Li Jingyun and Xia Linxian dared not be careless and were both on high alert.

Hua Cheng's gaze was indifferent, his voice cold and clear, echoing throughout the entire hall:

"A single-word severing blade! This strike will cut off all your pride!"

The words fell.

He raised his wrist high, as if using all his strength, and slashed out with a fierce blow.

With a single strike, even those with cultivation levels like Li Jingyun and Xia Linxian felt their souls momentarily constricted, as if they were about to leave their bodies.

A dazzling blade of light appeared out of nowhere.

The blade's light was exceptionally dazzling, carrying a terrifying, soul-snatching intent as it slashed towards both Xia Linxian and Li Jingyun!

The moment the blade flashed, even the people fighting in the distance couldn't help but pause slightly. Their gazes were uncontrollably drawn to it, and those with weaker cultivation levels almost had their souls leave their bodies.

This strike, true to its name, is a soul-severing blade!

Xia Linxian snorted coldly, his magical power surging, and the twenty-four Zhenhai Pearls erupted with all their might, their profound light condensing into a towering barrier, while the power of the Five Thunders wove a net of heaven in front of him.

Li Jingyun brandished his longsword, the Dragon Roar Sword unleashing a deafening dragon's roar, its blade radiating dazzling light: "Fleeting Beauty!"

A thick net of lightning, flashing sword light.

The red blade of light silently slashed in.

A straight black line split open in the center of the lightning net.

A seamless gap appeared in the center of the sword light.

The knife wound continued its relentless advance, heading straight for the two men.

However, the lightning net and sword light did not dissipate. Although they were cut open and could not stop the blade's edge, most of the remaining lightning and sword light still enveloped Huacheng.

Xia Linxian retreated rapidly, with the Zhenhai Pearl blocking his way, its mysterious light distorting violently.

Li Jingyun parried with his sword, using the spine of the blade to meet the blade's edge head-on. The sword vibrated and hummed, with dragon-shaped patterns flashing continuously. Li Jingyun was forced to retreat several steps.

At the same time, however, a deluge of lightning and sword light also enveloped Huacheng.

Hua Cheng formed hand seals, and his red silk robe instantly detached from his body, swelling in the wind to block the overwhelming attack.

The force of the recoil forced Hua Cheng to retreat repeatedly, his robes flashing with lightning and sword shadows.

After taking a few steps back, Hua Cheng sheathed his sword and stood there, his red robes fluttering even without wind, as the wisp of sword light slowly dissipated.

The three faced off again.

"What a pair of geniuses from the Daoist Academy! Their Daoist skills are truly remarkable!" Despite being repelled by a single attack, Hua Cheng was not angry at all; on the contrary, he was extremely excited.

"Senior Brother Xia, you go and support the other battlefields first. I'll come and meet this young master of the Heavenly Palace later!" Li Jingyun was full of fighting spirit and showed no fear.

"Junior brother, be careful!" Xia Linxian didn't mince words and turned to fly to other battlefields to provide support.

As the top combatants of the academy here, they naturally cannot be held back.

After saying that, Li Jingyun took the lead and attacked.

Li Jingyun's sword intent surged, and his sword style changed accordingly, as if he had returned to the arrogance he had shown at Li Tian Cliff.

"Good timing!" Hua Cheng greeted them at this moment.

The sacred artifacts in the sky roared incessantly, while the sounds of battle below shook the heavens.