Bonus chapter
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"Ah!"
Zhao Yong was full of mockery. With a snap of his fingers, a cyan finger shadow burst forth. Its speed was terrifying, tearing through the air as violent currents surged in its wake.
"Test me? Are you even worthy?" Zhao Yong sneered. If Chu Xun had not shattered his Dao heart back then, he might have felt a trace of fear. But now? Chu Xun still dared to act so arrogantly. The time when he could stand above him had long passed.
Boom!
Not stopping there, Zhao Yong stretched out his palm. The void around Chu Xun suddenly collapsed, forming an enormous palm that imprisoned him within. Together with the cyan finger shadow, it released a killing strike.
"So terrifying!"
The nobles from the secular dynasties felt their eyelids twitch violently. They stared at the scene in shock, Zhao Yong was attacking from afar, yet already attempting to kill Chu Xun outright.
"How can he deal with this?"
Some people couldn't help but worry. The disciples of Donglin Sect watched from afar, their hearts lodged in their throats, terrified that Chu Xun wouldn't be able to withstand it.
Buzz!
Golden light spread outward from Chu Xun's body, forming a radiant barrier about three feet around him. Neither the finger shadow nor the massive void palm could shake it in the slightest.
"Hah…"
Xiao Rongyu let out a long breath and murmured inwardly, Back then, Elder Chu's golden defensive light was exceptional. I didn't expect it to remain so powerful after all these years.
Elder Jiang, however, showed no joy. This golden light shield had once been Elder Chu's signature technique, yet now it was forced out immediately. And Zhao Yong had acted casually, without even using his true methods.
Lu Nantian of the Zhenwu Sect nodded faintly, clearly satisfied. Killing Chu Xun with a casual strike was unrealistic anyway. If Chu Xun could truly be killed so easily, it wouldn't justify such a massive mobilization.
The Xiandao Sect master frowned slightly. Although Zhao Yong hasn't stepped into the Eighth Realm of the Human Emperor yet, he's only half a step away. If he kills Chu Xun today and breaks his inner demon, he'll surely break through. Another terrifying powerhouse for Zhenwu Sect…
The Tianji Sect leader.
The Goddess Palace master.
The Shenxing Sect leader.
The Jiang family head.
The Nangong clan head.
Each reacted differently, but most were calm, even relieved. If a casual move could force out Elder Chu's defensive trump card, then there would be no more suspense in this battle.
Elder Jiang.
Wang He.
Xiao Rongyu.
Elder Wang of the forbidden area.
Anxiety filled their faces. Even if Zhao Yong hadn't broken through to the Eighth Realm, his combat strength was no weaker than those who had. Elder Chu was in danger.
"That's it?" Zhao Yong scoffed playfully, disappointment spreading in his heart. For decades, Chu Xun had been his inner demon. He thought he'd never get another chance to crush it, but Chu Xun's breakthrough had rekindled hope.
Yet now?
This fight disappointed him.
Too weak.
One palm. One finger. And Chu Xun was already forced to use his special defense.
How boring.
How empty.
How frustrating.
The long-awaited decisive battle turned into utter anticlimax. With no interest left, Zhao Yong said flatly, "Let's end this."
"Mm."
Chu Xun nodded calmly.
Though he hadn't attacked yet, he could already tell, Zhao Yong was far weaker than he'd imagined. Not worth using the Ivy Sword.
His gaze slowly shifted toward Donglin Sect's back mountain, where countless disciples watched with anticipation. Chu Xun spoke softly, peacefully:
"I left a sword intent in the back mountain. It merged with the river. Today, I'll use that to fight."
"What?!"
The sword cultivators of the sect widened their eyes, faces flushing with excitement. They had long suspected that the mysterious sword intent by the river came from the Scripture Pavilion elder. Hearing Chu Xun confirm it personally sent waves of excitement, and confusion, through them.
Boom!
An extraordinary sword intent suddenly erupted from the boiling river. Mottled, chaotic, wild, it carried traces left behind by countless sword cultivators of Donglin Sect who had once comprehended the Dao by the river.
At Chu Xun's call, the entire river filled with sword energy. The once-peaceful current transformed into a restless sword dragon, as if innumerable sword spirits had been imprisoned within.
"River Sword Intent!"
With a single thought, the river surged from the back mountain and soared into the sky. The onlookers were shaken to the core.
Summoning a sword river directly?!
Rumble…
The river roared. Sword intent surged.
The previously calm sect leaders all turned solemn, staring at the boiling river.
"What terrifying sword intent!"
Chaotic. Violent. Unrestrained.
The Goddess Palace master frowned. She sensed countless different sword intents fused together, not one person's Dao, but thousands. Such a river could indeed be extraordinary… yet defeating Zhao Yong with it still seemed wishful.
But the next moment,
Her expression froze.
Her hair stood on end.
"Come."
The old man in the void remained gentle and calm. He raised his hand, guiding the river's sword intent, and merged his own will into it.
In an instant, the river boiled violently. Water droplets surged and rolled. The chaotic sword intent suddenly unified, erupting with a murderous aura that pierced the heavens.
Even thousands of miles away, it was terrifying.
"This…!"
Elder Jiang's scalp went numb. He knew Elder Chu's River Sword Intent was powerfulbut not to this extent.
"I wonder if you can take this sword."
Chu Xun looked at Zhao Yong and swung his hand downward.
In that instant, the river condensed into a colossal, boiling sword, like a gigantic sword dragon.
Rumble…
The impact alone shook the spectators below. A King Realm cultivator stared at the roaring river-sword and gasped.
"Every single drop of water could easily kill a King Realm cultivator… this is terrifying!"
Others followed in horror.
"I feel like any single wave could annihilate a Venerable Realm expert."
An uproar broke out.
Kings were already emperors of regions. Venerables were legends beyond imagination. Yet here, countless waves surged, tens of thousands of them, each capable of slaughter.
How terrifying was this sword?
Whether geniuses from secular worlds or cultivators of the Eastern Region, all stared at the ordinary-looking old man in disbelief.
It was impossible,
To imagine he could be this strong.