Dragon Blood Saint Emperor

When Zhuang Hao saw Ye Wushuang suddenly draw his sword, his expression changed. Thinking Ye Wushuang was about to attack, he rushed forward to stop him.

Having witnessed his terrifying display in the Dueling Arena, Zhuang Hao was genuinely worried the man would go on a killing spree here!

However, Taoo Hong Fairy's face held not a hint of worry. Instead, she watched with curiosity.

BOOM!

Sword Intent crisscrossed the air, and some people were drawn over by the terrifying aura. When they saw Ye Wushuang draw his sword before Peach Blossom Spring, they were all shocked beyond belief!

"Who is this person? How arrogant, to act so brazenly in Peach Blossom Spring!"

"That's right, he's the first person to dare draw a sword here!"

The crowd broke into a flurry of discussion. They knew that in Peach Blossom Spring, not even an expert from the Dragon List would dare to act so presumptuously!

BOOM!

Endless Sword Intent blossomed in the void, filling the Firmament. Everyone felt a heaven-soaring will, as if this one sword sought to pierce the very heavens!

In an instant, the murmuring voices fell silent.

VMMM!

The Sword Light flashed, suddenly striking a stone off to the side.

At the same time, the endless Heaven-Soaring Sword Intent filling the Firmament abruptly contracted, pouring into that single beam of Sword Light.

However, what made everyone's pupils shrink was that when the terrifying beam of Sword Light struck the stone, it didn't destroy it.

One had to understand, that last sword strike was powerful enough to slay an expert at the Spiritual Spring Ninth Layer, let alone a simple stone.

What was going on?

Everyone was stunned. 'Was what we just saw an illusion?'

CLANG!

Ye Wushuang sheathed his Ancient Sword, his expression unruffled. After a brief hesitation, he walked forward amidst the crowd's stunned expressions and picked up the stone.

The stone was not very large, and it bore only a single sword mark.

'I wonder if this will work?' Ye Wushuang thought, gazing at the sword mark on the stone as he walked up to Taoo Hong Fairy.

Zhuang Hao froze for a second, watching Ye Wushuang. 'Is he really going to offer this rock as a treasure?'

Sure enough, in the next moment, Ye Wushuang's actions answered his unspoken question.

"Taoo Hong Fairy, what do you think? Will this do?"

Ye Wushuang asked calmly as he held it out.

Instantly, everyone's face darkened. To think he would actually give a rock to Taoo Hong Fairy—only this guy would have the nerve.

'This guy is definitely going to be banned from Peach Blossom Spring!'

Many people shook their heads. Making a fool of Taoo Hong Fairy like this would definitely not end well for him.

But in the next instant, the onlookers' eyes nearly popped out of their heads.

After a moment of stunned silence, Taoo Hong Fairy actually reached out and took the stone.

"Young Master Ye, Peach Blossom Spring welcomes you. Please forgive any offense we may have caused earlier," Taoo Hong Fairy said with a faint smile.

Now, even Zhuang Hao and Dongfang Youdi were flabbergasted.

'He gets to enter Peach Blossom Spring with just a rock?'

Ye Wushuang cupped his fists, secretly letting out a sigh of relief. He glanced at his two stunned companions and said, "Let's go."

The two of them then subconsciously followed Ye Wushuang inside.

'What a terrifying person!'

Gazing at Ye Wushuang's retreating back, Taoo Hong Fairy's beautiful eyes narrowed. She glanced down at the stone in her arms, from which a powerful fluctuation emanated.

"A parlor trick!"

A young man stepped out from the crowd, letting out a cold, disdainful snort.

SHING!

Suddenly, the young man also drew a Treasure Sword. A yellow light flashed, and countless dazzling yellow sword-flares rose around him.

Everyone's attention was drawn to this young man.

"It's Jing Kang!"

The crowd recognized him. Seeing the sword-flares around Jing Kang, they all took a step back.

"Such powerful sword-work!"

The Sword Intent emanating from Jing Kang sent a powerful, murderous chill through the crowd.

"Strike!"

Jing Kang shouted coldly as his sword struck a nearby stone.

Just as with Ye Wushuang, the stone didn't shatter, leaving only a sword mark.

Seeing this, the corners of Jing Kang's mouth curled into a smug smile. He walked over, picked up the stone, and offered it to Taoo Hong Fairy.

"Taoo Hong Fairy, with this stone, this young master should be able to enter now, correct?" Jing Kang asked, sneering inwardly. 'I was going to have to part with a treasure, but it looks like I won't have to after all.'

Upon hearing this, Taoo Hong Fairy didn't even glance at the stone. She looked up at Jing Kang, paused for a moment, and then said, "Third Young Master Jing, I am truly sorry, but you may not enter yet."

'Still can't enter?'

Jing Kang's face went stiff, and the stone he was offering hung frozen in mid-air. 'I used the same sword strike and left the same kind of mark... and I can't enter?'

The onlooking crowd was baffled as well, not understanding the meaning behind Taoo Hong Fairy's words.

'Ye Wushuang was able to, so why can't Jing Kang?'

They had been preparing to follow his example and sneak in themselves.

"Taoo Hong Fairy, that lowly commoner gets to enter, so why can't I?" Jing Kang's face darkened instantly as he pointed a finger at Ye Wushuang, who was just stepping through the gate.

Ye Wushuang, one foot already across the threshold, paused. His brow furrowed for a moment before smoothing over. He couldn't be bothered to deal with the man; finding the Spiritual Root Peach Branch to treat Lan Xinyu was his priority.

"Third Young Master Jing," Taoo Hong Fairy said, forcing an apologetic smile. "What you are holding is just a worthless rock. If I were to accept it, I'm afraid the Taoo Hua Fairy would hold me accountable."

"A worthless rock? What a joke!" Jing Kang sneered. "I created a sword mark identical to his. Consider his lowly status, and then consider my noble one. And you call my stone worthless? Don't tell me that commoner's rock is actually some kind of treasure? Taoo Hong Fairy, are you looking down on my Jing Family? Humiliating my Jing Family by suggesting we are worth less than a commoner?"

Ye Wushuang's steps came to a complete halt. A chill entered his eyes. 'One "lowly commoner" after another... Have I offended this young man in some way?'

Ye Wushuang turned his head and stared at Jing Kang!

Upon hearing Jing Kang's words, Taoo Hong Fairy's expression also soured. However, her temperament was excellent, and she said calmly, "Third Young Master Jing, please calm your anger. You may not be aware, but Young Master Ye's earlier strike was the Heaven-Soaring Abyss Sword. Although it struck the stone, it did not destroy it."

"I accomplished that part as well," Jing Kang interjected.

"However, Young Master Ye also, in that single instant, masterfully condensed all of his Heaven-Soaring Sword Intent into that one sword mark, preserving it. Heaven-Soaring Sword Intent is both terrifyingly powerful and precious. To a Sword Cultivator, it is an immense fortune, no less valuable than a physical treasure."

"As for your sword mark, Third Young Master Jing, while it may resemble Young Master Ye's, it contains not a single trace of Sword Intent. It is purely a scratch, utterly worthless. Therefore..."

Tanoo Hong Fairy explained earnestly, leaving the rest of her sentence unspoken.

But Jing Kang and the crowd understood perfectly now. His sword mark was worlds apart from Ye Wushuang's!

Jing Kang had wanted to emulate Ye Wushuang, but he had only copied the physical movement. The intent and the very essence of the technique were impossible for him to replicate. In the end, he had only brought humiliation upon himself!

"Impossible! He's just a lowly commoner, what skills could he possibly have? Taoo Hong Fairy, you must be mistaken."

Jing Kang felt as if he'd been slapped across the face, and his expression turned utterly foul.