Devouring Soul Emperor

That whirlpool-like Sword Momentum.

Every part of it, save for the very center, was like the sharpest of blades—savage and untamed.

Identifying its weak point at the very center required considerable experience, insight, and talent in the Sword Dao.

But identifying the weakness was one thing; actually daring to thrust a sword into it was another matter entirely.

If one was off by even a little, or if the judgment was mistaken, their entire arm could be instantly torn apart by the churning, whirlpool-like Sword Momentum!

Yin Feiyang had also cultivated Sword Qi, and his Sword Dao Enlightenment was respectable. He could roughly tell that the opening in this whirlpool Sword Momentum technique was likely at its center.

But if he were truly asked to thrust his sword into it, he would never dare, not even with the protection of a Secret Technique and his Primordial Power.

The Sword Momentum unleashed by a Level 5 Martial Spirit was no joke!

Of course, Chu Qingyun dared to take such a risk because, in addition to the protection of his Secret Technique and Primordial Power, he also had the Martial Soul Power of the Senluo Iron Wall to provide an extra layer of defense.

If push came to shove, he could also use his Devouring Power at the critical moment to forcibly consume the Sword Momentum.

’My strongest move, the one I took so much pride in and spent years bitterly cultivating... He broke it with a single, casual sword strike, without even using any Primordial Power!’

Red Clothes froze on the spot, staring blankly at the sword in her hand.

"Miss Hongyi, you’ve lost."

"Using the power of your Sword Momentum to affect an opponent’s Primordial Power is certainly a formidable technique. But if you focus on it too much, it will hinder the cohesion of the Sword Momentum itself."

"If you don’t cultivate Sword Qi, you will ultimately remain outside the Sword Dao."

Chu Qingyun didn’t take advantage of her daze to attack; instead, he offered her some guidance.

How much she could comprehend from it, and whether she could form Sword Qi, was entirely up to her.

"I lost."

Red Clothes conceded defeat, gave Chu Qingyun a deep, meaningful look, and turned to rejoin the members of the Dark Moon Dynasty.

At this, the expressions of the other eight from the Dark Moon Dynasty turned grim.

Red Clothes was the strongest among their eight Level 5 Martial Spirits.

If even she was defeated in a single move, that only left... the Ninth Prince, Huo Yuchen, to take action himself.

Feeling the gazes of his subordinates, Huo Yuchen didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, walking toward Chu Qingyun one step at a time.

With every step, his aura surged dramatically.

By the time he stopped five meters from Chu Qingyun, the powerful aura of a Level 6 Martial Spirit was completely undisguised, locking firmly onto him.

"A Level 4 Martial Spirit who can defeat Red Clothes in a single strike. I must admit, you truly are a genius."

"A pity you’re from the Great Xia Dynasty. In that case, I have no choice but to send you to your death!"

Huo Yuchen stared coldly at Chu Qingyun, a hint of killing intent flickering in his eyes.

He seemed to have sensed a shift in his most important subordinate, Red Clothes, after she had received that bit of guidance from Chu Qingyun.

"Send me to my death? We’ll see if you have what it takes," Chu Qingyun retorted.

Facing Huo Yuchen, Chu Qingyun’s own fighting spirit ignited. This was the first time he had ever faced a human Level 6 Martial Spirit.

"Such insolence! Watch as I, the Prince, crush you with a single palm strike!"

"Reversed Scale Transformation!"

With a cold shout from Huo Yuchen, a layer of faint black, fish-like scales sprouted across his entire arm, covering his exposed hand and wrist.

His arm encased in overlapping scales, Huo Yuchen lunged forward, swiping his palm at Chu Qingyun.

The Primordial Power of a Level 6 Martial Spirit was immense, radiating waves of pure energy. He intended to use the advantage of his higher Realm to defeat Chu Qingyun in one fell swoop.

"Profound Celestial Divine Pattern!"

"Thunder Light Sword Qi!"

Chu Qingyun instantly activated the Profound Celestial Divine Pattern. Sword Qi erupted from his Strange Sword as he thrust it toward Huo Yuchen’s arm.

A flash of surprise appeared in Huo Yuchen’s eyes when he saw Chu Qingyun use Sword Qi, but he showed no signs of panic.

He abruptly clenched his hand into a fist, and the Primordial Power enveloping it coalesced into a giant energy fist that smashed toward Chu Qingyun’s Sword Qi.

Upon closer inspection, one could see a layer of scales formed from Primordial Power on the surface of the energy fist. He had clearly integrated the power of his Secret Technique into his Primordial Power.

PFFT!

The Sword Aura instantly pierced through the energy, shattering the fist of Primordial Power.

However, Chu Qingyun felt a tremendous force travel up his Strange Sword, sending a numbing shock through his arm.

"The ’Qi Realm’... it seems I’ve underestimated you. However, I have reached this Realm as well!"

As he spoke, Huo Yuchen abruptly drew a Wide-Blade Battle Saber from his waist. Primordial Power flooded into it, and a gray Sword Qi, over five meters long, instantly erupted from the weapon.

A black light pulsed from the battle saber, emitting a fierce and powerful aura. It was clearly a Spirit Level Divine Weapon.

Huo Yuchen gripped the saber with both hands and leaped high into the air. His piercing aura locked onto Chu Qingyun as he slashed downward!

’Chu Qingyun only looks seventeen or eighteen, yet he can defeat a Level 5 Martial Spirit with a single palm strike and has even cultivated Sword Qi. If someone with his aptitude is allowed to mature, he’ll become a terrifying opponent.’

’Since we’re already enemies, I have to eliminate this threat, root and stem!’

Thus, the more power Chu Qingyun revealed, the stronger Huo Yuchen’s killing intent grew.

"Thunder Light Power!"

Chu Qingyun poured more Primordial Power into his Sword Qi, activating the Thunder Light Power within it. The dim, grayish-purple Sword Qi instantly turned pale violet.

It appeared paler than his previous Thunder Light Sword Qi, however. This was because his Sword Qi had been upgraded when he became a Level 4 Martial Spirit, but he had yet to obtain a Thunder Light Crystal to strengthen its Thunder Light Power.

The gray Sword Qi and the violet Sword Qi collided fiercely in midair.

The shockwaves of Power that erupted from the impact were like countless blades, forcing the onlookers to hastily defend themselves.

Just then, Huo Yuchen’s five-meter-long Sword Qi suddenly contracted, returning to a seed-like state that enveloped his battle saber.

However, the Sword Qi’s color deepened, and its aura grew even more piercing.

"Die!"

Seizing the opening created as his Sword Qi contracted, Huo Yuchen instantly bypassed Chu Qingyun’s attack, closed the distance, and slashed horizontally at Chu Qingyun’s waist.

Chu Qingyun was stunned for a moment by Huo Yuchen’s suddenly contracting Sword Qi; he had no idea it could be controlled!

Fortunately, however, Chu Qingyun was also a veteran of countless battles.

He immediately twisted at the waist, narrowly dodging the attack.

In the dozen or so exchanges that followed, Chu Qingyun found himself completely on the defensive.

It wasn’t that his Sword Technique was inferior to Huo Yuchen’s Saber Technique; it was because the Sword Qi on Huo Yuchen’s saber was completely controllable. It would lengthen and shorten unpredictably, putting Chu Qingyun in an extremely awkward position.