Chapter 116: Battle for the True Disciple Champion

Chapter 116: Battle for the True Disciple Champion “Senior Brother Ye is invincible!” “Senior Brother Xiao will win!” “...” By Mirror Lake, the crowd was massive, and the deafening cheers roared like a tidal wave. Only one quarter of an hour remained before the final match of the True Disciple Competition began. Nearly every disciple who was still on campus had come to witness this battle. Today's finalists were Ye Lingxiao from the Heavenly Spirit Institute and Xiao Chen from the Miscellaneous Dao Institute. Both were rising stars of Wendao Academy in recent years. Ye Lingxiao was known as the "Sword Sovereign Lingxiao." Ever since joining the academy, he had never lost a single match. He was undefeated, and his Lingxiao Sacred Sword instilled fear in his opponents. In this competition, every time he stepped onto the field, he defeated his opponent with a single sword strike. No one had ever seen his second sword. Xiao Chen's fame was no less impressive. Three years ago, he had climbed to the top of the outer sect rankings while still bearing the title of “cripple.” Not long after, he broke through both the True Fate and Heaven Origin realms in succession. Privately, disciples called him the “Black-Robed Sword Sovereign” due to his reputation as the Black-Robed Reaper in the Misty Swamp. In this competition, Xiao Chen too had defeated every opponent with a single strike. No one had forced him to use a second. Their performances had been unmatched. Today, these two mighty sword cultivators would finally clash. The winner would become one of the Holy Son candidates of Wendao Academy. This title was not just a recognition of strength, but also of status—equal to that of the Ten Institute Heads. Even as a candidate, one would be treated on par with the academy’s elders. At this moment, Ye Lingxiao and Xiao Chen stood behind the Sword King of Xiaoyao and Chu Feng, respectively. Neither of them looked at the other; they simply stood quietly, awaiting the final battle. The one officiating the final was the Grand Elder of Wendao Academy’s Internal Affairs Hall. He stepped into the air above Mirror Lake, sweeping a calm gaze over everyone present. “Everyone, today is the final match of the True Disciple Competition. I hereby declare the final begins. Ye Lingxiao, Xiao Chen, step forward.” As his voice fell, two figures soared into the sky on their swords. Ye Lingxiao exuded noble aura with every move, radiating pride and confidence. Xiao Chen, on the other hand, emanated an overwhelming sharpness, like a sword that could not be stopped. The moment they stood above Mirror Lake, the powerful aura they released instantly changed the once-peaceful lake into a place of killing intent. “The final begins!” After his announcement, the Grand Elder flew into the sky to observe the battle from above. Xiao Chen cupped his fists slightly. “Greetings, Senior Brother Ye.” Ye Lingxiao smiled faintly. “Greetings, Junior Brother Xiao.” With that, both men drew their swords. Clang! As the two blades left their sheaths, the aura around them surged dramatically. A terrifying pressure expanded outward, instantly enveloping dozens of miles around the battlefield. Neither man moved to strike first. They simply continued releasing their own aura, trying to overwhelm the other through sheer force of will. Silence. The spectators by Mirror Lake went completely quiet, staring fixedly at the two figures above the water, afraid to miss even a single move. Whoosh... A gentle breeze stirred, sending ripples across the lake’s surface. Xiao Chen instinctively gripped his sword tighter, while Ye Lingxiao narrowed his eyes slightly. Even these tiny movements didn’t escape each other’s notice. The moment they reacted, their swords moved as well. Xiao Chen swung casually—his sword qi stretched across dozens of yards. Ye Lingxiao responded with a sudden slash—his sword light flashed coldly for hundreds of feet. Boom! The two sword strikes clashed in midair, but neither man stopped moving. In less than the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, they had already exchanged hundreds of blows. In an instant, Mirror Lake erupted into a storm of waves. Explosions echoed non-stop wherever the two’s sword qi collided. The audience below was dazzled by the spectacle and deeply shaken at the same time. After a hundred exchanges, both stepped back several paces. Ye Lingxiao slowly raised his sword and said with a smile, “Junior Brother Xiao, you're worthy to be my opponent. Let me witness your Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin.” Xiao Chen spun his sword in a graceful flourish and replied, “I’ve heard that Senior Brother Ye’s Immortal Soaring Beyond the Heavens is unmatched. I wonder if I’ll get to see it today?” “You’ll see it very soon.” As Ye Lingxiao spoke, he slowly sheathed his sword. His aura instantly surged back to its peak. At the same time, seeing Ye Lingxiao's movements, Xiao Chen gathered strength for a thrust. “Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin!” Xiao Chen stabbed casually. With a flash of sword light, countless sword qi flew toward Ye Lingxiao like a torrential storm. “Immortal Soaring Beyond the Heavens!” Ye Lingxiao swept his sword with a sudden slash. A streak of sword light burst forth like lightning and thunder, like a rainbow crossing the sky—unstoppable. Wherever that sword light passed, the sword qi from Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin was shattered like rotten wood, utterly destroyed. Ye Lingxiao’s lips curled in a confident smile. Though proud, he never underestimated his opponents’ sword arts. To know your enemy is to win every battle. “Xiao Chen, your Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin has already been deciphered by me!” The entire arena was stunned. Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin was regarded by countless sword cultivators as one of the strongest techniques—yet now it had been broken by Senior Brother Ye. Just how strong was he? From the viewing platform, many glanced toward Chu Feng, only to see him calmly sipping tea, exuding the composed air of someone firmly in control. But just then, a sudden twist occurred on the battlefield—Xiao Chen casually spun his sword in a flourish, and a Taiji diagram appeared, effortlessly blocking Ye Lingxiao’s Immortal Soaring Beyond the Heavens. Ye Lingxiao’s eyes widened in disbelief as he saw Xiao Chen unscathed. “Th-this is impossible! What sword technique is that? How did it block my strike?” “Taiji Sword Technique.” There was no trace of frustration on Xiao Chen’s face—only surging battle intent. He spoke slowly and calmly: “Senior Brother Ye’s sword is supreme in strength, speed, and yang. I countered it with the ultimate softness, slowness, and yin of the Taiji Sword. Naturally, I could deflect your strike.” Ye Lingxiao’s face darkened. He gripped his sword tightly and said in a low voice, “You forced my hand!” “One Sword to Open the Heavens!” Clang! Ye Lingxiao’s blade swung violently, and his sword qi tore through the sky as if splitting the heavens. In the stands, the Sword King of Xiaoyao rose to his feet in alarm and roared, “Reckless! That brat can’t handle the backlash from this sword! His body won’t hold!” But Xiao Chen showed no fear in the face of that mighty blow. He held his breath, focused his mind, and thrust his sword forward. “Yin-Yang Infinity—Ten Thousand Swords as One!” The moment he struck, countless sword lights appeared behind him. All of them gathered into a single Taiji diagram blending yin and yang. From within the Taiji, a blade of sword qi hundreds of feet long shot forth across the sky. One Sword Sweeps the River! Rumble! With an earth-shaking explosion, the terrifying sword qi swept across half of Mirror Lake. Splashhhhhh! A colossal wave surged into the sky, engulfing the two fighters hovering in the air. After dozens of breaths, the crashing waves finally descended, falling back into the lake. Everyone present turned their eyes in unison toward the two figures above Mirror Lake... ==================================================================================== Get access to 20 chapters in advance and enjoy 2 daily updates by supporting the series. Available on Patreon: /Alex_Cruise or Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/anish_44