Chapter 557: Xun Sword
This was the first time Li Haoran had ever deployed the Yiming Sword Formation.
Even the elders of the Kongshan Sect had never heard that Li Haoran had actually created this technique.
And it was so perfectly developed.
On the viewing stand, the five Imperial Envoy Elders of the Five Great Sects silently marveled at the golden formation taking shape above the arena platform.
For someone of his current cultivation level and age to create such a profound formation was nothing short of extraordinary talent.
In the past, everyone knew that Li Haoran of Kongyuan Mountain was the most orthodox cultivation prodigy in the world—steady in his cultivation, advancing at a breakneck pace, and capable of mastering any technique to near-perfection.
But there were always critics who said Li Haoran’s personality was too mild, too lacking in edges, and even a bit short on spiritual spark.
Until the Yiming Sword Formation appeared.
Records of Martial Spring Realm cultivators creating a technique that later flourished in later generations were plentiful throughout the history of the Chenping Continent.
But a formation this well-developed right from its inception, even capable of being deployed in the final battle of the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry—Li Haoran’s Yiming Sword Formation was the first of its kind.
After the Yiming Sword Formation came into the world, no one would ever say Li Haoran lacked spiritual spark again.
On the arena platform.
Su Hongzhen had to admit that he had indeed let his guard down just now.
This blue-robed swordsman had an innate sense of distance control.
The golden sword blade that had shot toward him earlier hadn’t even grazed the hem of his daoist robes—he had realized that from the moment Li Haoran had first activated the golden sword.
But what Su Hongzhen hadn’t expected was that Li Haoran’s purpose in activating that golden sword blade wasn’t to attack him.
It was to set up the formation.
Trapped within the Yiming Sword Formation, Su Hongzhen felt his entire footwork and true qi flow grow sluggish, as if moving in slow motion.
Li Haoran knew clearly that his sword formation had already taken effect.
The three golden sword blades within the formation stabbed toward Su Hongzhen simultaneously.
Although Su Hongzhen’s movement was restricted, his innate sense of distance still allowed him to evade all of Li Haoran’s attacks with the most subtle shifts in footwork and rhythm.
Seeing this, Li Haoran’s heart sank.
At this moment, he realized even more acutely the gap between himself and Su Hongzhen.
Even with the Void Absorption Guidance’s properties embedded within the Yiming Sword Formation to restrict Su Hongzhen’s footwork and true qi flow, he still couldn’t land an effective strike.
Moreover, although it seemed Li Haoran had the upper hand, this chief disciple of Kongyuan Mountain knew that true advantage was still far off.
Because Su Hongzhen had yet to use his Innate Sword Intent.
For now, the exchange between them might seem evenly matched.
But the moment Su Hongzhen unleashed his Innate Sword Intent, the outcome would be decided in an instant.
If this continued, it would be a losing battle.
So Li Haoran’s plan was to use his strongest power to catch his opponent off guard before Su Hongzhen decided to use his Innate Sword Intent, and seize the chance to win.
Just thinking about this plan made Li Haoran’s heart ache with bitterness.
Because this kind of tactic was exactly what the weak used to try and defeat the strong.
Li Haoran knew that the moment this plan had formed in his mind, he had already admitted to himself that he was the weaker one in this duel against Su Hongzhen.
He suddenly remembered what Su Hongzhen had said to him last night when he had gone to Cang Luan Cliff because of his nerves.
Did the winner of the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry necessarily have to be stronger than the loser?
At the time, Li Haoran had answered yes.
But now, as he thought about it more carefully, the winner didn’t necessarily defeat the loser because they were stronger.
It was because the loser wasn’t strong enough.
That was it.
Thinking this, the moment of wavering that had crept into Li Haoran’s heart because he was using a weak person’s swift-victory tactic in the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry hardened into resolve once more.
Li Haoran had already known in the previous rounds of the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry that Su Hongzhen was stronger than him.
With such outstanding cultivation talent and even possessing Innate Sword Intent, the phrase “aptitude for Ascending to Immortality” was practically an insult to Su Hongzhen’s talent.
The final battle of the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry wasn’t meant for Li Haoran to prove that he was stronger than Su Hongzhen.
He only needed to prove that Su Hongzhen wasn’t strong enough yet.
With that thought, Li Haoran once again formed the Yibai Sword Technique seal with his hands. The clanging of the three golden sword blades within the Yiming Sword Formation grew sharper, and their speed toward Su Hongzhen increased.
Su Hongzhen dodged while using his Xun-Li Sword to barely parry the Yiming Sword Formation.
This blue-robed swordsman was, for the first time in the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry, looking somewhat ragged.
“That’s Chief Disciple Li for you—the foundation of the Five Great Sects is truly unmatched!”
“Exactly! Su Hongzhen is just a Rogue Cultivator after all. Maybe his talent is higher than Chief Disciple Li’s, but his platform just isn’t the same.”
“Hold on, I’ve always been curious—how can you all be so sure that Su Hongzhen’s cultivation talent is definitely superior to Chief Disciple Li’s? The path of immortality is long; who knows who will go further in the end!”
Murmurs of discussion drifted from the viewing stand.
These voices also reached the ears of a young woman whose figure was just beginning to bloom with grace, carrying a cool, autumnal-morning elegance about her.
Zhou Jinyun, the Daomen Xingzou of the Mirage Palace.
She merely pressed her lips together gently, her gaze fixed on Su Hongzhen, trapped within Li Haoran’s Yiming Sword Formation on the arena platform.
Not even close.
With just this, it was impossible to push Little Su to his limits.
Zhou Jinyun knew this all too well.
The three golden sword blades within the Yiming Sword Formation slashed toward Su Hongzhen time and again, while Su Hongzhen’s dodging grew less frequent.
He was increasingly using the Xun-Li Sword in his hand to meet the incoming blades.
“Su Hongzhen is starting to show signs of decline.”
“That’s right. If he can no longer evade Chief Disciple Li’s attacks with his footwork, it means he’s growing more passive and is already spent.”
“Looks like we can congratulate the Kongshan Sect on winning this year’s Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry champion.”
Most of these comments came from cultivators below the Qi Sea Realm.
Those at the Qi Sea Realm and above could see the situation on the arena platform more clearly:
Something wasn’t right.
On the surface, Su Hongzhen was trapped in the Yiming Sword Formation, his speed severely limited, and he was extremely passive.
But from just a moment ago, the speed at which he swung his sword—
Seemed to be getting faster and faster.