Chapter 111: Yan Wudi (3)

King Mu Ye stood to one side, watching with a calm expression.

"Crown Prince?" the three attendants behind Yan Wudi asked, their voices filled with concern.

"Do not worry, the three of you. My master is merely surveying the surroundings and will return soon. This is a fair duel between Liu Gang and me; King Mu Ye will not do anything to me," Yan Wudi replied with a shake of his head.

"Very well, Crown Prince, be careful!" The three of them stepped back slightly.

Nearly a hundred onlookers gathered around, watching with curious eyes. Only Yan Wudi and Liu Gang remained in the center.

"Yan Wudi, ninth stage of the Power Realm, please offer your guidance!" Yan Wudi gently drew the long purple sword from his back.

"Ninth stage of the Power Realm? Hmph, enough talk. Come!" Liu Gang rubbed his bald head and drew his own iron sword.

The surrounding crowd looked at Yan Wudi with unconcealed contempt.

"Ninth stage of the Power Realm? This mortal truly does not know the immensity of heaven and earth. How dare he challenge Liu Gang, knowing he is in the tenth stage?"

"With King Mu Ye backing him, this so-called Yan Wudi is sure to lose!"

"The State of Yan? It seems Yan Tao once stood guard there, but what a pity..."

As whispers of pity circulated, Yan Wudi remained indifferent. A gentle breeze stirred his dark hair. His narrowed eyes snapped open, and the sword in his hand lunged toward Liu Gang.

*Hum!*

The purple blade sliced through the void, reaching Liu Gang in the blink of an eye.

"Nothing special," Liu Gang muttered with a sneer.

A wisp of black energy overflowed from his iron sword. Just as he moved to intercept the purple blade, it shifted slightly, dodging the iron sword with uncanny grace and striking the hilt of Liu Gang’s weapon.

*Clang!*

Liu Gang’s hand went numb; his iron sword nearly slipped from his grasp.

"What?" Liu Gang’s expression shifted.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

Yan Wudi’s strikes grew faster and faster. Though his raw strength was inferior to Liu Gang’s, his speed was not lacking, and his exquisite swordsmanship forced Liu Gang to retreat step by step.

"The Great River surges, the path of the Yan is endless!" Yan Wudi shouted.

His swordplay suddenly resembled a surging river, crashing against Liu Gang in relentless waves.

"How, how is this possible?" Liu Gang found himself in full retreat. In the blink of an eye, he was so suppressed by Yan Wudi that he could not even launch a counterattack.

The eyes of the onlookers lit up.

"Is this the 'Surging Sword Art' created by Yan Tao all those years ago?"

"Indeed! I saw it back then. Whenever Yan Tao of the Great River Sect unleashed the Surging Sword Art, he was invincible. This youth has captured seven parts of its essence!"

"What magnificent swordsmanship!"

Praises filled the air, and the three attendants finally breathed a sigh of relief. King Mu Ye, however, raised an eyebrow, watching Yan Wudi’s movements with a grave expression.

"At such a young age, his swordsmanship has reached this level?" King Mu Ye frowned.

"The Great River of Heaven, the collapse of the celestial torrent!"

With a loud shout, Yan Wudi’s sword erupted with a dazzling purple light, appearing to transform into a vast river that washed over Liu Gang. In that moment, Yan Wudi seemed to merge with the river, vanishing into his own swordplay.

*Boom!*

Liu Gang was sent flying backward, his iron sword shattering into pieces that scattered across the ground.

"You, you, you!" Liu Gang stared at Yan Wudi in horror, unable to believe he had been defeated by a mere youth.

"Did my eyes deceive me?"

"Did Yan Wudi disappear into the river of swords? The unity of man and sword?"

"Impossible. How old is he? How could he have grasped the unity of man and sword?"

A chorus of disbelief erupted from the crowd.

"Born with a sword bone?" King Mu Ye suddenly spoke.

"Hmm?" Everyone turned to look at him.

"To think that among the descendants of Yan Tao, there would be one born with a sword bone. The unity of man and sword? Born with a sword bone? Boy, are you willing to take me as your master?" King Mu Ye demanded.

"There is no need. I already have a master," Yan Wudi replied proudly.

"You already have a master? This purple sword in your hand is no ordinary item. Was it a gift from this so-called master of yours?" King Mu Ye asked coldly.

"Indeed! Its name is 'Zi Qing.' When I was taken as an apprentice, I swore to my master that with this Zi Qing sword, I would defeat every sword under heaven!" Yan Wudi affirmed.

"Arrogance! A mere mortal dares to speak of defeating every sword under heaven? Liu Gang!" King Mu Ye said deeply.

"Disciple is here!" Liu Gang climbed up from the ground, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Today, I bestow upon you the flying sword 'Flowing Light.' It can take a head from a thousand miles away!" King Mu Ye declared. As he spoke, he reached out his hand, and a cyan longsword appeared in his palm.

"A flying sword?" Liu Gang’s eyes brightened.

"I will help you refine this flying sword, and then you shall challenge him again!" King Mu Ye ordered.

"As you command!" Liu Gang exclaimed in excitement.