“Sword Defending!”
Facing Lu Fantian’s Universal Sword Technique, Zhang Ruochen immediately calmed down and regulated the Heart of the Sword. His palm hit the hilt, sending the Abyss Ancient Sword flying.
SWOOSH!
The Abyss Ancient Sword was extremely fast like a streak of black light. It formed an arc in the air and flew through the Universal Sword Technique’s circle of the sword Qi. Then it stabbed towards the center of Lu Fantian’s back.
Zhang Ruochen’s arms glowed with blue light.
The Blue Genuine Qi ran rapidly through his meridians and into his Qi Sea. It collected into his thumbs.
Two sword waves flew out of his thumbs.
Lu Fantian knew that Zhang Ruochen had reached Heart Integrated into Sword. He was not surprised at all when Zhang Ruochen displayed his Sword Defending Technique.
He remained calm and sped up his pace.
BOOM!
He used the Universal Sword Technique to crush Zhang Rouchen’s two sword waves. He swung his arm. He struck out a sword radiance and chopped down at Zhang Ruochen’s neck.
He attacked to defend.
As long as he forced Zhang Ruochen to defend passively, the Sword Defending Technique would lose its effectiveness.
Although Lu Fantian’s sword technique had not reached Heart Integrated into Sword, it had reached the Peak of Sword Following the Heart.
“Boundless Universe, and a sword goes to the gods.”
The third swordsmanship of the Universal Sword Technique had overwhelming power. The sword Qi was as cold as ice that had been frozen for 10,000 years. The sword radiance was more dazzling than the burning sun.
“What a powerful sword attack,” Zhang Ruochen secretly praised.
If Zhang Ruochen had not regulated the power of his Martial Soul, he would not have been able to fend off the attack.
“Nice! The Body of Sacred Tree deserves its reputation.”
Zhang Ruochen took the Abyss Ancient Sword back and laughed loudly. He displayed the Shadow of the Royal Wind Dragon, moving his feet constantly. He kept dodging and attacking like a roaming Divine Dragon. He wanted to break Lu Fantian’s Universal Sword Technique with ingenious force.
Many dragon-shaped illusory images appeared on the platform of the Heaven Stage. They were shuttling back and forth within the sword Qi.
Lu Fantian asked, “Zhang Ruochen, why have you still not released your Martial Soul?”
“Almost,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Lu Fantian was confused. “What?”
“You haven’t shown your full strength yet. I will release my Martial Soul when you show your last card.” Although Zhang Ruochen had gone through a dreadful experience, he still had not regulated his Martial Soul.
Lu Fantian could not force him to display his Martial Soul with his current strength.
“As you wish.”
He ran his Genuine Qi. Lu Fantian’s long hair stood up straight on his head. Like a Demon Lord, he shouted loudly, “Martial Soul Combined Sword.”
The Sacred Tree Martial Soul that had been standing above Lu Fantian, turned into a soul shadow. It flew to his front and merged with the Gold Wire Sword.
SWOOSH—
The Gold Wire Sword emitted golden light. It formed an illusory image of a huge, four-meter sword. The shadow of the giant sword wrapped around the blade.
The Gold Wire Sword seemed to have produced its own spirituality. It was rapidly absorbing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
Zhang Ruochen narrowed his eyes, staring at Lu Fantian’s sword. “That’s… That’s…”
Zhang Ruochen had thought that Lu Fantian’s sword was only an eleventh-level Genuine Martial Arms. When he opened his Skyeye, he saw clearly that it was a wooden sword.
It was a wooden sword made from the Sacred Prime Tree.
The gold silk on the sword was not embedded, it was the meridians of the Sacred Prime Tree.
It must be understood that the Sacred Prime tree had been cut in the Middle Ancient Times.
According to legend, each vessel made from the Sacred Prime Tree contained spirituality. These vessels could absorb Spiritual Qi and improve themselves automatically. They could even feed Spiritual Qi back to their owner.
Any vessel made from the Sacred Tree was a priceless treasure. Ordinary Genuine Martial Arms were no comparison.
In other words, Lu Fantian’s Sacred Wood Sword could improve itself. If it was able to absorb enough wood-natured Qi of Origin, it would have the opportunity to become a Holy Sword.
Other people’s Martial Souls certainly could not be integrated with the Sacred Wood Sword, but what Lu Fantian practiced was the Sacred Tree Martial Soul.
The integration of the Sacred Tree Martial Soul and the Sacred Wood Sword could increase its power. It could absorb the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. It pushed the power of the Sacred Wood Sword to the extreme.
Zhang Ruochen immediately released his Martial Soul and regulated the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to gather toward him.
His strength increased quickly. He grabbed the Abyss Ancient Sword and ran Genuine Qi to activate the inscription on the sword. He met the battle head-on.
He had to do his best and have a real fight with Lu Fantianin.
BOOM!
The two swords intersected, like two strikes of lightning struck together.
Lu Fantian trembled. He could not withstand the power. He took a step back.
“My Martial Soul is very strong, but… Zhang Ruochen’s Martial Soul is actually stronger than mine.”
Lu Fantian felt that the Sacred Wood Sphere seemed to be broken.
BOOM!
BOOM!
Zhang Ruochen displayed 11 moves in a row. The power was stronger and stronger. When he applied the eleventh sword, Lu Fantian was pushed to the edge of the Coliseum.
SWOOSH! Sword radiance flashed.
The Abyss Ancient Sword pointed at Lu Fantian’s neck. It reached just above his throat. If Zhang Ruochen exerted his force slightly, he could chop Lu Fantian’s head off.
Lu Fantian clenched his teeth. His eyes showed disbelief. He stared at Zhang Ruochen opposite him. “This… This is your real strength…”
Zhang Ruochen retracted his sword. “I used all my strength. I really respect you.”
Lu Fantian said in a self-deprecating tone, “If we had fought three days ago… At that time, I hadn’t refined the Purple Cloud-patterned Eaglewood, I wouldn’t have lasted three moves. No wonder you didn’t want to fight with me.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “That is not necessarily true. My sword technique had also not reached its current level three days ago.”
Why did Zhang Ruchen say that?
Lu Fantian stared at Zhang Ruochen with slight confusion. He did not ask any further questions. He could only guess that Zhang Ruochen had some kind of adventure in the last three days.
Zhang Ruochen’s sword technique was indeed brilliant and intimidating.
Lu Fantian had never admired anybody. But today, he had really been conquered by Zhang Ruochen’s sword technique.
I will remember today’s defeat. We will surely have another chance to fight in the future.”
Lu Fantian walked down the Coliseum.
Although he admired Zhang Ruochen’s attainments of sword technique, he could not admit defeat. If he could reach the Completion of Heaven Realm, he would surely defeat Zhang Ruochen.
How could he reach the Completion of the Heaven Realm in a short time?
The Battlefield of the Primitive World!
Lu Fantian decided to go to the Battlefield of the Primitive World to experience life and death. Only by continuing to fight, could his fighting skills and will to fight improve further. In the future, he would overcome Zhang Ruochen.
The Purple-gowned Elder on the Heaven Stage Coliseum nodded his head. He announced with a smile, “Zhang Ruochen, from the School of the Martial Market defeated Lu Fantian from the Sword Sanctum. He is now 5,800th on the Heaven Board and has acquired 287,000 military merits.”
“He defeated Lu Fantian in a mere 11 moves. The name of the young king really deserves its reputation,” a big bald fellow laughed loudly. He was becoming more and more interested in Zhang Ruochen.
“Lu Fantian only ranked 5,800th on the Heaven Board. Even if Zhang Ruochen defeated him, it’s not a big deal.” The masked woman sneered.
The bald guy spared a glance at her. “Lu Fantian’s strength is absolutely not as simple as being ranked 5800th. If he had not encountered Zhang Ruochen, with his strength, he would certainly have been able to enter the top 2000 on the Heaven Board, even higher. Moreover, Lu Fantian’s cultivation is only at the Final State of the Heaven Realm. There is still a large space for him to improve.”
“Really? Then I’ll have a try and see how powerful Zhang Ruochen is.”
She flew down. The masked woman stood in the Heavenly Ring, opposite to Zhang Ruochen, in a flash.
Many martial arts masters were present, but few of them could see her bodily movement clearly.
Several young geniuses who had been sitting next to her were surprised. They suddenly realized that a great master had sat by their sides.
“What an awesome woman. The bodily movement she displayed is out of my reach. Who on earth is she? Is she also a master on the Heaven Board?”
“Surely she is a master on the Heaven Board. Otherwise how could she challenge Zhang Ruochen?”
Zhang Ruochen glanced at the masked woman. He had a sudden familiar feeling. He was sure he had met her before.
He regulated his powerful Spiritual Power to observe the woman. After a few moments, he had a ready answer. “It’s you.”
“You can see through me?” She asked.
“Your camouflage is flawless,” he replied. “Even warriors in the Fish-dragon Realm cannot see through your real identity. However, you can’t hide from me.”
He called out her name, “The God’s favored daughter of the Black Market Excellence Hall, Orange Star Emissary. Am I right?”
The Orange Star Emissary had not made much contact with Zhang Ruochen. She had only met him a few times, and each time she had been clad in a veil.
It was impossible for Zhang Ruochen to see through her true body. Unless his Spiritual Power had reached 41st level.
BOOM!
When Zhang Ruochen called out the masked woman’s name, everyone in the Coliseum of the Martial Market was shocked. They all exclaimed.
It was known to all that the Martial Market Bank and the Black Market were old enemies. They had been fighting both with open and secret means for many years. Their grievances were extremely deep. Who could think of that an Emissary of the Black Market Excellence Hall dared to enter the territory of the Martial Market Bank?